Hollow Knight: Hallownest

"Moss... a prophet?"

Bumblebee's words were still nasal at this time, but he was suddenly distracted and was completely unaware of it.

"Yes, Moss Prophet. Of course, you can call me Kotiste. This name is difficult to remember, so most believers still call me by my title."

His voice was clear and youthful, and since he didn't look old at all from his appearance, Bumblebee was a little suspicious for a moment.

Prophet?

Is there such a strange ability in this world?

"I can see your doubts, but please believe that fate always has a way to go. Trust the guidance of your heart, and it will lead you to a distant future."

As Kotiste muttered, his head shook from side to side, which made him look a little funny.

"You mean, you can see what happens in the future?" Bumblebee's dull eyes lit up a little.

“The branches and leaves called the present spread out towards the past and the future. If you observe their patterns, you will definitely gain something.”

Kotiste remained silent and said something that made her confused.

Bumblebee calmed down and thought about it. These few sentences did not make it clear. He kept muttering "fate, past, and future" over and over again.

She couldn't think of it anyway, and after thinking carefully for a long time, she finally figured out the meaning from the words.

All he said was two words - "I understand".

If we can predict the future, can we intervene or change it? And find a feasible way to change the fate of the mother?

Thinking of this, Bumblebee hurriedly stood up from the ground, tidied himself up simply, bowed to Kotiste, and spoke reverently.

"In that case, can I ask you for advice? I have a difficult question in my mind."

Kotiste smiled faintly, crawled forward two more steps, his eyes almost touching the Bumblebee's head.

If it were in another world, at this distance, they would either kiss or fight.

Bumblebee's body stiffened instantly, not daring to even breathe, and she just let Costist stare at her like that. It was not until he retracted his neck after a while that she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your eyes are cloudy, just like the yellowed grass leaves beside me. You can barely see a little life. It seems that the problem is indeed a devil, constantly destroying your heart."

"Well, the God of Vitality is willing to show you the way."

Kotiste said a long speech, and finally mentioned something that Bumblebee wanted to hear at the end.

"Then can you tell me..."

She was about to ask the question excitedly, but was suddenly interrupted by Kotiste.

"No need to speak. I have already climbed up the trunk of fate and am looking towards the branch that belongs to you."

He closed his eyes tightly, frowning slightly. "The newly born bud lacked spiritual energy, but it was nourished and grew later, with branches and leaves luxuriant. It once grew stronger after experiencing wind and rain, but when it was about to flourish, its momentum was cut off and it bent backwards."

"You are nostalgic for the past, unwilling to accept the present, yet eager to change the future, walking alone on the wrong path."

Bumblebee had been listening in silence, but suddenly his heart skipped a beat and his fists clenched and trembled.

Wrong path?

What is the wrong path?

Is it true that everything I have done so far has no meaning at all?

Of course, she would not completely deny her efforts because of what Costist said, but she would be affected by it to some extent.

"Prophet, do you really see where those branches and leaves are heading?"

She didn't believe in evil and wanted to see if the prophet in front of her was just trying to gain fame.

Costit was not at all annoyed by Bumblebee's questioning. He signaled Bumblebee to look behind him.

“When a giant tree falls, its leaves return to its roots. Even the most insignificant rootless moss has something to cling to.”

"You have a strong personality, but are easily dominated by the softness of your heart. The former is what you lack, and the latter is what you nurture."

"It's not you who are in need, it's the one who raises you that's the hardest. You must be worried about your mother, first father and then mother."

He spoke slowly, but with a unique rhythm.

In just three short sentences, Bumblebee felt dazed, as if time had passed and she had once again gone from a staggering little girl to the present day.

Kotiste was right, it was like watching her grow up.

"Forgive my offense, Master Prophet, I need your help."

"Please, save my mother."

Bumblebee no longer had any doubts, completely let down his guard, and looked at Kotiste expectantly.

The latter shook his head: "I can't save your mother, and neither can you."

“This is not our destiny.”

Fortunately, Costist didn't have the habit of speaking only half a sentence, otherwise Bumblebee would have pulled out his bone nails and attacked during the previous sentence.

Because of this sentence, although her expression was still ugly, it was much better than before.

The last sentence gave her hope.

"Then, whose fate is that? You mean, my mother won't die, right? She will live, right?"

Bumblebee's questions came like a barrage of questions, and she was too anxious to keep calm.

At this time, Kotiste had become the last hope in her heart.

Seeing that he closed his eyes and did not answer for a long time, Bumblebee quickly reacted and took out all the Geo he had with him and placed them in front of himself.

"Mr. Prophet, this is all I can give you. Please be sure to tell me!"

She thought that Costist was asking for payment but was too embarrassed to ask.

After he finished speaking, Kotiste still did not open his eyes. Instead, his expression became more painful, as if he was trapped in a nightmare.

After a long time, Bumblebee finally saw him open his eyes, but the clarity in them was no longer there, but had become a little turbid, and he looked exhausted.

He looked a little... scared?

"May the God of Life bless us, keep us from being tainted by filth, and keep our hearts honest and clear..."

From the moment he came back to his senses, Kotiste began to pray, like an insecure child constantly looking for his mother's arms.

After a long while, Bumblebee was getting impatient and was about to interrupt when Kotiste finally stopped talking and looked back at her.

"I saw the entanglement of light and shadow, I saw death overshadowing life, and I saw a war unprecedented in history."

"It was a supreme battle, but it was ended by an ordinary figure."

"Its figure is tall and silent, containing all the madness."

Bumblebee listened attentively and asked the last sentence nervously: "Is it it? It saved my mother?"

Kotiste raised his head, looking somewhere with admiration in his eyes.

"It is this, the existence that shouldn't exist..."

“It saved everything.”