Chrysalis

“Be careful, Tribune. The monster may attempt to manipulate your thoughts.”

Morrelia frowned.

“I’ve received mental fortitude training and raised my Skills to the commander level,” she said evenly. “I will of course remain vigilant nevertheless. Thank you for your diligence, Legionary.”

[What’d he say?] Anthony’s voice echoed in her mind.

[They’re still worried you’ll manipulate me,] she sighed.

[I mean… is it possible to communicate in any way without allowing for the chance of manipulation? I’ve seen what the brathian do to people with just words. It’s not pretty.]

[You know as well as I do that a mind bridge allows for more than just communication. How did you defeat Garralosh again?]

[Ugh… I’d rather not remember, to be honest; that was nasty. Alright, this is the place.]

The ants’ forward operating base wasn’t anything special, yet. There were hundreds of carvers still working on it, and she knew full well what miracles they could accomplish.

[Are there really rooms in there for us?] she asked, a little sceptical.

[Of course! We’re an accommodating group of insects. Unlike your Legion.]

Morrelia felt a pang in her chest.

[Are you thinking of the bolts we shot at you?]

[Of course I am! While I was falling out of the sky as well. That’s such a cheap shot.]

took a deep

Legion is to protect people from

regard her directly, the many

get that you lot are doing what you think is best to protect people. It’s the right goal, just the wrong target. But hey, I don’t think I’ll ever convince the people who run your outfit of that, so it is what

wasn’t going to hold it

[is what you think. Am I a threat

to put her on the spot, hitting

not sure,] she said. [The wisdom of the Legion has helped us stand firm against the Dungeon since the Cataclysm. There is

the Colony, and we’ll do right

what happened at the Silver

of

Don’t talk about that…. That whole mess was

[Was? So it’s resolved?]

Anthony muttered darkly, [not by a long shot. But that’s not why you’re

the tips of his legs. To have such a large monster moving so quickly right next to her was unnerving,

into the nests,] she observed as they

just make the tunnels wider,] he dismissed her concerns, and he was probably right. [This is what you came for, right? You want to

she said, looking around

hard at work on a myriad of tasks around her. It was clear the Colony was only beginning to muster the might of

this above?] she asked. [I

he barked a laugh. [The initial invasion force is being prepped above. It’s going to be around a

[A million?!]

aren’t going to make any progress being half-hearted about it. Here, take a look

over to a separate area where a group of ants were tending

her, [I love these guys. I don’t know why they turned