Chronicles of Eden_Act X

by Alexander Gordon

  “And… thank you. For saving me… and for opening my eye to the world. I’m never going to be the same again after having met you. But… I think that’s going to be for the better.”

  “If you say so,” Daemon replied.

  Mika nodded then glanced to Saffron, the ant girl squeaking and waving them over before she and a group of her workers started running off into the tunnels. Daemon’s group followed after while a few ant girls remained behind, the workers eyeing the steel base in the cave with caution before looking to one another in trepidation of what lay below them.

  *****

  Deep in the underground domain of the ant girls traveling between their networked nests through adjoining tunnels wasn’t always done on foot. There appeared to be three different methods of travel depending on what needed to go through. There were corridors for ant girls to run and even climb along the walls towards their destinations, there were tunnels to allow mine carts passage with their rails for heavier loads of rocks or supplies, and then there was a third type of channel that was used for something much more unique.

  “What in Eden is this place?” Mika asked as she and the others were standing to the side in a giant cavern. Inside the spacious hall where ant girls were scurrying about in their busy schedules were several rails for mine carts to head off in all directions from the sides. Towards the middle were larger than normal tracks that branched off in four different directions with the central bars being set on a very wide stone turntable in the ground.

  “I’ve seen mining tunnels before,” Tabitha commented with a raised eyebrow. “Nothing like this though.”

  “You ant girls certainly are skilled miners,” Hollia commented before she saw a group of the monsters gathering near the center junction. A few of them were peering into the large tunnels that the big rails led off into while some were tapping their feet impatiently as they were waiting for something.

  “So what’s going on here?” Mika asked Saffron, to which the ant girl merely squeaked something back while also keeping an eye on a nearby tunnel. Mika glanced to Daemon to hear what she said while the swordsman was eyeing the sight of ant girls squeaking at each other while consulting maps, rolling mine carts into position on nearby rails, and polishing their pickaxes while sitting atop crates that were piled up to the side of the cavern.

  “She says we’re waiting for your ride,” Daemon relayed.

  “Our ride?”

  “I trust it’s big enough to carry all of us?” Sasha asked. Saffron squeaked a few more times with a smirk before Daemon nodded in agreement.

  “Big enough to carry all of you, all the equipment they’re picking up from Mika’s home, and a few minotaurs should they wish to hitch a ride as well. At least that’s what Saffron just said.”

  “What kind of ride is strong enough to carry all that?” Hollia questioned shaking her head.

  From one of the darkened tunnels screeching was heard growing closer. The ant girls near the center hub backed up a bit while three others turned a large crank on the floor, rotating the central tracks to align with the rails that led into that tunnel. Daemon and his girls exchanged curious glances then waited as the clacking of wheels became louder. After a while the source of the noise came rolling through the tunnel, with Mika staring in awe at seeing what the ant girls had created to move an exceptional amount of materials through their nest.

  At the front was a platform with four steel wheels underneath and a large plated shield set before it that had a red angular emblem painted on it, the wheels halting in place with screeches and sparks as ten ant girls standing atop it slowed the transport by pulling brake levers with great strength. Next to them were five reciprocating lever beams set in rows that had grip handles on opposite sides. Behind the front car was a long steel plated wagon atop six large wheels, the ride having several ant girls inside it along with an enormous amount of crates, barrels, and sacks that contained any amount of supplies one could imagine. It wasn’t just one wagon’s worth of goods that had been brought along however, as two more were hitched behind the first one and carrying just as much if not more in them.

  “Good lord!” Hollia gasped as they saw a huge convoy of provisions being delivered by rail in a manner that was unexpected.

  “That’s a lot of stuff,” Rulo commented in wonder.

  “Never seen anything like that before,” Mika quietly mentioned. “Today really is one of those days.”

  The large convoy slowly came to a stop with its front carriage and first car resting on the central tracks. Ant girls quickly rushed over and unhitched the transport car from the other two while many more swarmed the ride to start taking its supplies. Rolling ramps and carts were rushed over to help with the unloading while the ant girls in the wagon started handing off their haul to their sisters in haste. Daemon and the girls watched as crates and barrels were rushed off in all directions to mine carts waiting for them, the workers quickly securing the provisions in with their riders before sending them off down the rails. Other supplies were carried off on foot by groups of the monsters while those sitting in the rear two transport cars squeaked and waved at everyone impatiently.

  “They certainly are quick workers,” Hollia softly said.

  “There’s so much stuff,” Scay pointed out with eyes of wonder. “Where’s it all coming from?”

  Saffron squeaked with a shrug before looking away, with Daemon glancing to her then to the others as they waited to hear what she said.

  “They found it,” he replied, with the other girls looking to Saffron with blank expressions as that flimsy excuse didn’t hide the fact that the ant girls likely pillaged these supplies from anyone they could.

  After the front transport car was emptied ant girls started rotating the crank to turn the convoy around to face another tunnel. Saffron whistled and waved to them while walking over, with all the ant girls halting then saluting her as she approached the ant girls near the crank. She squeaked at them and showed them her map before pointing to a different tunnel, the workers then nodding and turning the crank to rotate the ride around to face the other way. Saffron ran over to the puzzled workers standing at the front of the transport and squeaked at them while other ant girls were looking to one another in question. After the convoy was set to ride off to the west Saffron waved to Daemon and his group, all of them then running over to where the ant girls were watching them curiously.

  “What in Eden is this thing?” Forrus asked.

  Saffron squeaked a few times while watching other ant girls looking over the wheels and cranks of the ride with a quick and keen eye.

  “Your ride,” Daemon said with a shrug.

  “What manner of magic is this thing using?” Hollia wondered.

  Saffron laughed and shook her head before squeaking at the centaur with a bold stance. The ant girls atop the convoy squeaked and flexed their arms with pride while Daemon’s girls watched them curiously.

  “Not magic, just muscle,” Daemon explained. “The wagons are pulled or pushed by the driver cars. They’re moved by the ant girls operating those swings you see. With enough force they can get the wagons rolling across the rails with any cargo they have.”

  “Interesting concept,” Tabitha mused with a raised eyebrow. “I’m surprised they were smart enough to build something like that.”

  Saffron glared at her as did the ant girls behind her, causing the neko to smile weakly and hold her hands up.

  “I’m just saying, it’s really unique.”

  “Humans use such things with their mining, don’t they?” Sasha questioned with a glance to Mika.

  “Yeah, but nothing this huge,” Mika answered shaking her head. “They were pulling along three whole flatcars filled with cargo, we’ve got nothing that compares to that in any excavations I’ve ever heard of.”

  “Ant girls are expert diggers, remember?” Daemon reminded her.

  “Never doubted that about them,” Mika agreed looking around at seeing the outstanding product
ivity of these underground monsters. “Though this is the first time I’ve ever seen them at work before.”

  Daemon and his group watched as the ant girls then started working the levers in pairs, each ant girl lifting then pushing down in rhythm with each other with repeated squeaks. The driver car slowly pulled the first wagon off the turntable before the ant girls pulled the brakes to stop it, with their kin then turning the tracks to allow one more wagon to be pushed onto it by a group of ant girls. Saffron watched her sisters unloading the cargo from the second car then squeaked at Daemon and pointed to the first one that had a ramp set up against it.

  “Mika, Sasha, Hollia,” he said looking to the girls. “You’ll be riding up front with some of Saffron’s workers. They’ll take you to Trixton Pass. Collect what you can, send Mika and her brother on their way to Rockhelm, and then return here.”

  “How long do you think you’ll need to fix that?” Rulo asked pointing to Sasha’s broken blade. The reptile girl held each half in her hands while looking them over with a sharp eye.

  “You have a forge I can use here?” she asked Saffron. The ant girl nodded, with the reptile looking over the sword pieces carefully before giving a small shrug.

  “Provided there’s a decent forge here not too long,” she pondered. “If I can get the iron smelted and set in place it should be combat ready by… tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” Forrus asked. “But we intend to strike The Sisterhood tonight. We shouldn’t wait longer just for your sword to be ready.”

  “Velarite takes a long time to cool,” Sasha snapped. “It’s stronger than steel by far but takes more time to harden. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

  “She’s got more weapons at her place, right?” Rulo asked pointing to Mika. “Just use something else in the meantime.”

  “Help yourself,” Mika replied with a shrug. “I honestly don’t care about our wares anymore.”

  Saffron started squeaking something while watching as her kind were rotating the second car now that it was empty, the wagon then being pushed over and latched to the first one by a group of the monsters.

  “Saffron’s workers will need time to get their explosives ready for Green Haven,” Daemon relayed. “Preparing their bombs to use under the forest will take a while, tomorrow they should be ready to strike in full force. We have time to prepare ourselves for the fight. Sasha, make sure your blade is in fine form, there’s no need to rush it. Hollia, if the spear Mika has isn’t to your liking then we can find you another weapon to use, if you’re going to go into battle then make sure you have something you can trust. And, Mika…”

  He turned to the hunter who was watching him with a curious eye.

  “If you’re going to continue hunting monsters as your profession then I advise you not to underestimate those you come across again.”

  “I’ve learned that lesson very well,” Mika softly agreed with a nod.

  Saffron squeaked and waved the girls towards the front wagon where six ant girls were climbing aboard. Mika glanced to them then to Daemon as he nodded at her.

  “They’ll take what they can from your home then leave with Sasha and Hollia. What you and your brother do afterwards is up to you. For what it’s worth, I wish you luck.”

  “Thank you,” Mika dearly said. “I’m never going to forget you, Daemon Warrick.”

  “Alright, that’s enough of that,” Hollia grunted as she started pushing Mika over towards the ride. “Your appreciation for my knight is noted, now let’s go and get this over with.”

  “I agree,” Sasha said handing her broken sword to Rulo. “I’ll be back with the ore, make sure nothing else happens to my sword while I’m gone.”

  “Can’t get any worse than this,” Rulo commented with a curious eye on the two halves.

  Sasha started walking towards the ride then stopped and glanced back to Daemon, the two staring at each other in silence for a moment before she quickly trotted off after the other girls.

  The swordsman and his remaining group watched as the ant girls moved aside the ramp and squeaked at the conductors of the convoy. Saffron gave a sharp wave and squeak, with the drivers then working the levers to get them rolling. With a screech the cars started slowly moving forward before gradually speeding up, the passengers aboard the wagon sitting down and looking back to the others that were drawing further away before vanishing from sight as the cars rode into the tunnel.

  “I guess we just wait for them to return,” Rulo shrugged. “Well, I think I’ll go back to their tavern and get a little drink.”

  “A little?” Tabitha flatly repeated.

  Rulo took a blind swing at the neko with the severed blade, the cat quickly ducking under it and backing away with a hiss while grabbing hold of her swords.

  “I really hate you,” Rulo snorted.

  “I can live with that,” Tabitha snapped back.

  “Please don’t fight again you two,” Scay pleaded as she quickly scurried over and held Tabitha back.

  “Just watch over Sasha’s sword while she’s gone,” Forrus advised Rulo while holding an arm out before her. “I’ll skin the cat if she opens her mouth again.”

  Daemon shook his head then noticed Saffron walking over to the side of the cavern with a solemn expression. The ant girl hopped up onto some crates then gave a loud whistle to gain the attention of all the ant girls. The workers slowly gathered near their lieutenant while Daemon and his group remained further back, all watching as Saffron started squeaking at her sisters with a pained expression.

  As the ant girls in the cave showed shock, horror, and devastation from the news of their queen’s demise those running the convoy and riding in it with Mika and her group weren’t yet aware of the dire news. Instead they were focused on their mission given to them by their lieutenant as they traveled by rail with their passengers. Light was scarce in the underground railway while the clacking of the wheels remained constant below them. Glimpses of illuminated corridors passed by now and again while so did patches of phosphorous rocks that streaked by in the darkness.

  “I hope he’s alright,” Mika softly worried. “I can’t lose him too. I just can’t.”

  “It hurts losing family, doesn’t it?” Hollia bitterly asked. “Though I suppose that sort of pain is something we monsters deserve, unlike you humans. Isn’t that right?”

  Mika looked forward to seeing the centaur sitting against the side of the wagon with her arm resting on the edge, her hair flowing behind in the wind while she kept her scowl aimed ahead and not at the human she was talking to. The ant girls seated around them were keeping their eyes on Mika while remaining silent just as Sasha was, the reptile girl’s focused gaze going from the floor to the hunter next to her who didn’t give any reply.

  “It really would be the worst of tragedies if your little brother were to die, wouldn’t it?” Hollia snapped. “If only I knew what that was like I could sympathize with you. Of course I’m a monster so what I’ve felt before couldn’t compare to your pain, could it?”

  Sasha crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at Mika as the hunter still remained silent.

  “However I wouldn’t worry much,” Hollia scoffed. “You’re a well-known monster murderer- ah, I mean monster hunter. Perhaps The Sisterhood has been nervous about approaching your precious home in fear of their lives. Your little brat of a brother is probably just fine.”

  Mika watched the centaur keeping her irritated glare forward then looked down while her hair ruffled in the wind behind her. Glancing over to Sasha she saw the reptile girl staring at her in silence, her eye then going around to see the ant girls also watching the human they were traveling with. Lowering her head she closed her eye while the sounds of the clacking wheels were all that could be heard.

  “Monsters killed my parents,” she said while trying to keep her voice steady. “Killed my mother, raped my father to death, and then they tried to rape my little brother right in front of me.”

  Hollia slowly looked ov
er to the human who was now watching her with a discontent.

  “Am I really wrong to hate monsters after what they did? After what they do to our men? How many men were raped to death in your home? How many men do these ant girls keep down here to use as breeders? How many men do you monsters take from us every day to use for your own lustful desires?”

  Hollia and the ant girls remained silent, all of them watching the human looking back down with a frustrated scowl.

  “You act like you’re all innocent, like you’ve done no wrong. The truth is you’re all murderers just like I am. We’re all the same. We kill each other, over and over again, all simply to survive in this crazy world however we have to.”

  The monsters looked to one another in silence while Mika flexed her hand slightly, a small red glow coming from it along with a faint casting ring forming over her palm before fading away.

  “I learned to fight, to use magic, to kill, not to go around blindly slaughtering any living thing I could see. I did so because I wanted to protect my people from being raped and killed by your kind, so I could protect my little brother who means the world to me.”

  Looking back to Hollia with a stern glare she saw the centaur watching her with a solemn expression.

  “Can you really condemn me for doing so? Am I really a Darker One in your eyes for wanting to protect my people? For wanting to keep my little brother safe?”

  Hollia remained quiet for a while before looking ahead again with a small sigh.

  “I wish I could say yes.”

  The ant girls exchanged curious glances before looking back to the monster hunter who lowered her head with a focused expression on her face. Sasha watched her for a moment then turned her gaze down while her hair ruffled in the wind behind her.

  “We’re all the same,” she distantly said. Mika glanced to her and saw the reptile girl nodding slowly with a distant look in her eye.

  “When it comes right down to it, we're all monsters in this world.”

  Chapter 14