Chrysalis

“Do you really think the ants are protecting us because the Great One approves of our holy pilgrimage?” Alis wondered.

Jern looked at the ranks of ants marching alongside them, guarding the pilgrims on both sides.

“I think… they probably just came along to make sure we’re safe,” he suggested.

His friend looked up at him irritably.

“That’s all? Priest Beyn says it because they are guiding us along our blessed path and into enlightenment.”

“All they really do is fight Dungeon monsters for us,” Jern pointed out.

Alis scowled.

“Sometimes we have to fight for ourselves, don’t we?”

He sighed and hefted the oversized axe on his shoulder. Surprisingly, an ant had given it to him, which had caused people to whisper and point. Eventually, he’d found a mage, (who did turn to keep him in front of her, which he tested by taking a few steps to either side), who’d explained that, since he was so large and strong, they’d made a weapon he could use to help protect the pilgrims.

“Yes, sometimes we have to fight for ourselves,” he told his red haired friend. “Your fire magic has improved a lot since we left.”

She folded her arms across her chest.

“Of course!” she declared, puffing herself up with pride. “I’ve had the chance to turn my flames on Dungeon monsters before. It’s only natural that my Levels are increasing quickly.”

Jern had to agree. Fighting against monsters really was Levelling him quickly. It wouldn’t be that long before his Class maxed out and he’d need to change it into a new one.

“Still,” he said, turning back to look at the long train of pilgrims behind them, “I never expected we would gather this many people.”

“You really doubted how persuasive priest Beyn can be?” Alis scoffed. “Every place we go, we end up with more and more followers. I feel like we got a thousand at Rylleh alone.”

“Good thing the ants are feeding us,” Jern noted.

The Great One is

said nothing. He wasn’t particularly smart, so he was probably wrong, but he figured the Great One was just making sure they didn’t

really mattered, he was enjoying himself and Alis was having a great

will be

wouldn’t they be? We are coming on a holy pilgrimage! They’ve got no reason

city outside of the

of the Great One

Alis, constantly on alert, with messengers running up and down the column at all times. Suddenly, two of the nearby soldiers turned toward a patch on the wall, their mandibles flexing as they readied

at him, he

“Allow me,” he said.

and stepped back a fraction. Jern hefted the massive axe off his shoulder and gave it a few swings to warm up his arms, then

later, a frenzied, mad-eyed beast lunged from the wall, spraying the young man with stone fragments. He got a flash of fur, and

he pulled his weapon free and stared down at the monster. When he was sure it wasn’t moving, he turned to the soldiers, gave a dip of his head, which they returned with their antennae, and then jogged back

ants can take care of that, you know. If anything,

rolled his

humans through the Dungeon during a wave. I just feel like we should help out as much as

opened her mouth to reply, thought for a second, then closed

right,” she begrudgingly admitted. “I’ll get the

~~~

hard

his head in acknowledgement as the priest approached, holy antennae bobbing on the top

thank you, priest Beyn. We did our best to help protect the column and

were today,” the priest gestured with his one remaining hand toward the ants, still on duty alongside them. “They are grateful for your assistance. It has been very difficult for them to protect us along this journey, given the state of the Dungeon. I fear we must step up and do more to defend ourselves if we

to her

are more than happy to do our part. Aren’t

the young

Beyn laughed warmly.

souls like you amongst us, my heart is put to ease. Tomorrow we will reach our current destination, and I hope we will be well received, but we must be prepared to be rebuffed. We are outside the lands of the Colony at this moment, and the citizens of