After two full days of relentless effort, Mira finally managed to tame the swarm of insects. It wasn't neat or pretty—she was pale, her voice hoarse, and her eyes carried the wild strain of someone who had been forced to wrestle with thousands of tiny, hungry wills all at once.
But the results spoke for themselves.
The farmers watched in awe as the insects, once a gnashing tide of destruction, now moved in loose formations under Mira's silent command.
At Lucius's direction, she guided them out of the precious crop fields, across the trenches, and toward the fodder meadows set aside on the far edge of the settlement.
There, the pests swarmed over grass and leaves meant for animal feed, devouring without threatening the village's lifeblood.
Lucius nodded in approval, his sharp eyes measuring both Mira's exhaustion and her control.
"Good. They're yours now. Keep them in check. They'll answer to you."
Mira whipped her head around, her face a mixture of outrage and dread.
