Ari opened his eyes to nothingness. No ground beneath him. No sky above. Just an endless void stretching in every direction. His breathing was steady, but his chest felt tight as he looked around, searching for something. Then he saw it. The silhouette stood ahead, blurred and faintly glowing.
Is this a dream…? It began to move slowly towards him. Ari stayed still as it approached, an unexplainable weight settling over him, yet not suffocating. The figure stopped in front of him. It raised its hand and placed it against his chest. Warmth spread through him instantly, deeper than before. Then the white faded.
Ari's eyes fluttered, slow and unsteady as he tried to wake. His lashes lifted halfway, then dropped again. The weight in his body held him down. Light and shadow blurred together. Green and gold pressed into his vision without form. He blinked again, forcing his eyes to stay open.
Shapes began to settle. Leaves curved above him. Thin strands of sunlight slipped through, touching his face. His lips parted slightly. "That white figure… who is she?" he said weakly. He felt the faint rise and fall of someone breathing beside him. His vision steadied. The blur cleared.
He turned his eyes slightly. The Princess rested at his side, still and quiet. "Princess Emilia…" he muttered, surprised. He raised his hand above her head then hesitated.
What is she doing here...And where am i? I thought I was done for after that stab from the termite queen… I should've melted from the inside. He pushed the soft leaves off his body, slow and careful. His hands trembled as he reached his chest where the mandible pierced him. His breath caught. "How…?" he asked, his voice unsteady. He stared at his chest, then clenched his hand slightly. "Wait… how did this happen?" he asked. "It's like I wasn't hurt at all."
His mind searched for an answer, turning over what had just happened. As his breathing slowed, something in the back of his mind began to surface. The quest. The one that had appeared earlier, asking him to eliminate fifty termites. He had already completed it.
His eyes widened, realization creeping in. Was that it? The unknown reward… could it have saved me? He turned his head and the screen interface came into view.
Objective: Slay 50 Termites
Progress: 50 / 50
Reward: Locked
Status: Auto Accepted
Completed
His eyes moved across each line, slowing when they reached the reward. His brow drew together slightly and he read it again. Locked. A quiet breath left him. "What kind of system is this?" he said under his breath. "Why is it locked?"
A sudden rustle came from beside him. Emilia stirred. Leaves shifted softly around her. Her breathing came uneven for a moment, then settled. Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused at first, then resting on him. She froze. Her lips parted and a sharp breath escaped her. "No way…" she muttered, her voice unsteady. "Ari… you're alive."
Before he could respond, she moved forward and wrapped her arms tightly around his torso, pulling herself against him. The sudden contact made his body tense for a second. "Princess… what are you…" Ari said, caught off guard, his hands lifting slightly before stopping. "I thought you were gone," she said, her voice shaking while she held onto him. "I… I thought I'd never get to talk to you again."
Ari raised his hand and gently patted her head, his fingers brushing through her hair in slow, careful motions. "I'm here," he said, his voice low. "You're okay." Emilia eased back just enough to see his face, her hands moving quickly to wipe at her eyes. A relieved smile spread across her lips, still unsteady.
Ari watched her in silence. His chest tightened and his gaze held on her face a moment longer.
There's no denying it… she's just like her. At that moment, a voice came from the entrance, cutting through the quiet. "Since you're back to full health, am I supposed to believe you're slacking off, Ari?" Ari's body stiffened at once. He turned his head slowly toward the entrance. Captain Valeria stood there, her gaze fixed on him.
A faint chill ran through him under that look. "U Uh, no, Captain," he said, his voice catching slightly. His shoulders drew in a little under her stare. Valeria stepped forward, her exoskeleton legs clicking against the hardened earth. Without warning, her hand came down on Ari's head. "Ouch!" Ari winced, bringing a hand up to the spot.
"That's for disobeying orders," Valeria said, her voice low and firm. "You put the colony at risk… and the mission with it." Ari lowered his head, his antennae drooping. "L Listen… Valeria… I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. For a moment, silence settled between them.
Emilia shifted slightly, her gaze moving between the two, her hands drawn close to her chest. Valeria watched Ari, her expression easing just a fraction, though her posture remained firm. "I still don't understand how you survived that wound," she said. "But I'm glad you did."
Her eyes held on him, steady. "Do not take this as leniency, Ari," she said. "You need to understand the weight of your actions. The colony depends on every one of us." Valeria turned and started walking away.
Ari blinked, caught off guard. His eyes followed her for a moment, his thoughts slowing.
…Does she actually care about me? "Rise and follow me. You've fallen behind in your training. There's no time to waste." Ari nodded and pushed himself upright. Leaves rustled beneath him when he moved, and a faint ache ran through his limbs, but he ignored it.
"Um… see you, Princess Emilia. And… thank you. For staying by my side," Ari said, bowing his head slightly before turning to leave. Emilia let out a soft sigh, her antennae flicking once.
Didn't we get past the formalities? She watched him go, a hint of disappointment settling in her expression, though a small smile still formed at the corner of her lips.
Back at the training grounds near one of the colony's main entrances, Ari followed behind Valeria. Lancelot and Isla sat on a small boulder. Isla leaned back against him, her feet moving lightly in the air while her gaze drifted across the area. Then she looked up.
Her eyes landed on Ari. Her mouth opened slightly. She tapped Lancelot on the shoulder. "Ari!" She was already moving. Isla rushed toward him and threw her arms around him, holding him tight. "You're alive!" she cried, her voice thick, tears running down her face.
Ari stiffened for a second. "Um… Isla, what's gotten into you?" he asked. Lancelot approached more slowly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. He raised a hand and clapped Ari on the back, firm enough to make him stumble a step. "Look who finally decided to wake up," Lancelot said, his tone rough but amused. "What, you trying to get yourself killed and leave the rest of us to handle everything?"
Ari shook his head. "You waited for me to wake up just to run your mouth huh?" Lancelot shrugged. "What can I say? Someone's gotta keep you in line." Ari waved him off. "Yeah? Try it," he said. "Let's see how that goes."
Isla stepped back slightly. Her eyes wavered, guilt showing in them. "Ari… I need to tell you something," she said, her voice shaking. "During the battle with the termites… I froze. I was scared. I couldn't move. I couldn't do anything to help."
Her hands tightened at her sides. "When the queen impaled you through the chest… I thought you were gone. When they brought you back to the colony, I kept seeing it over and over. I couldn't stop thinking about it." She lowered her head, her voice dropping. "I was ready to give up… to go back to being a worker. I even started thinking maybe I don't belong in the army."
She bit her lip, steadying herself before continuing. "But then… you survived." Her eyes lifted to meet his. "Even after the acid… the kind that melts through everything… you still made it." A breath left her. "When I heard you were awake, something changed. I can't keep running from my predetermined path."
Her expression steadied, even if her voice still trembled. "If you can stand back up after all that… then I can find the courage to keep going too." "You were scared. It was life or death… and you're still here, aren't you?" Ari said. "That's what matters."
Lancelot shifted, crossing his arms with a small huff. His gaze drifted off to the side. "…Guess I should admit something too," he said. "I didn't train once while you were out." Ari blinked, his brow lifting. "Seriously? Why not?".
Lancelot shrugged, the corner of his mouth pulling into a sly grin. "Because if I got stronger while you were stuck recovering, you'd lose all the attention you've been getting. Figured we'd start again fair and square." Ari let out a short snort, shaking his head. "You really think I'd whine about that?" he said. "You'd complain for days," Lancelot shot back without missing a beat.
The two held each other's gaze for a moment, then broke into laughter, the tension easing between them. Before Ari could respond, Valeria cleared her throat, drawing their attention back to her. "Enough," she said, her voice firm and clipped. "Ari, listen carefully. Along with Isla and Lancelot, you've been selected to train directly under my command."
Her gaze held on him. "You'll serve in my unit under the corporals assigned to me. As long as you endure the training, you'll hold the rank of Lance Corporal. That places you one rank beneath Corporal Beatrice, who oversees the rest of the recruits." Ari's eyes widened. "Wait… me? A Lance Corporal?" he asked.
"Yes," Valeria replied with a short nod, her tone steady. "You've proven yourself on the field more than once. It's time you take on the responsibility that comes with it." Her expression hardened slightly. "Do not mistake this for an easy path," she said. "There are things beyond this colony you can't even begin to grasp."
Ari lowered his gaze.
It's only been a week since I arrived in this world. I was turned into a slave… then I saved the colony, and now… A quiet breath left him as his thoughts settled. "I won't let you down, Commander," he said, his voice firm. Valeria regarded him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she gave a single, decisive nod. "See that you don't," she said. "From this day forward, you carry the burden of leadership. Ready or not."
Her gaze shifted toward Isla and Lancelot. "That applies to both of you as well," she said. "Do not expect this to be easy. You will work just as hard." Isla straightened at once, nodding firmly. "Understood, Captain. I won't fall behind."
Lancelot smirked, folding his arms across his chest. "Heh. Don't worry," he said. "If Ari's moving up, I'll just have to work twice as hard to beat him there." Valeria's gaze lingered on them. "Good," she said. "I expect nothing less."
She turned and started forward. They moved to follow, but she slowed and turned back to face them. "You fought well on the field," she said. "But those battles were only the beginning." Her voice remained steady. "The enemies ahead will be faster. Stronger. They will overwhelm you if you are not prepared. And they will not hesitate."
The words settled over the group. No one spoke. Ari felt his jaw tighten. "Termites were only the start," Valeria continued. "There are foes beyond them. Enemies with abilities you cannot yet comprehend. Creatures capable of destroying everything we stand for."
Her eyes held on them, sharp and unyielding. "Understand this," she said. "We are the last line of defense for this colony. If we fall, everything falls. The Queen. Our kin. Our home. Everything we have built." Ari's chest tightened. "The burden of protection rests on us."
A brief pause followed. "Steel yourselves," Valeria said, her tone easing just slightly. Without waiting for a response, she turned and strode forward. Isla, Lancelot, and Ari followed close behind, their steps heavy but steady.