Diary of Breta:

Entrance #1: "I still can't remember how deep, but it certainly wasn't a very sensible decision. For a long time I really thought it would be the end of me, destined to die, alone and abandoned, in such a dark place. The seconds ticked by like countless hours in which I saw my life slipping away in front of my eyes, my terror of being devoured, or even worse, being consumed by the Radiance became greater and greater. Ironically, the light that I saw at the end of the path manifested itself in front of me. like a being of darkness. A brave knight like I had never seen before. In my eyes he was big, powerful, with a warm aura that made my whole being freeze when I saw him and my words choke with nervousness. A silent knight, that took my heart away."

Entrance #2: "His presence was like a flash before my eyes. A singular brilliance that absorbed all the light at once. The only one who dared to go out of his way to rescue me from my tragic fate. But fate is cruel, and the mysterious being He had to continue on his way, but not before clearing the way for me to return safely to Dirtymouth. A place where I finally found peace and tranquility. When I asked the residents about the mysterious being, they all agreed on their descriptions: a strange being of few words, but with a great sense of responsibility. He was called by many names. Adventurer, little guy, the gentleman, among others, but for me he will always become my hero."

Entry #5:"I can't believe what just happened. My hero returned to Dirtymouth. He wandered around and visited Iselda and Cornifer's store, only to then return to the Deer Station. Still, I'm almost certain he smiled at me when he he walked past me. For the White King. He had to think my words through greeting him and not say something nonsense. And it was very moving when I saw him wave back with his mighty arm. He's just very charming."

Entry 9:"I'm so excited! I was sitting quietly on the town bench when my hero showed up. And he sat down next to me! I couldn't believe what was happening! But there he was. I got really nervous and my heart started pounding! uncontrollably. I had to hold my hands to hide my nervousness. He was drawing on a map he had, as if he was completely calm next to me. I encouraged myself to greet him, and he looked at me with a warm smile. After a few seconds he got up and came back Deer station. I've never been so nervous before."

Entry 12:"To the Pale King! To the Pale King! Today it happened again. The hero sat next to me and... fell asleep. When I felt him resting on me I felt like my body wanted to explode with emotion. I literally I could feel it, see his face close to mine, feel his breath. I could feel my face on fire with emotion, and it was even hard for me to breathe. When he got up it was very funny to see him apologize over and over again, but I couldn't do more than blush."

Entry 17:"It's been a long time since I've seen my beloved hero around Dirtymouth. I heard about some bugs that went deep into the city, beyond the City of Tears. I just hope he's okay. I'm really worried."

Entry 22: "He's back! The hero is back! I couldn't believe my eyes. I couldn't believe it when I saw him at my house. It was so embarrassing to have him here with the stuffed animals I made of him. I felt my face droop in embarrassment. I wasn't ready for his visit! But to my surprise it wasn't rejection that I found in him. The gentleman smiled at me and approached me. He used a strange white light to touch me, and although I got a little scared, I knew that he wasn't he would be able to hurt me. Yet there was something different about him. It was like he was more... expressive... like he was happier now... more... alive. And it was so funny to see him blushing for the first time. "

Entry 28:"I can't hide it anymore. I have to tell him. I have to tell him how I feel. That feeling inside me tightens my heart. I'm afraid. So afraid that he'll reject me. But I have to try. I can't keep hiding it."

Entry 31:"I am destroyed. I feel dead inside. Hearing the truth was too hard. But everyone in the kingdom was able to perceive the enormous amount of radiant energy that was released, and then absorbed. I heard it personally from a young woman named Hornet. The knight, my hero, had sacrificed himself to save us all, turning his body into a container to hold the Radiance and sealing himself in the temple of the Black Egg. But it has been sealed forever. I can never see my beloved again, and I will never be able to tell him what I feel. Now I can only think about leaving this place, forgetting everything. I don't want to continue carrying this pain that I have in my chest."

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The containment of the Radiance was, without a doubt, something that every insect in and around the realm could sense. The vanishing of his aura was so massive that everyone could feel how the air suddenly became cleaner, purer. The thousands of insects that once were consumed by the Radiance and its macabre will returned to be masters of their destiny. Waking up from the infection as if it had been a long nightmare.

Those who knew well what had happened showed respect at such a feat. The White Lady, the mighty Ogrim, the mysterious Ze'mer, the curious Quirrel, the confessor Jiji, the masters of the Nail, and even the mantis monarchs themselves rose from their thrones to show respect at such a sacrifice. A pure act of heart.

But the problems at Hallownest were only just beginning. For now that the horrors of the Shining were gone, one great question remained. It was going to happen? Thousands of insects awoke from their deep, nightmarish slumber only to find their city in ruins, survivors scattered, and kingdoms divided. The Pale King was dead, and the White Lady was missing. Monarchs of different kingdoms had succumbed to infection, or death. The proud mantises maintained their posture, since their treaty was only with the Pale King, and they only showed respect before the knight. To no one else, and no one less.

Before all this chaos, thousands of eyes turned to the only one capable of taking on the task of unifying the kingdom under a single banner. The daughter of Herrah, the beast, and the only living heir to the Pale King. That figure was none other than Hornet herself, the one who, without asking for it, could feel the weight of the thousands of souls that now hung on her shoulders. But there was a big problem.

Hornet didn't want to shoulder that responsibility. I wasn't ready for that. Sometimes he just wanted to walk the streets of the City of Tears just so he could clear his mind. But she could feel the hundreds of eyes that focused on her. She spent entire days locked in her father's tower, trying to escape from reality. Well, this was much tougher than his past. He thought he was going to lose his sanity, when several hands reached out to help her.

The first to arrive was Ogrim, the defender. And his arrival did not go unnoticed given his strong smell. He made his way to the king's palace, walking through the streets of the City of Tears, feeling the hundreds of accusing glances that blamed him in part for everything that had happened. But only he knew the impotence of facing an enemy that he could not overcome, since his physical strength was useless against the power of the Radiance. And that feeling was far more painful than any stone thrown at him.

The huge insect did not think twice to enter the king's palace, disabling most of the traps that he himself had set up to protect the one who had once sworn eternal loyalty. Hearing that his offspring had returned to the throne, he could not contain himself. He had to see with his own eyes the one or the one who possessed the seed of his adored king, and swear complete obedience to him, even if this new monarch ordered him to cut off his own head for his incompetence, which he would gladly do if it expiated his sins.

To his surprise, he did not meet a powerful being radiant with light like his lord. But with a young woman, scared and crying in one of the corners of the enormous palace. Ogrim did not see in her the bearing of a monarch, the mark of a demigod, he simply saw a being strong in body and spirit, but broken by the weight that fell on his shoulders. But instead of returning disappointed to his stinking house, the beetle extended his hand to that fragile creature to whom everyone entrusted their future, thus becoming the most trusted being of the one who would become his queen.

Little by little, many hands began to join the queen, offering their services in any way they could. Quirrel inherited the responsibility of his master, Monomon, the master, using all his vast knowledge to rebuild the ruined kingdom.

Iselda and Cornifer descended on the City of Tears and settled there, providing their services to the residents, who used their maps to safely travel from one place to another of the passages. They eventually appeared before Hornet, and formed a diplomatic delegation to re-establish diplomatic relations with the other kingdoms.

The spiders immediately agreed, seeing Hornet as their queen as well, after all, she was the heiress of their previous monarch, Herrah. The fungus and moss skin agreed, as they remembered the golden times that they all lived together, and still had that hope in their hearts to recapture that golden age. Unn was a being who did not show any kind of approval towards the new monarch, since he could not see a drop of what his father was once, but he still accepted his offer of peace. On the other hand, the bees refused to collaborate from the beginning, but since they were disoriented and without a queen to follow, they ended up accepting the deal, more for their own benefit, but at least there was peace.

The real problem was the mantises. Proud and highly self-sufficient, they only respected two beings beyond their own nest: The Pale King and the knight, both earning their trust and admiration by demonstrating their superior skills. Hornet was heading precisely to that place, accompanied by her three loyal vassals.

The mantises received the delegation with little enthusiasm, as their approval was something that had to be earned. And Hornet was going to experience it firsthand.

Hornet: - Powerful mantis ladies. I stand before you to try to save our kingdom. -

Mantis 1: - We know why you have come. And why are you here. -

Mantis 2: - You carry the word just like your father. But I can't see a single drop of his glow on you. -

Mantis 3: - What can you offer so that we don't turn a deaf ear to your words? -

Hornet: - I'll offer this. -

Suddenly, Hornet seized his needle and drew it, pointing defiantly at the mantis that stood half seated on its throne, a clear challenge for power. The mantises laughed, not mockingly, but pleased. In front of them was someone who knew her beliefs, and they respected her for that.

Mantis: - Very good little one. Show us your determination. -