The entrance opened beneath a ridge of black stone.
Warm air drifted slowly through the cavern. Drops of water fell from the ceiling, striking the ground in a steady rhythm.
The walls were smooth in some places and jagged in others, their surfaces coated with a thin layer of moisture.
Threads of silk stretched across the passage.
They clung to armor and wings alike, sticking to fingers whenever they were brushed aside.
Farther in, the ground softened beneath each step.
The narrow passage gradually widened into a large chamber.
Dozens of moths moved across the floor.
The quiet rustle of their wings filled the caverns.
At the center stood a natural rise of hardened stone.
Magnus sat atop it with his wings folded behind his back and his eyes closed.
A small group of moths landed before him.
"Lord Magnus," one of the moths said. "Everything is going according to plan. The Moonveil Blossom is in her possession. We'll recover it in a few days on the night of the full moon, when the flower reaches the height of its power."
Magnus leaned back against the stone seat and slowly opened his eyes.
What exactly is she planning...?
No matter. Every move she makes only brings her closer to the ending I've already chosen.
He picked up a resin cup and gave its contents a slow stir.
A drop of nectar slipped over the rim and fell onto the stone below.
"I acknowledge your efforts, Hawks," Magnus said. "So she intends to keep her end of the bargain. Just as I expected. Everything is falling into place. Soon, the ultimate power will be mine."
Magnus raised the resin cup to his lips.
"And what of Vorn and his moths? The ones I sent after that Monarch and her remaining guardians. I left her wounded. He should've returned by now."
Hawks' jaw tightened.
"Well... you see..." he said. "There's been a report from the only survivor."
Magnus stared at him.
"A single ant held them off long enough to protect the War Monarch. Then another Monarch arrived... and slaughtered them all."
The resin cup cracked in Magnus' grip.
Nectar spilled and splattered across the stone with a sticky hiss.
Silence settled over the chamber.
Then darkness spread outward from Magnus' body.
The ground began to shake beneath everyone's feet.
Loose pebbles rattled across the floor.
Hawks and the other moths instinctively stepped back.
Their eyes widened, and the color drained from their faces.
One of them swallowed hard, while another stared at Magnus without daring to blink.
"Lord Magnus..." Hawks said.
"I see... so one ant managed to survive an aerial assault. At most, it must be a lieutenant."
"And the Salus Monarch finally came out of hiding..."
"Hmph... it seems the War Monarch has allies after all."
Magnus rested his chin on one hand.
"If both sisters stand together, along with a colony we know nothing about, this could become troublesome."
His golden eyes began to glow.
"We attack tomorrow at dusk."
He looked at Hawks.
"Inform her. Our plans have changed."
"Right away, my lord," Hawks said.
Hawks disappeared into the tunnel's darkness, followed by the other moths.
The sound of their wingbeats gradually faded until only the steady drip of water echoed through the cavern.
Magnus watched their silhouettes vanish into the darkness.
"An ant... huh?"
The sound of the wind faded.
It was replaced by the sharp clap of chalk against a blackboard, the faint hum of a ceiling fan, and the steady tapping of a pen against a desk.
The air felt heavier, almost still.
Ari blinked.
The room around him was bright and familiar, sunlight spilling across worn desks and scratched wooden floors.
His classmates' voices drifted through the classroom in small bursts of laughter, quiet gossip, the crumpling of paper.
Ari sat near the window, half listening, half lost in thought.
Keiko leaned over from the next desk, a few strands of hair slipping forward as she glanced at his notebook.
"You forgot your lunch again?" she asked.
Ari didn't answer right away.
His pencil continued tracing small lines along the edge of the page.
"I wasn't hungry," he said quietly.
His stomach growled.
Keiko raised an eyebrow.
"Your dad's not home, right?"
"Don't worry about it."
He looked away.
Keiko watched him for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
She reached into her bag, pulled out a pack of melon bread, tore it in half, and slid one piece onto his desk.
"You always say that," she said. "Here. Eat it, or I'll tell the teacher you've been spacing out all morning."
Ari hesitated.
His fingers slowly closed around the bread.
A faint blush spread across his cheeks as he lowered his eyes.
"Thanks," he said.
Keiko smiled to herself without looking at him.
"You could at least try to sound like you mean it."
"Miss Matsuoka..."
The teacher stood at the front of the room with her arms folded.
Keiko jolted upright.
"Um... I'm sorry," she said with an awkward smile.
"Aww... aren't you cute, Kei? Taking care of Igarashi again?" another girl asked with a grin.
"Hey... knock it off," Keiko said, her cheeks warming.
The classroom's gentle hum began to blur.
The sunlight stretching across the floor slowly faded, its edges dissolving into shadow.
Ari turned.
The seat beside him was empty.
His lips parted.
The name caught in his throat.
What is this...?
The desks, the voices, everything dissolved into the sound of the wind once more.
"Keiko..."
A sudden wet, soft sound drifted through the darkness.
Ari's chest shuddered as something brushed over his arm, moving slowly across his exoskeleton.
A warm, slick sensation slid over the hardened surface.
His antennae twitched.
His muscles tensed, struggling to respond, but his body refused to move.
Another damp touch passed over his shoulder, sending a shiver through him.
His eyelids fluttered open.
What is this feeling...?
His vision slowly came into focus.
Seraphina was leaning over him.
Her tongue moved across his exoskeleton.
"Huh?!"
Ari's eyes flew open.
Wh What is happening...?
Heat rushed to his face.
Seraphina paused and tilted her head, watching his reaction.
"So you're finally awake, ant," she said. "I was beginning to think you'd died."
Ari swallowed hard.
His chest rose and fell unevenly.
His gaze darted around the forest before settling back on her.
The warmth in his face only deepened.
He quickly covered his face with one hand.
Seraphina shifted and straightened.
Ari cautiously lowered his hand.
His eyes caught her silhouette for only a moment before he immediately looked away again.
Get a hold of yourself...
She's just an insect. Just an insect.
A beat of silence passed.
But... why was she licking me?
Ari turned toward Ignatia.
His mouth parted.
No way...
Her exoskeleton was smooth and whole.
Every trace of damage had vanished.
No cuts.
No bruises.
Not even the faintest line where a wound had once been.
She sat on a nearby rock.
"Your wounds..." he said, his voice rough.
Ignatia's antennae shifted once.
"Seraphina healed them."
She turned to him.
"She treated your injuries, too."
Ari lowered his gaze to his chest, then his arms, shoulders, and legs.
"What... but... how?"
"You know," Seraphina said, her eyes narrowing, "apart from my sisters, you're the only other insect I've ever used my ability on. You should be grateful."
She folded her arms.
"My saliva has healing properties. That's what closed your wounds."
She slowly ran her tongue across her lips.
Ari went completely still.
A second later, both hands shot into the air.
I've never even had a girlfriend, and now this... What would Keiko think if she found out?!
"Now then..." Seraphina said. "I haven't introduced myself, have I?"
She rested a hand against her chest.
"I am Seraphina, one of the three High Monarchs of our Kaleidoscope."
Her voice remained calm.
A faint smile rested on her lips.
"I owe you my thanks for protecting my useless sister. Had you not stepped in, she would have died before I arrived. Consider healing you my way of returning the favor."
"I heard that," Ignatia said.
"I... see."
Ari hesitated before pushing himself to his feet.
"I'm Lance Corporal Ari. It's nice to meet you."
He stepped toward her.
"Don't get the wrong idea."
His foot stopped midstep.
"Huh?"
"I appreciate what you did," Seraphina said, "but don't mistake that for us being equals."
Her chin lifted slightly as her gaze traveled over him before drifting elsewhere.
Ari's jaw tightened.
She's... confusing. First she puts her tongue on me, and now she's acting like nothing happened. Is she messing with me? And what's with that attitude...? Does she have some kind of superiority complex?
He let out a slow breath.
"If you don't mind me asking... why were the moths attacking you, Ignatia?"
Ignatia's antennae stiffened.
"Who gave you the right to address me by my name?"
Ari instinctively stepped back.
"Right... sorry."
Silence settled between them.
Ignatia closed her eyes.
"I suppose I owe you that much since you saved my life."
She folded her arms.
A quiet breath left her lips.
"We were ambushed in the meadows west of this forest. A large force of moths overwhelmed most of my guardians. I fought their leader, Magnus, but after I was wounded, I had no choice but to retreat. He sent his minions after me..."
She paused.
"...and the few who survived."
"So..." Seraphina said, a faint smile touching her lips. "The great War Monarch of the Kaleidoscope actually retreated from battle."
She faced Ignatia.
"I imagine your guardians were quite surprised to see their proud Monarch turn her back."
A brief silence followed.
"Then again..."
Her voice stayed even.
"...it's nothing new. You've always been weak."
A vein throbbed along Ignatia's forehead.
The nerve...
She drew in a controlled breath.
"A tactical withdrawal isn't defeat."
"Ordinarily, no."
Seraphina's wings shifted once.
"But judging by the state I found you in... and the fact that the flower was taken from your possession..."
She scoffed.
"I beg to differ."
"You had one task, and you failed... so much for the most feared butterfly."
Ignatia lowered her head.
Her teeth ground together.
"You think I don't know that?"
Her fist trembled.
"You think I'd run away empty handed because I was afraid?"
She clenched her hand even tighter.
"My first thought was to hide it. But by the time I reached the hiding place..."
Her voice hardened.
"...it was already gone."
Seraphina blinked once.
"I expected no less from that fiend."
A quiet breath escaped her.
"He's not only powerful... he's clever enough to plan several moves ahead."
Um... I'm confused.
Ari glanced between the two sisters.
What flower are they talking about? Why is it so important?
His antennae suddenly twitched.
The sound of wings cut through the air overhead.
A group of butterflies descended into the clearing.
One of the four stepped forward as soon as they landed.
His black hair stirred in the breeze as he bowed deeply before Ignatia.
"Monarch Ignatia... I'm relieved you're safe."
"Nytheris," Ignatia said.
Her shoulders eased slightly.
"So you survived as well... and without a single injury."
A brief pause followed.
"What became of my guards?"
Nytheris slowly raised his head.
"Unfortunately... most of them fell trying to fight their way to you."
"I see," Ignatia said quietly.
She closed her eyes for a brief moment before taking a slow breath.
"Their sacrifice will not be forgotten."
Her voice steadied.
"We'll honor them by finishing what we started."