How did Chera manage to attend?

The last thing I remember of her was how she returned to her hive with the prisoners of war from the rest of the surviving human army.

She must've travelled extremely fast to get here in time.

(U)

Thanks for that question.

(C)

I roll my eyes thoroughly, but do my best not to emit pheromones that would give away my honest thoughts.

(U)

(C)

(U)

When Uma says little it seems to carry the meaning of still-too-young.

I can basically feel Chera clicking her tongue at this.

(C)

(U)

(C)

Why do you have to make it so hard on me to not shout out that you're a fraud!?

However, I suppose she is advocating for my side, so I shouldn't sabotage her.

(U)

(C)

Magic!

She's talking about magic!

Huh, magic-wielding insects would be kinda concerning, but could this truly become an actual possibility?

On the other hand, adaptability with their brood is kinda the Formiceans's thing.

It wouldn't be an impossible stretch thinking about it.

(U)

(C)

I remember those names.

They are the other two swarms that, together with Uma, decided to devour the fourth swarm that remained after the swarm wars and then agreed on a treaty to prevent further fighting.

Yet I'm wholly unsure if it's smart to inform the present humans of this factor.

As bad as this thought might sound, I'm glad that Gioras isn't here anymore.

(U)

(C)

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

(U)

(C)

Wow, Chera is much more of a schemer than I gave her credit for.

Though, maybe that's to be expected, given that she was devious enough to keep the current state of her hive from her mother for decades.

(U)

This last word hurts.

Because it didn't exist until now.

Formicea didn't know about lying.

The concept of betrayal is foreign to the swarm.

Or rather, it was.

Here Uma just created this concept in its most primitive form that conveys the intent and feelings revolving around it.

A concept brought over to them by humans.

It's sad in a way that this is the kind of influence this contact created.

(C)

(U)

(C)

At this, a man, probably in his early thirties, with a trimmed black beard and a somewhat tired look, enters.

Wait a moment!

That's the officer that almost caught me when I was on the run but then opted for retreat when he saw that there was no chance against the coming Formicean army approaching from Chera's hive.

Also... could it be he was there during my abduction?

In any case, he must be one of those captured after the fight in the worm cave.

(U)

(C)

(D)

At this, the humans on the side become quite agitated.

I notice several times the word "traitor" being mumbled.

Or at least thought by those who applied the speaking version.

(U)

(D)

(U)

Bad wording!

Bad wording!

That the princess in question is so proud of this doesn't make it any better.

Also, the fact that Formicea mean the things they say in pheromone speech just as they convey them doesn't make this any better.

(U)

(C)

(U)

At this, Chera walks up to the round table in the center of the hall, with the map laid out in the center.

(C)

She runs a claw gently along it, beginning roughly in the territory of Koreso, though quite deep in the south, then down into that huge forest lying there.

(U)

(C)

She has a good point.

While I'm not sure how bad our relationship with the people of Tarsona currently is, I doubt we did anything to them that would cause them to pursue us into the ground, or that they would even anytime soon be in the position to do so.

Koreso, on the other hand, might eventually think about dealing with us.

(L)

(C)

(L)

(C)

"It is, my princess. In the worst case, the Koresoans might even deploy the Aeterian legion, their major home defensive force." (D)

(U)

(C)

I don't know if it speaks for her that Chera is the first Formicean to truly be able to handle the concept of "lies" so professionally.

However, even with all my reservations about Chera, I need to say that her entrance was flawless.

In such a short time, she managed to take full control of the discussion and guide it in her desired course.

Being able to stand your ground against Uma is nothing short of amazing.

If only I knew just how it came to be that she's now here like this.