Rythica's room had no windows to let in the light. Her chambers were lit with lanterns during the day, and left in silent darkness when Julia was forced to leave in the evenings. The small girl did not question this; it was all she had ever known. That was simply the way of the world.

  When Julia read her stories and showed her pictures, she tried to imagine the massive hives where the story took place, with impossibly high ceilings coated in blue stones or woods with a gigantic lantern that lit all that the light reached. Sometimes the stories left the tops of these hives dark, so far above the light from the ground did not reach them, save for the sparkle of glistening gems embedded within. Her loyal drone had referred to these impressive constructions as the sky, the sun, and the stars.

  The very idea of such a large, open space both terrified and yet enraptured her with curiosity. How fearsome must these great hives be that they did not fear predators spotting them within that vast expanse. Were tunnels and halls not so much safer than a massive, exposed chamber? Or was there some critical bit of information she was missing? She did not doubt the existence of such impressive hives; such rooms were referenced so many times in so many different books. These sky rooms be real.

  Earlier that day, as Elara had shown the scale of the impossibly titanic hive that surrounded them like the maws of some merciless beast, she knew in her heart that that endless swarm of enemies hosted at least one or two of these mythical sky rooms. Her instincts pushed her away from the very idea of exploring such a place of inevitable death, and yet, her curiosity still wanted to at least see one, once in her life.

  So, when Rythica entered the foyer of the large mansion, her eyes did not wander to the many luxuries that adorned the walls of the large room, nor the unfamiliar servant in the corner attending to some task or another. Her antennae did not register the plethora of curious and tantalizing new aromas wafting from down another hallway, nor did her feet take her up the grand staircases on either end of the room, carrying her to parts unknown down the winding corridors that spanned the estate.

  Rythica's focus fell entirely on the two large windows that framed the large oak doors that led out of the hive. And through those windows, she saw blue. Endless, impossibly vast, blue.

  A corner of her mind registered Elara's subtle tug, but she remained locked in place. A moment later, her feet slowly moved her towards the window without conscious thought. Somewhere behind her, Elara sighed and reluctantly allowed the vex to gaze outside for the first time in her life.

  Rythica had suspected the world outside of her little hive was big, but the sight before her recontextualized . She gazed through the window and out towards the great lantern in the sky and all that its light touched, with a color she had never seen before from any mundane light fixture, and knew no name for.

  In one direction, she saw endless rows of buildings, their elegance and impressive size growing alongside the space between as they trailed off into the distance. In the opposite direction, buildings grew closer together, larger yet more utilitarian, with increasing numbers of bridges and archways connecting the complex tangle.

  And through it all, she saw people. More figures than she could ever hope to count. Not just humans like Julia or Elara, though they held an overwhelming majority by far, but a truly unknowable number of different species. Some covered in fur, others in scales, and even a few bits of chitin here and there, in all different heights, widths, and colors. She saw wings and tails and pointed ears and more, walking along in tides, decorated in a plethora of different attires, roughly matching the quality of the region they congregated, with fancier clothing nearer the more grandiose mansions, while the utilitarian multitudes preferred duller colors and less variation. Nobles and drones, respectively, no doubt.

  Her jaw hung open as she took everything in and began to truly piece together where her tiny hive lay within the food chain. Was her hive surviving by pretending to be part of this larger hive, one operating on a scale she couldn't even begin to comprehend? It was smart, she had to admit. It made sense, even. Earn all the benefits of the larger hive without holding any of the allegiances. Gears clicked in her mind as she puzzled it the implications.

  Elara waited patiently by her side, giving the small child time to process the reality of the lessons she had been spoon-fed.

  A few minutes later, something caught Rythica's attention. A carriage stopped outside the gates. The horses neighed as a figure jumped out and rushed over, opening the wagon door. A man stepped swiftly out and began to approach the mansion, the servant following close behind, carrying a large bag. The vex tensed she realized the two beings intended to enter the hive. She ducked under the window sill, peeking out. Taking note of Elara's earlier lessons, she quickly noticed the man was wearing the House colors, cream-white and cyan, with a golden accent, while the other wore the blacks and whites of a servant. She gauged Elara's expression for additional clues, but the queen didn't seem worried, only mildly surprised. Even still, Rythica bravely hid behind the big queen as the man's servant opened the door.

  "Elric, I was unaware you had left," Elara greeted the stranger calmly.

  Ah, so this individual was a drone? No, wait, he wasn't dressed like a drone. Was this man another queen? The other one was definitely a drone, though. She observed the maybe-queen closely. He wasn't wrinkly like Elara or Randell, instead looking much closer to Julia's age. He had short black hair, with several strands of dark green. He was somewhat tall and wore a pair of thin-rimmed glasses. He wore a white button-up shirt, with a dark cyan coat and grey pants, and he had a belt supporting four different pouches along his sides.

  "Yes, well, I was running low on supplies." He turned to his servant. "Thank you, Luan. Please take the bag to my lab. I'll sort through it later." Elric turned back to Elara and gave her a guilty smile. "You know I don't trust anyone else with picking out my reagents."

  Elric paused as he noticed the small figure hiding behind Elara, warily watching him with narrowed eyes. He blinked in surprise at the unfamiliar creature. "Oh? And who's this little one?" He knelt down to her eye level and smiled.

  "Elric, this is Rythica, Randell's recently adopted daughter."

  Wait, what did her drone, Randell, have to do with anything?

  "I believe I mentioned her coming arrival some days ago, as I'm sure you recall," Elara continued. The woman patted said adopted daughter on the shoulder, urging her forward. "Now, now, don't be shy. He's family. This is my cousin, Elric, a very talented Alchemist. Err, potion maker," she corrected herself, realizing Rythica was likely unfamiliar with that word.

  Elric hesitated for a moment as he took in her marbled white chitin, as if suddenly noticing something familiar. "...Adopted daughter," he muttered. His eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion and concern.

  Rythica glanced between the two, extremely uncomfortable with the sudden scrutiny. "I am Rythica," she greeted, before diving into the more important question. "You is..." She knew she wasn't allowed to refer to herself as a queen, but wasn't sure if that rule applied to calling others a queen, so she decided to play it safe. "You is not servant?"

  The alchemist blinked, as if surprised to hear the young child speak. A few more facial expressions flickered across his face that Rythica couldn't quite make out as he quickly realized his rudeness. He cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed. His expression was swiftly replaced with the warm smile from a moment prior, if slightly strained, something that did not go unnoticed by the vex.

  "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Rythica." He chuckled. "And to answer your question, no, I'm not a servant. Do I look like one?"

  "No..."

  It was a bit off-putting to realize the hive actually had a third queen among its ranks, one she had known nothing about. Nonetheless, it was a good sign. More queens meant a stronger hive, and more for her to rule over when she inevitably inherited the throne.

  "That's good. I would hope not. My wife picked out this outfit, and I don't think she would be too pleased to hear it if I did."

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  Did that imply the alchemist had another queen above him in the hierarchy? Was it the job of higher queens to choose the outfits of the lower queens? That would make sense with Elara having final say in Rythica's outfit. Although Annet did recommend the outfit, so maybe it was the drones that decided while the queens approved or denied their choices? Rythica filed that line of questioning away for later investigation.

  "Why you is at look me weird?"

  Fellow queen or not, she did not trust his clear suspicion of her from a moment ago. Even now, he had a bit of an odd look as he watched her, like trying to figure out a puzzle. She kept her stance tight, ready to dive behind the big queen and use her as a meatshield should the need arise. Was he secretly an enemy? She subtly checked her chitin once more, confirming the potion remained intact.

  Wait a minute... potion... Potion maker?

  Rythica blinked. "You make me potion?"

  Elara had already moved to cover Rythica's mouth. She leaned down and whispered harshly in the innocent princess's ear.

  "Don't mention the potion in public-" but her words were cut off.

  So startled was the vex at having something blur in front of her face, doubly so while already so much on edge from the day's events and the unease towards this strange new queen, that her mandibles were already in motion before her conscious mind had any say in the matter. She jerked her head back and snapped, already preparing to fight for her life against the sudden attacker, but paused as she realized what her senses were showing her.

  Rythica wasn't quite sure how she felt at that moment. Rythica didn't quite feel remorse for her actions. She wasn't sure if Elara had actually intended to attack her, but the startled girl could not feel guilt over protecting herself in a potentially hostile situation. On the other hand, she had just attacked another hive member, unprovoked; a superior, no less. It was a blatant betrayal of her duties as a leader.

  Did she feel vindicated at what could be considered petty revenge for all the punishments and harsh lessons Elara had given her? Perhaps more than a little.

  Did she feel fear at the inescapable consequences that would come from this? Absolutely.

  But she was supposed to protect the hive, and yet, she had wounded another queen, even if it was an accident. One of the members of the hive that needed protection the most, maimed by her own mandibles. She had marched out of that nest hours prior, overcoming her fears and braving the unknown in order to raise up her hive. And yet, instead of laying low the predators that threatened their way of life, she had only managed to bleed her own kin.

  There was the briefest silence in the room as the finger fell to the carpet below, staining it crimson.

  The girl who had betrayed her hive pulled away in a panic, building up some distance between the two adults, her thoughts clouded with uncertainty. She frantically looked around the room, judging to see if she should retreat to her nest or stay where she was. Would she be eaten for harming a queen of the hive? Would she be kicked out, forced to survive on her own among the endless predators that lurked beyond the walls?

  ... Was she a bad queen?

  She trembled at that thought, fearing the answer to that question more than any other by far.

  Her queen was down on her knees, hissing in pain, one hand clenching the other tight. There was blood everywhere as the stump of her missing digit gushed violently. Her outfit was stained within seconds.

  Elric was by her side almost instantly, pulling a potion out from one of the pouches at his belt. He positioned himself between Elara and Rythica like a shield as he worked, his face juggling between frantic, afraid, and furious with each blink of the eye.

  He didn't bother pouring the potion on the wound; instead, he had her drink it directly. Judging from the color, it was by no means a standard healing potion. It glowed softly within the glass-like container with a pale blue light, increasing in intensity as the top was opened.

  As she gulped down the liquid with pained winces, her muscles slowly untensed, and the wound sealed over. Very slowly, the flesh above the stump of the missing digit began to bubble and twist, swelling outward and solidifying from the inside as bone and tendons filled out the tube of flesh. Elara kept her eyes closed throughout the process, and Elric was forced to look away as the finger regrew over the next minute or so.

  Elric's murderous gaze never left Rythica. She watched the two of them in turn, her anxiety easing slightly as her queen recovered from the ordeal.

  A bloody hand fell on the alchemist's shoulder. "Don't blame her," Elara panted. "It was... my fault for startling her."

  Rythica whirled at that, beyond surprised at Elara's response.

  "The child has been forced to endure terrible things these past years. Please don't be too hard on the girl."

  Elara gave a sympathetic sigh, as if recalling something terrible. As Elara spoke, Rythica felt that familiar touch of persuasion magic, much, much stronger than usual.

  "Your suspicions were correct. Those potions I asked you to start making for me all those weeks ago; they were indeed for Rythica here. We've been hiding her here." Elara swallowed a lump in her throat, her voice wavering ever so slightly. "You see, this girl came from a very abusive household. Among the worst cases I had ever seen. We managed to rescue her a while back, but... her biological parents were... very unkind people. Former hunters, we think. High Elite Realm. They..." Her voice broke.

  Elric's face fell as he listened, while Rythica only grew more and more confused.

  "Don't blame her for needing more time to adjust. It's not her fault. Her species, vaneguins, have different regional colors from what we could tell. So we've been changing her colors to throw off any trails. She's been with us for a bit over a year now, hidden from the public just in case. But I suspect they are still looking for her. That's why you need to keep this all a secret, at least for the immediate future. We have no idea how great their means are. Julia and Bella are already aware of this as well, and have been helping to take care of her more directly."

  Elric was quickly battered down by the expertly applied application of magic and the tugging of his heartstrings. He looked at Rythica with compassion and concern, suddenly seeing her as the scared little girl she was. He nodded.

  "I see. You have my support, of course." He swallowed. "My wife, Maria... We've been discussing having kids of our own. The gift of life is something to cherish and celebrate... How any monster could hurt their own child so much..." He looked at Rythica with a hint of despair. "How could anyone drive a child to resort to such things?"

  The alchemist clenched his fists, his voice firming. "I'll do what I can, Elara." He smiled at the older woman and helped her to her feet.

  Meanwhile, Rythica's thoughts swirled with the implications of Elara's words. She wasn't always part of the hive? She had to admit, she did have some questions about why she looked so much different from the other beings in the House, but being saved and accepted as a member without being born into it? But why couldn't she remember the former, horrible hive that Elara spoke about? As far as she had known, she had always been here... Right? Her mind spun with questions.

  There was a clatter of something dropping to the floor from across the room as a servant entered, face growing pale at the sight of all the blood.

  Rythica approached the adults cautiously, completely lost in her thoughts. The two were explaining something to the new servant, but she didn't bother listening.

  As her talons touched the small puddle of bloody carpet, she knelt down and picked up the severed finger, comparing the fleshy human digit to her own chin claws. So much different. In such a short period of time, all sense of her belonging had been thrown up in the air. She had brutally attacked a fellow queen. She had seen how much bigger this House was than the hive she had believed herself to be in. She had seen the world outside, and even now, more servants she had never met rushed into the waiting room to see what was going on. And she learned she may not even be really part of this hive.

  She clenched the finger in her fists, so unsure of herself for the first time. She popped the bit of meat into her mouth, idly chewing it as she stewed in her emotions. Of all the meats she had eaten in her life, it was one of the better ones, but the flavor helped her roiling feelings little.

  When she finally stepped up next to the queen, a firm grip landed on her shoulder, squeezing it painfully, making it clear Elara was not nearly as nonchalant as her act had made her out to be. A glance out of the corner of her eye was met with a brief stare from Elara that promised Rythica would be punished dearly for her crimes.

  Did that make her an enemy of a hive? A mere prey that this hive took pity on and brought in among their ranks instead of eating? Did she ruin that goodwill with her thoughtlessness?

  Rythica liked this hive. Even if this wasn't her original hive, this was her home. She didn't want to leave! She didn't want her new hive to hate her or think she was a bad queen! She would be better!

  She looked up at Elara with pleading eyes, voice quivering slightly. "I sorry. Please no make me leave." The small vex shook as she waited for her condemnation.

  Elara looked down at her, eyebrows raised.

  "I am be good, Please no eat me!"

  Rythica begged to remain in her queen's good graces. She would do anything! She would change! She would be the best queen ever! She would slay all the enemies of the hive and see her House grow without ceasing. She would carve the world itself apart and use it to raise up her hive if they would let her stay and redeem herself.

  A hand ruffled her hair from behind. "Hey, little one..." The man's voice was awkward. "It was an accident, yes?"

  She turned around and nodded.

  "Then everything is okay. You didn't mean to do it. And you're not going to do it again, right?"

  She shook her head.

  "Then you have nothing to worry about. We're not going to make you leave, don't worry."

  Elric was on his knee again, looking at her carefully.

  "You're safe here, okay? You're safe. No one is going to hurt you."

  He pulled the child into a hug as she sobbed with relief. The hive still accepted her. They still wanted her!

  She vowed to repay the kindness of this hive, which accepted one not of their blood and forgave her wrongdoings so readily. She vowed to show this House her worth. If blood were to be repaid with blood one hundredfold, as was only right, then surely kindness was to be repaid likewise.

  As she thought back to the crowds of enemies that roamed the streets right outside, she knew how she would repay her hive in these coming years. New options opened up before her. If she could be accepted into the hive, then could others? And if they didn't fit their ranks, well then...

  At least they tasted good. She licked some of the lingering juices off her teeth.

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