I didn’t say anything to my kids, just told them to keep practising. I should have told them that they don’t have to be loyal to me. But honestly I just couldn’t. What if they thought I was rejecting their love? What if they weren’t loyal to me? What if they went off on their own and got hurt? That would be my fault if they did.

I leaned against the wall and watched my kids play fight. I was slowly starting to feel better about the practice as I realized how much fun my kids were having. They laughed the entire time and Tim even missed a bite because he closed his eyes from laughing too hard.

This got him caught by Chester which made it a 1v1 with Charlie. I smiled and yelled. “Alright kids! Nice job! Now it’s time for the next exercise.” They probably wouldn’t like this one as much but I felt it was important. “I want all of you to run around this clearing until I tell you to stop.”

They set to work as I began going over my plan in my head. “Working out helps improve human bodies even without evolving, it should be the same for my kids right? If I can inherently make them better than everyone else then I will do so. So today we’re gonna start working on their stamina. I was going to tell them to do fifty laps but honestly I don’t think they know numbers.

My kids before seemed to know stuff without me teaching them but I can’t tell if it’s the same thing with this batch. I’ve never once said the words “For the Queen!” So they didn’t get it from me. Maybe they inherit memories? Or they could just be born with a basic data set. But why didn’t I get that?

Oh well, I laid down until they had all done around fifty laps and then yelled. “Alright kids! Get over here!” They sprinted over to me, panting but still energetic. “I’m gonna tell you as much as I can about the surrounding area. I don’t know much but it will still help.”

“First, if we go into the plains nearby you’ll see goats standing by themselves. Do not go near the goats unless you want to get blown up.” Marlow looked at me questioningly and I explained. “The goat explodes, it hurts and disorients whoever is close. That’s when creatures called Zorkid will try to swarm and kill you. Make sure to avoid those unless you’re extremely desperate for food or levels.”

They nodded so I continued. “Try not to go into the forest next to that plains region. We want to stay in the valley as much as possible because we are going to claim this valley as our territory. That means that we are the only strong people that can live here.”

My kids nodded as I smiled and said. “Within the valley there are a bunch of animals and other random monsters. But the most important ones to know about are the ants. They are very difficult to fight, have strong armor and they have acidic blood. That means we can’t eat them. Try to always avoid them but if you have to fight them make sure no hatchlings are fighting. I don’t think your jaws are hard enough to hurt them.”

They all nodded and James asked. “Are those things that hurt you the other day?” I nodded and immediately whipped my head at him. How does he know these words? How are they able to talk? Do they even know how weird it is that they can do that?

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I pushed on, ignoring the strange knowledge my kids possessed. “The third thing I want to tell you about is the creature known as a goblin. They’re weak, all of you could beat one in a fight. The only danger to you guys would be if they swarmed you. They’re weak but also a good source of food. Try not to kill too many at one. I only killed that many because they were trying to attack us. If anything tries to attack our base then they die. No one gets to hurt my hatchlings or my eggs.”

My kids all nodded as I smiled and said. “Good, now keep wrestling around and having fun.” I wanted to rest for a while. Honestly I’m wiped, fighting and teaching is hard. Maybe I should take a vacation? Not the worst idea. Although I really could really use that next evolution. Oh well, life was good. I chomped on a goblin and waited and slowly started to fall asleep.

Just as I was about to lie down and relax I heard a voice from outside. “Alright troublemakers! Get out here right now and tell me why you’ve been stealing my livestock!” I shot to my feet and glanced over the wall.

To my surprise a bruiser was standing outside with two others by his side. I gawked at him as he seemed to deflate the second he saw me. He bowed his head as low as possible and said. “Apologies, your highness. I didn’t realize this was your land. I’ll leave, please don't kill me.”

He started walking away but I yelled out. “Get back here! You think you can just drop that info and leave? Get in here now!” I hopped over, threw the lead bruiser onto my back and hopped back over the wall. He was scared shitless but I didn’t care. What did this mean? Are there even more mud skinks? Do we have an entire civilization?

I poked him a few times before saying. “Alright, explain who you are and what group you are a part of.” The bruiser was trembling as he stood up and said. “My name is Az, I’m a goblin farmer. I sell food to the nearby city of Tiat. I am not claimed by any queen. I am not part of any faction.”

I stared at him in confusion until I slowly realized what he was saying. Goblins as livestock? They were weak and did taste good. And there was an entire city of us? Could I move there? He seems to treat me with respect because I’m a queen, maybe the city will as well?

I stared at him for a few seconds before asking. “What do you mean unclaimed? What can you tell me about the city of Tiat? How does the society work? What is the political situation?”

The bruiser looked like he was about to soil himself as he sighed and said. “I am not currently in the service of a Queen. If you serve a queen then you are claimed by that queen. You serve her for the rest of your life while the queen has to do her best to protect and take care of her servants.”

I nodded and wondered idly if I could just call dibs on these guys. The bruiser continued. “The city of Tiat is the only city in the nation of Tenay. It is ruled by a council of thirteen queens. The queens represent all of the queens within our nation. We are one of the most powerful city states in the region.”

I stared at him and asked. “City states? As in multiple? How many are there?” He shrugged and said. “A couple dozen I think.” My entire frame of reference for this race was gone. I had thought we were rare, even extinct. Instead there were entire societies? Under a hundred miles away from me?

The bruiser continued. The city has over ten thousand skinks living within its walls. There are dozens of villages and farms surrounding the city. However no Queen directly controls them as most see it as beneath them. Almost all skinks you meet outside of the city are unclaimed like me. That means that they haven't sworn loyalty to any queen.”

Hmm, I see a bit of an opportunity here. What happens if I claim all of the farmers? Wouldn’t that make me instantly powerful? I would control the entire food source of a nation? That would instantly make me have political influence and raise my station. I could have actual money!

I smiled and said “Az, I claim you! You are now my servant!” He stared at me with horror in his eyes as he stumbled away from me and said. “But you don’t even know what that means! This is a lifelong pact! You decided on it within the last minute!”

I nodded and said. “Oh, and I claim the two bruisers outside. They're mine too.” He backed away as I pressed on and said. “As my first order as your ruler I order you to have one of your bruisers take me through every single village and farm within the city state of Tiat so I can claim all of the unclaimed farmers!”

I don’t think someone has ever looked as scared as Az did in that moment. He looked like he wanted to cry and scream at the same time. “Do you know what that will do to the city? For an unknown queen to control the entire food supply?” I nodded and said. “It would make me super strong politically. And rich! I’m gonna be rich again!”