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AR Chapter 345
🕑 Added 2025-03-15 04:00:06 +0000 UTCWhen I traveled through the ruins of the Saharliard Empire, I was struck by the myriad dangers posed by the land itself. There was no inhabitant of the land that didn’t actively fight against itself, or, whenever a trespasser made themself known, unified against the newcomer. As I traveled to the New Empire, I saw that which remained of the violent lands the Keel had reclaimed. Beasts and monstrosities yet remained, but they were culled, controlled, and beaten down, though they continue in their bestial ways. Those who I asked how they had done it all flicked their tails and screeched their terrifying, high pitched laughs.
“You haven’t listened to the stories of the Zaaktifi?”
-From the tenth entry from the epistolary travel journal of Kayuktuk the Landlocked.
[Sybil POV]
“Joral, you are needed on the western flank. The western colony has entirely overcome any sense of companionship and is in the process of rallying against those there. Reports of casualties are coming in at the moment, and your expediency would be greatly appreciated.”
Joral flared his frills in acknowledgement and rushed out of the perimeter of Sybil’s support staff. She desperately wanted a form of Ashlani’s ability to better communicate with everyone. Normally, her chain of command was clear and efficient enough not to have to worry about anything, but now, that wasn’t the case. With the ants’ growing in power and anger, there simply weren’t enough legs and voices to carry her information everywhere efficiently. That she’d needed to physically relay her instructions to Joral was a manifestation of the failure of her established system. Fixing it, though, would have to wait. For now, there were problems growing faster than they could be addressed.
The ants were the current and more pressing problem. Sybil turned to Yamal, who had quickly become one of her best supporters.
“Those within the bounds of the city remain placid, for the most part.” Yamal reported. “I can’t say for sure if that’ll continue to hold true with Joral gone longer term. The other Kou’Tal are so much less impactful than he is that it will take at least five to fill his role.”
“We will not be sieged by mere ants.” Sybil responded, her tone final. “I do not care if the prey within the bounds of the city decide to push themselves into our fangs and claws, they will hone our young. That there are those beasts so crude and foolish as to believe themselves capable of storming our walls and feeding on those of the New Empire is an affront to the Zaaktif. Therefore, we shall cull them, subjugate them, and do whatsoever be necessary to keep these mere ants from being anything more than a stepping stone to our victory.”
“Of course, Beta Sybil.” Yamal bowed, and Sybil flared her frills in acknowledgement.
“What news is there from the west? The north and south have been quiet of late.”
“The north and south have not changed.” Yamal reaffirmed. “There has been news of the changes in the shadow wyrms’ activity in the plains, but nothing concrete. They seem to be coming out of a low activity period, but it doesn’t make sense. There isn’t any more prey for them to have out there, so they’ll have to start eating each other before long.”
“They could never survive if that was the case. There lacks sufficient sustenance to support as many apex predators as they number there. We are consolidating our power and resources, and have finally begun cultivating the tubers while feeding on the limitless supply of the damned ants. There will be something that changes, and soon. Perhaps they will ascend the peaks to feed on the swarming ants? I doubt it, though, as the Zaaktif has told me that Nievtala herself claims the ‘umbral ophidians’ detest approaching where the ants live. I do not have any idea as to why that may be, but I suspect it is something to do with their nature as a swarming, mindless creature and the wyrms’ limited vulnerability.”
Sybil shook her head from her musings. As she’d slept less and less, her mind had wandered more and more. “Forgive me, Yamal. My focus has faltered. There may be either a looming additional threat or potential solution to our ant problem there. Assign one of the Sik’Tal with good judgment to the plains, one that can keep themself safe. It may be that, even if that which approaches is disastrous, we may turn it to our advantage. We cannot allow a lack of information to serve as the reason for our suffering.”
“Very well, Beta.” Yamal bowed her head as she walked out of the command center. Sybil stood and went to walk out herself, as she was needing a break. Her eyes seemed to creak from being open for so long. When was the last time she’d slept more than an hour? At least three days. More than sleep, though, she needed to be aware and sharp. She could, for now, get her blood flowing much better and her mind more active with some activity.
As she stretched her legs and tail, Sybil found herself needing a bath with Ashlani. His magic worked wonders while within the sands, and she needed that relaxation. There were dozens of khatif that would fall over themselves to please her, and if they heard that she wanted someone to help her in the bath, they’d do as much. That was tempting, the sand scraping away the grime of the past days… She was continuing to grow in this new Keel body, though she wasn’t sure if that was just because she was a young adult or if Keel would always continue to grow. Seeing Nievtala… if they grew to that size, then what would be the limit?
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Sybil realized she was entirely mistaken. It was simply impossible for the world to support a civilization of creatures of that size. They would destroy everything, regardless of intention, and there wouldn’t be anything that could stop them. Maybe a Keel could grow a bit more, but it wouldn’t be anything nearly so impactful as much beyond Took and Brutus’s size. Again, Sybil caught herself with her mind wandering, and she picked up the pace.
The Alqat, those guards left behind, flanked her, but her jog was their sprint, and she couldn’t bring herself to care about their discomfort. Maybe she would tell herself that it was the tiredness spurring on the selfishness. That was for tomorrow’s Sybil to think about. Instead, she sprinted towards the east. The ants there were rising up, and Sybil suddenly decided to see what she could do with her magic if she truly applied herself in tandem with Joral on this. If it didn’t work, of course, she’d just slaughter them all.
Either way would work.
