Formicea
Chapter 211

Oh damn, that was intense.

Am I sweating?

Not sure if I'm even capable of doing so.

Ever since my metamorphosis my sense of temperature has been a little off.

Nevermind.

In any case, this was certainly something else.

Not sure if books could even come close to causing the same effect as this.

<What do you think, Sis? Wasn't this great? It's my favorite story! The fight against the worm was so thrilling!> (T)

Once more I'm severely doubting if my little brother should consume these kinds of stories.

Just saying, the detailed description of gore and the eating of baby Formicea don't make for the most child-friendly subject.

<Right. It was something. I mean, it had a lot of conflict. However, considering the location of my future hive, I sincerely hope we'll get around with less fighting.> (E)

However, I need to admit that this story helped me to calm down a bit about what lies before me.

I mean, if Uma got even this disaster of a hive establishment back on course and transformed it into this, then I might at least get to build my place in a realm in the center of the known system, with extensive support from our swarm, and hopefully beneficial connections to the humans of Caradis.

If it comes to the worst, I could even still request a support army from the main hive.

After all, I'm not too proud to take that solution, as Chera is.

All things considered, it doesn't look too bad.

While I shouldn't neglect security, I think it makes more sense to focus on getting the general logistics to work smoothly.

If I make sure that everything works as it should, my brood will eventually increase in numbers and any arising problems can be dealt with.

This was even Uma's conclusion to her fights.

It wasn't her focus on soldiers that brought her victory, but the fact that she prepared in advance, simply by doing her best to make her hive thrive.

So, my major angle should be to be aware of possible negative developments that may put my hive in peril.

Having made up my mind, I once more address my brother.

<So what other issues can there regularly come up? You know, aside from those that require fighting?> (E)

<It happens quite often that the mushrooms go all wrong.> (T)

That's not exactly precise.

<The mycelium is a delicate structure. Small deviancies can lead to unwanted processes that quickly sprawl out of control and can, in the worst case, cost the whole harvest. For this reason, it's recommended that, if possible, the fields should be separated in a way that one issue can't affect all of the fields together. The same principle goes for all other structures where this problem can arise.> (D)

Right.

I remember.

Moss plague.

However, I have honestly no idea how to prevent this particular thing, as the applicant is the well-used standard for all the hives.

I guess if something like this were to happen only the generous use of workers will help.

Yet dividing the mycelium into partitions is something I can do.

To be precise, I already have something in mind.

It's basically an idea my father came up with.

One should never underestimate the thought processes of a quiet man.

Coming from the fact that barely anything is impossible with the amount of workforce I command, further reinforced by the giant wall we basically pulled up from nothing in just a few weeks, Dad started to think about what one could do with this in regard to farming.

He regularly helped to work in the fields and gained a lot of valuable insights that I don't even come close to.

So we discussed the idea of an elaborate channel system, funneling the Garanas' waters right into our fields.

The mushroom likes humidity and consumes moderate quantities of water.

But if this is provided, it should grow very well.

So a lasting source like a river would basically be perfect.

The issue is that this is of course not a small project.

We'd have to create water channels while making sure that there is no chance the water from above breaks through and floods my whole hive.

Just thinking about the number of fail-safes, dams, and elaborate channels is giving me a headache.

However, I hope this will somehow be manageable.

<Is there something else? Something I should take particularly into account?> (E)

At this, Dimion gives Toris a look.

<Oh right! I was supposed to mention that lighting might be an issue.> (T)

<Light?> (E)

Well, it's rather dark in the underworld, but until now I never had too much of a problem.

I mean there's quite a lot of glowing stuff.

The light stones all around the hive in particular do help a lot.

...

Oh!

<Are you saying I won't get enough light stones to properly fit my hive with?> (E)

<Light stones are a finite resource. While the swarm has acquired a decent amount of them in the past, foremost from the deeper layers, your recent endeavors to expand the tunnels and make the system more traversable, especially for humans, as well as the many other building projects depleted the stocks severely.> (D)

<But... How is anything supposed to work if nobody can see a thing?> (E)

<A certain minimum is going to be provided. Also, drones are able to find their way by simply following pheromone trails. However, processes are going to become a lot more inefficient within the hive, and there'll be a great number of injuries due to this lack. Foremost, I came to the conclusion that my broodmother has a favor for well-lit spaces, which is why this seemed like an issue that should be mentioned.> (D)

I'm rather perplexed now.

He's right.

Without any light, I won't feel very well.

Also, it could be an issue with enabling interaction with the humans above.

But does this warrant something like sending out expeditions into those ominous "deeper layers"?

A question kinda hinted at when he mentioned those.

Seeing the face I make, Toris turns to the scholar next to him.

<Seems like you were right, Dimion.> (T)

Can't really refute this.

<I agree... We need to do something about this issue. What about alternative sources of light?> (E)

<Glowmoss in the hive would be an invitation to a great catastrophe and glowshrooms don't go well with the mycelium.> (D)

Hm, but that's at least an angle.

<I don't think we should forego the glowshrooms completely. If it's only the mycelium that will be affected, we may at least be able to reduce our need for glowstones in the rest of the hive if we're careful. Also, I saw light units in the royal palace of Tarsona. In the worst case, we could buy some. However, what about other sources? I doubt fire will do well, yet if nothing else helps, we may construct something that allows us to safely tend flames. Are there any other examples of things that can produce light?> (E)

The issue with buying from Tarsona is that these things are absolute luxuries.

Placing them all over my hive when already one costs a fortune doesn't seem applicable.

Some for special quarters, maybe, but I don't think that buying them in huge numbers would go well.

Even leveraging the fact that the Formicea basically own Tarsona now wouldn't be good if this causes further unrest among the populace.

That much my limited political experience allows me to be aware of.

On the other hand, I wouldn't mind investing in this production line.

After all, there's certainly a demand, as Olira would say.

<I was researching this topic, yet without any clear conclusion.> (D)

<Could you still show me what you got? I'm very interested in your research.> (E)

The moment those words leave my lips, I can literally feel the elation coming from the pride this little scholar feels through their pheromones.

Apparently, this was the best thing a broodmother could've done to recognize them.

But there's no reason to think differently about him.

He obviously put in a lot of thinking in consideration to what he thinks I'd like to know.

Also, I appreciate this independent thinking.

Everything considered, it's very important to get enough light.

So he begins to report.

By the way, the way a scholar reports is very based on their way of refilling the pods.

They basically can directly convey the contents of what they consume.

Not only in pheromone speech but beyond this, giving an exact recollection.

However, as efficient as this system is, the first reports are not going to lead to a solution.

Either it's a form of explosive release of light from some scaled lizard with the purpose of blinding prey or predators, or it's too dim, as for example these flying bugs.

Which wouldn't even be something I'd like to have in masses scurrying through my place.

Unfortunately, it seems like Dimion made the list of light sources based on utility, coming from most applicable to basically useless.

Therefore, I'm starting to lose hope, thinking how much I may have to pay for those magical light units the palace had.

Which is when something interesting comes up.

<Some last examples of light-producing effects are the glow algae and the light fish. Which for obvious reasons are out of the question.> (D)

The moment I receive something like a shallow mental picture my mind perks up.

Wait a moment!

<What about them? Can you elaborate?> (E)

<As you wish, broodmother.> (D)

So the by-now-known stream of information fills my mind.

Apparently, the algae were found in certain water caves.

As water is rather dangerous for Formicea, who cannot swim, this was merely noted as an interesting observation of the respective drones.

The light effect of these luminous plants only causes a soft glimmer above the water's surface, which barely allows one to see anything at all.

This fish, on the other hand, packs a serious punch in terms of lighting.

It apparently lives in certain expansive underwater reservoirs, where no light can reach.

For this reason, this fish, as one of the only kinds who can actually see, started producing its own light so they can actually make use of their eyes.

As all the other inhabitants of these ponds are blind, it works out pretty well for them.

There is a fascinating tidbit of a few larger reservoirs where other predator fishes with functioning eyes exist solely because there are those light fishes.

But they don't attack them, as it would literally mean turning off the light, even going as far as protecting them from other threats.

For this reason, those light fishes are doing pretty well in numbers.

It's truly fascinating to have this picture in my mind.

They're rather long and lean, somewhere between thin lizards and snakes, glowing along their whole length.

The light effect is strong and even at the distance can illuminate whole caves, only short of making it unpleasant to look at them.

<Why are you only mentioning them now?> (E)

<Obviously, because these only dwell in the water.> (D)

He says this so matter of factly as if that's all there is to it.

<Okay. And?> (E)

<How would water be an acceptable condition for a hive? Are we supposed to drown it? Even in limited quantities such a risk can't be allowed!> (D)

Ah, I see where he's coming from.

However, I already am picturing things in my mind.

With the Garanas we'll have all the water we ever need.

So why don't use it for other projects?

Let's place a lake in the mycelium, where those fishes can do their thing.

Or water channels, pots with those algae.

This doesn't sound impossible.

Okay, it's a huge commitment, but if Formicea are known for one thing...

<I decided! I want those!> (E)

<Broodmother?> (D)

<Sister?> (T)

Well, general confusion.

<I want to have it figured out how to gather a decent number of those fishes. No overhunting, or we will ruin our source.> (E)

<Catching fish? How would something like that even be possible?> (D)

Yeah, the workers would probably quickly drown.

On the other side...

<Ehm...> (T)

Yep, Toris knows that humans have their ways.

I may even employ some for this task.

<Let Toris explain it to you, Dimion. While we're at it, we should figure out how to keep them alive. Yet I have my own ideas about this.> (E)

<H-how?> (D)

Seems like I overstrained his mind a little.

<Because, Dimion, I have a slightly different perspective on things and my own idea, just as you have your way of thinking.> (E)

Oh, was this too harsh?

I don't want to destroy his self-esteem.

<Dimion, I really appreciate your work here, I really do. However, if you're going to instruct my other scholars in the future, I want you to know something. While gathering knowledge and preserving as much as possible is great, not much comes from simple recounting. I want my scholars to not only be able to gather all this information but to actively make use of it. If you study something, you may just as well seek out ways to apply it. Or even better, develop what you know by drawing new conclusions.> (E)

This is something I noticed a while ago.

In the swarm, the princesses and the queen are the only instances of decision-making.

If they want something, it happens.

Yet this means that only this ridiculously small group of individuals is actually thinking.

One of the reasons why humans are developing and Formicea threaten to stay as they are if not once in a while a queen decides on reforms.

I want my brood to be different from this.

Foremost, because I definitely think that I'm not fit to make all the calls by myself.

<Broodmother?> (D)

The way he addresses me is a mix of helplessness and wonder.

<I trust you Dimion. I know you'll put your all into this task I've given you. I know it's much to ask for, but I have no one else to count on. So please, try to fulfill this request of mine.> (E)

Here, Dimion grows quiet. I guess I turned his whole world around for him.

<You can be really cool, Sis!> (T)

Hah, I guess I was.

Well, now action has to follow.

<So what is next?> (E)

<Naturally, you need to go through the other pods about hive founding! The tallies here always say that it's the quantity that makes one see the patterns. Uh, I think that means if you take in more of the same you'll understand it better.> (T)

Guess it can't be helped.

Just what, twenty pods?

... Help.

Announcement Just three more chapters and the first book of Formicea is finished.

(though, I got some epilogues planned)

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