At the main entrance of the colony, the air moved in a steady current and the moonlight spread across the packed ground.
The soldiers froze in place, mandible blades lowering a fraction as their hands loosened around the grips.
The tension in the clearing held firm, the silence pressing against their antennae.
Valeria's antennae tilted forward in a sharp line, her gaze locked ahead, her stance unmoving as she watched the opposing group.
"I asked a question, Brooks."
Her voice stayed controlled, the authority in it cutting through the night air.
Valeria held her stare on him, her posture firm and unmoving as she waited for his response.
"I'm only trying to help our Lance Corporal," Brooks spoke with an easy smile, the kind that softened the tension around him.
He lifted one hand in a gentle motion, his posture relaxed, shoulders settling as if the situation posed no threat at all.
"They're not your enemies. You can take ease in that."
Ari's eyes moved between Brooks and Valeria, uncertainty pulling his body into a tense hold.
His hands hovered close to his sides, fingers curling once before he steadied them.
Behind him, the butterflies adjusted their footing in small shifts, wings lifting and lowering in slow movements that pushed light currents of air across the clearing.
Valeria's antennae gave a small, controlled twitch.
She stepped forward once, her armored feet pressing into the soil with a firm shift of weight, mandibles held steady in her grip.
Her gaze stayed locked on Brooks.
"Tell me… why should I lower my guard and believe you? What proof do you have?"
"If you don't believe me, ask Ari."
Brooks eased his attention toward Seraphina, his expression settling into a calm, almost gentle warmth.
"If it wasn't for that Monarch who stepped in while he was severely injured, he would have ended up dead."
"W-Wait… you saw all that?" Ari blurted out, eyes going wide.
The memory of Seraphina leaning over him, gently licking his wounds, flashed vivid and hot in his mind.
His face stiffened—caught somewhere between shock and embarrassment.
"You're more cunning and stealthy than I gave you credit for," Seraphina chuckled, the soft shimmer of her wings fluttering in amusement behind her.
"I never once sensed you… or your entire squad anywhere near the area."
A quiet ripple ran through the ant lines.
Even Sergeant Samuel lowered his mandible blades slightly, the hardened chitin glinting as they dipped a fraction.
His stance remained cautious—feet planted—but there was a noticeable shift, a loosening of the rigid tension that had held the formation tight moments before.
Beatrice let out a slow, shaky breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
The tight set of her shoulders loosened by degrees, though a faint tremble still clung to her hands.
Her eyes tracked Valeria's stance—sharp, unwavering—searching for any hint that the danger had truly passed.
"Commander..."
The word slipped out in a quiet breath, barely audible, as if it had escaped her without permission.
Valeria's jaw tightened, a faint breath slipping through her nose as she steadied her stance.
"Even so…"
"Quit being so stubborn…"
Brooks stepped in without hesitation and rested a hand on her head, fingers brushing through her hair.
A few strands lifted with the motion, ruffling slightly as she stiffened under the unexpected contact.
"You were like this even as a recruit."
A small smile softened his expression, the kind that carried years of familiarity.
His hand slipped back to his side.
"They need us more than you think."
Brooks turned toward the colony entrance, posture relaxed but purposeful.
His squad fell into step behind him, armored feet shifting against the soil as they followed without a word.
Her voice cut through the space between them, low and controlled, her hair settling against her shoulders as she halted mid-step.
"Where do you think you're going? We're not done."
"I just came from a life-threatening mission, and my squad is barely holding themselves together."
Brooks' tone stayed gentle, but there was weight beneath it.
"They need rest."
He adjusted the mandible blade at his side, the sheath giving a quiet tap against his exoskeleton as his posture settled.
"I still have to make my mission report to the Queen. Ari can brief you on everything that happened."
He lifted a hand in a slow, relaxed wave before turning toward the colony entrance.
The dim light along the passage brushed faint highlights across his exoskeleton as he continued forward, each step carrying him farther into the tunnels until the shadows finally obscured him.
As Brooks disappeared into the tunnels, Ignatia stepped toward the entrance, wings giving a faint shift as she moved.
Valeria closed the distance in a single step, mandible blades held in a controlled but tight grip.
Her gaze locked onto Ignatia without wavering.
"That's far enough. I'm not finished with you."
She raised her chin slightly.
"State your reason for coming here."
Ignatia let out a long, controlled breath, her wings giving a faint tremor as she steadied herself.
"This is getting nowhere… and I don't have time for this."
Her hands curled into tight fists, the joints in her armored hands tightening as the pressure built beneath her exoskeleton.
Her eyes sharpened, a flicker of heat rising behind them.
"Monarch Ignatia."
Nytheris stepped forward, the barbs along the thorned whip in his hand catching a sliver of light as his grip tightened around the hilt.
His wings drew in slightly, posture lowering in caution.
"It's clear we're not welcome here, and I don't intend to let you risk yourself among these tunnel dwellers."
His voice held a restrained urgency.
"Please come with me. I'll guide you to a safer place to rest."
His eyes softened, the plea unmistakable in the way his stance shifted closer to her.
"You're right… this is turning into a headache."
Ignatia pressed a hand to her temple, her wings giving a restless shift.
"We should leave before this turns into something worse."
Nytheris lifted off the ground with a sharp beat of his wings, the air stirring beneath him as he rose.
Ignatia followed suit, her feet leaving the soil—
Only for a hand to close firmly around her wrist.
Ari stepped in from the side, stopping her ascent in one smooth motion, his fingers tightening just enough to hold her in place.
Her wings stilled mid-hover as she looked back at him.
Nytheris snapped around in the air, wings beating once in a sharp burst that sent a tight rush of air downward.
His grip closed around the thorned whip's handle until the barbs gave a faint clatter.
"Release her. Now."
His voice rose with a hard edge.
"How dare you put your filthy hands on my Monarch."
His posture shifted, feet lowering as if he were ready to drop straight into a strike.
Ignatia turned her head sharply, crimson eyes locking onto Ari with a cold, unwavering glare.
"Let go. Now."
"Don't leave yet."
Ari's arm circled her waist tighter, guiding her down with a steady pull until her feet met the ground again and her wings settled.
"Give me a chance to explain everything and straighten this mess out."
He kept his voice low, eyes fixed on hers.
"You came here because I suggested it. Let me see it through… please."
"It's clear this will end in blood."
Ignatia's wings lifted slightly, a faint vibration running through them as she spoke.
"I may be cold-hearted, but you saved me when my life was on the edge, so I'd rather not kill anyone here."
Her gaze shifted toward Valeria, eyes narrowing.
"However… you really think you're capable of convincing her?"
Ari's antennae leaned forward, a faint sign of resolve.
"Yes. Commander Valeria is stubborn… and she can be intimidating at times."
His exoskeleton tightened along the shoulders as he drew a steady breath.
"But she listens when the reason is sound."
He straightened his posture, feet firm against the soil.
"Let me speak to her."
Nytheris' black exoskeleton gleamed under the moonlight, each ridge catching the pale light as his posture shifted.
His black wings stretched wide, the motion sending a low vibration through the air as a broad shadow spread across the ground beneath him.
A thin glint sharpened in his dark eyes—malice rising.
This ant dares put himself in my way…
His fingers curled slowly until his fist tightened mid-air, his jaw clenched.
Below him, an injured butterfly guardian lifted his head with effort.
Supported by the two at his sides, he steadied his stance just enough to meet Nytheris' gaze.
His antennae trembled from pain, but his eyes held restrained rage, locked unflinchingly on the figure above.
Ignatia ahead of them, the faint tension in her antennae and shoulders easing bit by bit.
She drew in a deep breath, her wings settling against her back as she gave a small, deliberate nod.
Seraphina let out a quiet chuckle, the motion making the orange edges of her wings flutter with a soft rustle.
Her antennae lifted slightly, amused.
"Well now… this is unexpected."
Her gaze shifted between Ignatia and Ari, a faint spark dancing in her blue eyes.
"The great War Monarch Ignatia… swayed by a mere ant soldier."
Ignatia turned her head toward her, crimson eyes narrowing.
Her breathing shifted, a slow, controlled exhale leaving her chest.
Seraphina's antennae gave a sudden, sharp twitch, the movement tight with alertness.
Her wings tightened close to her back as her eyes widened.
"…Ignatia. That wind pressure—"
Ignatia drew in a quick breath, the surprise clear on her face.
"It can't be…"
Above them, fine particles of light began drifting from the canopy.
Each speck glimmered softly as it fell, scattering through the air in a slow, steady descent.
Then the shadows above them shifted.
Three figures descended from the upper darkness, their forms steady and controlled as they lowered toward the clearing.
Two guardian butterflies led the descent, wings spread in broad, deliberate sweeps.
The faint glow from their wing membranes cast soft light below.
Between them, each holding one of her hands, drifted a third figure.
Her movement was quiet, almost weightless.
Her eyes were covered with a smooth band of pale green cloth, tied neatly behind her head.
Clear, translucent white wings unfurled behind her, the surfaces catching the moonlight with every small adjustment.
Her white exoskeleton held a gentle sheen beneath the night sky, and her blonde hair fell down her back in soft, orderly strands.
Even in flight, she held a quiet, regal stillness.
Her wings stayed folded against her back, unmoving.
The two guardians adjusted their grip on her hands, keeping her suspended between them with steady, controlled wingbeats.
Movement across the clearing halted.
Soldier ants lifted their gazes, bodies tensing as the trio descended.
Nytheris' wings stuttered mid-beat, dropping him a short distance before he steadied himself again.
Ignatia's breath wavered.
"…Sister?"
Luminara's antennae gave a light tremor, picking up the tension in the air.
Her chin lifted a fraction, head angling toward the gathered soldiers as she hovered between her guardians.
They began lowering her, careful in their hold, but they never let go of her hands.
"Luminara… I told you to remain in the meadows."
Ignatia's voice shifted, the edge easing despite the tension in her stance.
Her red eyes stayed fixed on her sister, the strain in them unmistakable.
"Why did you come all this way?"
Luminara's voice carried through the clearing, soft yet firm, the kind of tone that settled attention without force.
"I offer my apology for that, Ignatia. Circumstances left me no choice."
Her posture remained steady between her guardians, the pale silk band unmoving over her eyes while her antennae shifted in a slow, measured sweep.
"The stakes have risen, and the threat to our survival grows heavier with each passing moment. I received word not long ago…"
A faint breath left her, controlled and composed.
"Magnus now holds the advantage."
"Yes…"
Ignatia's fist tightened, the surface of her purple exoskeleton drawing tension as the pressure built beneath it.
"He ambushed us and took the Moonveil Blossom."
Her breath drifted out unevenly, her posture lowering as her gaze fell to the ground.
"I'm sorry, Luminara… I failed you."
Her jaw locked, the muscles in her face shifting.
"Do not place that weight on yourself, Ignatia."
Luminara's tone softened, the firmness in it easing into something warmer.
"You 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."
Her guardians released her hands as she stepped forward carefully, her antennae angling toward Ignatia.
She reached out with both arms, closing the distance one slow step at a time.
Ignatia lifted her head slightly, breath catching.
Luminara wrapped her arms around her, drawing her into a gentle embrace.
The smooth surface of Luminara's white exoskeleton pressed lightly against Ignatia's exoskeleton.
Ignatia's shoulders stiffened for a moment before easing under the contact, her breath unsteady as she let herself lean into the hold.
"We'll figure this out together," Luminara whispered.
"And we'll put an end to Magnus' tyranny once and for all."
The green cloth covering her eyes darkened slightly as a warm tear slipped through the fabric.
It trailed down her cheek, quiet and trembling, but full of resolve.
Ari stiffened, recognition jolting through him.
"Wait… you're the voice I heard in the forest."
Luminara turned her head toward him, the faintest, composed smile shaping her lips.
"I see… so you were the one my voice reached, Ari."
His breath caught.
How does she know my name?
His eyes widened, a flicker of unease running through him.
Luminara tilted her chin slightly, her posture serene yet impossibly regal.
"I would like to thank you properly for saving my sister."
A beat passed—soft and controlled.
"But before that…"
Luminara shifted her stance and angled her body toward Valeria, the movement quiet against the ground.
She stepped forward twice, each soft tap of her feet steady.
"You must be the commanding soldier of this platoon."
Her voice carried a composed weight.
"I am High Monarch Luminara, eldest among my sisters."
Valeria kept both mandibles drawn, the metal edges resting steady at her sides.
Her posture didn't loosen, but her attention fixed sharply on Luminara.
Behind her, several soldiers shifted their weight; a few antennae angled uncertainly, and the tips of their mandibles lowered despite their attempts to stay ready.
Their formation wavered as confusion pulled at them.
"You guard your colony with everything you have. And I respect that."
Luminara's step halted, her shoulders steady 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."
"This group of butterflies behind me is only a quarter of what remains of our Kaleidoscope."
Luminara's voice remained calm, but the slight tighten of her fingers against the cloth covering her eyes gave away the strain she carried.
"Most have been wiped out already—by a Moth. Magnus… the Eclipse."
The white shimmer of her wings stayed perfectly still, her posture held with composure.
Valeria's eyes narrowed on Luminara.
Her grip on the mandibles eased just enough to keep them steady at her sides.
"Is that so."
A small breath slipped past her lips.
"I have never heard of such a Moth."
Luminara's chin lifted slightly, the cloth over her eyes settling as she faced Valeria.
"I fear he has advanced one step closer to his objective."
Her voice carried with a steady calm, each word measured.
"If we do not intervene, then two nights from now—under the full moon—he will gain strength beyond what he already holds. And when that happens, he will surpass Hopper and seize this entire region."
Valeria's eyes widened a fraction.
The mandibles in her hands gave a brief tremor, the metal edges knocking once before she forced her grip steady.
Beatrice straightened beside her, shoulders tightening as she studied Valeria's reaction.
"Did you just say… Hopper."
"Yes… that is Magnus' intention—to climb above Hopper and seize control of this entire region."
Luminara's voice held steady, though a slight tension gathered around her mouth as she spoke.
"We want to stop him before that happens, but our numbers have been cut down far too much. We cannot face him alone."
The white surface of her exoskeleton shifted softly as she adjusted her stance, fingers brushing the hands of one of her guardians for balance even though her posture remained composed.
"So I ask this of you—allow us to speak with your Queen."
A brief silence settled after Luminara's request.
Valeria's jaw tightened once, then she drew in a slow breath.
The motion steadied the rise of her chest as she pulled herself back to focus.
Her mandibles lowered, then slid cleanly into their sheaths at her sides with a faint metallic scrape.
"…Very well."
Her eyes swept across the butterfly group before returning to Luminara.
"If this concerns the stability of the region, then it will affect our colony in the foreseeable future. I won't ignore it."
"She… persuaded her," Ari muttered, surprised.
Seraphina's wings lifted slightly, a quiet flutter breaking from them.
Her expression tightened with a mix of surprise and begrudging respect.
"Expected," she breathed.
"When Luminara decides on something… others have no choice but to follow."
Valeria shifted her stance and addressed her platoon.
"Soldiers. Stand down."
The order rippled through the line.
Ant troops straightened, the tension in their shoulders easing.
One after another, mandible blades were sheathed at their sides, the quiet series of clicks forming a unified response.
A few exchanged uncertain glances, but discipline held as they began to fall back in formation.
Valeria straightened her posture, setting her shoulders with calm authority.
"Follow me. We'll discuss the details inside."
Seraphina moved first, her wings shifting with a controlled lift as she followed after Valeria.
Ignatia stepped beside her, posture steadying.
Behind them, Luminara advanced at a measured pace, guided carefully by her two guardians.
The pair carrying the injured butterfly adjusted their hold and joined the group as they all made their way toward the colony entrance.
Nytheris sheathed his thorny whip with a soft click, the weapon folding against his side as his black wings unfurled.
He descended in a slow, controlled glide, shadows rippling 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 right under my nose. In the meadows of all places.
Without another thought, he stepped toward the entrance.