Aurelia lay on the cold, resinous floor of the chamber, her body wracked with pain. The venom from the wasp stings still coursed through her veins, sapping her strength with every breath. Her Poison Resistance had done its best to dull the worst of it, but it wasn’t enough to fully counter the effects. She could feel her limbs growing weaker, her body barely responding to her will.
The chamber around her was dim, the thick walls pulsing faintly with an unnatural glow. The faint, distant buzz of the drones outside the room was a constant reminder of her captivity. She had no way out. The web-like resin held her in place, and her energy was draining fast.
But she refused to give in.
Aurelia focused, summoning what little strength she had left. Her Guardian's Aura flickered weakly around her, the soft glow barely visible, but it was there—proof that she wasn’t beaten yet. The aura pushed against the venom, forcing it back, just enough to give her a moment of clarity.
She couldn’t stop fighting. Not now. Not when Caelum was still out there.
I’m not giving up, she thought to herself, clenching her mandibles in determination. Her mind felt sluggish, the pain weighing heavily on her, but she couldn’t allow herself to falter. The Queen was planning something, something terrible, and Aurelia had to stop it. She had to escape before the ritual began, before the Queen could use her for whatever dark purpose she had in mind.
Aurelia closed her eyes and reached out with her Telepathy, sending a weak signal through the void.
Caelum… can you hear me? Her mental voice trembled, faint and strained. She wasn’t sure if the message would reach him, but she had to try. I’m still here. I’m… still fighting.
There was no response. The walls of the nest seemed to block the connection, and Aurelia’s heart sank. She was too far away, too weak to reach him. But she could still feel his presence, distant but steady. He was alive. That much she knew. And as long as he was out there, there was hope.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden shift in the air. The oppressive presence of the Queen Wasp filled the chamber, and Aurelia’s body tensed instinctively. She could feel the weight of the Queen’s telepathic gaze pressing down on her, suffocating and cold.
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The Queen entered the chamber, her massive form casting a long shadow over Aurelia’s weakened body. Her multifaceted eyes gleamed with impatience, and Aurelia could sense the growing frustration radiating from her. The Queen’s wings buzzed softly as she loomed closer, her mind brushing against Aurelia’s with invasive force.
You are wasting time, the Queen’s telepathic voice hissed, sharp and piercing. Your resistance is pointless. The ritual will begin soon.
Aurelia forced herself to meet the Queen’s gaze, her mind burning with defiance despite the overwhelming pressure. I won’t let you use me, she sent back, her telepathic voice weak but resolute.
The Queen’s wings buzzed louder, the tension in the chamber thickening as her impatience grew. You have no choice. Your strength is fading, little Guardian. Soon, you will be nothing but a vessel for my power.
Aurelia’s heart raced, but she refused to show fear. She wouldn’t give the Queen the satisfaction. Her Guardian’s Aura flared slightly, the faint glow strengthening as she pulled on every ounce of willpower she had left. She wouldn’t let the Queen win. Not yet. Not ever.
The Queen’s gaze narrowed, and Aurelia could feel the weight of her displeasure. The Queen wasn’t used to resistance, wasn’t accustomed to prey fighting back. But Aurelia wasn’t ordinary prey.
We begin soon, the Queen sent, her mental voice colder than before. There is no escaping this. You will serve me.
Without another word, the Queen turned and left the chamber, her wings buzzing as she disappeared into the nest. The moment she was gone, Aurelia collapsed, her body shaking from the effort of holding back the Queen’s telepathic assault. The oppressive pressure had receded, but the sense of impending doom remained.
The ritual was approaching. Aurelia could feel it. The Queen was growing impatient, and time was running out. Aurelia’s mind raced, desperately searching for a way out. Her Guardian’s Aura had bought her some time, but she needed more. She needed a plan.
Caelum, she whispered through the telepathic void again, her mental voice barely a thread. I need you. Please… hurry.
She couldn’t tell if the message had reached him, but she had to believe it did. She had to believe that Caelum was on his way, that he hadn’t given up on her. She couldn’t lose hope. Not now. Not when everything was at stake.
Summoning what little strength she had left, Aurelia focused on her Guardian's Aura, drawing from the power it gave her. Slowly, she felt her strength returning—not much, but enough to keep her going. She would endure. She would fight. She would hold on until Caelum arrived.
Because she knew, deep down, that he was coming for her.