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

is to protect people from the Dungeon, and to that end, they’ve determined you shouldn’t be allowed to

turned to regard her directly, the many

best to protect people. It’s the right goal, just the wrong target. But hey, I don’t think I’ll

in relief. At least he wasn’t going to hold it against her personally,

what you think. Am I a threat to the

take long for him to put her on the spot, hitting right at

wisdom of the Legion has helped us stand firm against the Dungeon since the Cataclysm. There is tremendous value in it, yet… I still struggle to imagine the Colony

the Colony, and we’ll do right by

happened at the

an instant, all the energy was sucked out of the massive monster and he slumped to

about that…. That whole mess was disturbing and

[Was? So it’s resolved?]

[not by a long shot. But that’s not why you’re

alarmingly quickly, springing back up onto the tips of his legs. To have such a large monster moving so quickly right next to her was unnerving, to say the least. It was hard to believe

any bigger, you’re going to have trouble fitting into the nests,] she observed as they walked toward the entrance

dismissed her concerns, and he was probably right. [This is what

right,] she said, looking around

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

above?] she asked. [I

initial invasion force is being prepped above. It’s going

[A million?!]

fifth stratum, Morrelia,] he told her condescendingly. [We aren’t going to make any progress being half-hearted about it. Here, take a look at these

walked over to a separate area where a group of ants were tending to hundreds of… strange… wobbly

I