been thinking about Ghost and how they are permanently branded in order to get into the Abyss and how they might feel about that.
like at the time, Ghost really didn't care about it because they were fixated on learning the truth and trying to find some other way to save their sibling. Now as an adult, the damn thing has stayed. It's an outline on their back, but it flares up into the full solid brand when using anything requiring soul magic (much more rare now since they almost exclusively use void but it still happens.)
Ghost is uh, not happy about this. It's almost always hidden beneath fabric thankfully, and they're quite happy to hide it, though people who have seen the Pale King definitely notices the aura it gives off. If the mark is pointed out, they quickly hide it. They would rather not be associated with their father if they can help it at all. (My version absolutely loathes PK and WL for well, everything they, Hornet, and Holly went through.) It also holds this weight that Ghost doesn't like. There's already a lot of expectations upon them being the new void god, never mind a ruler. They don't want to rule. They want a place to call home. They want to protect. They are not a king.
The brand says otherwise with its power, and Ghost hates it. They wish they can just burn the thing off, kill yet one more lingering fragment of Hallownest so they can all move on. They don't want his mantle or crown, they just want to live.
