You spent a bit of time observing the halls of the tent as you made your way outside. The town here was small and less populated than the City of Tears ever was, but that was to be expected due to the city being the central place in all of Hallownest. This town was quiet and very few people moved about as if they were in a rush instead, they walked from place to place with calm chatting here or there. Though one thing came across as confusing as you began to notice it.
Bugs of a similar look ran around and played with one another as children would. They all wore the same monocolored gray cloaks with pure white shells as their heads and different shaped horns that were positioned on top of their heads. Their eyes were wide empty chasms with little signs of expression. Overall, there had to be about fifteen to twenty of them all playing collectively in a silent game of tag, as none spoke or even made a noise. The only noise they produced was the sound of their tiny black feet shuffling about, kicking the pebbles on the ground as they ran. They only reached your waist in height, and it was as if they were all children. Your eyes traced the open area they played in as you saw a girl sitting by a building reading aloud to another one of those tiny bugs. You decided that maybe you could approach her since your curiosity was peaked about all these tiny children.
As you approached the girl she looked up from her reading which caused the small bug next to her to also look up at you, it was a moth. The girl had large dark red eyes that shined ever so slightly and a pink fluffy body. Her neck was covered by yellow fluff that donned her wrists, feet and the hem of her cloak which was a lighter pink than her body. Her yellow feathered antenna then perked up as she gave you a sweet smile and shut the book.
“Why, hello there traveler! What brings you to the Crossroads?” She asked in a very light and sweet voice as if you took something sweet and dipped it in sugar. She was a bubbly personality you could tell already and her voice was just the cherry on the top of the cake. You gave her a kind smile as you shifted your weight from one leg to the other.
“I came with the Grimm Troupe to perform in this town, I was just simply looking around and noticed all these little guys running around.” You explained, the moth girl glanced around you and saw the red tents all the way at the other end of her town and she looked a bit uneasy at the sight of it. Though she brushed it away easily and smiled at you when she heard you ask about the small bugs.
“Ah, you don’t know about vessels? Then you must not be from around here naturally.”
“No, I originally came from another land. Though I’ve heard about the history of vessels and Hallownest.” You explained as she stood up and tucked the book under her arm, the creature beside her merely followed. They had a bandage wrapped around their head right under their horns and from the small cracks by their eyes you assumed they had been damaged at some point.
“To start off on the right foot, I am Rosella. Call me Rosie though. This here is Tilla, she is one of the many vessels I care for and look after. Vessels are creations made by the Pale King long ago to hopefully have one that would hold the infection caused by the Goddess Radiance. Only one was used, the Hollow Knight, and once chosen they locked the rest away assuming they would not see the light of day. That didn’t really work since many did find their way out of the Abyss like The Kight known as Ghost who truly saved us all. To this day, vessels still roam Hallownest that had escaped the Abyss and survived the harshest times and I take care of those who find their way to me and need help. I ensure they have a place to stay, to recover before leaving to travel to other lands or a permanent home for those who don’t wish to travel. Tilla here is one of the first vessels I have come to care for after the Goddess Radiance fell and my people began to die out.” She explained as she began leading you to the vessels that were playing tag. You looked at her and tilted your head a bit to the side as you asked,
“Your people?”
“Here in Hallownest, there used to be a tribe of moths who could manipulate the power of dreams. We used this to appease the Goddess herself but soon renounced our faith to her once the Pale King came to power. That was one of the many reasons she caused the infection, due to her anger of us turning our back to her. That was long before my time, but now I am one of the very few moths alive from that tribe and I may as well be the last one alive. I accept the fate of my people that way. What I do by helping these now purposeless vessels is a thank you from my people to the two who fixed the mistakes we made.” She motioned to the group of vessels who stopped playing to rush up to Rosie and you. She let out a light giggle as they did this and they hugged her legs. It brought a smile to your face as some of the vessels even walked right up to you and hugged your legs. They were clearly harmless and had such sweet personalities. It baffled you how someone could just use them to be locked away and keep something hidden.
“That is such a sweet thing you do, Rosie.” You told her and she gave you a gentle smile.
“Thank you. By the way, what’s your name traveler?” She asked.
“I’m Y/n.” You introduced yourself and Rosie seemed to blink a bit surprised and mumbled your name to herself, before shaking off the weird facial expression and swapping it for her usually sweet one.
“Well Y/n, I hope you enjoy your time here in town. If you’re here with the troupe, maybe I’ll see them. I remember stories about them and their leader.” She mumbled the last part before clearing her throat. “It’s time for dinner for these guys though. So I need to get to work on food. Come on, guys!” she ushered most of them to follow her, though Tilla looked up at you with curiosity in her empty eyes. She seemed amazed by you, almost fascinated as Rosie could only smile at her. “She likes newcomers. Alright Tilla, just come inside soon." She said before bringing all the other vessels inside. You decided to take a seat on the ground to spend time with Tilla.
She never spoke a word, she never had a mouth to do so. Though her deep eyed filled with nothing but void showed emotions like no others, content, and friendliness. She had short curved horns, one broken halfway off. Though the bandages in place seemed to be made to ensure her horns stayed where they were. You felt pity for her, how a sweet child-like creature had been put through so much. Only wanting love and affection from her family before inevitably being cast into a dark pit. Told she was not supposed to live if she felt love.
You pressed a small smile to your face as she wrapped her small black arms around your waist and sat on your lap while you sat on the ground.
"You're such a sweetie." You told her as you gently patted her back. It still took you by surprise how this kingdom once was and how others were still deeply impacted. After a second or two you noticed the sound of slowly approaching footsteps which made you look up. Your eyes landed on Grimm who had a warm smile on his face. His red eyes squinted a bit at the corners to express how his smile was. Tilla saw him and tilted her head in curiosity before getting up and approaching him.
"I didn't expect you to find me here." You told him with a soft laugh that earned the same from him.
"Well. I just wanted to check on you but I see you've made another friend." He teased you as he crouched down to Tilla's height to greet her. "And hello to you little buddy." To which Tilla waved with both arms.
"Her name is Tilla," you told him. Grimm's expression shifted to impressed as he spoke,
"A her. Never have I heard a vessel adopt a gender for themselves. Names I know have happened, but never a preferred gender."
"Why?" You asked simply while getting up to walk over to Grimm and Tilla. Tilla waved her arms above her head until Grimm caught the signs and lifted her up. When he did so, she seemed even more content. It warmed your heart to see how gentle and caring he was with something smaller than himself by a lot.
"Vessels lost their gender during the process of being only a void being. They are usually meant to be but a blank slate of a being, thus why the Pale King used one to try and seal Radiance away. Though nothing really can be void of life. Not even the one who killed her was completely void, they had so much life to them or so my mother said.” he explained while gently handling Tilla. You tilted your head at what he said.
“Your mother knew Ghost?”
“Yes, they were extremely close. Like siblings, since she had lost all her family to the infection at that time. I remember them faintly in my early childhood, the last time I saw them was before their fight with Radiance my mother spoke of letting me go along. In hopes deep down my father would get his desire to end her horrible actions. I don’t remember anything else, about the fight or how it all happened. Though when I came to I can only remember my mother sobbing over Ghost’s broken shell, and then burying them in Dirtmouth. It was eerily strange, but talking about that day brought my mother deep pain and sorrow so I avoided it at all costs. Though every winter she would travel to their grave and play a beautifully sad song on her violin. They met while she was playing, and so she would play for them every year. I hope before she died she had the ability to play for them since I do believe winter is coming around again in Dirtmouth.” He told the lengthy story, lifting his head up and tilting it a bit as he thought about his mother and her actions. While he did so, Tilla's eyes looked to where Rosie had left and signaled to be put down.
Grimm set her down after being motioned to causing you to both watch her scurry off to Rosie who waited by the door of her home for Tilla to return. Rosie looked at you and Grimm, giving a shy wave when she realized Grimm was there. When Tilla reached her the two of them headed inside leaving Grimm and you alone. Both of you remained in a small silence before Grimm let out a soft sigh.
"I think I've gotten a long enough break. Wish to join me on a walk back to the tent? I need to practice for our performance, you can come watch me if you would like." He offered as he held out his hand for you to take. You didn't hesitate to take his soft and warm hand as you gave him a playful smile.
"I would love to see you practice. I'm sure it'll sound great." You told him, and you could swear you saw a slight blush cover his cheeks as you said that and began walking back.
This one was really fun to do. Rosie is a character I made not that long ago, and Tilla is one I made up on the spot today. They're adorable, and I enjoyed writing this as we now enter a new arc of the book. I'll see you again tomorrow! Ciao!
-S_I_R