After class, Josh suggested they head to the library for study group, which was responded to by a groan from all his friends, so they pushed it back to the next day when everyone is free and got some rest.

  ‘Shame, we were going to finally buy ingredients and bake some sweets today since after this Biscuit will have to attend her church at the weekend so it will be a while before we have the same free period for baking together.’

  Amy thinks but doesn’t say anything to Biscuit since this class is really important for their grade they both should go with the team.

  “Don’t worry Amy we can just bake together later, I promise,” said Biscuit. Amy can't tell whether Biscuit speak up because Amy looked disappoint or Biscuit herself disappointed.

  “Alright reading time” Josh led everyone through the door on the third floor. He even borrow a small trolley to carry everyone book from Doran in advance since all their book is very heavy.

  ‘The librarian, a merlin falcon is it. I don’t think I ever talk to him yet’ Amy looked around before spotting someone she didn’t think would be here talking to Doran.

  “Arthur? What are you doing here?” Amy walks to the small ant at the counter. He is so small Doran has to bend over from another side of the counter to talk with him.

  “Lady Amy!?” Arthur started to panic and quickly speak “Please don punish me, I swore I come hear afder finish all my work and was already on my way back.”

  “Wait so it’s not your break time right now?”

  “Eh...” Arthur does not dare to look up.

  “Come on Miss...” Doran turns to speak for Arthur.

  “Amy” Josh pops up from behind.

  “Miss Amy, Arthur here is just waiting for his library card I already took his photo and just waiting for the machine to finish printing it out, it’s a bit slow so please don’t blame him for staying here too long. And Josh your table number is 13th on the far left. Oh, hello Bill I see you with Josh today."

  “That right our team is here to study major religion today” said Bill he seem friendly with Doran.

  “I see you’re friend with Josh and Bill since we’re all friend here can I ask you to forgive Arthur just this once?” Doran press his wings together and plea to Amy in Arthur places.

  Amy looks down at Arthur who still bowing down “Fine, I won’t report this to ante just get up already” other people start to stare at them since they in the middle of public library.

  “dank you my lady dank you,” said Arthur.

  “Lord Eirian, I’m glad to meed you again and you as well lord Calamidy” Arthur greet the rest of the team and Amy introduce other to Arthur.

  Josh can be seen trying to hide his laugh at how Arthur said Calamity's name.

  “Good to see you again Arthur but didn’t you borrow these book before? How come you still didn’t have a library card.” asked Eirian.

  “Lord Doran borrow for I in his name. He’s very kind.”

  “Oh I just noticed him running in and out often back then, turn out he was trying to read a book when he’s on his break but have to run back to work when time up and run back here again. After I realize what he been doing I just let him borrow a few book in my name.”

  “What? What if he doesn’t return the book on time or steal it? You don’t even know him right?” said Bill.

  “True that he doesn’t even have a name back then definitely would make it hard to track him down, it was the main reason I can’t make library card for him really but I doubt he will steal and if he return a book late I can pay the fine for him.”

  “You’re too kind Doran,” said Bill.

  Doran just smiles.

  “I don know how will I ever repay lord Doran's kindness.”

  “But Arthur got a name now so when he told me I have to make a library card for him right away.” just then a big machine behind a counter make a peep sound and Doran bent down to get it.

  “Here Arthur, your very own card.”

  Doran pass a card from his beak to Arthur jaw and Arthur jump at his own picture and name in joy.

  “Congratulations Arthur” Eirian, Bill, Biscuit and Josh cheer him.

  “Alright, if Arthur misses a return deadline and got a fine in future you can come collect it with me instead” said Amy “He’s an ant it should be our responsibility not a librarian.”

  “Alright, I’ll do that” Doran nods.

  “Say didn’t you read Droverbum that Levana gave you before? Did you already finish it?”

  “Yes, my lady.”

  “You read the whole thing?”

  “Well...I donod undersand whole ding but yes I did, my favorid pard is de legend of firss Pan.”

  Just then Amy got an idea to ask Arthur to summarize his version of Droverbum he read.

  ‘But I’m am an ante should I be asking worker ant for help in the study? Order workers to help in labour is one thing but in education...’

  “Can we ask Arthur to join our study group” said Eirian “He can summarize Droverbum he read and in exchange you can read all of our other book. If you have any part you don’t understand you can ask us too.”

  “Really?” Arthur seem excited at the idea but quicky put himself down “I need to get back to work I already overstay past my break time.”

  Eirian turns to Amy with eyes full of expectation.

  “What?”

  “Can you order or tell his ante later that we need his help with study?”

  “Err maybe don talk aboud book just that you need me carry your ding.”

  ‘I guess no ant needs to know what Arthur helps us with here. I doubt other people nearby will tell other ant about worker ant reading with us and our table is a little deeper inside most people won’t see us right.’

  “Alright then you can read with us Arthur I’ll tell your ante later that I ask you to carry some stuff for me.”

  “dang you my lady.” Arthur tries to contain his excitement.

  "Thank you so much for not punishing him Amy.” said Doran “If you need any help in the future just come to me, I’m also your senior you know.”

  Amy who already walked away from the counter waved her antenna “Alright.”

  Bill is left to pat Doran on his back before following the rest of his friends.

  “So how do I do dis?” Arthur's voices shake as everyone at the table looks at him expectedly.

  “Just tell us what you remember or what you got from Droverbum is fine,” said Josh.

  Arthur then start to tell his version of the book he read. Amy found that his version is quite different from what Prof. Fay told them in class, his version is more focus on the folk tale and legend, a miracle and fantasy part of the book and less on rule and commandment. But Arthur also talk about the dogma and few clever quote from various important figure in Amalthor and Elswyth history.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  His summery isn’t very long and he had to pause to think about what a book said a lot of time but everyone patiently listen while flip the book looking for the page that Arthur is talking about at the moment.

  “Thank you Arthur it’s good to hear about Droverbum from other races” said Biscuit.

  “I live do serve my lord and lady,” said Arthur.

  “You don’t have to serve us Arthur” said Eirian who quickly turned to look at Amy.

  "It’s is his duty. He’s happy to help you don’t put his goodwill down.”

  “Right, I’m sorry.”

  “You have nodding do be sorry abod my lord.”

  “Do worker ant has to wor—serve for the rest of his life? Don’t they get pay or retirement or something” asked Bill.

  “We do have a place for an ant who is too old to work, a swamp in the south of Fia.”

  “What? They got a retirement home there?”

  “Rediremend home?”

  “It’s the place where all ant go in the end even me. Here I think it’s mention in the book?” Amy flip through list of contents for her country book of law but can’t find it.

  “I guess it’s not an important detail,” said Amy.

  “It’s just a place where ant go to die isn’t it” said Josh “I heard of it.”

  “Yes,” Amy answered casually.

  “What but that horrible!” Biscuit's voices make people nearby look so she turns her voice down “How could ant just let their own family go like that.”

  “Well, it’s just a general area we go. There isn’t like a directive telling of what to do, some go in water some just lay under tree and some do dig a hole to stay underground in final moment.”

  “That's not what I mean.” Biscuit stops Amy in panic.

  “Do all ante do that as well?” Calamity asked.

  “Some do, I properly will but some ante who have accumulated coin from other nation may also spend their final day in the countryside of New Terra or Eardwulf. It’s money they get from their work after all they can spend it how they like.”

  Everyone beside Amy and Arthur looking at each other not know what should they say next.

  ‘Why are they looking at each other like that? I know other races do hold funerals for their family member but in the end they all bury or burn the body all the same.’

  “This way our body returns to nourish the forest and help with farm and other plants too,” Amy added.

  Arthur doesn’t say anything, for worker ant they simply follow instinct and pheromone. No one sit him down in class to teach him what to do and how to do it but he did see a few old ant who came before him return on a boat to Fia when he arrive here for the first time via boat. He understand it will be his turn one day.

  Until that day he’s to serve city of Alana, follow headmaster Osmond, lady Tonia and any ante as it is demand of him. That the reason he was sent here. Reading was just a thing he pick up by chance because lady Tonia need some worker to help with paper and he was one of few who was taught to read and speak.

  “Only ante get paid? That can’t be right,” said Bill.

  Amy flips through list of content again. This time the book does mention this “Look, a colony hierarchy consist of Queen, ante, solider and worker. Only solider and above class got paid since their work is more important and consist of efficiently managing a worker for the benefit of colony and in turn all ant.”

  “A worker does not have a name and can’t talk so there is only ante or queen who can control and manage a large number of ant via pheromone. A colony shall provide all of ant needs so currency is not necessary. A worker can eat as much as he wants and the colony shall provide as long as he does his duty to the colony. Food, water, medicine, place to sleep and relax a colony provide for all.”

  “Some lord or lady ante also be granted a small land or in some case a new colony where some ante become a new queen for that colony though still second to the first colony in Fia. They even have a rank chart in here.” Amy points to the page where the picture chart is and everyone takes note.

  Arthur told them Alana is a special case since some worker can talk because Osmond want to encourage some ant free education so Tonia help teach those who want to learn how to speak and read then assign them to help manage worker in some undercity area.

  Arthur used to help with paper work and manage lower floor but that job is no longer necessary so he’s back to do normal labor.

  “You volunteer to learn how to read and speak?”

  “I did no ad firs bud lady DOnia came asking for a few more worker do fulfill quoda of headmasder program so I go wid her. Id was afder knowing how do read did I find a book aboud dale of king Ardhur dad I wan do read more book.”

  ‘Wait did Eirian or Arthur name himself again?’

  “Amy” Eirian called “What about you! Can you tell us about your story in the first colony maybe we will understand ant society more.”

  “Ok?” Amy taken back when everyone put the book down and look at her she don’t think she ever talk about herself personally before “As you know I’m an ante so basic education is taught to me since young to perform our duty in managing the colony.”

  “We were told since young that one of us will become a new queen and we may choose to participate by working in government sector and effectively managing a large number of workers to produce more results, if you choose to be in charge of the farm then produce more food, if mining then mine more ore or dig faster and deeper than other ante. We each start managing since young with a small number of workers and increase over time as we age. There are many positions an ante can take: regent, head nurse, minister, and royal guard. I was considering becoming minister for a while since I used to dream of growing wing...”

  “my lady Amy you would look so beautidull wid wing.” Arthur looking excited. He heard an ante can grow wings before but he never see one himself.

  “Yes, right now only a queen and few royal guard are allow to go through process of growing wing.”

  “Wait I thought ant can grow wing by themself?” said Bill.

  “I’m not sure where you heard that but we need a nurse's help to properly gain wings and if you somehow got wing without permission from the queen and regent your wing will be remove.”

  “Ar...I hope my wing donod grow by themself.” Arthur taps his body.

  “A wing is a symbol of our highest royalty after all not everyone should have one.”

  “What about you Amy? Don’t you want to fly?” asked Josh.

  Amy glance at Josh as she thought about the time he flew her from top of Nikki. She want to thank him but his face is so annoying that she feel the need to scowl him.

  “I won’t be getting any wing I told you guys before I chose to be a diplomat. I will be travelling around the world performing my duty for our colony even without wing.”

  ‘What I want doesn’t matter. Being diplomat allows me to travel and see the world even if I can only do it from the ground it is good enough for me.’

  In the end no body question Amy much about why her people do thing this way and each get on to the next book. There are still so much to read after all and Arthur happily read along with everyone.

  Bill just summarizes by reading line by line from the book since it contains many old religions in one book.

  Eirian, Josh and Biscuit who already know their religion just make a quick note of what they think is the most important part.

  Calamity seem have trouble summarize his religion but Josh came in and help him. The bird seem to know more about m?nen than our wolf.

  In the end everyone treat this like a normal test study, for Amy reading all these commandment and legend of other race’s gods is truly fascinating. She can only wonder what others may feel as they read about tenet from other races which tell a different tale of how the world is and ought to be.

  After a long day Eirian offer to treat Arthur anything he want to eat and Arthur mention a spirits which he heard from wolves talking about it one times.

  Amy don’t have a problem since many ant worker also drink beer which provide by colony on special occasion. Everyone else naturally join for a free meal.

  ‘Why does Eirian like to treat us with free food so much...this better be to get on our good side and not because he sees us like a pet.’

  Arthur then takes them to the fancy inn he heard those wolves mention. Arthur has been here looking at the menu on the front before but doesn’t dare enter since he doesn’t even have money.

  While Bill is saying that the place looks nice, Ken walks out and calls them.

  “Oh you guy eat at this place too? Good taste. This place got the best drink in the city, I recommend Brandywine go well with any food.” said the tiger with red face as he walk past Eirian and wave.

  “Thank, maybe I’ll try it.”

  “Look like other eat here too, hope the food is good” Eirian take everyone inside and each order a food with a drink of their own only Josh and Biscuit decline and just order a meal.

  Everyone enjoy eating together and even Amy must agree that the food taste very good. They all share their plate with Arthur so he got to taste all the food he never eat before. He seem to like big red meat steak the most while smaller food like rice or noddle he find it hard to eat but still like their texture.

  “One bottle of Gin.”

  Calamity turn to look at the wolf who just enter and walk to the bar, Amy and other follow his eyes and noticed it’s Prof. Leon.

  “Leon? I thought you quit drinking ages ago” said the bartender.

  “One bottle.” Leon doesn’t seem to be in the mood to talk.

  “Are you sure? I heard...”

  “I just need something sweet down my throat right now ok.” Leon slam his fist on the counter and the bartender reluctantly give him the bottle.

  Leon drink it all in one fell swoop.

  “One more.”

  “Leon...”

  “I can just go to another bar.”

  The bartender bends down to get more bottle in the mean time Leon eyes widen when he look around and spot his student looking at him.

  When he got his second bottle of Gin he left the inn.

  “Was that...”

  “Prof. Leon?”

  “He doesn’t seem to be in a good mood.”

  Everyone speculates but continue with their meal. Arthur in the end is very full and happy for an ant he got a little belly now. The inn bring them a mint candy for mouth refresher while Eirian just eat a candy he got with him.

  “Dang you everyone so much I will forever remember dis momend,” Arthur said thank you to everyone before leaving with Amy so she could explain to ante below why one of her workers had been missing for a whole day.

  On their way back Amy didn’t talk with Arthur at all. It does feel weird for her to be friendly with worker like this but she does enjoy his company and wouldn’t mind taking him to eat with their friend again.