Vittea let out a slow breath as she brought the spinning head of her dremel to the ring of hardsilk. She made sure not to squeeze too hard, letting the tool sit in her hands as she slowly ground out thin glyphs in the material. Over the last week of fiddling with her suit and her shifts in the refinery Vittea had gained a painful familiarity with hardsilk. 

Grinding the stuff was tricky. Tools had to be hard enough to get through the tough crystal, while also not tangling or tearing the silkwork inside. Along with the shredded strands of silk that gave the hardsilk tensile strength were the pre-woven glyphs that provided a base layer of magical conduction and formatting. The hardsilk was then engraved further, using the silk network as a basis for more complex functions. These thin plates were then stacked in layers to form whatever shape the engineers needed. 

Her suit had been an exhausting crash course in hardsilk dynamics, and she swore she had hardsilk powder in her chitin at this point. While the suit had worked, it was only a start. Testing, redesigning, in some cases having to take a component completely apart to rebuild it.

Their first step had felt rather mundane compared to designing a magic-powered battlesuit; requisitioning a crystal core. The cores were the crux of most Hive magical tech and, while it wasn’t too hard to get access to one, the proper paperwork had to be filed.  With help from Merritith and Unte, the quadrupedal moth she had met in the cafeteria line who worked with the logistics department, the process was relatively smooth.

Adding the crystal core only added complications.

This particular finicky project that Vittea was squinting at was an energy containment device. After some testing-

***

The enormous four-legged monster sparring drone shifted, bringing one trunk of a leg down at frightening speeds. She charged up her shots, hoping to at least distract the monster. The crystals gleamed as bolts of energy screamed towards the faux-monster…and bounced right off, collapsing with pathetic poofs. Vittea gulped as she tried to dodge to the side, only for the drone to sweep its leg into her at full speed. 

She flew off like a shot, colliding into the wall behind her.

***

-she had decided to shift the suit’s focus to a single primary weapon, as well as the agility to stay alive while using it. Vittea took inspiration again from Yasua’s spear, as well as Berrina’s advice to ‘keep it simple,’ leading to her current project. She had salvaged the blaster crystal from her suit’s lower left hand and mounted it on top of a spear she had gotten from surplus. 

After long hours of careful glyph grinding and silk laying, the crystal was mounted on the tip of the spear. The circle she was currently painstakingly engraving was designed to hold the energy of the blaster in the shape of a spearhead, both for additional piercing damage and because she thought an energy spear would look really cool.

She let out the breath she had been subconsciously holding as she pulled her dremel away. She brushed off the circlet, looking over the engraving. Satisfied, she placed the ring around the gem and pressed it firmly into clips set into the gem’s casing. 

It was time. Vittea pulled on the anchor pieces of her exosuit before taking the energy spear in hand. It was mostly the same suit, but it felt different to her this time. The crystal core hummed excitedly in its slot in her backpack. Vittea let out a chuckle before pressing the button on her necklace. 

The exosuit built itself around her again, faster and more fluidly than before, but there was a different note to the magic flowing over her. The energy from the crystal core practically leapt into new pathways, charging the anchor points and making the crystals glow an excited blue. 

Vittea was shrouded in darkness as her helmet solidified, but only for a moment. Projectors installed in the lower ring of the helmet fired up, projecting a display of her surroundings fed by the sensor arrays built into her antennae as well as the fluff that covered the joints of her suit. Alongside the external view were various widgets representing different systems, from the central generator to the flow of energy through her wings.

Once her suit was fully constructed, she carefully leaned over to grab the shaft of her spear. A query popped up on her display, which she confirmed with a nod. With permission granted, the magic of the core flowed into the staff, connecting it to the circulation of magic. The glyphs lit up one by one along the length as the magic reached out for the hungry gem mounted on the end. 

She really should wait to test it, but…she pressed a button inlaid into the handle. Magic surged into the crystal, condensing into a buzzing, twitching ball of force. Just as it would normally fly off toward its target, which at the moment was her workbench, she felt the containment ring kick in. The ball of energy started to shift, two tails splitting from the central form, which itself began to sharpen into a point. A moment later a brilliant blue-white spearhead sparked at the head of her spear.

The ring was struggling, she could tell, but it was working! Vittea disconnected the staff from her magic network, the spearhead safely dispersing into the latent atmospheric magic. Just a few tweaks to make, and it was ready for testing.

***

The sparring drone rumbled. The enormous creation was designed to mimic the size and fighting capabilities of the monsters out in the dungeon. It turned out that the corrupting force of raw ether didn’t really do small. 

Vittea readied herself, gripping her spear as the drone lowered its horned head to charge. Her suit’s reverse-jointed legs coiled like a spring, and the moment the drone got too close to redirect its heavy momentum she sprung into the air. Her wings flared out, the patterns in the silk glowing brightly as magic pulsed through them. 

With a mighty flap she sent herself coiling upwards into the air. At the apex of her ascent her wings went stiff, letting her glide slowly as her spear charged. The energy hummed, forming a crackling spearhead above the glowing crystal. The spearhead grew as she poured more energy into it, the runes lining the shaft glowing as the stored energy writhed, seeking release.

As the drone reared up to face her, opening its jaw to unleash an attack, she fired. All of the restrained energy screamed across the distance between them, the jagged tip of the spearhead digging into the rugged carapace of the drone, cracking the surface. The rest of the energy followed into the gap, unleashing a devastating explosion that sent the drone-beast reeling to its side. 

The drone recovered quickly, stomping its feet into the concrete floor to anchor it for a charge. With a silent roar it charged Vittea, its twisted horns held forwards to skewer the flighty moth. She bolted to the side, but the drone knew her trick. Its front right foot dug into the ground as it redirected its momentum, still headed straight for the moth.

Her heart was pounding, but she stayed focused. If she couldn’t fool it, then... Her spear lit up, and with a press of a button the buzzing spearhead started to spin. With each spin, the beast stormed closer, but she held. She had enough time, she knew it. The blade spun so quickly it blurred into a single circular tip.

With the drone right in front of her, she fired. The spinning blade rocketed into the drone’s left leg, splintering the armor enough to catch on the shattered ground. Vittea leapt into the air as the beast faceplanted where she had just been. 

She smirked in satisfaction, her flapping wings gently pulling her back and forth in the air. This smirk was quickly wiped off of her face as a large chunk of rubble flew out of the dust and crackling latent energy concealing the stricken drone, straight into her chest.

There was no time to dodge, so Vittea could only brace as the force flung her into the side of the arena, cracking the generator backpack as well as knocking the wing from her lungs. She slid down the wall until her legs met the floor, which she quickly slumped onto. She could hear both cheers and taunts through the glass protecting the observation bay built into the opposite wall of the one she just cratered. 

The drone powered down as Yasua stepped into the arena.

“You need to focus until the fight is over,” she said, offering her hand out to Vittea. Vittea sighed and took it, hauling herself to her feet. She tapped her necklace, her suit flowing back off of her and into its backpack, which was sparking concerningly. She pulled the backpack off and took some small tools out of her pockets. “Taking satisfaction in a well-executed strike is understandable, but do try to save it until you know the opponent is down,” the larger mothwoman said with a smirk.

Vittea rolled her eyes as she performed field repairs on her suit. “Yeah, sorry. Was just so damn excited it worked. No more sad little energy shot plinking off of armor!” Satisfied with her initial repairs, she picked the backpack up and tucked it under her arm. “Though it looks like I need more impact dampeners, if one solid whack into a wall is going to break my energy supply.”

Vittea and Yasua discussed tactics and strategy as they walked, but a polite cough from the entrance to the arena drew her attention. A very official looking mothkin was waiting for them, somewhat impatiently from the tapping of their feet. When they saw they had Vittea’s focus they strode over stiffly to the pair.

“You are summoned to the Queen’s office, Vittea. She wishes to speak with you.” Vittea looked up at her mentor, whose eyebrows were raised in surprise. “Just her,” Yasua asked.

“Just her,” the clerk acknowledged, keeping her gaze on Vittea. Vittea gave Yasua a shrug before answering the clerk with a nod. 

The clerk nodded back. “Please follow me, then.”

***

As Vittea and her guide approached the simply designed door at the back of the meeting chamber she was first summoned to, she heard shouting. A deep, gravely voice she had only heard once, during the meeting in this very room. 

“The closer we get with the Realm scum, the more we are at risk! You know as well as I do that they cannot be trusted. They only seek profit; they do not actually give a damn about our Library!,” the voice shouted.

“It is not our Library, and you would do well to remember this. We are only allowed here as aids, and we should not take our privilege of living here for granted. But you are right, the Realm organizations are not to be trusted, but there is a fundamental difference between the Delvers living and working here alongside us, and the distant bureaucrats signing decrees and forming budgets,” another much smoother voice replied.

 “We cannot ignore the other Realms, as comforting as it might sound. It would only condemn us to a slow death, and it would make us that much bigger of a target. The factions that now deal with us with masked scowls would have no reason to continue with the facade of civility. So while I understand your apprehension, this joint mission will continue, and I do hope you will contribute to its success. We are all in this together, after all,” they finished.

The other voice responded with an aggravated grunt. Moments later the door of the office opened with a slam, revealing an enormous mothwoman, taller than Yasua and much more burly, with scars decorating their arms and face, with a particularly nasty one tracing a line from her forehead underneath her left eye. She was scowling, though when she saw Vittea her expression changed to a rather predatory smile that Vittea was not comfortable with.

“Ah, yes. Our new guest,” the mothwoman said as she stepped closer to Vittea, looming over her. “I’ve heard word of your little…project. If you are interested in working for the betterment of the Hive, rather than wasting your time in the Refinery, please contact me.” She firmly pressed a card into Vittea’s hand, which she held up. Guard Commander Kresh.  Ah shit, it was Yasua’s boss.

Kresh smirked down at her, setting her heavy top right hand on Vittea’s shoulder with an equally heavy grip. “I look forward to seeing what you have to show us. Do take care, Vittea,” She said as she stepped past Vittea, leaving her rubbing her shoulder. Vittea watched her leave. Kresh was obviously dangerous, and ambitious. Vittea wanted more than anything to stay well out of her way.

“Do come in!” The smooth voice from before called out, breaking Vittea from her thoughts. Through the door she saw the Queen, gently beckoning her with a curled finger. The clerk anxiously nudged her towards the door, shutting it behind her. Vittea stood still, not quite sure how to greet her. The Queen merely chuckled, waving Vittea towards a chain in front of her desk. 

“Please be at ease, you are not in trouble.” 

Vittea nodded, cautiously easing into the seat. “Sorry…what am I here for, then?,” she asked. The Queen smiled and pulled a few silk scrolls out of a stack on the left side of her desk and set them in front of her. 

“A check-in, of sorts, as well as an invitation. How have you been doing?,” the Queen asked, crossing her arms as she leaned back surprisingly casually in her tall-backed chair. 

“You’ve gotten reports, yeah? I’ve seen Merritith write them,” Vitea responded. The Queen waved her off again. 

“Yes yes, reports are all good, but I like to hear things myself, especially when it involves the first sponsored delver of Leppida in several hundred years,” the Queen said. 

Vittea shrugged, relaxing a little bit. “Makes sense. Honestly, I’m doing great, or I think I am. This whole place…it’s amazing, and I know I haven’t been here much more than a month, but it’s starting to feel like home. I’ve got good mentors and friends around me, a job I enjoy, and a project to obsess over.”

The Queen smiled. “I’m very glad to hear that. Speaking of your...little project, I did want to discuss that.” Vittea tensed, drawing another oddly endearing chuckle from the regal mothwoman. “Please do not worry overmuch. I have no plans to steal your work, nor do I wish for you to build weapons for us. Though, if anyone does try to pressure you to do such, I would appreciate it if you let me know. While the Hive is united, not all of us agree on the means…” The Queen spared a glance towards the door before looking back to Vittea. 

Vittea nodded understandingly. Kresh didn’t seem like the diplomacy kind of person. “Then what do you want to know about it, and why?”

The Queen nodded, setting a scroll in front of her and rolling it open. She pulled out a feathered quill and started to write. “Because you are experimenting with a central part of the Hive’s military strength, of course. From the reports I have received, I do not think that mass-producing suits like yours would be feasible. However, your novel application of crystal cores and our drone technology is, in my opinion, worth drawing inspiration from, especially your new weapon. It was fascinating to watch.”

Vittea’s eyes shot wide open. “You were watching!?”

The Queen smiled. “A couple times, at that. If you are amenable, I would like you to work with Berrina and some of the other engineers to adapt your hybrid spear idea into something that we can equip on our drones at large.”

“Is that your offer?”

“No, it is not the offer. And you need not answer immediately. Please think on it, and let your mentor know when you are ready. The actual offer is of a different nature. How do you feel about getting out of the Hive for a while?,” The Queen asked, resting her elbows on her desk and leaning forwards.

“I would love it, honestly. But, how long is a ‘while’?,” Vittea asked.

“Two weeks at most. The Hive and the chapter of the Delver’s Guild that operates in the Library are organizing a joint operation in the Canopy sector. Simple reconnaissance mission to check for any anomalies that might have popped up that we cannot spot from the air. The mission is relatively low stakes; building solid relationships with the Delvers that work here is the priority. And, as the representative Delver of our goddess, I felt you would be the perfect person to include. Are you interested?”

Vittea was more than interested. Her testing and tinkering had come a ways, but she needed a field test more than anything. That, and…she was getting a little cabin-sick. Sure, the Hive was large and had plenty of amenities, but she really, really wanted to get out and feel the wind across her wings. Damn right she was in. 

“Incredibly. Is there anything I should prepare for specifically?,” Vittea replied. 

“Just visit the Requisitions Department and let them know you are on the team for the joint exercise. They will get you set up with camping and field gear,” The Queen said. Vittea smiled. 

“Then I’m very much in. Do I need to sign anything?”

“Not at all. I will simply add your name to the list, and they will expect you at the docking bay in two weeks, before sunrise. Now, that is all I had for you, do you have any questions for me,” The Queen asked.

Vittea shrugged, pushing herself up out of her chair. “Not that I can think of, but…Thanks.” The Queen raised an eyebrow. “Thanks for being so welcoming, I guess,” Vittea clarified. “Representative of the goddess aside, I’m just a random stranger who showed up at your door, and you all welcomed me, taught me, fed, clothed, and housed me. I just wanted to say thank you for all of it.”

The Queen smiled warmly, her eyes sparkling. “It is our pleasure, my dear. It has been a delight to see you flourish as you have done. You may have been a stranger, but I would be proud to claim you as a member of the Hive.” Vittea beamed back, trying her hardest to stifle tears. 

“I would be proud to be one,” Vittea said. The Queen simply smiled back, then again sorted some of the silks covering her desk. 

“Then that is what you are. Do not let me detain you,” the Queen said before resuming her work. Vittea turned, and left.

kukilea

Hello! I really liked this chapter, hope you enjoy. As always, comments are appreciated. I've been trying to be fairly regular with updates, however this next chapter might take a little bit longer. We are finally going back out into the Library! so I've got lots to think about and plan. I also want to get a second chapter of my side project, The Frumious, published before I publish the next chapter of this one. Thank you for reading! Love you all.