Chrysalis

I enter the egg-laying chamber to find Sarah rubbing the top of her giant bear head with one paw whilst mother looms over her, clearly irritated. A nearby mage spins together a mind bridge and I allow it to connect to me without complaint. It seems that mother wants Sarah to be able to listen in on the conversation. Makes sense, excluding her and using pheromone language would be quite rude in these circumstances.

[Was this your idea?] Mother demands with less than her usual patience.

[She blames herself for what happened and you are the only one who can really forgive her,] I shrug my antennae. [It made sense to send her down here so she could tell you herself and get punished for it.]

[Wait. You knew I was going to get whacked?] Sarah says, an accusatory glint in her eye.

[Thwacked. And of course, you were being ridiculous. Me trying to knock some sense into you just wouldn't have the same effect, so I sent you down to experience some of Mother's wisdom.]

THWACK!

Oof! Still hurts! Maybe after my next evolution and my carapace is upgraded these won't be quite so sharp? Or perhaps I should concentrate a build-up of extra dense carapace on the top of my head? I eye the Queen's antennae carefully. I'm certain she's chosen some form of mutation that makes them hit harder.

[Stop staring at my antennae,] the Queen demands.

[How could you even tell?! I have compound eyes!]

[I just know,] she says nonsensically.

[Alright, so Sarah got thwacked for being dumb,] I rub my head just as she was a moment ago, [why did I get hit?]

[The same reason,] the Queen tells me, still clearly annoyed.

Well, it isn't as if I didn't know it was coming.

[Did you explain to Sarah that she was wrong to think as she did?] I try to deflect.

[No,] the Queen replies, [I just told her she was being foolish, because she was.]

seems a

tells her, [I'll get back

reprimanded by a teacher. I snicker at the

she says, dangerously

Careful Anthony…

not, mother. My attitude is

with my words so finally settles down a little. She turns back to Sarah, sparing me her forensic

no such thing

Sarah hung her head.

it's that

raises an antennae

No more guilt!] Sarah waves her massive clawed paws in front of her muzzle in

Truly there is no power

THWACK!

was that

some foolish thoughts coming from your direction,] the Queen

need to be more careful

settles herself comfortably. [Let us talk, it's been some time since last you paid me

goings on. The Queen and Sarah ask me about my evolution and I'm honest with them, for the most part. I talk to Sarah about her current evolution and how she feels about it, not great, it turns out. The Queen suggests that perhaps she push for tier seven, where she may be able to reverse or at

the cult of the worm, but they're

I'll think about

from there to the Queen's

eggs. I am accumulating experience slowly, on my own, eventually I will reach tier seven, but it will not be for

veins, making the ambient mana much lower than it would otherwise be. Even so, I'm quite shocked. It's quite possible that once the wave is finished I won't be able to sustain myself at this depth without making a conscious effort to drag in mana, and even then I might

I ask her directly. [Is your core able to

these chambers, the mana is a bit thin. I can't stay in here forever. Without the golgari enchantments thickening the

need to move deeper, child?] the

I reluctantly nod.

think so,] I confess, [especially