The Forgotten Kingdom

Chapter 8

Carina let out a grunt as Mato's nail met hers, shifting her weight and pushing him back a bit, pointing her nail at his throat. He laughed, lowering his nail, pride obvious on his face. "Well done Carina! You are a very quick learner!" Carina grinned at the praise, lowering and sheathing her nail. The two bow to each other, signalling the end of the days training, and they both hit the ground with thuds, Carina laughing a little. "Tired Master Mato?" He gave her a little look, taking the teasing. "Hush you. You hit the ground faster than I did." 

Carina snickered. "Yes but you made more of a sound." They were silent for a moment before they both began to laugh. Mato sitting up and stretching. "Yes well. That's from eating your cooking Carina. Fattening. Very fattening." Carina swats him. "You love my cooking and you know it. So don't you dare complain." Mato grunts as he felt his muscles pop and relax. "It's not a complaint. I do indeed enjoy your cooking. My gut however does not. I have gained weight, while I stay jealous of you, for staying so tiny." 

The Nailmaster grinned. "You remind me of my first student, being so small. Granted he was much shorter than you, and he spoke not a word, his eyes burned with the same determination as I see in you, and it fills my heart with pride that I am able to share so much with you. He was already a skilled nail user, and I could not teach him much. My teacher would likely be proud to know that I have taught you so well." He smiled, then stood, sighing. 

She frowned. "What's wrong? You sound... Almost sad." Mato nods. "Tomorrow will be out last training session. I have taught you all that I can, tomorrow I will teach you the Cyclone Slash. And send you on your way, stronger than before." Carina thinks, then nods. She smiled. "Well... If tomorrow is our last training session, then let's celebrate tonight." She smiled and he chuckled, nodding. "Good idea. Lets." He stood, helping her up, and they walk to the small kitchen, they were going to make a meal they would never forget.

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A delicious smell filled the howling cliffs, Carina and Mato had made too much of their celebratory meal, and she asked if she could take some extra to someone she knew down in Greenpath. He had been more than happy to share the meal, and offered to accompany her to take the delicious meal. She smiled as she walked to greenpath, easily jumping over the platforms above the spikes, humming. After the brief walk she approached the small house Hornet and Hollow had taken her to, a light glowing inside. She knocked on the wall a couple times, smiling as hornet stepped out. 

"Oh. Carina. Its you. What is it?" She looked at Mato and narrowed her eyes. "And who is this?" Carina smiled, ignoring the glare  a little. "This is nailmaster Mato. He's been teaching me a few skills, with the nail, and I'll be leaving to continue on to Dirtmouth tomorrow. We cooked a meal in celebration but got carried away and made way more than we needed, so we brought you guys some." There was a slight clatter at the mention of food and Hornet groaned a little as Hollow poked his head out, eyeing the bowl in Carina's hands. 

"Sure. Why not. Hollow will eat anything, and he really likes to eat. Come on in." Hornet's severe voice softened, smiling as she led them in to an excited Hollow. Carina set the large bowl on the table, uncovering it so the mouthwatering smell filled the small house. Hornet hummed, grabbing a couple bowls, looking at her two guests, who shook their heads, they had already eaten their fill, this meal was for them. Hornet filled both bowls, handing one to Hollow. Without a second thought the tall bug poured the stew into one of the holes in his mask, Carina blinking and smiling, not really affected. 

"Slow down Hollow, or you're going to spill it.." She looked at her guests to apologize for his bad table manners, but they stopped her before she could say it. "It's fine hornet, trust me it's not the first time I've seen someone eat like that. We got a lot of bugs come through the town where I grew up, and I've seen much weirder." Mato nods. "And I have seen the way the knight eats. I trained with him for a brief time when we were much younger." Hornet looked at Mato in surprise. "You know Hollow?" 

Mato smiled. "Yes. I have known The Hollow Knight since he was young. He trained for a brief while with me and my brothers under The Great Nailsage. Then... Well. You know what happened after that." Carina looked up, frowning. "I don't..." The three stared at her for a moment, and Mato sighed. Of course, I almost forgot. It... Is not a pleasant story." Hollow looked away, standing, Hornet frowning. "Hollow." He shook his head, heading outside. Carina frowned. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset him." 

Hornet shook her head. "Don't apologize. You didn't know. The story... Wasn't a pleasant memory for Hollow and he would rather forget it entirely..." Carina blinked. "Oh... Maybe... That's why I found him out there in the desert... He was trying to forget..." She frowned, then stood. "I'm gonna go talk to him." Hornet grabbed her arm, about to tell her not to, then smiled, shaking her head and letting go, letting Carina follow the tall bug.

Hollow was sitting on an old stone bench, staring at the garden in front of him. "Hollow..? I'm sorry if I upset you by asking too many questions. I don't need to know right away. I'm sure that I'll be able to figure it out on my own..." Hollow looked at her, then lowered his head, letting out a barely audible sigh, patting the seat beside him. Carina frowned and walked over, sitting next to him. They sat like that in silence for several minutes. Carina trying to think of something to say. 

"I can see why you put the bench here... The view is beautiful..." She frowned, thinking, then sighing. "I know what it's like to want to forget... I... Was never really liked... Where I'm from. I'm a disappointment to them. I was born a runt... Spent all my time with the crazy old man who was losing his mind to his fairy tales... I wasn't normal like the rest of my family. I wanted to leave, see things that I had never seen... Meet new bugs... Do something important for once..." She pulled her legs up, resting her head on her knees. "My father at first tried to beat those dreams out of me... My mother tried to break me down... My siblings acted like I didn't exist. I had a big family. Eight kids... And I was the youngest, and the runt. I can't even begin to count how many times I would wish to be someone they could be proud of...

 "But no amount of wishing ever made it happen. I was always just, me. The odd one out. Sometimes I would leave home for days... Wishing I could just forget they hated me and be happy. Be ignorant. Sometimes I would even lie to myself. Say that one day I would make them proud... But... I know... No matter what I do. Even if I manage the impossible feat of restoring Hallownest... They won't care." She smiled sadly. She had wanted to believe it. She wanted to believe they would be proud. That they would even care just a little. But she knew deep down they wouldn't. 

Hollow looked at her, then at the garden, then looked at her, placing a hand on her back, leaning down and nudging her cheek with his snout, closing his eyes, praying that what he was about to try would work. She relaxed under his arm, falling gently against his side. It had worked. She would dream now. And know what happened.