“But next to you, Satouma, it's something completely different.” She continued, with surprising calm. “You don't just think of yourself, but of the well-being of the whole anthill... even the orcs. I... I was even given a name, which made me feel that, by your side, I could be more than just a subject. I couldn't possibly fear someone as benevolent as you.”

  Her words, so genuine, touched me more than I expected. She was saying that the power I had was not a tyranny, but a leadership that inspired trust. And perhaps that was what I needed to hear most at that moment.

  I felt a little lighter, still with doubts, but more willing to trust, not only in my own ability, but also in those who were by my side.

  “I... thank you, Anthalia.” I replied, trying to express something that was a little beyond words. “I didn't know what to think... But hearing it from you helps me understand better.”

  She inclined her head respectfully, and for a brief moment was silent, as if she understood the depth of my words.

  “Well... I didn't expect an answer like that, but I must confess that at the very least I expected you to take revenge on your queen.” I said, a little surprised.

  Anthalia let out a soft laugh, almost as if she was amused by my reaction.

  “Keke~~ If I had really followed you out of fear, we would have considered the possibility, but we certainly wouldn't have stood a chance against your highness. If you had faced us seriously, we would have gotten the worst of it, even the extinction of our anthill. But you ended up taking us in, so we can only repay you with our loyalty.”

  I couldn't help but smile at the sincerity in his words. At least this misunderstanding had been cleared up. Anthalia didn't show the fear I expected, but a maturity that surprised me. I didn't know exactly what to expect from her, but I was definitely right to appoint her as leader of the ants. She was much more than just a subject.

  “I'm counting on all of you.” I said, with a serious but grateful tone.

  “We'll do our best to serve you.” She replied, with a quiet confidence.

  The conversation ended amicably, but a feeling of unease still lingered in the back of my mind. It was hard to believe that Anthalia didn't feel the slightest bit afraid of me at that moment. Killing her queen in front of them, absorbing her, that grotesque act... it would certainly have frightened anyone. But, for some reason, she didn't seem to carry that worry.

  After all, if they ever turned away from me out of regret or remorse, I wouldn't stop them. I wouldn't force them to stay by my side if that was the weight they needed to carry. It wouldn't make sense.

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  “Oh yes, I almost forgot...” I said, breaking the silence. “Try not to go too fast. I don't want you to get exhausted.”

  Anthalia, with her always pragmatic manner, replied promptly.

  “Don't worry, we ants don't need enough rest. We could continue this journey for the next few days without stopping, if we had to.”

  “That's impressive... but please try not to overdo it,” I reinforced, even though I knew there was little point in insisting. They really were amazing in their endurance.

  And despite my request, nothing changed. We continued our journey for the next few days, without rest, as they had suggested. In all, only three days passed, just as Starko'gus had predicted. I was beginning to get used to the non-stop rhythm, but I was still worried about the wear and tear, even though the ants seemed immune.

  Finally, after a long journey and a steep climb up the mountains, we reached the blessed mountain range. The view was truly impressive, the mountains stretching as far as the eye could see, with snow-capped peaks and the feeling that we were arriving at a place of great importance.

  Starko'gus, always cheerful, was the first to break the silence.

  “Miss Satouma, my young orc, my ant friends, I welcome you in advance on behalf of the Dwarf Kingdom. Here is the fortified nation of Norgriw.”

  I looked at the enormous fortress that loomed before us, the huge stone gates, the imposing walls... It was grander than I had imagined. But the real question was: how would I negotiate with the dwarves? How could I convince these people who, apparently, were not easy to impress?

  This next step would be crucial to the success of our plan.

  ***

  Norgriw, popularly known as the Kingdom of the Dwarves, was a naturally fortified nation. The environment around us seemed to reflect this characteristic: imposing mountains and rocks shaped by centuries of history. The kingdom, although hidden in the depths of the mountain ranges, was of great strategic importance.

  As we walked towards the heart of Norgriw, Starko'gus took the time to tell us more about the history of this place. His words were full of details, as if he himself had been part of every moment he described. He told us that a century ago, more precisely when he was still young, Queen Gruhild had settled in this country. It was a fascinating story and, in a way, funny, as some of the accounts sounded like Starko'gus' personal experiences. Perhaps he had lived with her for some time to be so detailed in his descriptions.

  At the time, Queen Gruhild had only a few followers, but it was over time that she managed to form something much larger. Little by little, she and her allies built up a complete society. It was impressive, and I couldn't help but admire the determination of this queen and her people. What began as a small idea from one leader gradually grew into a prosperous and powerful civilization.

  The current queen, Grunhild Beryn, was the second of her generation to rule Norgriw. Before the kingdom became a unified nation, the place was just a small patch of land dominated by dwarven clans, and Grunhild's family were among the founders of that first family. Starko'gus, with his way of telling stories, told us that Grunhild had a very intimidating presence, something he also attributed to her father, who, according to him, was just as imposing in his youth.

  However, despite the rigidity his presence conveyed, Grunhild's achievements on her journey were unparalleled. She was considered a true hero to her people, especially among the dwarves and Yonders. Her rule was impartial but fair, which brought prosperity to Norgriw. In their view, she was a model of a decent ruler, with a sense of balance that pleased all corners of the kingdom.

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