As it turned out, Acer was right. Kaede ended up naming the spider. On the sixth day, she received a message that the creature had given birth, and she finally gave in to the urge, christening her Charlotte.

  With the naming process plete, Kaede decided to ihe progress the queens had made on the y's new home.

  Apanied by Ari and the three queens—much to Acer's chagrin—Kaede made her way toward the Kyusha Mountains. Well, not quite; from the y's vantage point, the mountains were still visible several miles ahead.

  Kaede stood on the ridge, gazing at the bustling y site. The Kyusha Mountains rose sharply in the distaheir peaks catg the te afternoon light. This area, led within the forest’s edge, struck a baween ruggedness and vitality. T trees framed the se, their leaves shifting in the breeze, while clusters of hardy shrubs and moss g to the rocky terrain. It wasn’t as lush as the deeper ses of the Great Forest, but it was vibrant in its own way, alive with the resilience of nature and the hum of activity from the Antari.

  The air smelled of fresh timber and faintly of sap, mingling with the earthy st of disturbed soil. Kaede let out a breath, appreciating the rugged charm of this new home. "Not quite the forest’s heart, but still part of it," she murmured, her voice filled with approval.

  Ari stood beside her, her gaze steady. “It’s close enough to the forest for resources and cover, yet far enough into the mountains to be defensible. The queens chose wisely.”

  Kaede nodded, her eyes shifting to the bustling stru site below. Hundreds of Antari moved with purpose, their humanoid forms a blur of activity. Each worker had four arms, and it was mesmerizing to watch them wield tools or carry materials with unmatched efficy.

  A team of Antari worked on shaping massive logs, their powerful cws moving with precision. The logs were stripped of bark and expertly notched, ready to be fitted into pearby, a group of Antari worked with woven bundles of thick grass, their four arms weaving the strands into roofing mats at a remarkable pace.

  Kaede’s attention shifted to the structures taking shape. She stepped closer, marveling at the progress. The structures were simple for now -regur frames supported by sturdy logs- but there was an elegao their design. The Antari worked with a level of precision that rivaled any craftsman she’d seen.

  "They're effit," Kaede remarked, turning to Aurina, who stood nearby with an air of quiet pride.

  "Of course, Master," Aurina replied. "We Ants are built to serve. Now that we have names and purpose as Antari, our efforts will only grow stronger."

  Kaede smiled. "You’ve done an incredible job leading them, all of you," she added, gng at Hachi and Crimara, who stood a short distance away, their workers with regal poise.

  As they moved deeper into the stru site, Kaede noticed several Antari carving intricate patterns into the wooden beams. She crouched down, watg as one of them carefully etched what looked like a stylized emblem of a leaf. "Are they decorating?" she asked, her tone curious.

  Aurina stepped forward, her tone slightly hurried. "Do you not approve, Master?" The nearby Antari slowed down, worried that their master might not like their additions.

  Kaede's lips curled into a soft smile. "They're more creative than I expected. Let them ti’ll make this pce feel more like home."

  Further along, Kaede spotted an area where the Antari had established a rudimentary produ line for crafting tools and assembling smaller pos. The rhythmic sound of metal striking stone echoed through the air as oari sharpened a crude axe, while another wove thick vines into sturdy rope with precise movements of their four arms.

  "Where did they learn to do all this?" Kaede asked, her eyebrow arched as she turo the queens. "Until now, I didn’t think any of you had much use for tools."

  Ari ined her head. "You are correct, Mother. However, the ideas came from me. I shared the knowledge with Aurina and the others."

  Aurina stepped forward, adding proudly, "And we, in turn, passed it along to the y."

  Kaede folded her arms, her gaze sweeping over the industrious se. 'Must be one of those random things she just knew when I named her. Wait a minute. Did Ari pull this knowledge from my memories? Or was it something else?' she wohough she kept the thought to herself.

  "It’s incredible how much they’ve aplished in such a short time," she said, her toinged with admiration. "At this rate, the y will be fully operational far soohan I expected."

  As she walked further into the site, Kaede’s gaze swept over the various projects underway. A group of Antari was weaving thick grass into mats for roofing, while others were experimenting with mixing d stoo create more durable materials.

  Kaede frowned slightly. "We’re going to need a lot of metal, and a bcksmith too. The mountain is a good spot, but first…" She turned her attention to Crimara. "Before you head off on your hunt, take a few Antari with you to your old y. I want you to set up a mining station there."

  Crimara straightened, her fiery eyes gleaming with uanding. "Our metal may not be magiore, but as you wish, Master."

  Kaede’s expression softened into a smile. "It’s more than enough. Thank you." She turo Hachi. "Hachi, you'll take your own group to your old y location as well. The area around should be suitable for farming."

  Hachi bowed deeply, her antennae dipping low. "It shall be done, Master. I will ehe area is cleared and prepared for cultivation. As previous leafcutters, we are adept at gathering pnt material, we will make quick work of the task."

  Kaede nodded approvingly. "Good. Focus oing up a sustainable system. We’ll o establish crop rotation and irrigatioually, but for now, prioritize clearing the nd and identifying what grows well there. Take some proje devices if you need any expnation."

  Turnitention back to the group, Kaede csped her hands. "Aurina, I need you to oversee the defense operations. Erols are regur and the perimeter is secure. We ’t afford any surprises while we’re still in the early stages of stru."

  Aurina straightened, her army ants clig their mandibles in a synized motion. "sider it done, Master. No threat will e near without us knowing."

  "As for the bcksmithing, Dwargon seems like the ideal pce," Kaede said, her tone decisive. She turo Ari, her gaze firm. "Select four Antari skilled in crafting and have them meet me at the alcove." With that, she turo leave.

  ////

  Kaede gnced up as Edward stepped into the room. His posed demeanor was reassuring, even if he sometimes came across as overly formal.

  “Edward,” she said, straightening. “Thanks for ing. I o ask you something.”

  He gave a small bow. “Of course, Lady Kaede. What is it?”

  She leaned forward, resting her elbows oable. “Have you ever been to Dwargon before? Or heard much about it?”

  Edward’s expression didn’t ge, but she caught a flicker of i in his eyes. “I haven’t traveled there myself, but I know it is a city built into the mountains, famed for its craftsmanship and trade, and the hero king Dwargo. The dwarves are skilled bcksmiths and artisans, and their city is a hub for merts from across the region.”

  Kaede nodded, her fiapping lightly on the map. “That lines up with what I’ve heard. And they’re open to trade, right? As long as you have something worth their time?”

  “Exactly,” Edward firmed. “They value quality and fairness. It’s uhey would refuse a deal.”

  Kaede smiled faintly, a flicker of fiden her expression. “Good. Then I’m sending you there.”

  Edward tilted his head, waiting for her to eborate.

  “I want you to take a batagiore ao Dwargon,” she tinued. “Sell it and use the profits to hire a skilled bcksmith, and some artisans. Someone who teach the Antari how te tools, ons, crafting, even sewing, anything we’ll need going forward. The city's ing together fast, but we’re still missing the basics when it es t with metal.”

  Edward’s posture straightened further, his toeady. “Uood. I’ll ehe trade is successful and find someone capable of teag us.”

  Kaede smiled again, but this time it was more thoughtful than fident. “I’m trusting you with this, Edward. From what I've read, they mostly do trade with human nations, but are not against non humans. You'll take four Antari with you, they help carry the Magiore and assist if anything es up."

  Edward nodded. “I’ll prepare immediately. Is there anything else you need me to do while I’m there?”

  Kaede leaned back, crossing her arms as she thought. “Yeah, actually. Keep a for anything unusual, rare materials, iing tools, stuff like that."

  “I’ll make note of everything,” Edward replied.

  As he turo leave, Kaede let out a slow breath. “Dwargon…” she murmured. “I wonder what kind of people he'll meet there.”