Morning came swiftly, casting golden rays through the cracks in the colony's upper tunnels. Workers scurried about, gathering resources from the surrounding land and deepening the existing tunnels.
Farther below, prisoners hauled rare minerals from the quarry. Grit clung to their joints, stiffening their movements as they worked. The scraping of pickaxes and the dull thud of collapsing soil echoed through the tunnels.
Draven sat alone in his chamber, surrounded by silence save for the occasional drip of condensation from the ceiling.
He exhaled slowly. His hands were clasped tightly together, trembling faintly before he finally loosened his grip.
To think that after all these years, he chose to appear... Zyroth.
Because of Ari, we've faced more conflict than I ever imagined. Yet somehow, against all odds, he keeps finding ways to aid us.
The reports say he's reckless. Impulsive, even. But no one can deny that he's capable.
Still, there's no way he can get us out of this one.
Zyroth is more than just an enemy. We learned that the hard way... ten years ago.
He closed his eyes.
Back then, I was only a lieutenant.
Our colony's military was second to none, thanks to Captain Aixen and Vanguard Terrence. But that battle changed everything.
We lost more than our freedom that day. We lost hope.
The grasshoppers crushed us and claimed our colony as their own, all under the guise of trade.
Food in exchange for peace, they said.
Our military was gutted.
Queen Celeste promoted me to Captain. Not because I was strong, but because I was one of the few survivors.
But I was weak.
That title didn't give me strength. I hadn't earned it. I wasn't worthy of it.
So I stood before the Queen... and rejected it.
Then I left the army.
A bitter chuckle escaped him, but the sound came out cracked.
They still call me Captain. Probably out of pity. Maybe they think it makes me feel less like a coward.
And after Aixen betrayed us and vanished, we lost our only true Captain.
Now the colony is a shell of what it used to be.
But...
His gaze drifted toward the faint light seeping through the entrance.
"...Something tells me we can still grow," he whispered.
Elsewhere, Lily walked quietly through the colony, carrying a strip of food balanced on a piece of bark.
Her steps slowed as she approached the structure in the forest.
She stopped at the entrance.
How am I even supposed to talk to him after that?
She rubbed the back of her neck.
I don't know what's gotten into me lately.
Lily took a deep breath and held it.
Maybe I should just pretend nothing happened.
Yeah... I'll just do that.
She stepped inside.
"Good morning, Ari. I hope you're hungry. I brought you something to—"
Her voice caught.
The bark slipped from her fingers.
Thud.
Lily froze.
Her gaze moved across the area.
She took another step inside.
"Ari?"
Her antennae slowly lowered.
"He really left..."
Lily's fingers curled into her palm.
After everything that I said...
She bit her lower lip.
Then she turned sharply and rushed back toward the colony.
Her foot caught against the ground.
She stumbled forward, caught herself, and kept running.
I have to let them know.
Her breathing became heavier as she hurried through the tunnels.
Outside the chamber, Beatrice stood with her arms crossed.
Her antennae twitched at the sound of hurried footsteps approaching through the tunnel.
She turned toward the noise.
"Lily? What's wrong?" Beatrice asked, stepping forward.
Lily stopped in front of her.
"It's Ari," she said. "He's gone."
Beatrice's arms dropped to her sides.
"What?"
"He left the chamber."
"He managed to leave? In that condition?"
Lily nodded quickly.
"I checked everywhere. He's not in the colony anymore."
"You were responsible for watching over him, so why did you let him out of your sight?" Beatrice asked.
"I know..."
Lily looked away.
"But I just couldn't bring myself to face him."
Beatrice released a slow breath.
"Don't blame yourself. He made the decision himself."
She shook her head.
"That reckless fool."
Lily looked back at her.
"So... what are we going to do?"
"We have to let Valeria know what happened."
Minutes later, the two stood before Captain Valeria.
"I see..."
Valeria closed her eyes and released a quiet breath.
"It was only a matter of time."
She opened her eyes.
"I already knew Ari would go after the princess."
"But in his condition, he wouldn't even make it past the gates," Beatrice said. "Even if he were fully recovered, he'd die. We need to stop him before it's too late."
Valeria nodded.
"You're right. But..."
She paused.
"I'm sure he knows that."
Lily and Beatrice remained silent.
Valeria looked toward the tunnel entrance.
"Ari is... well, Ari."
"He's stubborn and reckless, but there's a fire in him."
Her expression became serious again.
"He'd charge straight into death itself for something he believes in."
"If he attacks Zyroth's fortress, he could get himself killed. And that's not all. It could put our entire agreement with Zyroth at risk. We're already paying double tribute to get the princess back. If his forces respond to Ari's attack, they could break the deal... and our entire colony will suffer for it."
"I know," Valeria interrupted gently. "I know what's at stake."
"All we can do now is hope he's out there somewhere and trust that he knows what he's doing."
"So, Captain, what do we do now?"
Lily put both hands behind her head and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
"Don't know about you, but I'm getting pretty anxious just standing around here."
Valeria looked at her.
"It's simple."
Valeria said.
"We help him."
"What?"
Beatrice blinked.
"I've given it some thought. Our chances of winning are close to zero. But..."
Valeria's fingers tightened around the sheathed mandibles.
"I'm tired."
She looked between Beatrice and Lily.
"Tired of handing over food that we worked ourselves to the bone to gather. And tired of watching our colony suffer."
Neither of them spoke.
"There's no denying Zyroth's strength," Valeria continued. "It's second to none in this region. I know that better than most."
"I experienced it firsthand when I fought him four years ago."
"I don't have the Queen's approval. And if we do this, we might all die."
She stepped forward.
"But I'm asking you both..."
Her eyes settled on Lily and Beatrice.
"Will you help me end this once and for all?"
Lily and Beatrice exchanged glances.
"I'm not forcing either of you," Valeria said. "Take some time and think it over."
"And don't tell anyone about this. Not yet."
She turned toward the tunnel.
"I'll look into possible allies in the meantime."
Isla sat beneath a large boulder at the edge of the training field, her legs drawn close to her chest.
She watched Lancelot struggle beneath the weight of the heavy rock strapped across his back.
His legs shook with every step. His muscles tightened as he fought to keep himself upright. Sweat ran down the side of his face and dropped onto the soil.
Crrrk!
The rock shifted against his back.
"Are you giving up already?" Brooks asked, standing a short distance away.
"No..."
Lancelot's arms trembled.
"I'm not done yet!"
"Then keep moving."
"Ahhh!"
Lancelot gritted his teeth and dug his feet into the soil.
His body shook under the weight, but he forced one foot forward.
Then another.
"I won't give up."
He dragged in a strained breath.
"Not a chance!"
I don't understand why Lancelot is pushing himself this hard.
Isla watched him struggle beneath the weight of the boulder.
He's scared too. I know he is.
Her fingers curled against her knees.
But he's still moving forward because he wants to help Ari.
Her gaze dropped to the ground.
Me? I froze when those grasshoppers appeared. I couldn't even breathe.
Her hands began to tremble.
She looked down at them.
But Ari... he stood his ground.Even though he knew he couldn't win, he still attacked them.
What am I even doing...?
She looked back at Lancelot.
He's probably already out there, preparing to rescue the princess. Lancelot is pushing himself so he'll be strong enough to help him.
She pressed her hands against the ground and pushed herself to her feet.
Her legs trembled beneath her.
And me...?
I can't just sit here and be afraid.
Another breath filled her lungs.
I have to help somehow.
"I'll train too."
Her voice trembled.
"I won't let them fight alone."