《Formicea》
Chapter 1
"Yawn!"
Hello, dearest morning. It''s never a pleasure to deal with you.
To be precise, my motivation to go "rise and shine" is quite low, while the sun isn''t even close to doing the same yet.
"Hey, sleepyhead! Wake up!"
And there is the lovely voice of my mother.
Pointing out the inevitability of my fate to embrace a gloomy, dark, wet, and as far I can tell physically exhausting day, instead of simply staying in my bed.
Her name is Farrah, by the way.
As for who I am:
My name is Erys.
I am a seventeen years old girl but my birthday isn''t too far away.
Even if it is questionable if there is anything to celebrate in the first place when you live with your six year old brother and your parents on a farm, remote from any noteworthy settlements at the border of a country that isn''t interested in us in the slightest.
There is not really much a girl can look forward to.
"Now get yourself ready or I might allow your brother to pursue his idea of using a bucket of water!" (F)
Sigh!
Sleeping a bit longer was such a tempting prospect.
But I guess I have no choice.
Why is there no profession that allows you to stay in your bed?
Yes, I know I should get ready.
As much I know my family the part with the bucket wasn''t a joke.
The good part of our home is that I have a room for myself.
It would be quite embarrassing to share it with my brother or worse my parents.
So I stand up, fetch myself some clothes, and put them on, not thinking much about how I look.
Who would see me?
It''s not like anyone is interested if I have a clean face.
It''s a rather plain one as well.
Grey-brown eyes and neck-length dark-brown hair.
Nothing special.
The part of me who cared, died a long time ago when my mother confessed to me that our lifestyle would never allow me to dress up or go to any kind of festivity where that matters.
The advantage of not caring lies in the point that I am like this done in a blink with all my morning deeds.
So I am soon ready to open my door and step into the main room.
And I find my brother.
"Is that a bucket?" (E)
"Muuum! She''s up!"
God, Toris can be such a nuisance!
He is one of these far too wild young kids you need to be extra careful that they don''t run off and cause problems.
Well, he''s not particularly bad.
And he doesn''t break as much as one might think.
But right now his energetic self is just too much for me.
So I drag myself to the table.
"Couldn''t you wash your face first? Maybe Toris should have used that bucket." (F)
"Mum! I simply don''t get why people, when waking up to a cold morning, would develop the sudden urge to sprinkle themselves with even colder water." (E)
"It isn''t cold! It''s summer!" (F)
"Mustn''t mean that I like cold water." (E)
"You really are no morning person. I guess if you could you would spend the whole winter sleeping in a cave under the earth like some animals do." (F)
"If it would just be possible!" (E)
"But since you''re already looking like this you can go and work a bit before breakfast. Someone needs to look for the chicken and feed them." (F)
As I don¡¯t wish to prolong this talk I go.
It''s still dark, which might explain why there was yet no shout from the stable.
I grab the fodder and bring it over to the pen where I diligently do the feeding.
You might not believe me after this start, but I am in fact a good worker and help quite a lot around the farm.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.For example, those huge fields that reach my height have grown not to a small part through my contribution.
Aside from different vegetables, we grow mostly wheat and yellowsprout, which is like corn but grows from rather large shrubs in a bright yellow color.
Also, I get along with my family quite well.
I''m like Mother said simply not a morning person.
Before Mother can say anything else I wash my face with our rain barrel, as I''m now awake enough to endure it.
This doesn''t mean I like unpleasant things.
After this, I go back in.
I''ve fetched some eggs while feeding and thought I could directly bring them to Mum.
Inside, Dad is already at the table.
His name is Rowen.
Regarding why he didn''t get a terror morning call as I did.
Yesterday he worked on the fields until very, very late.
"Hey mum, I''m back. Found some eggs!" (E)
"Sorry, dear. It''s already done and just porridge. The eggs we better keep for dinner." (F)
"Guess you are right. I''m more for meat, but we can''t just kill our livestock." (E)
"No, we can''t. So better eat up now. You will need the energy." (F)
"Yes, yes. Fieldwork!" (E)
"Don''t get snappy! It''s what keeps us all alive here." (F)
"Yes mum." (E)
"You could as well say something, Rowen!" (F)
"Mhm. Yes." (R)
"Thank you for your input, honey." (F)
Yep, Dad is more the silent type and like me no morning person.
"Grumble"
Suddenly the earth is shaking and one of the eggs falls down, shattering on the floor.
"Hell! That this had to happen now, of all times!" (F)
Just to say so, the earth was never very calm here.
For that reason, most of our stuff is stored in a way so it cannot fall or break.
Because of that, no one is deeply invested when there is a quake.
I eat my fill, as we will not have dinner until late.
Dad will help me plow the fields, while Mother is looking in the wilderness for wild herbs for our meal.
We work most of the time next to each other, but don''t talk this much since as I said he isn''t much into talking.
I guess that relates to why we live in a place where you don''t have to deal with any people.
For the question, how someone as passive as Dad got together with Mum:
She told us that she was the one to ask him out.
And well, he didn''t say no.
Okay, I''m overstating it a little.
The two make for a good pair.
There were never hard feelings between them or anything bigger than smaller quarrels.
Like him not stepping the dirt off when coming back inside.
So much for him.
Because of this working with dad is a silent job.
I have no problem with that since I come after him in that regard.
However, I had something on my mind.
"Dad?" (E)
"Hmm?" (R)
"I wanted to ask you: Aren''t you worried? The last time we sold our harvest they said there is a conflict with the Koreso. We are here so close to the border you wouldn''t be sure if we belong to them or Tarsona. Isn''t it dangerous?" (E)
There were always some tensions between our nations.
Tarsona is a rich country and has a strong focus on trading and sailing.
While the ocean is difficult to cross with all the monsters inside, we are proud of our naval tradition. Our capital city Valera is the biggest haven this continent knows, yet only three countries have access to the sea.
Naturally, this wealth draws unwanted attention.
Hence Koreso.
While they are very proud of being a republic where the people rule, these guys are extremely aggressive towards their "less developed" neighbors.
It strikes a little odd here that people who are this proud of their liberal government occasionally turn their prisoners of war into slaves.
And now it seems that these people again decided that the rich Tarsona makes a good target.
Like this, it might be understandable that I''m concerned our farmland might turn into a warzone.
"Hmm, I guess we should follow the advice of your mother and not think too hard about it. It''s not like we can abandon the farm just like this. We are rather far away from any of the main roads or something else remarkable, so it''s not likely that we''ll get targeted." (R)
"Maybe." (E)
"Sorry that I can''t be more assuring." (R)
"No, no. You are right. It doesn''t help to fret about this. For now, I just hope this batch of corn does grow as fine as the yellowsprout. I mean some of the crops are bigger than me." (E)
"I know. But we should wait a little longer to make sure they are all ripe." (R)
I''m not soothed by my father''s words but I realize that we have no real choice.
It''s not like we can just abandon everything and run away.
Refugees aren''t that welcome in the bigger towns and we would have no way to make money.
So I stay silent and we just do work.
We stop before it gets evening.
It''s not like one is only working as a peasant.
We¡¯ve got quite a lot done and have earned ourselves to call it a day.
Mum is already back and starts to prepare dinner, while I play a little with Toris.
After all, he is my brother and I should be nice to this little brat with his bucket.
It takes a while and when dinner is finished, the sun already starts to set.
We sit around the table and like declared mum roasted the eggs along with some of our crops.
It is rather quiet since my brother''s mouth is stuffed and I and dad don''t speak that much but are also exhausted.
And exactly this is the reason why I notice something rustling through our yellowsprout field.
"Mum, Dad! I''m going out for a moment. Think I saw something." (E)
"You sure about that? It''s starting to get dark." (R)
"That''s the reason why. Any more and I won''t see anything at all. You can stay, I¡¯m only checking if it''s bad for the field or the chicken." (E)
"Shall I accompany you?" (R)
"Nah! If it was anything at all it was rather small." (E)
So I head out and turn to the place where I detected the rustling.
It is rather pointless to try to find something in here.
Nonetheless, I notice movement.
It''s certainly too small for a wolf, barely surpassing my knees in height, raising my confidence to pursue whatever this is.
I can''t really make it out, especially with the twilight, but the shape is weird.
As a last attempt, I jump more or less blind in its direction.
"Screeeeeehhhhh!!!"
That startled me.
The moment I moved this thing jumped as well in my direction, and looked gruesome, before it just like this rushed away.
So I turn back to my home, having had enough of this.
Not worth it!
However, when I push myself back through the field I face a bright shine.
Chapter 2
War is something terrible.
Yes, I know that people proclaim this all the time, yet most of them aren''t really thinking about what they''re saying there.
I guess the only ones in the position to say something like this are the direct victims.
Those who are truly affected, against their will.
For example, soldiers forced into the army, families losing their providers, civilians slaughtered by troops, peasants losing all they have.
Or me.
You remember that I mentioned I would soon have my birthday?
Right now I ask myself if I will survive long enough to celebrate.
The reason is the shine coming from my house.
It''s dark-red, sometimes yellow then turning into black.
The color of flames and smoke.
It is dark, still, with this illumination, I can see the figures of those who are responsible clearly enough.
They are soldiers of Koreso, the mentioned bordering nation.
Not that I was deeply invested with any of them and their politics, yet they don''t leave you much of a choice when someone makes the tactical decision to cut the opponent''s supplies down by destroying all farms on the other side.
In these moments it is unfortunate to be part of a family of peasants at the border.
Okay Erys, calm down. You need to keep a clear mind in this situation.
Knowing that my chances to fight them are nonexistent, I managed to hide for now between the crops.
Fortunately, I couldn''t see any members of my family with these soldiers.
The house has a second exit, and since there were no screams or shouts they probably made it out, alarmed by the fire.
The good point is that on that side our yellowsprout field extends as well, giving them enough coverage to escape.
But maybe I did just miss them getting caught?
"Here I am!" (R)
"There was one! Get him!"
"Ah, let him be. That''s not the mission. Don''t do anything unnecessary."
That was dad.
It''s a little weird, but the direction of the voices is off.
Not in the direction of the fields.
If I need to guess I would say that dad is distracting them so that the rest of us can escape.
I couldn¡¯t see any ranged weapons.
Without carrying anything and his knowledge of the terrain dad should be able to shake them off.
So it seems like everyone got away.
And so will I!
Naturally, I tend in the direction where my mum most likely left to.
I might meet her at the road to the next town.
More specifically, Osari.
This is the largest town in the southeastern territory.
It''s reasonable to believe that my family is that way.
And considering what this one soldier just said, I don''t think I need to worry that they will hunt the refugees.
Those will put a strain on our kingdom which has to sustain them and like this, it is favorable for the enemy to leave them be.
That''s what I thought, yet as soon I leave the field which was obstructing my view, I can see my mother carrying my brother in her arms and behind her a soldier, who sneaks after them trying to prevent them from running faster while he chases.
Dad went to distract the soldiers but like this mum and Toris are without any protection now.
I want to mention, though we have our quarrels sometimes I love them deeply.
So I take my chances.
This man wears heavy equipment and should naturally be slower.
If I tackle him and manage to run away, he will be too occupied to get further behind and everyone is happy.
So I commence.
I try the same as him and wait as long as possible with my sprint.
Then I rush at him and throw my shoulder in his side.
¡°Wham¡±
I managed to send him to the ground.
I hope mother got the hint and brings my brother away from here.
The same I want to do now as well.
But when I bring myself up again and begin to run in a different direction, to lead them away from my mother, suddenly there is another soldier in front of me.
"Dead end here, lass!"
The strike I receive sends me instantly down.
"That bitch jumped me! Kill her!" (soldier without balance)
"What are you saying? It''s your fault for being this careless, letting yourself get ambushed like that. Also, she is a resource. A valuable one at that!"
I think this one has a higher rank, the way he speaks.
If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.But for now, I am more concerned about the fact that I apparently shall get enslaved.
The man forces me with raw strength and some support of his sword to the rest of their group.
"Look what we''ve got here! Isn''t this the typical country flower? What do you think we get for that one?" (high ranked soldier)
"Sir, it seems we will have some fun, right?" (asshole)
"Are you stupid? That will decrease her value! She is spoils of war and we will diligently deliver her. For a reward. The commander has his tastes." (high ranked soldier/ asshole)
"How unfortunate." (asshole)
I need to get away, but they tied my hands and feet.
It seems I shall be laid like goods on the horse of their boss, yet they aren''t done yet.
"Now guys, get moving! Those fields must burn before it gets bright again!" (high ranked soldier)
And now they start to use torches on the fields I cultivated with my own hands.
This is devastating, yet I don''t want to think about what will follow.
My hope dims and I guess no prayer in this world will save me now.
The fields are lighting up.
Nothing can quell this fire anymore.
It helps that my family got away, yet I''m not as strong as I would like.
I am unable to stop my eyes from tearing.
My fear grows with each passing second and I know that I won¡¯t be able to endure what will happen to me.
I just want to get away here!
Or die before more sinister things happen.
Yet I''m unsure if I could manage to kill myself.
Help me, please!
The men check the area one last time, pack up some of our dead chickens, and start to get ready to leave.
With me as a part of their spoils that is.
I''ve lost all hope and cry silent tears.
"Grumble"
Suddenly there is a quake.
The earth tremors and everyone looks aghast.
It''s not the first time I felt how the earth shakes, but never this strong.
The tremors become even stronger and like in an explosion the earth cracks up.
Close to our position a hole opens.
However, what makes me scared stiff is what emerges.
Some kind of hellish creature, a monster like never known before emerges.
There are monsters in this world, wild ferocious beasts, but nothing like this.
Nothing out of the deepest depths of the dark.
"SKREAK!!!"
It looks like a bug, yet not even close.
It''s a towering monstrosity!
Around 2,30 meters!
It has mandibles for a mouth and the eyes are void black.
It walks on four appendages that look like spikes.
But it also has arms.
Or rather two appendages with long saw-like blades extending out of them.
They look like dark-brown bones.
To be precise, the whole body of this thing looks like this.
Hard and impenetrable.
The soldiers, trained as they are, surround it.
Eleven men of considerable boldness.
Some shake, yet discipline takes over and makes them all engage the abomination.
But before the first one comes close enough to attack, I note that this thing has a tail.
Or more a spear, as this is how it uses it.
The closest soldier gets directly impaled.
The others take this as the signal for the attack but are only scratching that monster''s hard surface, which relentlessly repels them.
"SCREEEAAAACCHHH!!!"
At this moment hell breaks loose and their formation gets thrown into chaos, as another one of these things comes out of the hole.
The soldiers are pushed back under the assaults of these giant abominations which barely recognize their attacks.
"Hold the line! Block the strikes!" (high-ranked soldier)
With their desperate efforts, they can barely survive as pressured as they are.
But then it happens.
More, smaller critters emerge from the hole.
Haven''t I just seen one of these?
What hell lies down there?
These smaller monsters are fast.
Rushing on four legs, with extending bends in their hind limbs, which catapult them forward.
The front ones have each a claw with two sharp ends and their maws are countless closing spikes.
They wreak havoc among the soldiers.
Jumping up their bodies, biting in joints, and ripping the soft parts of their bodies open.
As they had barely any chance against the giants this additional new threat completely overwhelms them.
More and more keep pouring out of that hole and in groups of dozens they take out together one after the other of the soldiers.
It''s a massacre!
I see how their supposed leader is beheaded with just one swipe of a blade arm and with that it''s concluded.
The battle is over and only four fleeing men remain.
They don''t get far.
I had already lost hope to live much longer and those things seem just like another way to end me.
At least they kill fast.
At most five seconds of pain and it will be over.
That doesn''t help my trembling, sobbing, and the terror I experience yet if I could be objective it isn''t much worse.
But why do I still live?
They already killed all the others.
So why am I, nearly in the middle of this horror, still in one piece?
Or any piece, as what the small ones did to some of the corpses was terrible?
But then it seems to be my turn.
One of those giants comes close.
I tremble and sob, yet manage to look at that thing for a moment, before the panic overwhelms me and I just quiver on the ground.
However, I don''t get decapitated.
I perceive how more creatures come out of this hole of terror, again different.
Those walk on four leg-spikes and have arms like the giants, yet with claws of four fingers instead of blades.
Also, they are only slightly exceeding my size.
No giants.
Dozens of these things swarm out, yet apparently fear the fire and circle it in a wide arc.
Promptly some head in my direction.
What will they do to me?
I expect the worst and close my eyes so that I only hear the advancing of the clicking sounds their legs make.
This isn''t the slightest bit better than seeing them, inducing my eyes to open up again.
Four!
Four are directly at me!
"Please let it be fast." (E)
I quietly whisper to myself.
"Creak!"
"Crek, creeak!"
Distressing insect-like clicking screams.
I simply don''t know how to handle myself.
My mental stress is far beyond the limits I can endure.
I close my eyes again, trying to disconnect myself from all this horror.
But suddenly there is a touch.
A grip!
One of those things grabbed my legs!
Then another one my shoulders!
Another is reaching below my waist!
And then I get lifted.
The claws of those monsters end sharp, yet they used them in a way that I am not really scraped.
But this changes when I realize what goes on.
They are moving me to the hole!
As terror grasps me I scramble and try to flail around.
"NO! Help, help! This can''t be! Not! Aaahh! No!" (E)
Only for those things to grab me harder.
It hurts only a bit, yet for sure I cannot move the held parts with this inhuman strength they apply.
And even the fourth one comes to assist them.
They render me incapable to resist and proceed on their way.
Falling into despair I get sucked inside that hole.
All I can do is helplessly stare at the exit as the last bit of light slowly vanishes.
Chapter 3
Just focusing on the way forward the creatures move on.
I sob the whole time, feeling pure dread at the thought of what is going to happen to me.
They transport me in perfect unison at a fast pace not loosening their grip even once, clenching my body.
The pain is tolerable, nonetheless, it hurts and I cease my pointless struggle.
The tunnels we traverse are spacious, as they must have been big enough for the giants to pass them.
The creatures move me further and further through the dark.
At this point, I only whimper and quiver in fear, unable to free myself.
I am aware that we are descending very deep below, while also moving constantly in the same direction.
At one point the earthen tunnels, which were nearly perfectly round are replaced with something different.
It looks still a bit like earth, yet it seems to be harder and at the same time like coated in some kind of applicant.
I only notice because of some light from occasional glowing stones and luminescent mushrooms.
There were many passages in other directions, so this network must be vast.
They travel for hours with me, but at one point the tunnel opens.
It is still very dark, so I can''t see much but I notice the clicking sounds.
The insects must be everywhere around me.
They grow more frequent and intense and I realize that I cannot fathom the numbers.
We traverse many halls and passages and eventually pass a giant gateway.
I am so scared that I cannot get any word out by now.
Not that I assume I would be understood.
Finally, those creatures are coming to a stop in a vast open space.
In front of me, I see many of those giants, blocking a huge gateway.
The creatures which carry me scramble to them and stop.
"Scriak!" (carrier)
"Scruuk!" (giant)
After a short moment, the giants give way.
The insects delve with me in there.
And dump me down.
They just leave me like this?
As fast as possible I want to get this rope off and work as hasty I can on the knot on my feet.
Then I open the one at my hands with my teeth.
I notice my clothes got rather torn at the rough treatment I experienced.
I am free now, but let''s be honest, how should I have a chance to get out of this?
"Shuuuuooooohhhh"
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
What was that?
I look around, but cannot spot anything in this darkness.
"Shooooooohhhh"
Again!
What was that?
It sounds like the wind is blowing.
Or as if air is escaping some kind of machine.
I follow that sound and think I find a shape in this darkness.
It is huge. Like really huge.
Not giant huge, but more.
Much more.
And then this structure moves.
Bends down.
Lowers to the ground and I see...
Titan!
"Aghck!" (E)
This creature is like a giant for giants.
A black figure which towers so high that I cannot see its top.
And it stands directly in front of me.
Abruptly the head of that thing lowers down.
It is some kind of oval with mandibles.
My head would easily fit in the hole in its center.
"Shuuuuuhhhh"
It is the inhaling of that thing that makes this sound.
Was I brought here to be fodder for this monstrosity?
It comes so close.
The heat of its breath envelopes me and I grow nauseous at the gas.
It did not smell, it simply was nothing you should breathe in.
I see eight appendages, four at least for walking two more used in a mix, and a long tail.
It pokes me slowly with one of its claws, sending me to the ground.
Not very difficult as I''ve lost all feeling in my legs.
"Please, at least kill me fast." (E)
I just don''t want to suffer for long and plea at this creature, unable to get up from my knees.
I think saliva hits my head yet this thing promptly moves away.
Then it seems to look at me.
Measuring.
After a moment it appears to be done and draws back.
Utterly overwhelmed I can just stare.
Abruptly the tail flings out from past that thing, rushes through its legs, and like this I get pierced.
It directly hit my navel and hurts like hell.
"Aaahh! Aggaahk! A-at least... it ends now." (E)
The next moment I feel how something is released at the point the tail enters.
It seems like overkill to me that I get poisoned by something this big.
However, I still don''t drop dead.
Why is there no release?
The tail extracts again and I am not bleeding as much as I thought.
Instead, some violet liquid escapes my navel.
Yet it seems the wound closes fast and the dripping stops.
Nonetheless, in seconds my head gets dim and I fall down.
When I regain consciousness my mind is completely hazy.
I feel terrible.
This is a bad sign.
It means I am either in hell, without having done much to earn this or that I''m still alive.
My eyes burn, like with the hardest fever one can imagine, but much more.
And while we are at it, I''m feverish.
Just then I notice that I''m fixated in some greasy hardened stuff.
The next I perceive is a heavy stomach ache, followed by a strain in my hip and an extreme itch on my back.
In addition, my hair got greasy.
Also, my whole body is tense.
Every single muscle feels sore and my skin prickles.
This way the fixation is no real problem, as all it does hinder are regularly coming cramps.
According to the remains in front me, I threw up while I was out.
That would explain this terrible taste in my mouth, if not completely.
Not surprising with the way my stomach stirs.
The pain is close to unbearable and in the end, I am unable to withstand it.
Like this, I pass out again.
I dwell for some time between a half-aware state and unconsciousness.
After a while, there is just sleep.
I gain a bit of consciousness when two of those smaller insects who brought me here are taking me out of this greasy substance.
What?
That must have been my imagination.
Those things cannot speak, only weird clicking sounds.
They are carrying me.
Yet with a strange sense of caution that wasn''t present when I was initially brought here.
Soon we arrive at another opening, but my mind drifts slowly away and I fall asleep.
Chapter 4
It was all so unreal.
I wake up in some kind of bed and almost believe that I am still at home.
However, I feel too bad.
All that happened to me might have been a feverish dream, but my environment says different.
Looking around, the walls, floor, and ceiling consist of a smooth brown surface.
It is like the earth on those tunnels.
However, this is a room or rather a hall and the structure looks a bit different.
There are some of these white glowing stones embedded in the walls, so I can see rather well.
Then I realize that the bed I woke up in is more a tub, filled with some yellowish substance that doesn''t seem to cling to me.
My condition is terrible.
I feel pain in my stomach and still this fever.
Also, my wrists are tender, a bit swollen, and hurt.
The same goes for my ankles and knees.
What is going on here?
Why did those creatures make me sick, as I am very sure this sting caused that, and then they put me in a bed?
Promptly something approaches the only entrance.
It''s one of those monsters again.
It has six appendages like all the others, yet with developed claws at all the ends.
And this one seems to walk on two legs, using the midsegment at most for balance.
Also, it has a more slim build and looks in general more delicate.
There are insect-like, translucent wings sprouting out of its back and its compound eyes have something piercing.
(weird insect)
"Ieeek!" (E)
(weird insect)
"W-wh-wh-what?" (E)
This thing screeched, yet somehow I thought it would mean this.
Am I crazy?
(extremely weird insect)
More strange screams and clicking sounds, which in the end sound like this to me.
The insect stands completely calm in front of me, waiting for an answer.
(ridiculously weird insect)
This is impossible, right?
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.A giant speaking insect.
That¡¯s madness.
But I can hear it!
Or¡ feel?
I am doubting my sanity.
After all that happened, losing my mind might not be too farfetched.
Yet, I can¡¯t deny that I believe to understand this insect directly in front of me.
The only way to know if I am crazy is by causing a reaction I can relate to.
"J-just t-to con-...firm, can you... raise your left claw?" (E)
(strangely complying insect)
And she raises the left claws.
Both of them on her left.
"Th-this is not my imagination? You really did this?" (E)
(insect)
I hold my head against a headache which was the whole time present, yet now worsens with what transpires here.
The most distressing is that I know that there are just those screeches, which I can understand without a problem.
That''s what I think I do.
There is not much to hold against this after my test.
"Y-you can really u-understand me? Is tha-that right?" (E)
(Kyska)
Nurse?
A personal nurse?
Why?
Because I''m ill?
"A-am I still talking normally? I-I mean not like you?" (E)
(K)
"What... What are you talking about? Am I not going to die?" (E)
(K)
Whatever I perceive here, it feels genuinely worried about me.
"N-no. I-I meant am I not going to get ki-killed? That thing killed all the others. Am I not just fodder?" (K)
It might not be the smartest approach to mention that, yet all this is far too ridiculous as that I can let it slide.
I was convinced to get eaten here very soon.
(K)
I am confused.
This was a heavy emotional outburst.
And somehow I could feel this.
"No, I meant all the others died back then. Except me. Why?" (E)
(K)
"And what... what is with me?" (E)
(K)
"Exactly that! I was taken there, a titanic creature stung me and now an insect is calling me princess! What the hell happens here?!" (E)
(K)
"No... I mean.... queen? What... is it?" (E)
This outburst took the last of my reserves and my body rapidly loses strength.
I still have this fever and those other agonizing points.
Like the muscle pain, itching skin, and stomach ache.
Weakened like this it gets hard to keep me upright.
(K)
This insect is fast at me and tugs me carefully back into this tub with the foreign substance.
She uses her claws yet they are much softer than those of the others.
And somehow even if this insect is directly touching my body, I don¡¯t panic.
I can feel that it is truly considerate of me and has no ill intentions, in a strange way soothing my troubled mind.
I am confused.
"Why do you... call me... princess? I don''t... understand." (E)
The moment I delve a bit into that yellowish stuff I become sleepy.
It gets hard to stay awake.
(K)
With too many questions on my mind, I sleep in.
Chapter 5
I cannot really say how I slept.
Something like a dreamless sleep, yet calm and at the same time as if I had been heavily invested in something, but then forgotten.
Waking up my state is a bit better than when I initially laid down.
However, this is just relative, as I felt absolutely terrible before.
Now I feel only half that terrible.
The fever is not gone but decreased.
The itch feels less present, while it is still there.
And sore muscles need an eternity to get better, that much I learned from farm work.
My stomach is still in turmoil but calmed down a little.
Yet something at my hip behind me stings.
(K)
That startled me.
It is the same insect from before and it seems it was here the whole time.
The fact that I can talk to it and that it¡¯s apparently not hostile helps with the unusual appearance, if only a little.
"Better? Yes, I think a little bit. But what is this princess nonsense?" (E)
(K)
"E-Erys, my name is Erys. And I might be much but certainly not a princess." (E)
I mumble those words, intimidated by the fact that this is an insect in my size and it seemingly has some weird evaluation of me.
(K)
"I said I am no princess." (E)
(K)
"Wh-what? What do you mean?" (E)
(K)
I am getting anxious.
All this mad talk about me being a princess makes me extremely uneasy.
"Progressed? What progressed?" (E)
(K)
"Metamorphosis? Charge? Does that mean I''m no prisoner here? Can I go back out?" (E)
(K)
"What the hell is a metamorphosis? And why should my life be of any importance?" (E)
This all is getting far too much for me.
(K)
And this is getting annoying.
"And what does that mean? I only know that I wake up here, at a completely foreign place and... and I''m scared. Please tell me what is going on here!" (E)
My eyes tear up a little at this.
I don''t know the slightest bit what is happening.
(K)
"Me? In charge of what? And changed? I don''t understand." (K)
(K)
"Please tell me what is going on with me!" (E)
(K)
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"No, no, no! I am no princess. Not even close! This is all crazy and I am so confused." (E)
(K)
Did this insect just change the topic?
On the other hand, I haven''t eaten in a while and my stomach feels empty, besides the fact that it is stirring like crazy.
"You mean eating? I am provided food here?" (E)
(K)
I am truly terribly hungry, yet before anticipation overcomes me, I remember that these are insects.
Who knows what they will provide?
Kyska, this weird insect, is shortly leaving through the open hole in the wall.
It seems they don''t know doors here.
I consider if I should try to make a run for it but my sorry state, empty stomach, and the certainty to run directly into hundreds of these insects induce me to dismiss this idea.
A moment later she enters again with some kind of tableware.
It looks like clay or just more of this hardened earth.
She extends it to me as if I shall eat it from my position in this "bed" while she is holding it.
"Can we not go to the table?" (E)
There is something like this in this room.
More accumulations of the concrete the room is made of.
Yet it forms such a shape and stools to sit there.
There is also a bench, which is strangely some way apart from the wall, and also a smaller table, like for tea.
The room is quite spacious, yet a single one.
(K)
I am, yet I still try to raise myself.
It is hard but eventually, I manage.
"It works." (E)
Kyska is fast placing the thing on the table and then supports my body, to guide me to a stool.
It is astonishing how attentive she is.
Watching carefully for each of my steps, while making full use of all of her arms.
I sit down and take a look at what is presented there.
I purposely dimmed my hopes and that was the right decision.
There is a crude earthen pod, apparently filled with water.
But for the rest I see on the plate, there is just some accumulation of black stuff.
Yet this insect is urging me to eat.
It is dry enough that I can take the pieces with my hands.
Which is necessary, as there is no cutlery.
I take one of these and put it carefully in my mouth, half expecting that it is either poisonous or inedible.
But to my surprise, it tastes sweet.
A bit like bread or cake yet not exactly.
(K)
Again this princess stuff.
How does she come to this?
While I eat to quell my hunger, I decide to ask my questions.
"I simply don''t understand. Why do you call me princess?" (E)
(K)
She is emphatic at this, but for me, this is no answer.
"This is not making any sense! Why should something like this happen? I am a human and all of this is too much for me." (E)
(K)
"W-well, humans! That''s what I am. The main population on the entire surface. All like me." (E)
(K)
Is this talk leading anywhere?
"No. I mean similar to me! Two legs, two arms, pink or sometimes tanned skin, hair in different colors, no carapace. Humans!" (E)
(K)
By now I''ve finished my meal, as it was fairly easy to take in and wasn''t that much in the first place, taking consideration of my stirring stomach.
And now I wait uneasily for what she will say.
"Mistake? What mistake?" (E)
(K)
I am at a loss and just look at this weird insect not able to understand what it means.
With open eyes, I stare, incapable to reply in any way.
Suddenly something moves at my opened eyes, which started to get dry.
I instinctively put my hands in front of them, however, there is nothing.
Now they''re fine again.
It was more as if they were horizontally wiped from each side.
Like blinking, wrong blinking, yet I didn''t.
This is so strange.
"What was that? My eyes!" (E)
(E)
(K)
"No! I mean how?" (E)
(K)
"And because of that, they changed my eyes?" (E)
Calm down, this is crazy, yet all of this was too much since the beginning.
What are some little differences to my eyes, if I escaped certain death and worse?
I am agitated but try to soothe myself.
"Okay, my eyes are different. Could be worse. I can still see. So it''s fine." (E)
(K)
No, no, no, no! This is completely wrong.
"Wh-why you say this? I- I was stung, but nothing more excessive should happen!" (E)
(K)
My body starts to heat up.
The muscles cramp and my breath gets rigid while panic seizes me.
"Princess! Your pheromones are again disordered. Please rest, while your body adjusts." (K)
Kyska makes me stand up with her four arms.
The pain and confusion disorder me so much that I don¡¯t even consider fighting back.
Then she brings me back to the tub.
Now that I think about it, I ask myself how I didn''t drown in this stuff, yet at the same time don''t want an answer.
My body heat is rising and everything prickles like crazy.
But as soon my body enters the substance inside the tub it settles down and the temperature becomes tolerable.
"What happens here?" (E)
(K)
I feel incredibly sick.
Lying down with a high fever.
Because of that, it is very hard to keep my eyes open.
As weakened as I am I eventually fall asleep.
Chapter 6
I wake up again.
Surprisingly this tub is rather comfortable.
I am floating a little bit inside this substance.
This time I feel astonishing good.
The fever is gone and my itch settled.
Also, my stomach got a little better while my head stopped throbbing.
I see Kyska who seemingly has really just the job to stay close to me.
My throat feels sore and I need to drink something.
So I decide to ask for it, as she was rather courteous until now.
(E)
Huh?
What was that?
That didn''t sound like normal speech!?
That didn''t sound like a voice in the first place!?
(K)
She understood!?
What is going on here?
I grab my throat and try to make sounds.
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
I continue to shout out these screeches and panic more and more.
(K)
Kyska hands me a vessel of some kind, filled with liquid.
With all that happened to me, I''ve lost my trust, yet my throat won''t get better without liquid.
I take a slow sip and this is absolutely no water.
Rather it is sweet again.
Extremely sweet.
The strange thing is, I never was excessively into sweets, but now I could down it all at once.
We were never rich enough to afford them and even on occasions I would at most take a bit.
Now I could get addicted to this.
That might be a bit much to say, nonetheless, this taste is so pleasant that I don''t long for something like water and could exclusively rely on this.
In addition, this taste somehow makes me calm down and I can think straight again.
(E)
(K)
(E)
That''s how cows work. Eating grass and then they produce milk.
(K)
(E)
I hate talking with these "creaks".
I don''t even know how such a simple expression can contain any information, but Kyska understands everything perfectly.
And I do as well.
(K)
So no cows.
But this all is already so foreign that I better not dwell on it.
At least my throat got better with this fluid.
Yet this doesn''t help my voice at all.
I tried to avert my mind, but each of these sounds coming from me makes me depressed.
(E)
I am a bit teary due to this situation.
I mean I sound like those insects.
(K)
(E)
(K)
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I cannot revert the changes, but I can adjust my usage.
This isn''t perfect, but a way out.
Still, I''m very shaken.
This all is just too much.
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
Kyska is very confident about that.
As if this circumstance would be reason enough to justify absolutely everything.
Yet this isn¡¯t giving me anything.
(E)
(K)
Details?
What kind of details!?
(E)
There wasn''t anything impressive about that.
Yet for some reason, I can feel how Kyska grows excited.
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
That sounds just pitiful to me.
(K)
Somehow I feel a little insulted.
(E)
(K)
Wonderful. I am a very important servant.
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
This idea triggers me and frantic I control if there is any change to my body.
The first is apparent.
My nails blackened.
This is disturbing but neglectable.
My hair feels a bit greasy, yet not directly dirty.
Rather as if it got drenched in oil and looks glistening.
I don''t really want to know more about this and dismiss it.
Then I notice something disturbing.
My muscles feel hard.
Like really hard.
And I cannot ease them up.
My arm feels extremely firm beneath the skin when I press.
Still slightly flexible but not much.
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
This doesn''t help!
Forget it! Ignore it!
It is under your skin, so you never must see!
However, the next thing I cannot push aside.
I had constantly experienced pain in my hip, especially stinging at my back.
And now when I strobe there, I feel something.
There is some kind of bulge at the point between where my back ends and my butt begins.
It feels hard and disturbingly I perceive that it¡¯s shifting inside.
(E)
(K)
()
(K)
This insect takes it as an invitation, yet I''m too dumbfounded to protest.
I feel a touch there.
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
I tremble and grasp myself, while I start to tear up.
(K)
"SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH" (E)
(K)
This cannot be!
This cannot be!
I am a human, no insect!
I don''t grow something to create these things!
This isn''t true!
Suddenly some insects burst into the room.
Five of those normal heightened ones who brought me here and even one giant.
(worker)
(giant)
(K)
Kyska, who is apparently in charge of my surveillance is calming them down.
But now I am startled that those creatures came.
Or more, why.
They came because I screamed.
Listening to me.
Their attention was directly on me, waiting for input.
They really made me something they listen to?
I fall down on a stool and try to get all of this out of my head.
The next moment Kyska is at me.
She wipes my body which got sweaty with that panic, with some kind of...
I don''t want to know.
(K)
Somehow the "creaks" sound calming, but I''m afraid this is just one more change on me.
(E)
(K)
Not completely wrong.
If they told me the truth that is.
But lying insects would be novel.
(K)
Kyska again brings me to the tub and places me inside.
I would protest that I was barely awake, and I don¡¯t wish for anything to complete, yet I feel weak.
All of this was exhausting and mentally straining.
In addition, it seems whatever happens to my body drains on me.
So I want to sleep.
Chapter 7
I pondered what I should do now.
One could consider my position terrible.
A breeding stock for those strange creatures.
But I have some space for myself and my wellbeing is important to them.
As long I live, there is someone to produce... eggs.
This is madness!
Yet when there are eggs, this is what they want and so I shall live.
Do I want to live like that?
Making members of an insect species?
I don''t see a way to keep on, if not complying or death.
I seem to be cared for here and this could be considered positive.
This is disturbing, yet they justified even their killing.
As Kyska doesn''t even seem to know what humans are and they eat mainly this mushroom as they said, they don''t seem hostile.
At least not much.
So they can''t really be considered evil.
Also, I never heard of them before.
There were no incidents, so no reasons to despise them.
If not for the fact that I''ve got abducted and "this" happened.
But the alternative was being a slave and death.
This is not that much to hold against them.
Yet, I might at least ask for compensation.
If not for me as they seemingly are already set to give me everything I need, then for my family.
So I wake up.
(K)
I try actively to use words.
"Ieek; Iee; Ie! Hieew; hiev; heve; haeve! Ee; ea; a! ReeEEEk; reeeEkw; reequeesst!" (E)
This was terribly straining and difficult.
However, it came through as words.
These screeches are something that is driving me away from being human.
If there is even a chance to still be considered as one, then this is what I want.
(K)
This is distressing.
So I need to furthermore use those distressing screeches.
"But I''ve understood. However, you don''t need to request things. Just order." (K)
"Iee; Iet; It''s; juiieEz; just..." (E)
(K)
Sadly she is right.
Talking is incredibly hard.
As if I would blindly balance on a rope.
That it would ever feel this foreign to me.
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
It¡¯s not like she has no point.
I constantly fainted and they are rather protective as it seems.
That¡¯s no combination which grants me much freedom.
(E)
(K)
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
They are completely oblivious about that!
(K)
(E)
(K)
At this moment I become aware that none of the creatures I''ve seen until now was wearing clothes or had any kind of tool besides those attached to their bodies.
My own clothes have gotten rather ragged and barely serve their purpose.
The closest in that regard are these vessels made of earth.
They don''t know what gear is.
Should I really introduce them to this concept and maybe make them more dangerous?
What if they use that against people?
Or even start an invasion?
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
This is convincing.
They don''t need to fight the humans, as they have nothing they want.
I don''t think that this creature would plot against me, so talking shouldn''t hurt.
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
This isn''t the slightest bit assuring, considering it is the transformation of my body we are talking here about.
However, as I''ve understood it, the food has nothing to do with what happens.
My body transforms on its own.
The food simply keeps me going and so the change continues.
There are now again those mushrooms.
It might be a little bit monotonous, yet like bread, it works as a basic source of sustenance.
So I eat.
The portion is a little bigger than last time and I''m also provided this "nectar".
Kyska apparently wants me full this time.
I fear a little her intention behind this, as it surely has something to do with my body.
On the other side, it''s food.
Nothing I should stop to take in.
Also, it might be stupid to ignore those who want to keep me alive.
So I am eating what is provided.
While I am eating it comes to my mind that I''ve forgotten to ask for something different.
(E)
(K)
It is sometimes slightly exhausting to always get referred like this.
(E)
(K)
This is true in the way, that it was constantly warm down here.
However, clothes are not just about this.
(E)
(K)
Success!
I knew this approach would work.
No matter how ridiculous, when it helps me Kyska will do what she can.
I am at a point where I believe her when she tells me she cares for me.
I finish my meal.
Yet soon after that, I again start to feel weird.
My head spins, my stomach pains much more, my back strains as if it is going to rip apart.
I feel a terrible itch short above my butt and my wrists start to burn and hurt when touched.
"Screaaahhk!" (E)
(K)
(E)
I shout and become again aware of what kind of sound I make here.
Like an injured insect.
That''s exactly what I am.
(K)
Kyska insists and I also think that this tub makes me at least sleepy.
So I should go.
The substance in the tub makes the pain get better and I don''t want to leave.
In this agony, I can''t sleep well, yet as I grow exhausted, it comes closer and closer.
Finally, my consciousness fades away.
Chapter 8
My rest felt wild.
Disturbed.
As if my very being was thrown around in every direction.
Like this, I am somewhat glad to wake up again.
That''s what I thought.
At some point, my pain completely vanished.
Not just an unfinished feel that it got better.
More like directly watching how a wound closes and then you know this won''t hurt anymore.
This is how I feel now.
And so I step out of my tub.
To my surprise, I see something I didn''t expect.
(E)
Truly, in front of me stand two similar insects.
Same stature, height, color.
I think I see double but for some reason, I am sure that the right one is Kyska.
(K)
I am confused. Kyska didn''t seem like she couldn''t cope with me, yet now there is a new one.
This is not really distressing, however, I get excited in a way.
"Scrrrrrrrrrrrrrr"
(E)
There started a strange sound and I follow it to the source only to find...
(Suki)
This new one seems to be happy, while I panic internally.
Kyska shows some compassion if there is any way to note such a thing on her stiff insect face.
She already knows how I react if things like this happen.
And she is completely right!
(E)
"Three different sets! Each concentrated on another allocated space. Beautiful! They will give such a stabilized flight. Yet, they are so complicated. Even for a princess, this is uncommon. She must have good predispositions. The maintenance will be a piece of work, but don''t worry we will keep them clean and able." (S)
I note that these things apparently ripped through my shirt, which now is just kept in place by a few joints.
They are huge, yet slender.
Emerging from close down my neck to close over my hip, they are folded behind my back.
Those are only the places where they are coming out from.
They extend so far that they reach down close to my knees.
They feel strange.
I know they are there.
I could feel the breeze on them when they moved seconds ago.
And now this insect is fondling them!!!
She is very careful with the touch, yet takes each of the six pieces and moves them separately.
(E)
This sensation is crazy.
I can feel them as a part of me, but they are so foreign.
And they feel delicate.
Extremely sensitive.
Each touch is as if I get touched where I shouldn''t.
They aren''t "such" places, right?
(K)
(S)
Maintained?
I have to keep them?
I know with this feeling that they might not be easy to remove.
Furthermore, they are extending from my spine.
This is no place you should casually rip things away from.
But keeping giant insect wings?
They are translucent and don''t look bulky.
A little bit accommodating to my shape.
Yet, at the same time, this is sheer madness.
I''ve grown wings!
And they are going to maintain them?
What does that even mean?
I need to grant Suki they really do look complicated.
In terms of cleaning, I wouldn''t even know how to reach them properly.
I have to be cleaned by them, right?
This, this is disturbing.
To have to rely on the help of others, just to maintain my body.
How shall I sleep?
On my stomach, it seems.
My back is obviously no option like this.
This is again too much and I fall down on my knees.
However, I need to take a bowed posture, because otherwise, those things are scraping the ground.
(K)
Growing back!?
Well, they did grow from nothing in the first place, so what do I know?
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.Yet like this, now I surely won''t be able to get rid of them.
(E)
(S)
(K)
I really need to say you are doing a terrible job at this.
But I don''t, as they might kill themselves for failure, as committed they are to their "roles".
Have I mentioned how weird it is to get your insect wings fondled by an insect?
(K)
Suki helps me carefully back up.
She is now a bit calmer, probably to not startle me any further.
Yet suddenly...
Did this thing just touch my butt!!?
(E)
(S)
What?!
What has my butt to do with this?
Is she insane?
She looks like she has fallen out of a mesmerized daze.
I look agitated at her.
And I''ve decided they are female.
Don''t know how that applies, but they look slender and call themselves nurses.
Kyska decided also to take a look at what Suki could possibly mean.
Then she suddenly freezes in her tracks.
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
(S)
Kyska throws Suki a troubled gaze for saying things that will make me panic.
And I do!
Wings aren''t enough, but now this ominous egg stinger comes in addition?
What I''ve done to the world?
I touch at the place I''ve avoided for exactly the reason that I didn''t want to think about it.
Definitely, the bulge from before expanded.
Vast.
Hidden under those wings lies a structure.
There is something corrugated protruding out of my lower back.
There where the spine ends and my butt begins.
When I touch, this thing begins to twitch but settles down again.
I follow it in the direction it extends.
After maybe a half hand''s length it ends.
However, there is no tip.
Right where it should end there is an opening.
I manage to get a glimpse and it is of the same dark-bronze color those insect''s carapace features.
How might I look under my skin?
Curious as I am I touch the inside.
Weird is an understatement.
I feel the touch and it is slick.
It seems to be sensitive.
With this thing and the wings, I can forget chairs.
Those jokes shall ease my mind, yet I think I''m sweating buckets right now and tremble.
I really don''t want this to happen to me and cannot think about anything else.
I just want this thing to disappear, fall off, move away.
Suddenly it twitches.
This sensation brings me out of it and I panic.
My breath gets rigid and I hold my head.
And then it happens.
This protruding thing twitches, shifts, and feels just wrong.
And it rushes out.
Like a spear, it pierces out and my waist feels the tension leave.
Then I see it.
It is similar to this thing I initially was stung with, only smaller.
The compressed segments did all extend and at its end, the opening closed into a sharp thorn.
Now a very long thing is hovering there.
This is too much!
It might be even longer than me.
What do I do?
This thing moves as if it has a will of its own.
While it feels as if I can move it, it flails around and stings in different directions.
I have no control!
The two insects moved away from me in my panic.
(K)
This isn''t real!
This isn''t real!
Ignore it and it will end on its own!
(S)
How should this become worse?
I''m turning into an insect!
What do I say?
I am an insect!
With a stinger!
And I will lay eggs!
This is all too much!
Why me?!
I''ve lost my balance and fell down again.
Now I just fold myself into a ball and try to ignore how much these wings hurt in this position, all the while this stinger wreaks havoc around me, yet somehow prevents itself from piercing my body.
I close my eyes, but feel those new eyelids beneath my normal ones, again reminding me that everything is wrong.
I stay moveless and eventually the stinger stops and retracts back to its former form, where it opens the thorn.
Soon after this, I feel some touch on me but refrain from opening my eyes.
The two wings, I clamped in this position under me, get carefully freed and the pain caused by this subsides.
Then I get lifted upright into a sitting position.
(K)
I feel how my sweat-coated body gets wiped.
That happened before, still, it is startling.
This causes me to open carefully my eyes, yet only the first layer.
Those new lids stay but are translucent.
The view is like this a bit dulled, but I can see fine.
Both of these insects are right now busy doing some kind of cleaning.
I feel them wiping my body.
Last time I didn''t want to know, yet now I realize that at their rarely used middle segment of arms some kind of sponge is growing out of their claws.
They really are made to do these tasks and only that.
This is again so foreign, being cleaned in this strangely biological specified way.
Kyska takes also her time to comb my disheveled greasy hair while proceeding with the cleaning using her other arms.
Suki meanwhile fiddles with my wings.
Maybe something happened to them or so.
But then she starts to massage them in a way.
"Krrrrrrrrrr!" (E)
What was that?
That wasn''t one of these communication creaks.
This came different.
More like... a cat''s purring!
Do I purr?
(S)
It''s not my fault!
I simply didn''t know my body would react like this!
(K)
(E)
(S)
(E)
(S)
Am I now really discussing with hive creatures how to live freely?
(E)
These two are tilting their heads at me as if I am crazy.
(E)
(S)
(K)
Hard to beat that logic.
For those who love what they do, doing it must be nice.
And they are made to love it.
And like this, their society knows no inequality or mistreatment.
This is better than most humans.
However, my mind is apparently still human.
And I am glad about that.
I don''t want to lose myself.
(S)
There seems to be a difference concerning the higher-ups.
But she seems to be happy.
Chapter 9
While Kyska makes the last touches at whatever they do to nurse me, Suki brings some food.
It is the same as always, yet this isn''t a problem.
It still tastes well and they are rather urging me that I shall eat and drink.
At least it helps to calm down to nibble at those mushrooms.
(K)
This makes me distressed again.
They are all I have to cover my body.
Yet at the moment they just ineptly cover the most important places.
And this doesn''t even count wings and this "thing".
And these definitely feel like something that should be covered.
(K)
(E)
(K)
Now I feel dread.
Not only clothes from dead men, but also what they do to them.
(E)
(K)
Alright, calm down.
It''s not like they are cruel on purpose.
They haven''t planned this.
It just came so that they had some corpses to use.
(S)
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
Well, on the surface monsters exist too, why should it be different below?
(K)
Free?
I doubted they would even know this word.
(E)
(K)
It sounds a bit frightening when I remember how I initially was brought here.
Nonetheless, I should get accustomed if I want to live here.
Because to say it frankly: I grew wings and a stinger.
To live ever again normal in a human town seems a little farfetched.
And apparently, I''m not even able to maintain my own body, which is rather dejecting.
And asking mum would be a little weird in the long run.
However, having two insects with specialized bodies do it, isn''t much better.
So I should go out.
Yet, there is one problem.
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
That was asked too much, huh?
(E)
(K)
So she leaves me with the other nurse and I don''t really know how to behave in front of her.
I always have this worrying feeling that they all see me justified as a failure of a princess and like this might be hostile to such a being.
Especially as I simply don''t want any of this.
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(S)
What is refreshing, is that they don''t lie.
At least not as far I know.
You can ask a question and stay sure to get an answer.
(E)
(S)
(E)
(S)
(E)
(S)
(E)
(S)
Suki who seemed very cheerful to me, as strange as this perception is, becomes unusually serious.
(E)
(S)
(E)
(S)
(E)
(S)
(E)
(S)
I panic and my thoughts become disordered.
(E)
(S)
(E)
(S)
These intervals seem to refer to the times when I was awake and what I felt then.
(E)
I rub at my abdomen, trying to assure myself that I am fine there.
(S)
(E)
(S)
(E)
(S)
(E)
(S)
She must mean hibernation!
That means winter!
She means years!
Eight-thousand years!
(E)
(S)
Oh, good. At least not this many.
I mean I already said I would comply.
(S)
I just stare.
The number won''t go away, no matter what.
Twenty-thousand!
Twenty-thousand eggs!
What would that mean per day?
Sixty?
Maybe a bit less.
Still, she can''t be serious.
Yet, she is an insect.
Why lie to me?
I start to tremble, tears are gathering in my eyes and I only don''t scream to not make these terrible screeching sounds.
(E)
(S)
Used to it?
Laying eggs?
This is crazy!
Just madness!
What do I do?!
I won''t have a choice as she said.
It will simply happen.
This is more than I can endure.
"Princess, what is wrong? Your stress pheromones! Every entity in the vicinity is agitated." (K)
She immediately realizes that Suki is calm and like this knows more than her.
(K)
(S)
Kyska seems severely displeased.
(K)
(S)
(K)
Like I already said, you aren''t very good at comforting others.
(K)
(E)
(K)
(E)
Would I be forced to sully myself?
(S)
(E)
(S)
(K)
(E)
(K)
They... They even do that?
In fact, they do everything.
Cleaning, feeding, even this.
There is nothing I do on my own.
(E)
(S)
I guessed so.
The truth is, I''m as specialized as they are.
I only have that one function.
I hug my knees and slowly tears fall out of my layered closed eyes.
Not obstructed, as the slit is vertically in the middle.
"Sob!" (E)
I whine quietly, yet the tears are coming steadily.
(K)
Suddenly I feel some pressure around me.
Kyska is hugging me!
(E)
She is carefully stroking my hair.
(K)
This sounds strangely assuring.
Not just this proclaimed hell, where I could have been bound to a spot, forced to press them out one after the other.
I am not really over it, but I ease up a little.
Chapter 10
I was able to calm down a little.
Since there is no way to help my situation I at least want to do something to become more comfortable.
(E)
(K)
(E)
(K)
(S)
(K)
(S)
(K)
(S)
Kyska is astonishing.
Her ability to perceive and how she concludes is top.
I just wish she wouldn''t talk as if I''m not here.
Next, Kyska is settling herself opposite me at the table.
I try to start with an introduction.
"HieeEk, HiieEE, Hieeelk!" (E)
It seems because I''ve got accustomed to these creaks my ability decreased.
This will be a hard piece of work.
(K)
The one time I would wish for these creatures to lie.
"HieElk; hieell; hiell; hieellloo! Myeee; myiie; mye, my! Neeek; neEmk; neEm; neameE; namee! IeeEks, ieEtz; ies; is! EEeeryEEEs; EEerieEs; Eeryies; Eryes; Erys! Heello mye namee ies Erys!" (E)
I''m panting now.
This is really hard.
It is so prone to derail if you aren''t totally focused.
(K)
Devastating honest this insect.
"Ieeet ies ea; a biiet; biit! Buuit; buut; but mooorreee beEcauuseee peeEeopleE; peeoplee mieeeght beeEcomE; beecome sceeea;scaaeerr; scaareed." (E)
I won''t go away from this.
I made too many concessions.
My voice I want back!