Formicea
Chapter 209

I follow my guide deeper inside the chamber of knowledge, past the gigantic tapestry that depicts the system.

Yet in passing, I see how the scholars are apparently working on something else.

At first, I'm confused about this flat plate, but then I start making out distinct mark points and realize it's showing the topography of the surface.

Yeah, that could be convenient to have.

However, this isn't my purpose for being here.

I continue trailing behind this one scholar and Dimion, who walk at a brisk pace in front of me.

Then, after a while, they stop.

<Are we there?> (E)

<Yes. This partition is dedicated to the efforts of all preceding princesses who have created their own hive.> (L)

He sounds distinctly proud about this fact.

Well, I guess there are many working at Tarsona's library who are the same about it.

<I'll now return to my duties. Dimion will assist you with your studies and take care of the refilling.> (L)

<Refilling?> (E)

<Aren't you aware, Mother? There are three pods for each recollection. One is for assessing, such as now, so you may obtain the desired knowledge. The other one is for an accompanying scholar to replace the used pods through their pheromone production. The last one is for preservation, to make sure the original idea remains.> (D)

Okay.

Well, as weird as this is, I guess this works out.

Yet I have a bit more of a practical problem here.

<So, ehm. How is this going to work? Can I tell you what I'm looking for and you show me where to find it?> (E)

<Not precisely. While I will offer assistance, your assigned scholar already studies the subject in the respective chamber.> (D)

My assigned scholar?

Well, makes sense that my junior scholar wouldn't quite qualify.

So I pass the last hallway and enter another hall filled with various pods.

<Sister!> (T)

Toris!?

What the heck is my brother doing here?!

I'm rather confused and don't know how to take this.

"T-Toris? Why are you here?" (E)

<Dummy. This is my study place! I'm learning new things every day here!> (T)

Right.

I sometimes forget how he's learning to become a scholar.

It's a bit concerning for my taste that he's inhaling the undiluted impressions of Formicean recollections.

Is this really fine for someone his age?

Yet there's another pressing point.

The way he's been here of all places...

"Don't tell me... Are you the one to help me study my stuff?" (E)

<Uh, they thought that I could understand easier what you would like to know.> (T)

Well, he is my brother and has a more human perspective.

A great concern is going to be the interaction with the people of Caradis.

Many are wealthy, so insect neighbors could be an issue.

Nonetheless, I doubt a little that my seven-year-old brother would make for a good instructor.

Or is he already eight?

Not like that would change my assessment.

Though, I need to admit that he speaks quite pronounced in pheromones.

...

Damn, I think I forgot his birthday.

"Sister! Are you still there?" (T)

"Ehk, happy birthday!?!" (E)

"...Do I need to fetch a bucket?" (T)

"Sorry. So do you really think you can help me?" (E)

"They made me smell that nonstop! I'm an expert now!" (T)

<Toris is exceptional in the amount of pods he assessed. It makes him a very proficient scholar. Especially, since his recent adjustment.> (D)

At my successive gaze of pure disbelief at what I just heard, Toris throws my scholar a look that can be roughly translated as "traitor".

Well, also literally, as he couldn't help but spew some pheromones, likely supported by A SECOND MUTATION I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT!?!

"Sis! You're loud!" (T)

Shit!

I really worked on getting my pheromone shouting under control, but still fail sometimes.

Like now when being freaked out is totally justified!

However, I know I should calm down.

So I take in a deep breath.

"Hah... Okay, what happened?" (E)

<The queen granted him this adjustment on his birthday, and he accepted. It was only after she made sure that absolutely no side effects could occur. As it didn't even affect his human speech and nothing else occurred, it's to be considered a fully beneficial adjustment.> (D)

How come this titan does this behind my back to my brother?!

How did she even know about his birthday?!

<I'm supposed to tell you, now that you found out, that she was really gentle.> (T)

Uh, well, it's probably better than what I got.

However, that doesn't necessarily make it better!

<Can we get started? Time is limited. We only have a few activity intervals for completion.> (D)

My scholar seems to be a bit bossy.

Kinda weird, as usually, my brood has quite a different attitude towards me.

"Is something wrong?" (E)

Not like I demand to be adored, but it's quite unusual.

Either he's just different from all my other drones or something really serious happened.

Either way, it seems like something I shouldn't neglect.

"You didn't visit him, despite him being the only scholar." (T)

Wait!

This is a thing?

Should I've taken more time for my scholar?

But I was most of the time not even present in the hive.

"Is it very bad that I wasn't here?" (E)

"Uh, I was told the first is more special as he's going to instruct the following. They would be instructed on what to focus. He looked a bit forward to it." (T)

Suddenly, there's a shout.

"Iiiiuh. Ammmh. Aable. Too. Uuunderstaaand. Thiiis." (D)

<Also, Dimion is only a little flustered because he doesn't speak human so well yet. He practiced a lot.> (T)

Right.

Their mouths are a lot different from other drones and very dedicated to producing pheromones.

It makes sense that this would be difficult to manage.

What I heard is already pretty impressive all things considered.

<I think you're doing really well. It's nice that you are trying so hard to accommodate me.> (E)

At least this is the only reason I could guess at.

<... No need to. It's my role.> (D)

It seems like I was spot on, the way he appears to be all flustered now.

<Also, I'm really sorry for not visiting. You surely know I had a lot on my plate, but this still is no excuse. Though, I doubt I could've instructed you properly. There's still so much I do not know yet. You certainly have a much better grasp on relevant topics than I do.> (E)

<No need to apologize!> (D)

Whoah, now it's even mild panic.

<Well, uh, anyways, I hope you'll be able to help me out with your knowledge once I start needing assistance. For sure, you still need to learn what you can, but I'm convinced you can give me some pointers.> (E)

<I'll serve you till I perish.> (D)

Yeah, uh, as I said, the articulate ones can be rather intense.

Let's switch topics.

"Ahem. So, Toris. What do you have about building hives?" (E)

Really feels weird to ask my younger brother to give me some kind of presentation.

<Can you speak in Formicea? That makes it easier to get what you want right.> (T)

Okay... I hope his human speech isn't suffering from being neglected.

<What can you tell me about establishing a hive as a fledging princess?> (E)

At this, he smiles brightly at me.

<A lot, really! Some of this stuff is really cool. And some problems were rather thrilling. Do you know the basics?> (T)

<Yeah, kinda.> (E)

Was he always speaking this intellectually?

Well, he uses pheromones, but that's still not a simple matter.

Is this one of the "adjustments"?

Oh god, what a headache!

<Cool. Then for starters, food is important. Uh, you can take what you need from here, but I read that having many 'nectar units' is important for storage.> (T)

That matches why Liseti insisted so much on having them.

I need some way to get through the early plantation time.

Yet it should be possible to get regular deliveries going.

In the worst case, I'll have to ask Olira to help me out till I'm established.

Which would be the worst given how she is.

<I, I at least got one that should help me out. I'm confident the rest is covered.> (E)

<Okay. Then next, expansion and protection. You should know what to build, but apparently, in practice, it's quite difficult. There's much that can go wrong that jumbles up your order.> (T)

Hm, he really seems to have put some effort into this.

<Like what?> (E)

I know a certain someone who would've liked to know as well what to do in this kind of situation.

<All kinds of things! There could be monsters you didn't consider. The stone can be all wrong for you to build stuff. One even had a moss and mushroom plague to deal with!> (T)

Oh, I remember how the glowmoss likes to spread on the applicant.

Could be nice to look at with a whole cave brightened up by it.

Well, until the internal structure collapses due to being eaten away by that stuff.

Yeah, better not try this out.

<Sigh. It's quite a lot at once. Hard to get it all considered.> (E)

<I think we should start general. Because of this, I got some stories for you to smell.> (T)

At the last word, Toris giggles to himself.

Yet I can't help but notice this insectile pitch to it.

<Did you fill up again what you took?> (D)

<Sure! I was even supervised during the process.> (T)

He's really speaking far too intelligently.

I mean, I know he was a smart kid, always fascinated with weird stuff, but that doesn't make him an intellectual.

Also, did I just hear right?

<You refilled pods?!> (E)

<Yep. Can do that now.> (T)

<One of the adjustments from the queen.> (D)

<You let her do this to you? Your body?! Dad let you do this?!> (E)

<It's really fine, and she explained it well. My spit tastes weird sometimes. But aside from this, it's fine.> (T)

Sigh.

Why am I even trying to keep all those crazies from mutating their bodies?

It's like they see me, with my weird super breeder adjustments, and are all 'Hey, let's just jump behind her!".

Damn, at this point it doesn't matter getting riled up over this.

<I'm not happy with you making permanent changes to your body, but I suppose it's your decision. Also, it's too late to change it now. Which you hopefully bore in mind when you decided on this.> (E)

<I did! This is the coolest thing one can do! If you'd only know how much I experienced here already...> (T)

I guess those pheromone pods can be very exciting.

At least, they're far more intense than reading papers.

<Fine. Then show me what you think is relevant for me to know.> (E)

<Alright. Here are the good ones! I specially fetched the most exciting stories for you! Also, I'd really recommend you start with this one!> (T)

He's truly totally into it.

He's like a... well, kid with an infinite amount of entertainment devices.

Speaking of it, the number of pods I'm seeing here makes me question things.

<Those are quite a lot. Are there even that many princesses?> (E)

<Ehm, I'm not sure.> (T)

< They aren't just the recollections of the He-Ora swarm. When our queen conquered hives during the swarm wars, she claimed the knowledge they held as well.> (D)

Huh.

Is this preserving of knowledge a favorable instance of hers or does the fact that she basically stole it outweigh it?

Well, in any case, I should get started.

I walk up to the pod Toris pointed me at, break the seal, and perceive the smell of pheromones.

Just before losing all touch with reality, as all my mind gets overwhelmed by a story of old.