Sely is shocked. She can't believe what she is hearing.

“H-how, prisoner?”

“Hehe, there's not much to understand.”

“So, you didn't go talk to the spider king?”

“Yes, that was the intention, but I got caught.”

I don't understand, I'm missing something. I might assume he's lying, but what does that change in the end?

Thinking about it, it's clear that he has no interest in killing my father... why?

“We should have come together, why did you disappear before time?”

“To escape. You were talking earlier about Folfo's collaborators. I don't know how, but they smell opportunities. Maybe they saw us coming or were keeping an eye on me... I don't know, the fact is that they knew about the gun and the fact that I had accompanied a person to Toslevi's house. They wanted the weapon.”

There is a pause.

The air among the branches carries with it the scent of pine and Sely thinks back to that situation.

“But how did they know about the laboratory? In short, they searched there.”

“Toslevi always worked there, it's not the first time they robbed him.”

What horrible people!

How can you rob a person who spends his life making himself useful to others!?

Despite her thoughts, Sely remains silent. She doesn't want to betray her emotional state, Endya seems sincere but she - she has understood it - it seems. Which doesn't mean is.

“Have you already helped them steal? Real?”

“…”

“Real!?”

“Yes.”

She falls silent again.

“In hindsight, I wouldn't have saved you.”

“Sely, I'm sorry. It's just that you don't know them, or with them, or against them, and...”

“I saw it. Look, let's shut it down, what are you doing here?”

“I was looking for protection. This time it was different. They didn't just want to steal, they also wanted to blame me. I'm the mayor's son and it's all a ploy to discredit her.”

Putting the pieces together isn't easy. Sely realizes she arrived at the wrong time.

Spiders and marquise of diamonds are a problem.

The factions that Filo told me about are a second problem.

The thefts and conspiracies against the mayor are a third problem.

The three problems are related, but I don't know how.

My arrival opened the way to a fourth problem: the flying city and the reactions it could arouse.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

It's a complex situation. Too. How can she solve it? No matter how much she thinks about it, Sely just feels her mind getting tired. She doesn't get it.

And Endya?

Are you an enemy, or an ally?

“Endya, why didn't the spiders help you?”

“I was just foolish to think they did. They don't even know who I am, when I introduced myself, they took me hostage. I imagine your situation is similar.”

Right, that explains why Filo isn't here. He is an undertaker; they will have taken him somewhere else if not...

No, they couldn't have done it...

I don't want to think about it!

“Sely, do you think they will eat us?”

NOO!!!

“Sely?”

“We must escape!” Sely resumes struggling unsuccessfully and making a racket.

“Sely! SHH! This is how you get them there!”

“I do not care! Stop waiting for the end, I won't stay there! I do not…”

“Whop, whop, whop. What do we have here?”

A sinuous voice spoke, similar to a whistle among the trees.

Sely and Endya went quiet. Sely tries to look around again, but she doesn't see anyone.

“Whoop, there's no point in looking for me here and there. I'm here.”

“Here where? Who are you?”

“My name is Wyclo. Look better above you.”

Sely tries to focus her gaze upwards. There are branches, needle leaves, the rays of the sun, clouds in the sky...

“Here, here! You're looking the wrong way!”

“Sely, I saw it!”

"Where? Ah…” Sely falls silent. A large dark blob on a branch is waving its front legs. “I see you.”

The being is a spider the size of an arm. Brown and green brindle, with thick fur and eight black eyes.

“You know how to camouflage yourself well, Wylco.”

The spider makes a small bow. Its neck is elongated and its mouth looks human, albeit with chelicerae on the sides.

“Modestly, I'm a proper spider.”

Attached with a white thread, Wylco descends from its branch onto Sely's chest.

It's gigantic! I feel the weight of its, no! Now it's going to start stabbing me with those horrible claws!

I have to think, how do I defend myself now…

“Don't worry, don't make that face, I don't want to eat you.”

“Huh?”

“What, huh? You won't tell me you'd like the opposite.”

“You said you don't eat there!?” Endya shouts.

Wylco leans over to look at him and cranes its neck. “Certain! I don't eat bad food. Dirty and smelly and malnourished as you are...”

Compliments abound, Wylco. It's better that way.

“…I wouldn't eat you for anything in the world! I have a fine palate.”

“And your companions?” Sely tries to probe the topic. Maybe they can find a point of agreement.

Wylco's expression is indecipherable, too different from that of a humanoid.

The fact is that insects eat each other. The smartest and strongest eat those who are least endowed with these virtues, be it an insect, an arachnid, or anyone else that can be considered edible.

Sely herself knows it, would she have mercy if the roles were reversed?

Well, yes… come on, I don't eat anyone who can communicate with me…

Not too convinced of the excuse she gave herself, Sely closes her eyes. She prays to the moon softly and…

“What are you doing? Do you pray?”

Sely sighs and opens her eyes. “I don't think I have any alternatives…”

“Look, I haven't confirmed anything. I can't speak for those rude brothers of mine.”

“But you didn't even deny it, sigh…”

Sely feels pawing at her. Wylco approached. “Don't be discouraged, it will pass in any case. I'm just here out of curiosity. And then that disgusts me.”

“Who is that?”

“The sacrifice you brought with you. I found it disgusting and smelly, but the others went into jubilation.”

Sely feels suffocated. “Are you talking about Filo?”

“Well, I don't know the names. When I saw him, he was already a cocoon at my father's feet.”

Sely starts wriggling like a fury again.

“AH! So, I fell! Stop! Stop!!! If you stop, I'll tell you how to get there!”

“Ah.” Sely stops.

“Fff, you're terrible. Anyway, my dad and your friend are about a mile from here. Always straight following the sunset.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I don't think there's much you can do about it.”

True…

Sely closes her eyes again but…

“Don't start praying!” Wylco screams.

"But why? Don't spiders believe in the Silver Chronicles?”

"Jokes? That's nonsense made to celebrate the Hive Monoliths. Like that evil marquise.”

“Hey, up there, not to interrupt,” Endya's voice is shaking. “But are those scolopendras your allies?”

Scolopendras?

Wylco jumps, turns to look around, and: “Ah! Damn, what are they doing here!? I'm already here!? VERY BAD!”

“What?”

“I have to escape! Excuse me, bye bye it was a pleasure for me too!” The spider jumps down, disappearing from Sely's vision.

A view that is now filled with a much more alarming scenario.

Scolopendras…

Scolopendras.

SCOLOPENDRAS!

A trunk in front of you is full of these multi-legged insects. They move their mandibles, which are as long as an arm, and come closer.

They don't fear the webs because they cut them and if they cut them, it means that...