There is a difference between knowing and understanding. Between hearing and experiencing. It doesn't matter that I have the primary experienced memory of an ancient at my tendril tips. I have not become much more as a result.

Well, I have gained two things. The knowledge needed to survive on my own outside the hive. And advanced communication techniques that should work well if only my basic communications were fully comprehensible and that... Is a skill he took for granted of course.

But I have made sense of my memories and Guilt. She's been taking care of me and the first thing I do upon regaining my sanity is think about myself. I reach out to her, hesitantly. And she reaches back with force.

Yes, I am okay, I apologize for making her worry.

I ask about the outcome of the war, and what I get in response makes me feel conflicted.

The small war is over. We have won.

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That was a small war, the entire hive changed its mode of operation! Ah, it was only one cycle long.

I embrace her further and let her worries wash over me. I am okay, I am still Ur-Im. I worry that she has been eating in the meantime. But Zur has brought what was needed.

He who sees will return soon. We separate, we eat, and we rest.

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He Who Sees needed more materials to remake what was lost. He needed specific rare materials. And so he went to the place they were harvested. And he inquired on who was in charge of distribution. Being sent there he got into contact with He Who Remembers War, was the war not over? That was for her to think about. He Sees and that is who he is. The materials are not here, the processing is different. So he takes what he is granted and returns to his pod.

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He Who Sees returns, and Sho Who Remembers reaches out to him.

There were not the resources needed. The war was 2 cycles long. And... He Who Remeberes War was managing the resources.

That is worrying. Their role is only to manage during the war. Is there conflict that is being kept from us? She Who Remembers Wonders. The war was 2 cycles, did you see how long ago He Who Remembers War awoke?

He does not know, and there is the danger when too much is gained from war. She requests he go out again. So that more may be learnt.