The entire incident of trying to burn down a forest for no reason was truly appalling. They might have understood it if it were for resources, as greed is the most common motive for any destruction. But this was a truly braindead action, fit only for idiots.
"I really hope we don't have to see people like her," Raiz said. "The ones I feel the worst for are definitely her parents. To have given birth to her and nurtured her, only for her to end up like this... it's truly sad." He sighed,shaking from the thought.
"Forget the unpleasantries. We have to get there now," Aurora declared, flying beside him. She had been looking for him, only to find him brooding over such nonsense.
"Is it already starting? I'm telling you, you guys have no patience," Raiz replied. "Wasn't this plan just finalized yesterday? And it's already in motion today?"
"Of course. We bees pride ourselves on our work," she said, evident pride in her eyes. "But we can't take all the credit. The humans helped, too."
"You really aren't bad for a Queen," Raiz said, seeing her reaction. He offered the compliment before turning to leave, with Aurora swiftly catching up.
In Cloustar
A random thought entered Moon's mind. Just before he had seen Raiz's memories, the system had definitely displayed an age of 7,442 years. Let alone 7,000, Raiz didn't even look 70 years old. Was it a system error?
Just at that moment, Raiz himself arrived.
Being the cloud he was, Moon lifted Raiz into the sky.
Down in the plaza, everyone waited, only to see the poor bee yanked into the air. Raiz could see that some were... jealous of this? Jealous of being yanked? he thought. As the understanding hu...bee I am, I shouldn't judge people's fetishes.
Once they were high enough that their voices couldn't be heard, Moon looked at Raiz and asked, "How many years have you lived?"
"You've seen everything in my memories."
"So, you didn't live seven thousand?"
This alarmed Raiz.Not because his secret was out, but because it suggested Moon was unwell. If a cloud could get sick, Raiz was sure no doctor would be able to heal him. His best effort would be to let him bask among his fellow clouds, though Raiz massively doubted that would have any positive effect.
"Is it me, or is everything getting weird lately? Moon, you know humans can only live a hundred and some at best." Concern was evident in his question.
"It's not that," Moon started, explaining why he had asked.
"It might have just been a system error," Moon said, about to let the matter go.
"We shouldn't ignore it just to spare my feelings. Getting to know I might have lived that long would definitely be shocking, but we'll deal with it if it comes to that. Would it even be that different to you?" Raiz truly didn't consider this a problem.
"Of course it is! You'd be an old fart! Hahaha!"
"Wow, what happened to respecting one's elders? Youngsters nowadays," Raiz said teasingly.
"I'm not that young myself. I've been drifting in this world for gods know how long." Moon's mind raced. If this guy was really that old, would he have to be respectful to an elder? He knew he had been drifting for a while, but only about 20 years. Now he had a back up plan if Raiz truly was an old bone.
"I can hear your thoughts from here, little brother."
"I don't know what you're talking about, little brother," Moon said, emphasizing the "little."
The two fought over who was older, a battle any woman in any world would never understand. After finishing their conversation, they returned to the plaza.
On the plaza Skele was just minding his own business when suddenly.
"You really look like someone who could backstab people without being noticed," Raiz remarked. "Sometimes, because of you, I wonder if we're on the villain's side."
"???" Skele was bewildered.
"Don't mind what Raiz said, Skele." Finally, Skele gave a small nod. No matter how unsophisticated the bee was, at least his leader saw him for who he was, a kind person misunderstood by society. He would have beaten this bee back to its nest, but because he is so nice, he didn't even argue. (It was definitely not because he was scared after seeing how powerful Raiz was).
"It's just the way you look,like a snake ready to poison someone," Moon continued, interrupting Skele's thoughts.
Everyone laughed and was enjoying themselves. The only exception was Skele, who was getting massively bullied.
Should I truly just betray all of them? he thought. Damn beasts, every single one. He looked at Moon and decided to kill that thought. He knew what kind of power this cloud possessed. He was the better person and would just shut up.
"Alright, guys, stop bullying the little one. Unbelievable! YOU GUYS OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES!" Raiz announced. "Don't worry, Skele. If they ever laugh at you again, I will show them who the real bully is."
Skele took a deep breath, using all his willpower to hold back. He just couldn't anymore. "They call me a snake, but look at you! You were born in the wrong race. Forget the bees and be reborn as a snake.You'd fit right in with them!" They could kill and skin him right there, but he had to say this.
"Sorry, buddy, didn't mean for it to go that far," Raiz said, the rigid laughter calming down. "You're going on the mission. We were just joking around (most of it, at least)."
Everyone then took out what they had on them and started gifting the items to Skele. The gifts came in many different sizes, most of them brand new. Even th beez giften what they though was good present. Including lots of honey and good work schedule ideas??
But Skele couldn't help but ask himself.What mission is so dangerous that they are giving me a mountain of gifts?
AND when did I even accept this?!
"Here's a gift from me," Raiz said, handing him a set of well-made blades,a collection he had acquired after "educating" some bad fellas. Skele didn't know where the blades came from, and it barely mattered to him. They were black, sharp enough, and could be used effectively within the night, something he excelled at. Even at times like this, that bee really had his uses once in while.
"It's my turn now." Moon handed him a ball of cloud, shimmering with occasional flickers of lightning. Looking at it, Skele had a bad premonition. As if to answer him, Moon continued, "Anyone within the Myr realm will be blasted if you just throw this at them."
For Skele, who wasn't even at the Myr realm, this was life threatening. Not just him, most of the clan were still in mortal.Holding a live bomb was terrifying. For the first time, everyone was pitying him, their faces filled with sympathy. Was he to die by an ally's hand or an enemy's.Either choice sounded bad to him,was his life finally coming to an end?
Resigning himself to his fate, Skele finally spoke up before something more outrageous could be gifted to him. "What is the mission?"
"Look at us, getting ahead of ourselves," Raiz said. "It's actually simple. You have to travel to Zion. It's time to bring him back."
After what Raiz said, Skele could only think one thing: This guy thinks I'm as strong as him! Why are you saying it like it's a stroll in the park? It's one of the most heavily guarded prisons!
"Can I go with him?" Amilios, who had been silently listening, asked his question. His other siblings were jumping for joy. Was this dictator finally going away? Was the fun finally arriving? There was somebody else who was enjoying this.Skele, who felt like he had been thrown a lifeline.
"You wanna go, Amilios? It's a long and boring journey. Just stay and have fun here," Raiz said. As he spoke, he recognized that he was really starting to like this teasing thing. He looked at the siblings, who had been in heaven just a second ago, and at Skele, who was seriously considering whether to kill him. My personality was more strict before. Am I getting too comfortable?
"Amilios, you can go. Stop giving them ups and downs, for God's sake. You are a bee, not a naughty monkey." Moon interjected. This guy is definitely getting more and more cheeky. If he doesn't stop this now, his next target might even be more?.
Amilios nodded after he had gotten permission to go. Life had gotten much easier for Skele. With Amilios with him, he had more chances to survive. Skele almost looked at Amilios with teary eyes.
Amilios felt uncomfortable seeing Skele almost crying. Did the jokes earlier hurt him that much? I should be nicer to him on the journey.