Evolution begins with an ant colony

Several days had passed since the events that happned in the throne room. Now, under the shimmering glow of the full moon, the journey of king Leonheart to the godforsaken forest continued. The carriage, carrying King Leonheart, along with Oliver, Leona, and Hestria, made it's way through the snowy grounds of the forest.

The wheels creaked against the uneven terrain, echoing softly in the stillness of the night. Snowflakes swirled in the air, glinting ever softly under the moonlight.

Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was tense yet expectant. King Leonheart sat, lost in thought, his features illuminated by the faint flicker of the carriage lanterns. Beside him, Oliver gave off an air of

Calm seriousness, his gaze fixed on the path ahead.

Leona sat opposite Oliver, her expression unreadable in the dim light. Beside her, Hestria fidgeted nervously, her thoughts consumed by the their journey back into the godforsaken Forest.

As the carriage rumbled forward, the coachman's eyes caught sight of a massive wall standing in the distance. Standing on top the wall were figures that appeared to be a blend of human and animal, standing guard. Ever vigilant.

Confusion and worry instantly became etched on the coachman's face as he brought the carriage to a halt. Sensing the stop stop, Leona and Oliver exchanged a puzzled glance before stepping out to investigate.

Leona's brow furrowed as she followed the coachman's gaze towards the towering wall. "What's the matter?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of seriousness.

The coachman gestured towards the figures atop the wall, his voice trembling slightly. "Do you know them?" he asked, his tone filed with fear.

Oliver's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the distant figures. "Beast folk," he muttered, his voice low but firm.

Leona's eyes widened in surprise. "Beast folk?" she echoed, disbelief coloring her tone. "But why would they be here?" Her mind raced with questions, the sight of the fortified wall stirring a sense of confusion within her.

Oliver brushed off the sight with a casual wave. "They're all under our liege's command anyway. Let's keep moving," he said.

Leona nodded in agreement. "You're right," she replied. Turning to the coachman, she instructed, "Just follow us."

The coachman hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing with a nervous, "Alright."

Approaching the walls, Leona and Oliver couldn't see the barrier, yet they felt a subtle shift in their abilities as they passed through. Oliver observed, "We must've just crossed the barrier."

Leona clenched her fists, noticing a noticeable decrease in her strength compared to when they were in the capital of Imperial Magma.

Leona nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're right," she said softly.

On top of the walls, two male wolf beast folk noticed Oliver and Leona's approach. Both had gray hair and tails, and their human-like features included regular human faces and brown skin.

"It's the guardians!" one of the guards exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face at the sight of Oliver and Leona.

Oliver stepped forward, addressing the guards confidently. "Glad you recognize us. Open the gates. We need to pass through to the ant city." he requested, his voice resonating with authority.

The other wolf guard nodded in acknowledgment, his expression solemn. "Ah, you mean the capital of Akundia..."

"Akundia?" Oliver and Leona echoed simultaneously, their brows furrowing in shared confusion as they exchanged perplexed glances, their curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar name.

The wolf man nodded solemnly, his gray fur bristling in the moonlight as he spoke. "Yes, the construction of the different sections of the country has been completed. Our liege has yet to have a festival to celebrate the completion of it all because he was waiting for both of you."

Oliver's eyes sparkled with excitement, and he couldn't help but bounce lightly on his feet. "A festival!?"

"Yes, a festival," the other beast man confirmed, a smile on his lips. He gestured towards the towering gates of the city with a sweep of his hand.

As the coachman guided the carriage through the barrier, a strange sensation enveloped them, like an unseen force pressing down on their bodies. King Leonheart shifted uncomfortably in his seat, adjusting the weight of his crown atop his head.

"What is this weird feeling?" he asked, furrowing his brow in confusion as he felt the weighty sensation.

Hestria, still seated in the carriage across from him, leaned forward slightly, her expression thoughtful. "It's something to do with this forest," she explained, her voice filled with concern. "It weakens all those who enter."

The king's eyes widened in alarm. "Weaken!?" He softly called out, "Status window." A yellow window materialized before him, and his expression became grim as he muttered, "Dear god."

Hestria, sensing the tension, let out a forced laugh, trying to defuse the heavy atmosphere in the carriage.

Out in the snow beside Oliver, Leona's breath formed misty clouds in the frigid air. "Enough of that," she commanded, her voice firm. "Open the gates."
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"Alright, ma'am," the beast folk nodded, their gray fur rustling as they moved to comply.

"Alright, guys, open the gates," both of the wolf beast folk called out to their companions stationed on the ground behind the walls.

Immidatly, the beast folk nodded to each other and proceeded to roll up the heavy chains. The gate slowly creaked open, revealing the bustling streets of the city beyond.

Oliver and Leona stood in awe, their eyes wide as they took in the sight before them. "Were we gone for months instead of days?" Oliver muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's like we've entered a completely different world."

Cobblestone paths stretched out before them, neatly decorated and perfectly lined. Street lamps cast a warm glow, swiftly illuminating the winding streets. Gone were the wooden huts of the beast folk, replaced by grand stone structures with massive glass windows, towering upwards into the night sky.

The beast folk bustled about their nocturnal activities, their figures moving gracefully against the backdrop of the illuminated city.