Regina stumbled out of the house, leaning against its wall for a moment. She focused on taking a deep breath, letting the trembling in her legs die down. She felt an ache in her core, dull and throbbing, but it didn’t really feel like a cramp or anything. At least it was faint enough that she could ignore it.

“Be careful, my Queen.” Max stepped up beside her and gave her a concerned look. “Please. I know we need more drones for the hive, but your health has to take the highest priority.”

Regina shook her head. “I guess fifty is a bit much,” she said ruefully. “But don’t worry. I’m not pushing myself beyond what I can take.”

Ira stepped out of the house beside her, clearly just finished cleaning up. “He’s not wrong, my Queen,” she said. “Please tell us if you feel any more discomfort or pain. We could try healing it.”

Regina grimaced a little, but nodded. She bit down on the urge to say that she could heal herself just fine, if it came to that.

She didn’t have much mana left. Her mana regeneration was almost completely eaten up by the eggs in development right now. But she had accepted that, since her hive now had enough people who could do magic on their own. It was more important to raise their numbers at the moment, especially after their recent victory and with all immediate threats dealt with.

Regina had just leveled up to level 36 recently, and had tried to create as many new eggs as she could to see how far it would take her. With a thought, she pulled up her current status again.

Regina Hive Queen Level: 36 Mana: 653/6400 Hive: 67/226, 3 Swarm: 515/10000, 50 Con: 14 Str: 13 Dex: 14 End: 16 Int: 24 Wis: 23

She’d gotten a point in Wis with her latest level, the reason she’d tried to push her limits, and a point in End before that. The System seemed content to let her Str languish. And her other physical stats, as well, mostly, though she suspected that Dex might get another point soon. Maybe Con, too. At least it wasn’t min-maxing her status too much. In a game, it might be fine for a mage to only put points in the magic-related stats, but you could also respawn in games.

At least her mana pool was back around the level it had been for the battle at the fort, and her Swarm’s numbers were almost up to what they had been, too, though not quite. I did lose quite a few of them in the battle. Or battles, rather.

Still, she was definitely going to buckle down and focus on her hive’s numbers for a while. A few months, if she could manage that. I’m still so far from the limit. If I understand correctly, it should be forty thousand at level 40, the third Tier. Let’s try to get at least a bit closer to that.

She wondered if there was a way to increase her hive’s egg output. Maybe she was simply breezing through the levels too fast, and it was just supposed to take time to build your strength to the next rank.

“Have you heard from Tia again?” Max asked now, obviously changing the subject. “How are things going in the new place?”

Regina dismissed her status window and turned back to him, shaking her head slightly. “Recently, yes. Things are going pretty well. In fact, I was just about to check in with her again. Let’s go home, I’d rather sit down if I’m going to be focusing on the link for a while.”

Tim and the other drones in the south had departed the town quickly, since it was now definitely not theirs and the humans were moving out as well. Kiara had gone with him, to Janis’ obvious, if subtle, disappointment. Regina had considered talking to the mage about it, then decided to keep out of it. She wasn’t a human anymore, she didn’t have any personal experience to draw on, and she didn’t know the culture very well.

Although Tim had joined Tia’s team now and was arguable the more ‘senior’ drone, Tia remained basically in charge of building the new settlement. Regina knew that Mia wished she could join her, but she wanted to keep the other drone here for now. She was doing valuable work, and besides, it was probably better to have Regina’s senior drones spread out a little. In case of an attack, if nothing else.

“And Whitor?” Max asked as they entered the house that currently served as her home.

Regina paused as she stepped into her bedroom, taking a moment to check through her psychic link. “He’s still being quiet and helpful,” she answered. “He actually killed a flying monster that was getting pretty close to Ina. He’s still in the new camp currently, with Ivy and a few Warriors.”

Max nodded, looking thoughtful. “I have to admit, I wasn’t sure about this. Simply letting him go with the others? I know you took precautions, but it just seemed like a risk. I’m glad it seems to be paying off.”

Regain stayed quiet for a moment, absentmindedly tapping her fingers against her leg. She had made Whitor swear publicly not to attempt to escape or to directly or indirectly harm anyone, but she could see where Max was coming from.

“You’re not wrong,” she finally said. “But - I don’t know, it’s hard to explain.” She shook her head and hesitated again, before she continued. “I think my psychic power might be coming in. Enhanced Telepathy did say I would be able to use it outside of my hive, and I’ve got Psychic Focus now, too. I think I can expect to develop more of … some kind of psychic ability.”

“And it’s telling you to trust him?” Max cocked his head slightly. He didn’t sound skeptical, though.

Regina smiled. The drones’ easy acceptance was always comforting. “I don’t know. I felt he was telling the truth, though. I just knew he was being sincere. It’s hard to describe, but a bit like the feelings I might get from one of you through the link.”

Max nodded. “Well, that will be useful,” he commented. “Have you been able to use this again?”

She shook her head. “No. I’ve tried to trigger it again with a few of the other humans, but without much success. I guess I’ll have to keep working on it if I want to develop that power.”

Max leaned against the doorframe, and Regina settled down on her bed, sitting cross-legged and getting comfortable. Then she closed her eyes and focused on her drones’ minds. It wasn’t really necessary, but she was going to do a deep dive into the psychic link, and less distracting input from her body made that easier.

The drones were hard at work building their new camp, and they’d already made good progress. Since there weren’t many trees around, they’d cut down a few they had found in the area, but also carried some wood from further away along. At the same time, they were starting to dig. The earth they removed was useful as a construction material, and of course what they dug out could serve as living space itself, or for other purposes. Regina thought the plan to build several settlements and an extensive tunnel network connecting them was a little ambitious, but she approved of it, anyway. It might take some time, and a lot of work, but they could do it.

The lack of good construction material is a bit of a problem, my Queen, Tia confirmed when she contacted her. We’re moving on to underground construction earlier than I had thought. The issue is that we haven’t found anything besides wood that would be good to use as a construction material here. It’s not like we can quarry stone from this place. I haven’t found clay or adobe that we could use to make bricks, but there’s probably some around, somewhere. We just need to keep looking.

Sure, Regina said. That’s going to need Workers who can actually recognize the type of dirt, right?

Kind of. Tia shrugged mentally. I’ve been sending Swarm Drones out with instructions to report on what they find, or at least come back when there’s a change in the makeup of the soil. Then one of us just needs to go and check it out. I think it’s working so far.

Good. Is there anything else you require? Do you need me to come down here myself?

Regina felt Tia pause and consider her answer. In time, definitely, but I don’t think there’s a hurry. Unless there’s something you think you should see for yourself?

Not really. I’ll just keep watching through you all. Regina smiled.

She made sure to stay quiet to not bother the drones too much, though. They all had something to do. Even Janis used her Spells, mostly to make fire, though she didn’t seem to have much work otherwise. Except for going out to hunt monsters with some of the warriors. Regina didn’t mind them clearing out the surroundings. It was good Experience and they didn’t need to have monsters too close to their new settlement site.

It would probably take a few weeks until they had enough drones to need a new settlement, really, but that still wasn’t much time in the great scheme of things.

Janis, Tim and a few other drones staggered into camp a short time later, carrying several rather large monsters that looked a bit like overgrown rabbits. They probably ate the grass of this region, given their set of teeth, but the hard, spiky skin and heavy paws showed they could defend themselves. Regina hadn’t paid attention, so she’d missed their System descriptions. Ina and a few other Workers bustled over to take care of them. Whitor showed up, as well, staying a few steps away but clearly watching with interest.

Regina observed them for a moment, then turned her attention elsewhere. She’d seen a lot of animals being butchered in the last few months, but that didn’t mean she was particularly invested in it. Instead, she checked on her Winged Drones, taking a look at the area from above.

Then Regina realized she couldn’t see Tia. She switched focus and found that Janis was now missing, as well, along with Bea and a few others. It took her a moment to realize they were underground, the view through their eyes a lot darker than usual and their senses muffled.

My Queen? Tia called out hesitantly, but since Regina was already turning her awareness to her, she had her full attention right away.

I’m here, she answered. Then she dove a little deeper into her mind and paused. Okay, I see it.

She could tell why Tia was unsure and had wanted to get her opinion. There was already some kind of cavity beneath the ground, starting a few meters from the start of the tunnel Tia and the others had started to dig. She quickly realized they’d dug out a connection, a short circular tunnel, to get to it.

“The mana level is higher here,” Janis spoke up. “I think it’s getting higher, too, if you went further in.”

That gave Regina pause. She couldn’t sense mana through Tia, so she quickly switched to Janis. It was probably harder to sense than if she’d been there in person, but after she focused on it, she could tell what Janis meant.

I want to explore it. The thought was strong in Janis’ mind.

Regina paused, then tried to widen her connection to include all of the drones there. Well, I probably can’t stop you from exploring, can I? she said wryly. Not that I would. But please be careful. We don’t know if there’s some strong monster or whatever out there.

“What have you found here?” another voice suddenly sounded down the tunnel.

Tia and Janis jumped. They all turned to look at Whitor, who had appeared a few meters away at the start of the new tunnel. Regina withdrew slightly, trying to make sure her own emotions didn’t bleed over. It was almost weird to have a person who she couldn’t feel through the psychic link here.

“Nothing much,” Tia said.

“It appears there’s some sort of cavern or structure down here.” The earl ignored her, peering down the shaft.

“Looks like it,” Janis said, eying him. “Do you happen to know anything about it?”

He shook his head. “No, I am afraid not. I have certainly never been here, or had any cause to talk to explorers who may have been. Although I doubt there are many such people.”

“Well, we’re going to explore it,” Tia said.

He frowned, stepping closer. “In that case, I would like to accompany you. This could be quite dangerous. You never know what sort of monsters or other dangers might lurk in the wild.”

Tia frowned and exchanged a look with Janis and the others. Should we let him? She asked Regina.

Regina hesitated. It was a risk to let him into something like this, though now that he knew about it, he’d probably try to explore on his own, anyway. But she couldn’t help but feel like he had a point. And he was a capable combatant, probably more so than anyone else down there. If he went along, he probably would make it a lot safer. Although underground, in the tunnels, her drones would be a lot more at home than he would be.

She supposed it came down to how much she trusted him, or her possible burgeoning new psychic abilities, for that matter. And how important she found it to indulge him and to keep trying to tie him closer to her hive.

The first question was tricky, but the second had a pretty clear answer.

Alright, if you don’t mind, she said. Janis, stay in the back. Keep the lighting low unless you actually need it to fight and guide him along, if necessary.

As you say, my Queen, Tia and Janis chorused mentally, then shot each other a look and smiled.

“Alright,” Tia answered. “You can come, but you’d better pull your weight and only turn those Skills against any dangers down here. You wouldn’t like what happens if you don’t. Are we clear?”

“Perfectly clear, Dame Tia,” Whitor said, stepping forward to join them.

Regina sat back on her bed and sighed. Another exploration she’d have to watch from a distance. She should get used to that.