Kaede stood fag the tuhat led out of her temporary headquarters, the polished stone archway framing her figure. She had quickly refreshed herself, using the stream that flowed through the alcove. Luckily due to the various nodes she had applied to her equipment, they still looked pristine, despite the ret alterations.

  Acer stood beside her, her presence as calm and positive as ever. She wore a subtle yet fident expression, her sharp green eyes sing the horizon. (They’re ing, Mother. I sehem.)

  Sure enough, moments ter, figures emerged from the tuheir forms being clearer as they approached. A tall btari led the way, his t figure almost blending into the darkness around him. Behind him walked three monsters, each radiating an air of authority that was impossible to ignore.

  The queens were unlike any of the monsters Kaede had entered before. She could actually feel that they were strong. They not only looked strong, but, each carried a distinct aura of power and authority, yet their movements were fluid and deliberate, exuding a quiet grace. The first queen, her exoskeleton a deep gold, was the rgest, t at almost tehe sed, darker and sleeker, seemed more watchful, her crimson pound eyes gleaming with a quiet iy, she was also the smallest, standing at the same height as Solum. The third, was only slightly taller with earthy tones marked by faint green patterns.

  'Whoa!' Kaede didn’t speak immediately, letting the sileretch as the queens came to a halt before her. The tension in the air alpable, though not hostile. Solum stepped aside, bowing his head slightly to signal the queens' arrival.

  "They’re here," Solum said simply, his voice low and steady.

  Kaede ined her head in aowledgment, her gaze shifting from one queen to the . She could feel the weight of their collective presehey're strong. Together, they might give Shifu trouble. What do I do? They're all looking at me. I think this is where I'm supposed to show my power or something.'

  For a moment, no one moved. Then, subtly, Kaede reached out within her self, using her [Magic Perception] and just releasing all of her restrained magicules while simultaneously activating her acquired skill [Queens Aura]

  Instantly the temperature dropped as a heavy miasma erupted from Kaede, the entire alcove trembling from the pressure. Solum staggered before stabilising him self. Ari merely twitched, unshaken by the presence of her mother's power. Acer was grinning wildly, happy as she felt her mother's warmth all around her.

  A faint ripple passed through the queens, as though they were unig amongst themselves. Their antewitched slightly, and Kaede felt the brush of fn thoughts against her mind. The e was tenuous, tentative, but unmistakable.

  (You are the one who ands this pce,) a voice resonated faintly in her mind, yered and resonant, as though it came from all three queens at once.

  Kaede remained posed, her mental voice steady. (I am.)

  Another pause, the mental e growing strohe golden queen shifted slightly, her movements deliberate. (We have seen your strength. We will pledge our ies to you. If you are truly as powerful as you appear, then you are the one we will follow.)

  Kaede’s gaze didn’t waver. She could sehe weight of their decision, the pride they carried even in submission. "You’ve made the right choice," she said aloud, her voice calm but firm. 'I 't believe that went well!'

  Kaede’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Well, we have a lot to discuss, so without further ado, I'll name you now."

  Somehow, Kaede could feel the shock that rippled across the three queens. The golden queen, shifted her weight slightly. Though she maintained her regal posure, Kaede could sense an undercurrent of curiosity and uainty in the air. The other two queens mirrored the subtle shift, their antewitg in respoo her decration.

  (You would name us?) the voice echoed in Kaede’s mind, resonating with yered tohat carried both intrigue aation. It was the golden queen who seemed to be speaking this time, though the e through the Hive Link blurred the lines between their individual identities.

  Kaede nodded, stepping forward. "Yes. From what I've learnt, names are not just titles. They’re a symbol of power, trust and e. By naming you, I’m aowledging you as individuals and as leaders under my and. You’ll grow stronger, strong enough to lead your ies in this world."

  The queens exged a gnce -or what Kaede assumed was their equivalent of a gnce- before the crimson-eyed queen spoke , her mental tone sharp and precise. (This is a great gift. Yet, are you certain? Naming us could drain you of your strength. We are not weak creatures, and naming us may e at great cost to you.)

  Kaede smiled faintly. "I know the risks. But I’m not the same as other humans or even monsters. Trust me, I ha."

  Acer, still grinning proudly, chimed in through the Hive Link. (Mother is amazing! You’ll see. She’ll ha like it’s nothing!)

  Kaede shot a quick mental pulse of affe toward Acer before turnitention back to the queens. 'Time to make this official.'

  She raised a hand, her [Magicules] fring to life once more in respoo her ay. The air shimmered around her as she focused on the golden queen first. "You... I name you Aurina."

  The golden queen shuddered as a stream of magicules suddenly burst ience, flowing into her, her exoskeleton glowing faintly with a golden hue as the tled into her being. Her aura fred brightly, a burst of power that made even Solum take a step babsp;

  Even as the first queen was still lighting up the chamber, Kaede turned her gaze to the crimson-eyed queen, whose sharp presence reminded her of a certain red haired empress. "And you, vigint and ing, I name you Crimara. Your keen instincts and precision will be invaluable."

  Crimara’s crimson eyes gleamed as her name oken, and a wave of heat rolled off her as her body glowed brightly red.

  With the addition of a bright red light, painting the chamber, Kaede faced the queen with earthy tones and green patterns, whose aura exuded stability and e to the nd itself. "You, remind me of a dear friend of mine." She thought back to her panion, Syrup. "I'll name you Hachi."

  Hachi's glow was softer, more subdued, but no less powerful. A wave of warmth spread through the alcove as her green patterns brightened.

  Kaede's heart rate increased as she waited for the iable weakhat would follow, as the st of the naming ritual cluded.. However, "That's it?" She only felt a slight drain, that felt like only ten pert of her magicules had been used. "Did my magicule capacity increase while I was sleeping?"

  She looked back at the three queens, who were now radiating power far beyond what they had moments ago. Before her, three tall humanoid figures emerged from the light.

  Aurina stepped forward, now standing at eight feet tall. "Aurina accepts this name. I shall lead with honor."

  , Crimara stood beside Aurina, who was about two foot taller than she was. "Crimara aowledges yift. I will ehat no threat escapes my sight."

  Finally, Hachi stood o her fellow queens, at seven foot tall. "Hachi accepts. The y will flourish under yuidance."

  Kaede smiled faintly, pride swelling in her chest. "Good. Now let’s work together to build something great."

  The queens bowed deeply, a gesture of resped aowledgment. Solum, who had been watg silently, gave a small nod of approval.

  Acer practically bounced in pce. (See? I told you Mother was amazing!)

  Kaede chuckled softly, letting herself rex for a moment. "Alright, everyone. We have a lot of work ahead of us. Let’s head to the meeting room -er chamber"