Chrysalis

No matter how much he did, there was always more to do, Beyn lamented as he faced down a desk full of paperwork. Whoever had managed to start creating paper in Renewal was both a blessing and a curse in the priest's opinion. It was so much easier to organise things now, but the sheer number of documents that he had to deal with was almost dizzying. Or perhaps that was just the mana deprivation…

The priest raised a hand to his temple and squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the moment to pass. Immediately an aide was at his elbow.

"Are you alright, head priest?" he asked.

"It is nothing," Beyn waved him away. "I simply need to return to the Dungeon, I am not currently acclimated to the surface and it is taking a toll on me."

"Perhaps you should rest," his aide encouraged him, "you've been working for days now."

Beyn frowned.

"I have little choice. The work must get done and I have to do it before I return below ground. I wish it were otherwise, but these projects require my attention and they shall have it."

His brothers and sisters in the faith had expanded to the point where they had truly become a church in the truest sense of the word. The faithful flocked to the cathedral to hear their words, the ranks of the antspeakers grew every day and the donations the people provided, despite being asked not to, had to be diverted to worthy causes. The orphanage needed more funding and the cathedral would provide. So many poor children were left without families after the disaster that it broke Beyn's heart. When the Colony had learned that these children were without family, food had begun to arrive on the orphanage doorstep within the hour, grown fresh in the fields below. Diplomant had been openly confused at the concept. Although the ants intellectually understood that every human was not part of the same family, it still didn't make sense to them on a fundamental level. Since all the people of Renewal lived together in harmony, then they were one Colony, surely? And if they were one Colony, then they were family. That is only right!

Just another way in which they teach us, Beyn thought.

Still, the forms in front of him had to be dealt with. The next one came to his hand and he forced his tired eyes to focus.

"Mission to the farming communities," he read aloud before diving into the document.

More and more smaller villages were being established across the former territory of Liria and even extending into the border kingdoms. The ants had even expanded to the site of the former capital and established a mighty hill there, sweeping aside the rubble and destruction Garralosh left behind in a matter of weeks. Wherever the ants went, the people were sure to follow and a small community had left to establish a new steading there, unafraid of the Dungeon entrance that the Colony now guarded.

This was wonderful, of course. As the people spread, so too did the new way, which lifted his heart and nourished his soul. Yet these far flung communities were no longer able to attend the cathedral, could no longer be nourished by the teachings of the Colony, which was a tragedy. He quickly skimmed the proposal. Sister Yowyn had gathered a team of ten who were willing to go on a two month mission to the villages, preaching and assisting the people in whatever way they could.

Beyn brushed a tear from his eye. Truly, wherever there was a need, his brothers and sisters would step forward without hesitation. Their hearts were so pure they shone like mirror glass. This endeavour must be approved. Things would grow more difficult for them here in Renewal and within the Dungeon beneath with ten of their number away, but they would rally together as they always did. The work would get done.

the night, long after his aide had left and the town had grown quiet. A solitary lamp was the only source of light in the office in which he worked at the rear of the cathedral. Distantly, he could hear the hum and mutter of the few souls still within the nave offering their devotions

"You are diligent."

do," Beyn replied absentmindedly, passing another paper to the side as he

would need

priest frowned as

path as carefully as I can," he muttered, "I

example to all. That is why

jolting his mind from his work

is talking?" he asked as he put the page down, looking around the sparse office, seeing nobody. "Diplomant?

had matters to attend to in Rylleh, something to do with trade…

He felt so tired.

again, "I'm afraid

Had he

the Colony? He used his new method of communication, turning mana into

as the Colony lives. But

How can you?

demanded that all seek

not always do

those who enforce amongst the

who seek to ensure

others rest because they know it

They fear.

You do not fear.

How can you?

lived without the consequence