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.

didn’t quite reach, the antennae certainly did. The recovering

glowed brightly as they imparted a quick burst of healing mana to the

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

she said, [the baby has been cleaned up

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 and

assume it was a younger, less evolved healer. She hadn’t had time to

face lit up as her 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

I will leave you

mayor,” they replied and she smiled at them once

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

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

was laborious, and expensive, which made it rare, at least, rare before the catastrophe. Every

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

pleased to see her and unafraid to approach and ask whatever questions were on their minds. She welcomed it. Where not long ago these exchanges were a never ending series of disasters as too few resources

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

council chambers in time, her own office situated in the same building. She walked behind her

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

grabbed a pen and began to compose a letter. It wasn’t overly long, but she carefully pondered each word, which dragged out the

seal it, but decided against it. A