The Bee Dungeon

The First of the Fifth watched the scout’s report dance as she drank some more mana honey. So, the Firstborn was increasing her worker count and gathering from the healing and toxic flowers now. No doubt a desperate attempt to match her own hive, now that her achievements had been revealed.

But that was to be expected. The First of the Fifth dismissed the scouts and made her way to a new section of her hive. The queens of the Flower Meadow would have to do better than that if they wished to earn the favor of the King. The First of the Fifth had obviously known everyone would follow after her once she announced her achievement, if they did not realize she was well on her way to the next, then they were truly foolish.

But that is why she was the favored queen. She would never be content to rest on her laurels again but would work ceaselessly for the sake of the King. And that was why no one would come to match her in the end.

So, she arrived at the site of her next project. A new bee was just breaking free of its cocoon and climbing out of its cell, surrounded by medicinal workers brushing every inch of its chitin with their antenna. One of them turned to the queen and danced a confirmation. The First of the Fifth acknowledged her and then stepped forward to address her newest child.

A child nearly the same size as her. Her first soldier.

Even after growing to the next stage, the First of the Fifth had not born any soldiers bees. She saw no need to do so, after all. Soldier bees could not gather nectar nor process honey, yet their large size demanded excessive quantities of it to grow. They were naught but a drain when it came to the production of the hive.

Of course, they had obvious uses regarding the defense, but such was unnecessary for the First of the Fifth. The King himself had assigned soldiers of his own to guard his treasured Apiary hives, yet another sign of his favor. She would not squander such a gift by spending her honey and mana on guards of her own.

Likewise, it was clear that soldiers were necessary for the King’s designs, and the defense of his lands. The queens of the Flower Meadow had earned great favor, and that new favor known as honor, by the deeds of their warriors. There was a part of the First of the Fifth that wished to supplant them in that field as well, to send warriors of her own to strike down the King’s enemies.

But she was not so foolish as to ignore that she was at a disadvantage in that mission. The queens of the Flower Meadow may not have been as productive or favored as she, but they were bee queens still. They did not shirk their duty and worked tirelessly to fulfill their role. The First of the Fifth would admit that their armies were impressive, and their soldiers spent every waking moment preparing for battle. It would be difficult for even her to catch up to them.