Was it going to attack? Would it die now that I had freed it? There were too many questions running through my mind, but more than anything, I was curious as to what would happen. Just in case, I activated my Greater Wind Manipulation skill and summoned magic circles around me.
It doesn’t look too strong now, but you can never be too safe… Wait, is it moving?
The metal fingers from its glove shivered to life as it reached for its sword. Still face down on the ground, its arm meekly stretched out and grasped the hilt of a steel sword.
It still wants to fight?! I’m not sensing any hostility from it, though. What’s its goal?
I felt Veyra’s voice enter my mind, “Atlas… its body is… damaged.” She gestured to its legs.
It was just as she said, the armour around its legs was both cracked and smashed in, probably too much for it to walk. The chest plate and arms weren’t as bad, but it wasn’t likely to move as well as the other knights had.
It’s probably in pain. I winced from watching it. Should I put it out of its misery? It’s probably better than struggling in pain for the rest of its life.
As a magic circle appeared over my head, Veyra jumped in front of me.
“N-no! Don’t…no killing!” She threw her hands out to the side, protecting them behind a scowl.
Alright, alright, I get it! I answered back through her telepathy. I won’t kill it! It was just a suggestion. For now, how about trying to talk to it?
I was honestly a little glad she spoke out like that. I didn’t like the idea of killing things that didn’t want to hurt me, even if it would have helped put them out of pain. It felt…evil.
That being said, it was clearly in pain and hurt all over, but still hadn’t shown any blood. Not even so much as a hint of flesh under those revealed spots of its armour. I couldn’t help thinking that maybe there wasn’t anything under it in the first place. That the armour was its body.
Veyra focused for a minute and let out a small sigh, as if she had held her breath the entire time. She shot me a look that said, ‘I tried my best, but nothing…’
I didn’t think so. It’s a monster after all, there’s no guarantee it could communicate with us. Wait, wouldn’t the status be different now? I glanced over to confirm, and the system sprang to life with a string of notifications.
{Armoured Hollow Spirit Lv12}
{Status: Damaged (Major)}
{A species of spirit known for its loyalty and quiet demeanour. Often mistaken for monsters, they do not attack intelligent creatures unless provoked}
Its title changed! So the Parasitic Rose was responsible for making them mindless monsters. Well, at least I know it’s not hostile in this state. My eyes glanced over the notification again and extended my thoughts to Veyra.
What’s a spirit? How’s that different from a monster?
“Hm? They’re creatures that…aren’t born.” She replied very matter-of-factly.
Creatures that aren’t born? How does that work…?
“Hard to explain…” She tapped her finger against her lip, deep in thought. “They’ve been around…long time. Some are created from summonings, and others… by strong will. That’s what my people told me… at least.” Veyra walked up to the Hollow and placed her hand out, wanting to touch its leg, but stopped when it twitched. “It’s kind… I can feel it.” She said confidently. Her hand rested over the metal shell of its leg and cascaded against it with soft strokes.
The Armoured Hollow's leg trembled as it rose from the ground, using its sword for support. It nearly raised its shoulders past the sword, but fell down before it could fully stand.
My floating arms flew out and supported it upright. I felt a little hopeless without a way to heal it, so it was the least I could do. The spirit's dim white eyes flickered as it met my gaze, and I wasn’t sure what it felt or thought, but it seemed a little more lively now.
Veyra, can’t you heal it with some kind of magic or skill? I extended my thoughts.
She bit her lip, nervous to reply. “No…I can’t use my magic without saying…incantations.” She extended her hand to try, but not a sound escaped her throat, no matter how much she mouthed the words.
Damn it, is there really nothing we can do? I cursed.
“Oh!” Her face livened up, “I can ask…other spirits.” The corners of her mouth curled as she brought her hands together in prayer.
Her eyes shut, and I could feel the link to her telepathy cut off. Whatever she was doing, it seemed like she had high hopes it’d work, so I just went along with it. All I could do was stand back and watch, hoping for the best. Quite honestly, Veyra made it a habit to surprise me lately, so even I felt a bit of hope rise.
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Then, as if something answered her prayers, small specs of light glinted through the air around her in a spectrum of colours. They circled the Hollow and gently hovered over its metal body, enveloping its figure in the same enticing light.
I felt the lingering traces of magic in the air, but it didn’t feel like a spell or skill, but rather something much more…organic. It was something I hadn’t experienced before, but I took every second to study it in trance.
“That should do it…” Veyra wiped the sweat from her forehead. A satisfied look overcame her as she watched the armoured spirit glow under the light.
What happened?
“I asked…lesser spirits to heal it.” Veyra’s eyes remained on the Hollow with care.
My jaw dropped slightly. I didn’t know you could talk to spirits. Could I do that too one day? A tinge of excitement wrapped over my tone as I asked through telepathy.
Veyra averted her eyes, which told me everything I needed to know. Nevertheless, I still held out hope.
“Probably not… Elves all have better connections to the spirits than most races. Besides…I’ve never heard of a golem speaking to…spirits.”
Somehow her explanation felt twice as brutal than if she hadn’t said anything at all. Either way, asking lesser spirits seemed to do the trick. The armoured spirit stood up on its own and regained some strength in the knees, as it took on a wide stance without my help.
Veyra, try talking to it now. I asked.
She went silent again and turned to me a few moments later, concerned.
“Atlas… there’s no response.”
Nothing at all? Didn’t you say it spoke to you before?
“I thought it did, but…” Veyra’s face was plagued with concern as she stared at the armoured spirit's blank expression. “It’s completely silent.”
Something felt off about that thing. It was alive and free of the control of the Parasitic Rose, and yet it somehow still gave off the presence of a doll. A living being without its own free will.
I hovered forward, past Veyra and approached the armoured spirit. I directed my thoughts to Veyra,
Can you relay my thoughts to it?
She nodded in response, and I began my message.
You’re free now to do as you wish, as long as you don’t attack either of us. If you don’t want to talk to us, then you’re free to go.
The Hollow turned its head to the side, as if contemplating leaving right at that moment. There was nothing but wispy white mist in every direction around us. After a brief moment of distant gazing, it turned back to me with the same cold silence it had shown until that point.
Are you not going? I practically barked, then turned to Veyra to confirm.
“Hey, I'm telling it everything you tell me to...” She responded, equally as confused.
The Hollow stood there, without any movement or sound. It was a little unsettling, like it was waiting for me to do something important.
W-well… we’ll be going then.
With that, I hesitantly pulled away and continued onward with Veyra at my side. Both of us snuck glances over our shoulders to see where it would go, but to our surprise, it continued following us. At first, I thought it would stop or get the message, but it never left the circle I created in the mist.
Maybe it doesn’t want to be left in the mist again? I asked Veyra.
“I think…it wants to follow us. You did save it after all.”
The thought crossed my mind briefly, but I didn’t think it was actually possible. The Hollow seemed a little standoffish, so I imagined it didn’t really care about being around other people. Only that it was free. Seeing how determined it was to stay with us, I gave in and decided to talk to it again.
Veyra, sorry, but could you relay my thoughts again? I felt bad for asking, but it was my only option since neither one of us was able to speak.
Veyra’s cheeks puffed slightly as she faced the Hollow.
“I suppose.” The remark travelled sharply into my mind, like a backhand.
Are you afraid of the mist? I waited for a response, but nothing came through from Veyra. Is it really just about coming with us? Alright… then if you really want to join the party, you’ll have to pull your weight, alright? I said jokingly, hoping it would react, but the small knight raised its sword at its side, as if to prove its resolve.
Are you serious…?
I was mostly joking, hoping it would give a reaction, but I guess the armoured spirit really did just want to join us. Since I already said it could, it felt too late to say it couldn’t come anymore.
Fine then, you can join us. But before we continue, we need to know your name. Wait, do you have one? I waited for Veyra’s response, but judging from the nervous shake of her head, she probably was met with silence again.
Not even willing to shake for no…? I murmured to myself. If it doesn’t have a name, we’ll just have to call it something else. I wonder if naming it something too extravagant would make it bitter to us? Well, to be fair, how much worse could it be when it’s not even speaking to either of us? Just in case, I'd better stick to something plain.
I thought about it for a few seconds, and after staring at its nameplate, an idea came to mind. I got a bit excited and immediately turned to Veyra.
{Armoured Hollow Spirit Lv12}
Ah! Veyra, ask it if the name, Hollow, is fine? A smile wrapped over my face.
There was a brief pause as Veyra construed the message. Instead of a response, the Armoured Spirit stepped in front of me and bent down to one knee. Its sword dropped at its side, almost scaring me with the sudden motion. I watched in awe as its head lowered with almost regal action.
Without any words, it felt incredibly formal. The whole thing reminded me of the knight movies I used to watch in the hospital, where kings would appoint a knight to fight for them. I had read in the books I got from Rorick that knights existed in this world, but I never expected a random spirit out in a remote village ruins to act that way.
The scene of it all brought a crack in my stone face as I let out a harty laugh, Ha-ha, it seems like it liked the name. It’s settled, I’ll call you Hollow from now on. I thought to myself, and suddenly heard the familiar tone of a system notification pop up in front of me.
{You have successfully named a spirit creature}
{Target,
{You have gained the skill
{Bond Established. Naming Authority recognised.
{Mental Link to
{You have gained the skill
?