Chrysalis

It'd be nice to mutate right now but I want to build up my bank of Biomass a bit more before I take the plunge. Going through those endless lists and menus is a massive pain in the backside and I'd rather save it all up and go through as much as possible at once.

That doesn’t mean I don't tell Tiny, Crinis and Invidia that they need to make sure they're 100% ready to go before we leave. I leave my three friends silently contemplating their options whilst Brilliant roams free, enjoying a taste of unsupervised freedom before I grab her back into the fold and head out in the stratum once again.

I have several ideas in mind for this expedition, but before I commit to anything I feel like I should take advantage of the collected wisdom here in Orpule before I go gallivanting off into the wilds once again.

My first port of call is to check in with Sarah. Our last talk was a bit heavy and I know she has some things to process but I figure the polite thing is to invite her out again rather than make an assumption.

[That's kind of you, Anthony, but I think I'll rest here in the city for a bit. I don't want to go out there while my head isn't on straight. With what's going on with Jim… I just don't think I'll be in proper control of my emotions.]

Definitely not something you want if you're an anger fuelled murder-bear.

[I get you,] I give her an encouraging pat on the back. [Take it easy and rest for a while. Head up to the second stratum if you feel like it, might as well enjoy the cold while you still can.]

She shudders a little.

[I might take you up on that. Even with these enchantments it is so hot here.]

[You're just too furry!] I laugh. [You need a nice shiny carapace in your next evolution. You won't regret it!]

She eyes my diamond perfection askance.

[I'll consider it…] she says but I'm not convinced she means it.

What is this reluctance! Bah! Some people can't accept true beauty when it's right in front of their eyes… I say farewell to the big bear and head deeper into the city to check on the goings on in the anthill. As usual my appearance causes a few ripples of disturbance amongst the ants but it's something that I'm growing used to over time. I feel like the more attuned to them I become, the more attuned to me they get, as if the connection were working in both directions in some way.

energy through the Vestibule and it's all one way. Though it's hard for me to examine exactly what happens in the Nave, I can't

I'm greeted by Cobalt, of all the ants, certainly someone I didn't

be back at the nest taking care of all the expansion projects up there?] I ask

both antennae straight up in the

[All the projects are running smoothly and we delayed the timetable for expansion in order to make sure there aren't any mistakes. Since I didn't have anything to do I thought I'd come down here and help with the research

Research?

found some interesting stuff?]

saturated in fire mana and incredibly heat resistant. We can think of hundreds of uses for it but so far we haven't managed to smelt it. Either we can't make a

Interesting…

not going to be the one to puzzle out this mystery, I leave that to the smarter ants. [In terms of building, what

off as if frightened that I

been

One week? That's it?!

were you getting captured?] I ask, my antennae quivering with barely concealed

[Not… that often.]

[Rest is important!]

THWACK!

whole world. That is to say, Granin, Corun and Torrina, who made the journey over to Orpule not that long ago. As expected, I find them working with the Core Shapers, assisting in the research and practice of the caste as they experiment with the precious few Demon cores to see what they can

I give him and the gang a friendly wave as I approach. [How's

me before he

still haven't

[You can't be serious!]

[What if I am?]