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.

just barely high enough to see over the top of the bed Lilin rested in. Even if the eyes didn’t quite reach, the antennae certainly did. The

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

up and began

fine,] she said, [the baby has been cleaned up and checked. It will return to this room in one

to confront just how bizarre it was that she could see a genuine Dungeon monster skittering around with a newborn in its grip and feel absolutely no

was a younger, less evolved healer. She hadn’t had time to absorb the proper grumpiness expected of

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. Goodness knows where they

leave you to it. Congratulations

they replied and she smiled at them once more before she

own hospital? It was less than a year ago that they had fled the ruins of their homes, and already

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, began to appreciate just how well built

drainage ditches along both sides, they were 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,

felt. Traffic flowed so smoothly, it was rare to see someone waiting more

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

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

in time, her own office situated in the same building. She walked behind her desk and sat with a weary sigh, her old bones creaking as

minutes. They were so stiff these days, and healing magic didn’t help at all. It wasn’t possible

long, but she carefully pondered each word, which

seal it, but decided against it. A waste of paper. Too inefficient,