It was all so unreal.

I wake up in some kind of bed and almost believe that I am still at home.
However, I feel too bad.
All that happened to me might have been a feverish dream, but my environment says different.

Looking around, the walls, floor, and ceiling consist of a smooth brown surface.
It is like the earth on those tunnels.
However, this is a room or rather a hall and the structure looks a bit different.
There are some of these white glowing stones embedded in the walls, so I can see rather well.
Then I realize that the bed I woke up in is more a tub, filled with some yellowish substance that doesn't seem to cling to me.

My condition is terrible.
I feel pain in my stomach and still this fever.
Also, my wrists are tender, a bit swollen, and hurt.
The same goes for my ankles and knees.

What is going on here?
Why did those creatures make me sick, as I am very sure this sting caused that, and then they put me in a bed?

Promptly something approaches the only entrance.
It's one of those monsters again.
It has six appendages like all the others, yet with developed claws at all the ends.
And this one seems to walk on two legs, using the midsegment at most for balance.
Also, it has a more slim build and looks in general more delicate.
There are insect-like, translucent wings sprouting out of its back and its compound eyes have something piercing.

<Screeeoo!/Princess! You woke up! Are you alright?> (weird insect)

"Ieeek!" (E)

<I'm sorry, princess. Yet I don't know what to make out of that.> (weird insect)

"W-wh-wh-what?" (E)

This thing screeched, yet somehow I thought it would mean this.

Am I crazy?

<Are you fine? I was worried, as your fever is so high. You might still be in your metamorphosis, yet the strain on your body has to be attended. Are you content with my assistance?> (extremely weird insect)

More strange screams and clicking sounds, which in the end sound like this to me.
The insect stands completely calm in front of me, waiting for an answer.

<Is there anything you wish for, princess?> (ridiculously weird insect)

This is impossible, right?
A giant speaking insect.
That’s madness.
But I can hear it!
Or… feel?

I am doubting my sanity.
After all that happened, losing my mind might not be too farfetched.
Yet, I can’t deny that I believe to understand this insect directly in front of me.
The only way to know if I am crazy is by causing a reaction I can relate to.

"J-just t-to con-...firm, can you... raise your left claw?" (E)

<What an odd request, yet if it pleases you, princess.> (strangely complying insect)

And she raises the left claws.
Both of them on her left.

"Th-this is not my imagination? You really did this?" (E)

<Princess, it seems you are still very exerted. Maybe you should rest.> (insect)

I hold my head against a headache which was the whole time present, yet now worsens with what transpires here.
The most distressing is that I know that there are just those screeches, which I can understand without a problem.
That's what I think I do.
There is not much to hold against this after my test.

"Y-you can really u-understand me? Is tha-that right?" (E)

<I am Kyska, your personal nurse. It would be terrible if I couldn't even do this, failing my purpose.> (Kyska)

Nurse?
A personal nurse?
Why?
Because I'm ill?

"A-am I still talking normally? I-I mean not like you?" (E)

<Yes, you are still using that strange set of vocal connections. But it might be just a question of time until your throat and mind will have adjusted enough if that thought soothes you.> (K)

"What... What are you talking about? Am I not going to die?" (E)

<Dying?! Is anything wrong? Are you feeling sick? I can't let this happen! Or are you just referring to the progressing adjustments? These should end without causing harm.> (K)

Whatever I perceive here, it feels genuinely worried about me.

"N-no. I-I meant am I not going to get ki-killed? That thing killed all the others. Am I not just fodder?" (K)

It might not be the smartest approach to mention that, yet all this is far too ridiculous as that I can let it slide.
I was convinced to get eaten here very soon.

<Fodder!? Princess, don't neglect yourself like this! You are far too important to value yourself this low!> (K)

I am confused.
This was a heavy emotional outburst.
And somehow I could feel this.

"No, I meant all the others died back then. Except me. Why?" (E)

<Oh, are you referring to what happened on the surface? That must be an interesting place.
As for the casualties: I was informed about the incident. At a new branch of our network suddenly a thermal reaction was started, causing many tunnels to collapse. The investigating units met at the source creatures which showed hostile behavior to a guardian, it was judged as an attack, so retaliation was the appropriate way to act.> (K)

"And what... what is with me?" (E)

<What are you referring to princess?> (K)

"Exactly that! I was taken there, a titanic creature stung me and now an insect is calling me princess! What the hell happens here?!" (E)

<Ah, you've met the queen. What a wonderful event.> (K)

"No... I mean.... queen? What... is it?" (E)

This outburst took the last of my reserves and my body rapidly loses strength.
I still have this fever and those other agonizing points.
Like the muscle pain, itching skin, and stomach ache.
Weakened like this it gets hard to keep me upright.

<Oh, princess! As I said, you should rest. Let me help you back in your alcove.> (K)

This insect is fast at me and tugs me carefully back into this tub with the foreign substance.
She uses her claws yet they are much softer than those of the others.
And somehow even if this insect is directly touching my body, I don’t panic.
I can feel that it is truly considerate of me and has no ill intentions, in a strange way soothing my troubled mind.

I am confused.

"Why do you... call me... princess? I don't... understand." (E)

The moment I delve a bit into that yellowish stuff I become sleepy.
It gets hard to stay awake.

<Because you are a princess! Now please rest. The changes put a strain on your body and you need to recuperate.> (K)

With too many questions on my mind, I sleep in.