The day's finally here.
We're going to Osari.
I have barely any idea how to go about this.
Nonetheless, I have to get started.

First, I fetch my mother.
Dad, Toris, and naturally, Suki are accompanying us as well to the designated departure point.
Apparently, Kyska knows perfectly where that is.
Sometimes I really do wonder how she's so knowledgeable about everything she does.
Is this a nurse thing or is she of her own volition gathering information about every little thing which might become important to me?
At least she's totally high-class in her role.
In my opinion, even to the standards of elitist noble households, she would still make a good figure.

This time we have to go to the hall connected to the main corridor to Osari.
Already the amount of waiting insects on the lower floor makes me anxious.
But it was to be expected for an escort, considering that two princesses are heading out.

One of them is Honiu though.
The whole journey together with her in a cramped place.
That's promising hell.

My royal guard stays in attendance.
Behind the one in the lead, who I recognize as Miru, are nine more, and behind them stands the rest.
All of them are wearing black coats which make them look rather intimidating.
Not to mention that they're armed to the teeth with numerous swords and blades.

Mum and I are equally growing nervous about the situation.
She never traveled very much, and this trip will certainly be anything but ordinary.

 

<I left our luggage with a worker. Do you think it will be fine transporting them?> (F)

<It will do so or perish during this task.> (K)

"You've heard her." (E)

 

Naturally, I'm not that coldhearted.
Rather I make sure that they're taking turns during the trip.

Before we leave, mum and I have to properly say goodbye to the rest of our family.

 

"I hope you will return soon?" (R)

"It will at most take some weeks. I'm going there, discussing with the leaders whatever they want to talk about and coming right back." (E)

 

Totally easy, right?
If not for the other party being the king.

 

"Right. Anyway, I hope you will do well. But if anything is dangerous, then don't push your luck. You might not get a second miraculous saving." (R)

"Okay, dad." (E)

"Goodbye, sis! I'll miss you!" (T)

"I'll miss you two. So, listen to Miwa and Suki, well, and probably dad, and behave. I don't want to hear that you gave anyone a hard time when I return." (E)

"Yes, yes. You can go now sister." (T)

 

This brat!

Mum as well gives her farewells and soon there's no way to stall this any further.
A bit unwilling I approach Honiu, who stands a little lost on the sidelines.

 

<Ehk, scria!/Ugh, seems like we're going to depart now.> (E)

<I was waiting for this moment.> (H)

 

Mum comes as well.
Apparently, she has no reservations to address Honiu.

 

<So, how are we going to travel? I don't see a carriage. Do we have to walk the whole distance?> (F)

<What a ridiculous question.> (H)

 

With this, she raises a claw and makes a gesture toward the army in front of us.
Oh damn, how could I forget about that part?
The flesh coach!

 

The drones stir and with the incredible efficiency typical for the swarm, the workers and guardians link their bodies.
Soon a platform made of their carapaces forms and to the sides their bodies create walls.
Even mum emits some puzzled pheromones when she gasps at this display.
Eventually, there is a more or less solid shape in front of us, connected with far too many legs to the ground.
Nurses bow together in a way that they form a stairway, inviting us to climb into this nightmarish construct.

 

<It's been quite some time.> (H)

 

Honiu is the first one to move and without any hesitation, she steps onto the nurses' bodies.
Something tells me she would treat them less roughly if they weren't the queen's brood.
Then she gestures at mum.

 

<My personal nurse won't leave me waiting, right?> (H)

<Scri, crik!/Sigh, I really should take some time to get this attitude out of her, but right now is a bad time. No choice then.> (F)

 

With slightly unsteady, but still very determined steps, she first carefully places her weight on the nurses before slowly climbing up, ultimately getting past that outer wall.

Now it's my turn.
I didn't want to make an expression that might make the rest of my family worry, but with the way my face is scrunching up that certainly isn't working out.
However, this isn't my first ride and I got already much more used to the insects' way of things.
Still, walls made of living things are scary.

Kyska helps me to step in.
I don't like the feeling under my feet when I step on the nurses so I quickly leave them behind.
Stepping on the platform made of workers isn't exactly better, but that they're more sturdy helps a bit.
In there I see all those who entered before me.
And the old worker bench emerges from the ground.

I gesture at mum and wave one last time at dad and Toris, but also at Suki and Miwa.
Hopefully, they're going to manage on their own.
Mum joins me till, eventually, we're done, and I can't avoid dealing with this very particular way of transportation any longer.

 

"Uh, from thee insiede iet doesn't look too bad." (F)

"Please wait before you say that. The worst part comes now." (E)

"Wha..." (F)

 

Before she can say much else, a great number of messengers descend on our carriage, creating a sight that makes you unintentionally think about getting ripped into shreds by them at any moment.
Soon they not only formed the walls but also join into a progressively closing ceiling above us.
And promptly it's much darker in here.
Just good that we all have this convenient underground vision.
However, it's still weird how we are now suddenly in an enclosed space.

Now we just have to take our places on the bench.
Honiu is the first to sit down.
I, naturally, sit on the bench opposite her.
Mostly because I don't wanna be too close to her.
Then I wave at my mother to join me.
Yet Honiu does the same and with a glare in my direction speaks up.

 

<My personal nurse is, naturally, sitting by my side since she has to tend to me!> (H)

 

Did this princess just call dibs on my mother?!
And the person in question only shrugs and sits down next to her.
I've just lost her to an insect princess!

 

<There isn't so much space in the first place and this way I can look at you.> (F)

 

I grumble a bit.
Especially because of Honiu's self-content pheromones which spread now in the carriage.

 

"So, ehk, how is thies going to proceeed, Erye?" (F)

"Just like this. I hope living, shrinking rooms don't freak you out. They do me." (E)

<Then we may begin to move!> (H)

 

The moment she says this the according pheromone signal is emitted from her.
This time, I'm a bit more conscious and less occupied with shaking in terror, and because of this notice that it's not only about Honiu's pheromones.
Instead, after the first surrounding drones caught the signal they spread it to the others.
This way, it spreads in a blink to the whole army and the very same sets into motion.
With us still confined in the flesh carriage.
I'm a bit nervous when they crawl closer together once we reach the tunnel and it grows rather narrow in here.

 

<Okay, I need to say this kind of transportation is something one has to get used to.> (F)

"You can just say that it's basically a crawling nightmare." (E)

<I wouldn't go that far.> (F)

<You're certainly the odd one here. What more would you wish for in terms of safety?> (H)

 

My concerns are certainly not about threats from the outside!

 

<Maybe we should occupy ourselves. Hey, I have a set of cards with me. Why don't we play?> (F)

<Cards? This "game" from last time, isn't it?> (H)

<She's really good at it. I can almost never tell if she has good or bad cards. After she caught on to the rules, I lost almost every round.> (F)

 

Because she has no facial muscles that could give her away, mum!
Since I am quite troubled by the current situation I take as well a set of cards.
I look to the side at Kyska.
She's too polite to ask, so I address her.

 

"Would you like to play as well, Kyska?" (E)

"If you wish so, my princess." (K)

"Absolutely! The more the merrier." (F)

<Uncommon, but I'll allow it.> (H)

 

Mum gives out the first set of cards, yet I'm asking myself how we are supposed to play like this.
But then a nurse kinda emerges out from the ground and presents her back as a plate, where the wings make for an even surface.
Honiu has no hesitation to use it as this and soon mum goes with the flow.
As I can only receive from the nurse that she's content to serve us I follow their example.
We play four rounds and I soon notice that always Kyska and Honiu are winning or respectively the closest to do so.

 

<Scriek!/Are you cheating?!> (E)

<Cheating? I'm not familiar with this concept.> (H)

<None of you ever played before, but it's always you two who are getting the best results! Just how did Kyska know I had a ten in the last game?> (E)

<I assumed it because you emitted such content signals. And then distress once I asked for one.> (K)

<You're reading my pheromones!?> (E)

<Isn't this what this game is about? It's definitely quite difficult to control one's own emittance. How else would it be played?> (K)

<Not if you know how to do it.> (H)

<So this is your secret!> (F)

 

I am not directly sure if I want to continue this weird game.
But there's not much else to do.
Also, mum isn't really going to scold them for that since we never really established any rules.
And objectively seen I can't find a fault with their approach.
With this, the game changes into something that is more directed at bodily self-control.
And so, we continue to play while the nightmare carriage moves on.