On the morning of the fourth day, Samson woke up.

It happened when Goldie, Adon, and Rosslyn were all present, while the little spiders were in a corner of the ceiling, relaxing in a web they had constructed together.

Goldie was standing motionless next to her son, Adon was in quiescence, and Rosslyn had stepped silently into the room, a saucer in hand.

Then the little spider twitched, and the room slowly realized that something was happening.

Adon was the first to move.

Did I just see something at the bottom of my vision?

He slowly fluttered his wings, trying to stimulate blood flow throughout his body and wake himself fully.

Samson twitched again, and it drew the Princess’s eye this time. At the first tiny motion, she had been focused on remaining as quiet as she could, so as not to disturb the arthropods. But it was impossible for even a small arachnid’s movements to go unnoticed in Rosslyn’s presence, when she was paying attention.

The Princess took a tentative step toward the table where Samson rested.

Samson? Then Goldie’s telepathic voice broke the stillness of the room.

I’m alive! Samson declared in response.

Goldie crossed the few inches that separated them, stepping over the saucer in front of Samson, and pulled Samson into an embrace.

Adon finally flapped his wings and moved closer, just to be near the spiders while they hugged. He sensed rather than saw as the Princess stepped closer, just behind him.

What happened to me? Samson asked after a few seconds of this. My head feels a little foggy.

Goldie explained it, alternating between neutral language, tones of obvious distress, and barely restrained nagging. Adon found it rather heartwarming.

She was clearly meant to be a mother, he thought—and felt slightly guilty again about possibly leading her into danger in the near future.

Adon filled in the gaps, the parts of the explanation that Goldie had less personal knowledge of, to all three of his listeners’ rapt attention.

That figure in the shadows is something I encountered before myself, he transmitted. I don’t exactly know what it is, but…

Adon described the power-draining effect the entity had demonstrated in his first encounter with it, then elaborated how it had behaved while in control of Samson—draining not just the spider, but everyone around him in what seemed to be a gradually widening circle.

That’s awful, Samson sent. I can’t believe I did that…

You do not need to feel bad, Goldie sent.

“No harm was done,” Rosslyn quietly agreed.

I remember what happened now, though, Samson sent. I lost the path but kept going. I figured it would be all right to take a risk and grab for a source of power. I thought I would be adding to our collective understanding of magic. It was really reckless. I won’t do it again.

It was brave, Samson, Adon transmitted. You should consider trying it again. Taking risks is how we get stronger. When I went into the darkness myself, I touched the same entity that you found.

What? Samson asked. Did it work differently for you or something? How are you still alive? Did the Princess save you? The spider turned to look in Rosslyn’s direction.

I was able to yank myself back from it, Adon replied. You just need a stronger foundation, so something like that thing in the darkness doesn’t drain you instantly.

Oh, great, Samson sent glumly. I just need to get stronger before I can get stronger. Got it.

You will manage it, Sammy, Goldie sent. Remember that you can get stronger by eating stronger life forms. You are already progressing much faster than Adon and I did in the garden—especially much faster than me. And look at me now! I have evolved twice, and I can use healing magic!

Being so negative isn’t like you, little brother, Adon transmitted. You’re starting to sound like me before I reincarnated. Snap out of it! Step away from the edge.

Rosslyn began laughing at that, and after a moment, both of the spiders joined in, their telepathic voices echoing eerily with laughter.

After the merriment had settled down a little, Adon continued, Seriously, there are solutions to your, um, current relative weakness, Samson.

“Like what?” Rosslyn asked. Adon heard the undertone in her voice, almost as explicit as a thought, Could this help me get stronger?

But he would unfortunately have to disappoint her.

I think we need to take another hunting trip, Adon sent. Together, this time. The hatchlings are as safe as they’re going to be here, and I know our friends in the palace won’t let anything happen to them.

“Are you sure about this course, Adon?” Rosslyn asked immediately.

Do you perhaps wish to move away from the others and discuss it? he heard her think.

Why don’t I go and discuss logistics with you? Adon sent, so that everyone could hear. Maybe we can also go and get something for Samson to eat. He just woke up.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Oh, how long have I been asleep? Samson transmitted. Everything feels just slightly stiff, so I would guess a couple of hours?

Spiders’ bodies are different than human bodies, Sammy, Goldie replied.

Adon and Rosslyn left them talking and moved into the hallway. As the Princess moved forward, she extended her arm, holding her wrist out for Adon to land on.

He set down on the beginning of her forearm, and she continued walking down the hall.

“Are you certain about leaving?” she asked in a hushed voice.

She thought, so that Adon could hear it, If you leave now, the capital may be at war when you return. The Demon Empire would be wise to make its move sooner rather than later—while my father is incapacitated. It is possible that the sudden death of Sir Domnhall—his taster—is because they ordered Celeste to increase the dosage, hoping to kill him in the lead-up to an invasion. Her expression hardened slightly. We will learn for certain exactly what she intended.

We won’t stay away long, if that’s what you’re worried about, Adon sent.

“That is not necessarily my concern,” Rosslyn replied thoughtfully. “It might be better for you…” She allowed her voice to trail off before finishing in her mind, It might be better if you stayed away until the fighting was done.

Adon felt slightly affronted. Was Rosslyn saying he would be useless in a battle—or that she wanted to protect him? Either way, it did not comport with the butterfly’s self-image.

The reason why I want us to leave is so that we can get stronger—and be useful in the fighting, Adon transmitted, trying not to insert any emotion into his voice. He was a little annoyed, though.

I thought you were expecting me to contribute, honestly, he thought without sending.

“Well, think about what you truly want,” Rosslyn replied. “We are in a difficult situation. We are far from assured of a positive outcome.”

We may not survive, she thought. All of us who stay and defend this country. Some people will flee. Some people will die. If we lose, it is possible that large numbers of innocent people in our Kingdom will be put to death. That is a risk we cannot avoid—not if we wish to remain free. Your situation is different. You have options.

She sounded fatalistic. The undertone of genuine fear in her voice gave Adon pause.

Rosslyn was completely serious, obviously—and she had a point. Adon recalled his recent conversation with Goldie on this topic, which had gone much the same way, but with Goldie in Adon’s role.

Recalling how he had felt about possibly putting Goldie in danger was the decisive thing for the butterfly. He had already felt guilty about exposing his friend to a war just because he wanted to participate himself. Maybe Rosslyn had a point.

We’ll think about it, Adon finally sent.

The Princess nodded seriously, and the two of them continued the walk to the kitchens in silence.

After they had secured a small bird for Samson to eat—a raw woodpigeon—they returned to the room the spiders occupied. The sight that greeted them was endearing. Samson’s brothers and sisters had climbed all over him and were performing their own version of a hug—by perching on his body like he was their web.

Is that for me? Samson sent. Guys, I’m glad you care, but please move a little bit. I think I’m about to eat.

“Yes, it is for you,” Rosslyn said, smiling. She set the small plate down next to Samson and picked up the saucer of fluid that had been sitting there next to him.

Once you’ve eaten, we should get ready to go, Adon sent.

Already? Goldie asked, a little surprised from her tone.

Yes, already, Adon replied, trying not to be impatient. The sooner we leave, the faster we can all get stronger.

But—Goldie began.

I’m so excited, Samson interjected.

Adon caught a quiet thought leaking from Goldie’s mind. He was fairly certain she had not meant it to be audible.

Well, Samson really wanted to go hunting with Adon last time…

That seemed to settle it for all of them. Both spiders were eager to go. Adon was a little more ambivalent, even though it was his idea. He felt strange, imagining that Rosslyn and the King would believe the mystic beasts were abandoning them—creatures that they had a long history of honoring and cherishing, who had previously aided the Kingdom in its times of need.

Rosslyn had encouraged him to leave, though, albeit somewhat halfheartedly.

He kept an eye on her as the spiders said their goodbyes, wishing the hatchlings luck with their continued web building practice and promising to return soon. But the Princess did not want to show her feelings, whatever they were. She kept a stoic expression on her face, and her thoughts ran somewhere deep beneath the surface.

If Adon had to guess how she was feeling, Rosslyn was closer to frowning than smiling—but that might have just been a matter of disposition.

So, how do we do this? Goldie asked, pulling Adon’s attention back to her and Samson.

The two spiders stood close together, waiting for Adon to carry them away.

If Samson will step onto Goldie’s back, I’ll transform so the two of you can stand on me.

Rosslyn stood by and watched as the three arthropods made their adjustments to their positions and size respectively.

Adon used Transformation to expand every part of himself, turning his wings into a big, kite-like structure and his body into a large platform for the spiders to stand on.

“How long can you maintain that?” Rosslyn asked. She stared, fascinated, as the spiders clambered on and Adon gave his wings a few experimental, Mana-infused flaps.

Long enough, I think, Adon sent.

He felt strong and fully charged, ready for a long journey. He had not used much Mana or Biomass over the last few days, except that he had continued to practice Transformation, trying to push the outer bounds of what he could accomplish with that Adaptation.

“Good luck,” Rosslyn said, giving a small smile now. “Fly straight.”

We will, Samson sent. Don’t worry about us!

See you soon, Princess, Goldie sent. We will tell the stories of our adventure when we return.

Goldie’s telepathic voice was steady. It seemed she had come to terms with the fact that they would be taking a trip into unfamiliar and possibly dangerous territory. Adon thought it was possible she might even enjoy this.

The butterfly took off from the bed before Goldie, Samson, or Rosslyn could change their minds about this trip. Adon was convinced that this hunt would be the solution to Samson’s relative weakness—that it would allow Samson to explore the dark void in search of new magical powers in relative safety.

Rosslyn followed them out of the room and opened the door to the garden for them.

Then she stood there in the doorway and waved goodbye.

Adon and the spiders floated in a little circle above the garden at first, while Goldie and Samson got used to being high in the air.

This is amazing! Samson sent.

Try not to make too many sudden dips and flips, please, Goldie added, clearly slightly unsteady as Adon made what he considered a very tame change in trajectory.

He committed to himself that he would not drop the spiders, though he knew it would do them little harm no matter how high he was when it happened.

Rosslyn was still smiling at them as the arthropods sent their last telepathic farewells.

Then the butterfly and the two spiders flew over the garden wall and off toward the woods.