The group of them headed to the hive and walked amongst the giant honeybees that danced around the forest trees, each of them coated in a thick pelt of fuzz that complemented their wing’s humming in a way that was both ominous but also serene. Upon getting closer to the hive, the actual entrance was clearly manufactured so that people would be able to go in.

There was an arch that tunneled a hole through the column of the hive into a hollow interior, and this arch was roughly door sized. The hollow inside of the hive was also clearly manufactured. It showed a complex terraced effect to the structure where from the bottom they could see balconies of sorts that jutted out from the walls where bees were resting with their wings tucked quietly to their backs. In the center of the strange theater-like hollow in the hive there was a pedestal at the far end that served in place of a throne, where a much larger queen bee was resting. This was not accurate to how hives worked in real life, and Alister thought it very strange that this seemingly all powerful system would decide to cut corners and make a caricature of creatures like this. But it only showed to prove that this opal system was strange and oh so foreign.

His father nudged him to approach the queen bee, which he did without argument. Once only feet from it, the queen hummed and buzzed a tune that sounded vaguely like communication but had no words or real meaning to it. As a result the system gave the party their mission.

[Will you accept the mission: For the Bees?]

[The hive has been inundated with attacks from a local clan of feral werekin. They are not too dangerous on their own, but they are too numerous for the hive to handle without your aid. The bees have requested assistance from your party as outsiders to the hive, and are placing much trust in you. Will you aid them?]

[Y/N]

They accepted the mission after giving it a glance, solidifying their position on the side of the hive. Their acceptance started a visual countdown timer that appeared to the side of their status screen where the party information was displayed. They had a set amount of time to prepare before the first wave of enemies hit it. Everyone, Alister included, immediately turned to Blas as they expected him to lead the charge as it were. Blas huffed, folding his arms, “What? Do you expect me to do everything? Just because I’m the Duke doesn’t mean that I have to lead every time. I swear you are expecting so much of me.”

“You’re enjoying this far too much dear,“ Alliana said rolling her eyes rather dramatically, “Let’s be honest if any of the rest of us tried to lead with you here you wouldn’t be able to sit still. The only times you let me lead is in matters of party planning or etiquette or other similar endeavors and even then you try to stick your nose in things.“

“Bah, I’m hardly that bad. It’s not as though I bar you from making decisions my love, I just… Enjoy it. Usually anyhow. We’re doing this for Alister so let us let him have fun. Alister dear, you can lead the way for this mission. If things get dicey then I will take over. Sounds fair?”

“That sounds fine by me,” Alliana said, her fan getting tucked away to gods know where.

Alister stared at the two of them before letting go of a massive sigh and giving into the reality. He shrugged, “It’s not as though I enjoy leading either. But if I must then fine. I did travel in a party in my previous life when I could, but towards the end of my life that was getting progressively more infrequent. I may be more than a little rusty so please bear with me.”

Alister continued, “Alright then if the enemies are going to come in waves we ought to make sure that we are all prepared for an extended fight. Getting tired would be the biggest risk. At the moment, given my stature, I am best suited to ranged combat. The same goes for Wisteria and her class and skills. Father I saw you fight on the back of the wyvern and in the forest with the eldritch creature but I am still somewhat unfamiliar with your preferred fighting style. You are a beast master, but we have no beasts with us right now.“

“And that’s where you’re wrong,” Blas answered, motioning to the droves of bees that moved busily passing by them, “Look around us. There are many friendly beasts that I could use and guide for our disposal. But know that I am not one to lead a beast, dungeon or no, to its death purposefully. That is one line I have vowed to never cross.”

Alister squinted at his father, “If you say so. I admire your resistance to such methods, but as for the efficacy of bees as beasts to be tamed I'm not so sure.”

“Well then I’ll have to prove you wrong, son,” he grinned, putting two fingers to his mouth. Blas whistled, a sharp sound that echoed through the dome of the hive. It wasn’t quite visible, but an aura of deep green mana surrounded him. Two large soldier bees hummed and floated their way over to him, nearly as large as he was. The knight guards tensed, but the bees landed in place on either side of him. They looked like two ginormous guard dogs.

The sight made Alister laugh, “Hah! That’s brilliant. It almost makes me jealous, father.”

“Right, then. I’ll consider you ranged as well, Father. Mother, could you tell me what you’re best suited for?” Alister asked, glancing at the timer. They had about seven minutes left. Not long.

“Of course Little Alli,” she said, Alister rolling his eyes, “I would say I am best at mid range. I dance to attack, dealing blows that are best for assassination. Quickly eliminating threats. It’s saved my life a few times, and allows me to entertain your father’s adventurous spirit a bit better. Needles, bladed fans, bladed scarves, those sorts of things. I cannot take on attacks however. I have to be able to move away just as quickly as I attack.”

“Then I think the knights should manage a wall against the enemies. With only five to six enemies per wave, they should be able to keep their attention, and the rest of us can attack at will. How long do we have between each wave?”

Blas gave a soft hmm, “Not long. Ten minutes maybe.”

“If we find ourselves getting too tired, then we need to change strategies and make two teams that we can swap between. One adult with either myself or Wisteria, and then half the guards. Hopefully that’s not needed.”

“I don’t imagine it will be,” Blas said, “You two and Alliana might get tired, but this will just be a fun bit of exercise for myself and the guards.”

“Fair enough,” Alister said, staring at the timer, “Then I don’t think there’s much else to prepare.”