After this, everything kinda calmed down.

I was informed that more mining tools in form of simple pickaxes got delivered at our base below Osari.

They didn't even bother transporting them here but distributed them directly there so that the present workers could start the mining operations close to the place where the ore is supposed to be delivered.

It's good that at least my business deals are working out.

Regarding my family, Mum is surprisingly content with her new job and I didn't hear about any mistreatment from Honiu's side.

Also, there are no indicators that something else happened.

She's as healthy and positive as usual.

The one thing I had mixed feelings about are those vials I received from Honiu.

While I won't even consider messing with my family's ability to speak, the eye drops for better underground vision are a different topic.

Mum discussed very intensely with me about this and argued that she already spent several days with those adjustments to see if there are any side effects after her own alteration but nothing came up.

So it's not like I can say very much against this.

One can barely see a difference in the eyes from the outside.

Also, I noticed that the darkness in the hive in general isn't too great for dad's sight.

So fixing this didn't sound too bad.

Yet this is not really the kind of gift for a family member.

However, we all talked for a while about this and it was decided that the positive overweighs.

Especially Toris kinda jumped at the possibility, thinking it's "cool".

Which might be a worrisome stroke of his.

Apparently his own was even a special version for youngsters which hurts less.

Not that it was completely painless, but while it was hard for me to watch him writhing in pain from his burning eyes, Toris didn't complain afterward.

At least, it does take some concerns regarding my family's accommodation.

Naturally, I want them not only to be safe but also content with living here.

Dad even mentioned that his eyesight is now better than before.

Which might be a thing if something so drastic as a partial race change happens to them.

And now that I think about this, it might be quite the thing.

Could I even cure blindness?

How much would this be worth for some people?

I might not be able to cure the world, but even a few individuals might raise the Formicea's reputation to unknown heights.

And how much this would be of a boon in a negotiation with a powerful noble who would just have this exact problem?

However, what we were given is used up.

Also, it apparently perishes quite quickly so one can't store it.

But if Honiu can do this, could I as well?

Maybe that's one of the things my brother could help me with if he learns something about princesses during his training in the chamber of knowledge.

Which by the way starts today.

Do I want my brother to learn anything about my biology?

Anyway, it's clearly the topic of today's breakfast.

"So, today is Toris' big day, right?" (E)

"Shouldn't you know bEtter than anyone else, Eryes? After all, iet was all about your scholar's progrEss." (F)

I should mention that I was quite rigorous with mum's speech practice.

It already got much better.

"Uh, can we please not make it a thing that I have to keep track of every single drone which is related to me? There are already so many. It's basically a futile effort." (E)

"You could at leeast try. Iet's the least you can do as devoted thEy're to fulfill all your wieshes." (F)

"Dad!" (E)

Mum forces me to interact more than the bare minimum with the eggs coming out of me!

"I'm with your motheer here. Since I can hear them, I know that all your subjects just think the best about you. You should try a bit to live up to your great reputation." (R)

Just because my brood unconditionally loves me, something I have absolutely no word in, I now need to show more effort?! That's irritating!

"Anyway, we were talking about Toris! Are you excited, little brother?" (E)

"Uh yes. It's so incredible, but I'm a bit scared." (T)

"Don't worry. Miwa will be the whole time by your side. And I guess there's not even remotely the chance for you to get bullied when you're related to me." (E)

Also, I assigned like a hundred drones to guard him from the distance.

Not that I'd tell him.

"I nEver thought we would raeise a scholar one day." (F)

I'm not too sure if this will be a socially acceptable occupation.

However, I know it holds some value.

There must be many who are interested in us.

And when Toris can teach them one day he will be in great demand.

And because of might become someone important.

Should I assign more guards?

"Well, quite some crazy stuff happened. By the way, how is everything for you? Do you have any regrets?" (E)

"I wouldn't call it reegrets. I'd wish Ie could go to the surface more frEquently, to gEt some lieght, but iet's always quite thee effort." (F)

Yep, the darkness might be a bit depressing in the long run, but the passage is quite a distance away.

And walking up there is quite hard on the legs and certainly nothing one can do repeatedly.

"REcently it goes quite a bit better. It's a bit estranging that increasing numbers of my coworkers are always subconsciously praising you, if you understand." (R)

Urgh, I just do too well.

"Okay, then today is the big day." (E)

After having finished our meal the final preparation starts.

Toris will have to get used to going there without me, so we have a bit of a bigger departure at the gateway of my district.

Mum even made him a butty.

I meanwhile once more instruct Miwa.

"Okay, he can't be harmed. It's not like I don't trust the scholars, but they do the strangest things in their curiosity. So please pay attention to this. However, he's also still a child. Don't let him just do as he pleases. It's also supposed to be educational and not just pure play-time." (E)

(M)

Fine. Miwa is almost as professional as Kyska, so I'm sure she'll manage.

Yet I shouldn't forget about Toris.

"And don't forget, Toris. You know me, so you don't have to do anything that is off-limits for you. Uh, I mean, anything that you don't like. Uh, you know what I want to say. Don't let them do something weird to you. However, that's not an excuse to be lazy." (E)

It would be extremely bad for his mental development if he thinks he can do as he pleases and behave like some of those nobles who treat others as lesser beings.

I have to be a responsible elder sister here.

"Yes, sure." (T)

I notice that he's a bit annoyed.

The typical "now stop the safety lecture and let me get on my way" attitude.

The main issue I have with that is that it's the exact same behavior he usually shows towards mum after a lecture.

But I guess it's fine.

I have so many measures in place that he should be totally safe.

"Okay. Have a nice day." (E)

Miwa takes him by the hand and he gets on his way, before once more turning in my direction and calling out at me.

(T)

After this his eyes go wide, he covers his mouth and hurriedly walks forward.

And I?

I AM TOTALLY FREAKING OUT HERE!!!

(E)

My brother just creaked at me and I understood it.

I'm certain I did.

And before, did I only think he was annoyed?

No, no, that's not it!

I felt it!

I just realized it was like this!

My brother talked in insect speech!

"Ehk, Ery. You mieght calm down a biet." (F)

Oh, right. I don't want to cause pain to them but...

Wait!

Why isn't mum freaking out as well?

And what about dad?

He doesn't seem to mind.

If anything they look like I or Toris do when we got caught redhanded.

"What ies going on heere?" (E)

"First, you should calm yourself. You... tend to overreact a little on these matters." (R)

Overreact?

Like for example when my brother starts to speak like an insect?!

"Seee? Just look around. All your drones are looking." (F)

I'm having every right to freak out when I'm freaking out!!

Uh, but on the other side, I don't want to hurt them.

Fine, no internal shouting.

"Just tell me slow and carefully what exactly is going on here." (E)

"Remember? You've got this new concoction from Honiu. I discussed it with her and she told me she managed to make it a bit less invasive to speech. It's not as intricate, as the other one and only allows for the most basic communication, but in return, it barely touches the throat. A bit, but nothing too severe. At most a little stiffening." (F)

Particularly I remember that I gave it to Kyska since I didn't want to have it close to me.

"And you gave it to her Kyska?!" (E

"My princess, you didn't tell me not to allow access to it. Only to keep it. Especially you told me that there are no restrictions for your family that would ban them from doing things as they wish. With those orders, I couldn't deny them." (K)

Maybe I should think about setting some rules.

But before I scold my personal nurse I should concentrate on the family issues which are the main point here.

"So you, you're telling me that you gave my little brother a potion that's permanently changing his body?!" (E)

"HE's also mye son!" (F)

"But how could you? Just like this?" (E)

I knew she was very lax about those body adjustments, but pulling Toris into this?

Is there some kind of organization I can contact on the matter of childcare?

I'm pretty sure inducing a body metamorphosis on a minor would be a valid point.

"No, not just lieke this. Naturally I spoke wieth your father fierst." (F)

"I wasn't exactly thrilled. But your mother had very conviencing arguments." (R)

Or rather, you mean that she talked you down as usual till you couldn't retort anymore?

"And then you tested whatever this crazy princess gave us on your own son!?" (E)

"No. Your father tEsted it. He's got a bit of a rasp since then, but nothieng worse. After we confirmed iet's safe we carefully asked your brother for his opienion. You know we wouldn't force him to drink it, rieght?" (F)

However, my brother is quite irrational at the moment.

Or at least a child that can't really be expected to make proper decisions for its future yet.

"I just can't possibly understand why you'd do this to him."(E)

"You know, Ery, wee have to consider that we probably will pErmanently live here. Since it is like this, it's kinda important that we can communicate with the residents. And those are, as you know, to a not small degree insEcts." (F)

"But you could already communicate with them." (E)

With some selEcted few nurses. But the majority iesn't able to form human words. And that we could understand what they say isn't helping very much to ask spEciefic questions. Ief your brother ever got lost, there would bee no real way for him to ask for dirEctions or help." (F)

"Still, he's so young." (E)

It just seems wrong to do this to a kid.

"That's eeven more of a reeason. In thee future theeir prEsence on thee surface might increease. So iet's a conveenient abilitye. BEtter do iet now while he can still adapt to it." (F)

"But what about Toris?" (E)

"He's perfEctly fine. Even you didn't notice any difference until now. He's as hEalthy and energEtic as always." (F)

"I-I just don't know." (E)

Maybe I'm overprotective, but in general, people would be hard-pressed to convince me of the necessity of body experiments on children.

"I'm sure he'll be fine." (F)