Valeria jabbed Ari on the shoulder, her eyes blazing with frustration. The impact made him wince, and a sharp sting lingered in his arm.
"I can't believe you made such a bold decision, knowing they could turn on us at any moment," she snapped, her antennae twitching sharply. "How are you even certain we can trust them? And to make matters worse, we didn't consult the Queen or the elders. Do you realize I'm the one who'll take all the blame because I was there? You just became part of our colony—how dare you act like this without orders?"
She stepped back slightly, folding her arms across her chest, her posture rigid and commanding. Her glare bored into him, and she clicked her tongue sharply in irritation, a subtle reminder of her authority.
Ari rubbed his shoulder, wincing as the lingering sting throbbed sharply. That hurt like hell… she really packs a punch. He flexed his arm, testing the ache. Ants are seriously strong.
Ari raised his hands slightly, keeping his voice calm as he met Valeria's glare. "Calm down, Valeria. The Queen will be pleased with how I handled the situation."
He paused, glancing at her tense posture before continuing. "Being allies with them won't just end the war—it'll let us pool our resources. Say we have an excess of berries but lack meat, and Queen Helena's colony has plenty of meat but not enough berries. We could trade, and both colonies would benefit."
Valeria's shoulders tightened; she straightened, chin level, and fixed him with a hard stare. Her jaw worked once, slow and controlled, and her voice came out low and cold.
"Well — when you put it that way, I suppose it was the right call." She let the words hang, eyes never leaving his face. "But there's a slim chance the elders—or the Queen—will agree to this treaty. If I'm the one blamed for your actions, I will hold you accountable." She leaned in just enough for the threat to land. "I'm going to kill you. Understand?"
She stepped back, posture unreadable, fingers brushing the hilt of her mandibles at her side as if testing the weight of what she might have to do.
For some reason, I believe she'll actually do it, Ari thought, watching her fists clench and unclench at her sides. He forced a small, nervous smile that didn't reach his eyes.
The corridor toward the Queen's chamber smelled faintly of damp earth. Tall columns of hardened soil rose on either side, and clumps of glowing mushrooms at their bases threw a pale green light that made everything look washed-out and thin. Footsteps echoed softly as they walked.
At the chamber entrance, a servant stepped forward and dipped his head, antennae lowered in respect. "And what brings you here today, Lieutenant Valeria?" he asked, his tone polite but cautious.
Valeria clicked her tongue, brushing past the servant without slowing. "That's none of your business. And for your information—" her eyes narrowed, "—it's Commander Valeria. Now step aside. We need to speak with Queen Celeste."
She didn't wait for a reply, striding forward with brisk steps. Ari trailed after her as the servants quickly moved out of the way.
Inside, the chamber opened wide. At its center, Queen Celeste sat on a raised platform decorated with polished stones and scattered petals that gave off a faint, sweet scent. Her wings rested neatly against her back, long and translucent, their thin veins catching the glow of the mushrooms.
Her posture was perfectly upright, and every movement radiated quiet authority. Her antennae held steady, and her gaze swept over them calmly.
"You requested an audience with me, Commander Valeria?" Queen Celeste's voice carried easily across the chamber, calm yet commanding.
Valeria lowered her head in a bow, antennae dipping forward in respect. "Yes, my Queen. There is a matter we need to discuss with you and the elders. It is urgent, and it requires your wisdom." Her tone was firm, each word measured, but the respect in her posture was unmistakable.
"An urgent matter, you say?" Queen Celeste's antennae twitched once, a subtle signal of curiosity. She rose from her platform with unhurried grace, her wings catching the faint green glow as they shifted against her back. "Very well. Let us discuss it."
The soft scrape of her steps echoed through the chamber as she led the way. Valeria and Ari followed close behind, and together they moved down a dim corridor that opened into the council hall, where the elders already sat in a semicircle.
The elders' faces were lined and hardened with age. Their antennae flicked slowly, deliberate, as if already simmering with irritation. The air in the chamber felt thick, almost still, heavy with unspoken expectation and cautious skepticism.
"What exactly did you want to discuss with us?" one of the elder ants asked, narrowing his eyes at Ari. His antennae twitched once, and his lips pressed tight with suspicion.
Valeria stepped forward, her tone measured but firm. "Earlier today, an ant named Ruth—a commander from the colony that tried to attack us—approached us. She requested a negotiation to return General Ivan in exchange for their resources."
One of the elder's mouths clicked sharply, and his antennae flicked with agitation. "Wait… wasn't it their lack of resources that led them to start the war?" He leaned forward slightly, hands resting tensely on his knees.
"I'm getting to that part," Valeria said, her voice firm, lips pressing together as her antennae flicked sharply with emphasis. "We followed Ruth back to their colony and spoke with Queen Helena. She told us that a mysterious ant had manipulated them into attacking us by exploiting their food shortage. She apologized for the attack and explained how weak their army had become without Ivan at its center."
"She offered to pay any amount of resources to secure his release," Valeria continued, shifting her weight slightly, antennae brushing forward in thought. "But Ari made a counteroffer—he proposed forming a treaty and partnership with Helena's colony."
The room buzzed with shocked murmurs. The elders exchanged glances, some shaking their heads in disbelief.
"Are you insane?" one of the elder ants demanded, his voice rising with panic. He leaned forward slightly, antennae twitching as if trying to catch every reaction in the room. "Forming a treaty with another colony is impossible! Colonies cannot simply live in peace because of our different mindsets. If this treaty were established, what if we were sabotaged? Or worse—what if it's a trap?"
"Who gave you the right to make such a foolish declaration?" another elder snapped, his lips pressed tight and antennae flicking sharply in agitation. He leaned forward, hands gripping the edge of the table. "You are part of our colony now, but you can't just make such an important decision without consulting us."
"And you, Commander Valeria," another elder said, his voice sharp and unforgiving. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his antennae twitched in irritation. "I am very disappointed in you. How could you allow this… feeble-minded ant to propose such an absurd idea?"
Valeria stepped forward, posture straight and deliberate, antennae flicking sharply. "Listen here, old geezer," she said, her voice clipped and precise, every word measured. "Ari is far from feeble. He saved our colony. Without him, you wouldn't be sitting here questioning our judgment. He had a reason for his actions, and it was the right one."
"That's enough, Valeria," Queen Celeste said, her gaze steady and expectant, wings shifting slightly as she leaned forward. "Now then, Ari, explain to me why you proposed this."
Ari straightened, lifting his head to meet her eyes. "Well, in all honesty, if we don't return their general, it will only lead to more war between us," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Even though we have the advantage in battle, we would still lose many ants."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle before continuing. "A treaty between both colonies won't just prevent further conflict—it will create a system where both colonies benefit, whether through resources, military support, or working together as one."
"Giving them General Ivan in exchange for a treaty is a win-win," Ari said, his shoulders squared. "The war will end, they'll have their general back, and they'll gain an ally to help rebuild."
He paused briefly, glancing around the chamber. "So, in theory, they would have no reason to attack us," he added, his voice calm but firm.
Queen Celeste leaned back slightly on her platform, her wings shifting faintly as she regarded him. "You make a valid point, Ari. Why don't we give it a try? We have nothing to lose by doing this," she said, her tone decisive, carrying the weight of finality.
"My Queen, you can't possibly agree to something so outrageous! Freeing Ivan will only—"
"I have made my decision, and it is final," Queen Celeste interrupted, her antennae swaying once in dismissal. "You are here to give advice, and I am here to either agree or disagree. So just bear with it." With that, she turned and left the chamber, her wings shifting faintly as she moved.
The elders sat in stunned silence, jaws tight and lips pressed together. After a long pause, one muttered bitterly, "Ever since that damned ant came to this colony, the Queen has been like this—stubborn and unwilling to listen to our logic anymore."
"We'll have to find a way to get rid of him before it's too late," whispered another, eyes narrowing as they followed Ari with cold calculation.
And just like that, General Ivan was returned to his colony, and the treaty between Queen Helena's and Queen Celeste's colonies was officially established. Though hesitant at first, both sides eventually found common ground and began coordinating their winter resource collection.
A few days later, Ari stood at the edge of the training grounds, watching other ants spar with their mandibles. The air buzzed with energy—the clanging of weapons, the sharp breaths of exertion, and the rhythmic thud of feet on packed earth filled the space.
Ari inhaled deeply, feeling the crisp, earthy scent of the colony tunnels fill his lungs. Today, I will officially begin my training as a military ant in Queen Celeste's army. I know it will be tough, but this is my life now… as an ant, he thought, his legs twitching slightly with anticipation.
"Wait, Ari," Valeria said, stepping closer. The faint clack of her footsteps echoed softly on the stone floor. "I just realized something—you don't have mandibles or a stinger spear, do you?" She crossed her arms, tilting her head as she studied him.
"No. I guess I didn't get any at all when I arrived in this world," Ari murmured, opening and closing his hands as if still expecting something to sprout. The cold air brushed over his limbs, making the gesture feel oddly mechanical.
"Well, in that case… here—take these." Valeria held out a pair of mandibles. The metal felt cool and slightly rough against Ari's palms, faint scratches tracing their edges.
"What are these?" Ari asked, turning them over in his hands. The weight was surprising, grounding him in the moment.
"They're not just any mandibles," Valeria said, her tone softening. "These belonged to the most courageous ant I've ever known—my father. He was a captain in Queen Celeste's army and a formidable leader. He was killed by a grasshopper named Hopper, but not before taking down over a hundred of them. He's this colony's hero." Her voice grew quieter as she spoke, the distant hum of activity from other recruits filling the silence.
"You'd give something so precious to me?" Ari asked, his antennae twitching as his eyes widened in surprise.
"This is proof that you're part of the colony now—and that I trust you. I believe you'll use them well. Besides…" She paused, glancing at him once more. "…you remind me a little of him."
Valeria turned and walked toward the other recruits, the soft scraping of her feet fading behind her.
Ari stared down at the mandibles, feeling the smooth grooves beneath his fingers. She entrusted me with her father's mandibles, huh… he thought, gripping them tightly, the faint metallic scent lingering in his nose.