Chapter 2
(authors note: HUGE inspiration from the "off balance" fic by LittleMissTall, especially the name Hollow, there are a few minor changes though. Enjoy!)
The King walked out of his bedroom. He was quite hungry this morning. Perhaps his wife and Hollow would appreciate sharing a meal with him, after he had been locked up in his bedroom doing his duties all day yesterday.
He walked into the white lady's room. She was still sleeping. The king decided he would stay there by her side until she woke. He loved her so very much. He leaned against one of her roots implanted into the ground. It was as if he could feel the soul rushing through her. It was nice.
After several minutes, she awoke. She blinked open her eyes several times to get adjusted to the light of her husband. The lady wasn't surprised to see him there. He did this often.
"Good morning my love." She said, as she stroked his head with one of her branches. He had been very busy for so long, it was nice to see him again.
"Ah, you're awake. I was waiting for you." The king stood up.
"For what reason? You could have woken me up if you needed me."
"Nothing urgent. I just want to be with you today, after not seeing you at all yesterday. To make it up to you and Hollow." He was gleaming a bit.
"Oh of course, my love. I have nothing going on today. Perhaps we could take a trip to the gardens?" They would all like that. After all, each one of them needed a break.
"That sounds nice. I'll go ask Hollow." As he walked out of the room she could hear the lady unrooting herself from the ground. Today was going to be a good day.
What the king saw when he walked into Hollow's room was startling. They were standing, hunched over, with their arms on their desk for support. He took a step back.
"Hollow, are you alright?" He could hear the void in their body swirling. They looked up, but not at him. They simply looked at the point where the wall met the ceiling. The king was very confused by this behavior.
"Hollow, tell me what's going on." He walked over and placed a hand on their back. It was as if they didn't even know he was there. It was like they were in their own world. The void in their body was pulsing, tightening, becoming stronger by the second. The king just then thought of a reason for this. If it were really true, he should get ready.
They were ascending to full godhood. Becoming a true higher being. The king remembered when this happened to him, all those years ago. Excruciating pain. A bright white light. A change of mindset. Oh no, that wasn't good. He remembered telling Hollow when they were just an adolescent about how they would possibly have to fight for the throne. He… couldn't fight his own child. Not after what he had previously done to their siblings.
This went on for another minute or so. Eventually, their body was in its full void form, altering by the second. Hollow looked at their father. The father they had loved so very much since the beginning. The father that spared them of their duties as the pure vessel. The father that would do anything for them. Now he seemed like nothing but an obstacle, in the way of being ruler.
The void in their body swirled with anger, pushing them to attack. Hollow's mind worked against it. They couldn't attack their own father! To be ruler, that would mean killing him! It wasn't worth it! But the void swelled with power. It overtook their mind. Kill him… the void whispered.
Hollow looked at him, drawing their forged nail very carefully. Oh no… he thought. The king's greatest fear had become reality. They were going to kill him. He had to work against his brain that was telling him to back down, to let himself be slain, so he could conjure a trident in his left hand.
For the sake of Hallownest… He kept telling himself. Over and over. He got into a battle stance before his only surviving child, the one that played acoustic guitar and loved to cook, the one that would always be super sensitive and loving… lunged at him, nail held high.
(authors note: the italics do not copy onto the document, sadly. So if there is ever a line that represents a "thought" they are supposed to be italicized.)
