At the main entrance of the colony, the soldiers froze in place.
Mandibles lowered a fraction as their hands loosened around the grips.
Valeria stared at Brooks.
"I asked a question, Brooks."
"Take it easy there, Captain."
Brooks smiled.
"I'm only trying to help our Lance Corporal."
He lifted one hand.
"They're not your enemies."
"You can relax."
Ari's eyes moved between Brooks and Valeria.
What's Brooks doing?
Valeria let out a slow breath.
"You've always been like this."
She kept her eyes on him.
"So tell me... why should I let my guard down?"
"If you don't believe me, ask Ari."
"If that Monarch hadn't stepped in while he was badly injured..."
He lowered his hand.
"...he would've died."
"W Wait... you saw all that?" Ari asked, his eyes widening.
The memory of Seraphina leaning over him and gently licking his wounds flashed through Ari's mind.
His face turned red.
"You're more than meets the eye, aren't you?" Seraphina said with a soft chuckle.
"I never sensed you..."
She glanced toward Brooks.
"Or your entire squad anywhere near that area."
A quiet ripple spread through the ant ranks.
Sergeant Cassian lowered his mandibles and sheathed them.
Beatrice let out a slow, shaky breath.
"Captain..."
"Even so..."
"Quit being so stubborn."
Brooks stepped forward without hesitation.
He rested a hand on Valeria's head, his fingers brushing lightly through her hair.
She stiffened.
"You were like this even back when you were a recruit."
He withdrew his hand.
"They need us more than you think."
Brooks turned toward the colony entrance.
His squad fell into step behind him as the soldiers stepped aside to let them pass.
"Where do you think you're going?" Valeria asked.
"We're not done."
"I just came back from a life threatening mission."
"My squad is barely holding themselves together."
He turned to look at her.
"They need rest."
"I still have to make my mission report to the Queen."
"Ari can tell you everything that happened."
He lifted a hand in a slow wave before turning back toward the colony entrance.
Each step carried him farther into the tunnels until the shadows finally obscured him.
After a brief pause, Ignatia stepped toward the entrance.
Valeria closed the distance in a single step.
Above them, Nytheris hovered in the air, his whip tightening in his grip.
"That's far enough," Valeria said.
"Now tell me... why are you here?"
Ignatia let out a long, controlled breath.
She clicked her tongue.
"This is getting nowhere..."
"And I don't have time or patience."
Her hands curled into tight fists.
"Monarch Ignatia," Nytheris called.
"It's clear we're not welcome here, and I don't intend to let you lower yourself by staying among these tunnel dwellers."
"Please come with me."
"I'll guide you to a safer place to rest."
"You're right..." Ignatia said.
"This is turning into a headache."
She pressed a hand to her temple.
"We should leave."
Ignatia's wings fluttered as she lifted off the ground.
A hand closed firmly around her wrist.
Her wings stilled mid hover.
She looked down.
Her crimson eyes narrowed.
"Let go. Now."
"Don't leave yet," Ari said.
"And why shouldn't I?" Ignatia asked.
"Because I promised you'd have a place to stay for the night..."
He looked down.
"It's clear this will end in blood."
Valeria closed her eyes.
"But for your sake, I'd rather not kill anyone here."
She turned her gaze toward Ignatia.
"Yes."
"Captain Valeria is stubborn..."
"And she can be intimidating at times."
She drew in a slow breath.
"But she listens to reason."
"Please... let me speak to her."
Ignatia's mouth opened slightly.
Nytheris watched from above, his eyelids lowering.
Below him, an injured Butterfly Guardian slowly lifted his head.
He winced.
"Don't overdo it, Garren," another butterfly said.
"I... I'm fine," Garren said.
He looked up at Nytheris.
His teeth clenched.
Ignatia drew in a deep breath and nodded.
"I'm leaving it to you."
Seraphina let out a quiet chuckle.
"Well now..."
"This is unexpected."
Her gaze shifted between Ignatia and Ari.
"The great War Monarch Ignatia..."
"Swayed by a mere ant soldier."
Ignatia turned toward her, glaring.
Seraphina's antennae gave a sudden, sharp twitch.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"...Ignatia."
"That wind pressure..."
"It can't be..." Ignatia muttered.
She looked up.
The shadows above them shifted.
Three figures descended from the darkness above.
They lowered toward the clearing.
Two Butterfly Guardians led the descent.
Their wings spread in broad, deliberate sweeps.
Between them, each holding one of her hands, drifted a third figure.
As they landed, they released her hands.
She stepped forward slowly.
Her eyes were covered with a smooth band of pale green silk, tied neatly behind her head.
Clear, translucent white wings unfurled behind her, catching the moonlight with each small adjustment.
Her white exoskeleton held a gentle sheen beneath the night sky, and her blonde hair flowed down her back.
"Who is that?" an ant asked, his eyes widening.
Ignatia's breath caught.
"...Sister?"
She stepped forward.
"Luminara..."
"I told you to remain in the meadows."
"Why did you come all this way?"
Luminara smiled.
"I owe you an apology for that, Ignatia."
"Circumstances left me no choice."
"The stakes have risen, and the threat to our survival grows heavier with each passing moment."
She drew in a slow breath.
"I received word not long ago..."
"Magnus now holds the advantage."
"Yes..." Ignatia said.
Her fist tightened.
"He ambushed us and took the Moonveil Blossom."
She lowered her gaze.
Her eyes trembled.
"I'm sorry, Luminara..."
"I've failed you."
"Do not place that weight on yourself, Ignatia."
Luminara walked up to her.
"You've carried this burden alone for far too long."
"What you've done for me..."
"For all of us..."
"Is already more than anyone could ask."
"It is enough."
She slowly reached out with both arms, closing the distance one step at a time.
Luminara wrapped her arms around Ignatia, drawing her close.
Ignatia's shoulders stiffened for a moment before they slowly relaxed.
She closed her eyes.
"We'll figure this out together," Luminara said with a gentle smile.
"And we'll put an end to Magnus' tyranny once and for all."
The green cloth covering her eyes darkened slightly as a tear seeped through the fabric.
It traced a path down her cheek.
Ari stiffened.
"Wait..."
"You're the voice I heard in the forest."
Luminara turned toward him.
"I see..."
"So you were the one my voice reached, Ari."
His breath caught.
How does she know my name?
"I'd like to thank you properly for saving my sister."
She paused.
"But before that..."
Luminara stepped forward twice.
"You must be the captain of this platoon."
"I am High Monarch Luminara, the eldest of my sisters."
Behind Valeria, several soldiers shifted their weight.
"You protect your colony with everything you have."
"And I respect that."
Luminara came to a stop as she faced Valeria.
"That is why I do not fault your caution."
"But I ask that you do not let it harden into blindness."
"We are not your enemies."
She motioned toward the butterflies behind her.
"This group behind me is only a quarter of what remains of our Kaleidoscope."
"Most of our people have already been wiped out by a Moth."
"His power is beyond anything you can imagine."
"His name is Magnus."
Valeria kept her eyes on Luminara.
"Is that so..."
"I've never heard of a Moth like that."
"Not in this region."
"I fear he has already moved one step closer to his objective," Luminara said.
"If we do not intervene, then two nights from now, beneath the full moon, he will gain strength beyond what he already possesses."
"And when that happens..."
"He will surpass Hopper."
"He will seize this entire region."
Valeria's eyes widened a fraction.
The mandibles in her hands trembled slightly.
Beside her, Beatrice straightened, her shoulders tightening.
"Did you just say... Hopper?" Valeria asked.
"Yes," Luminara said.
"That is Magnus' intention."
"To surpass Hopper and seize control of this entire region."
"We want to stop him before that happens, but our numbers have been reduced too greatly."
"We cannot face him alone."
She paused.
"So I ask this of you, Captain of the ant colony."
"Allow us to speak with your Queen."
A brief silence settled between them.
Valeria closed her eyes and let out a slow breath.
The mandibles in her hands lowered before sliding into their sheaths with a faint metallic scrape.
"...Very well."
Her eyes swept across the butterfly group before returning to Luminara.
"If this concerns the survival of the region, then it will affect our colony soon enough."
"I won't ignore it."
"No way..."
"She actually convinced Valeria?" Ari said.
"As expected of the Seer of the High Monarchs," Seraphina muttered.
"When she makes up her mind..."
"Others have little choice but to follow."
"Soldiers. Stand down," Valeria said.
The ant soldiers straightened as the tension in their shoulders eased.
One by one, their mandible blades slid back into their sheaths.
A few exchanged uncertain glances.
"What's happening?" one soldier asked.
"I have no clue," another said.
"Follow me."
"We'll discuss the details inside."
Valeria turned toward the colony.
Seraphina moved first.
Ignatia stepped beside her.
Behind them, Luminara advanced at a measured pace, guided carefully by her two guardians.
The pair carrying the injured butterfly fell in behind them as the group made its way toward the colony entrance.
Nytheris sheathed his thorny whip with a soft click.
The weapon folded neatly against his side as his black wings unfurled.
He descended slowly.
Shadows rippled beneath him until his feet touched the ground.
So that's where they've been hiding her...
After Magnus took her sight, they tucked her away in the meadows of all places.
Without another thought, he stepped toward the entrance.