I wake up a little strained, but overall fine.
Still...
Urgh; again.
It seems I have to get used to this.
I don't really want to think about having to do this every day.
But apparently, I have to.
It might be comparatively easier just to get told that it happened instead of directly experiencing it.
However, the fact that my body gets used while I sleep is no soothing thought.
After getting out of my tub it's the usual procedure.
I get carefully cleaned and get flustered about the treatment of my wings.
After that, I eat those mushrooms, with some nectar in addition.
Honestly, I was never dissatisfied with anything they did for me.
I have regular meals, a place to sleep, clothing, yet they're rather worn out by now.
Personally, I believe they do a good job caring for me, even if I might be as foreign to them as they're to me.
What would I be lacking?
I don't know how to feel about the point that I'm supposed to be the only one who eats in case of an emergency, but Kyska seems fairly elated about this newest addition.
It's weird to say, but even if it is so sweet that no human could enjoy large amounts of it, I do.
I have somehow no problem drinking that stuff.
The fact that this is certainly linked to my change is something I'd rather ignore.
Ah, these not-cows.
I still have no idea what they are exactly or how this nectar stuff works.
But wait "installed"?
Since when are cows installed?
Is this maybe just weird wording on Kyska's side?
I am still not entirely sure how this translation through the pheromones works.
I'm drinking quite a lot of this nectar, so I probably should know.
Also, it's not as if I have much else to do here, so I can spend some time.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
I head out, led by Kyska, Suki following behind me.
Since this is my courtyard I don't need an escort, as this one is already around with all the numerous workers and guardians.
Where do they even come from?
I need to say, I'm not on the best terms with that thing that speared me with its ovipositor and caused unspeakable things to my body.
Yet for some reason, she on the other side seems to care about me.
We walk a little further and suddenly Kyska comes to a stop.
I walk through a rather large gateway to look inside.
At first, I can only see four big bulks on the other side.
Then I perceive how these four accumulations are somehow fiddled with by workers and at times wriggle strangely.
The next moment I nearly lose my food, choking heavily.
"Urghlb, Urrrph!" (E)
I've just now realized.
These dysmorphic things are the storage units.
Not the slightest similarity to cows.
Rather one look at them makes me despair.
These creatures lack even a single appendage.
Rather they are huge, squishy accumulations of flesh which cannot move on their own, but just wriggle like large, helpless worms.
Meanwhile, the workers are performing their tasks on them.
For what they are doing:
They stuff them into four separate indentations in the wall in a way that the head is on the upper side where for each of these slots some kind of stair ends.
Their mouths are not like the mandibles I'm used to, but more a round cavity in the head, which they are unable to close.
I really feel like puking just from looking at them, but nothing escapes.
I know that my stomach is surely as well affected by this metamorphosis, but I don't want to think about that.
I stare at these poor things.
While two aren't yet in these slots but lean to the wall next to them, steadied by workers, the others are so tightly put in there that they cannot fall.
On the one furthest left, the workers start to apply earth and then coat it in that applicant.
This is terrible. They cannot move and are force-fed from above, sealed forever in that tomb. Used as an installment. (K) (K) I see how a worker approaches one of the leaning and sucks at that gland. Liquid escapes, and the few streams on the ground I can recognize as nectar. I stare at Kyska, failing to process. The wish to puke intensifies, but I still can't get anything out. The more they reveal the less I wish to know. However, I can see that trying to change this is a futile effort. As Kyska said, I don't know how these things feel or if they even can think deeper about their fate. I don't know if being entombed less will help them, but I need this to ease my conscience. Nauseated I avert my gaze and leave. Even if they're made on purpose and are adapted to this existence, it is absolutely disgusting to even create such a cursed being. How could the queen lay such a thing? Isn't she kind of a mother? Why would she wish for her child to have such a life? It's the same as always. Because it is beneficial. The advantage for the swarm outweighs to cause this kind of fate for these beings. This is terrible. Lost in my thoughts I head back to my room. For the foreseeable future, I think I will reduce my intake of nectar.