Evolution begins with an ant colony

Thalager's lips curved into a sly grin as he led the carriage into a seemingly normal space. But as the massive doors closed with a loud thud behind them, the coachman's unease became obvious. The air grew thick with tension, and the dim lighting cast long shadows across the walls.

The coachman's eyes widened with alarm as he looked around their surroundings. The space, far from being a stable, appeared to be a massive food storage, with rows upon rows of shelves lined with provisions stretching into the darkness. The musty scent of aging food filled the air, mingling with the coachman's growing sense of dread.

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"What is the meaning of this?" the coachman demanded, his voice filled with fear as he turned to Thalager for an explanation.

Meanwhile, in the carriage, Hestria's gaze swept over the darkened surroundings outside the carriage. She couldn't shake the sense of unease that settled over her. The faint light filtering in through the distant door cast long shadows, heightening her unease.

"Where are we?" she murmured, her voice barely audible over the hushed whispers of her own thoughts.

Before she could dwell on the question, Thalager's voice sliced through the silence like a blade. Startled, Hestria turned her attention to the direction she head his voice from, his figure looming in the dim light.

"Silence, human," Thalager's voice was sharp, commanding. "I don't recall granting you permission to speak."

The coachman's voice trembled with fear as he demanded an explanation for his actions. "Why are you doing this?"

Thalager's response was curt, his tone laced with authority. "We seek only to punish your king. If you are well behaved, you have nothing to fear."

Hestria tumbled as she heard Thalager's words. Out in a stutter as she mutterd to herself, her concern for King Leonheart could clearly be felt in her words. "T-the king is in danger!"

Suddenly, understanding dawned on the coachman. His face frowned with anger, his fists clenched at his sides. "As expected of monsters," he said, his voice thick with disdain. "They can't be trusted."

As the coachman spat such words, Thalager's demeanor shifted. The air crackled with tension, sending the horses into a frenzy of panicked screams. The coachman, suprised by the sudden change, looked around clearly confused.

"What did you say?" Thalager's voice sliced through the air, his gaze piercing the coachman's soul.

Terrified, the coachman remained silent, his fear could be felt in the air.

In the carriage, Hestria's heart raced as she felt a chill run down her spine. She whispered to herself, her voice barely audible, "Such potent murderous intent... If he's that serious, he'll kill the coachman. Should I step in? Am I even strong enough?"

Thalager, his eyes blazing with fury, as he said, "I dare you to repeat what you just said." Slowly, he began to advance toward the trembling man, his teeth clenched and fists tightly balled.

Visibly terrified, the coachman stammered out an apology, "I-I'm sorry... please, forgive me." his voice trembling with fear.

With a menacing glare, Thalager snarled, "Apologies won't save you now. I won't tolerate such insults from a mere human."

In an instant, he lunged towards the carriage, his movements swift. With a powerful grip, he seized the coachman by the collar, his fingers digging into the fabric. With a mighty heave, he hurled the man across the storage room.

The coachman soared through the air, his body careening into shelves and crates with a deafening crash. Wood splintered and objects toppled in his wake, creating a cacophony of destruction. He tumbled to a halt, his form sprawled amidst the wreckage, unmoving and silent.

As Thalager closed in on the unconscious coachman, his steps echoing ominously in the dimly lit storage room, he sneered contemptuously. "Pathetic," he muttered, his voice dripping with disdain. "A feeble creature like you dares to speak out of turn."

Inside the carriage, Hestria's heart pounded with apprehension. She glanced down at her own attire, devoid of any armor or weapons. Stepping in to intervene could spell doom for her as well. Despite the danger, she couldn't bear to stand idly by as the coachman faced Thalager's wrath.

Hestria hesitated for a moment, her mind racing with the consequences of her actions. But then, with a serious glint in her eyes, she spoke aloud to herself, "I have to do something. I can't just sit by and watch." With a deep breath to steady her nerves, she stepped out of the carriage, ready to intervene.

With a trembling hand, Hestria pushed open the door of the carriage, the hinges creaking softly in the silence of the storage room. She stepped out cautiously, her heart pounding in her chest as she braced herself for whatever lay ahead.

Thalager heard the sound of the door creaking open and the soft steps of Hestria as she landed on the cobblestone floor. He turned around swiftly, his gaze piercing as he demanded to know who she was.

"Who are you?" Thalager demanded, his voice edged with suspicion and hostility.

Hestria smchose to remain slient, her mind racing with strategies. "I need to start chanting now," she thought silently to herself. Without a wand, her spells would be weaker, so she knew she had to fire off as many spells as she could.

As Thalagor heard Hestria's chants, he gritted his teeth and growled, "You dare!" In that moment, he surged forward, reaching Hestria in a flash and seizing her by the neck, instantly cutting off her ability to continue chanting.

Feeling his tight grip constricting around her neck as he lifted her off the ground, Hestria squirmed and struggled, desperately trying to break free.

Thalager's voice was filled with contempt as he sneered, "Humans always have a way of looking down on monsters, thinking they're superior, always seeing monsters as nothing more than a source of 'materials'."@@novelbin@@

With her breaths becoming shallow and labored under Thalager's firm hold, Hestria struggled to respond, her voice barely a whisper. "I-I'm not like them," she managed to gasp out, her eyes pleading for mercy.

Thalager's grip tightened even further, his disdain could be seen in his narrowed gaze. "It doesn't matter what you say. I know you're all the same," he spat out.