Chapter 44: The Flashback (1) After The Abduction

Mikhailis stared at Lira’s face as she slept beside him, her breathing soft and steady. He could feel her warmth, her hand still loosely resting against his chest. He sighed deeply, feeling a mix of confusion and guilt tightening in his chest. He had to know what exactly happened, and there was only one person—well, one AI—who could tell him. "Rodion," Mikhailis whispered, his voice barely audible. "No jokes, alright? I need you to fill me in. What happened?" <Very well, Mikhailis. You requested a concise recap, devoid of sarcasm. Keywords: Drinking, Serelith, Maid.> Rodion’s voice carried no humor, and it made Mikhailis frown. Drinking? Serelith? Maid? Suddenly, it all came back in a flash. Mikhailis winced as the memories surged forward, a jumbled mess of images and sensations. He remembered returning to the castle, the adrenaline of his kidnapping still fresh, and Serelith offering him a drink—something strong to help him unwind. Then, Lira had been there, and things had... escalated. Mikhailis ran a hand through his hair, trying to steady his breath. "Oh, shit. I remember now." He muttered under his breath, his voice low and almost drowned out by the quiet rustling of the bedsheets. He sat there for a few moments, just staring at Lira, his mind reeling. What had he gotten himself into? He shook his head, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He needed to figure this out. But first, he needed to calm himself. The guilt gnawed at him, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it now—he had to face it eventually, but not like this, with Lira peacefully sleeping beside him, unaware of the turmoil she had thrown him into. Then finally, the memories, the vivid memories of what happened flowed in. ___ Mikhailis was still reeling from his capture and everything that had happened afterward. He lay on his back, panting heavily, the intense session with Elowen leaving him completely spent. The queen herself was sleeping soundly beside him, her silver hair cascading over the pillow, a serene smile on her face as she rested. He reached over, squeezing her hand gently before leaning over to press a soft kiss on her cheek. "Good thing you’re okay, Mikhailis..." Elowen murmured in her sleep, a faint smile gracing her lips as she turned slightly, her fingers curling around his hand. Mikhailis felt his heart soften at her words, a warmth spreading through his chest. He whispered back, his voice barely above a breath. "Yeah, I’m fine, Elowen." For a moment, he thought about getting up, heading over to the small table where his computer was set up to check the progress on his chimera ants. But as he looked down at Elowen’s peaceful face, he decided against it. It was better to just stay here with her, to enjoy the quiet moment of calm they had fought so hard for. Besides, he could always see the ants’ progress through his glasses. There was no rush. Rodion’s voice chimed in, the familiar hint of sarcasm coloring his words. <That’s the right call, Mikhailis. Even someone with your questionable decision-making capabilities deserves rest.> Mikhailis smirked, shifting slightly to get more comfortable. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m wise sometimes, aren’t I, Rodion?" <The occurrence is rare enough to be noteworthy. Though it is almost always accompanied by an overabundance of pride on your part.> Mikhailis couldn’t help but chuckle softly, trying not to wake Elowen. He adjusted the glasses slightly on his nose, making sure they were in place. <Understood. Your decision has been noted. Initiating command: the Technomancers are to be consumed by the queen and colony. It is projected that they will provide a substantial nutritional boost for the queen’s growth. Worker ants will process the remains into food storage. Estimated sustenance capability: approximately eight weeks.> Mikhailis let out a breath, the tension in his chest easing slightly. "Eight weeks, huh? That’s not bad. At least it’ll help keep the colony growing strong." He paused, his gaze flicking over to where the image of the bound Technomancers was displayed. He swallowed, feeling the unease bubbling up inside him again. "Rodion... could you, uh, turn off the feed for that chamber? I don’t want to see it. Watching them... being taken apart would be a bit too much, even for me." <Affirmative. Disabling visual feed from the designated chamber. All updates will be given verbally. You may proceed without having to witness the disposal.> Mikhailis nodded, his heart pounding. "Thanks, Rodion." <Your comfort, though rarely prioritized, is a primary consideration in my directive set, Mikhailis. Even if you make decisions that test the very boundaries of empathy.> Mikhailis couldn’t help but chuckle softly, his voice tired. "Always the charmer, aren’t you?" He looked back at Elowen, her face so peaceful in her sleep. He pulled her a little closer, his fingers brushing gently against her arm. This world was brutal, unforgiving, and he had to be prepared to make tough choices, no matter how difficult they might be. But here, now, in this room, he had something worth protecting. "Let’s keep moving forward, Rodion. We’ve got a kingdom to protect, a queen who deserves better, and a bunch of ants who need their king." <As always, you have a remarkable way of framing your ethical compromises as heroic endeavors. Very well, Mikhailis. Proceed as you see fit.> Mikhailis closed his eyes, letting the warmth of Elowen’s body against his calm the turmoil inside him. Whatever happened next, he’d be ready for it. ___ Chimera Ant Queen & Colony Status: Queen Chimera Ant: Evolved into a magical beast with heightened intelligence. Now resides in a newly constructed underground nest. Colony Units: Workers: 70. Digging and foraging specialists. Currently expanding tunnels and creating chambers for the nest. Soldiers: 40. Colony defenders. Successfully defended the queen against threats like the Burrow Grub. Equipped with enhanced coordination and strength. Colony Nest: Chamber System: - Food Storage Chamber: Completed. Currently being stocked by workers. - Hatchling Chamber: Designated for new eggs. Under construction. - Defense Chambers: Surrounding queen’s location for protection. Special Projects: - Variant Eggs: Four eggs potentially containing hybrid ants with unique traits (e.g., magical frog properties). - Neural Relay Chip: Installed on the queen, allowing real-time surveillance and control. Current Objective: - Defend the nest from the Glimmer Beetle. - Expand nest further to accommodate variant eggs and prepare for future adversaries.