Chapter 21 – Temporary Shelter
When Brent could finally stand — though barely — Althea shifted her focus toward Arven.
The Queen Bee hovered beside him, her wings glimmering softly as she summoned smaller Doctor Bees to assist in the healing. Thin streams of golden light threaded across his wounds, knitting torn flesh and stabilizing his breathing.
Some Doctor Bees returned to Dannie, their bodies trembling and their energy faint. She could feel their blood essence weakening — she suddenly remembered that unlike Althea, these smaller bees used their own blood to heal.
She quickly commanded them to stop and return to rest. Obediently, they withdrew into her mental hive, retreating into the depths of her third eye.
Well, she wasn't sure what to call it yet — so for now, mental hive would do.
Once inside, they began cultivating, drawing a steady trickle of her mana to replenish their strength. The sensation startled her for a moment, then she smiled helplessly.
"So… I'll have to cultivate harder — not just for me, but for all of you too," she thought, half amused, half resigned. Good thing her mana core expanded when she gained the mental hive as well. More mana gathered, the better for everyone.
Dannie watched quietly as Althea continued her work. Relief filled her chest, though her face remained composed.
At least for now, they could breathe a little easier.
Brent leaned against the cave wall for support, pale but steadier. "That… that bee of yours is a lifesaver," he said weakly, forcing a small smile.
Dannie commented faintly. "She's my partner now. Her name's Althea."
"Oh, she has a name now?" Joren remarked from near the fire pit. He was reassembling his crossbow, the soft clicks echoing faintly. "Althea, huh? Fitting. She's got more composure than most people I know."
Althea paused mid-flight and tilted her head toward him — not in offense, but as if acknowledging the compliment.
Joren chuckled. "Whoa, quite intelligent. She even understands."
Dannie sighed. "Stop flirting with my Queen, Joren."
That earned a light laugh from Brent, though it quickly turned into a pained groan.
Joren raised both hands in mock surrender. "Just trying to lighten the mood. We've had enough doom for one night."
The heaviness that had clung to them since hearing about Carreon City's collapse began to ease — if only a little. Still, unease lingered like a shadow.
Dannie crouched near the fire, adding a few more twigs from Joren's pack. The flames flickered higher, painting soft orange hues across their tired faces.
"We need to move to the main shelter," Joren reminded them.
"Maybe until Arven wakes up, no one can carry him though."
Arven was heavily built, while Joren's slender frame made it impossible to lift him far.
"For the time being, we''ll need to make this place secure," Dannie said at last. "I've already sent my pets to map out the tunnels, but I won't take chances. We'll seal every passage if found except… may be the one we can guard."
Joren raised a brow — maybe at her calling her insect beasts pets — but she met his gaze evenly and arched her brow right back.
Brent nodded weakly. "I can help… a little. Maybe stack some rocks or something."
"Not yet, you're still not fully recovered." Then she turned to Joren, smirking. "Let Joren do the lifting."
"Althea also says you're on duty, Joren," Dannie added with a grin.
Joren rolled his eyes. "Traitor," he muttered under his breath.
Brent blinked. "Your bee… talks to you?" Curiosity lit his face.
"She's not just a bee," Dannie replied, her tone faintly defensive. "She's… part of my soul now. A manifestation of my specialty, I think."
Truth be told, she didn't fully understand it herself — but that was the best answer she could give.
"Oh…" Brent mumbled, clearly fascinated.
The Queen Bee's doctor drones continued tending to Arven. Their lights dimmed as the healing ended, and Arven's breathing slowly steadied. His expression softened into calm.
[He'll live] Althea reported, her wings humming lightly. [But he needs rest]
Then we all do," Joren said, leaning back. "We'll take turns keeping watch. I'll take the first shift."
Dannie frowned. "You sure? You haven't rested since earlier."
"I'll be fine," he replied simply. "You two need sleep more than I do."
Brent gave him a tired look. "You sound like you've done this a thousand times."
"Not really," Joren said with a faint smirk. "But I'm used to it."
He positioned himself near the cave mouth, crossbow within easy reach, eyes scanning the dark.
Dannie exhaled softly, brushing dust from her knees. She looked at the three of them — wounded, exhausted, frightened — yet somehow still together.
Despite everything… they were still breathing.
Thinking about the city, the guildmates, the association especially Lira and the others, she wondered whether they're still alive or not?
She heavya sighed of helplessness.
She lay down beside her pack, Althea resting gently on her shoulder, her soft golden light serving as a small lamp.
The faint hum of her bees echoed through the tunnels as her scouts continued their survey.
For the first time in hours, Dannie closed her eyes — not in peace, but in weary relief.
Tomorrow, they'd have to decide their next step.
For now… survival was victory enough.
The faint hum of bees filled the cave as Dannie stirred awake.
Her eyes fluttered open to the gentle light from Althea's wings, painting soft gold along the jagged walls.
For a moment, she didn't move—just listened.
The soft crackle of dying embers. The quiet breathing of the others.
For once, there was no sound of roaring beasts or trembling earth.
"Morning already?" Brent muttered groggily, shifting slightly from his corner.
"Based on my hourglass—yes, but barely," Joren answered from his usual post near the tunnel entrance. His voice was low, calm but strained. "Didn't sleep much?"
Brent grunted something unintelligible in reply.
Dannie rubbed her temples and stretched her sore shoulders.
Most of her pets were resting and cultivating inside her mental hive, while a few still awaited orders outside.
Once she was mentally ready, she signaled her scouts for an update.
The rush of information hit her mind in fragments—images and sensations layered together, much like the time she absorbed the Crystal of Knowledge.
A new discovery: a secondary path deeper along the left tunnel.
It led to a cavern filled with containers and crates—human-made—and several small beasts wandering weakly among them.
Their movements were sluggish, their wounds scorched and half-healed.
Dannie's brows furrowed. She quickly shared the discovery with the others.
That made Joren look up sharply. "Beasts? Here?"
"Yes," Dannie replied. "Their wounds seem burned—maybe from the attacks aboveground. They're injured, not hostile for now."
Brent frowned. "And you said there's… supplies?"
"Unopened," Dannie confirmed. "The old man must have stored them here."
Joren exhaled, resting his crossbow on his knee. "Then let's not think too much about the dead. He's gone—what's his is ours now."
That earned faint smiles from everyone. At least for now, starvation wasn't a threat.
"We should check it personally," Dannie said. "Food and supplies are top priority."
Joren nodded. "Fair enough. I'll take point. Brent, you're behind me. Dannie, you and Althea guide us."
⸻
Following her scouts' lead and her low skill presence detection, they navigated through the narrow passage.
The tunnel twisted and dipped, the stone slick beneath their boots.
Now and then, a faint growl echoed ahead—weak, dying sounds from the beasts that lingered.
Joren's crossbow fired with slight precision; Dannie's bees swarmed in coordinated basic attack—their sting.
Most of the creatures were too injured to fight back, their hostility fading into silence as the last echo of battle died.
Level-up notifications rippled faintly in their minds—small but necessary progress in this uncertain world.
After several minutes, the tunnel widened into a small cavern. The air grew cooler, cleaner—and tinged with the scent of old wood and dust.
Their crystal lanterns illuminated a hidden storeroom.
Crates and barrels were stacked neatly beneath layers of dirt and cobwebs. Rusted cooking pots, sealed jars of preserved fruit, dried meat, grains—even a few medicine packs lined the walls.
It felt like stepping into a forgotten outpost from another world.
Brent let out a disbelieving laugh. "We hit the jackpot…"
Joren crouched and pried open a crate with his dagger. Inside—dried rations, still good. "That dead old man really knew how to stored for us, hehe."
Brent found a cracked barrel and began sorting through it. "This could last us a week or two—if we ration right."
"Maybe more," Joren added, testing the seal on a jug of water. "We'll bring what we can back to the main shelter."
Dannie nodded, scanning the cavern with cautious relief. For the first time in days, she felt a spark of safety—fragile but real.
"Althea," she said quietly, "leave a few drones here to guard the stockpile."
[As you wish, Mistress] Althea replied, her wings shimmering.
As the group began hauling the supplies back, Dannie looked around one last time, ensuring everything was in order.
Her exhaustion pressed down, but her heart felt lighter.
Tonight, at least, they wouldn't starve.
For survivors in this shadow world, that was enough.