The night was silent.
Ari lay still on the bed. He slowly exhaled before forcing himself upright. A strained groan escaped his lips.
He planted his feet on the ground and tried to stand.
His legs shook.
Ari staggered backward, quickly reaching out to steady himself against the wall. His vision blurred, and he squeezed his eyes shut until the area stopped spinning.
This pain... it's unbearable.
He looked down at his exoskeleton. Cuts and bruises covered several areas of his body.
Ari clenched his fists.
But I can't just lie here forever.
I've already wasted four days as it is.
His antennae twitched as a gentle breeze blew the leaves around him.
Ari slowly staggered outside and made his way toward the edge of the forest. In the distance, he caught sight of the colony's entrance.
So this is where I was, huh...?
He looked around at the thick undergrowth surrounding the area.
After taking a few more steps, he headed toward the colony. As he drew closer, a side opening came into view, partially hidden beneath the greenery.
Ari slowed to a stop.
His head lowered as a memory surfaced.
"Evelyn's been teaching me how to grow plants. I was passing through the workers' sector when I saw her watering some plants I'd never seen before. I got curious, and that's when I had the idea to grow more plants."
Emilia's voice echoed in his mind.
"I started asking her questions, and she taught me everything about soil and which plants can survive in the tunnels."
Ari's fingers curled into his palms.
"I know it's really hard for our workers and soldiers. They travel through danger every day just so we can survive."
"I don't want them to have to worry anymore."
"I want to help them. That's why I'm going to keep working on this."
Ari remained still for a moment.
His hands tightened.
Emilia...
He lowered his head.
You wanted what was best for the colony.
His jaw tightened.
And because I attacked Zyroth without thinking... you're gone. What kind of person would I be if I just stayed here while you could be suffering?
He took a step forward.
Then another.
Each movement sent a sharp ache through his body. Ari's breathing grew heavier, but he kept walking.
Lily... Captain Valeria...I'm sorry, but I have to go after her. Even if I die trying.
Elsewhere in the colony, deep within the winding halls, two soldiers patrolled the dim corridors.
"These hours are brutal. I barely get any sleep anymore," the younger soldier said, letting out a tired yawn. His antennae drooped as he dragged his feet along the floor.
"Oh, quit whining. This is the life you worked hard for," the older guard said with a laugh. "Work till you drop. That's the job."
The younger soldier stared at him for a moment.
"When you put it like that... it sounds miserable."
A faint gust of wind swept past them.
Both of them froze.
Their antennae flicked upward.
"What was that?" the younger soldier whispered, raising his mandibles.
The older guard sighed.
"Calm down. Probably just a draft."
"But... we're deep in the colony. How can wind reach this far down?"
"You're overthinking it, rookie. The food storage gets drafty sometimes."
Hidden in the shadows just a few meters away, Ari crouched low, keeping his breathing steady.
His heart pounded against his ribs.
As the soldiers disappeared from view, Ari slowly exhaled.
"That was close. I can't believe I managed that with these injuries."
He slipped into the storage room.
The area was packed with food. Berries and various fruits filled several areas, while dried vegetables and roots were stacked along the walls.
Ari took off his makeshift bag, woven from sticks, leaves, and vines.
He quickly began filling it with berries, dried vegetables, and roots.
As he reached behind a boulder, his hand sank into something soft and slimy.
"Ugh...is that a caterpillar."
Ari quickly pulled his hand back and wiped it against the ground.
His eyes narrowed.
I need protein. I have no choice.
He unsheathed one of his mandibles and carved off a chunk of the caterpillar's flesh. He wrapped it tightly in a large leaf before tucking it into his bag.
Ari slung the bag over his shoulder and winced as the strap pressed against his muscles.
He took up a berry and tossed it into the hallway.
It bounced across the ground, making a few sharp sounds as it rolled.
"What was that?"
The young ant rushed over and looked around.
He glanced down.
"Oh, it's just a berry."
He stooped and picked it up.
"How did that get all the way out here?"
"Probably slipped through the cracks from storage," the older guard said with a shrug, turning his back.
In that instant, Ari slipped past them.
He weaved through the abandoned tunnels and squeezed through narrow passages until he finally reached the colony's entrance.
Ari turned and looked back at the colony.
"I guess this is goodbye... for now."
He started walking.
"Ari? Is that you?"
Ari stopped.
His body stiffened.
That voice...
He slowly turned around.
Evelyn stood there, her hands full of berries. She stared at Ari, her eyebrows slightly furrowed as she held the berries close to her chest.
"Ari, what are you doing out here? And why are you carrying all that?"
She glanced at the bag on his shoulder.
"Don't tell me... you're planning to leave."
Ari looked away.
"Well, that's..."
"I already know," Evelyn cut him off, stepping closer. "I overheard the soldiers. They were blaming you for the princess being taken. They were saying it was your fault."
Ari lowered his gaze.
"But I know that's not true. You fought to protect her."
"That's why I waited here. Somehow, I knew you'd do something like this. You're going to try to save her alone, aren't you?"
Ari nodded.
"I see..." Evelyn lowered her gaze for a moment. "Even though I know you've already made up your mind... why?"
She looked back at him.
"Why does it have to be you? Why couldn't it have been someone else?"
"Because everyone else is too afraid to do anything," Ari said.
"I made a promise to the princess. I told her I'd protect her, no matter what."
Evelyn suddenly rushed forward the berries falling from her hands as she hugged him tightly.
Ari's eyes widened.
"Whoa—ow! Careful! I'm still pretty banged up," he said with a wince.
Evelyn held on.
"I know I can't convince you to stay, so..."
She tightened her arms around him.
"Promise me. Promise me you'll come back alive... and that you'll save Princess Emilia."
Her voice trembled.
"Please, Ari."
Ari's chest tightened.
When I was in Tokyo... no one except Keiko ever treated me like this. Like they actually cared about me.
He lifted his hand and gently patted Evelyn's head.
She looked up at him, tears filling her eyes.
Ari carefully wiped them away with his thumb.
"I promise I'll come back alive," he said softly, a small smile forming on his face. "So don't cry, alright?"
Her cheeks flushed pink as she nodded, her grip on him loosening.
"Yes... I'll wait."
"Here. Take these."
Evelyn picked up the berries that had fallen from her hands and held them out to Ari.
"These were the first berries that ripened from the batch Emilia grew."
Ari looked at the berries for a moment.
A small smile formed on his face.
"I see."
He took them.
"Thanks, Evelyn."
"Before you go, there's something else I need to tell you."
Ari looked at her.
"What is it?"
"Zyroth's fortress is beyond the northern bridge, at the edge of the grasslands."
Ari's expression changed.
"You know where it is?"
Evelyn nodded.
"Not exactly. But I remember the direction."
She turned and raised her arm, pointing toward the grasslands.
"Go that way. Follow the northern path until you reach the bridge. The fortress should be beyond it."
Ari followed the direction of her finger.
Evelyn slowly lowered her hand.
"I'm not sure how far the fortress is from the bridge. I only saw the grasslands from a distance when Grandpa Shin and I were running away."
"That's enough. Thank you."
With one last look at her, Ari turned and walked toward the forest.
The darkness soon swallowed his figure.
Cold air brushed against his skin as he ran, but his mind remained on Evelyn's face.
His teeth clenched.
Zyroth is a monster. His strength is terrifying.
He destroyed everything in this colony. He's the reason Evelyn became a prisoner in the first place. He killed her father and crushed her colony.
Ari's hands tightened.
And even after everything he's taken from her, she still found the strength to care about someone like me.
His expression hardened.
I can't let him get away with this.
Behind him, Evelyn watched until Ari disappeared into the darkness.
Her hands trembled as she pressed them against her chest.