46 Contemplation (1/2)
A minute and a half after I first laid my eyes on the myrmekes queen she was standing in front of me. She, her three guards, and an army of ants stood between us and the tunnel. They weren't an obstacle or anything, that was just a literal description of the scene in front of me.
The tunnel was a massive hole in the ground, one far wider and far more noticeable than the hole in the goblin encampment. In the low lighting of the moonlight, it was absolutely foreboding as it was an area of utter darkness.
I didn't like darkness. I could see in it without any difficulty, but for an unknowable amount of time, all I knew was darkness. I wasn't fond of it. I didn't know if I ever would be. That was perhaps the biggest drawback of an underground lair.
I was alone with my thoughts for a second before a voice spoke into my mind. A soft, feminine voice. One I hadn't heard before.
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”Hello, creator.” The voice uttered, speaking reverentially to me. Her voice was unbelievably soft and delicate. It sounded fragile even. I looked at her, the myrmekes queen who was speaking to me and began to examine her.
She was a tall creature, standing an even two meters tall. Her chitin was a royal blue, which felt appropriate enough all things considered. Her humanoid portions were slender looking and made her feel more lanky than bulky, unlike the myrmekes warriors who protected her, and quite possibly myself as well.
Her face was entirely insectoid, and she had an abundance of antennae that seemed to serve an almost aesthetic purpose, framing her face like hair would on a human. She had both mandibles and a large looking proboscis that was visible whenever she opened her mouth even slightly. Her compound eyes were large enough that they almost resembled human eyes.
Her chitin hid soft-looking flesh, including some that was proportioned and placed in such a way on her thin upper body to suggest that she had human-like breasts, which... would have been odd. I stared long enough at that part of her body that she began to giggle, her voice buzzing into my mind faintly.
Her insectoid lower body included a thick gaster, a bulbous appendage below her thorax that included her stinger and was riddled with multiple armored sections protecting various internal organs. Hers was enormous and seemed to be filled with... something. I could hear something swishing around in it.
She had long arms that ended in three thin, clear, needle-like fingers. A quick glance at them was enough for me to get the impression that they were another way for her to absorb food. Perhaps it was similar to how fungi ate, using hypha? It was odd to look at because I could see... transparent liquid of some sort flowing through it.
”Hello little one. I may have helped you evolve, but I am not your creator.” I replied back to her, after giving her body a quick look, up and down.
”I know you did not create me, but you did choose to elevate me. I would not be who I am... what I am, if not for your touch. If not for your blessing. You are my creator.” She told me, simply. I chuckled and opted to accept her way of referring to me.
She began to study me. Her compound eyes inspected every facet of my physical appearance.
As she studied me I considered what I wanted to do. It was a difficult question with many layers.
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”Some of my subdomains and domains are going to ask me to do what the Hymenoptera subdomain are going to ask me to do: build empires of specific types of creatures.” I realized, keenly aware that if that deeply and communally minded subdomain was asking me to do such a thing others would too.
It didn't bother me, surprisingly. I wasn't overjoyed about it or anything, but I wasn't beating myself up over it either. When the time came I'd select a world well suited to that, and then do it. No big deal.
I could imagine that the subdomain of necromancy would have a similar request or one even worse that might involve the razing of several worlds. Same for the domain of evil, if it were a domain like chaos was, and for the domain or subdomain of war. Among others, no doubt.
But none of that meant that I needed to conquer this world using the swarm. When the time came, what would I do? Would I order my minions to burrow out of the places deep under the world and slaughter those who lived above it? Would I order the dead out of their graves and tell them to turn on those they befriended in life?
I knew other worlds existed. At least six other worlds. And based on what was said about the sun and the existence of other stars I didn't think it was unreasonable to assume other worlds with life existed either. Would conquering them be better? Be easier? Be something I could with less bloodshed?
I mulled over those questions for a few moments. Until I was interrupted by a familiar voice.
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”Creator... why do you look like that?” She asked, her voice seeping into my mind once more. I chuckled as I considered her question. It took me a few moments to formulate a reply.
And after creating a rough response I read over it and then opted to rewrite or rather, rethink it. It was too casual. I was in what might well have been ”God mode”, not interacting with a mortal on supposedly equal footing. I needed to work to upkeep that regal and divine image.
”I do not have a... true form little one. I look like this because it is an efficient disguise to walk among those who dwell above.” I told her. I wasn't sure how I could tell, but I suspected it was because she and I had a sort of mental connection but I felt this remark intrigue her.
”But creator, must you fool 'those who dwell above'? Is there a reason why you must disguise yourself from them?” The queen asked, her voice filled with a few different emotions, close to my own but also... alien. I sighed and considered how to navigate this rather... interesting question.
”Little one, the world above is different from your society. It is... more individualistic. I need to learn to navigate it.” I explained, hoping that that would placate her. She gave me a look, and prepared another question which quickly wormed its way into my mind.
”Do you like our society?” She asked, curiously. Curiosity was one of the emotions I could easily detect in its voice.
”I don't know your society little one. I would like to learn more about it.” I told the myrmekes queen, sticking with my tried and true philosophy of being mostly honest with mortal creatures. This made the creature's antennae shoot up as a sort of physical sign of its excitement. I chuckled as I watched this.
This was when I began to quietly think of a new form to take on, one that would be better for the land I was about to enter and the creatures I was about to meet. I pictured something vaguely resembling a cross between Imbrosa and the myrmekes warriors guarding the queen I had just met.
The queen then abruptly turned and went back into the tunnel her minions had just created. I turned to my allies and motioned for them to follow after me.