I might consider this a success.

Chera doesn't seem fully convinced yet, but at least she stopped talking about keeping me here.

(C)

(E)

(C)

(E)

(C)

(E)

It might not be a great example, but in the case of this war, fighting back together might be better for the people of Tarsona instead of getting picked off one by one by Koreso.

In this case, if they believe Chera's hive will provide them with a decent income, food, shelter, and security, this could already be considered a tempting offer.

(C)

(E)

(C)

Our departure? Does that mean...> (E)

(C)

Oh my, I see severe issues with that.

Humans aren't too great at first impressions.

Or second.

(E)

(C)

Damn, that's actually a good argument. Although a slightly petty one.

(C)

And so it happens.

I already knew that Chera had quite a number of subjects to do her bidding.

Despite how bad it stands for her hive, one cannot forget about the scale one is talking about.

So to speak, she's still extremely powerful.

That much already became apparent when her army protected me from my pursuers.

So it doesn't seem strange when she assembles the usual flesh carriage.

For two, that is.

That one comes along with six hundred workers, fifty guardians, thirty messengers, and twenty hunters.

Apparently, Chera doesn't seem to like producing the latter.

I, on the other hand, am taking all of my subjects with me.

Which consist of Kyska and my remaining beetles.

It worries me a bit to leave my eggs and whatever brood already hatched here, but Chera insists that bringing them along now would mean too much of a burden on the journey.

I'm not sure if this is to force me to return in the future, but I think I need to make concessions.

After all, she is already letting me leave her hive.

This is something.

After mere moments, everything is ready for our departure.

I still feel a slight sense of unease when I have to enter the carriage, but it got already much better.

Especially, since the last one brought me to safety from my pursuers.

Yet my trepidation rises when in front of our escort, six drones gather that I never saw before.

The largest I've ever seen.

Almost twice the size of guardians, they're walking on six legs as living titans.

Behind them hover two tails ending in thick lances, and their arms are basically two greatswords and two heavy spiked clubs.

(E)

(C)

That much is for sure.

Those things are living fortresses.

I can imagine that just one swing of those gigantic weapons would plow through an army like a scythe through the harvest.

I'm certainly intimidated.

(E)

They must weigh a ton.

(C)

Well, as long as we get there.

Wait, if they're eating so much could it be that she wants to have them subsist on the food supplies in Valera?

That's not even stupid.

She can make for a big entrance and show off her power, while not appearing weak.

It's kinda funny.

Actually, she appears to be far more human than the other princesses I met until now.

Although it wasn't in use for a long time, Chera says there's still a passage a short distance outside of her hive that should connect us to the general Formicean underground system.

After all, it's the same that she initially arrived here through.

By following this tunnel we should eventually reach known territory and, in time, arrive in Valera.

We proceed to exit the hive in the direction I initially entered from, and when we arrive at the branching tunnel, the entire convoy enters it.

And so the journey begins.

As Chera said, we aren't particularly fast.

Nonetheless, I'm elated that I'll finally be able to return and see my mum again.

So the slow but steady pace still makes me rather appreciative.

Still, I should find something to occupy myself.

Unfortunately, the only thing would be a certain princess.

(E)

(C)

Seriously?

I barely know the direction.

She can't actually expect me to find my way in the tunnels, can she?

(E)

(C)

That should be doable.

I hope it works.

After a while, I once again grow bored and start talking again.

(E)

I don't even want to imagine how big their initial eggs were to squeeze out.

(C)

(E)

(C)

(E)

(C)

(E)

(C)

We move further down the passage.

After some time, I decide to speak up again.

(E)

I probably should shake off the guilt I feel for what happened back then.

Knowing my royal guard they wouldn't want me to blame myself for what happened.

So I probably shouldn't, and ought to do my best to cheer up.

In general, I believe I have reason enough to be in a good mood, thinking about how I'll finally be able to return to an environment where I feel secure and may reunite with the people I love.

Heck, I might even be glad to see Honiu again.

She might be a lunatic, child experimenter, but at least she never tried to force me into her schemes with a joint hive.

Oh my, how that would turn out.

I get thrown out of my thoughts by the sudden appearance of alarm pheromones.

The source is a hunter coming quickly running from behind us.

It's approaching Chera, relaying its information.

The further pheromones I perceive put me in utter distress, but Chera's next words make it clear that I got them right.

(C)