Now that the exchanges with Uma, which are very likely to decide the fate of the world for the coming generations, are concluded, I can get to the stuff that really matters.
Meeting my family after a far too long time.
Of course, I sent a messenger first, to announce my arrival.
So, after I split up with Liseti, I finally set foot back in my old district.
Hah, even the smell feels like home.
Well, it might have something to do with how my body can mark stuff with my scent.
The pheromones are basically a recognizable pattern in this regard.
I'm sure that once I’ve established my own hive it will have a similar feeling to it in no time.
On the other side, the scent is only of secondary interest to me.
What truly matters is who I'll meet here.
Suddenly, a very excited nurse comes running, only managing at the last moment to stop herself before a number of royal guards would've put a rather violent stop to her jump.
Before Kyska can scold her too hard, I decide to intervene.
It probably would be bad to tell her that I was too distracted by all the crazy stuff happening around me to properly think about her.
Nonetheless, it's good to see her again.
(E)
There's this slight twinge in Suki's pheromones that likely indicates how the time when I was abducted wasn't all that great for everyone.
(S)
I don't let her say this twice and am already through the gate.
Only a few steps after entering, I see them already.
My family!
It's not like a Formicean princess can really walk anywhere without drawing attention to her person, so it isn't surprising that they're already waiting for me.
Just from seeing them, my heart skips a beat.
Surprisingly, it's Dad who comes running first, while Toris uncharacteristically stays in the background.
"Erys!" (Rowen)
Immediately, I run up to them.
"Sister!" (Toris)
Is that really Toris?
He grew a lot in the time I was gone.
I might be used to the ridiculously fast growth rates of my brood which reaches maturity in the span of a few months, but this doesn't mean I couldn't recognize how much taller my little brother became since I last saw him.
"Erys. It's good to see you again. The news we heard about you..." (R)
News?
If they heard anything at all about my abduction and all the other stuff I was involved in, I'm not sure if no news wouldn't have been better.
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"You know!? Who told you?" (E)
As much as I love them, it's not like they have any priority for anyone in the swarm.
"Aunty Liseti always got us the newest reports! Also, I have a job at the news station!" (T)
Liseti?
Really?
To think that she would care.
Furthermore, next to all her other assignments.
"Yet the relief after we heard that you managed to escape, it doesn't compare to having you back with us." (R)
"Me too! I'm so relieved to be back with you!" (E)
I really am. It's as if all the tension I accumulated during the past months slips off of me.
"Plop"
Oh god, no!!!
"Plop"
Why now of all times, barging into one of my best moments in so long?!
"Plop, plop"
In front of my father to top it off!
At least the nurses who mandatorily accompany me for occasions exactly as this are proficiently quick at performing in their roles.
I'm during the whole ordeal so terribly embarrassed that I barely get a word out.
Maybe some apologetic pheromones, but rather badly pronounced ones.
Nearly a minute after the last egg got brought away, I feel like I could gather myself enough to address them again.
"You... I'm, I'm so sorry!" (E)
"Hah." (R)
What am I supposed to make out of this?
"Sis, we already knew that you're doing this stuff. I even had classes about it!" (Toris)
Damn, Toris did really grow up during my absence.
And what's this about classes?!
"True. Difficult not to be confronted with this point of your 'role' if absolutely every single one of this species is singing their praises of you for this reason." (R)
"Well, still. You shouldn't see me actually doing this." (E)
Like with most of my body functions, I'm a bit hesitant to display them in public.
"Can't say that I already made my peace with you having to do this. But I'm certainly not blaming you in this regard." (R)
Yeah.
No father should know that his daughter got into an arrangement that basically entails constant pregnancy.
I mean, even for me it's still such a crass difference to my former life, but I guess I accepted most of it by now.
"Well, this role is still quite a weird thing to think about. But hey, at least it got me a city." (E)
"A, a city?" (R)
"Woah! So cool!" (T)
Ehm, could it be that Liseti omitted this particular piece of information from them?
"Ehk, apparently you do not know that Uma kinda blackmailed the king into signing over Caradis as part of the deal. You see, basically I'm going to establish my own hive right there." (E)
Well, probably beneath the city, but that's just details.
"You're going to take over Caradis? The 'Jewel of the South' Caradis?" (R)
"Ehk, yes?" (E)
"Damn. And I already felt weird about them forcing all these people here to work." (R)
"Regarding that, can you tell me anything about this? I was instructed on this matter by Liseti, but she's…she and I feel like she might have problematic views on the situation." (E)
My father thinks for a moment and then answers.
"It got quite a lot livelier in the hive after the people were brought here. They are made to do all kinds of tasks, but I didn't see anyone collapsing or experiencing bodily mistreatment. In general, they are treated rather similarly to us. Rooms, supplies, necessities, and sufficient rest. It's not great, but I couldn't really tell this queen my opinion about slavery." (R)
Yeah, it can be quite difficult to talk to Uma.
He might've actually been granted an audience, but I doubt he could've convinced her to just let them go.
"But they're really all fine? Even the non-performers?" (E)
"Those are treated slightly worse, but not excessively. Escapists are usually only brought back if they even make it through the first checkpoints. Still, there's some encouragement going to get them to work. A mix of scholars and messengers regularly speaks in human to them, reminding them to complete their tasks. Also, they arrange the meals so that nothing can be given to someone else. It's rather strict in this regard. I was a bit concerned that me and your brother could end up being mixed up with them, but apparently, something about our scent identifies us." (R)
"Dad, I already told you that it's the pheromone mark. We have sis' identification scent with us. Also, we already smell rather similar because we are family." (T)
"You see, he became quite the smartass." (R)
Huh, I didn't think about this.
So my hugs and general physical closeness or so made them recognizable.
Also, I can even identify Toris as a scholar by scent alone.
That was before not as pronounced.
"I'm just glad that you're fine." (E)
"I hope the others will be too. I was able to talk to them. Most are normal people who went through severe hardships. It's kinda difficult to tell them that the insect monsters don't have evil intentions. Especially, if I'm not too sure about the end plan myself." (R)
"In this regard, I was told it's planned to bring them in intervals back to Tarsona. From what I saw myself, it's supposedly true that Tarsona has no real plan to feed them." (E)
As hard as it is to admit, it might be for the better not to release all of them this instant.
I doubt they can all return to their farms.
Not to speak of feeding themselves.
Furthermore, Tarsona signed this area in particular to the Formicea.
That should include quite a lot of their former homes.
On the other side, I'm sure it would be possible to decide on an arrangement, where they would give away a part of their harvest.
That's basically what Liseti had in mind.
I suppose my time in Caradis won't be much different.
I'll have to decide on similar cooperations if I want to mingle my brood successfully with the local population.
"Is something wrong, Erys? I might not be too proficient in this, but I can sense you're a bit worried." (R)
"Ehk, it's mostly that I'm a little concerned about the future." (E)
"You don't need to. In any case, we'll continue to stay at your side and support you in any way we can." (R)
"But I first need to finish my training here! I learned so much!" (T)
He seems really into it.
Thinking about it, I never saw Toris sticking so thoroughly with something.
"Well, that's that. But you can still rely on your family, Erys." (R)
Instead of answering, I simply embrace the two.
I'm just glad to have them at my side.