Lancelot and Isla walked through the tunnels, the glow of bioluminescent fungi spreading across the dirt packed walls around them.
For several moments, neither of them spoke.
Isla's lips trembled.
"Lance..."
"What?"
Lancelot asked without looking back.
Isla lowered her gaze.
"Do you think Ari's really gone?"
Lancelot's jaw tightened.
"I don't know."
He exhaled through his nose.
"But he wasn't with Beatrice's squad when they came back from the southern craters. So... yeah. Something's off."
Isla's voice grew quieter.
"Whenever there was a threat to us or the colony, he was always the one who found a way to keep everyone safe."
She clenched one hand.
"And now he's the one in danger, and he's..."
Isla stopped speaking.
She closed her eyes.
Lancelot halted and turned toward her.
"So you're already giving up on him, huh?"
Isla's eyes opened.
She looked up at him.
"What do you mean?"
Lancelot folded his arms.
"Knowing him, I'd bet he's still out there somewhere, fighting to stay alive."
A small smirk appeared on his face.
"That idiot doesn't know how to quit."
He shook his head.
"So have a little faith in him, would you?"
Isla wiped at the corner of her eye.
"You're right."
She looked down at the ground.
"Listen... I know this might sound selfish, but..."
She hesitated.
"I might need your help."
Lancelot's eyes widened slightly.
"Really?"
He blinked.
"Help with what?"
Isla raised her head.
"I was planning to go into the southern forests to look for Ari, but..."
She placed a hand against her chest.
"I'm not strong enough on my own."
She swallowed.
"I know I'm weak. I've never done anything worthy of being called a soldier."
Her voice trembled.
"But I really want to save him."
She drew in a shaky breath.
"Because I know he'd do the same for me."
For a moment, Lancelot stared at her.
Then he smiled.
"It's like you read my mind."
"Yeah, that's a no-no."
The voice came from behind them.
Both of them turned.
Lily walked toward them with her hands clasped behind her back.
"Corporal Lily..."
Isla took a small step backward.
"If you leave the colony without authorization to go on some selfless quest to save Ari, you're both going to get punished."
She hopped forward three steps.
"Then what are we supposed to do?" Lancelot asked.
"Nothing."
Lily smiled.
"Stay put and get some rest."
She tilted her head.
"Okay?"
"But..."
A grin spread across her face.
"I guess I can tell you everything I know about what happened."
She chuckled.
"You want to hear it, right?"
"Yes," Isla said immediately.
"Okay, then."
Lily turned around.
"Follow me."
She skipped down the tunnel.
Lancelot and Isla exchanged a glance.
Then they followed after her.
Moonlight spread across the colony, casting sharp shadows along the tunnel walls and the stone ridges on the surface.
On the eastern side of the training ground, large boulders sat in uneven rows.
Along the colony's outer perimeter, patrol soldiers stood at fixed intervals, maintaining their watch in the the cool night air.
Valeria walked slowly through the tunnels.
Beatrice followed a step behind, her hands held close to her sides as she stared ahead.
I should've gone after him... but I prioritized the safety of the squad.
She lowered her head.
It was the right choice. But... did I leave Ari behind when he needed me?
What if... he doesn't come back at all?
She drew in a slow breath.
When they reached the colony's main entrance, Valeria stopped.
Beatrice halted behind her.
The thoughts running through her mind scattered.
"Captain..."
Valeria didn't turn immediately.
She crossed her arms.
"Explain."
Beatrice straightened.
Her throat tightened.
"I... Captain, I tried to stop him from running off, but Ari..."
"That wasn't my question."
Valeria turned, her eyes narrowing.
"Do you know why he broke formation?"
Workers moved along the path behind them, each offering a quick, respectful nod before continuing on.
Beatrice's lips trembled.
"I... I don't know."
Valeria said nothing.
Beatrice swallowed.
"He was badly injured. He kept drifting in and out of consciousness. It was like he was reacting to a voice only he could hear."
Valeria lowered her gaze for a moment.
"He sensed something."
"Yes. At first, I thought he was just injured and disoriented. But then he muttered something under his breath."
Valeria looked at her.
"What did he say?"
Beatrice hesitated.
"He said, 'Who are you?' Then he suddenly took off. He moved so fast we barely saw him before he disappeared deeper into the forest."
Valeria was quiet for a moment.
"...He's always been reckless."
Her voice grew quieter.
"But never without a reason."
Beatrice lowered her head.
Her antennae angled toward her cheeks.
"I should've gone after him."
She clenched her hands.
"If something happens to him... that's on me."
"No."
Beatrice looked up.
"You made the right call. You kept your squad safe."
Her mouth parted slightly.
"You didn't do anything wrong, Beatrice. If anyone's to blame, it's that reckless fool."
The tension in Beatrice's shoulder eased.
A sudden burst of armored footsteps clattered across the surface above them, the sound echoing down into the entrance tunnel.
Valeria lifted her gaze toward the noise.
"What is all this commotion?"
She and Beatrice turned as two soldiers rushed toward them.
The first soldier stopped abruptly, his breathing uneven.
"Captain. Corporal Beatrice. There's movement outside the colony."
The second soldier snapped into a salute.
"A large group of insects is approaching the main entrance. Multiple unknown signatures. Ants are among them."
"Unknown?" Valeria asked.
"Captain," the soldier said, lowering his voice, "they're unlike anything we've seen before. Their wings have vivid colors, and their exoskeletons have unusual natural patterns."
Valeria drew in a slow breath.
"Alert all available soldiers."
She paused.
"Form a perimeter. No one engages without my command."
"Yes, Captain!"
The two soldiers pivoted sharply and broke into a sprint.
Their armored footsteps struck the packed earth in rapid succession before fading into the distance.
Shouts spread through the tunnel network.
Voices overlapped.
Orders echoed through the passageways.
"All squads to the surface!"
Valeria didn't hesitate.
"Beatrice. You're coming with me."
Beatrice placed a hand on the hilt at her side.
"Yes, Captain."
Soldiers poured in from connecting tunnels, all moving toward the entrance.
When they emerged into the moonlit clearing outside the colony, cool air brushed against their faces.
Beatrice stopped.
Her antennae lifted sharply.
"What... are those?"
Valeria remained still, her eyes narrowing.
Just as I thought...
"Butterflies..."
She took a step forward.
When I was a child, my father used to tell me about their brightly colored wings and intricate patterns. Even so... this is the first time I've ever seen one with my own eyes.
Why are they here?
The ants ahead stood in two defensive lines, shoulder to shoulder.
Mandibles raised.
The butterflies continued forward at a steady pace.
Ignatia stood at the front.
The group of butterflies advanced behind her.
"Halt!"
Sergeant Cassian stepped out from the front line.
His mandibles remained lowered, but ready.
"None of you take another step."
His voice echoed across the clearing.
"Identify yourselves."
The ranks of ants tightened behind him.
"Oh my... what a welcome."
Seraphina smiled.
"I expected nothing less from your colony, servant."
She tilted her head slightly.
"But if they actually believe they stand a chance against me... that's another matter entirely."
A sharp glint flashed in her blue eyes.
"You're really not helping."
Ari let out a quiet breath as he stepped forward from the butterfly group.
"And stop calling me your servant."
Valeria moved up beside Cassian.
Her voice remained calm.
"That's far enough."
Her gaze locked onto Ignatia.
"This territory belongs to Queen Celeste. If you've entered her domain without just cause..."
She paused.
"...then we'll be forced to take action."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Ignatia's red eyes narrowed.
"We did not come here to wage war..."
Her voice lowered.
"...unless your kind insists on it."
Several soldiers instinctively stepped back.
Their shoulders stiffened, and their mandibles trembled in their grasp.
Valeria let out a sharp breath and crossed her arms.
"And how exactly do you plan to do that?"
She glanced toward the soldiers behind her.
"Walk straight through over two hundred of our soldiers?"
"If they stand in our way, I will cut them down and carve a path."
Ignatia closed her eyes.
Silence settled over the clearing for a brief moment.
"But needless slaughter serves no purpose..."
She opened her eyes.
"...unless you force my hand."
Valeria smirked.
"Funny."
She tilted her head slightly.
"I was told butterflies were regal, rational, peaceful insects."
Her gaze hardened.
"Yet you lack every quality worthy of a monarch."
A muscle twitched near Ignatia's eye.
She drew in a slow breath.
"A monarch who lives on the battlefield does not cling to the illusion of peace."
Seraphina chuckled.
"Just admit it, sister. She's right. She saw through your brutish nature immediately."
Ignatia turned her glare toward Seraphina.
Her jaw tightened.
"Every sound that leaves your mouth is meaningless, Seraphina."
She paused.
"Try remaining silent for once."
"You will not insult my monarch."
Nytheris stepped forward.
His stance shifted, and his gaze locked onto Valeria.
The thorned whip slid free from its sheath.
Valeria drew both mandibles from her sides.
The metal caught the moonlight in a pale flash.
"If you truly believe you can cut through our army..."
She lowered her stance.
"...then step forward and prove it."
Ari looked from one side to the other, his mouth parting slightly.
How did this even get to this point? I need to stop them.
He moved quickly, stepping between the two groups.
"Alright, enough."
He raised a hand.
"Everyone, just hold on for a second."
The surrounding soldiers hesitated and lowered their mandibles.
Beatrice's jaw loosened.
Her eyes widened.
"Ari... y-you're alive..."
Her gaze dropped across his body.
"And your wounds..."
Valeria said nothing.
Ari turned toward her and forced a smile.
"Uh... Captain..."
A faint smirk spread across her face.
"I see."
She held his gaze.
"So you survived."
Ari froze.
He straightened and took a step back.
"Um... Valeria... what exactly do you mean by that?"
"I'm glad you survived but... you're going to regret it."
She drew in a slow breath.
"I'm going to kill you myself."
The color drained from Ari's face.
She means that. Every word of it. I'm dead.
"Looks like my servant's in trouble."
Seraphina rested a hand against her chin.
"Do you want my help? I'll offer it..."
A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"...if you beg on all fours."
"As if I'd ever stoop that low!"
Ari shouted.
This is getting out of hand... What am I supposed to do?
His thoughts stumbled as he looked from the butterfly sisters to the rows of ant soldiers.
Then a soft, amused chuckle drifted from behind the butterfly formation.
"Well now..."
The voice carried through the clearing.
"This night became interesting much sooner than I expected."
Brooks stepped into view.
His squad followed behind him in a tight formation.
Lieutenant Brooks...? What's he doing here?
Beatrice's antennae twitched.
Valeria turned toward him.
Her antennae snapped upward in a sharp, controlled motion.
"Lieutenant."
Her voice hardened.
"Explain yourself."
Brooks's eyes narrowed by the slightest degree.
He raised one hand, just enough for every soldier to catch the gesture.
"Stand down, soldiers."
He paused.
"That is an order."