Chrysalis

"I'm really not sure about this," Isaac muttered under his breath.

[That makes two of us…] his new partner replied.

"I really didn't think they would go for this as enthusiastically as they did."

[It's how we are. If there's an advantage in it, we're more than happy to explore it. Even if it does prove to be… unconventional.]

Isaac felt the massive ant shift beneath him and tried to adjust his position to roll with the movement. The saddle they'd created wasn't quite the right shape, the craft ants having never made anything of this sort before, and it chafed him ever so slightly in an area he would prefer didn't see any chafing.

"I just never imagined that I'd ever be riding on the back of one of you. I mean, I didn't expect that I'd be fighting alongside any monstrous ants, but I got used to that well enough, but to be riding on one? Feels kind of weird. You aren't horses."

[What's a horse?]

"Have you seen a cow?"

[I have, in the farms around Renewal.]

"Right, so think of a cow that's prettier and faster."

[… I do not like this comparison.]

"That's what I mean!"

The once former guard captain heaved a sigh and once again fruitlessly tried to protect his most vulnerable zones from the pommel that rose too sharply between his legs. If it was made of cured leather, that'd be one thing, but that damned armour ant had decided to cover the thing in folded steel. To say he was sweating would be an understatement.

believe we are ready for the test. We will count you in starting in one minute's

here

sure you don't

are at least half

[That is somewhat true.]

surveyed the course ahead again, a dizzying trail of loops and whorls that took them between pillars of rock, up the walls, across the roof and back down again. If he just had to hold on, that would be one thing, but the series of targets he was supposed to hit with the lance added

after all, what the hell did he know about wielding a lance? On the surface it was a noble's weapon and down below no idiot would be fighting on horseback. The very idea of mounted combat in the Dungeon seemed absurd. But if you

Cavalant and Isaac rolled his

the skill, and even at rank one it provided significant bonuses. Not only were his thoughts connected to the ant he rode, to the point he didn't need to speak aloud if he didn't want to, but to an extent their senses were shared as well. Combined with a quite

slowly starting to align with those of Cavalant as she settled beneath him, flexing her six legs as she lowered her centre of gravity. When the countdown finished, she would explode from the starting line and Isaac didn't intend to be left

the mage and as predicted, Cavalant launched herself forward,

to almost top speed in a matter of seconds and this time he was sufficiently braced to hold on. Gripping with his legs, Isaac desperately clung to

going up,] Cavalant

could I forget,"

wall. The image of himself splattered across the rock flashed into his mind, then, with a mind bending twist of perception, Cavalant placed one leg on the wall, then the

necessary in this particular rider and mount relationship, but he did have

plops," he swore as he struggled to

as she raced across the wall, zigging and zagging madly along the trail. For his part, Isaac held fast to his lance and aimed it as best he could,

Crack. Crack. Crack.

with one nauseating

she reprimanded him and Isaac hurried to tighten his legs,

I’m going

[Don't you dare!]

Crack. Crack. Crack!