The pickaxe rose, trembling slightly in the air before descending with a heavy, dull thud. Ari's lungs burned, each breath pulling in a mixture of stale cave air and grit.
Seven days. One week since I woke up in this world... and all I've done is chip away at it.
I'm not living, he thought, his jaw tightening until it ached. I'm just... functioning.
With a grunt of effort, he swung the pickaxe again. Thwack. He paused, squinting through a haze of sweat at a line of ants digging the tunnels. Their faces were devoid of emotion. Their eyes lifeless.
I didn't know that ants went through all this without complaining, he mused, his chest heaving with a shallow breath. He looked up at the dark, oppressive ceiling of the mine, his eyes narrowing.
If only humans worked even half as hard as ants... we would achieve great things. The world would have been a better place.
"Come on, put your back into it," the ant said to Ari as they struggled with the debris mover.
The weight crushed down on his shoulders, his legs trembling as every step sent sharp aches up his spine. Still, he clenched his jaw and shoved. Beside him, the ant pushed with the same mechanical intensity, the ground trembling beneath their feet.
Their muscles strained, the earth beneath them groaning under the load, but slowly—inch by inch—they forced the debris mover forward. As they finally pushed it out of the colony, they stopped for a minute to catch their breath.
Sweat dripped from their faces, their chests contracting as they exhaled heavily. Then, together, they turned over the debris mover, emptying the cylindrical load onto the surface. Ari stood for a moment, his chest still heaving from the effort. He looked down at his trembling hands.
After a week of living as an ant, I've learned that I'm way stronger than I thought, his gaze darkened. I can lift weights up to twenty times my own now, but...it's not enough.
He looked toward the deeper shadows of the colony, where the air felt heavier, colder. Compared to Lieutenant Valeria... or even the wardens... I'm no match. Their power is overwhelming.
His jaw tightened, and he slowly clenched his fist. Against them, escaping is next to impossible.
"We are done here. Let's get back inside and continue digging," the other prison ant said, his voice flat as he turned toward the colony flank entrance pushing down the debris mover.
"I'll be right there," Ari replied, his voice steady but low. "Just give me another minute or two to catch my breath."
The slave ant paused, looking back over his shoulder. A hollow, tired sigh sounded from his mouth. "Okay. But hurry it up," he said, his voice already growing distant as he retreated into the shadows. "I'm sure you don't want those vine marks on your back."
Ari stood at the edge of the clearing, his body perfectly still. The wind caught his hair, lifting it in a slow, deliberate motion as he looked beyond the distant tree lines.
Life here could be way worse, I'm starting to appreciate the kind of work they do each day. It makes me wonder why I hated them in the first place.
He watched the sway of the branches in the distance, a quiet calm settling over him. I mean... they didn't do anything to hurt me.
Well, I better head back to the mines now. I don't want to get in trouble, Ari reminded himself.
He turned, taking a sharp step forward toward the tunnel—but his momentum was cut short. He slammed into someone. A timid female ant let out a sharp gasp as the impact sent her stumbling backward.
Her small frame hit the dirt with a soft, muffled thud, her wings flaring out instinctively. As they unfurled, the sunlight caught the delicate membranes. They shimmered faintly, scattering tiny glints of silver and gold.
"Ouch...! That really hurts," she whimpered. She remained on the ground, her body curled slightly as she rubbed her elbow. Her face contorted, one eye squeezed shut in a sharp, pained wince.
Ari froze. The silence of the surface was shattered by his own heartbeat. He scrambled forward, his hand extending toward her instinctively.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" he stammered, the words tumbling out of his mouth faster than he could track them. "I didn't see you there. Are you... are you alright?"
"Ah—yes! I-I'm completely fine! Please, don't worry yourself," she insisted. She looked up at him, her face flushing as she quickly waved her hands in a dismissive, frantic motion.
She hesitated, then reached up and took his hand. Her touch was lighter than he expected, almost delicate. He pulled her up gently, feeling her balance shift as her wings brushed against his arm.
As she looked up at him, her green eyes bright against the daylight, Ari's breath hitched. The heat of the surface world seemed to vanish, replaced by a sudden, cold stillness in his chest.
"Keiko..."
She tilted her head to the side, her antennae twitching before curving into a subtle, inquisitive arc. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that," she said, her eyes searching his. "What was it you were saying?"
Ari felt a sharp heat rush to his face. He quickly looked away, raising a hand in a dismissive wave. "Oh... it's nothing," he muttered, his voice dropping. "Just forget it."
But as his gaze fell back toward her, his breath hitched. The way the light hit her... the way she stood... She looks exactly like her...
Up close, he could see her wings more clearly. They weren't just shimmering; they were masterpieces of nature—thin and translucent, yet surprisingly strong. Ari watched her as she stood there. She kept her hands moving over her arms, trying to make it unnoticeable that she was rubbing them. She did not want the pain to show.
She has wings… Ari thought. He did not move. He kept his eyes on the shimmering membranes attached to her back. The only ant I've ever seen with wings so far was the Queen. So who exactly is she? Ari wondered.
Ari felt a tightness in his throat. He remained in stunned silence, his eyes locked on her. He did not realize he was staring. The wind moved through her orange hair as she tilted her head again.
"Um… you're staring at me blankly," she said. Her voice sounded embarrassed, but there was a hint of annoyance in her tone. A tiny smile appeared at the corner of her lips. "It's really making me worried."
Ari's face heated instantly. He raised his hand and slapped himself across the face with a sharp crack. Calm down, he told himself. She's just an ant. The resemblance is only a coincidence.
He took a breath and forced his gaze to settle. "Sorry," Ari said, his voice regaining some steadiness. "It's just that… you have wings."
"Of course I do," she said, her voice carrying a faint, playful lilt. She seemed amused by his shock. "The wings signify that I am royalty."
Ari's mind went blank for a second. Then, a wave of panic hit him. Royalty? He stood frozen as the implications crashed into his thoughts.
Wait—does this mean she's…? What if she thinks I touched her on purpose? What if I get executed on the spot just for bumping into her?
Ari swallowed hard. He forced his legs to stay still, fighting the urge to stumble back. His heart thudded against his ribs. I'm screwed, he thought.
Without warning, Ari's field of vision caught a flicker of movement. He did not see the figure move. In the time it took to draw a single breath, the distance between them vanished. A blur of dark brown armor filled his sight, and then a fist connected with his jaw.
The world tilted. Ari's head snapped back, the force of the blow sending a spray of blood into the dirt. His body flew backward, skidding along the ground until he came to a stop several meters away. His head throbbed, and his vision spun as he struggled to sit up.
"Who gave you the right to lay your hand on Her Highness, you scum?" The soldier spoke the words with a flat, icy cadence. He looked down at Ari, his armored feet planted firmly in the dirt.
"You're a bold one, I'll give you that much, to touch Princess Emilia, the successor of Queen Celeste, you slave trash," the ant said. He looked at Ari with narrowed, steady eyes. "You will pay for that act, you lowly worm. Prepare to die."
The soldier reached back and unsheathed his stinger. It was shaped like a long, sharp spear. He held it with a steady grip, the point aimed directly at Ari's chest.
"Aixen, please stop," Princess Emilia said. She stepped between them and raised her arms. "It was an accident. He didn't do anything wrong." She looked at him, her expression frantic. "He accidentally bumped into me and offered to help me up," she pleaded. "Nothing else happened, I promise, so please don't hurt him any further."
Aixen did not lower the spear-shaped stinger immediately. He stood with his armored feet braced in the dirt, the point of the weapon still leveled at the space where Ari's chest had been. His eyes moved from the Princess to Ari, who remained on the ground several meters away.
Aixen closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He gripped his spear and spun it in a tight, rapid circle before sliding it back into its sheath with a metallic click. He turned his head toward the Princess and his back to Ari, his eyes stern and unmoving.
"You're to blame, Princess Emilia," Aixen said. His voice was flat. "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't wandered off without my permission." He stood with his hands resting near his side, his posture straight. "That was reckless; something bad could have happened to you," he added.
Emilia looked down at the dirt, her hands clutching her arms. She did not argue with him. "I know, I'm sorry for inconveniencing you, when you've done so much for us..." she said. She lowered her head in shame. Her voice was quiet, barely rising above the sound of the wind.
"Your Highness, the Queen ordered me to protect you and act as your bodyguard ever since the day after the great war. Do you remember?" Aixen asked. His stern gaze softened just a fraction.
"I remember every bit of it. In every memory I have of the past, you are there, watching over me and ensuring my safety," Princess Emilia said. Her voice carried a trace of warmth.
Aixen's expression did not break, but he gave a sharp, disciplined nod. "I am glad you understand, Your Highness. My life is the shield for yours. That is the mission," Aixen said firmly. He adjusted his stance, his voice returning to a clipped, military tone.
"The colony's future rests on your shoulders. Do not jeopardize it with further reckless behavior. Now, come. We are behind schedule."
As Princess Emilia turned to follow him, she glanced back at Ari. For a brief moment, he caught a flicker in her eyes—something heavy. Then she turned away, her steps echoing after Aixen.
Aixen shot Ari a final, sharp glare before he disappeared down the colony's entrance.