I cannot really say how I slept.

Something like a dreamless sleep, yet calm, and at the same time as if I had been heavily invested in something, but then forgotten.

Waking up my state is a bit better than when I initially laid down.
However, this is just relative, as I felt absolutely terrible before.
Now I feel only half as terrible.

The fever I experienced is not gone, but decreased.
The itch feels less present, while it is still there.
And sore muscles need an eternity to get better, that much I learned from farm work.
My stomach is still in turmoil, but calmed down a little.
Yet something at my hip behind me stings.

 

<Princess! You are awake! Do you feel better?> (K)

 

That startled me.
It is the same insect from before, and it seems it was here the whole time.
The fact that I can talk to it and that it’s apparently not hostile helps with the unusual appearance, if only a little.

 

"Better? Yes, I think a little bit. But what is this princess nonsense?" (E)

<You are a princess! How else should I refer to you?> (K)

"E-Erys, my name is Erys. And I might be a lot of things, but certainly not a princess." (E)

 

I mumble those words, intimidated by the fact that this is an insect the same size as me, and it seemingly has some weird evaluation of me.

 

<Thank you for the honor of giving me your name, princess.> (K)

"I said I am no princess." (E)

<I am sorry, but this is not for you to decide.> (K)

"Wh-what? What do you mean?" (E)

<The queen decided that you'd pose a formidable princess. And now it has progressed too far to refer to you differently.> (K)

 

I am getting anxious.
All this mad talk about me being a princess makes me extremely uneasy.

 

"Progressed? What progressed?" (E)

<Your metamorphosis! You are more and more ready to come in charge of your assigned district.> (K)

"Metamorphosis? Charge? Does that mean I'm no prisoner here? Can I go back out?" (E)

<To the surface? By no means, no! Your life is far too important to be risked like this, princess. Especially while in your condition. You are still in the middle of your metamorphosis.> (K)

"What the hell is a metamorphosis? And why should my life be of any importance?" (E)

 

This all is getting far too much for me.

 

<Because you are a princess!> (K)

 

And this is getting annoying.

 

"And what does that mean? I only know that I woke up here, in a completely foreign place, and... and I'm scared. Please tell me what is going on here!" (E)

 

My eyes tear up a little at this.
I don't have the slightest idea what is happening.

 

<The queen decided to make you a princess, and as such, you are in charge of your district. For this reason, you were changed to fit that role.> (K)

"Me? In charge of what? And changed? I don't understand." (K)

<You will in time. No need to worry.> (K)

"Please tell me what is going on with me!" (E)

<Princess, your pheromones indicate stress. At this point, we should better stop, or your complexion might worsen.> (K)

"No, no, no! I am no princess. Not even close! This is all crazy, and I am so confused." (E)

<Princess, you've burned lots of your resources until now. It would be good to ingest something.> (K)

 

Did this insect just change the topic?
On the other hand, I haven't eaten in a while, and my stomach feels empty, besides the fact that it is stirring like crazy.

 

"You mean eating? I am provided food here?" (E)

<Naturally! Your well-being is of utmost importance, so your needs have to be attended.> (K)

 

I am truly terribly hungry, yet before anticipation overcomes me, I remember that these are insects.
Who knows what they will provide?

Kyska, this weird insect, leaves shortly through the open hole in the wall.
It seems they don't have doors here.
I consider whether I should try to make a run for it, but my sorry state, empty stomach, and the certainty of running directly into hundreds of these insects induce me to dismiss this idea.

A moment later, she enters again with some kind of tableware.
It looks like clay or just more of this hardened earth.
She extends it to me as if I shall eat it from my position in this "bed" while she is holding it.

 

"Can we not go to the table?" (E)

 

There is something like a table in this room.
It's more like an accumulation of the dirt the very room is made of, but still.
Yet it forms such a shape and even some kind of stools to sit on there.
There is also a bench, which is strangely some way apart from the wall, and also a smaller table, like for tea.
The chamber as a whole is quite spacious, yet there don't seem to be any adjacent rooms.

 

<Are you feeling well enough, Princess? You must be very weakened.> (K)

 

I am, yet I still try to raise myself up.
It is hard, but eventually, I manage.

 

"It works." (E)

 

Kyska is quickly placing the things on the table and then supports my body to guide me to a stool.
It is astonishing how attentive she is.
Watching carefully for each of my steps, while making full use of all of her arms.
I sit down and take a look at what is presented there.

I had purposely dimmed my expectations, and that was the right decision.
There is a crude earthen pod, apparently filled with water.
But everything else I see on the plate is just some accumulation of black stuff.
Yet this insect is urging me to eat it.

The supposed food is dry enough that I can grab the pieces with my hands.
Which is necessary, as there is no cutlery.
I take a piece of these and put it carefully in my mouth, half expecting that it is either poisonous or inedible.
But to my surprise, it tastes sweet.
A bit like bread or cake, yet not exactly.

 

<Is it to your liking, Princess?> (K)

"I-I guess. But what is it?" (E)

<The harvest of the mycelium! There the majority of our food supply is gathered. This is of utmost importance to your knowledge, princess.> (K)

 

Again this princess stuff.
How did she come to that conclusion?
While I eat to quell my hunger, I decide to ask my questions.

 

"I simply don't understand. Why are you calling me a princess?" (E)

<Because this is what you are. A swarm princess! The queen decided as such!> (K)

 

She is emphatic at this, but for me, this is no answer.

 

"This is not making any sense! Why would something like this happen? I am a human, and all of this is too much for me." (E)

<Princess, forgive my shortcoming, but what does the term 'human' refer to?> (K)

"W-well, humans! That's what I am. The main population on the entire surface. All like me." (E)

<Like you? Apologies, but I believe there is only one princess Erys, right here.> (K)

 

Is this talk leading anywhere?

 

"No. I mean similar to me! Two legs, two arms, pink or sometimes tanned skin, hair in different colors, no carapace. Humans!" (E)

<Intriguing. A whole species with such specifics at such a scale. Yet I believe my princess had a small mistake in her thought process.> (K)

 

By now, I've finished my meal, as it was fairly easy to eat and wasn't that much in the first place, especially with my stirring stomach forcing it in.
And now I wait uneasily for what she will say.

 

"Mistake? What mistake?" (E)

<Simple. Even if there is such a species called "humans" and you say you were part of them, this applies no longer. You are no 'human' my princess!> (K)

 

I am at a loss and just look at this weird insect, not able to understand what it means.
With open eyes, I stare, incapable of replying in any way.

Suddenly, something moves in my opened eyes, which had started to get dry.
I instinctively put my hands in front of them, however, there is nothing.
Now they're fine again.
It was more as if they were wiped horizontally from each side.
Like blinking.
Wrong blinking.
Yet I didn't.
This is so strange.

 

"What was that? My eyes!" (E)

<Your second eyelid. You should leave them closed, or you might get dirt in the eyes." (K)

<A second what?!> (E)

<Eyelid. Your eyes adjusted as a part of your metamorphosis, so you can see fine. However, at the same time, they became very sensitive. To prevent greater pain, a second eyelid developed to cover them. Isn't this right?> (K)

"No! I mean how?" (E)

<When the queen decided to make you a swarm princess!> (K)

"And because of that, they changed my eyes?" (E)

 

Calm down, this is crazy, yet all of this was too much since the beginning.
What are some little differences to my eyes, if I escaped certain death and worse?

I am agitated, but try to soothe myself.

 

"Okay, my eyes are different. Could be worse. I can still see. So it's fine." (E)

<Are you perhaps thinking your metamorphosis is restricted to your eyes, my princess? The queen did much more. Your whole body is changing right now.> (K)

 

No, no, no, no! This is completely wrong.

 

"Wh-why you say this? I- I was stung, but nothing more excessive should happen!" (E)

<Oh, no! The queen found out you were a fertile entity of a compatible biological setting. Also, your body was in a time of change. The perfect opportunity to step in and make some beneficial adjustments. A very fortunate development for the swarm.> (K)

 

My body starts to heat up.
The muscles cramp, and my breath gets erratic, while panic seizes me.

 

<Princess! Your pheromones are getting disordered again. Please rest, while your body adjusts.> (K)

 

Kyska pulls me up with her four arms.
The pain and confusion disorder me so much that I don’t even consider fighting back.
Then she brings me back to the tub.
Now that I think about it, I wonder how I didn't drown in this stuff, yet at the same time don't want an answer.
My body heat is rising, and everything prickles like crazy.
But as soon as my body enters the substance inside the tub, it settles down, and the temperature becomes tolerable.

 

"What happens here?" (E)

<It seems that because you refreshed your sustenance, new energy was provided to advance your metamorphosis. Don't worry, I will keep watch while you rest.> (K)

 

I feel incredibly sick.
Lying down with a high fever.
Because of that, it is very hard to keep my eyes open.

As weakened as I am, I eventually fall asleep.