- Alea -
Just how did it come to this?
Yesterday I was in the great hall of the palace and now I'm in the inner city to look for this Erys.
Just what happened to my life?
I have no idea where she even is, but this isn't important since they decided to just throw enough troops at the problem till it's solved.
So Honiu just assembled several thousand insects and made them scour the whole capital in teams.
And for some totally incomprehensible reason, she said that she wants to put me in charge of one of those units.
Just why?!
I'm a kid and totally not someone who should lead anything.
Okay, I can talk to humans, which is an advantage, but still completely insufficient as a reason to force me to do this.
The only positive part is that I was allowed to sleep a bit before I had to move out.
The maid insisted on it.
Though sleeping was more on the theoretical side as I was far too agitated to find peace, especially since I could still hear the city alarm bells ringing in the city above me.
But for some reason, Honiu was notified and ordered a nurse to put me in one of those tubs where I fell asleep despite all the stress.
This soothing effect is kinda frightening.
What was less soothing was when another nurse pulled me out of there and first thing in the morning started to "clean" me, so I would be presentable.
Although I was looking for a chance to get around this I didn't manage to accomplish anything aside from stalling a bit while eating breakfast.
So now I’m assigned to this troop consisting of two dozen mid-sized insects and four big ones that is apparently part of a second wave.
Human guards try to run ahead to tell the people not to panic and just let the insects search.
If I understood it right, we're just going to check the houses and then leave again if she isn't there.
One by one until there are no more.
As far as I know, people should already be informed and we just have to enter and check by the scent if she's there.
Although I'm still slightly tired and what I saw before was terrifying, I am in no position to avoid doing this with all these expectant insects around.
I even got a map with the area I have to check.
And while I worry a bit about my skill to read it, I don't have to worry about getting lost since the whole way is marked by a scent trail like those leading to our quarters in the base.
Apparently, Honiu is administering all of this on her own, giving specific orders to every single troop.
This kinda surprised me, since she appears to be rather whimsical most of the time and not... like someone capable.
From what I see, if this princess is anywhere within the town there's no chance for her to slip through any gaps.
Simply, because there are none.
The insects control every gate, patrol the full-stacked walls, and systematically look in every single district before going to the next while carefully watching the checkpoints to the already controlled areas.
Even without those measures, it’s not like there'd be much of a chance with all the searching insects on the streets and those scouting in the air.
According to this plan, the places I have to go looking are the market and the harbor.
I set out in the general direction but soon find it difficult to keep up with all those far bigger creatures who not only cover a greater distance with each of their steps, but usually have more legs to begin with.
About the small jumping ones, I don't even want to get started.
It doesn't take long for me to get tired, and I'm growing embarrassed when the insects repeatedly walk ahead on the trail path only to have to wait for me to catch up.
And I'm surely not becoming any faster the longer this proceeds.
(worker)
One of the workers apparently asks me this.
Wait, since when am I referring to them as workers?
I usually call them "mid-sized" insect monsters but for some reason, I know this is how I have to refer to them.
I'm not entirely sure what "assistance" entails since this part was a bit vague, but I know for sure that I can't keep up.
So I almost instinctually give something like a confirming reaction signal.
And before I know what happens, two of the creatures clamp their claws around my waist and carry me further on the path.
While I panic at first, I soon realize that I'm not injured and it goes much quicker this way.
I wouldn't call it comfortable, but it's certainly not as exhausting.
So I don't fight being carried this way.
But what I should've considered is what this looks like to others.
"Aaahhhh!!! They're abducting children!" (woman)
One of the women among the groups of people on the streets who either want to stay outside while their houses are being searched, want to meet up with each other in this emergency situation, or are simply gawking at what is happening here did the latter and saw me.
I can't do it like this.
(A)
(worker)
"Seee? I'm not getting abductEd!" (A)
I can't waste time trying to avoid misunderstandings.
But neither can I walk all the way by myself.
Instead, I believe the best solution to be a compromise.
I create an according signal and consequently get lifted once again
But this time on the creature's shoulder.
It's a bit high for my taste, but if I ever want to fly I should get used to it.
Also, I'm looking a lot more voluntary in accompanying them now.
This way it doesn't take long for us to arrive at the first house on my list.
Now my part begins.
The target areas and as such the buildings I'm supposed to check are marked on the map.
I only need to approach and let the insects enter, and if we presumably don't find the princess, we'll already be on our way to the next.
Yet now that I'm here it feels totally wrong to me.
I mean, I'm going to knock at a complete stranger's door to tell them I and my insect friends want to enter.
I'm not sure if I can do this.
So I'm standing in front of the door till, suddenly, a winged insect lands directly next to me and starts to speak.
(messenger)
Now I'm startled.
As one should be when a giant insect asks you what is taking you so long.
- Alea -
Just how did it come to this?
Yesterday I was in the great hall of the palace and now I'm in the inner city to look for this Erys.
Just what happened to my life?
I have no idea where she even is, but this isn't important since they decided to just throw enough troops at the problem till it's solved.
So Honiu just assembled several thousand insects and made them scour the whole capital in teams.
And for some totally incomprehensible reason, she said that she wants to put me in charge of one of those units.
Just why?!
I'm a kid and totally not someone who should lead anything.
Okay, I can talk to humans, which is an advantage, but still completely insufficient as a reason to force me to do this.
The only positive part is that I was allowed to sleep a bit before I had to move out.
The maid insisted on it.
Though sleeping was more on the theoretical side as I was far too agitated to find peace, especially since I could still hear the city alarm bells ringing in the city above me.
But for some reason, Honiu was notified and ordered a nurse to put me in one of those tubs where I fell asleep despite all the stress.
This soothing effect is kinda frightening.
What was less soothing was when another nurse pulled me out of there and first thing in the morning started to "clean" me, so I would be presentable.
Although I was looking for a chance to get around this I didn't manage to accomplish anything aside from stalling a bit while eating breakfast.
So now I’m assigned to this troop consisting of two dozen mid-sized insects and four big ones that is apparently part of a second wave.
Human guards try to run ahead to tell the people not to panic and just let the insects search.
If I understood it right, we're just going to check the houses and then leave again if she isn't there.
One by one until there are no more.
As far as I know, people should already be informed and we just have to enter and check by the scent if she's there.
Although I'm still slightly tired and what I saw before was terrifying, I am in no position to avoid doing this with all these expectant insects around.
I even got a map with the area I have to check.
And while I worry a bit about my skill to read it, I don't have to worry about getting lost since the whole way is marked by a scent trail like those leading to our quarters in the base.
Apparently, Honiu is administering all of this on her own, giving specific orders to every single troop.
This kinda surprised me, since she appears to be rather whimsical most of the time and not... like someone capable.
From what I see, if this princess is anywhere within the town there's no chance for her to slip through any gaps.
Simply, because there are none.
The insects control every gate, patrol the full-stacked walls, and systematically look in every single district before going to the next while carefully watching the checkpoints to the already controlled areas.
Even without those measures, it’s not like there'd be much of a chance with all the searching insects on the streets and those scouting in the air.
According to this plan, the places I have to go looking are the market and the harbor.
I set out in the general direction but soon find it difficult to keep up with all those far bigger creatures who not only cover a greater distance with each of their steps, but usually have more legs to begin with.
About the small jumping ones, I don't even want to get started.
It doesn't take long for me to get tired, and I'm growing embarrassed when the insects repeatedly walk ahead on the trail path only to have to wait for me to catch up.
And I'm surely not becoming any faster the longer this proceeds.
(worker)
One of the workers apparently asks me this.
Wait, since when am I referring to them as workers?
I usually call them "mid-sized" insect monsters but for some reason, I know this is how I have to refer to them.
I'm not entirely sure what "assistance" entails since this part was a bit vague, but I know for sure that I can't keep up.
So I almost instinctually give something like a confirming reaction signal.
And before I know what happens, two of the creatures clamp their claws around my waist and carry me further on the path.
While I panic at first, I soon realize that I'm not injured and it goes much quicker this way.
I wouldn't call it comfortable, but it's certainly not as exhausting.
So I don't fight being carried this way.
But what I should've considered is what this looks like to others.
"Aaahhhh!!! They're abducting children!" (woman)
One of the women among the groups of people on the streets who either want to stay outside while their houses are being searched, want to meet up with each other in this emergency situation, or are simply gawking at what is happening here did the latter and saw me.
I can't do it like this.
(A)
(worker)
"Seee? I'm not getting abductEd!" (A)
I can't waste time trying to avoid misunderstandings.
But neither can I walk all the way by myself.
Instead, I believe the best solution to be a compromise.
I create an according signal and consequently get lifted once again
But this time on the creature's shoulder.
It's a bit high for my taste, but if I ever want to fly I should get used to it.
Also, I'm looking a lot more voluntary in accompanying them now.
This way it doesn't take long for us to arrive at the first house on my list.
Now my part begins.
The target areas and as such the buildings I'm supposed to check are marked on the map.
I only need to approach and let the insects enter, and if we presumably don't find the princess, we'll already be on our way to the next.
Yet now that I'm here it feels totally wrong to me.
I mean, I'm going to knock at a complete stranger's door to tell them I and my insect friends want to enter.
I'm not sure if I can do this.
So I'm standing in front of the door till, suddenly, a winged insect lands directly next to me and starts to speak.
(messenger)
Now I'm startled.
As one should be when a giant insect asks you what is taking you so long.
