Chrysalis

I’m not a huge fan of my insides turning into my outsides, or having my carapace replaced with candy floss, or indeed, of being flattened/expanded into less/more dimensions than I’m comfortable with.

Having said that, the moment when Brilliant drops me into the fourth stratum makes it more than worthwhile. Instantly, I feel a wave of relief wash over me as both my gasping core relaxes, and the insatiable gnawing of the Call fades away.

It’s still there, obviously, but no longer is it the maddening, mind-bendingly painful yanking on my soul, merely a comfy nail through the foot.

Nothing I can’t handle!

“Thanks, Brilliant,” I sigh in relief, “I appreciate the trip.”

“Are you feeling well, Eldest?” the little maniac says, prodding me in the side. “This is unlike you.”

“Pah. Don’t you have something you should be blowing up? Shoo.”

“Why yes! I do! If you find yourself in need of my services again, don’t hesitate to call my name! BRILLIANT!”

With a pop, she vanishes from sight and I allow myself to slump to the floor in relief.

Bliss.

It doesn’t last long, though.

[MASTER!]

Glomp!

From nowhere, an enormous blob of shadow flies from the crevices in the ceiling above me and latches onto my carapace. Crinis wastes no time expanding herself to wrap around my abdomen, poking and prodding as she goes.

[I’m fine. I’m fine. Nice to see you, Crinis. Stop poking! I haven’t been gone that long. I didn’t even do anything dangerous!]

[Then why did you leave us behind? We could have come too!]

[It’s not that easy for Brilliant to haul powerful monsters around. I thought it was better if you three waited for me down here. Did Tiny and Invidia make it alright?]

Tree didn’t really want to move us, but she’s still in debt to the Colony, so

deal? Lousy matchstick! I’ll go have a word when I get a chance.

[Who is Solant?]

champion. She’s an interesting one, tried

[She WHAT?!]

snap my

annihilate this FILTH that

breaths. I mean… you don’t breathe, do you? It’s fine. She tried to poison me with… heh… sugar. It was funny more

[... fine.]

a few things to do, then I’ll chase down the

madness inducing shadow monstrosity mollified for the moment, I turn my attention to the twenty ants before me. They look

Solant. She’s studying everything with that restless, analytical mind of hers. I can practically hear the cogs turning in her head, and

some congratulations

“Congratulations?” Solant asks.

graduation from

that mean we can go serve the

sense, yes. In another, more realistic sense, no. You’ve been enrolled in the Colony’s most prestigious and exclusive postgraduate program. You get to learn directly from the greatest

they

THWACK!

Solant, let’s have a quick chat. The rest of you relax for

we can speak privately. Brilliant was kind enough to deposit us inside the chamber I evolved in. Spacious, and, it appears, quite abandoned for the moment, we are very much alone inside,

from the smashing defeat

She glares at me.

“No.”

Solant. I see some qualities in you that are… rare, to

that unlike the previous two champions, this one wasn’t raised by me. She’s been taught and reared like every other ant, with the love and care of the best

understand what

decide I’m going to take

you aware what

“No.”

simply born better, with an already formed core in some instances. But it’s more than just better,