Kneel before the queen

Perspective : Thor Gild

Our fates are written by gods. What better to prove that, than a living example.

Me and Everyone else in our group were those examples. I mean who could have thought an angel from the heavens above, will come to aid us in our time of need. Resurrect the dead. I felt a nary of pain in my back or my shoulders, not a bruise nor a splinter, I distinctly recall Keira mentioning that I had few shattered bones.

And there I was, with all my friends, by the wisdom of Arngrim himself, as good as new.

I wish I could show this to those fools who refuse to believe in gods, and reject their guidance. But there were more pressing matters than my ego as a believer.

We were well rested, after last night's fiasco, I found myself a bit out of order, my mind not as calm and collected as I usually attempt to stay.

So, I didn't thought much, just acted on my impulse, I was ashamed of that.

However, today was a new day, our bellies were full and we had gotten enough shut eye.

So, once again we started looking a way out of that cursed cavern, Or whatever one may call it.

I knew it was a spun of 2 days or so, but It felt like years, since I hadn't seen that glamorous face of hers, that blue hair still a reminiscent of the free sky in this dull and dark environment that surrounded us.

I approached her,

She was walking beside Conrad, whose face was as expressionless as ever, his right hand resting on the hilt of his black blade, as if he didn't trusted anyone of us. If we go by his previous speech, I might had been correct.

But he was my friend still, and I was concerned for him. After his last display, I feared everyone had taken him for a soulless lunatic.

But I couldn't ask him or Regina, because it was a bit awkward.

That's when, Ikbal started talking to me.

Ikbal observed, and said,

"Look at Kyle, It's like he is restraining himself from speaking to a single soul today".

"What do you think, Is it because of Conrad's spell?". I was asked.

I replied,

"Maybe".

Ikbal exclaimed,

"That bastard".

"What right does he have to do something so deranged to his fellow man?".

"Robbing one of one's will".

"Now Kyle has to think a hundred times before talking to anybody?".

Now, that my mind was all clear and refreshed, I could calmly access yesterday's events and conclude that what Ikbal was saying, was a bit of an exaggeration.

Yes, Conrad did that, but due to his actions he managed to break the ice between Kyle and the others. Now he didn't needed to be exiled from our party. And even though it might be due to Conrad's spell, everyone started trusting Kyle again, because his spell ensured them that Kyle couldn't betray us.

However, the way Conrad went about doing that was less then Ideal. Then again that's what one would expect from a man like him.

Ikbal wouldn't understand that.

Ikbal added,

"God knows, he may speak none at all".

I responded,

"Staying silent would be good for Kyle".

"After all this all mess started after he blabbed his mouth".

"Besides, I understand what Conrad did?".

"But the way he went doing about it, was a bit un - called for?".

"However what do you expect from a man of his mindset?".

Ikbal replied with a hint of skepticism,

"Hmmm .. I suppose".

That's when Keira interrupted, possibly overhearing our conversation, and asked,

"What are you lads talking about?".

Ikbal casually responded,

"O, nothing, Just a bit of chatter about that snivling snake".

Keira quickly hushed him, saying,

"Sush! Don't let me hear you say that again".

Ikbal simply nodded in agreement and said,

"Understood".

Once Keira was out of earshot, Ikbal quietly whispered,

"What's his problem?".

My eyes never strayed from Regina, I was bewitched, So, I witnessed Elkdrack doing what I couldn't.

Elkdrack asked in a hushed voice,

"How is he doing?".

Regina, with a hint of intrigue in her tone, responded,

"Why don't you ask him yourself?".

Elkdrack hesitated for a moment and then cautiously said,

"After what happened yesterday?".

"It's kinda a little awkward speaking to him in the presence of all these whole hearty's".

Regina, raising an eyebrow, pressed further,

"So are you not his friend?".

Elkdrack declared firmly,

"No, I am".

"As long as I drink booze and eat cheese in this world he is my pal".

"Until my last breath".

"No matter what he does".

Regina echoed with conviction,

"No matter what he does".

Elkdrack repeated, emphasizing his loyalty,

"No matter what he does".

Taking note of his loyalty, Regina added,

"He is doing fine, but could use a bit of company".

Elkdrack calmly acknowledged,

"I see".

[ Elkdrack was interrupted by Emilia, who called out to him. Emilia queried,

"This lady you speak off, she perched upon a huge hour glass you say".

Elkdrack responded affirmatively,

"Yes".

Lost in thought, Elkdrack added,

"Come to think of It I didn't get to see her face, you see, but her legs they were as slender as a fairy".

"Ohh what I wouldn't do for having her company in my bed".

Patrick interjected, redirecting the conversation,

"Mate we may think of that later".

"First let's focus on escaping this hell hole".

"I am tired of this stench".]

After an arduous 3-hour walk, we finally arrived at a chamber. Emilia cautioned the group, saying,

"Be ready".

Emilia, addressing Robin, exclaimed,

"Robin use your.....".

And then,

Emilia corrected herself, whispering,

"Ohh right! I forgot, In this one he is dead".

As we walked in, we gained an audience with her majesty herself. A towering monster, whose limbs could crush us all at once, if she so wished it.

However, we were un noticed.

Patrick, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the creature, exclaimed, his voice filled with astonishment,

"Ohh my lord, How could such a thing exist?".

Yuna, with a hint of amusement, responded,

"Really".

Yuna continued, her tone tinged with a touch of disbelief,

"You are still surprised".

"After all we have seen".

Yuna was correct and Yet, I couldn't help but be surprised with Patrick.

Because before us stood a huge majestic creature, I presumed it was the queen of those ants. It's huge body striking terror and commanding respect with her imposing presence.

In that dimly lit chamber, that ant's body shimmered with an unsettlingly golden hue, its eerie glow reflecting off its exoskeleton. Intricately adorned with delicate ridges and alluring patterns, its exoskeleton held a haunting beauty. As I observed closer, I couldn't help but notice its segmented abdomen, swollen with that god forsaken nectar, the stench digging a hole through my nostrils the moment I stepped foot Inside that hell hole. Its abdomen's unsettling pulsations conveyed a disquieting sense of life. My gaze then fell upon its enormous mandibles, sharp and precise, sending a shiver down my spine. The mere thought of those mandibles gripping me filled my mind with nightmares of it, for days to come.

Her antenna, though visibly thick, possessed an oddly slender nature that defied expectations. The amalgamation of her eyes formed a mosaic of facets, a grotesque yet undeniably haunting sight. Even though we were unnoticed , an eerie sensation persisted, as if her gaze was fixed intently upon us. Her body, asymmetrical and disproportionate, dominated the chamber, covering more than half of its space. The sheer enormity of her limbs only accentuated the overwhelming presence she commanded.

Emilia's voice resonated with caution as she spoke,

"We don't need to fight it".

"It's too huge to chase us".

With a hint of vulnerability and longing she spoke,

"If only we could see an exit".

Just then, Sheela, with a gentle yet urging tone, interjected,

"There, there... I see that looks big enough to squeeze us through".

She was pointing at a huge crevice in the wall, sure it was huge enough for all of us, but what was behind it?

No one knew.

And yet,

We needed to take that risk and find out ourselves.

But the creature's menacing presence still lingered a hint of uncertainty in our approach. After all In order to secure our escape, we needed to sprint, maneuvering beneath its enormous limbs.

Which was too great of a risk to bare.

At that moment, Yuna stepped forward. She spoke with a slight pause,

"Fine!".

Then, she confidently stated,

"On my mark, we make for that hole".

Sheela, curious and concerned, asked,

"What are you going to do about the.....".

Yuna, without missing a beat, cut her off,

As she signalled,

"Now".

On pure impulse, we sprung for that hole, Yuna's voice rang out, commanding her spell,

"Freeze!

A brilliant beam of frozen energy erupted from her palms, engulfing the ant and covering it into a layer of ice. However soon, Crackling noises started resonating throughout the chamber.

As I made for that crevice, I saw Brandon sprinting alongside me, carrying Ron on his back. Ever since I heard about the death of Marcus and Robin, I hadn't gotten a chance to speak with him, as I had noticed him appearing a bit distant.

But it was apparent that something within him had changed.

Before the queen could free Itself, I made it across that crevice, and beyond that a huge un traversable chasm awaited us.

Sheela's voice filled with uncertainty as she turned towards Yuna and questioned,

"Now what do we do?".

Yuna responded, a tinge of frustration evident in her tone,

"Don't look at me?".

Kyle without saying a word, he delicately released his sands into the air, resembling shimmering Stardust that gracefully illuminated our surroundings. Soon enough, our eyes caught sight of an astonishing sight - a rope woven by ants, with each creature walking atop one another. Disgusting, yet admirable, It was a massive rope stretching from one end of the chasm to the other. As more ants joined the procession, carefully making their way across the rope, they approached us, bridge-like.

As the ants drew nearer, Kyle clenched his fist tightly, a determined look in his eyes. And in an instant, the ants erupted in a burst of innerds and fluids.

He was keeping them at bay, buying us time, which I respected.

In the meantime,

Regina voiced her realization,

"It's a dead end".

Elkdrack posed a hopeful question,

"Can't we jump across".

Keira swiftly replied, shooting down the idea,

"No ... The gap's too huge".

Elkdrack, expressing his frustration, retorted,

"Shit".

Patrick, breaking the tense silence, pointed out,

"Look at those ants".

Kyle, feeling frustrated, exclaimed in exasperation,

"All you will be doing is just look at it".

While he fought them, giving us time.

He continued, emphasizing the urgency,

"As hundreds of them are making their way towards us".

Regina, the brilliant love of my life, showcased her ingenuity with a plan. She exclaimed,

"Wait!"

and then confidently declared,

"Yes, that should do the trick."

With a flick of her wand, she summoned a powerful ice storm, transforming the ants into frozen statues, by solidifying the nectar that covered their bodies. As a result, they formed a sturdy bridge, with hundreds, not thousands, of frozen ants locked into place, enabling us to safely cross the chasm.

Regina's urgency resonated in her words,

"Quick! we don't have enough time".

At that moment, I couldn't help but admire her resourcefulness and blurted out,

"What can I say, that's almost genius?".

Regina, focused on the task at hand, swiftly responded,

"Less talk more run".

Realizing my delay, I quickly apologized, saying,

"Sorry".

That day My love for Regina grew ten fold as we made our way across that chasm. And finally outside that monstrous cavern, where the forest seemed less dense and more quietly haunting.