Tribal

48

"Radiance!" Wyrm stood, readying his magic.

"Oh relax Wyrm, I am not here to fight you. I know how well that turned out last time. I wish to come to an agreement." The glowing moth spoke with an air of superiority, despite how humble she was trying to be.

"What has made you want to negotiate now?" Wyrm spat.

"Well, your child, the one with the blue cloak 'Ghost' as he is called, defeated me with ease when we fought. And I'd like to keep my life." The Radiance said, she almost sounded afraid.

"Very well, sit. We will discuss an agreement." Wyrm said, releasing his magic and sitting down.

The Radiance sat down across from the family. She became encompassed in light before revealing a much more approachable form. She was about as tall as Hollow, a black mask over her glowing eyes, her crown transformed into three horns poking out of her forehead, a fluffy fur coat replacing her upper body, and her metal legs transformed into shining heels.

"I do believe this form will be more suitable." She said Hollow seemed to be flustered by her new appearance.

"What do you want, Radiance?" Wyrm asked suspiciously.

"All I want is for someone to appreciate me. The moths are gone, I have no people to worship me anymore. So I believe that you can offer someone who can love me." The Radiance seemed to take notice of Hollow's flustered appearance.

"Are you suggesting I tell the citizens to worship you as a God?" Wyrm asked.

"No, not your citizens. They do not interest me anymore. And it wouldn't be as a God, just someone to love me in the way that I want." The Radiance crossed one leg over the other as she spoke, leaning back and placing her hands on her lap.

"If not the citizens, then who?" Wyrm asked, puzzled.

"Him." The Radiance pointed at Hollow.

Hollow's eyes widened, he started fiddling with his hands and couldn't make eye contact with anyone in the room.

"My son? What has drawn your eyes to him?" Wyrm asked slightly defensive, he didn't like the idea of handing his eldest son over to his mortal enemy.

"When you trapped me inside his mind, we grew quite close. We were on the cusp of something great, but then I was torn from the mortal world by Ghost, who defeated me in combat. Erasing me completely." The Radiance seemed to be in the middle of remembering fond memories, her face darkening when she mentioned Ghost.

"R-Radi..." Hollow tried to speak but he kept stuttering and choking on his words.

"Well... that is an unexpected development," Root said it seemed she was not completely opposed to the idea of Hollow and The Radiance getting married to one another.

"Hey! Look at that, Hollow getting hitched. How crazy is that? Never thought I'd see the day!" Ghost seemed to celebrate this new event before anyone else in the room.

Acacia felt a little out of place in the room, everyone else in this room could kill her by breathing too hard. But she was surprisingly comfortable, so she decided that she could add a little bit of input herself.

"I think that's a good idea, they seem to like each other and it would keep everyone happy," Acacia said.

"I... suppose it can be that bad. Very well. Hollow, what do you think? You're the one who would be getting married, it is your decision." Wyrm looked at his son.

"I- I guess it wouldn't be t-to bad..." Hollow was barely able to get that sentence out, but with his confirmation, Wyrm clapped his hands and summoned a few servants.

"Your Radiance, when would you like the celebration to be held?" Wyrm asked, becoming much more hospitable to his enemy.

"I do not have a preference, it is whatever my dear Hollow would like. Oh, and you all may refer to me normally, I do not expect to be referred to by my title. Just call me Radi." She stared at Hollow with deep affection.

"Very well Radi, I am excited to have a new daughter-in-law." Root spoke enthusiastically, she seemed to really enjoy the thought of having Radi as a daughter-in-law.

"Well Hollow, do you have a preference?" Wyrm asked.

"A-Anytime is fine." Hollow looked beyond embarrassed, Ghost continuing to tease him, Root and Acacia getting acquainted with their newest family member.

Wyrm was beyond surprised, but glad that his family was finally back together, whole again and happy. He opened his great hall to head back to his throne, only for his eyes to meet every single vessel child looking back at him. Void-free and varying ages.

"Uh... Root!"

. . . . .

Hornet and Quirrel finally arrived home, setting the kids to sleep in their cribs.

"What an eventful few months huh?" Quirrel commented.

"Yeah..." Hornet sat in bed, removing her cloak and laying in bed.

"Sweetheart? Are you ok?" Quirrel asked worriedly.

He almost couldn't tell, but Hornet was crying.

"Hey hey, what's wrong dear?" Quirrel crawled over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder and rolling her over to look at him.

Hornet couldn't answer him, she just jumped into his arms and kept crying.

"Shhh, it's okay love, I'm here. Talk to me, darling." Quirrel embraced his wife and laid down next to her in bed.

"I was... so scared... when you left... I didn't know if you'd be back..." Hornet could barely speak through her tears.

"Oh baby... I'm so sorry I frightened you. But I still came back, didn't I? I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere anytime soon my love. Relax, close your eyes. I will be right here." Quirrel whispered to her, soothing her nerves and caressing her scared back.

"I can't believe I'm acting like this, it's pathetic. You're right here, I shouldn't be crying." Hornet laughed to herself, still crying.

"Darling, your emotions don't make you weak. Thank you for telling me how you felt, I promise, I will never put you through anything like that again." Quirrel pulled her face to his and kissed her softly.

Hornet just melted in his touch, pressing her head into Quirrel's chest and falling asleep.