Chapter 165: Chapter 152

 

As was promised, Chera's princess district, at the bottom of the huge earthen stricture that makes up her hive, is quite a bit warmer.
But more noteworthy is that the ground here feels different.
It's not the usual earth-applicant mix the insects usually use for stabilization, but rather an even hard black surface.

Yet once again, it's not necessarily bad.
Just different from what I expected.
Though, given her last reaction, I'm not too sure if I should ask her.

Anyway, she points sideways to a cave.

 

<If it would be alright with you, I intend this to be your quarters. You may allow your broodlings to rest there. From what I receive, they're quite exhausted and I hope you understand that I prefer to keep my private chambers for a few, selected individuals.> (C)

 

I don't think there's a risk with that.
Especially, since I'm totally in her turf and her drones outnumber mine like what, hundred-thousand to six?
If she would really plan to betray me I couldn't do much about it, something that is already unlikely because Formicea have no knack for deceiving others.
So I suppose it would be better to be an amicable guest to her.

 

<Would it be fine if my personal nurse accompanies me?> (E)

<Naturally! It's imperative that your health is maintained. What would I tell Mother if it diminishes because of negligence?> (C)

 

I still can't understand very well why she wants to please the queen that much.
But that might just be my own negative experiences with her.
I mean, she managed the swarm for several millennia.
I suppose that's a feat.

 

In accordance with what we just agreed on, I send my beetles down the side tunnel, where I'm supposed to sleep later this day.

A short time later, we enter Chera's personal quarters, directly recognizable by the pheromone marking.
Yet it's odd how utilitarian it is.
It reminds me of Liseti's place, but even she had weapon racks for training in her hall.
Princess Chera has nothing, not even a single thing that might in any way pose as a distraction.
A table, a throne, benches, and the alcove on the far side, that's it.
This makes me wonder if she really has no hobbies.
I'm kinda having trouble believing this, as she made a far more lively impression on me.

 

<Please, sit down. The food will arrive any moment.> (C)

 

Chera meanwhile takes her place on the opposite end of the fairly large table, consisting of more of this even, black stone and a bit of applicant.
As weird as it is, one might call it a piece of insect craftsmanship, yet I'm not sure if it's a good one.
Nonetheless, I'm hungry and won't question a free meal.
Once I'm seated, Chera takes the chance to start a conversation.

 

<While we're waiting for the food, why don't you explain to me what led to this situation? I'm curious. I barely know anything about you. I only was informed that you were captured by hostiles, which naturally made me send all the troops I could expend to look for you. Would you mind telling me what transpired in detail?> (C)

 

Speaking of this is difficult for me.
As admitting one's own mistakes always is.

 

<I... I exposed myself to too much of a risk. In hindsight, I've been foolish, even if it was for a worthy cause. At least I think so.> (E)

<A worthy cause?> (C)

<You see, on the surface, there are many humans. Maybe even as many as there are Formicea underground. I wanted to try and bring both sides together. Or at least, ensure that there won't be a conflict by furthering general understanding. You should know that humans tend to be fearful, and therefore hostile, toward things they don't know. So I thought if I show them that there's no reason to be afraid, it might help to increase trust and make a friendly coexistence possible.> (E)

<Wouldn't it have sufficed to send representatives and negotiate with their leader from safety?> (C)

<Well, probably. You may find it naive, and maybe it was a bit of convenience, to keep some kind of contact with my old life, as a human. However, lasting peace also means that no one has to die in a conflict. That includes our brood. It felt like the right thing to work for.> (E)

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<I'm not sure. To me, it seems like you're showing those humans more affection than would be advised. This fault applies to you in general, it seems. Otherwise, I can't tell why they thought using your nurse against you might work, as I was told.> (C)

<I... really like Kyska. She was the first Formicea I met and is a great center of support to me.> (E)

 

I glance at the nurse in question and smile inwardly at the thought that we got through this.
Maybe not lightly, with Kyska's missing wings, but she's still by my side.

 

<I was also informed that you even demanded your pursuers not be engaged. I hardly understand why they didn't try to capture you back at that time. So I can't deny that you seem to have a foible for taking unnecessary risks.> (C)

<It's not so simple. I had to show some kind of proof. Humans aren't like the swarm. Each one of them thinks for themselves, and acts out of their own motivations. That doesn't mean they won't follow orders. Just that one has to keep their individual desires in mind, which might outweigh their inclination to do as they're told. Especially if it likely means their death. So it was certainly possible to convince them otherwise.> (E)

<Interesting. So you tend to act out of personal familiarity. Yet it evidently didn't work out for you. You were obviously captured.> (C)

<It's a bit more complicated than this. I got abducted by a small partition of those who control the humans on the surface above the territory the swarm controls. They're currently fighting a war with another faction, and thought, rather than negotiating, they might force us to win the conflict for them. I even believe they would've handed me over afterward, just as they said. Yet only at the cost of the drones that would’ve perished by then.> (E)

 

 

After all, they obviously had no facilities ready to raise any brood.

 

<A difficult position. What are your intentions from here on out?> (C)

 

Yes, what are they?
The abduction can only be seen as a hostile act from Tarsona's side, and that Honiu took the capital isn't making things any more peaceful.
However, even if I want to somehow save the situation, I can never again be so reckless as I was back then.
Not only was I so relaxed at a party in foreign territory that I didn't assume the slightest bit of danger, but no, I also met up with Lord Zion with only a single troop as my direct escort.
If there'd just been some more.

 

<I guess never again exposing myself as I did? Aside from this, I don't know. The humans aren't all bad. I hope this came through. There are just always some who make stupid decisions. I'd still like for there to be peace, even if it's now going to be much more difficult after recent events.> (E)

<Stubborn.> (C)

<Hey! Okay, I know what happened was terrible, but still... I only did what felt right to me.> (E)

<I didn't mean stubborn in a negative way. Sometimes being stubborn helps push through all odds and achieve one's goals. It's always debatable which is the best course of action. I know that very well.> (C)

 

She's truly unordinarily understanding for a Formicean princess.
Maybe that's due to her relation to Uma.
Thinking back to Liseti, there may be a certain disposition for reforms among Uma's offspring.

 

<Ah, it seems the food arrived. Good timing.> (C)

 

Huh, what is this?!

 

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