Formicea Chapter 19

So we proceed to wait in the sa alley.

You wouldn't think that anything happened here at all.

There isn't the slightest trace of bloodshed.

I guess the workers who grabbed them pulled them down and now the corpses are under the earth.

If there is anything left in the first place.

Now that I'm aware of them I detect quite a number of interceptors on the roofs.

They are well hidden and not easy to make out in the setting dark.

The term ssengers isn't really applicable to them.

They might be to use like this but at the mont they are here to annihilate any threats coming to us.

And this surely does not put to ease.

(E)

(E)

Just then I get aware of my response.

It seems they all are a little put off at my shout.

In insect speech!

"I-I ntioned the part about problems with my voice?" (E)

"What was that?" (F)

"Insect speech. Part of the whole "insectifying" thing. Do you have any idea how hard it was to learn human words again?" (E)

"Ieeh caEn rEeelaEte to thAaat!" (L)

Now everyone is holding their ears.

"Ouch, who is that?" (R)

"Ehk, this is Princess Liseti! She is rather important. Just to ntion it before you say anything rude to her. It probably would only need a flick of her finger right now and the town gets instantly sucked into the decent." (E)

"Ieet wiEll proobaeblyEee taekE ae bieeet of prEeparAtion." (L)

First, her hearing ability is scary.

Second, her voice rings badly in the ears.

And third, I am absolutely sure she was serious right now.

And my parents seem to have understood that too.

"You-you know, she is a rather reasonable person. Also, I have confird now multiple tis that the giant insect army below is not going to invade!" (E)

"Giant insect army!? And... And what is the other one?" (F)

"Kyska is sothing like a maid. Or rather, she says nurse. Like I've said I can't clean these wings myself." (E)

"I-it seems much happened." (F)

"You don't say! Have I ntioned that there is an entire empire down there? Please, don't think I'm completely fine but after what happened I am a little disenchanted." (E)

I an after my body changed, I started to lay eggs, and was confronted with an insect civilization below the earth where I beca their princess, being a little bit dulled seems fine.

"Erys, when you scread before..." (F)

"Yes?" (E)

I don't like the sound of that question.

"Why did you scream at her? She was going to say sothing, right?" (F)

And now I know why I didn't like it.

"This... This is nothing. You misunderstood. No need to fuss over this." (E)

"Ery! You are acting now like back then when you've destroyed our tableware when you were six. What are you hiding?" (F)

"This is really nothing you need to hear." (E)

"It sounds more to like you don't want to hear instead of I don't need to. And such a thing towards your mother! Do you have any idea how worried that makes ?" (F)

"Can we talk about this when we're back?" (E)

"Back?" (F)

"You see, I ca here to ask you sothing. I think we all know that I cannot just co out and live here, with all the people. And this isn't even taking an empire of insects who say I'm their princess into account. On the other hand, you could... maybe... I love you and I don't want to miss you!" (E)

"The princess wants to ask if you might accompany her to her courtyard. Naturally you will be provided there. The princess assigned you a high priority, so your wishes would be attended!" (K)

"You are asking us to co below with these... insects?" (R)

"I'm asking you to co with ! I'm worried and you can't say it's safe to live here as refugees. I can absolutely promise you would be safe. I admit that the insects look foreign and you haven't even seen the workers or guardians, but I can help! And it wouldn't have to be forever. I could maybe let them rebuild our house and help you get through everything till you're fine again. They would do that, right Kyska?" (E)

"Everything my princess wishes and that we can fulfill." (K)

"IeEef ieet hEelps, IeeE mAaede a tuunneeel, rIeeeght thEere." (L)

If just that ear-piercing tone would stop.

And wait, here is already a tunnel?

How fast is she?

"I don't understand! What is in there for you to do such a thing as providing for us?" (F)

"The princess is of utmost importance! Her wellbeing has to be ensured and like this, her wishes and needs have priority. So that she can fulfill her role." (K)

"Her role?" (F)

And here I step in.

"You know a princess is apparently pretty important, so I am treated very well. They will be friendly because I ask them to!" (E)

"Do you really think I haven't noticed how you changed the topic?" (F)

"I don't need to tell you when I don't want to!" (E)

"You said you would if I co with you." (F)

"So that ans... you do?" (E)

"I thought I've lost my daughter and now she pleads to accompany her. I think it should be possible. Yet we should talk as a family about this." (F)

"I would advise buying so stuff. Maybe we could co and get you tomorrow night. I made sure that I have normal food and such at ho, but here we would need to buy it. And clothes! They don't have any. I have so money here. Is it okay to give it to them Liseti?" (E)

(L)

She seems to have noticed that everyone's ears hurt when she speaks and settled for the convenient option.

"She said yes!" (E)

Like this, I hand over the rest of the money I've got.

One gold and four silver and the leftover copper should be more than enough.

"You should take back the gold coin. If we would show this off, we would practically just be begging to get robbed." (F)

"Ehehe, yes. Who would do sothing so stupid?" (E)

"It seems you have more stories to tell." (F)

"Not really." (E)

Then she turns around and hands father the money.

"You've heard what we need! It should be possible to buy all this tomorrow. And now we have the money to run these errands. The market might be restricted for us but you should be able to get anything not essential for the town's supply before the curfew. I trust you there." (F)

"Sigh! Sure honey." (R)

"H-hey! What's the aning of this?" (E)

"Didn't I say I will accompany you? I thought you were dead and now that I've got you back I shall let you leave alone under the earth with so insects?" (F)

"Mum, this sounds a little rude!" (E)

"It wasn't ant as an offense! I simply don't want to lose you again!" (F)

"You-you really want to co down with now?" (E)

"I said so!" (F)

"Just to say it, the workers and guardians look a bit creepy. You might get scared." (E)

She turns to Liseti.

"You said that we will be treated well there and that it is safe?" (F)

"NAtuuraallyEEee! Youuu haave noo idEea hoow iEmportAant yoour daaughteer ieeez." (L)

Mum prepared this ti in advance her ears for that assault.

"I'm intrigued to hear about this. There should be no problem then." (F)

I'm getting goosebumps.

And cold sweat! Heavy sweat.

"At least it seems I will learn what my daughter is hiding." (F)

I think I get a stomach ache.

Wait!

Stomach ache?

No, no, no, no, no, no!

Not now!

What did Kyska say?

Keep your body under pressure and you can hold it off.

And so I do.

I guess it works for now.

"I think we should go then!" (K)

Unfortunately, a certain overly attentive insect has apparently noticed.

Liseti leads us to a place close, a little bit away from the road.

"Screak!/Open!" (L)

She cries out and after a mont the earth bulges and a worker becos visible.

I think my mother is a little uneasy with this four-legged monstrosity in front of her, but she manages to stay calm.

This isn't the case for my father who sends us off but now panics at this sight.

And I have no idea what is going on with my brother.

He just stares at them.

Where the creature erged a hole has opened.

It wasn't loud how the earth moved.

However, I fear that a person might randomly be up this night and see us.

Hopefully, they close this tunnel fast and well.

"Maybe we shouldn't stand out here in the open for long." (E)

"Fine. Then in there!" (F)

And my mother jumps first.

Well, it's not directly jumping, as the hole leads diagonally into the underground, but there was so determination in the move.

I follow behind.