Chrysalis

Alright, Jern and Alice have apparently been transformed into killing machines. Good, I guess? They'll rack up levels and experience quickly, which is a benefit, and I don't have to worry about them getting hurt. That's fine. All positive.

But what about the kids?

Emelia, Trean and Allison are watching the growing chaos with neutral expressions, seemingly unmoved by what they're seeing. I'm getting a bad feeling about this. What have the Nameless done with these kids? Surely, they aren't as… killy… as the other two? Right?

[Alright, you three. Do you feel like you can head in there and contribute without putting yourselves at too much risk?] I ask them.

The three of them look about, carefully assessing their surroundings, then share a long, silent exchange of glances.

[We'll be fine,] Emelia says shortly.

Ooookay. I guess I just… have to trust they know what they're doing. I mean, the Nameless wouldn't have let them out if they would be in danger… right?

Let's see.

The three young people move together in eerie silence until they approach the back ranks of the battalions. Then they just… vanish.

What the….

For the next ten minutes, I'm treated to a horrifying, terrifying display that shakes me down to my claws. The three of them are everywhere and nowhere. They pop out of the shadows with perfect timing, slashing out with quick and deadly strikes before vanishing once more.

there. The monsters they defeat have no idea what happened, struck from blindspots, beneath them, behind them, to the side. Heck, I saw one of the three jump out from behind an ant's leg. The leg. Even if it was a soldier, their legs aren't that thick…. How

three of them return to me, I find myself in a sombre mood, reflecting on the tragedy of lost youth and staring wistfully into the

do well, Eldest?

I feel nothing

off to join Jern and Alis, who

to have a word with Crinis when we catch up

wrestle with my own emotions for a moment. I mean, is it a bad thing that they can defend themselves? Of course not! But having such young death machines leaves an itchy feeling in my mandibles. Then again, I wasn't that much older than them

was much wiser,

I'll worry about it later. You can't put spilled babies back in

You're up. Show me what you can do; don't become dead in

old man who mends pots and cleans things for a living, but he went through the same deadly training of death that the others did. There's no way

he nods at my request, and draws his

[Bert.]

[Yes, Eldest?]

a frying

flipping it once

you… going to

scratches the back of his head

comfortable using the weapons, so in the end