Chapter 16: Chapter 13

 

I wake up a little strained, but overall fine.

Still...

 

<Did I... again?> (E)

<Yes, my princess. twenty-six more. It ended not too long ago.> (K)

 

Urgh; again.
It seems I have to get used to this.
I don't really want to think about having to do this every day.
But apparently, I have to.
It might be comparatively easier just to get told that it happened instead of directly experiencing it.
However, the fact that my body gets used while I sleep is no soothing thought.

After getting out of my tub it's the usual procedure.
I get carefully cleaned and get flustered about the treatment of my wings.
After that, I eat those mushrooms, with some nectar in addition.

 

<By the way my princess, I'm glad to inform you that the expansion of your personal courtyard is progressing fast. We will soon be able to prepare for your needs as it is appropriate for a princess.> (K)

 

Honestly, I was never dissatisfied with anything they did for me.
I have regular meals, a place to sleep, clothing, yet they're rather worn out by now.
Personally, I believe they do a good job caring for me, even if I might be as foreign to them as they're to me.
What would I be lacking?

 

<What's especially of benefit is that we were finally able to establish a nectar facility.> (K)

<Is that really such a big deal? I've got nectar to drink before, didn't I?> (E)

<Oh no, my princess. This nectar was from the general storage. The quality is lacking and delivering it to your courtyard made it end up cold, and much worse the liquid might get contaminated by the earthen vessels if too much time passes. This is not ideal for your digestion. Also, it is invaluable that you as a princess possess your own stocks in case of a shortage.> (K)

 

I don't know how to feel about the point that I shall be the only one who eats in case of an emergency, but Kyska seems fairly elated about this newest addition.

 

<So we now have our own nectar here?> (E)

 

It's weird to say, but even if it is so sweet that no human could enjoy large amounts of it, I do.
I have somehow no problem drinking that stuff.
The fact that this is certainly linked to my change is something I'd rather ignore.

 

<Yes, my princess. The storage units should be installed at this very moment.> (K)

 

Ah, these not-cows.
I still have no idea what they are exactly or how this nectar stuff works.

But wait "installed"?
Since when are cows installed?
Is this maybe just weird wording on Kyska's side?
I am still not entirely sure how this translation through the pheromones works.

 

<What do you mean with that? They are installed?> (E)

<It is a great effort to raise, move, and set up a pure storage unit.> (K)

<Pure?> (E)

<There are differences to the forms depending on the function they fulfill. Do you wish to see them, my princess?> (K)

 

I'm drinking quite a lot of this nectar, so I probably should know.
Also, it's not as if I have much else to do here, so I can spend some time.

 

<Fine, please show me.> (E)

 

I head out, led by Kyska, Suki following behind me.
Since this is my courtyard I don't need an escort, as this one is already around with all the numerous workers and guardians.
Where do they even come from?

 

<How come I have so many insects here already, who sends them here?>

<Oh, I thought you would have known? I was granted permission to raise any resources necessary to your upbringing, from the general pool of units. Many of these drones naturally directly originate from the queen. She sends the amount she deems to be necessary.> (K)

 

I need to say, I'm not on the best terms with that thing that speared me with its ovipositor and caused unspeakable things to my body.
Yet for some reason, she on the other side seems to care about me.
We walk a little further and suddenly Kyska comes to a stop.

 

<We are there.> (K)

 

I walk through a rather large gateway to look inside.
At first, I can only see four big bulks on the other side.
Then I perceive how these four accumulations are somehow fiddled with by workers and at times wriggle strangely.

 

The next moment I nearly lose my food, choking heavily.

 

"Urghlb, Urrrph!" (E)

<Scriiek!/Princess!!!> (S)

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I've just now realized.
These dysmorphic things are the storage units.
Not the slightest similarity to cows.
Rather one look at them makes me despair.
These creatures lack even a single appendage.
Rather they are huge, squishy accumulations of flesh which cannot move on their own, but just wriggle like large, helpless worms.

Meanwhile, the workers are performing their tasks on them.

For what they are doing:

They stuff them into four separate indentations in the wall in a way that the head is on the upper side where for each of these slots some kind of stair ends.
Their mouths are not like the mandibles I'm used to, but more a round cavity in the head, which they are unable to close.

 

<Princess, what is wrong?> (S)

<W-What is this?!> (E)

<This is a pure storage unit my princess. As such they have a greater capacity yet they lack the ability to move. If you look closer, you can still see the base of their limbs on the side, but these regressed with their assignment to their function. Others are smaller, yet they can move and act as mobile storages when units head outside of the hive.> (K)

 

I really feel like puking just from looking at them, but nothing escapes.
I know that my stomach is surely as well affected by this metamorphosis, but I don't want to think about that.

 

I stare at these poor things.
While two aren't yet in these slots but lean to the wall next to them, steadied by workers, the others are so tightly put in there that they cannot fall.
On the one furthest left, the workers start to apply earth and then coat it in that applicant.

 

<Screak!/What are they doing there?!> (E)

<They install the units.> (K)

<Install? If that earth hardens they will be entombed in there!> (E)

<Naturally. A pure storage unit doesn't move. They will be fed with our harvest from that platform over their mouths and then in their bodies create the nectar. They can store vast amounts which you can access through the glands on their bottom. These will naturally remain free. Like this, there is also a clean separation to their waste which will be guided through a hole in the ground to a retention basin, where it can later be used as fertilizer for the mycelium.> (K)

<But why entombing them?" (E)

<They might fall out of their allocated space. Don't worry. There is enough space left for their bodies to swell up due to the feeding. Yet we need still to make sure they cannot fall. Otherwise, they may hurt themselves and the precious nectar might come to waste. Fortunately, storage units live long, so it won't be necessary to remove the barrier for the next fifty cycles.> (K)

 

This is terrible.
They cannot move and are force-fed from above, sealed forever in that tomb.
Used as an installment.

 

<Why?> (E)

<I don't understand princess.> (K)

<Why are you doing this to your own kind?!> (E)

<I still seem to be unable to understand you, my princess. This is the storage unit's purpose so naturally, they are used according to their role. They are voluntarily acting to support their swarm.> (K)

<But... this? Voluntary? How would you know? They can't even speak with these mouths and you stuff them up!> (E)

<This has always been like this, my princess. As long they still can they willingly move to fulfill their role. When they are assigned to become permanent installments they on their own lose their appendages. This is natural for them, my princess. Do you want to give them a taste?> (K)

 

I see how a worker approaches one of the leaning and sucks at that gland.
Liquid escapes, and the few streams on the ground I can recognize as nectar.

 

<Maybe we should reprimand that one. The nectar is just for you my princess. Only your nurses are allowed to suck there and then have to fill everything in a vessel. Or would you in the future rather wish for a direct feeding from our mouths?> (K)

 

I stare at Kyska, failing to process.
The wish to puke intensifies, but I still can't get anything out.
The more they reveal the less I wish to know.
However, I can see that trying to change this is a futile effort.
As Kyska said, I don't know how these things feel or if they even can think deeper about their fate.

 

<Pl-please don't apply too much earth.> (E)

 

I don't know if being entombed less will help them, but I need this to ease my conscience.
Nauseated I avert my gaze and leave.

 

<Screo!/Is something the matter princess?> (S)

<I, I cannot stay here. I simply don't understand. Why do you create something like this?> (E)

 

Even if they're made on purpose and are adapted to this existence, it is absolutely disgusting to even create such a cursed being.
How could the queen lay such a thing?
Isn't she kind of a mother?
Why would she wish for her child to have such a life?

 

<The nectar storages are of tremendous value, my princess. One sip of nectar can keep a worker going for a whole day. And inside their bodies, it won't spoil. Like this, the mycelium's harvest is stored perfectly, with a minimum of required space and the highest security. Also, the mobile version is a crucial factor during conflicts. Units are perfectly supplied just because they have one of these with them.> (K)

 

It's the same as always.
Because it is beneficial.
The advantage for the swarm outweighs to cause this kind of fate for these beings.
This is terrible.

 

Lost in my thoughts I head back to my room.

For the foreseeable future, I think I will reduce my intake of nectar.

 

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