Lair

Chapter 002 - Color

By Skalsar

When I wake up, I'm already converting magic power.

The "Hivemind" seems to be able to order me, even when I'm "shut down".

Oh, it seems I can get information there.

"Shut down", means: the "Hivemind" puts my consciousness to sleep, but still uses my body.

Every "core" in the "hive" is connected to the "Hivemind".

And every "core" makes up a creature.

The more magic power a creature devours, the stronger it gets.

Creatures with strong "cores" get their own small, little consciousness.

But I seem to be weird.

The "Hivemind" seems to suspect that my consciousness is strong, because of the strong prey.

It had very strong magic power.

More of a condensed magic power.

The "cores" created from that, seem to be much stronger than normal.

That is why, I had a consciousness from the first day on.

But everything is clouded.

I don't completly understand it, neither does the "Hivemind".

Well, it doesn't matter.

The "Hivemind" likes me.

Very much that is.

I'm the favorite "breeder" now.

Strong and unusual magic power is delivered to me first.

That is all because of the [Hiveworkers] I created.

In fact, it was due to the knowledge of the "hive" that I was able to do so.

When prey enters the "hive" and dies, some information and knowledge is absorbed.

That's why the "Hivemind" knows about bees.

Also there is a very, very small creature in the "hive" that devours the body of the dead prey.

Within hours, nothing is left.

[Hiveworkers] are a bigger, flying version of that, combined with some special properties.

Like breeders, they have a split "core". Allowing them to store magic power.

They deliver this magic power to a breeder, that converts it.

That is why the [Hiveworkers] are directly connected to breeders.

In this case, me.

While the "Hivemind" sometimes sends out creatures to hunt, it's most inefficient.

But now, that changed.

The [Hiveworkers] collect even the smallest amount of magic power.

By the way. I was informed that we will change our location now.

Since the [Village] we stayed at was devoured, there isn't enough prey here now.

Animals and the like can be hunted or lured in with special pheromones, but that isn't enough.

The "hive", refering to the body of a "Hivemind" seems to be a unique creature.

It moves through everything and can't be killed from the outside.

That is why prey enters so willingly.

"Humans", they call themselves.

Building villages and even citys around the "hive".

They refer to it as a "labyrinth" or "dungeon".

So, a hive or labyrinth, or whatever you want to call it, is a creature with many layers inside.

Like the "Hivemind" can transport creatures to the outside, creatures outside can transport themselves into the hive.

"Cores" seem to be very useful to these humans. But also other parts of creatures.

I dislike humans.

They want to kill the "Hivemind".

Once in a while, they go into a hive and try to reach the last layer.

There, a big "core" is guarded by strongest creature.

If the "core" is conquered by the humans, the "Hivemind" dies.

And so we would starve.

Small amounts of magic power would still be consumed by the hive.

But without the "Hivemind" to control the consumtion, only small creatures would take shape.

Also there is a byproduct when we create "cores".

Small gems and minerals.

Humans call them treasure.

The "Hivemind" uses these to lure in even more human prey.

We can take them in somehow, making the treasure disappear.

Storing them inside of an imaginary space.

And if we die, the treasure reappears.

That is why many humans don't attack the "Hivemind", but try to attack the creatures.

That way, more magic power is circulating through the hive.

I even got to see the "Hivemind" directly today.

The big core that is.

Afterwards, I continued my work.

We seem to have arrived at our new home.

A Forest with many animals and the like.

Ah!

"And the like" refers to monsters.

Creatures, born naturally and not having "cores".

I'm allowed to see one that was killed right now, in order to get the magic power.

When I arrive in the forest, there are many creatures scouting the area for the "Hivemind".

Also a dead monster is lying there.

Some kind of big bird.

Bigger than a human.

My height is a bit smaller than that of a human, by the way.

My [Hiveworkers] start collection the magic power, and so am I.

Suddenly there is light.

Warm light.

No, it's something else.

Color.

I somehow understand it. The green of the forest. Blue sky and white clouds.

How can I describe this.. it feels.. nostalgic?