I was accompanied by Thor and the team of ant scavengers as I left the dimensional shard once more. The ants didn’t really talk but I could understand their antenna waving and weird skittering sounds they made.

They led me to the former feeding chamber. It was laden with a precious cargo of mushrooms and other supplies. Thor suddenly paused, tilting his head, his ears perked in alert. He let out a short, pointed back, directing my attention to a section of the section of the chamber that was particularly rich in fungal growth.

"What is it, Thor?" I asked, following Thor’s gave. “Ah, you think we should gather more from this spot? Good eye.” I complimented Thor.

Thor’s return bark was a mix of affirmation and excitement, echoed in the chamber. The ants, observing this exchange, skittered around, their antennae waving in what seemed like agreement, their movements becoming more focused around the area Thor had highlighted.

“Seems like Thor has found us a prime spot.” I remarked, a smile in my voice as I addressed the ant scavengers. “Let’s prioritize this area.”

The ants responded with a series of coordinated skittering sounds, a chorus of clicks and scrapes that I had come to understand as expressions of assent and enthusiasm. Working together, they efficiently harvested the mushrooms, their collective efforts a sight to behold.

As we moved on to collect the tailings and pilings of dirt, Thor’s role shifted from scout to protector, his vigilant gaze scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. Every so often, Thor would glance back at me and the ant scavengers, his bark now softer and more reassuring.

“We’re doing great, thanks to you, Thor.” I said, patting Thor’s head affectionately. “And thank you, friends.” I added, addressing the ants, who paused in their labor to tilt their heads towards me, their antenna twitching in what I interpreted as appreciation.

The task of retrieving the bodies of the fallen ants was approached with a somber reverence. As we gently placed each ant into the shard, Thor sat quietly by, his demeanor respectful, a silent guardian in their moment of remembrance.

“Each of them played a vital role in their colony’s story.” I murmured, feeling awful for the part I played in their deaths. “They’ll be honored and remembered.”

The ants made a soft, undulating sound, a mournful melody that the filled the chamber. It was a sound of mourning, but also of gratitude. Gratitude for the respect show to their fallen.

With our mission accomplished, we made our way back into the shard. Our steps were lighter and spirits buoyed by the successful completion of our task. I had some things I wanted to ask the queen.

But, first it was night time. It was time to sleep. The time cycles in the shard seemed to follow my circadian rhythms. When I was tired and sleeping, the shard fell into night. When I was active, the sun shone more brightly. It was an interesting phenomena.

In the morning, I sought out the queen. “Seraphina, I seem to recall that yesterday you said, ‘when you arrived,’ are you not from Earth?”

Seraphina paused and seemed to think about this for awhile. “That is correct. I am not originally from this dimension.”

This was another surprise. “This dimension?” I asked lamely.

“Of course, there are many dimensions.” Queen Seraphina said. “And under the heavens the system rules over all.”

Ok, now I was getting somewhere. “What is the system?” I asked.

Queen Seraphina of the Verdant Hollow narrated the origin of the system that had transformed their world. The other ants gathered around to hear her speak.

“In the dawn of our existence,” she began, “there was a supreme creator, akin to Arunai Zara, who wove the fabric of reality with wisdom and light. This creator was not a solitary force but worked through embodiments, similar to the Luminous Guardians, to interact with creation.”

Queen Seraphina described how this creator, embodying both being and mind, infused the universe with consciousness, introducing a pantheistic essence into their world. Ashaia, the cosmic order, was the foundation upon which our system was built, opposing Duraja, the essence of chaos and disorder. This cosmic duality mirrored the conflict between creation and destruction, between Beneva, the creative spirit, and Malvent, the destructive spirt.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The queen’s voice grew softer as she delved into the heart of the system, explaining how Arunai Zara, through the Luminous Guardians, assisted by a league of divinities called the Yazantis, meaning ‘worthy of adoration,’ interacted with the world. Each Yazanti was a manifestation of a moral or physical aspect of creation, guarding and guiding different aspects of the world towards harmony.

“Arunai Zara’s ultimate triumph over Malvent is prophesied.” She continued. “A time when reality itself will be renewed in an event known as the Frashoreshi, where all of creation, even souls once lost to darkness, will be reunited in purity and immortality in the realm of Best Dominion.”

Queen Seraphina emphasized the importance of adhering to the Triad Path of Ashaia: Noble Intentions, Kind Speech and Virtuous Actions. “Our system.” Seraphina concluded, “was designed to give all noble hearted sentients the power and the tools to resist the Malventi. This foundational triad serves as the bedrock upon which our society is built. It is not merely a moral code but a means of empowerment, a way for all noble-hearted beings to harness their inner strength and stand against the forces of the Malventi.”

Queen Seraphina continued, her gaze sweeping across her listeners, “Our system was intricately designed by the Benevi, the guardians of creation, who foresaw the need for a bulwark against the encroaching darkness. In the era before the cataclysm, our reality was a singular, harmonious dimension. It was a time of unbroken peace, where the myriad races of the our world lived in unity. But then came the great rupture, a cataclysm so devastating that it shattered our reality into countless shards, each becoming a world unto itself.”

The queen’s expression grew somber as she recounted the days of the cataclysm, a time of chaos and despair, that had tested the resolve of all living beings. “The Malventi seized the this opportunity, spreading their corruption across the shards, seeking to dominate and destroy. But the Benevi, in their wisdom, did not falter. They bestowed upon us the system, a gift of profound magic and knowledge, to aid us in our struggle to reclaim our reality and mend the fractures caused by the cataclysm.”

Seraphina’s voice was filled with determination as she spoke of the ongoing battle to restore their fractured reality. “Each act of kindness, every deed driven by noble intent, and all words spoken in kindness are threads in the fabric we weave to repair our shattered world. The Triad Path of Ashaia is not just a path of personal virtue but a beacon of hope, guiding us towards the reunification of our dimensions."

The group sat in silence for awhile. I was thinking about the revelations Queen Seraphina had just made. Finally I asked. “Are you saying this dimensional shard is from the fractured universe?”

“Yes.” Queen Seraphina said. “It is said that those chosen of heaven will be guided by heaven to re-forge broken worlds.”

“It didn’t seem to help the goblins that much.” I replied.

“What is a goblin?” Queen Seraphina asked.

“Weird green little men.” I answered. “I found this shard from them. I saw a portal and just wandered in and proceeded to kill them all and take it.”

I swore Queen Seraphina sighed. “I am beginning to think violence is your go to answer. But in this case, I know of the creatures you speak, they are Malventi. Vile little creatures, they probably stole it from someone else. But they lacked full control over it as evidenced by the open portal. It is said only a chosen can fully control a space such as this.”

“Huh.” I continued on. “Is that why you swore an oath? I really wasn’t expecting that.”

“That is part of it.” Queen Seraphina said. “But the creature that captured me was also a Malventi and I owe you for freeing me.”

“Is Malventi a race or a state of being?” I asked. “It seems confusing.”

“It can be.” Queen Seraphina replied. “There are always those seeking a quick route to power. The powers of chaos and destruction offer such a path. But it is a fools errands. The power always corrupts and kill the users. But there are always those that think this time will be different. All noble-hearted beings must resist such temptation. Creation is difficult but always worth it.”

“This is all interesting, but it doesn’t explain why or where you came from.” I pointed out.

“I was getting to that. This is an odd world. Wrested back from the chaos of night, this world was classified as a water world. This is known to happen occasionally, but it is rare. The problem and the opportunity is that a world classified as a water world, receives a variant of the system tailored to the needs of the inhabitants. The system isn’t fully present on land. There are beings who scour the multiverse looking for opportunities such as this. There can be great riches to be found and with the lessening of the gaze of the system, all sorts of things can be done here. It is like a free trade zone. The first to establish themselves here, will have an enormous advantage when the system finally realizes what has happened.”

“So are you scavengers? Claim jumpers?” I asked, trying to understand these ants.

“Neither.” Queen Seraphina answered. “We are more akin to refugees. Our prior world was destroyed by the machinations of the Malventi. We were searching for a safe haven when we stumbled upon this world and sought to hide. But alas, we weren’t the first to find this place. Malventi were already here. In my weakened state from the transfer, I was no match for that creature. Again you have my thanks for your assistance.