Chrysalis

[We hate you!]

[Don’t come back!]

[You’re hurting my feelings! Why don’t you fly over here next to me and say that!]

[Get stuffed!]

[In your dreams, mate!]

[Turn off your lousy magic and THEN talk smack, ey? EYYYY?!]

[Why don’t you come over here and make me? Huh? Need me to go easy on you? Too weak for the real stuff?]

[Get off our island!]

[Yeah! You bleedin’ cheat!]

[Bah! All of you can bite my carapace! Your mums are all classy ladies, but you’re rubbish!]

To a chorus of mentally projected howls and insults, I float down and away from the Wandering Isle. Some of the Magpei follow, unwilling to let us go without getting the last word in. I take note of how they keep their distance from me, though, unwilling to be caught up in the gravity well.

Gweheheheh.

It’s taken a lot of mana to maintain it for this long, but it's been worth it. Looking at the suffering expressions of their faces every time they try to fly up and punch me has been a joy, bringing light to my dark, dark heart.

[Are you still going with them?] the mage, Olivis asks me.

[Of course! As long as they’re willing to serve it up, they’re going to get it back.]

[There will never come a time they are unwilling to serve it up. They’re the Magpei. They’ve been doing this for thousands and thousands of years.]

suppose. If there’s a Skill for

with matching their energy. They want to be discourteous, rude and confrontational? Fine! I

don’t find

[No?]

She looks at me.

back at her.

old are

old, why

[No reason.]

time as an ant… I guess my age would be… what? Sixteen-ish? Less? Honestly, it’s hard to remember how old I

you find this story on Amazon, report

that some ants have taken an interest in the clockmaking arts. So… it probably won’t be long

the Legion fleet. Interestingly, they didn’t seem to bother us all that much while

they did when I was falling, but no. The massed fleet of hulking, armoured warships just sits, idly, with many a

were admiring my glorious carapace, that would be one thing, but this is just them staring at me

flinging insults at me, but I think I’ve had my fun. With a flicker of concentration, I allow my focus to lapse and

of the forbidden one begin to recede, like oil on an ocean

is the exact moment that Odin chooses to

to learn that there are other ants protecting

of my babysitters, Odin only groans, thrashing weakly with his

sense their presence at

not! They’ve specifically evolved and mutated

[Gah! Let me up!]

think about how not to be weird. When we get back to see Sarah again, I want to

struggling demon, I turn to Eran Thouris. I suppose I should give a little thought to the actual purpose of our

[So, how was trade?]

some contracts with several distributors. Tea was popular, as

good news, I

we didn’t have to put up with

me an