No Emotions to Feel

Ch 13 : Memory Interference

The duo swiftly continued through The Howling Cliffs, only pausing to consider the large cliff before them. The vessel moved to jump, it had never taken any fall damage before and could take the most impact to catch Quirrel after all.

However he moved a hand in front of it before it could fall, giving a concerned look. "While I've trusted your judgement this far, I'd like to offer a..." another glance was thrown to the pit, "less dangerous alternative."

"I can easily clear this jump while holding you, if you'd let me carry you of course" his welcoming grin fell a little, "though I can see how that could be seen as humiliating... I don't mean to seem like i'm looking down on you or anything, you've proven yourself really capable and I wouldn't have offered but I'm a little worried if you jump-"

his rambling was cut off by something that gently tugged on his wrist. He automatically turned and looked down, and flinched harshly at what he saw.

White floor and walls, glowing, walking, concern, up ahead, his mask, looking down, next to him, pale robes, void eyes, they see through him- orange, sick, armor, chains, blinding figure, a stone in hand, a child, a good friend, breaking apart

❁✺...remember...✺❁

no! don't-

?!?

..?

...

stone floor

dark sky

dim lantern

cold wind

cliffside

steady

alone

vessel

"ah, I..." Quirrel was clearly struggling with something, and the vessel was getting concerned. He had flinched violently, eyes wide and staring in shock. Was it because of the vessel? It didn't do anything wrong, did it?

The vessel signed 'we can jump across, though you do not have to carry me. You go first and I will follow' Quirrel still looked a little unsure, "okay, just be careful"

He crouched, and in a near-imperceptible burst of speed he had cleared the gap and appeared on the other side. He turned to the vessel, only to feel the air shift beside him. Quirrel looked down, shocked. Had they just copied his movement? in less than a couple seconds too...

"well, uh, let's continue then"

They traveled further down the rocks, finally reaching another cliff. A tiny village lay dimly lit in the distance.

Seeing no other way across, the duo slowly climbed down. On their way, they passes a giant door and what appeared to be the missing remains of a bridge. They used that ledge to catch a small break, before finally reaching the bottom. The village was rather close now, yet no one was in sight.

"This town may be completely abandoned" Quirrel noted, "everything we've crossed has been in decay for a long while"

The vessel nodded, a little panicked on the inside. why was everything empty? why was everything broken? Hallownest was usually bursting with life, and the King wouldn't let anything just fall apart.

"you coming?" it looked up to see Quirrel a couple paces away.

The vessel nodded, joining his side, and the two reached their first location:

Dirtmouth

(thank you DieselMan42069 for voting!)