Chrysalis

[I thank you for your cooperation.]

[To you as well. I hope that your research is of some use to the Colony.]

[I wish the same. If you wish to view our published work, you can find it in the pheromone library. There are copies in every major nest.]

[Wonderful. I will read with interest.]

Torrina placed her pen away and shut the book in front of her as the interviewee, a tier six mage, amongst the first, turned and walked out of the room. With more ants reaching the sixth tier, it became more important than ever before to correlate their evolutionary options and choices. Granin in particular had been obsessed with it, almost as obsessed as the Colony itself, which was why the triad had been busy interviewing and documenting every tier six ant they could get to talk to them.

Which was all of them that they could reach. Once they realised the fruits of their research would be delivered to the Colony, they were only too happy to help.

If only her own colleagues had been as forthcoming with information, they would have been able to achieve so much more. The petty rivalries of the shaper circle seemed even more absurd to her now than they had when she was a student. Perhaps the day would come when social discord and competition would arise amongst the ants, forcing the siblings to struggle against each other, but as of yet, that day had not dawned.

A level of cooperation that bordered on the fanatical, that was the defining trait of the Colony in her eyes. In many ways, Anthony himself exemplified the trait. There was nothing he would not give of himself for his new family, even if he would never say as much.

She stood from behind the desk she had been provided, ensuring she didn't scrape the immaculately woven rug under the carved chair. Once again, only the best had been provided for her use, and she was careful not to damage any of it. Furniture such as this would have cost her a small fortune amongst the golgari.

As she stepped out of the “office”, she found Corun emerging from his own room next door. The young shaper gave her a broad smile, the stones of his true skin grinding together as he did so.

"Another day done. Got everything you need?"

Torrina nodded.

"I don't have any more mages or core shapers to interview, if that's what you mean. I'm not sure if that will satisfy Granin though."

Corun pulled a face and laughed.

"I doubt it. I'm done with the soldiers, scouts and generals that are within reach as well. For the time being, we won't have any choice but to move on to something else. Hopefully, moving down to the fourth to see what Anthony is up to."

two fell in alongside each other, the easy manner gained through years of association and friendship between them evident in their

a while yet," she said. "He won't be close to evolving this early, he's only been tier six for what?

still going to be a lot of experience. He might want to get some advice sooner than

"Damn right it is."

two jumped and turned to find Granin, the granite-covered senior shaper looming behind them like a boulder. How he

their elder and leader of the triad, "I'm guessing this means

Granin grunted.

sent down to the fourth, apparently. The rest are on the front lines of the expansion war. We just can't find enough to interview

was at that prospect. In all the time she'd known him, she didn't think she'd seen the old man so enthused with his work, as she imagined he must have been in his younger days. He was obsessed and determined to burn the candle at both ends if it meant furthering his knowledge of this new monster type he had

anything

flicked a glance at

said. "Let's get back

conditioned to follow the triad leader and

of gleaming metal held small cores that burned with beautiful, dim light, illuminating the intricate carvings, woven rug and tasteful embellishments that lined their path. But even such luxuries didn't compare to the view that she glimpsed through the occasional window as

ash and smoke that was the skyline of the third stratum. The ominous red light bleeding from the outside into the corridor, infusing it with a macabre glow. Despite

floor of the stratum to almost reaching the bottom of the plate on which the demon city of Roklu sat, the great nest was kilometres high. The internals were still being worked on, the vast majority of the nest's volume not being utilised, but for now a segment close to the top had been allocated for the allies of the Colony to use. Barracks, training rooms and

crumple zones and then assured her they'd done everything they could to ensure they were as safe as possible. She'd shrugged and told them she thought they would want the view for themselves but the ants had looked at her as if she were

they have for a grand vista? None at all. They wanted the dark and security of their cramped chambers and

several flights of stairs they arrived at their private rooms, greeting the few humans and golgari they saw along the way

secrecy?" she

a glance before he walked to his plush couch and

awhile to grow used to the idea of furniture specifically for golgari; their true skins didn't allow for the same comforts as a human might welcome. Her people didn't like soft or fluffy things, and needed materials

to be damaged by them, strong enough to hold their weight, and with enough give to provide comfort. It was quite

and Corun sat as Granin leaned

have a few matters of concern. The first of which relates directly to

words for a moment

the tier six ants, but tell me what you think is unusual about them. I want to see if

younger shapers glanced at each other before

good evolution options, even at the basic level. Good stats and more than acceptable bonuses almost across the line.