My training under Valeria, the newly appointed Captain in Queen Celeste's army, will be starting soon.
For now, Ari lingered at the edge of the grounds, where the air buzzed with sharp commands and the dull thud of bodies hitting the dirt. The smell of churned earth and sweat hung heavy.
I need to watch first, to understand what will be expected of me and what I've gotten myself into, Ari thought.
"We're here," Valeria said. They both stepped onto a wide, dusty plain. The ground was packed hard beneath their feet, broken only by scattered boulders that marked the edges of the training field.
Ants moved about in small groups, their chatter mixing with the dry rustle of dirt underfoot.
"This is where those who enlist train," she continued, her tone clipped. "They remain here until their training is complete. That final test determines their standing in the army. Fail, and they'll be sent to patrol duty either on the outskirts or the colony. Succeed, and they'll join the expedition squad as Privates or Lance Corporals, depending on how much knowledge they demonstrate in battle."
So their military hierarchy is similar to ours. That's… something, Ari thought, watching a wave of recruits run pass with small boulders on their backs, faces slick with sweat and muscles trembling from exhaustion. Dust kicked up around their legs, filling the air with a gritty haze.
"Come on! Pick up the pace!" Draven's voice cut sharply over the thudding of feet. "If you want to be soldiers in the army, at least overcome your limit"
"But… Chief Warden sir, we've been running for three days straight!" one recruit shouted, staggering. His legs wobbled, barely holding him upright, and a streak of dirt smudged across his face from the ground. "We're exhausted!"
"I don't want to hear any excuses," Draven barked. "Anyone who stops will have to hold up this rock, fifty times your body weight for twelve hours. I want to see those feet moving. If you can't endure this training, then you have no hope of surviving out there."
"Captain Draven recovered quickly from the beating he took from Aixen," Ari said, glancing at Valeria, whose arms were crossed as she surveyed the recruits.
"Yes, he's doing well these days," she replied. "Though he's not at full strength, so he insisted on training these recruits since he can't perform his regular duties. He doesn't like slacking off, even when it's out of his control. Losing him… would have left us vulnerable."
"How so?" Ari asked, tilting his head.
"If he had perished I would be the only remaining Captain. "
"huh… so you mean there are only two of you?" Ari asked,
"Well, his Captain rank is complicated," Valeria replied. "But initially, Aixen and Dravem were the only two Captains. There were three lieutenants, including myself, about thirty sergeants, fifty corporals, and the rest are either lance corporals or privates."
"Aixen was supposed to be ranked up to Vanguard, but he refused and continued watching over Emilia. To think that he betrayed the queen's trust," Valeria said quietly.
Before Ari could reply, a familiar voice called out.
"Hey, Ari! How's it going? Everything alright?" Evelyn waved as she approached, her steps quick and light across the dirt.
Ari stood a little straighter as Valeria turned and walked away. "Oh, Evelyn...I'm holding on. How does it feel to be a full-fledged worker and finally free from prison?"
"It feels good," she said, her cheeks coloring faintly as she glanced at him. "And it's all thanks to you. I… I owe you everything."
Ari gave a small shrug, his tone easy. "It's all good. Just do your best and stay out of trouble, okay?"
"Yes! And I'll make sure Grandpa doesn't cause any mischief either," Evelyn replied with a bright grin, her antennae twitching before she hurried off again.
Ari watched Evelyn go, a faint warmth lingering in his chest. He lowered himself onto a nearby rock, the surface rough beneath him, and let his gaze drift across the training field.
To think I used to despise them so much, and now I'm growing fond of them—their bonds, their hard work. Before I died, I had no friends except Keiko, and I felt lonely. Maybe that's why my view of them has changed because I'm not alone anymore, he thought, resting his elbows on his knees.
Time slipped by unnoticed. The recruits' shouts dulled into the background, and Ari sat there quietly, lost in his own reflection. When he finally stirred, the shadows on the ground had shifted—at least half an hour must have passed.
"Ari, can we please talk for a minute? It's really important," a voice called, soft but carrying urgency.
He looked up, startled to see Emilia approaching. "What's wrong?"
Emilia hesitated at first, her antennae trembling slightly. She clasped her hands together, struggling to meet his gaze. "We haven't spoken in a while and a lot has happened… but it's been eating away at me. I… I need to tell you everything that's been weighing on my chest."
"I still feel guilty for what I did," Emilia admitted, her voice unsteady as she wrung her hands together. "You poured your heart out to me, telling me nothing but the honest truth, yet I let logic get the better of me because I had known Aixen my whole life. To make matters worse, I said all those horrible things to you…"
She swallowed hard, her words faltering. "I was manipulated by the ant I trusted for so long. If it weren't for Valeria, who saw through his facade and placed her faith in you, our colony would already be gone. And in the end, you still rescued me from Aixen, even when I doubted you." Her eyes shimmered, her voice breaking as she whispered, "I'm so sorry, Ari."
The silence between them pressed heavily.
Ari drew a slow breath, his expression calm. "Don't be sorry, Princess. You did what you thought was right, trusting the one you had known your whole life over an imprisoned stranger. You couldn't have known he would betray the colony, so it's not your fault."
Emilia wiped her tears. "So… you don't hate me, then?" she asked, her tone small, almost pleading.
"I have no reason to," Ari replied evenly. "So don't worry, Princess."
"Please drop the formalities. I want you to call me Emilia, if... that's alright with you, Ari."
Her voice was gentle, her lips forming his name with a warmth that made Ari freeze for a moment. He blinked, caught off guard.
Wait a minute… why did she look so cute saying that? She's just an ant, right? Or is it her human looks giving off this… His chest tightened as his heartbeat picked up.
He opened his mouth to answer, but before he could, a sudden clang rang out across the colony. The sharp metallic echo rattled through the air, followed by deep, rumbling vibrations that shook the ground beneath him. Ari shot to his feet, his antennae twitching as the heavy stomping of many feet surged closer.
"Princess, get to the colony now" Ari said over his shoulder. Without waiting for a reply, he sprinted toward the sound,
"What? Ari wait!" She stretched out her arm.
By the time he reached the source, Valeria, Draven, and the army of five hundred strong were already assembled. Their ranks stood rigid, weapons raised, eyes locked forward.
As Ari got closer he realized that it was only a single ant, a female.
"Who are you, and why have you come to our colony?" Valeria's voice rang out sharp and cold.
The lone figure lifted her head, her expression unreadable. "I am Nyra , a Captain serving under our Queen Helena. My queen has requested a meeting with your colony to negotiate General Ivan's return in exchange for resources."
She spread her hands slightly. "As proof of our sincerity, I came alone. I can't take on so many of you at once."
"And why should we agree to your request? So you can regroup and attack us again?" Valeria's eyes narrowed.
Nyra's face stayed expressionless, as she yawned slightly. "We were wrong for invading your colony. But without Ivan, our colony will collapse. With that in mind, consider our proposal carefully, and inform your queen of what we are willing to offer."
She turned on her heel and walked away, her steps measured, leaving only the faint scuff of her feet on the dirt behind her.
After watching her for more then five minutes the soldiers sheathed their weapons.
"Alright," Draven said, his tone firm, "everyone remain on standby." He swept a hand in a crisp motion, and the army began to return to their stations.
"Let's go to their colony, Valeria," Ari said firmly, his gaze steady.
Valeria spun to face him, antennae bristling. "What are you implying? They attacked our colony, what reason should we negotiate the only thing that's keeping them from invading again? The queen also needs to be aware of this and more importantly she looked at him seriously."
"Who do you think you are, barking orders at me?"
"Hold on...That wasn't my intentions" he waved his hand. "Just trust me. I believe the queen will approve my plan, both of our colonies will benefit from it," he said, a quiet confidence gleaming in his eyes.
After a brief pause between them Valeria finally sighed.
"Fine, but if this all goes south, you're dead before they even get the chance to give me a scratch," Valeria muttered.
Ari smiled awkwardly. I'll bear that in mind.
"Thank you for being so understanding. You know, I actually never expected that."
"Shut up." Valeria's voice was low and cutting. Her fist struck his shoulder with precise force, the impact jarring through his arm. Causing him to stagger back a few paces.
Ouch, that hurt like hell, remember Ari don't piss the Captain off.
When they arrived at the colony, Nyra stood at the entrance. Her posture was straight, yet she gave a subtle nod of acknowledgment as they approached.
" So you made your decision. Please, follow me to meet Queen Helena," She said, her steps measured as she led them through the tunnels.
As they passed through they noticed how worn down the structure was and from now and then they saw a few soldiers and worker ants.
Inside the royal chamber, Queen Helena sat atop a stone platform. Her posture was regal, yet her expression wary and tired. Behind her, her wings rested folded neatly against her back, translucent and veined. The soft, greenish glow of bioluminescent fungi along the walls caught in the delicate membranes giving her an ethereal shimmer in the dim light.
"Queen Helena, these are the ants sent to represent Queen Celeste in this meeting," Nyra announced, her voice even and calm.
"So they at least want to hear us. That's good," Helena said, straightening slightly in her throne.
"Know this," Queen Helena said, her wings shifting lightly as she leaned forward on the stone platform. "I am aware we attacked your colony, though I ask you not to judge us too harshly. We were misled by an ant who cloaked herself and emerged only under night's cover. She exploited our scarcity, convincing us that conquest would bring prosperity. In truth, it has brought naught but ruin."
She lowered her head. "Our army is diminished. Without General Ivan, we stand nearly defenseless. With what little strength remains, we seek to return Ivan to regain our strength. We are willing to give anything," she added, her tone softening with a hint of melancholy.
"I'm afraid I must decline your request," he said evenly. "However, I have a counterproposal."
Helena's antennae flicked upward, brushing lightly against each other. "A counterproposal?" she asked her voice calm but cautious.
"We will release Ivan only if you agree to form a treaty with our colony," Ari said, hands at his sides a smile on his face.
"A treaty...?And why would you offer such generosity while holding the upper hand?" Her gaze was steady, though a faint crease formed between her brows. "Surely you perceive our weakness. You could simply refuse and watch our colony collapse."
"Because I genuinely want to help your colony recover," he said evenly. He gestured lightly. "You've lost a significant number of soldiers in that pointless battle. General Ivan remains in our custody, and you have no means to compel us. But instead of pressing our advantage, I want to build something stronger between us. I believe our colonies can thrive together. We can share resources, help defend each other, and finally put this war behind us."
Valeria brow twitched but she said nothing.
Helena's expression softened as Ari's words settled over the chamber. "Given the circumstances," she said, as she closed her eyes weighing the options. "this proposal appears to be our only viable option."
She then opened her eyes. "Very well I shall agree to your terms."