Evolution begins with an ant colony

Azara's eyes fluttered open, her head pounding as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. The last thing she remembered was the hooded figure's purple mist overwhelming them. Now, she found herself lying on a cold, damp stone floor, the air thick with the scent of mold. She attempted to move, but a strange heaviness pressed down on her, making even the simplest movement an effort.

She panicked as she realized something was terribly wrong. She tried to summon her mana, to feel the pulse of energy that was always just beneath her skin, but it felt like it was out of reach.

Her mana was there, but it was weak, suppressed somehow. She reached up to her neck and felt a cold, metallic device clamped tightly around it. The device vibrated faintly, and Azara quickly understood what it was ment for—it was cutting off the flow of her mana, leaving her powerless.

Her breath was labored as she took a look at her surroundings. She was in a small, dimly lit cell with rough stone walls that seemed to close in on her. The only light came from a single, flickering torch mounted on the far wall, casting shadows that swayed across the room. Beside her, two familiar figures lay on the ground, slowly stirring—Hestria and Tatilia.

Hestria groaned as she pushed herself up, one hand going to her head as she tried to shake off the disorientation. Her fingers brushed against the metal collar around her neck, and her eyes snapped open in alarm.

"What the—?"

Tatilia was next to awaken, her movements sluggish as she struggled to sit up. Her wings, drooped listlessly behind her. She reached up instinctively, feeling the device around her neck, and her eyes narrowed in anger.

"These bastards…" she muttered, her voice hoarse with suppressed rage.

Azara crawled over to them, her voice shaky. "H-hestria, Tatilia—are you both okay?"

Hestria nodded, though her expression was grim. "I'm fine, but this thing around my neck… I can't use my mana. It's like it's been sealed."

Tatilia's wings twitched as she examined her surroundings, her sharp eyes scanning every corner of the cell.

"We need to get these off, now...'

"Whoever did this is going to pay."

As they regained their bearings, the sound of soft sobbing reached their ears. Azara turned toward the source and saw that they weren't alone.

Along the walls of the cell, several other women were huddled together, their eyes wide with fear. Some were crying quietly, while others stared blankly ahead, their spirits seemed broken.

Azara's heart ached at the sight. These women were terrified, their faces pale and their bodies trembling. Many of them wore similar collars, and it was clear that they, too, were unable to access their mana.

One of the women, a young girl with disheveled hair and tear-streaked cheeks, looked up as Azara approached. Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

"Please… do you know what's happening? Why are we here?"

Azara's expression softened, and she reached out to gently touch the girl's arm.

"I don't know yet..."

"...but we're going to find out, and we're going to get out of here. I promise."

Tatilia stood, her wings flaring slightly despite the suppression, and began inspecting the door to the cell. It was solid iron, reinforced with thick bars that looked nearly impossible to break through without their mana.

"Damn it! It's too strong!"

She cursed under her breath. "Whoever set this up knew exactly what they were doing. These collars are advanced—probably keyed to the person who put them on us."

Hestria joined her at the door, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, which was still at her side, though it seemed to offer little comfort in their current situation.

"We can't just sit here and wait. We need to find a way out and figure out who's behind this."

Tatilia nodded. "Agreed. But we have to be smart about it. We don't know what we're up against yet."

Azara looked back at the women in the cell, her heart aching for them. They were scared, but there was still a spark of hope in their eyes, a belief that someone might come to save them. Azara knew they couldn't afford to let that hope die.

"We'll find a way out," Azara said, her voice firm. "And we'll take all of you with us. We're not leaving anyone behind."

The women looked at her with a touch of hope and disbelief, but Azara's words seemed to breathe new life into them.

They nodded, wiping away their tears and sitting up straighter, as if her words had given them strength.

The three of them exchanged glances, they sliently understood what they had to do. They would find a way to break free from this cell, and they would make those responsible pay for what they had done.

As the three of them were deep in their quiet strategizing, a sudden voice echoed through the dimly lit cell.

"Well, well, you're already awake so soon? I'm impressed."

The voice was silky and smooth, with an undertone that sent shivers down their spines.

Azara, Hestria, and Tatilia immediately turned toward the source, their eyes narrowing as they prepared themselves for whatever was coming next.

Standing just outside the cell, behind the thick iron bars, approaching from a door in the distance, was a striking woman with silver hair that went down. Her piercing blue eyes glinted with a dangerous mix of curiosity and malice.

Framing her face were a pair of wolf-like ears, twitching ever so slightly, and behind her swayed a bushy silver tail that matched her hair perfectly. Her attire was both elegant and provocative, accentuating her every curve, leaving little to the imagination.

The aura of power and danger that came from her was nearly overwhelming, making it clear that she was no ordinary person.

Tatilia's wings twitched instinctively, and she took a half-step forward, her muscles coiled like a spring ready to unleash.
Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

"Who the hell are you?" she yelled, her voice low and filled with fury.

The silver-haired woman chuckled softly. She leaned casually against the bars, as if their animosity was nothing more than a mild amusement to her.

"I'm hurt that you don't recognize me..."

"Though I suppose this is our first meeting, so introductions are in order. My name is Camilla, and I'm the esteemed Demon Generals of Lust."

Azara's eyes widened slightly at the name. "Camilla… the Demon General of Lust..."

Hestria's grip on her sword tightened, her knuckles turning white.

"What do you want with us?"

Camilla smiled, a slow, predatory grin that sent a chill down their spines.

"Want with you? Oh, I'm just here to check on my lovely new merchandise."

"You see, it's not every day that we capture such strong and… interesting new goods. I must say, you're causing quite a stir among the others."

Tatilia's eyes flashed with anger. "Let us go, and maybe we'll consider not tearing you apart limb by limb."

Camilla laughed, a sound that filled the cell.

"Feisty, I like that," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked Tatilia up and down.

"But I'm afraid you're not in any position to make demands. You forgetting what's around your necks?"

"You just called us merchandise, what do you mean by that." Tatilia asked, her voice taking on a. Dangerous edge.

Camilla's laugh echoed through the dim cell. "Oh, you poor dears, so unaware of your true situation," she said, shaking her head with mock pity.

"You see, you're merchandise, items to be sold off."

"That still dosen't answer my question... sold off to who." Tatilia asked, her tone growing intense

Camilla leaned against the bars, her silver tail swishing behind her. "You're going to be sold to nobles as slaves, to be warm up their beds and satisfy their needs. But not just any nobles—oh no, we're talking about the so-called 'honorable' elite of this land. The ones who act all virtuous and righteous in public, but behind closed doors? They're nothing more than dogs in heat."

A wicked grin spread across Camilla's face as she continued. "All I have to do is whisper the word 'auction' and promise them fine, beautiful women, and they'll come running like their pathetic lives depend on it."

Hestria's face twisted with disgust as she took a step forward, her voice laced with fury.

"You're doing this just to satisfy those filthy nobles? That's your grand plan?"

Camilla's laughter filled the cell once more.

"Oh, don't be ridiculous! This isn't about pleasing those dogs. No, this is all about helping my lord's plan to destroy this city—no, this entire empire."

Azara's eyes narrowed as she tried to piece together Camilla's intentions. "Destroy the empire… by selling us as slaves? How does that make any sense?"

Camilla's grin widened, and she took a step back from the bars. "I suppose it won't hurt to tell you, since your fate is sealed regardless."