“Are you sure that these little ‘particles’ are actually the basis of everything, everywhere?” Janis drew her brows together, looking a bit dubious.

“Yes, I’m very sure atoms exist,” Regina replied, trying not to sound too amused.

Her whole society, in her memories, couldn’t be wrong about that, could they? And there are, like, lots of experiments that prove it. Plus, pretty much all my knowledge of chemistry. And biology, too, since it’s based on chemistry in a sense. Like, if iron atoms don’t exist, what does hemoglobin transport in the blood and what are red blood cells for? You’d get no oxygen and die without it. Regina shook her head at herself and stopped the rather silly train of thought. This question was almost making her doubt things it shouldn’t.

Besides, if my knowledge was wrong, presumably my magic wouldn’t work. I got a Conjuration Spell and even Basic Heal, and I’m using it accordingly. So, magic or the System itself is basically supporting that it is true.

When she put it into those terms, Janis nodded. “Sorry if it sounded like I doubted you, Regina. I understand what you mean. It’s just … strange.”

“Lots of things about the natural world are weird,” Regina replied.

A few of the drones gathered around them nodded in agreement. Regina had decided to make these lessons open to the public, so to speak. Or at least, open to her hive. The drones all seemed to have some basic knowledge, along with their seemingly innate language proficiency, but she wasn’t entirely sure how far that went. Still, the focus was on her, the Attendants, and Janis talking and learning about magic as well as the knowledge she carried. Regina was hoping that if she taught them enough, they’d be able to learn Conjuration as well, either from her or as a potential Spell on offer from the System.

It didn’t seem like it was going to happen with just a few hours of lessons, though. Regina considered whether she should just switch to medical stuff and try to get them Basic Heal directly, but she didn’t think that was the best idea. If nothing else, knowing basic science would be very helpful in learning more specialized material. And while healing Spells would be great to have, they weren’t as potentially game-changing as conjuring stuff out of thin air (or rather mana, as she’d established air wasn’t necessary for it).

“Let’s get back to the periodic table. Or what I remember of it, anyway.” Regina sat up straighter on the cut off tree stump serving her as a stool and resumed drawing in the dirt with a sharpened stick. “Remember, it’s all about how many unbound electrons a certain element, or rather an atom in a potential molecule, has. So, carbon has four and can thus form molecules with four bonds, while oxygen just has two. That’s why it takes two hydrogen atoms to form water, although water is also a bit of a special case, since there’s a high electronegativity differential …”

Janis’ expression, which had just cleared and looked like she understood, darkened again, and Regina reminded herself to stick to the topic and keep things simple.

“Never mind that, we’ll talk about electronegativity and hydrogen bonds in a minute,” she said. “For now, is the basic idea of the table and the elements clear?”

Via and Ira nodded confidently, and the rest also seemed like they’d at least followed along. Janis didn’t answer, but Regina had the impression that was because she was deep in thought, focused on considering what she was learning and presumably its implications.

She paused as she noticed Max coming closer. He’d decided not to attend this lesson, maybe because she’d already talked to him about most of the content a few weeks ago, when they’d been out in the forest together. Many other drones were also not here, but presumably busy with other work, though she didn’t doubt they’d hear about it from their fellows. She still hadn’t quite decided how much of it she wanted the humans from the village to hear.

“There’s another human approaching, my Queen,” Max reported as he came to a stop outside the circle of drones, who’d put up improvised seating arrangements.

Regina glanced around, then stood up and joined him. “I don’t imagine they’re coming from the forest?”

He shook his head. “From deeper into the march, possibly Cernlia as a whole. It’s a rider, and he seems to be alone. I’d assume he’s a messenger.”

“Alright.” She turned back to face the others. “This is the end of the lesson, I’m afraid. Please get back to what you’re doing. Janis, come with me, please.”

Ira joined them as well, while most of the other drones scattered to go back to various tasks. Tia seemed to hesitate for a moment, then headed back to the workshop, joining Mia.

Janis was quiet as they walked to the edge of the village again. Regina assumed that she was trying to get used to being part of the hive, their source of knowledge and probably point of contact for humans. After she’d been living as a human for so long, it was probably a bit of an adjustment. She didn’t say anything about it, though.

The rider didn’t seem to be in any hurry, or more likely, he’d been pacing himself for the long trip. Regina couldn’t tell from here if the figure was actually a man or woman, but she’d trust her drones’ information. Ada or another of the scouts must have spotted him. Besides, given what she’d heard of the culture from the villagers and Janis, using a male as a messenger was probably more likely, anyway.

Janis gasped quietly as the rider came closer. Regina glanced at her, surprised for a moment, before she realized that the girl must have spent time at the marquis’ court, so she’d be familiar with at least some people from there. “You recognize him?”

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“That’s my great-uncle Richard,” Janis answered.

Regina raised an eyebrow. After a moment of consideration, she decided that was probably a good thing. Unless her relative had heard of Janis joining the hive and set out to bring her back himself or something silly like that, which didn’t seem likely.

As the visitor came closer, she focused on him and managed to get a description from the System.

Richard Straightlance — Level ? Dauntless Knight

She’d gathered that Knight was a Tier 2 Class, over level 20. This Class sounded like it was probably an evolution or progression of it, which would mean he was above level 40. Like Anuis, but probably some levels higher.

The knight lifted his visor as he approached, then took off his helmet and hung it on his saddle. He didn’t look quite as old as ‘great-uncle’ made him sound, but he did sport some wrinkles and gray in his hair. He slowed his horse down further, walking towards them slowly.

“Hive Queen Regina, Three Century Commander Anuis Eltarianal, greetings.” He stopped his horse and bowed in the saddle as he reached them. “I bring word from Marquis Lyns.”

“Greetings to you as well, and welcome,” Regina answered. “Do come in.”

Janis glanced hesitantly at Regina, before she stepped towards her uncle. “It’s good to see you, Uncle Rich,” she said in a low voice, but not quite quietly enough for Regina not to hear it. “I thought you were leading the march’s levies against the elves?”

“I was recalled recently,” he answered, also quietly.

I’ll make sure you have time to talk to your uncle privately later, Regina sent her. Right now, Anuis and a few of the elves looked a bit impatient or eager to start talking with him.

Janis nodded subtly, and melted back into the group while Richard started walking. The group moved into the village. Several people stopped and looked curiously at them, but Regina ignored them, and the rest followed suit.

“I hope your trip was without trouble, Sir Richard,” Anuis said, clearly making polite conversation.

“Quite, the gods seemed to smile on my journey,” he responded. That must mean he made good time, but she already knew he’d probably set out from the marquis’ current location pretty quickly.

They reached the baron’s house soon, where Neralt welcomed the knight politely. They seemed to have met before, but considering that he’d apparently visited Janis here in the past, that made sense.

“I’m sure we’re all eager to hear your lord’s message,” Regina finally said once they’d all settled down. The baron looked unsure if he was supposed to be included, but she didn’t mind if he stayed. This would concern him quite a bit, after all.

“Of course.” The knight set down the mug he’d been handed (ale or something, judging by the smell) and straightened up.

“Lady Kiara conveyed your offer and recounted the demonstrations you gave,” he said. “Her words were quite impressive. To be perfectly honest, there was some doubt about your trustworthiness, but that matter is largely settled.”

“I presume they sent you to also check in on me,” Janis said with a small smile. “I assure you, Uncle Rich, I’m quite happy here.”

He returned it and shrugged slightly. “I can see you’re being treated well, and hearing that puts my mind at ease.” His eyes flickered slightly to Regina, though. He cleared his throat and regained a more serious, official demeanor. “In any case, Marquis Lyns is agreeable to your proposal. Provided a few remaining questions are settled satisfactorily, he would gladly enter a binding agreement with you. Circumstances being what they are, making it an official treaty seems unwise, however.”

“I can see that,” Regina answered with a small smile. “Go on, please. You mentioned remaining issues? Like the status of the village and the castle, I presume?”

He nodded. “As a matter of fact, my lord has prepared a suggested agreement. If what he proposed meets with your approval, I am authorized to conclude this deal in his name.”

“Good.” That meant they wouldn’t have to keep sending messages back and forth, hopefully.

"The marquis cannot officially give up on the barony, but that does not mean he will try to reclaim it,” the knight said, glancing quickly at the baron. “As such, he would officially place Baron Neralt under your authority, and leave you free reign to fortify this village and the surrounding lands as you see fit. Note that this does not only include this village, but also the smaller neighboring ones.”

Regina nodded. She hadn’t visited those villages yet, although she’d heard them mentioned. She supposed what the marquis suggested wasn’t a bad deal. He probably thought that some words on paper in human records archives wouldn’t matter to her, especially compared to who was actually in control. He might have been right if she’d been just a normal sapient monster. Although, even her Hive Queen side didn’t like the thought of someone else having any kind of claim on territory she would consider hers. She felt the urge to destroy any such possibility. That wouldn’t be very realistic, though, so she ignored the slight tightness in her body and nodded.

“That seems agreeable,” she said. “What about the castle?” He’d specifically not mentioned it.

“A complicated issue. My lord wants to work towards a use of Forest’s Watch that is amenable to and secures the security of all sides. That includes fielding a joint garrison to staff and defend the castle.”

Regina frowned in thought for a moment. Then she nodded. “I think we can do that.” She probably didn’t have the drones for a proper garrison, at least one as strong as its previous one had been, yet, anyway. The devil would be in the details, she figured. But it didn’t sound like the marquis wanted to send his own soldiers there right away.

“Excellent.” He smiled, looking a little relieved.

“I suppose I can agree to this,” Neralt spoke up. “Not that anyone was asking for my agreement, I note.”

Richard smiled, looking apologetic. Regina didn’t bother doing the same. She wouldn’t want to be in his place, but it could have been much worse. And she wasn’t his boss who had just handed him over to someone else.

“Do you have some kind of contract prepared?” she asked.

Richard reached into his satchel and smoothed out a folded-up piece of paper. “This is not intended to be an official contract, given the potential pitfalls I’ve mentioned before,” he said. “But it should help to have the terms of the agreement laid out clearly.”

Regina nodded and reached out to take it. She read through the paper carefully, but it seemed to contain pretty much what they’d just discussed. She then glanced around for a moment, until Ira handed her a quill and a small pot of ink, and she carefully signed her name. The marquis had already done the same, and he’d even had the foresight to send Richard with identical copies, she noted. Pretty confident of him. But I guess he did suggest a deal that included some significant concessions on his side.

After that, the meeting was pretty much over. Regina made small talk for a bit, although it seemed a little stilted and awkward to her. She also handed him a case containing some of the precious metals and stones she’d conjured before they left the baron’s house again. She made sure to arrange things so Janis had some time with her great-uncle to talk, though.

Now, she’d just build up her hive for as long as the peace held.