Little Dreams and Hollow Nightmares

Ph2 Ch9: Growing Trust

Seven walked along the cliffs, admiring the new strength of the Grimmchild. Their company and aid in battle had proven to be very useful when it mattered most. As he thought about them and his journey, he remembered the nail art that Mato had taught him. The Cyclone slash was indeed a useful technique for him, and had gotten him out of many situations. That got him thinking. If one nail art was useful, then how strong would he be if he knew all the nail arts? Sly did tell him there were Nailmasters, not a Nailmaster. 

As he thought, he remembered that Mato lived close by on the cliffs. If anyone knew about the other Nailmasters, surely it would be him. Eager to find out about the other Nailmasters, Seven began climbing up to the howling cliffs, where Mato resides. The Grimmchild was confused. There wasn't a flame that way. Why was its bearer climbing the cliffs?

Seven looked back at the Grimmchild. "Don't worry, we're just going to see an old friend," he said.

The Grimmchild nodded in understanding, and they both began climbing up to the top of the cliffs. . Once there, they made their way to Mato's hut, walked inside and found Mato meditating under the light like usual. Seven approached, and Mato looked down at him.

"My pupil you have come to visit your old master!" He said. "This is an honor I scarcely deserve."

"I came to ask about something," Seven said, walking closer to Mato. "Do you know of the other Nailmasters?"

Mato sat there silently, processing what Seven had just said. "Please, sit. You are always welcome to meditate with me," He said, ignoring the question.

Seven was about to ask again, but as he walked up to Mato and reached his hand forward, he heard Mato's voice speaking in his head. My brother, Sheo... how fare you in that green kingdom of thorns you call home? He heard Mato say. Seven was concerned. Mato's mouth wasn't moving, so how could he hear him? Intrigued, he kept listening. I think of you every time I raise my nail... He heard. Do you ever close your eyes and remember the time we spent together with Oro and our master? I like to think you do...

Seven came back to reality, and for the first time, noticed the dream catcher particles in the room with them. It was just like back at the Nightmare lantern when he touched the corpse and red dream catcher particles appeared was this interaction with Mato similar to that? He took a bit of time to think about what he heard Mato say. Green kingdom of thorns. Could he mean Greenpath? that place did have a lot of thorns, and the name clearly said it was green. That seemed like a good place to look for his brother Sheo. With his business finished, he bowed to Mato, and left the room.

He pulled out his compass, and found out that there was an entrance to Greenpath from the cliffs. He maneuvered through the tunnels and obstacles of the cliffs, down to a small opening into the lush, green environment of Greenpath. The Grimmchild followed close behind, and they began to search for the second Nailmaster. Seven looked at his compass and thought. Where could Sheo possibly be? Mato said kingdom of thorns, so maybe a place filled with thorns would be where he would reside.

He pinpointed a tunnel of thorns, with a small shack at the end of it. That would have to be where they could find Sheo. Seven and the Grimmchild made their way down to the tunnel, and Seven saw his first problem. Thorns covered the floor and roof of the tunnel, with flying, spiked bugs flying around. This would be a problem. He couldn't fly, he didn't have a way of teleporting to the other side, so how could he pass? There was a tunnel above him, but it could only be opened from the other side.

Suddenly, he got an idea. The Grimmchild! It could fly to the other side, open the tunnel, and he would be able to cross! He looked at the Grimmchild, and explained his plan. As soon as he finished, the Grimmchild started shaking terribly. Seven could tell why. It didn't want to leave its bearer. Not again.

"Listen, I know you're scared to leave for a while, I am too, but we both need to become stronger. Otherwise, we won't survive. You know how close we got to death with the Barber," he said. The Grimmchild looked into the eyes of its bearer, shaking in fear. "You're not the same fragile Grimmchild that you were with the Barber, you're stronger now. You can defend yourself against any danger that's in this tunnel. Trust me, you can do this," Seven said, looking at the Grimmchild with a comforting gaze.

The Grimmchild stared back, and then nodded. For the first time, it broke away from its bearer, and started off through the tunnel. The entire time it was gone, Seven's mind raced with fear. What if there was something horrible at the end that they didn't know about? What could happen to them? Why did he let them go? Suddenly the rock covering the tunnel above him slammed down behind him, and the Grimmchild came back, happily chirping.

Seven couldn't feel more proud. They reunited, climbed up to the tunnel, and walked through the tunnel to the other side. Once they got to the end, they had to crawl through a series of thorns, until they finally arrived at the shack at the end of the tunnel. They walked inside, and saw a bug looking very similar to Mato, painting a picture of a sculpture of several masks. As he approached, the figure turned and looked down at him.

"A visitor! Why have you crept in here little grub? Perhaps, like me, you have a taste for discovering new things?" He asked. "I am Sheo, and in a previous life I was a Nailmaster. Yes, the only thing that drove me was becoming stronger and honing my skills with a nail. I imagined it was my one calling in life, but that feeling faded over time. Now I seek a new calling, something that speaks to my soul and compels me forward. That's why I spend my time here, secluded, trying to master the art of creation. Painting, sculpting... these things bring a different kind of pleasure."

Seven stared blankly at Sheo. This was the person they came to see? Someone who had given up the art of the nail and instead stayed deep in the tunnels making art? Was the travel here all for nothing?

"Mmm. You don't seem very moved by what I've said," Sheo said. "Was it Sheo the Nailmaster you were looking for? Did you come to learn a nail art? I'll teach you if you insist..." 

Seven eagerly nodded, and with that, the lesson began. 

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Before I end this chapter, I want to say I'll be going to Boy Scout camp next week so I won't be uploading for a while. Be patient, I might try and get one done, but I can't be certain. I hope you all understand.

See you next chapter!