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.

in. Even if the 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

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

began to make her way

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

was that she could see a genuine Dungeon

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

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. Goodness knows where they

you to it. Congratulations

and she smiled at them

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

pat at the expertly cut stone walls before she exited the facility, doing her best to stay out of everyone’s way. She

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. Not

take some credit for that, but even there, the influence of the Colony was felt. Traffic flowed so smoothly, it was rare to see someone

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

were comfortable. In fact, the people were

found her way back to the council chambers in time, her own office situated in the same building. She walked behind her desk and

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

but she carefully pondered each word, which dragged out the time. As it turned out, she finished just

it in an envelope and seal it, but decided against it. A waste