Chrysalis

The mages have achieved a strange dichotomy that can largely be attributed to the identities of the Council members who came to lead them. The two not only differ in the magics that they choose to employ, but also the tactics. Where Propellant favours direct, forceful action, and the application of excessive force to achieve a goal, Coolant is more subtle and desires efficiency of resources, though it may take her longer to complete her objective.

At first, this didn’t matter so much as the two cooperated well, and indeed, they still do. But as the caste grew larger, the two of them were no longer able to oversee all the mage ant activities, having to pass certain responsibilities on to their subordinates.

At first, this also didn’t matter; all of the members of the Colony are family, after all, and despite their differences, they will work together without complaint.

However, due to this expansion of the caste, and the implementation of a larger authoritative structure, the two schools of thought held by the council members became entrenched in a way that neither of them intended.

The school of fire, and the school of water.

Each individual ant, upon evolving into the caste, had to take it upon themselves to choose their place. Once they did, they would begin their training, engrossing themselves in the mindset, mana types and favoured tactics of their founding mentor.

Although some have sought to exploit this divide within the Mage caste, they have been unsuccessful. Differences of opinion within the Colony are common, betrayal is unheard of.

There is also a third school of mages, though much smaller than the others. Those who follow the path of the Eldest. Of that chaotic group, I will not speak.

- From the notes of Historiant

“What the hell are they doing down there?” Propellant yelled.

“I don’t know,” Coolant replied, a faint trace of irritation marking her scent. “Perhaps you should focus on the battle that we are currently engaged in.”

Right. Yes. The

couldn’t help but flick her senses down beneath her six legs. It was like a hook caught in her brain, and no matter how hard she tried to look away, it always managed to drag

down there, the Eldest had done something. And whatever they’d done, it was quite literally boiling with incredibly dense fire mana. This was orders of magnitude more potent than any spell she’d ever seen before, and she was the premier

on, Propellant. Light some

admonished herself and flung a few balls of fire out into the massed wall of termites in front of her. Even the delightful explosions that

It.

Just.

Kept.

Growing.

is this possible?” she

to support the front

am! Of

hastily wove and threw out

highest level mages in the Colony? Aren’t we supposed to have pushed the knowledge of basic spellforms further than anyone else? The Eldest is levelling up all sorts of crazy stuff, we just focus on magic. How do we

being surprised by the Eldest is a pointless endeavour. When they

with one leg.

beautiful thing she had ever

her forceful mind, she began to weave her spells even more dexterously, picking up the slack of

gouts of fire rising dozens of metres into the air. Out of the holes poured termites,

watched with glistening eyes as the flames

the mountain. The crackle and roar of it was such that she could hear it clearly from where she stood,