I watched the battle unfold with a keen interest, using all of the senses at my disposal to follow the goings on. As large as I am, it wasn't really practical for me to shove myself forward and block up the tunnel, I'd destroy the formation I was trying to inspect!
So I fall back on my more esoteric options, such as the Vestibule.
Despite what Solant may think, tracking one ant's flow of Will through the glittering organ isn't nearly the same as mind reading. It's not even like I'm following the path of their thoughts. More like… I'm getting a stream-of-consciousness flow of their wants and goals. It's Will, after all, not thoughts.
This is why it can be so difficult for me to separate myself from the Will of the Colony at times. When a hundred thousand or more individuals all want the same thing, all willing for it to occur, that becomes a very difficult impulse for me to resist!
At any rate, the battle is travelling extremely smoothly, which pleases me. What Solant needs to grow and develop as a Champion is very different than what the last two needed.
As a general, there's only one way for her to improve, and that's to be out and about generalling! And she needs to be in charge of her own battles, because putting her under the regular generals will just stifle her creativity!
The troops continue to rotate every four hours, including the little general's broodmates, coming in and out of the front with the rest of the troops, but Solant remains at the coalface, working her little thorax off until the very last minute.
When the full twelve hour shift is done, she comes back along with the last set of troops, exhausted, but clearly pleased with herself.
"You look happy. It all went well then?" I ask.
She considers seriously before replying, as is her habit.
"It went satisfactorily," she demurs, "there are many areas I can still improve, and with more time to work with the troops, I'm sure we can reach a much higher level of performance."
"I wouldn't worry about that too much," I mutter, watching the ants stroll past.
After being exposed to the unique charisma of a Champion, there's no doubt this lot will be all too happy to join the eventual army that will form around Solant. She'll have all the time she needs to whip them into shape.
"Regardless, you'll be back here tomorrow, and every day for the next week, for that matter. You've got to continue to develop your Skills and ideas, and the only way I know to make you do that is to shove you into battles over and over again. Don't worry, though, I'll be hanging around the whole time, so things can't go all that wrong! Rest assured!"
This is absolutely not a scheme to get more rest and relaxation for myself. Not at all.
"So you should just go back and get some rest," I continue, "you must be exhausted after twelve hours of directing the fighting."
Solant looks at me like I'm crazy.
"I've got four hours left before mandatory torpor and an almost unlimited number of things to do before tomorrow. What about the review? Or the brainstorm discussion? Five items of improvement? We need to drill! At least four rounds of drills! I have a hundred formation adjustments I want to make, and a list of things to discuss with the core shapers!"
"Uhhhh."
But… rest?
"I guess… you go for it. I'll be over here if you… if you need me, I suppose."
Not needing any further encouragement, Solant speeds off to gather her faithful and loyal nineteen broodmates together for an intense session of antennae thwapping and waggling. After thirty minutes of this, they rush off to gather the off-duty shifts, and soon enough, I'm treated to the sight of the little general running the ants through their paces.
It looks… tiring.
When the heck is she going to be done?!
She said she had four hours until her mandatory torpor and she uses every little bit of it to keep training with the troops until her time runs out. Before the shadows can begin to materialise, she sprints back to her resting chamber along with the rest of her sisters and I'm sure they waste no time getting themselves to sleep.
For my part, I stand and stretch. I've got an eight hour break from babysitting, so I might as well go and make myself useful.
[Come on, you three. Let's go and fight something. I don't think I'll need you tomorrow, so you may as well stay out and get some Levels.]
[Are you sure, Master?] Crinis is clearly reluctant.
[Yes I'm sure. If I could, I'd tell you to stay out until you reached max Level!]
[Noooo.]
She clings to my carapace and I swear I feel my organs constrict. Better not to think about it.
[Go on, get!] I shoo the blob of endless nightmares away, and she reluctantly peels herself off my carapace and vanishes into the shadows.
Tiny is long gone at this point, Invidia drifting along behind him. At their current level of evolution, they're stronger than any ant out there, with the possible exception of Vibrant, and me, obviously, but when they evolve again, some new powerhouses will be introduced to the family.
I can hardly wait.