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.

of the bed Lilin rested in. Even if the eyes didn’t quite reach, the antennae certainly

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

began to make her way out

fine,] she said, [the baby has been cleaned up

so it was, nestled in the 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

ant said cheerfully, and Enid could only assume it was a younger, less evolved healer. She hadn’t had time to absorb the

new baby boy returned to her arms. As Phillip leaned in to embrace them both, Enid brushed a tear from her eye. Such a touching scene, one that she would never tire of. How long had it been since she saw her own children? Too long.

leave you to

she smiled at them once more before

ago that they had fled the ruins of their homes, and already they thrived as

raised one hand to pat at the expertly cut stone walls before she exited the facility, doing her best to stay out of everyone’s way. She stepped out into the streets of Renewal, and finding herself in a reflective mood,

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. Not only that,

the Colony was felt. Traffic

and ask whatever questions were on their minds. She welcomed it. Where not long ago

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

in the same building. She walked behind her

for a few minutes. They were so stiff these days, and healing magic didn’t help at

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

place it in an envelope and seal it, but decided against it. A waste of paper. Too inefficient, as