The Desolate Devotion

II

A pale light made Hornet's tiresome eyes open, she awoke to an old but familiar palace. She was a child, small wearing a pale red cloak that had a enormous bow on the back many bugs thought would weigh her down. Her horns were still developing as they were quite short and curved inward, she looked around and could see disciples walking past her. She began to walk through the palace that appeared so enormous to her small self, she noticed a entrance open for her. She then traveled to the room, as she entered she was met with a tall figure. They were around their teenager age, slowly becoming an adult. Reaching their prime form. They wore pale armor with a cape that dragged behind, they had two long horns and a smaller second point before the big ones. She stared up at them with awe as she approached, they appeared to be practicing battle movements with a longnail. The nail was suddenly brought down protectively, they acted out being hit during this moment and slashed upward for a quick counter jab. They seemed to have heard her enter, as they turned around expecting to see someone else but when they realized it was not their father they stared at the small nameless child. She stared anxiously up at them, they walked closer and bent down to her. She watched as they reached out their index finger, she hesitantly reached out her own hand that was tiny in comparison to their's. On contact, it felt as if the world around them disappeared but now they were standing up and fully grown. Their body was in shackles, strung up in the darkness in some sort of harness.
"... f... f-father?" A indescribable voice echoed from the vessel, their eyes appeared to widen as suddenly a crack erupted from their right eye up their forehead. In horror she watched as a orange substance began to drip out of their eye sockets, a high pitched and airy screech being released as suddenly void surrounded them until she was the only one left in the darkness. She frantically looked around, hearing whispers around her become louder and louder until she fell onto her knees beginning to uncontrollably sob. She felt a silk-like substance catch her arms and around her neck, lifting her up. Through the void a enormous vision of her father appeared, staring at her. One of his hands tailored her dear mother while the other had the Hollow Knight lifelessly hanging. She reached out to them both, but witnessed as they were both enveloped by the looming void. Another hand appeared from out of her father's cloak, reaching up and pointing his index finger to where his mouth should be; silencing her.

Hornet was awoken with a start but she stayed still as she realized a presence was looming over her. She could see her needle, all she would have to do is stretch her arm over. She began to slowly reach out to her familiar weapon, as she grabbed the hilt she quickly turned over and pointed it at the perpetrator. Floating in front of her was a large shade, the shape that continuously bled void started to become familiar to her. Her eyes widened as she realized who she was looking at. Her needle lowered, to the point where she dropped it. She quickly stood up, reaching out her hand.
"...H...Hollow?" Hornet's voice shook as she stared into the bright white eyes of her half-sibling, she watched as their own shadowy hand reached out and touched her index finger. She felt one of her hands touch her face, but as their fingers continued contact she felt a strange sensation begin to burn the tip of her finger. She quickly brought her hand back and inspected her finger, surprising Hollow as they stared anxiously at her.
"It is alright!" Hornet quickly exclaimed, "it's just a little burn, that is all..."
Hollow gently floated down to her, watching her all the while. She stared back at them, wanting to embrace her sibling.
"Hollow... I'm so sorry." Her head tilted downward, Hollow floating closer until they almost pressed their forehead to her's.
"What you went through, what our father did... you don't deserve any of what he caused." She looked back up at the shade, they appeared slightly puzzled as they tilted their head.
"I... I know you do not understand." Hornet backed up slightly to bend down and pick up her needle, she stared back up at them.
"He... he did horrible things." Hornet began, feeling a sensation of frustration begin to bubble up inside her. She looked away, staring at the exit of the cave. She could feel her sibling's presence grow next to her, she looked over to them. They appeared curious, tilting their head.
"You want to know what he caused?" She said softly, Hollow then shook their head. Hornet felt hesitance pick at her, breathing in she responded by nodding.
"Okay, I can tell you everything I know." Hornet said, beginning to walk towards the exit. Hollow quietly floated next to her as they entered the desolate Forgotten Crossroads. Though Hornet silently trekked across the lands, Hollow wondered why their sibling was so reserved. They were traveling to the lower depths of the kingdom, from the Forgotten Crossroads they entered Fungal Wastes.
"This kingdom was never owned by our father, but an apparent benevolent deity that was worshipped by the ancient moth tribe." She explained as they traversed the mushroom covered area.
"The Higher Being believed in feral instincts, so bugs lived that way aside from the moths. However, when our father came he took the kingdom from the deity thus angering it. It is believed the Infection was caused as backlash due to our father's differentiating opinions on how bugs should think. But that's just the beginning." She said, but as she continued she realized her sibling had paused. Hornet halted and turned to face her sibling who was not too far away.
"Hollow?" Her sibling then began to drift back towards her, the only emotion Hornet could pick from her sibling was by their eyes but they always kept up a repetitive calm expression.
"If there's something that is bothering you, you know you can..." Hornet stopped as she began to realize, her voice lowering.
"You can... tell me..." she looked away, sighing to herself.
"You do not posses speech. I apologize for my ignorance." She said as she began to walk with Hollow following her close. As she continued forward Hollow suddenly came in front of her, making her pause. Before she could speak she watched as they pointed their finger once more, leading it down the crack on her pale mask. It then came down to the right eye socket of the veil and lifted, she inspected their finger and could see a tear drop fade into their void-made body. Hornet lifted a hand to the eye socket they had touched, feeling the mask that felt slightly damp from tears. Hornet looked down then shook her head, feeling slight irritation but also comfort from her sibling.
"I understand you care, but there is no time to weep." She stated, walking next to them then continuing forward. Hollow continued to follow their half sibling.