When the customers come, they come in a flood. I want to emphasise that I don't use that word lightly. I have no idea how many people live in the Silver City, but I'm guessing it's something along the lines of many. Much like Freehill, home of the Folk, pretty much the entire mountain is claimed by the city, but unlike Freehill, the whole dang thing is built up. Keep in mind, these mountains make Earth mountains look like hills. Fourth stratum mountains point and laugh at Earth mountains, when they can see them due to Earth mountains being too dang short.
So how many people live here? It's a heck of a lot. There's no way this city could possibly sustain itself without portal technology. I wonder how much land in the Atreum empire is dedicated just to feeding this monstrosity? Surely there are multiple mountains they own in the fourth, along with a significant chunk of land on the surface solely dedicated to that purpose.
Surprisingly, despite the hurrying throngs, things start out pretty well. The nature of the Dome, being totally open, allows for the flow of traffic, and so long as the ants running the stalls are moving people on swiftly, there isn't a chance for a traffic jam to develop. Credit for this also goes to the excellent work done in the planning phase. The layout ensures that the most in-demand stalls are spread evenly throughout the event space and never in places that might create bottlenecks. Sloan and Eran Thouris have done excellent work.
As for me? I'm busy being beautiful. No more flopping about for me, I'm standing tall and proud. Every now and again, I flex my mandibles or send my massive antennae sweeping over the crowd, much to the delight and interest of the locals. I have to say, the most popular attraction at this event appears to be… myself.
Gweheheheh.
Not that I can blame them. My Gravity Compressed Diamond Carapace gleams with a deep and mysterious light, my eyes glow with an unfathomable purpose and my mandibles thrill with their power and sharpness. There is no finer example of the ant form than me, and since the ant form is the most superior of all the monsters, there is no finer monster than myself in all of Pangera. May as well come and get a look while you can!
To be honest, I'm kind of shocked at how comfortable the people of the Silver City are at getting close to me. Mothers come along with their children at their heels, pointing up at me as the little ones stare. Young men and women stroll along, arm in arm, whispering to each other as they look at my incredible visage. Nobody seems nervous at all. It's kind of refreshing, if I'm honest.
As I perform another broad sweep of the antennae, I spot a familiar face and decide to extend a mind bridge for a quick chat. Looking stunning only takes a small part of my mental capacity, after all, not because I have so much of it, but because being this appealing takes almost no effort.
I'm bored.
[Not sure if I expected you to show up, Mr Rathwyn. Or should that be Mage Rathwyn?]
The silver haired mage chuckles as he walks around to stand in front of me.
[A few from the Tower have come to take a look around, so I decided to join them. It isn't often we scholars are able to witness something like this. There have been many species of monster who tried to form societies, some of which still exist, but I don't think there has ever been one who acted as cooperatively as the Colony. How are my compatriots supposed to resist?]
[As long as they don't want any live samples,] I say, half-jokingly. [We arrived with ten thousand, and that's how many I'd hope to leave with.]
[We have a fairly strong board of ethics,] he responds dryly. [They don't look too kindly on kidnapping and involuntary incarceration. That wasn't always the case, mind you, but over the last three hundred years, the Tower has been on the strait and narrow.]
[That's a relief. The last thing I want is for one of my sisters to become a specimen.]
[But not you?]
[Wouldn't be the first time,] I shrug my antennae. [I'd rather it be me than them, though I'm sure they don't agree.]
"We do NOT agree," Protectant mutters from on my back.
How the heck did she sneak onto this mind bridge? Something to figure out another time.
[I've been told that monsters always turn against non-monsters eventually, particularly if the Ancients are involved,] I say casually. [Some believe another Rending is on the Horizon, the monsters of legend ready to rise and plunge the world into chaos. Isn't the Atreum empire scared to foster relations with a potential threat?]
As my line of questioning goes on, Rathwyn grows more sober, stroking his beard as he ponders his response.
[I could answer that question from a few different perspectives. Does the Atreum Empire believe another cataclysm is imminent? Probably not. Do they view the Colony as a threat? Probably not. There are those who have been preparing to fight the Ancients themselves. What's one ant Colony in the face of that?] He holds up a hand to halt any quick response from me as he continues to think. [Personally, I don't think there is any safe or easy way to eliminate ant monsters, which has been shown throughout history. Exterminating them is always difficult, always painful. Your Colony would be an even worse opponent.
[Now, to answer for myself. I am indeed worried that the recent waves are indicating another Rending may be on the way. I am also worried that the Colony will turn against their allies, making our survival less likely, which means I find it difficult to support this trade alliance, considering the profits, in the form of cores, will strengthen your family considerably.]
Huh.
[That's refreshingly honest of you,] I tell him. [I'm not sure how it's all going to shake out either, but I really don't think the Colony is going to be all that susceptible to the Ancients.]
[Until you meet one, who can say?] Rathwyn shrugs. [Although, I have to admit, I feel a little more reassured after meeting you, Anthony. As you suspect, the contact of our minds gives me more information than it would to most, which is why I hold the post that I do.]
[I knew it.]
[If you would be so kind, I would love to hear more of your thoughts on the matter of the Dungeon and our future. Someone in your position is bound to have a unique perspective, one that we don't get to hear very often.]
[An ant perspective? I suppose not. Aside from me, have you ever spoken to one before?]
[I haven't, but that's not what I meant.]
[Oh?]
I swear he has a twinkle in his eye as he strokes that beard with one hand.
[I meant, as a former human, reborn in the Dungeon as a monster.]