Chrysalis

Advant told me I should “Preserve my thoughts for future generations of the family,” so… I guess this is me… doing that? To be honest, she’s been hassling me to do this for ages. Only after going on about the “immense value such a record will hold for the young” and how “inspiring such a document would be to the hatchlings” did I agree, but I’m seriously regretting now that I’ve started.

Is it really necessary to preserve my thoughts anyway? Everything I’ve ever done is depicted (somewhat) accurately in a stupid statue somewhere.

Actually, I want that on the record! I NEVER asked for all the murals and statues! In fact, I tried to get them banned! So much for respecting the wishes of the Eldest….

Alright, if you are smelling this scent recording, then here are the words of the Eldest, recorded to further the prosperity of the Colony and to motivate the youth!

Firstly, I want you to poke and bite Advant everytime you see her. Not hard, but enough to be annoying and to hamper her in whatever she does. Yes, that includes during Torpor. May she never know a moment’s peace.

Second. Live freely, be true to yourself, and cherish the bonds of family that tie us together. That’s the whole point, right?

- Excerpt from “The Recording of the Eldest”

Addendum: For the record, I believe the Eldest was joking. Please stop biting me.

- Added at a later date by Advant.

[I see you, little worm!]

[Excuse me? You calling me a worm? You wanna get chomped?!]

A suffocating aura of power wells up as the demon rises from the layer below and I get a clean look at it. I kind of wish I hadn’t.

end in thick, wickedly curved claws, and a face that not even a mother could love. Unless that mother was a similar-looking

a cross between a jackal and a flaming pit, the monster's appearance

presence, battering against me… it reeks of violence and all-consuming flame. This dude has

has led me to you!] The demon roars gleefully. [You and your

want to

the air between us begins to crackle. Even crushed on all sides by so many scurrying little larvae,

with what I’ve got. I call into existence as many mind constructs as I can support with my current abilities, dozens of the things. I reach out and seize control of the surrounding mana, drawing it into me in a constant

legs brace. I start to channel gravitational mana and my carapace thrums to life. My Vestibule thunders with an endless river of power that fills the Altar to bursting. I’m ready to

[Gladly!]

ripping, and tearing, but it doesn’t happen. Instead, he heaves in a breath and I

Then he breathes out.

into my brain and before I can think, my body is already moving. Energy flows from the

contained in a jet of flame to rocket past me, incinerating everything

Crinis cries

That’s an order! This isn’t someone you can tangle with. That goes for you, Tiny, and you,

Ah.

If you didn’t get fried by that blast, you might by

won’t be much of a

be standing over thirty metres tall. Each step is that of a giant, crunching into the stone with the force of the

little worm?

[You’re gonna regret that….]