“Let them do what they want,” I tell the little general, giving a stern warning that is only slightly ruined by the fact I’m still lying on my back. “You can advise them where to go and what to do, but you can’t order them. What nonsense. There’s only one person in this family who can boss Champions around, and that’s me.”

Mainly because someone has to point them in the right direction. Also, Brilliant probably would have gotten herself killed if I hadn’t stepped in. She really was a pain in the abdomen.

“Fine, fine, I hear you, Senior,” Solant says, looking as icy cold and logical as she always does. “Your words have merit. Interfering with the development of a Champion isn’t something I should be doing without having your… unique insight.”

“Dang right.”

I turn back to the two Champions.

“As for you two, I think you’ve figured out a good plan in the short term. Go learn, grow, try a few things out, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and if you need any help, come and find me. I’ll always have time to chat.”

“Yippee!” Ascendant says, hopping to the side and enfolding her sister in a big hug. “Did you hear that, Hippocrant?”

“Of course I did. Get off.”

“I’m sure I can lift you now. Let me try!”

“No.”

These two really are quite friendly with each other, which is unusual. Solant is still quite close with her direct siblings, the ants who were born from the same clutch of eggs, but they are followers first and friends second. These two both being Champions might be the difference, but they seem to genuinely enjoy each other's company, even if Hippocrant is trying to push her sister off her without much success.

That’s interesting. Good for them!

“They look like they’re having fun,” Jern says, smiling.

“Oh? You’re over your coughing fit, are you?”

“Yes, Great One.”

“Sheesh.”

“Well, as for what I’m up to,” I say, turning back to face Solant, “I’ll be here for a little bit longer until Tiny, Crinis and Invidia have evolved, and then I’ll be off to explore the sixth. Quite keen to get started, but there’ll be a little while to wait before we get there.”

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It took me six months to evolve to tier eight. I’m hoping that was just a complication as a result of my entoxification at the hands of the Krath and not a normal thing for a tier eight Mythic to go through. Otherwise I really will go crazy waiting.

“You did well guarding the entrance to the sixth for us during the wave, Senior. Thanks to your efforts, we could deploy only a small garrison here and concentrate our efforts in other areas without having to worry about something unexpected cropping up.”

“Oh, I was happy to do it, and it was a great experience for my three friends. I’m glad it was helpful. To be honest, I sat around on my carapace doing not much of anything most of the time. I almost felt lazy. I wasn’t!” I hasten to emphasise. “I’ve been doing special mana training the whole time. It just felt a little lazy because I wasn’t fighting.”

“I understand,” Solant says. “I’ll leave you to it, Senior. I’ll be here for a few days, so I may as well inspect the garrison and get a report from the fortress commander.”

“See you later.”

I give Solant a wave as she heads off. It’d be good if she learned to relax a little bit, but then I’m not sure she’s capable of it. For better or worse, Solant is always on the job.

“Well, I think you two got what you wanted in the end, didn’t you?” I say to the two hatchlings, who’ve finally managed to disentangle themselves. That is, Hippocrant has finally managed to get Ascendant off her. “If Solant gives you a hard time, make sure you come and see me. I can sort her out for you.”

“Thank you, Eldest,” Demetant says warmly. “They won’t say as much, but I know these two were worried.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” I wave off her thanks, “it’s the least I can do. When I taught Solant, I was pretty hard on her. After you two have grown up some more, I look forward to giving you a hard time as well!”

“That… that won’t be necessary, Eldest,” Hippocrant says.

“Oh, but it is,” I assure her, clacking my mandibles happily. “A little extra motivation and guidance can go a long way to furthering the development of a Champion! I promise I won’t throw you into a multi-dimensional mouth.”

“Was that likely to happen?” Ascendant asks curiously.

“Not a second time. It might have driven Brilliant a little nuts.”

If I’m honest, I don’t think it had any impact on the mage at all. She was born crazy. Imagine having the entire Colony trying to hunt you down before you’d even become a pupa! Absurd.

“Have fun out there, I’ll talk to you again when I get back from the sixth,” I tell the two Champions. “But you’re still way too young to be messing around this deep. Stay in the fifth, sure, but close to the top, alright?”

After a few more minutes of chatting, I wave the Champions and Demetant goodbye as they go to rest before they head back up. Every time I see them, I think a little more positively about the two Champions. I think they’ll work out just fine.

“A lot of visitors today, Great One,” Jern observes. He’s finally put his axe away, apparently satisfied with the edge at last.

“Where were they when I was bored out of my mind?” I grumble. “And we aren’t done yet. There’s a few more coming. Some expected, some very unexpected.”

Jern cocks an eyebrow.

“If you know they’re coming, how is it unexpected?”

“Well, I asked Granin, Torrina and Corun to come, so that’s very expected, but I didn’t ask the other guests, and they’ve come quite a long way.”

“How far?”

“All the way from the third stratum…”

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