Luckily, it didn’t seem like any horrible monsters were coming to get at the new settlement site from below, or anywhere else. The next few days passed without incident. Regina had made sure the drones posted a watch in the tunnels, and further digging was temporarily halted until they were sure it was safe. Or at least reasonably safe.

She’d tried out the new Swarm Drone Template as soon as she felt she could stomach more eggs being added, but only a few, since she didn’t think she had much need for aquatic drones right now. To be safe, she’d moved their eggs to the water just before they were due to hatch, putting them into the river at the shallowest spot they could find, with other drones standing guard to make sure no river monsters tried to take them for a snack.

It turned out she needn’t have worried. The Aquatic Swarm Drones were more like seals. One of them flailed a little until it managed to sit up straighter, breaking the surface of the shallows and drawing in air. Max had to wade in to carry them out.

The new drones were smaller than the sapient drones once again, and their limbs were evidently designed so they could be used on land, but were mostly useful for swimming. Regina also found that they apparently had large lungs and could hold their breath for a while. Their upper set of limbs seemed to be mostly useful for swimming or maybe steering, while the middle one carried a hooked blade on one side and a kind of multi-use knob on the other, like the Workers. Their stat distribution was interesting, too.

Aquatic Drone Level: 1 Mana: N/A Con: 8 Str: 8 Dex: 8 End: 8 Int: 4 Wis: 4

Incidentally, that was the same stat distribution as many War Drones had. Granted, it varied a little, and she didn’t have a large enough sample of Aquatic Drones to draw conclusions. Still, it was obvious they were more focused on the physical side. Regina wondered if she would ever have magic-using Swarm Drones. Probably not, magic seemed like it would need conscious input and direction. She might get a type of drone that allowed her to cast magic through them sometime in the future, but more than that was unlikely.

Their second-strongest mage in the hive, Janis, had also gotten a jump in power. She’d woken up after about half a day knocked out cold, but it took her a bit of time to adjust.

The first few days after her Evolution, Janis was barely at the settlement except to eat and sleep, while she spent most of her time out hunting monsters. She said she wanted to get a grip on her power. Regina noticed that she also didn’t meet Whitor at any point.

You know, I’m not sure what you might be afraid of that Whitor might do, she said the day after the first Aquatic Drones hatched.

Janis had just walked down the dirt path, then ducked into a hut and gave Tia an update on her most recent hunt and the monsters she’d spotted further away, just when Whitor had come out of one of the improvised shelters.

I’m not afraid of anything, Janis retorted, but she sounded a bit sheepish. Looking more closely, Regina could sense her considering something in the back of her mind.

Your ‘physical changes’ are hardly that noticeable, Regina said. It feels like the sort of thing someone might have done for aesthetic reasons back in my time. And even if it outs you as demihuman, so what?

Janis twirled a strand of hair around her finger, then stopped abruptly as she seemed to realize what she was doing. Her hair had lengthened a little, and the tips were now dyed flame-red, more vibrant than her normal hair color. If you looked closely, they even seemed to flicker, like a flame, with hints of orange, yellow and occasionally even a light blue.

Her eyes had also changed, becoming a different shade of light blue. The closest comparison Regina could come up with was the sky on a cloudless summer day, but somehow still vibrant, carrying a strange intensity.

Regina suspected there were more than cosmetic changes. Janis seemed to be stronger and to have better reflexes, for one thing. Of course, she had also gotten three stat points for the level-up and Evolution, along with a substantial increase in her mana pool. Regina called up her status again.

Janis Starlit Erudite Mage Level: 20 Mana: 578/1200 Con: 10 Str: 10 Dex: 12 End: 12 Int: 19 Wis: 19

Janis sighed and left the building, ambling out of the camp. Whitor had gone off in the opposite direction, presumably going after Tim. You’re right, she admitted. And I appreciate the support. I am not sure if I have ever mentioned that, but I do.

You’re welcome, Regina replied. But I’m hardly in a position to judge anyone for not being human, anymore or otherwise.

Janis was quiet for a minute, but Regina could tell she was thinking. She didn’t leave her mental space, just accompanied the young woman in companionable silence for a bit.

But you used to be human, and one of the Ancients, the Progenitors, Janis finally said. And the people of today - the humans of today - are their descendants, at least in part. Your descendants.

I doubt there are any descendants of mine, personally, Regina interjected. I don’t think I had kids. As best I could tell, I was in my mid-twenties at most, and most people had children later in life, especially considering what else I can infer about my situation and occupation. Even if I did, chances are they wouldn’t have survived. I guess it’s possible some of my relatives or their kids survived, maybe a nephew or niece, but just looking at the statistics, I’m not sure how likely that is. Besides, it’s been so long, so many generations, there really isn’t any meaningful connection anymore, on the genetic level.

Janis frowned, seeming thoughtful. That’s all well and good, she replied. And I cannot even imagine the scale of what you lost, what your contemporaries lost. But my point is, you were human once, as was everyone you knew. And now you have dealings with humans again, in a very different way. Aren’t you … I don’t know, dismayed?

Regina was quiet for a moment. No one had ever asked her that before, and she suddenly realized that some of her drones had probably had the same thought before, but hadn’t wanted to bring it up. She spent a second trying to analyze what she felt, but it was hard.

I guess I am a little disappointed, she finally said. In a general way, because of everything that has been lost and how little the people of this time seem to be trying to get it back, or seem to have accomplished. I recognize that’s probably unreasonable of me. And for humans specifically, well, what I’ve seen of their culture so far — or rather the human cultures I have seen so far, there are a lot more — it’s arguably the worst, in comparison to the others I’ve encountered. Compared to the values I was once taught, I mean. Of course that’s a bit upsetting.

Janis processed her reply in silence. So, you don’t feel a special connection to them, more than the other modern peoples? she asked after a few seconds.

Not really, Regina shrugged mentally. I guess a bit will always be there, but I don’t think it’s affecting my decisions too much. Granted, it’s not like I’ve met that many people, anyway.

Maybe she just didn’t want to associate herself too strongly with the people of today, emotionally. But Regina honestly didn’t feel the need to adjust her attitude.

Janis dropped the subject after that, and the two of them didn’t talk about it again.

Regina was reminded of the existence of other people, though, two days later. The gnomes had been very quiet, so much so that she almost forgot they were there. They conducted a bit of trade with the village and with Neralt, but otherwise seemed content to be patient and boring. Regina hadn’t been sure how best to handle them, so she’d just been hands-off and basically defaulted to ‘wait and see’.

She now wondered if that had been a mistake. She still didn’t know much about them or what their goals were, and hadn’t formed a plan on how to deal with them or their nation as a whole. If she even needed one. She considered calling for a meeting with some of her drones now, to hear about what they might have learned watching the visitors, but she didn’t want to be rude by letting them wait too long.

The gnomes’ message (delivered on nice paper with nice handwriting that was carried to her by what seemed like air magic) had asked for a meeting at her earliest convenience. They also offered to visit her residence or headquarters, but she elected to go visit their place.

Not much had changed from the last time she’d been there, though Regina had occasionally seen them with one of the drones through their link, so she wasn’t surprised. However, as she came closer, she saw a few gnomes who appeared to be preparing to load some crates onto their wagon. Regina raised an eyebrow, then quickly smoothed out her expression again. Max walked beside her, and she caught him glancing around, taking in the location.

The gnomes’ two leaders met her in a yard of the house they’d apparently rented, where they’d put up a few folding chairs. Regina was a bit amused to see it.

“Hello, honored visitors,” she greeted them politely. “I apologize for not coming to see you earlier, I have been quite busy.”

“Greetings, Lady Regina,” Tikimaken answered. “That is perfectly understandable. Thank you for taking the time today.”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they sat down and started getting to why the gnomes had asked to see her.

Indirectly, at least. They began by mentioning the hive’s projects, like the waterwheel, and making allusions to their explosives and other things. “Quite remarkable work, truly,” Tikelikel commented. “I can’t help feeling curious.”

Regina suppressed a sigh. She remembered she’d all but promised that she would let them have a look at the hive’s projects. But after the incident when she mentioned the Hivekind, her enthusiasm for that idea had cooled. Even if they knew and chose to ignore her and her hive’s identity, she still had to see them and their people as potential enemies now. It would be unwise to show too much of one’s capabilities to potential enemies.

On the other hand, working out trade deals with people generally helped to prevent them from becoming enemies, didn’t it?

“It’s gratifying to know that our little waterwheel impressed you,” she responded with a smile. “Please feel free to look at it all you like. The village’s fortifications, as well. Beyond that, I feel sure we can help each other, provide what either side might be lacking.”

The male gnome nodded gratefully. “You are talking about trade?”

“I am. I’m aware you already worked out a few deals with Baron Neralt and some of the other people here, but I think it could also be good to make arrangements for my hive as a whole.”

“We would be happy to discuss such an agreement, Hive Queen!” Tikelikel spoke up.

They spent the next five minutes hammering out the bare bones of a deal. Regina would sell a variety of agricultural products and parts harvested from the forest or from monsters, as well as ‘Hive specialties’ and even precious metal or stones ‘as we find them’. She would also provide explosives on a case-by-case basis, at her discretion. In exchange, they would send the occasional caravan selling a variety of luxury and crafted goods, like fabrics, specialized forged tools and various odds and ends.

“Will we send traders to both this village and your new settlement?” Tikelikel asked. “Or simply this one?”

Regina paused. “Just here, for now,” she answered. “We’ll open the new outpost for trade in time.” Briefly, she wondered where they’d heard about it. But there were any number of people who could have told them, assuming the gnomes didn’t have some other means to find out where all the drones had gone.

They seemed to accept that. After a moment, though, Tikimaken spoke up again. “We were wondering if we might be able to visit that new camp on our way back.”

“I was wondering if you were planning to leave,” Regina said, keeping her tone neutral.

He looked a bit sheepish at that, but she couldn’t tell if the earnest expression was genuine. “We have already stayed here for quite a while, and considering recent events in the region, as well as at home, we found it would be prudent to move on. We thank you for your hospitality, Lady Regina, and the welcome you have extended to our group.”

“That’s fine.” Regina smiled slightly. “I hope this will be the beginning of a beneficial relationship for both of our people.”

“Certainly, so do we,” Tikelikel replied. “As my partner was saying, our trip back home will not be without its dangers, and having the opportunity to stop at a safe base on the way would be quite welcome.”

Regina tried not to frown. She couldn’t exactly dispute that argument, although she felt certain there was more behind their desire to see her new camp.

“Unfortunately, that outpost is still in the process of being set up, and we have not cleared out all of the monsters. Certainly not in the larger area around it. So, I wouldn’t feel comfortable sending you there. But I would be happy to assemble an escort to accompany you for the first leg of your trip, as well as Winged Drones to watch over you.”

The two exchanged a glance. Judging from their reaction, Regina realized they probably hadn’t expected her to agree in the first place.

“We would be very grateful for such protection, at least for the first day or two of the trip,” the Unbroken Rock said.

“Additionally,” Tikelikel added, “we would like to extend an invitation to your hive. For you, Hive Queen Regina, as well as any other members you might choose. We would be honored to have you visit the Gnomish Confederation of the East. Our superiors have also affirmed emphatically that they would receive you with every courtesy.”

Regina tried to keep the surprise off her face. She hadn’t expected such an invitation. “Thank you, that means a lot,” she replied, with perhaps the most genuine sentiment in this conversation. “I would very much like to visit.” She hesitated, then continued with real reluctance, “Unfortunately, my current situation and responsibilities don’t allow me to travel so far from my people. But perhaps in the future?”

“We would look forward to it,” the gnome assured her.

Regina smiled and they politely said their goodbyes, but she completed the niceties on autopilot while she thought about visiting the gnomes’ federation.