I sneezed. Ava was startled by the large sound.

“Goodness, bless you.” Ava said.

A green glow swept over me as I cast a healing spell upon myself. “I guess I still have allergies.”

I was planning on bringing out the next plant to try when Oliver ran up. “Mr. Gavrin. Mr. Gavrin.” He called out.

“What’s up little dude?” I asked.

“Scott said he’s calling a meeting and wants everyone in the settlement to attend.” Oliver told me.

“Oh, I forgot.” I answered. “I’ll be right there. We can finish these up later?” I asked as I turned back to Ava.

Ava nodded. “Sure thing Gavrin.”

Ava and I followed Oliver back to the gym. Everyone else had already gathered in the central area. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation and concern.

Scott step forward to address the gathering. “I know everyone is wondering why I called this meeting. It is about the ant attack. Gavrin has fixed the walls but I believe that is not enough. The ants already breached it once and can do it again. Based on my prior experience with ants, I think if we can prevent attacks if we disrupt the scent trails.”

Carlos, however, saw an opportunity to assert his own influence and challenged the proposal. “Disrupting scent trails? Sounds like something Gavrin came up with. He’s always out doing weird things. What if this makes it worse. Gavrin erected the walls and two days later ants attack, how do we know the two aren’t related?”

Derek dogpiled on and added fuel to the fire. “Yeah, Gavrin’s been messing with the land since he got here. Who’s to say he’s not attracting these problems?”

The accusations cause a ripple of murmurs through the crowd, with some nodding in agreement, while others look on, skeptical of the blame being placed on me.

Raj was quick to jump to my defense. “Hold on. There’s no evidence to suggest Gavrin’s actions have brought the ants here. We’re facing a crisis, and he’s offering solutions. Shouldn’t we be working together instead of pointing fingers?”

Raj was such a good guy. I reminded myself to thank him later. Scott also rose to my defense, which was only fair as he taking my ideas and presenting them as his own. I shrugged, it was probably better that way.

“Raj is right.” Scott interjected. “We’ve all seen ants’ aggression before. It’s not about one person’s magic or actions. Gavrin’s plan could be part of our answer to a safer settlement. Let’s focus on what we can do together as a community.

This seemed to shift the mood of the crowd. I then had a sudden thought. Wasn’t I attacked by ants on my first day? Where they related? They were at my old house. Goddamn it, it probably was my fault.

I stood up. “Hey while you guys figure out what you want to do I’m fixingta head out and check on the ants more directly.”

Carlos pounced. “See he already knows where they are.” He accused.

“Bullshit.” I instantly replied while hiding a wince. “I got two dogs who can track, dipshit.” Ok, I was not holding it together. There was just something about Carlos that rubbed me the wrong way. This sort of thing was exactly why I avoided people.

I decide to head off before someone else can add something else. The sound of the group rose in intensity even when the door closed.

I turned to Loki. “I think you should stay here girl. Jillian tracked you last time.” I cocked my head to the side thinking. “Or you could hop in the dimensional shard. I don’t really care. But I would like you to stick around and keep an eye on this place. I don’t trust these guys’ skill level to keep them out of trouble.”

Loki whined back. I could tell that she was upset, but she would like to hang back. I smiled because I knew she was going to play with the kids. She was always really good with kids.

“Let’s go Thor. Stealth up and find the ants.” I said. “We should probably find out for sure what caused this.”

With the ever faithful Thor by my side, we set out to trace the source of the ant invasion. The trail was easy to follow. It was marked by disrupted earth and the faint, acidic scent of the ants. And I was correct. The ants had tried to disguise their approach, but eventually we ended up back near my house.

I reached down into the earth and felt. Sensations came back to my mind. Open spaces and the sound of skittering. Bugs gave me the willies. I gave a brief shudder. I realized the entire west side of town was undermined with a sprawling network of tunnels.

I wasted no time. Thor and I never left stealth and made our way inside. The ants were aggressive and perceptive. The first group we ambushed, we wiped out in moments. But my joy was short lived. The last one exploded when I struck it and both of us, Thor and I, were covered in gunk.

I sighed. “Is this what I think it is?”

Thor barked and then whined. He took one lick to clean his paw but then started coughing and making faces.

I didn’t have a cleansing spell. I tried what I did before in the shower. I took water from my dimensional shard and circulated the water around me in an attempt to cleanse myself. It helped a little bit but some of the gunk was really stuck on there. I tried cleaning Thor as well with about as much success.

I heard more ants heading our way. “Ok, Thor. Looks like we gotta fight our way through. I feel a cavern somewhere that way.” I pointed to the left and down.

The journey through the tunnels was one long blur. There were waves of aggressive ants, their mandibles sharp and their numbers overwhelming. My vines whipped and thrashed and crushed and skewered ants as we delved downwards.

Deeper in the labyrinth, we finally come upon a vast chamber, the heart of the nest. It’s here we found the queen ant, but what I saw was not what I expected. Instead of reigning supreme over her subjects, the queen was in distress. Her movements erratic, her antennae twitching uncontrollably. At her hide was a gnome like creature. Its appearance bizarre and unsettling, with twisted features and a malevolent aura. It was clear this creature was manipulating the queen, bending her to its will.

Remembering the whisperroot that was still in my system, I felt a sudden influx of understanding, an ability to perceive the intentions and emotions of the creature before me. It’s a strange, disorienting sensation, but I grasped it firmly, choosing to use this unexpected gift to seek a peaceful resolution.

I stepped forward, signaling Thor to stand down. I reached out with my mind, my thoughts tinged with the magic of the whisperroot, and spoke to the gnome, not with words but with intent.

“Why do you harm these creatures and threaten our people?” I asked, my mental voice firm yet open to dialogue.

The creature was momentarily taken aback by the communication, hesitated before responding. Its thought are a tangle of greed and desperation, revealing a tale of displacement and loss. It seeks control, a domain of its own in a world that has cast it aside.

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I listened, understanding the pain and fear driving the creature’s actions. I tried to negotiate with compassion and reason, offering the gnome a chance to coexist peacefully. I almost thought it was going to work for a second, before the creature’s face hardened into a rictus snarl.

I sighed. As I prepared for battle, a surprising sound caught me off guard. The queen’s voice was soft and raspy, barely audible. “Help us,” she pleaded. Her request simple yet filled with desperate hope. “Please, mercy.”

“Ok, this makes it easier.” I shifted my gaze back to the creature and raised my hands. Blue sparkling lightening danced between my outstretched arms. Then Thor appeared behind the gnome and landed a vicious blow that knocked the creature off balance and away from the queen. Lightening blasted forth and I struggled to contain the energy in the tightest place possible.

The gnome screamed an unearthly howl and began to glow red. The queen ant, in a brave act of defiance used the distraction to attack as well. She charged forward and I quickly released my spell to prevent friendly fire. Instead, I switched to my vines and quickly restrained the gnome. The queen was having none of that. She screamed an incoherent screech of rage and began to bite and pummel the little creature.

As the queen ant unleashed her pent-up fury on the gnome, Thor and I could only watch in stunned silence. The battle, brief as it was intense, ended with the gnome’s demise, its threat extinguished. The chamber, once filled with the tension of imminent conflict, now settled into a heavy calm, the air thick with the aftermath of their struggle.

I cautiously approached the queen. I reached out my hands to cast a healing spell. “Uh,” I began sheepishly. “I’m sorry about the spree on the way in. I’m sorry for the loss of your children, for the pain and fear you've been forced to endure.”

The queen, her form still quivering with residual rage and sorrow, eventually calmed as she regarded Gavrin. “Your intentions were just,” she communicated, her mental voice tinged with a weary acceptance. “This creature’s manipulation left us no choice. You have freed us from its torment. For that, my gratitude. But the loss, it is profound.”

I nodded, acknowledging the depth of the queen’s loss. “From here, let’s look towards healing. If there’s anything I can do to aid in the recovery of your colony, you have but to ask.”

The queen ant considered my offer, her antennae twitching thoughtfully. “Peace between our kinds would be a start. An assurance that no further harm will come from your people to mine.”

I took a deep breath. “I’m not in charge of that group. I’m afraid any agreement I make, will only last as long as I am here. How about a safe place to grow instead?”

“Where would you find this safe place?” The ant queen asked. “This world has been attacking us non stop since we arrived.”

“Since you arrived?” I asked. I waved my hand. “Never mind that. I have a place I can transport you and your surviving offspring to another realm. Sort of.”

“Hmmm.” The ant queen continued. “And what would this cost us? This seems to only increase my debt to you. “

“I’ll let you decide what is fair. Want to see the place?” I asked.

The queen ant paused, her multifaceted eyes reflecting a wariness born of survival, yet there was a glimmer of hope within that cautious gaze. She had led her colony through untold dangers, always with the survival of her subjects at the forefront of her mind. Now, presented with an offer that promised safety yet carried the weight of the unknown, she found herself at a crossroads.

After a moment that stretched like the tunnels around us. “Show us this realm. If it provides the sanctuary you claim, we will consider your offer and discuss the terms of our gratitude.”

I reached into the depths of my power, focusing on the dimensional shard that allowed me access to other realms. With a gentle wave of my hand, a shimmering portal began to form, its edges crackling with magical energy. The tunnel was momentarily illuminated by its light, casting long shadows against the walls.

“Follow me,” I said, stepping towards the portal. The queen, with a cautious but determined stride, followed closely behind, her remaining offspring trailing in a solemn procession.

As we stepped through the portal, we emerged into a verdant realm untouched by the scars of conflict. It was a sanctuary, a place where nature thrived in harmony, and where the ants could rebuild without fear of attack. The air was fresh, the ground fertile, and the sense of peace was palpable.

The queen ant surveyed the realm with a keen eye, sensing the life force that pulsed though the land. “This place… it is more than we could have hoped for,” she communicated, her voice carrying a note of wonder. “Here, my colony can heal, grow and thrive. For this sanctuary, we owe you a debt of gratitude.”

I smiled, relieved by her acceptance. “There’s no immediate debt. Seeing your colony safe and prospering is reward enough. In time, we can discuss how our people might aid each other. For now, focus on your recovery. Also, maybe try not to exceed the carrying capacity of the place.”

As the verdant realm of the shard embraced its new inhabitants, the queen ant, made an oath. “I am Queen Seraphina of the Verdant Hollow. I hereby pledge myself and my colony to your service, my liege.” As Queen Seraphina said this, a golden light flared around her and then spread to the rest of the ants.

I received a prompt.

[System Notification]

Oath of Loyalty Sworn

Queen Seraphina of the Verdant Hollow has pledged her allegiance and that of her colony to Gavrin, marking a historic alliance between human and ant. This bond is sealed with ancient magic, signifying a deep and unbreakable commitment to mutual aid and protection.

Benefits:

* Allied Colony: Queen Seraphina's colony is now allied with you. They will aid in gathering resources, tending to the shard's ecosystem, and defending against common threats.

* Queen's Guidance: Gain insights into the natural world and the cultivation of mushrooms and other essential crops within the shard. Enhanced growth and yield rates for shard-based agriculture.

* Guardian Swarm: In times of need, call upon a contingent of ant warriors to assist in defense and exploration tasks.

Duties:

* Sanctuary Maintenance: Ensure the shard remains a safe haven for the ants, providing the necessary resources for their prosperity.

* Balance of the Ecosystem: Monitor the shard's ecosystem to prevent overexploitation and maintain harmony within this shared realm.

* Respect for the Fallen: Assist in the retrieval and proper rites for deceased ants, honoring their contribution to the colony's legacy.

A golden light has marked the sealing of this oath, symbolizing the strength and purity of this new alliance. May this partnership flourish, bringing prosperity and peace to both Gavrin and the Verdant Hollow colony.

“Oh, that is just wow.” I told Queen Seraphina. “I was not expecting that. I will do my utmost to live up to the trust you have placed in me. May I be punished by the system if I break this oath.”

Golden light surrounded me as soon as the words left my lips. As the golden light that had flared around all of us gently dissipated, there was a lingering sense of solemnity and hope. I felt a profound connection to these beings and the land they now shared. With this oath, not only had I gained loyal allies, but I had also taken on the responsibility of stewardship. I would not mess this up.

Queen Seraphina looked around and somehow made a throat clearing sound. “I hate to mention this so soon. But we will need food soon. Can we eat from these plants?”

“I would prefer not.” I said. “I am trying to grow them out. I was going to ask that you help tend them.”

“What about digging down?” Queen Seraphina asked.

I made a face. “I actually don’t know. I am not sure how far down the dirt in this shard went.” I touched the ground and sent a pulse of mana downwards. “There isn’t a lot of space down there.” I told her. “But not to worry, I can just bring in more dirt. How are you guys on living above ground?”

“We can do it but we grow our food in underground caverns.” Queen Seraphina said. “Could you go and get the food we have stored in our feeding chamber?”

I thought about it for only a moment. “I sure can. It would be my pleasure. Hey, those tunnels were pretty massive, where did you put the dirt for that? I will need a massive amount of dirt to create an area to dig, and not making a huge hole in the scenery of my hometown might be preferable.”

“Aw.” Queen Seraphina said. I felt her make a mental call and a group of ants trundled up to us. “Here is a group of scavenger ants. They can show you were we left the tailings from our digging and they can show the way to our feeding chamber. Perhaps while you are out, can you recover the bodies of the slain ants? There are funeral rites we would like to perform.”

“I can do that.” I replied. “Well, come along you guys, there is no time like the present. Queenie, make yourself at home.”

“As you command, my liege.” Queen Seraphina answered.

“That makes me feel weird. Could you call me by my name, Gavrin?” I asked her.

“I am afraid I cannot, my liege. It would be scandalous to be so familiar with my liege lord.” Queen Seraphina said.

I sighed. I just knew this was going to be a problem. But at least I had an awesome new workforce. I had some questions I wanted to ask Queen Seraphina but that could wait. I wanted to get the ant bodies back here and get the area set up so they could make their homes. I would deal with this later.