Hollow Knight - Lumis and Pallor by AnimeVeteran on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

Bear witness to the last and only civilization, the eternal Kingdom.
Hallownest.

These were the words on an ancient tablet of stone that greeted two wandering bugs as they passed through a shattered stone doorway. The firefly made some notes on parchment, bumping gently into the blunt side of her moth companion's nail blade before she stepped too close to a drop-off. They both looked on at a small lantern-lit village in the near distance. The firefly's own tail light glowed with excitement. She readjusted the pack of parchment, tools, and quills on her shoulder, immediately setting about trying to find the safest path down.

Thus began the ventures into the underground world of Hallownest. Pallor the moth and Lumis the firefly explored the various biomes beneath Dirtmouth, from the foliage-rich Greenpath to the infested crags of the Deepnest. Along the way, they encounter friends and foes that tell of the kingdom's downfall, a strange little ghost that seemed to save what had remained, and the looming shadow of decay that would ever plague the once great underground. Not everything was doom and gloom, however - the sparks of light, warmth, wisdom, and beauty that interlaced these landscapes were all breathtaking to behold. From something as simple as a flower gifted by a friend, to a reverent statue dedicated to a hero in the City of Tears, to a simple rejuvenating hot spring. It was truly a place to make something of yourself if you so chose.
It is where Lumis decided to undertake her cartography and artistry in mapmaking, and where Pallor sought his living of collecting Geo. She knew the way, he made sure they made it through safely.

This was probably the most intensive piece of artwork I've worked on to date. And I'm so happy with how it turned out! I've learned a lot from working on this piece, and I can't wait to apply myself and what I've learned to future projects.
And a special thank you to for being so supportive in the creation of this piece. I first created Lumis as a gift for her, as we both have a deep love for Hollow Knight and the world of Hallownest, and I just wanted to render that mutual sense of wonder.
I doubt this will be the last you see of Lumis and Pallor, but there might be a bit of a break. Still, this is a good one to take a break after.