I can't walk fast enough.

The faster I move the sooner I am far away from her.

So I accelerate my pace as much as possible.

"My princess, are you alright? Your pheromones are in turmoil." (K)

"Let's just say this princess is simply too much. And never talk about it again." (E)

I move on.

But Temia is still there.

"You still haven't answered my question! Could you please tell me what is in that... flask. That thing pointed directly at me when it handed it over. So I think I should know." (T)

"It's... I am not entirely sure. You've experienced her. She's crazy! Friendly said." (E)

"What do you think it is?" (T)

"She, she mentioned your throat. She said it's just for you. Do you remember my mum? I think that's what took her voice." (E)

"Wha-" (T)

She almost drops it.

"If it gets in your throat that is. In the harming, bloody way. Mum still is barely able to form human words." (E)

"Human?" (T)

"Yes. The thing is, she speaks now fluent Formicea. It's about those pheromones. Some kind of information scent that spreads while talking. This stuff is apparently able to induce such a bodily change." (E)

Temia contemplates my words and is a bit lost in thought.

"And what is this other liquid? It seemed fairly important for you to obtain it." (T)

"This is the other side of it. It enables one to understand pheromones." (E)

I point at the two vessels.

"Emitting, receiving. At least I was told so. In comparison to the other this has barely any drawbacks. With this my family could understand my mum again, even if she can't talk normally." (E)

"But she could regain her speech? You just said something like this." (T)

"Her voice might never be like before, but yes. It's possible to trick oneself into forming the right sounds. It feels wrong and foreign but I managed to do so. Even if it's hard." (E)

She points at my vessel.

"So this stuff can be used without any worries?" (T)

I take a moment to think about it.

There is one little concern of mine.

"There might be one issue." (E)

"Again? What is it now?" (T)

"As I said, it enables one to receive completely new information. Not only might this be overwhelming for the person but there is also the point that one could be vulnerable to particularly strong sensations. The same as with hearing, when someone would scream in your ear. This might hurt the same, in another way." (E)

"Hmm, seems a little bit more special than one might believe. And you would really directly test it on your family? You said it yourself, this princess is crazy." (T)

"I don't think she's a liar. This would be novel. But you are right. I feel uncomfortable thinking about trying it out like this." (E)

"Then why not test it first?" (T)

"Huh? How? I wouldn't know." (E)

"Oh, I know the perfect candidate." (T)

No incidents while traveling back.

On my courtyard Temia directly does a dash to the left towards her accommodations.

"Oliiraaa! Are you there?" (T)

"What's that ruckus about?" (O)

"Ahh, there is my friend!" (T)

"Friend? Did you eat something wrong? Don't tell me the mushrooms truly turned out to be poisonous. I get really worried about you." (O)

"Ahh, what strange things you're saying. After all this time we spent here together." (T)

I really start to fear nobles.

The way she addresses Olira with this fake smile.

It creeps me out.

"Okay, I'm a merchant. I know when I get played. What you're up to?" (O)

"Ah, nothing special. We just need your help on a trivial matter." (T)

"We?" (O)

She looks past her and sees me.

I would wave but am currently holding this really important vessel with pheromone agent.

I didn't even consider handing it to Kyska.

Which I maybe should have done as much I shook after that meeting.

"What is this about?" (O)

"We, we have here something." (E)

"Princess Erys decided to grant you a special honor and prepared this concoction for you." (T)

Olira's look is absolutely inquisitive at the liquid.

Then she points at Temia.

"You, don't talk! I rather fare with the one who had no noble education on deceiving others." (O)

After this, she tends to me.

"Now please tell me, what is this about?" (O)

"Well, this liquid would enable you to understand the insect speech." (E)

Now she looks stunned.

"This... sounds rather fantastic. How shall this work?" (O)

"Insect speech works through scent. With special information that is contained in it. They're emitted whenever we speak. If this is applied correctly it should change the way you receive these scents and allow you to discern the information." (E)

I think I got her.

She looks at least curiously interested.

"This sounds really foreign. And impressive to enable one just like this. But wait! Should? You don't know yet?" (O)

"Uh, you see... The source is a little bit ominous. And I never dealt with this stuff. And humans aren't really common here. You see?" (E)

"I see that you want to use me to test this stuff and check if it does what it's intended to do or will cause a horrible death." (O)

"This... The latter is really unlikely. You would even be the second person using this. After my mum." (E)

"What was that last part?" (O)

"My mum had it before." (E)

"Your mum, who lost her voice?" (O)

"How do you know!?" (E)

"Who do you think I am? This information wasn't even confidential." (O)

Maybe I should think again about giving her the ability to gather even more information.

"This one is just for understanding. Talking is a completely different matter. You want to establish relations, right? So learning the language would be recommended." (T)

"Honestly, this scares me a little. I mean using something that will permanently change me? Yet at the same time, it sounds too good to be true. I'm learning a completely new language just like this? No drawbacks?" (O)

I'm rolling my eyes a little at the getting changed part.

You're talking!

"I can't be too sure about side effects. It might change your sense of smell. Also, you could be a little overwhelmed by the impression." (E)

We are here directly in the hive.

That's more plunging in than careful treading the waters.

"Hmm, you convinced me." (O)

"Really? How?" (E)

"You're making sense. And I don't see you as particularly cunning. Aside from this, it's more favorable for you if we have a positive relationship. So I don't believe that the good Lady Lorata convinced you to poison me just to get the neighboring room free." (O)

"Seriously?" (T)

"I dare to believe this. So what now? How does this work?" (O)

"Maybe we should get in?" (E)

She nods and we go inside and sit down at the next table where I place the vessel.

"So, do I drink this stuff?" (O)

"Uh, no." (E)

"What then?" (O)

"You... It's for the nose. It must get deep inside." (E)

"Bah, that sounds gross." (O)

"The one who gave it said we have to coat something with it and plunge it deep into the nostrils. She even suggested drawing blood." (E)

"Now I am not so sure anymore if I want this." (O)

"Shall I assist? This kind of procedure falls under my role." (K)

Kyska, who was the whole time very reserved, speaks up.

"No. If then I want to do it myself. I need some control." (O)

"Could she not simply sniff it in?" (T)

"No idea. I am a little worried about experiments." (E)

"All of this is an experiment!" (O)

With this Olira puts her fingers in the vessel.

"Okay, this doesn't feel too bad. Now just put it in." (O)

"Oh, a warning. My mum told me it's the worst smell she ever experienced. Something like rotten carcasses from the sewer, decaying in the sun." (E)

Olira doesn't seem too pleased at that thought.

"Fine then. Here goes nothing!" (O)

For the reluctance, she displayed before Olira now pushed her fingers with quite some vigor inside.

It looks like it hurt a bit.

At least she seems to be in pain.

Which then gets replaced by even greater discomfort.

"Uhhmpff!" (O)

She immediately pulls her fingers out as soon she obviously notices something.

But then holds her nose, unable to stop this feeling.

Her eyes tear up and she throws herself left and right before smashing herself on the table which she claws tightly before lowering further to the ground.

There she writhes on the surface for a while and I am completely at a loss at how to help her.

Should I call someone?

But who?

Yet then Olira starts slowly to wriggle less intensely.

It seems the reaction subsides.

Nonetheless, I feel a little guilty that I caused her to experience something so obviously unpleasant.

Can I help her somehow?

"N-no need to. It gets better. But this is really terrible. Your description doesn't even come close." (O)

What?!

"No reason to shout." (O)

"Olira, no one's shouting here." (T)

"Huh? But... Urgh, I feel dizzy." (O)

(K)

"What? How? Was, was this... it?" (O)

"I... I guess it works. You're understanding pheromones." (E)

"Really? It, it's not like I expected. But on the other side, I didn't even know what to expect." (O)

"So it's true. You can understand these weird sounds?" (T)

"Not just these. Also things not spoken or the general condition of her. It's a totally foreign sensation." (O)

"H-how is it? Can you cope?" (E)

It would be terrible if I caused her any suffering.

"Yes, yes I think I can. Sorry. This is really much at once." (O)

Gradually she becomes able to let go of her nose.

But the scent is obviously still bothering her the way she twitches it.

"Ehk, does it get better? Any lasting troubles?" (E)

"Ah, rotten carcasses. A total understatement. This is more than intense. Hard to adjust. Don't get me wrong but you are the worst." (O)

Me!?

What have I done?

That I made her do this experiment?

"Aahhh, please stop. That's exactly what I mean. Your little helper is nothing but you are... just there. Everywhere." (O)

Everywhere?

What does she mean?

Wait!

"Do, do you mean my presence as a princess?" (E)

"Naturally. A princess can't be ignored. So her pheromones must be received." (K)

"Yes... That could be it. Like a mental shout that goes "I am here!". Hard to ignore describes it perfectly. I get a stronger impression of your thoughts and have the faint desire to fall down on my knees and praise you as my goddess." (O)

"What!?" (E/T)

"Ouch. Okay, that was a joke. But honestly, I've had to do with crying babies who felt less demanding." (O)

"But you're not feeling any kind of mental change? Or further physical issues than the intended effect?" (T)

"No. There's nothing different. Just my nose is tingling and my sense of scent is totally off. Everything is more intense and... Oh, that's weird." (O)

What is weird!?

I'm totally worried about Olira's safety and tense up at every little thing she mentions.

"What happened?" (T)

"Yes, you two. I wanted to say that the worst is that... Body odor? You know, the intense stench I get from Erys and, Kyska was it? Also some from outside this cave. Quite a range I need to say. Anyway, it somehow stopped being a stench. It's just... there. I wouldn't revel in it and they're all different yet for some reason it isn't unpleasant anymore." (O)

"A mental change?" (T)

"Ah, this should just be adjustment. A further step of inurement, starting after the new sense is activated, I believe." (K)

I guess so.

I myself don't find Kyska's presence uncomfortable.

If anything it's soothing.

However, now I realize that scents shouldn't cause emotions like this.

"So it's fine? No bad side-effects" (E)

I'm somewhat glad that Honiu didn't trick us.

"I guess it is. I feel alright. Oh, but one more thing." (O)

"What do you want?" (E)

"Please give me an order." (O)

What!?

"D-Didn't you say you weren't controlled?" (E)

"Ahh, you really have to stop this. I didn't mean it like this. A test. I'm still a little worried if this presence of yours can influence me. So I would like to get ordered so I know for sure if I can refuse or am mind-controlled." (O)

"I get why you would want to know this. Erys?" (T)

"Yes, okay. I'll try." (E)

I try to come up with something inoffensive.

"Ehk, could you go over there?" (E)

I point to the other corner of the room.

"Was that a question? I barely feel anything." (O)

"Yes, you can do better." (T)

Sorry, I'm just not used to ordering people around.

"My princess, why don't you try your natural speech?" (K)

In Formicea?

Well, this would certainly be closer.

(E)

"What did she say?" (T)

"The same. I understand the intention but it's not very intense. Did you really try? Please, no holding back. I need confirmation." (E)

I get her, I get her.

It doesn't help if I try to be considerate of her.

Again I focus my mind and try to vent all my frustration of my previous mishaps into this shout.

(E)

"Wha-..." (O)

For a moment Olira seems to fight herself.

Then she moves one step in the direction of the wall.

But then she stops and goes to her knees.

"Whoa! That was intense. Seriously something else." (O)

"You were about to do something. Does this mean she can control you?" (T)

"Just the first impact. It's hard to get over this. After that I can again decide for myself. Still, it feels somewhat wrong to do so." (O)

"Got it. So the orders itself have an effect but no lasting one." (T)

"Ehk, sorry. If I would have known this I had warned you. Do-do you regret it?" (E)

"Regret? No. It was my decision. The stench from before will always be in my top of unpleasant experiences but the advantage outweighs the negatives. And I'm a merchant at heart." (O)

I don't think I have to feel too bad about her.

Olira seems to be content with the results.

It might benefit her business if she can communicate with other Formicea.

Even if it's just halfway.

But still, it should help.