Chrysalis

“Congratulations,” Enid smiled down on the still recovering young woman.

“Thank you mayor,” Lilin replied, radiantly happy despite what she’d just been through.

“We’re very happy,” her husband Phillip said as he stared lovingly down at his wife.

“And how has the care you’ve received been?’

“Oh, just perfect,” Lilin said.

“We couldn’t be happier, mayor. Thank you,” Phillip said.

“That’s good. After the effort we put into building this place, I’m glad it’s all come together.”

[We told you it would be fine,] the on-rotation ant-medic said. [I still don’t understand why you doubted us in the first place. When is the Colony anything but first-rate?]

[I should have believed in you,] Enid admitted, [but even I wasn’t sure how well you would be able to run a maternity ward. You don’t know anything about human reproduction.]

[Bah,] the ant groused, [our queens give birth hundreds of times every day. You think we can’t heal someone who has given birth only once? Don’t be ridiculous. Now get out of the way, I need to check the patient.]

Healers, medics and doctors always managed to be rude and ill-tempered. Even the non-human ones! In some ways, Enid took comfort knowing that this fact of life was even more universal than she’d thought.

eyes didn’t quite reach, the antennae certainly did. The recovering mother was lightly tapped and brushed by those curious feelers as Lilin’s eyes took on that slightly glazed expression of a person engaged in mind

few moments, the antennae glowed brightly as they imparted a quick burst of healing mana to the

done, the ant backed up and began to make her way out of

she said, [the baby has been cleaned up and checked. It will return to

mandibles of another healer ant. For a moment, Enid was forced to confront just how bizarre it was that she could see a genuine Dungeon monster skittering around with a newborn in its grip

he is,] the new ant said cheerfully, and Enid could only assume it was a younger,

from her eye. Such a touching scene, one that she would never tire of. How long had it been since she saw her own

you to it.

mayor,” they replied and she smiled at them

ago that they had fled the ruins of their homes,

best to stay out of everyone’s way. She stepped out into the streets of Renewal, and finding herself in a reflective

the sort of roads only the wealthiest lived on in Liria. This sort of mage-work was laborious, and expensive, which made it rare, at least, rare before the catastrophe. Every street in Renewal was formed this way, crafted by the carvers with exacting precision.

Colony was felt. Traffic flowed so smoothly, it was rare to see someone waiting more than a few

minds. She welcomed it. Where not long ago these exchanges were a never ending series of disasters as too few resources were divided amongst too many people, now that desperate edge

people were comfortable. In fact, the people were thriving. Renewal had more than delivered upon its

situated in the same building. She walked behind her

these days, and healing

to compose a letter. It wasn’t overly long, but she carefully pondered each word, which

taking the time to place it in an envelope and seal it, but decided against