Formicea
Epilogue: A Farm at the Outskirts 3

It was quite the thing for my parents that there are insects building a road toward us.

A whole column from the north.

It's crazy to think that there must be a really big dwelling of them.

As there was literally nothing we could do about this, there was nothing left for us but to watch the road building advancing ever closer towards us.

Not like we had to wait for long.

They are truly incredibly fast.

After a single day, they already covered most of the distance.

The most concerning was that it lead so close past our home.

At the current angle, it's not going to lead right through our farm, but still, it's going to be awfully close.

"Honey, aren't you taking this a little tragic?" (A)

"Tragic?! Those things may reach us soon enough and then who knows what will happen?!" (J)

"Maybe that mustn't be all that bad? Didn't you complain that it's so difficult to get to the roads to Arkona? If it continues in the same direction, it seems like they will connect us to right there." (A)

"Amelia, when did these creatures ever do something that meant something positive for us? Mind my words, the next trouble is so close to coming over us!" (J)

Yeah, Daddy is really on edge.

Mum already tried to calm him down quite often, but it doesn't help all that much.

For this reason, I don't like to be stuck in this thick atmosphere at home.

Instead, I rather guide the wormbugs out.

Winter is coming, and then it’s going to be more difficult to get them to feed themselves.

Eventually, the time comes that the road is at its closest towards us.

I can tell they are pretty much aware of us, but they don't seem to want to come over.

At least I thought so.

"Thud"

“Eeek!”

Until a flying insect lands right next to me!

"H-human." (messenger)

"Iehp!" (M)

"Marked." (messenger)

Ehm, what?

"Hu-man, this pro-ject is, brought for-ward, by Prin-cess Che-ra. You are here-by, in-structed, to tole-rate this, no matter, your align-ment." (messenger)

"Whosh"

Uh, okay.

He's gone.

I guess I should tell this at home.

"Mum! Dad!" (M)

"Maja, what is it now?" (J)

"There was just now a flying insect! It talked to me! They said they're building this road because of some princess!" (M)

At least that's what I understood.

"They did!? Are you alright?!" (J)

Obviously, I am.

"They weren't hostile. Just said this and went away again. Only that we'll have to tolerate them building the road." (M)

"That doesn't sound too bad, does it dear? Maybe that really was everything. Then we might not be bothered again." (A)

"That sounds too good to be true. Literally." (J)

Well, would be nice if Daddy wouldn't get more reason to get upset.

Truthfully, the road-building insects just pass by and otherwise ignore us completely.

When it begins to get dark, I see something interesting.

The insects start digging holes and then all together climb into them.

They're filling those pits to the brim and then apparently get to sleep like this.

As there's nothing we need to deal with, we decide as well to go to bed.

Daddy seems still quite on edge and has trouble sleeping, but when still nothing happens, I just fall asleep.

The next day proceeds the same.

I watch how a lot of the insects get exchanged.

Seems like some of them can now go back to their home.

What is quite the big thing for me is that they mostly come and go through some holes.

This must mean there's a path below them to wherever they go.

I try not to think too much about it and go on with my business.

Yet then of course something else happens.

From the distance, additionally to the working staff that does the road, there's a huge bulk of insects coming our way.

At first, I hope they just pass by, but when they leave it, it becomes clear that they're headed right towards us.

I immediately leave the worm bugs where they are and run home.

I spot Dad first, while he's planting the new regium corn.

"Dad! Dad! Insects are coming! A lot of them!" (M)

"What!?" (J)

At first, he looks confused, before getting a very hard look.

"Run to your mother. Let me handle this." (J)

Is this really a good idea?

Yet I quickly get to Mum and inform her as well.

"What are we going to do?" (M)

"I don't know. Let's hope they won't harm us. This, this other princess said we're protected, right?" (A)

She's right!

Even now I smell a faint hunch of this stuff she smeared on me.

It got weaker from back then, but never truly faded.

And that flying insect said as well that I'm marked.

That's good, right?

It was supposed to protect us after all.

The huge wriggling mass of insects comes closer.

And it's really a single mass.

They pile over each other and walk like one big thing.

I don't even know why Dad took his hoe out.

He can't possibly mean to fight them.

The mass stops right before him and our house.

Then it opens up, and in its center a new insect stands, staring right at us.

"Screak!" (C)

It makes a sound and all the insects lower themselves and adjust their bodies so this insect can step out comfortably.

All the time it stares right at us.

Yet one single time, she glances at one of the worm bugs in the distance.

"So this is the place?" (C)

It can talk!?

This, this has to be the princess, maybe?

I mean, I guess they aren't all half-humans like this Princess Erys.

Also, is she asking us?

"What do you want from us?!" (J)

Daddy, maybe you shouldn't shout at that one.

"Dear." (A)

The insects behind her don't seem to like it.

The supposed princess at least doesn't seem impressed by him.

"Is it true that you humans established a functioning nectar production here?" (C)

"Nectar production?" (J)

"A nectar unit was seen in this place, not to forget their scent still lingers. Speaking of which, I perceive Princess Erys' mark on you." (C)

Again Princess Erys.

She must be really important, just as she told us.

It's quite crazy to think that a princess did ask us for help.

And now there's even another one.

Even if they are insects.

"Those things? What would you care?! We only want you to leave us alone, so screw yourself!" (J)

"Careful, human. You wouldn't want to antagonize me." (C)

"This is my land! And I'll do as I please here! If you don't like it-" (J)

"Jonah!" (A)

"A-Amelia?" (J)

"Quiet now! Leave the talking to me. You are not diplomatic enough for this." (A)

Mum got her sternest face.

Even Dad backs off if she looks like this.

"Hopefully this will lead to a more fruitful exchange than the former. Especially, without such nonsense as this being 'your land'." (C)

Mum looks confused, but at least she manages to prevent Dad from lashing out again.

"Eh, how do you mean this?" (A)

"I formulated a so-called contract with your country that officially declares the territory around my hive as mine. Your human nation didn't seem particularly invested in retaining it. Especially, not in exchange for the generous compensation I issued." (C)

"I, I can't quite follow." (A)

"Fine, I'll formulate this a little simpler. You, belong, to, me. Officially." (C)

"You!" (J)

Oh no!

He takes a step forward, but the really scary insect monsters behind this insect princess do as well.

"Jonah, please stop this now! It doesn't help!" (A)

Unwillingly, he does.

"Ahem, your insect... highness? Ehm, we are free people. So we aren't quite sure what to make out of your declaration." (A)

"I thought I conveyed this correctly. This land and everything on it belongs to me." (C)

"Does this mean you'll take our farm? But this land was ours to cultivate for a very long time. Our ancestors built it and it means everything to us." (A)

It would be terrible if this insect would throw us out.

Even if we can't do much about it.

"Who claimed that? I merely stated that I'm the controlling instance of this realm by now. You may proceed to fare as you please within it. Which again brings me to the point of why you have nectar units roaming your 'farm'." (C)

Nectar unit?

Oh!

"Mum, I think she means the worm bugs!" (M)

"Ehm, thanks sweety." (A)

Did I say something wrong?

"Those two creatures, apparently, were a gift by one Princess Erys, for a service she wanted to pay back." (A)

Again I ask myself if something wrong was said.

The princess looks again so intensely at us.

"Erys 'gifted' you her own nectar units? What kind of service could be so great as to warrant this?" (C)

She knows that Erys?

So she truly must be someone you ought to know!

"Ehm, she killed some of our former animals to escape her pursuers." (A)

"Interesting. To think she'd do this. Yet can you even care for them? Nectar units require enormous amounts of food to be productive. If you can't provide, this may have been a mistake on Erys' part that I ought to rectify." (C)

Rectify?

She speaks strangely.

Does that mean she wants to take the worm bugs away from us?

Daddy may even like this, but if she wants them, doesn't this mean they're valuable?

Yet Mum answers her first.

"We can provide. Our daughter, she discovered that the creatures eat regium corn, which we grow a lot of." (A)

She points right at one of the smaller fields.

The princess follows her gaze with interest.

"This plant? You feed the nectar units with it?" (C)

With quick steps, she moves over to one of the wild-growing plants.

There she breaks a bit off the stem and swallows a few of the bits.

"Screeeiiiieeehhkssshhh!" (C)

Yeah, even with those being just insect screaks, this reaction was familiar enough.

"Disgusting. Barely believable this is edible." (C)

"I'm sorry. It's known for its particularly nasty taste. Yet it fills one's belly if there's nothing else left." (A)

"So you're saying this plant can nonetheless be consumed?" (C)

"Uh, yes. Regium corn is one of the only things that even grows this far up in the north." (A)

Yeah. This stuff really grows anywhere.

"And the nectar units can ingest them without an issue?" (C)

"Well, my daughter said so, and I didn't see any reason to doubt her." (A)

Uh, that feels like a lot of pressure on me now.

"Magnificent! So it's possible to gather food in such quantity. To think that Erys' ideas would yield such results. Then we'll make use of this! The production can be expanded! We'll expand the fields and begin to feed our own nectar units!" (C)

Eh, what!?

Mum and Dad look similarly confused.

"E-excuse me? I fear I don't quite understand." (A)

"Wasn't I clear enough? I'll, in the closest time, send you more nectar units, which you will provide for, as you already successfully do. And their proper yield you'll deliver to me." (C)

More worm bugs?

"B-but why?" (A)

"Because it's beneficial, isn't that obvious?" (C)

"You can't do that!" (J)

"I already stated that you belong to me. Therefore, I may define your assignment as is my right." (C)

"You..." (J)

Mum again manages to stop Dad short from exploding.

"My husband intends to say that we need to take care of our farm. We can't afford to focus as much on such an assignment if we want to make a living." (A)

Mum is really a great talker.

She's so convincing.

Even this princess must realize she's right.

"Make a living? Ah, you're referring to gaining human currency to afford one's needs. Naturally, this would happen in return for due compensation." (C)

"Compensation?" (A)

"Yes. After all, I care for those who belong to me." (C)

"Except we don't!" (J)

"Ah, right. My subjects have to be identified as such. I heard this is custom. So we may proceed." (C)

Suddenly, some kind of tail flashes out from behind her.

I am reminded of how this Princess Erys poked our dead animals with it and grow fearful.

Then she drips a bit of liquid on her claw.

Wait!

I, I think I know what she's doing!

Mum is the first.

"Bwah!" (A)

"You!" (J)

"Now you." (C)

Before he could do anything, she has already shoved her claw against his face.

Urgh." (J)

Mum can just in time prevent that he does something rash.

"I guess this one should as well." (C)

M-me?

"Wah!" (M)

That does smell weird.

"Done. You now bear my mark. Feel honored that you may serve me." (C)

"You..." (J)

Dad is seething, but Mum still clasps his arm.

"Dear, no. This isn't worth it." (A)

"Oh, but it will be. I'll send you many more nectar units. Be prepared. This is going to become the greatest nectar production facility in all these lands!" (C)

And so it happens.

Over the course of the next months, the number of "nectar units" increased on and on.

We were able to feed them with regium corn and house them in ever-growing, dedicated caves below the barn, which barely reminds one of such at this point.

The other remaining livestock were brought to a new shed.

Yet we could afford this, as true to her word, we were given, at first, very valuable stones, and later on, real money.

We even gathered such a surplus, that with the help of the bugs, we now deliver nectar to almost everywhere.

Apparently, it's quite famous among people who like sweets.

And wouldn’t you know it, even regium corn tastes quite fine if you mix it with nectar.

They make for a unique mix that is delicious.

There are already even some recipes for pastries going around.

More importantly, since the nectar comes from my home, I get to try all of them!