Vessels and Tears (Archived Version)

A Vessels Guide to Food

 You held a cookie in your nub like hands that you stole from the kitchen. Stealing from the kitchen was easier here than you would think, so you stole a stack of cookies that were just sitting there on a counter. The stack sat next to you, on a leaf you had found while exploring. You looked at the cookie and you felt hunger creep up where your stomach should be.
Quickly, you shoved the cookie where your mouth should be. To no avail, it crumbled right at contact and you tried over an dover, with a new cookie every time, and eventually frustrated, gave up with the cookie plan. No matter where you put the cookie or what you did with it, you didn't absorb it, didn't consume it, and certainly didn't get any less hungry.
You huffed and plopped down on the floor. Crossing your arms, you simply stared into nothing as thirst kicked in as well. This was going no where.
But alas, your savior arrived. Dryya, looking disgruntled, came into the room and paused mid step. What was with her and pausing like that?! She eyes the cookies and continues through the door, plopping down next to you and sighing.
"Kid, I've been a jerk, but I don't want to apologize because they deserve it. What do I do?" Funny. She came to a mute for advice. You made a gesture to try to get her attention. She looked down and you pretended to write with an imaginary pen on your hand. She looked at you confused before it clicked and she quickly said "I'll be right back."
Leaping up, she ran out and came back with a stone tablet and what looked like chalk. Handing them to you, you wrote "As long as you mean well, You don't need to. And if its for revenge, that's fine too." Handing her the tablet, she read and looked shocked.
"Oh my wyrm kid!! You can write?! H-How?! What?! I-I... Holy Shi-" Running out again, she came back with Pale in her arms, bridal style, trying to stutter out words of shock. When she found that impossible, she handed him the slate and he had a similar reaction. "Who taught you this?" he calmly asked, attempting not to panic.
You shrugged. What else were you supposed to do? Pale handed you the slate and watched you etch in the words "I have my ways." "You're smarter than you look, Rift."
Rift? Was that supposed to be your name? It sounded cool. Gently taking the tablet once more, he stated "You have classes later today. Today you have combat. Hopefully SOMEONE doesn't go too hard on you." He shot Dryya a look of venom much to your amusement.
Just then, Mom burst in yelling "Wyrm, I am NOT done with you- awww, hi sweetie!" Upon seeing you, her mood drastically changed from seemingly angry to happy and calm. She walked to Pale and took the slate. "Interesting..." How in the name of heck did she know what was going on? Did she also "Have her ways"?
Picking you up and looking at the mess of cookies, she looked to Pale and said "You're on food duty. You get to feed them. Because I don't even know how to!" Handing you over to your half helpful father, she peaced out of there and went to do hell knows what.
"Well Rift, are you going too eat the cookies?" Dryya asked hopefully. You wormed out of Pales hands and handed her a cookie. The look in her eyes was a mixture of "This is the nicest thing that anyone has ever done" and "Wait I was kidding". She took the cookie and she seemed to absorb it. Jealousy hit you. Why couldn't you eat?!
You took a cookie and shoved it in your face, and STILL it did not work. Pale and Dryya laughed at your frustrated attempts at ingesting the crispy, sweet, and slightly filling cookie.
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"Lesson number three!! How to focus." Oh BOY classes were absolute pain. Dryya was a tough teacher, Hollow was 20 times better at everything, your nail was 3 times your size, and you were very tired. Breathing heavily, you sat pressed against a wall, Hollow next to you, and Dryya giving you a look.
"Its an old trick, where you take soul you've collected from striking enemies and 'focus' it so you last longer in battle." You of course already knew this, but how was a different story. "Hollow, you should have enough to do it properly after beating the ever living heck out of Rift. I have to say, its pretty entertaining, but that's not the point. Crouch down and stare at the ground is my advice, you'll feel less tired in a sec."
Hollow did as they were told, staring intently at the ground and crouching. It took a few seconds, but their cloak began moving due to unfelt winds from under their feet. Eventually he glowed for a split second and the focus was complete. "Good job!!" Dryya exclaimed before looking at your slumped form and sighing. "Your turn, lets see if you have the soul for it."
You did what you were told and crouched, staring at the ground but the focus never came. After a solid minute, it became clear that you didn't have the soul. Perfect. Cant eat, cant drink, cant rest, cant speak, cant focus, whats next?!
You angrily sighed and flopped over. Clutching your horns, you felt ashamed. Why couldn't you just be a normal vessel?! Wait. Wait wait wait. You stopped for a second and rethought your words. You weren't a vessel. You were a human in a vessels body. Were you really just going to except that you would never go home?
Did your parents even know you were gone? Did they call the police as report you? Or did time stop? You thought about this and sighed in defeat. You just wanted to go home... was that wrong? You were in Hollow Knight for hecks sake!!
Dryya handed you a cookie and said "focus on this? Sounds crazy but it actually might work." You looked at the cookie sadly and got up, taking it in your palms and crouching. The most incredible thing followed.
You absorbed the cookie. It disappeared and the pain in your stomach vanished. You stared in shock at yourself. You stared at Dryya. Hollow Stared at Dryya. Dryya stared at you. You stared at Hollow. Hollow stared at you. Dryya stared down at the floor. "I-.. am very confused. Class dismissed, I need a nap and some form of an answer." And with that she walked out. You honestly didn't understand the confusion, you absorbed a cookie and figured out how to not starve. Now you could drink water and NOT die. Finally something good came from this day.
You shrugged and left the arena like place where classes were held. Off to find mom, you wanted a hug.

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Chapter three done my friends. HECK YEAAAAAHHH did you like it? I hope so. Sorry for any errors. I cant be bothered to fix them. Erase and ascend, next chapter soon, peace.