God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

The rest of the journey to the Redscale Colony was observed in silence which Cain appreciated as it let him stew in his thoughts a little while longer.

Once they arrived, the large insectoid abomination flew closer until it had reached an enormous landing pad made of the black chitinous material.

Its beating wings began to slow down as its many feet stretched out for the touchdown.

Finally, it came to a stop.

With the constant droning gone, Cain could finally hear the silence of the night once more.

The Redscale Colony had expanded even more since his last visit, from the looks of it.

He let his gaze travel over the edge. Even without his Devil Eyes, he could still make out the network of tunnels and burrows from the little he could see.

"We can wait a while to discuss even more. For now, Traxillion will see you to your resting quarters. I’m sure you are famished and exhausted after your earlier battle."

Cain paused for a moment. Then he nodded,

"I see. In that case, I shall take you up on your offer."

Anathe gave him a small nod,

"The chambers prepared have been developed with human tastes in mind. Please, make yourselves comfortable. If you have any needs, Traxillion will be right at your door."

Cain nodded. A concealed threat.

It was clear what she meant; her right hand man would be stationed right at their door to keep an eye on them.

Still, that didn’t bother him at all. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

With that said, Anathe began walking off, leaving them alone with the intimidating Traxillion.

"Follow me." The Redscale General said and began walking towards a large opening in the spire attached to the landing pad.

Left with no choice, all the two humans could do was follow behind him.

Travelling down the spire, Cain noticed that the spire itself and the area surrounding it was somewhat enclosed, a bit detached from the rest ofthe colony as a tower that extended all the way into the sky.

The layout of the colony was rather strange too.

With his keen eyes, he could see thousands upon thousands of worker ants carrying the black chitinous material, constantly building and expanding the colony.

It was as though they worked endlessly and tirelessly, fulfilling their duties until they died.

The entire colony above the ground consisted of multiple tunnels, shafts and chambers.

Traxillion led them towards a chamber that sat right in the middle of the spire.

The entire spire, and everything made with the obsidian chitin was covered in runes. Cain’s eyes narrowed as he focused on the runes covering the entrance to this particular chamber.

’A suppression array, huh... Isn’t this a bit too much?’

While Anathe was right to be thorough, it still was rather off-putting, how determined she was to make sure he stayed put.

The array fo suppression runes was likely an attempt to make sure any attempts to forcibly pry open the enclosed entrance would remain futile.

Not only that, but energy traces besides ones already recorded would be completely incapable of opening up the entrance to the chamber.

In other words, this chamber was a prison cell meant to keep him in place.

Traxillion stretched his clawed arm out and touched the door.

A deep purple glow swam out of his arm and into the entrance, tracing the runes briefly before vanishing.

With a hiss, the entrance opened up to reveal a room.

Cain’s brows shot up in shock,

"This..."

Even Evangeline seemed surprised.

Traxillion turned around to address them,

"The Queen knew you would come, so these preparations were made in advance."

Cain’s eyes scanned the room.

It indeed appeared to be a room. One that could accommodate a human reasonably well.

There was a bed big enough for two and a wooden table.

There was also another entrance that led somewhere else at the other side of the room.

On the walls were magic lamps emitting a soft amber glow, secured tightly to the walls, filling the room with subtle warmth too.

On the wooden table was an array of different dishes. With a single whiff, Cain could tell that eating these dishes would make him very satisfied.

He turned to face Traxillion.

The Redscale General’s eyes and demeanor was mostly unreadable. However, Cain could see just a glimpse of envy in their depths for the briefest of moments.

Just a bit...

"If that is all, I shall have my leave. If you need anything, tap on the entrance."

Cain frowned.

Just before Traxillion stepped out, he called out to the General,

"What does Ana— your Queen plan to do with me?"

Traxillion was silent for a moment, the mandibles at the sides of his face twitching.

Then he spoke,

"If you choose to refuse, the Queen desires that you do not partake in what is to come. This place has been prepared to detain you in the meantime."

"What is to come?" Cain asked suspiciously.

Traxillion nodded,

"The time has come for us to claim this land as ours. We shall wash over this island and paint it red with the blood of those who choose not to submit and come into the Divine arms of the mother goddess."

Cain fell silent.

"Your Queen is an ambitious one, it seems."

Traxillion turned to face Evangeline,

"The Queen is the will of the mother goddess. The light uon this dark world. Her arms shall embrace all of creation and bring it back to its truest state. She shall restore order and bring true peace. All the rest of us can do is bring her desires to reality and destroy anything that dares to stand as obstacles."

After saying that the Redscale General stepped out of the room.

There was another shrill hiss and the entrance slowly ground to a close.

The magic lamps in the room flickered...

Cain walked over to the bed and plopped down.

"This is quite the predicament we have found ourselves in, isn’t it..."

Evangeline walked over to the bed and plopped down right beside him.

"It sure is."