Chapter 2: i am but a simple traveler

"Language of Hallownest"
"English"

"Come no further, intruder and strange worm, lest you face the wrath of Hallownest." The female figure said, pulling out her blade and letting out a battle cry of some sort. Her shell was not one I was familiar with, despite my foggy memories of the land. Her weapon unfamiliar as well, a silken string connected to the end in some fashion.

"Galamah!" the strange bug cried, her red dress blowing in the wind. "So, you'd seek sacred Hallownest? Turn back, simple bug and unknown thing. This place is a corpse. It will grant only death. As will I, to those who'd seek to desecrate it." Ah, I see. A protector of the Kingdom then. I was worried there were none left.

"Hello up there! I'm only an explorer, I assure you. Here merely to witness. This nail I carry only to protect my shell and companion." I reply calmly, resting a hand onto the weathered blade at my side. "I avoid violence if I can."

The bug turned her head to Taylor, who had hidden behind my form to avoid notice, gaze taking in her strange clothing and fleshy carapace. "Your companion would be better off dying in the the wasteland than bring her influence into the Kingdom. Though she is not armed, the attention she brings will endanger the citizens within. You feel it too, do you not? The call within is something that might rouse the gaze of those long sealed." I hesitate, not knowing what she refers to. Long sealed?

She sighs, shaking her head slightly. "Yours is the stance of a warrior. Hallownest has already suffered enough like you." The dark gaze of Hallownest's protector stares down at me, and in an instant threw herself upon me, needle aiming to finish me with one strike.

"Gah!" I grunt in surprise, knocking it to the side. While her strength was not the most that I have encountered, her speed with the strange weapon was uncanny, using the string to throw herself forward with extra force. In a straight fight I had no doubts I would be able to hold my own, but defending Taylor as well forced me to limit myself.

Her silken line lashes out swirling unnaturally to reel the needle back for another swing. The line pulls her weapon at the last moment, her needle striking me from an unexpected angle and striking my mask upon my head with a loud clang.

In a burst of white light, a wave of force blasts both Taylor and the warrior away from me, stunning both of them as the light fades. Steam hisses off of the now uncomfortably warm mask upon my head, the energy within slowly returning after the defensive effect. I know from previous fights that if I were to look at the mask, detailed glowing lines and symbols now decorate the front as the energy fades.

"That mask..." the red cloaked warrior murmurs, staring at the design in recognition. With a blurring movement, she launches herself up to an outcropping a good ten feet above me, already sending another silken string ahead of herself to climb the cliff. "Something else calls you here, simple bug. Seek your wonders, but know you may find someone waiting." She glances at Taylor, who is now picking herself up off the ground after being knocked backwards from the blast. "Your inner worm may not hold much strength now, but beware the potential within as you continue. A metamorphosis will not bring what you desire should you end up on the wrong path. Choose wisely." With those confusing words, she leaps away into the shadows above.

"Ugh... What happened? Who was that?" Taylor asked from behind me, her strange accent reminding me of her presence.

"Hmm... How strange." I mutter, looking after the red cloaked figure as it darts away. I will have to remember to speak to that strange bug once more when I find out what she means. "It appears we have been allowed access to the Kingdom by its guardian." I reply, lost in thought.

"What did she say? I don't understand, fully." Taylor said, working her way through her vocabulary to speak. "A bug... and something about growth?"

I hum agreeably, humor filling my voice. Taylor really has improved dramatically since I found her. I know... (knew? It's been so long) bugs that took months to fully speak and write from birth. At least, those blessed by the grace of the Pale King.

I will admit, I am not anywhere near a proficient teacher. My efforts are better directed to swordplay, and even then I am self taught as far as I am aware. Taylor had been easily exhausted when she first joined me, but as we traveled at a constant pace she's risen to the task with fervor. It seems whatever she put her mind to she has achieved so far. It's simply astounding.

Of course, the words of warning that Hallownest's Protector spoke were true. I cannot disagree with that. Taylor has a pull within her. A feeling of adaptationnogrowthnochange- power. So familiar yet I do not know from where. I know that if she does not learn, she will eventually attract the wrong sort of attention.

"I can't explain what you ask, as you don't yet know the words. But I can draw it." I explain. Her bound tablet of fiber interests me greatly. Quite a large amount of information can be stored within such a thing, yet it will not last long in the elements.

She pulls out the strange tome, flipping to a thin sheet to draw on. The strange utensil she writes with was particularly fascinating to inspect. The mechanism within has to be made by a master craftsman or clock maker to be so small while performing such a simple task. Handing it to me, I draw out what the strange warrior had said to her, depicting a worm turning into a butterfly, and when the butterfly was born, other creatures turning to look at it. I spoke aloud what each thing was as I drew it, Taylor nodding along as she took in the new information. "It seems you have something about you that holds great potential. Room for growth. I feel it, she felt it, and many creatures within Hallownest will desire it. You are special, so you will need to prepare."

Taylor's expression twisted sharply. So strange is her carapace, so quick to change but does not provide any defense at all. "So, I'm a worm turning into a butterfly? What does that even mean? I... I'm not special. I don't have any powers, I'm not a damn cape!" she said, growing increasingly confused and slipping back into her language. "I don't want to draw attention from anyone. I never have and those damn bullies kept coming! I can't even fight to protect myself, could never even be powerful enough to escape, and now I'm told that growing stronger will draw unwanted attention?!"

I don't need to speak her language to understand her confusion, though I'm not exactly sure whether she's angry about the idea of being strong or the idea of change. Not wanting either is something I haven't personally considered. Strength isn't everything, and I don't search it out, but not wanting it is simply wishing death in this life that I live. Similarly, not wanting change will result in stagnation, never moving forward. One must face their fears to grow, but also know when to retreat and live to fight another day. It is understandable, some people never truly discover that which they fear. I would not be here today if I did not accept those lessons with open arms.

"Some bugs see more than others. Maybe there is something about you that is still not known." I offer. "You are still here, in a world not your own. Safe and sound. Many bugs would have died sooner. You are not as... weak as you know." She seems lost in thought as we continue the climb. Good. It's certainly better than ignoring the problem as a whole.

The ascent to the top of the cliffs takes a long time, and I feel as though I fall into a familiar daydream, lost in thought. The only things I truly remember about Hallownest is the things that appear in my dreams. In those dreams, I see the Kingdom. A world almost unreal, yet almost known. Winding roads. Misted caverns. Drowning Cities. And always a door, with something calling beyond. Something bound. I fear it, but I feel a strange necessity to know what this calling is. However, as of meeting Taylor, I have had a new dream. A dream of something more. A dream of gold and silver, a dream of twisting beings, a dream of something to counter the bound force within Hallownest. A chance for survival, and an ally on my quest.

Though I know not what these dreams foretell, I must continue onward. I was given this mask, this journey for a reason. I find it highly likely that I may fall and become lost on the way, but I know in my heart that I will live long enough to see this through.

Taking stock in the path once more, I feel the anticipation grow. The rocks ahead have become steeper and steeper, some locations requiring leaps over short gaps. Taylor takes the lead, and I follow, ensuring she does not fall. Her stamina is flagging. What once seemed like limitless energy while walking the wastes has now faded, the seemingly eternal climb robbing her of her strength. At one point we rest briefly within a small cave, taking a break to refill with water trickling down a rock face. Taylor gasps as we enter, gazing up at a lazily drifting cloud of Lumaflies, each small insect hovering in the air, creating the semblance of a night's sky.

"It's so pretty..." she mutters, staring up at it all. "Do you know what the stars are like here?"

I nod absentmindedly. "It's been such a long time since I've seen the sky without clouds. I can't quite remember." I admit, checking all of the gear was properly strapped onto my back. Most of the items I own were moved to my back to allow Taylor freer movement. She insisted on holding it, but we could both tell she would have much more trouble with it.

She glances at the ceiling for a brief moment longer before we continue, heading into a steep hallway carved into the rock face.

"Aahh... the King's Pass." I say, gesturing at the worn smooth floor of the cave and the more organized steps that have been placed. "Once a road for pilgrimage- ah, travel," I correct at her confused expression. "It is now an empty cave where small insects scuttle in the darkness. I do not remember why it was sealed, nor what happened to the pilgrims."

The empty stone passageway echoes with our footsteps, the small grasses and plants now becoming more prominent. Finally, a sign of life!

Small Crawlids scurry by on the floor, barely reaching halfway to Taylor's knees. She takes great interest in the different types of bugs out here, the large size attracting her attention. Though she isn't aware of it, they have an interest in her as well. She actually tried to pet one of the Crawlids, but accidentally cut her hand on the spined shell. Her disheartened expression was so unexpected I nearly laughed, though I reminded her that they don't have the intelligence to know good from bad, and simply saw her as a threat. After that she was much more careful when around the lesser bugs, her cut still open on her hand. A shame I don't have any spare materials to bandage it with.

The Vengeflies in particular catch her attention, finding them rather unfamiliar and not a species she recognizes. They are numerous, the screeching increasing whenever we pass by, but they are dealt with easily. I have to admit that I'm a bit worried. These insects are not usually as aggressive as they are now, usually isolated out in the wastes. Either our presence or something about this kingdom is causing them to be more agitated than usual. It's just enough to keep me on edge as we pass through.

"Hey Quirrel, what's that?" Taylor calls out as I dispatch another Vengefly that tried to attack us. Her interest is clear, different from the exhausted tone in the previous short conversations we had on the way up. I turn, looking over at some writing on a sign, still as pristine as the day it was written. Strange swirls cover the plaque, and I frown at the unfamiliar writing. "I... I can read that. I can read that!" Taylor says, staring at it. I narrow my gaze. The words are not any I recognize, and not of the strange symbols that make up her Een-glysh.

Ah. That's what this is. I had my suspicion, though I do not know why. "Really? What does it say?" I ask, head tilting in concern. For I am unable to read the words before her. No normal bug can, except those of higher being.

"Let me see..." she mutters, running her injured hand over it, wincing as she irritated the cut and got some blood atop the sign. She leaned in to inspect the words closer, and I blink in surprise. A faint white light covers her hand as she reads, healing the wound. What is...

Taylor continues, not noticing the strange occurrence. "I believe it says: 'Higher beings, these words are for you alone. Your great strength marks you amongst us. Focus your soul and you shall achieve feats of which others can only dream.'" She reads aloud in her own language.

Glancing at me uncertainly, she shrugs. "Er, I don't know how to say these words in a way you'd understand. It says only some bugs can read it, and it teaches me how to focus my soul? I don't understand. Some kind of instructions? I don't feel too different... But I do? I can't explain it." She quickly wrote down the sentences in her book for reference.

I nod in thought. "Those words are of a higher knowledge, words only the King and the more powerful bugs can comprehend." Her eyes widen, realizing the implications after a brief moment, remembering the cryptic meaning of the red warrior from earlier. "In the future, I would prefer if you did not read that aloud. Such things are only to be read by those who hold the ability, not for such a lesser insect as myself. I know not why you can read them, but this is a sign you shouldn't think of yourself so poorly, no? Not just any bug can do that."

Taylor was silent for a bit longer as they continued walking, rubbing her hand absentmindedly. "I guess I'll just have to wait and see." She said after a while.

She continues down the pathway, and I follow.

Many turns later, something has changed! It took me but a moment to realize, but the strange change was not something new, but something removed! The wind has vanished from these halls, and the lack of sound is relief to my ears. How wonderful.

Taylor has noticed as well, and determinedly is continuing up the cliff side. The ground beneath us is gradually leveling out, and the surrounding area is changing to a different material. Instead of enormous rocks, there are now shells ranging from small enough to hold to twice my size. A sign of our destination quickly approaching.

Finally, the halls open up on to the clifftop, a thin cloud layer still blocking the sky. However, the ground beneath our feet is paved, and actual steps lead to another descent, and then lights from a town in the distance. Taylor is extremely excited, the first sign of civilization in ages, right before her. Lumafly lanterns line the path, ending at the final descent into the King's Pass.

As we move in silence going under the ground once more to descend to the town, we approach another strange tablet, one I still cannot read. Taylor walks up to it and runs her hand over it, reading the words to herself. I am unable to read them, and the way she looks at them, it's almost reverent. I suppose finally being able to read something for the first time in this world is a new experience entirely. Remembering my request to not tell me what they say, she mumbles it to herself.

"Higher beings, these words are for you alone. Within our lands do not hide your true form. Let all bask in your majesty, for only this kingdom could produce ones such as you." Taylor whispers, closing her eyes with a sigh, resting her head against the tablet. I nearly ask her what it says, the temptation urging me to, but I refrain.

Once she has decided something within herself, we continue to move, climbing platforms and walls to progress, each one too high for her to simply leap upon to. Minutes pass as we finally reach an enormous set of doors, towering over us twenty... no, thirty feet tall as we approach. I (remember? notice?) that they have been closed for quite some time. That hasn't been done in ages... or so I think.

One last plaque lies besides the doorway, and Taylor reads it aloud once more, eagerly, almost as if grasping at something that is not there. "Higher beings, these words are for you alone. Beyond this point you enter the land of King and Creator. Step across this threshold and obey our laws. Bear witness to the last and only civilisation, the eternal Kingdom. Hallownest." She smiles, realizing this means the end of the endless walking. I do so as well, directing her around the doors and to a smaller hole that seems to have been made in order to enter. As we exit the doorway, the small town in the middle of this desolate valley entering our view, I know we can rest.

Finally, a conclusion to this journey. Now another one will begin, leading to areas once known, now in mystery. I look forward to it.

I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, it's interesting to write Quirrel when even he doesn't know too much about himself. I might adjust how he thinks at some points because he's both an open book and entirely unknown thanks to missing memories. Let me know if anything in particular feels off.