CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Loud-breaking noises resounded in the vast land of the marsh. Trees fell and the earth was molded into their preference. Alex's power came to use. Belle prepared the soft cushions for everyone to sleep on, bulked in a side where she can separate herself from the class because of her unique task.
Von decided to make the house look like a dormitory, with full house parts – living room, bedrooms, comfort rooms as well as a function hall, where they can meet up and lay out plans for their missions.
Kent released the bees where they can spread abundance not just in their territory, but to wherever they want to settle. Kent managed to separate the clan into pieces where she assigned its own little queen for them to serve.
A yellow swarm covered the sky as if it was sunset in the middle of the day. Even with the presence of the creatures of the hive as well as the transformed human from the class, there isn't much of a job that they can finish because of the other factors that hinder them.
"We can't carry all of this." Said, Ivan.
"Yeah, I also realize that we lack heavy manpower. If we are to finish this at a pace where we can rest early." Said Lyka.
Kent heard the honest qualms of the class and realized that it was true. Even with the guard bees and the butterfly soldiers, there isn't enough of them to help. Christian tried to reach his termites, but can only be of help when they are tasked to the ground.
Footsteps sounded, "Kent?" approached Belle.
"How's the task of making the literal comfort?" Kent joked to her.
"It's good. I can really feel that I also have a vital part of this." Belle replied.
"That's good to hear. So, what was it?" Kent continued.
"We still have the syringe from the ant queen, right?" Belle asked.
That's right! Kent thought. Ants are capable to carry weights more than their own sizes, with their monstrous traits, these creatures are even more! Kent's mouth grew wide, elated in the sudden rush of thoughts.
"Why did I never think of that?" Kent exclaimed.
Belle smiled, "Maybe you're just preoccupied. I know how hard it is for you to become someone that we rely on so much."
"Responsibility, huh?" Kent muttered. "I don't think so. Going into this new world opened so much from me but not responsibility. If I was, then I wouldn't have to lose the hive nor the abduction of Christian."
Belle moved closer towards Kent, "Responsibility doesn't just sprout in accident. You plant it and nourish it. That way, you can sow and make use of something that you worked hard for."
"What do you mean?" asked Kent.
"It only means one thing. You are a responsible person. You may not know it, but you are and you were, even in the past. And about Christian, no one can ever be responsible for something that he/she doesn't have control over. Ranthi was here before us, she knows how this world works which we don't. You can't blame yourself for that. As a matter of fact, you haven't seen yourself summon thousands of soldiers in the sky where it concluded the battle between you and the ant queen. You were absolutely incredible! None of us could do that!" Belle reasoned.
Kent smiled, "Thank you, Belle. I did not think I could hear such comforting words from someone who always chooses to be silent when we have meetings in the past."
"Well, I guess this world changed me," Belle said, looking at the vast turquoise sky.
They both hugged each other as they gave one another the warm feeling of having someone who you can rely on.
"But who do we give the syringe to?" Kent asked.
"I think I know someone," Belle replied.
Little by little, the class started to materialize the home they planned to live into. Jessie and Lyka prepared their food and for the first time, a beverage that isn't water.
Kent gathered everyone at the center and rest for a little bit as they have partaken in the delicious dinner in front of them. A variety of food that was not present in the past world.
"Ugggghh!" a thirst-quenching sound resounded at the table made of wood, that was just made.
"Wait! How did you make this?" asked almost everyone, who just tasted a new drink.
"The butterfly queen said that this particular fruit can be made into a flavored drink if peeled properly." Said Jimmy.
Everyone looked at each other with their blank faces.
"And by that fruit you meant?" asked Ivan.
"Yes." Jimmy smiled awkwardly.
"But, that's a one, foul-smelling fruit. We can't even consider it a fruit. It looked like orange but black in color. There's so much it in the marshland, but when we are near its tree, even from a distance, you can really smell how awful it is." Ivan grossed.
"We call that fruit arua, yes, it is indeed true that it has a very strong scent. But when peeled, the fruit was very, and I can see that you enjoyed it too." The butterfly queen looked at them with a smile, enjoying the drink they labeled as foul.
"Thank you for sharing this with us –" Kent couldn't continue. "Wait, we don't know your name."
The butterfly queen smiled after she sipped beautifully the juice from a glass made from hardened nectar. "Tella. That's my name. I'm sorry I did not introduce myself in the past."
Kent looked at her, mesmerized by her beauty again. Her face straightly came from a fairytale, that's for certain, Kent thought. She looked around her and noticed that she was not alone, admiring the beauty in front of them.
"Wait, what about the names of the other queens?" interrupted Christian, who sat beside Tella, still lowkey longing for wings like hers.
"The ant queen's name was Krey and the other was Nein." Answered Tella.
Kent looked at the butterfly queen again, "We will help you in all the ways we could do, bringing the abundance in all the marshland."
"I know you would do that. It's funny, but it's been so long since we last tasted food this delicious. My people are very happy." Said Tella happily.
Everyone smiled and continued to eat. After eating, Kent said that they should select the one who will inherit the ant queen's power. Which turned the little celebration full of laughter and chattering into a soundless gathering.
"This may be sudden, but the ant soldiers can be of use to us. We might have fought and killed a number of them, but there are still a number of them alive, scattered and roaming around the marshland without a queen." Announced Kent.
"Belle said that she wants to nominate someone that she knows can handle the job. Not just any job, but a job that can greatly contribute and make use of the power that was bestowed to us, making our lives easier for us and the creatures around us." Kent continued.
Kent signed Belle to come to the front and share it with the class. Belle immediately stood up and walked towards Kent, giving everyone the thrill of who will be the next ant queen.
Belle let out a sigh, "I don't know if you think my thoughts are credible but I think we should give a chance to become the ant queen to Emily."
Everyone was silent. Emily the most. Her face looked like she got a delivery that wasn't hers – completely awestruck by the sudden turn of events.
"Why me?" she said, confused.
"I don't know. I just see you as someone who is fierce and strong. In the past, you also have the ability to lead and suggest things that can benefit the greater good." Belle explained.
Kent realized that Belle was right, Emily was the kind of person. "Can you do it, Emily?" asked Kent.
Emily stood up, "I will." She said confidently.
Everyone cheered as they celebrated the birth of the new ant queen. Kent immediately handed the syringe to Emily and injected it. Emily writhe in pain, but soon transformed into a being with charisma and strength. Emily grew into a reddish humanoid ant with just four limbs - two arms and feet, each of her arms with a sharp dagger. She also grew antennae and her pupils turned into black. She grew long, auburn hair that seemed full of passion and strength. Emily stopped for a moment, looking at herself.
"I look like you." Emily looked at Kent who was just beside her, smiling.
"You do, these butts are huge." Kent laughed. Emily too. Everybody did.
"You don't look like the past ant queen at all," Alex said.
They nodded. "Why don't you try it?" Kent said.
Emily tried to send signals to her soldiers and she immediately knew they responded. The grounds soon crumble as ant soldiers heeded their queen's command to go where she is. Everybody looked at the gigantic ants erupted from almost all of the sides of where they ate.
"Wow, that's reassuring." Jimmy joked.
Emily commanded the ants to help with the building and they soon carried the blocks of hardened nectars as well as the wooden planks from the trees around them.
Full and joyous of the new queen's birth, they all continued to build the home they needed.