Chapter 306: Deadweight

[What is that...thing?!] Arsinoe's breath hitched in her throat. 

The creature was so unusual that she wondered how it had lived, or breathed. Perhaps it never did and only stayed within the fortress until it met with the forceful blow that killed it.

But what if there were more?

[When it was alive it used to guard these tunnels.] Morgana replied. [I couldn't risk getting close. It's only now that it's dead that I decided to try.]

For once, Arsinoe was speechless. The creature likely never left its place, it's only action to squash anything that didn't belong. It was too unrefined a creature to look upon. Too crude even for her! 

[I thought the marked ones were the strongest.] She muttered in disbelief.

[I thought so too, until I saw it.] Morgana replied.

Arsinoe sighed. [So, which tunnel do you think leads to their Queen.]

Morgana's eyes panned over the mass of scorpions then over to a tunnel where a marked one like the one they just killed was emerging. 

Arsinoe, on the other hand, was fixated on her former nemesis, the faster scorpion variety with vivid red markings, that attacked their cave. 

[What about that one?] She suggested, eyes sparking with hate.

Morgana took note of her quivering tail, before nodding in agreement. 

[You're right. A queen is nothing without her soldiers.]

She could tell Arsinoe was eager for another round, and perhaps she would get her wish.

However, she suddenly shook her head. [I dont think it's that simple.] Arsinoe replied. [They are fewer compared to others, and the main ones we can see are injured.] 

Oh? 

Morgana looked further below. Was it possible that Arsinoe had understood. 

It was true that amongst the corpses of smaller yellow scorpions, the marked red ones were not far behind.

[The queen won't be there.] Arsinoe explained. [Not if these scorpions are around.] 

[Where else would the queen be besides her strongest soldiers?] Morgana asked.

[She would be safeguarding her eggs or laying more!] Arsinoe enthusiastically replied. [Do you see how many corpses there are? Something attacked them and if these strong scorpions couldn't withstand them, the queen won't be around here for long. ]

Ah… 

Morgana's eyes widened as Arsinoe located a tunnel where many yellow scorpions poured out from.

[There, newborns! She is still laying eggs. There's a chance the Queen is behind the tunnel they came from!]

Morgana chuckled, astonished she came to that conclusion. [I'm surprised you can think so far.]

Arsinoe glared at her. [Do you think I'm an idiot? I can understand this much.]

[I'm still not sure if you're really smart or really stupid.] Morgana laughed.

Arsinoe ignored her. [I think the Queen would be where the young scorpions are. She'll need more food and less of her soldiers, if she's too busy laying more eggs. I think we should follow them.]

[That's an interesting choice.] Morgana's eyes lit up in delight, and they began climbing down the tunnel. Arsinoe followed after her, humming pleasantly after solving the puzzle.

[Except, it's the wrong one.] Morgana stated, when they weren't even halfway down.

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[Huh?] Arsinoe looked down at her, startled. [Why do you say that?]

There was no way she was wrong.

[Her children are her soldiers.] Morgana said, bright yellow eyes blazing like fire. [There's no distinction between them, they are all fodder. Why would the Queen put their safety over hers?]

[Er...] Arsinoe pauses to consider. [Well...]

She had no good reason aside from something Ophelia said a long time ago about sacrifice. 

Morgana sighed at her blunder. [A Queen wouldn't care about soldiers she can easily replace.]

[Then, she is stupid.] Arsinoe defended her stance. [They need time to mature, enough to get stronger. There's no benefit in letting them die early. It makes more sense that she would put them above her own safety while they are young...]

Arsinoe glanced at Morgana, understanding dawning at last. 

It seemed that even though they had settled on a truce, they both had fundamentally different ideas of what a Queen was. She wasn't what she thought, these scorpions were simply fodder for her own safety. 

Why else were so many dead and she nowhere to be found - she might have even killed them herself.

Morgana laughed at Arsinoe's knotted expression. She was still stuck in some idealistic fantasy. She still didn't understand that she too was expendable. It didn't matter that 'she' didn't give birth to them like this scorpion Queen did.

The sooner she stopped thinking like that, the better it would be for her.

[There's nothing wrong with having nice thoughts, but don't let them cloud your judgement.] Morgana advised.

[That's not true. It's not that at all!] Arsinoe replied.

[It must be difficult for you to understand, given our upbringing. But you're either a soldier or you are deadweight. There's no in-between. Forget everything Typhon ever told you.]

Like a nerve had been struck, Arsinoe suddenly became enraged. [Leave him out of this! Don't ever lie about him! He's nothing like that-]

But Morgana had had enough.

She opened fire, cutting a deep arc through the rocks surrounding Arsinoe. Soon there was a loud rumble as a huge section of wall gave way.

[Morgana...?] Arsinoe was startled to feel the rocks crumble around her. Experiencing the rush of wind as she plunged down the dizzying height, she could only call out fruitlessly for help. But Morgana was no longer beside her and all she could see was the pit of scorpions drawing nearer.

Was this a cave in?

[Ah, sorry. My magic misfired.] A faint voice called out from above, and Arsinoe immediately exploded.

[MORGANA, YOU EVIL SNAKE! HELP ME! THIS ISN'T FUNNY!] 

Even though she was falling from a height, she couldn't do anything besides cling desperately to any surface that could support her, to no avail as everything kept breaking down.

[MORGANA!]

It didn't matter if the scorpions below could hear her, she screamed herself hoarse.

[Keep them busy for me.] Morgana's laugh wafted down to her. [ I'll come back for you, I promise.]

Promise? 

Her promises were worth dust after this.

[MORGANA! GET BACK HERE! I HATE YOU, YOU MALICIOUS SERPENT! I WILL KILL YOU!!]

Morgana did not return, and the last thing she saw were scorpions waiting to tear her apart.

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