Ari's eyes fluttered weakly, struggling to lift the heavy veil of unconsciousness that clung to him. His lashes trembled, fluttering open and shut in slow, disoriented beats as the world appeared only in fractured, blurry patches.
Shadows and soft light mingled without shape, a haze of green and gold pressing against his sight. He blinked, sluggish and unsure, until gradually, the outlines sharpened—the gentle curve of leaves around him, the muted sunlight filtering through them, and the faint rise and fall of a figure's breathing beside him.
His vision finally cleared, steady and whole, and he found himself gazing at Princess Tanya, resting peacefully by his side.
"I thought I was a goner with that stab the termite queen gave me… I should've melted from the inside," Ari muttered, still unsure how he was alive.
Carefully, he peeled the soft leaves from his body, his hands trembling as he reached his chest—the very spot where the mandible had pierced him. His breath caught when he found smooth, unbroken surface, no scar, no trace of the wound that should have killed him.
"How…?" he whispered, confusion and disbelief tightening in his throat.
"Wait, how did this happen?" Ari wondered out loud, his voice barely steady. "It's almost as if I wasn't hurt at all."
His mind scrambled for answers until a flicker of memory surfaced—the quest screen. It had appeared before, tasking him with slaying fifty termites. He'd completed it, but he hadn't paid attention to the reward.
His eyes widened, realization creeping in. Was that it? The unknown reward… could it have saved me?
Ari's eyes widened. "What…?" he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. He couldn't believe it—this had to be the reason behind his miraculous healing. His gaze lingered on the quest screen, mind still racing to process it all, when Tanya stirred beside him.
Her eyes fluttered open, and the moment they landed on him, she gasped sharply.
"Ari, you're… you're alive!" she cried, her voice trembling with emotion. Before he could say a word, she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his torso as if afraid he might vanish again. "I thought you were gone. I… I thought I lost you."
Ari gently patted her head, his hand soft against her silky hair, doing his best to soothe her. "I'm here, so you don't have to worry anymore."
Tanya pulled back just enough to look at him, quickly wiping her tears as a relieved smile broke across her face. Ari's chest tightened at the sight—her raw relief, her warmth—it touched him, though he couldn't help feeling a little overwhelmed by it all.
At that moment, a voice from the entranceway cut through their reunion like a blade.
"Since you're back to full health, am I to assume you're slacking off, Ari?"
Ari's body stiffened at once. It was Commander Valeria, her cold, commanding tone piercing the room.
"U-Uh, no, Commander," he stammered, shrinking slightly under the weight of her sharp glare.
Valeria stepped forward, her exoskeleton legs clicking sharply against the hardened earth beneath them. Without warning, she brought her hand down sharply on Ari's head.
"Ouch!" Ari winced, pressing a hand to the spot.
"That's for disobeying orders," Valeria said, her voice low and commanding, carrying the weight of authority that left no room for argument. "You risked endangering both our colony and the mission itself."
Ari lowered his head, antennae drooping. "L-Listen, Valeria… I'm sorry," he muttered, voice barely above a whisper.
For a heartbeat, the room held its tension. Then Valeria's eyes softened slightly, though the edge of command never left her tone. "I still do not understand how you survived that wound," she said, voice firm, deliberate, and unwavering, "but I am relieved you live. Do not mistake this relief for leniency, Ari. You must remember the weight of your actions, for the colony depends on every one of us."
Ari blinked, caught off guard. Did she… actually care about me? The thought twitched through his mind like a restless antenna, but he quickly shoved it aside, pressing his focus back to the present.
Tanya shifted slightly beside him, antennae flicking as her eyes stayed fixed on his face. Relief softened her expression, but she remained quiet, watching him carefully.
"Rise and follow me," Valeria commanded, her tone sharp and unwavering. "You have fallen behind in your training, and there is no time to waste. We begin now, and you will catch up."
Ari nodded, pushing himself upright. The leaves rustled as he moved, but he ignored the ache in his limbs. Whatever miracle had saved him, the work ahead wouldn't wait.
"See you, Princess Tanya, and thank you for staying by my side," Ari said, bowing slightly before turning and leaving.
Tanya let out a soft sigh, antennae flicking. "I thought we got over the formalities," she muttered, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Back at the training grounds, Ari was greeted with a mix of surprise and joy. As soon as Isla and Rory saw him, their jaws dropped in disbelief.
Isla was the first to react. "Ari!" she shouted, rushing toward him. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "You're alive!" she cried, her voice thick with relief as tears streaked her face.
Rory approached more slowly, a smirk tugging at his lip. He clapped Ari firmly on the back, just enough to make him stumble slightly. "Look who finally decided to show up," Rory said, his tone rough but amused. "Thought you were gonna get yourself killed and leave the rest of us to do the work."
Ari shook his head, grinning despite himself. "You really waited for me to recover to start whining, huh?"
Rory shrugged, smirking. "What can I say? Somebody's gotta keep you in line."
Ari chuckled, warmth creeping into his voice despite the teasing. "Yeah, yeah… whatever you say."
Isla stepped back slightly, though her hands still clung to his arms as if letting go might make him vanish again. Her eyes wavered, guilt flickering through them.
"Ari… I need to tell you something," she began, her voice shaking. "During the battle with the termites, I froze. I was so scared… I couldn't move, couldn't do anything. When that termite queen impaled you, I thought you were gone. And when they brought you back to the colony, I couldn't stop replaying it in my head. I was ready to give up. I even started doubting if I belonged in the military at all."
She bit her lip hard, forcing herself to keep speaking. "But then… you survived. Even after being hit by her acid—acid that melts through everything—you lived. When I heard you were awake, I realized I can't keep running from my destiny. If you can stand back up after all that, then I can find the courage to keep going too."
Ari's smirk softened into a faint, warmer smile. "You were scared, but you're still here, aren't you? That's what matters."
Rory shifted, crossing his arms with a small huff before looking away. "Guess I should admit something too. I… didn't train while you were out."
Ari blinked, brow lifting. "Seriously? Why not?"
Rory shrugged, though the corner of his mouth tugged upward in a sly grin. "Because if I got stronger while you were stuck in recovery you'd never shut up about me having a head start. I figured we'd start again together—fair and square."
Ari let out a short snort, shaking his head with a smirk. "You really think I'd whine about that?"
"You'd whine for days," Rory shot back without missing a beat.
The two locked eyes for a moment before breaking into laughter, the tension easing between them.
Before Ari could respond, Valeria cleared her throat, cutting through the moment and bringing them back to reality.
"Enough of this," she said, her voice firm and clipped. "Ari—listen well. Apart from Isla and Rory, you have been chosen to train directly under my command. You will serve in my unit, and so long as you endure the training, you will hold the rank of Lance Corporal. That places you one rank beneath Corporal Beatrice, who oversees the training of the rest of the recruits."
Her gaze hardened, making it clear this was no small honor—and no small burden.
Ari's eyes widened. "Wait… me? A Lance Corporal?"
"Yes," Valeria replied with a curt nod, her tone steady and commanding. "You've proven your worth on the field more than once. It's time you shouldered the responsibility that comes with it. But do not mistake this promotion for leniency—you are still behind in your training, and you will catch up. Quickly."
Ari drew in a slow breath, trying to steady himself beneath the weight of it all. Just days ago, he had been little more than a confused outsider. Now, he stood two ranks above the lowest recruit. It was overwhelming—yet a spark of excitement flickered inside him.
"I won't let you down, Commander," he said, his voice firm with newfound resolve.
Valeria regarded him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she gave a single, decisive nod. "See that you don't. This colony cannot afford weak links—especially not in my unit. From this day forward, you will carry the burden of leadership, whether you are ready or not."
Her eyes shifted sharply toward Isla and Rory. "And that goes for the both of you as well. Do not think yourselves exempt. If he rises, you had best rise with him."
Isla straightened at once, nodding firmly. "Understood, Commander. I won't fall behind." Her voice carried a note of determination, though her fingers still clenched tightly at her sides.
Rory smirked, folding his arms across his chest. "Heh, don't worry. If Ari's climbing up the ranks, I'll just have to work twice as hard to beat him there."
Valeria's sharp gaze lingered on both of them. "Good. I expect nothing less."
A spark of excitement flickered in Ari's chest. His life in this strange new world was moving faster than he could have imagined. Maybe this was his chance to truly make a difference—to earn his place here—and maybe, just maybe, find a way back home.
"Now," Valeria said briskly, turning toward the training grounds, "we begin. You have much to prove."
They fell into step behind her, but she slowed, pivoting sharply to face them. Her eyes were hard, unyielding, and her voice carried the weight of command.
"You fought well on the field, but do not be deceived—the battles behind us were mere preludes. The enemies ahead will be faster, stronger, more cunning. And they will not hesitate to crush everything in their path."
The words settled heavily over the group, a silence stretching in their wake. Ari felt his jaw tighten as the weight of them sank in.
"Termites were only the beginning," Valeria pressed on. "There are foes beyond them with abilities you cannot yet comprehend—creatures capable of breaking even our strongest warriors, should we falter."
She let that linger, her gaze cutting through them like a blade.
"Understand this above all: we are the final bulwark of this colony. If we fall, everything falls. The Queen, our kin, our home—everything we have built will be swept away. The burden of protection rests upon us."
Ari's chest tightened. This wasn't only about surviving anymore. It was about defending an entire world that had, against all odds, accepted him.
"Steel yourselves," Valeria concluded, her tone easing by a fraction though her eyes remained sharp. "The trials to come will be relentless. But if we stand united, we will endure. We will triumph."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel and strode forward. Isla, Rory, and Ari followed close behind, their steps heavy but certain.
Ari knew now—the real battle was only just beginning. And there was no turning back.