Kaede led the way into the dimly lit meeting chamber. The large, circular table in the center of the room was flanked by various stone seats. As they settled around the table, the queens took their place near the edge, their towering figures still imposing even in this more enclosed space. Solum stood off to the side, while Acer, already comfortable, perched herself at the table's center, eager for the discussion to begin.
Kaede took a deep breath, trying to focus her thoughts on the matter at hand. "Ari mentioned asking you previously for a lay of the land?" she said, her voice calm but firm.
Aurina nodded. "Indeed she did. We sent various scouts, mapping the area around the three colonies. We decided on my colony as it had the most resources." She activated a hive link, connecting her mind to Kaede's, as she projected the visualised map of the areas.
Kaede nodded before closing her eyes and extending her hand. A blue light shone, leaving a black box on her palm. She dropped the box on the table and a hologram came to life.
The hologram showed a 3D view of the three colonies and the lands between. "I see, the area we have to work with is quite large but it's also wild and untamed. I like the location you've picked. We'll need to clear the land, are any of you good with building houses?"
Crimara tilted her head, her antenna twitching as she asked. "Houses?"
Kaede didn't bother answering, instead projecting the information into their minds.
This time Hachi was the one who spoke up. "Why would we need those, our tunnels are perfectly fine..."
"No one is living in any tunnels." Kaede said with a tone so final that Acer actually froze for a moment.
Crimara tapped the table lightly with her clawed fingers, her crimson eyes narrowing as she considered Kaede's declaration. "Above ground structures... That's quite the departure from our nature, Master." she paused, her tone measured, "But..."
Kaede folded her arms. "That was when you were just an ant. You're an Antari now, you have a name, you're a person now. A member of the family. You will not live in tunnels, and neither will your colonies, I plan on naming all of them and evolving them to Antari."
A silence so loud it was deafening engulfed the entire chamber. Then instantly it was broken by Hachi. "Did you say the entire colony? That's not... Master I'm against this. I have hundreds of children and that's just me." She raised all four of her arms in a worried gesture.
Crimara nodded. "Yes master, unlike Hachi and I who are still relatively young, Aurina has lived for longer and has thousands of children. Please reconsider."
Kaede remained silent, her gaze steady as the queens voiced their concerns. She leaned forward slightly, resting her forearms on the table. The blue light of the hologram illuminated her face, highlighting the calm intensity in her eyes.
"I understand why this might seem daunting," Kaede began, her voice steady yet firm. "But I'm not changing my mind. If there's one thing I've learned in my short time in this world, it's that strength is everything. I'm here because I was stronger than Razen. When the special ant was born and you terrorized multiple cities, the army ants were stronger, but the tables turned, and you were forced into hiding."
"If we're doing this, if you're following me, then you won't be left behind. We'll build something stronger together."
Aurina, who had remained quiet until now, shifted her form. Her golden exoskeleton gleamed faintly in the dim light as she tilted her head, her antennae twitching subtly. "Master, evolving an entire colony is not only unprecedented but will demand immense resources. Will you even have enough magicules to sustain such a process?"
Acer perked up at this. (Mother, maybe we could do that again. Devouring monsters to recharge.)
Kaede shook her head. "It wouldn't be a good idea long term. And besides, my magicule regeneration is a lot higher now. It doesn't have to be an overnight endeavour, Shifu won't be back for at least five days, probably more with the addition of the normal humans... Yeah it'll probably take ten days. I'll use that time to name all of our citizens."
Ari who had been silent, finally spoke. "Aurina, Crimara, Hachi, please perform a count of all members of your colony. With that we can draw up a plan for mother to carry out her plan."
Hachi gaped. "You can't seriously be saying you are..."
"Are you disobeying mother?" The room stilled as multiple faint lines of black misty figures slowly crawled out of the ground, like shadows given from, and a terrifying presence that completely dwarfed the presence of the three queens erupted out of Ari.
Apart from Kaede who raised an eyebrow, everyone in the room froze, with Hachi's breath seizing as one of the shadowy figures was suddenly an inch away from her face, staring directly into her eyes, even as it shifted in and out of reality.
The oppressive silence that followed Ari's display of authority stretched long and heavy, the weight of her unleashed presence smothering any resistance. The shadowy forms writhed in place, faint whispers of what they could become, a promise of devastation if provoked further.
"Ari," Kaede said, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade, "that's enough."
The misty forms dissolved immediately, sinking back into the ground and leaving only faint impressions in their wake. Ari bowed her head deeply. "My apologies, Mother. I simply couldn't tolerate such defiance in your presence."
Kaede sighed, but her tone softened slightly as she replied. "I appreciate it, but there's no need for theatrics. They're here to learn, not to be intimidated." She glanced meaningfully at Hachi, who remained frozen, her antennae trembling. "Hachi?"
The queen snapped out of her stupor, her greenery-marked arms lowering cautiously as her breath came in short, uneven bursts. "Y-yes, Master," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I'll ensure my colony is counted immediately."
Crimara and Aurina exchanged silent glances, their own antennae twitching with unease. It was Aurina who spoke first, her tone measured and conciliatory. "We will comply with your wishes, Master. Our colonies will be tallied, and preparations will begin as soon as we return."
Kaede nodded, satisfied. "Good. The sooner we have a clear picture of the numbers, the better. This process will take time and effort from all of us. If we're going to achieve something unprecedented, I need every one of you on board."
She reached out to the hologram again, shifting its perspective to display a smaller area surrounding Aurina's colony. The terrain's jagged cliffs and dense forests were illuminated in faint blue light. "Aurina, I want you to prioritize clearing and fortifying this area. It will serve as the foundation for the first settlement."
Aurina inclined her head, antennae tilting slightly forward. "It will be done, Master. My workers are skilled at excavation and construction, though their methods have always been... utilitarian. Adjustments to above-ground structures will take some experimentation."
"That's expected," Kaede replied. "Don't worry about making everything perfect right away. Focus on functionality. I'll provide guidance as needed."
Crimara tapped the table lightly again, her gaze flicking to the hologram. "And what of my colony? If Aurina's workers are preoccupied, I can redirect mine to gather additional resources from the forest. And, there are other predators lurking in the region. I've been itching for some payback."
Kaede's lips curled into a faint smile. "I'll allow it. They'll serve as a good source of magicules. Acer, you'll accompany Crimara's workers and ensure their safety."
Acer grinned, the gleam in her green eyes promising enthusiasm for the task. "
(Understood, Mother. I'll make sure nothing disrupts our progress.)
Hachi, still regaining her composure, spoke hesitantly. "What about my colony, Master? We are not as accustomed to resource collection as Aurina's or Crimara's colonies. Unlike the others I don't lead a colony of army ants, but Leafcutters."
Kaede regarded her thoughtfully for a moment before replying. "Hmmmm, now that I think about it, there was an Antari Ari named Lumea right? I assume she's from your colony?"
Hachi nodded. "Yes master. She is one of my most recent brood."
Kaede smiled. "Then I think I know where you'll be needed, just gather your people."
Hachi bowed her head low. "As you command, Master."
The chamber fell into a more natural silence as the queens processed their tasks. Kaede leaned back in her seat, exhaling slowly.
The queens exchanged a brief, silent communication before Aurina spoke again. "While we get the tallies, we'll begin with clearing the area. Our workers can remove obstacles and shape the terrain to match your plans."
Kaede pointed at the hologram, her finger tracing a section of the map. "Start here. This plateau near your colony has solid ground and a good vantage point over the surrounding area. It's perfect for the main settlement. We'll build a central hub there, with connecting paths to other key locations."
Crimara leaned closer, her gaze focused on the hologram. "And the defenses? You mentioned visibility being important, but above-ground structures are more vulnerable to attacks. How do we account for that?"
Kaede gestured again, adjusting the hologram to show the surrounding mountains and natural barriers. "The terrain works in our favor. The Kyusha Mountains provide a natural shield, and we can enhance that as much as we want. Motion sensors, barriers, wards, and automated defenses."
"Automated defenses?" Crimara's voice carried an undeniable burst of excitement. "What kind of defenses?"
Kaede grinned, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "You'll see. I've got a few ideas in mind that should impress you."
Acer beamed. (Mother's defenses are the best! Nothing gets past them. Not even a fly!)
Kaede chuckled softly, her tone playful. "Let's not give them too much credit just yet, Acer. But yes, they'll be more than enough to keep us safe."
Aurina, ever practical, nodded. "Very well. We'll begin clearing the land today. How long until you can provide the designs, for the houses?"
Kaede tilted her head, considering. "A few hours. I'll need to adjust them based on the resources we have available and the specific needs of the colonies. But once I have the framework, construction should move quickly with everyone working together."
Kaede adjusted the hologram, spinning it slowly as she examined the key points of the planned settlement. "Alright. If there's nothing else, we can..."
She paused, her sharp eyes flicking over the queens as they began rising from their seats. Aurina, Crimara, and Hachi stretched their towering forms, their exoskeletons catching the dim light of the chamber. Ari remained still, her focus unwavering on Kaede, while Acer twitched excitedly, clearly ready to get started on her assigned task.
Kaede raised a hand abruptly, stopping them mid-motion. Her expression was neutral, but her voice carried an undertone of command. "Hold on a moment."
The queens froze, exchanging curious glances before turning their attention back to Kaede. Hachi hesitated, her antennae twitching nervously. "Yes, Master?"
Kaede leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as her gaze swept over the group. "There's one more matter we need to address before you leave. None of you are wearing clothes."
The statement hung in the air like a thunderclap. Aurina blinked, her golden antennae tilting in confusion. Crimara raised a hand to her bare crimson shoulder, her expression caught between surprise and discomfort. Even Hachi, ever nervous, looked down at herself, suddenly self-conscious.
"I didn't think it was an issue," Crimara said, her voice carefully neutral. "We've never needed clothing before. Our exoskeletons provide all the protection we require."
"That was when you were still just monsters," Kaede replied, her tone even but unyielding. "And it's not about protection. You're all basically naked. No, you're not allowed to remain naked."
Aurina frowned slightly, her antennae dipping. "But, Master, we've never had such customs. Clothing seems... unnecessary for us."
'Argh! No way, we need clothes. I can't just keep wearing armour all day.' Kaede sighed, leaning forward as she tapped a finger against the table. "It might seem that way to you, but think about it from another perspective. How do you want others to see you? As intelligent beings, capable of building and governing? Or as creatures no different from wild monsters?"
The room fell silent again, the queens exchanging glances. Kaede could see the hesitation in their body language.
Ari finally spoke, her tone soft but firm. "Mother is right. The world will eventually know about us. Disregarding practicality, It's good for our identity."
Crimara tapped the table again, her claws clicking lightly against the stone. "If it's a matter of identity and representation, I can see the logic in it. But... where do we even begin? We've never made clothing before."
Kaede allowed a small smile to grace her lips. "Leave that part to me. I can make a loom, though as for the threads. How do I make those? Spider webs I guess? Hey Ari are there any weaving spiders nearby?"
Ari nodded. "Do not fret mother, I know just the place to find one, I'll contact Pito and ask her to find one on her way back."
Kaede tilted her head. "Who?"
Ari paused, before a look of realization dawned on her face. "Ah. Remember I said that I had named seven subordinates, I told you about six of them before we got distracted. Pito is the last of the seven, and she's currently in the dragon's cave."