Mirella's blushing face might have been charming if she weren't also ugly-crying. the torn remains of her cloak were bundled into a makeshift head-covering that she held in place with her arms as she cried.

  'B-B-Beatrice! M-my hat! W-w-what will I d-do!?' Thanks to Mirella's Language of Life (B) skill, she was able to wail and cry at full volume even while talking to Beatrice.

  Beatrice wasn't very happy either. Mirella's wailing was making her antennae itch. 'There, there. We'll find your hat... Stop crying.' Beatrice never claimed to be an empathetic soul. Beatrice had no idea why a gnome would react so violently to losing their hat, but she assumed it was a cultural or religious thing. Probably best to just accept it. 'I'll ask Ian to go look for it. okay?'

  Ian on the other hand, was minding his own business, his twitching antennae the only indication he was aware of the high-pitched wail. "Ian, would you please look for Mirella's hat? Would you be able to follow her tracks back to where she came from?" Beatrice asked. The sooner the hat was back in it's proper place, the better.

  "How could I say no to you Beatrice? I would fly to the center of the Silverwood Forest if you would but ask... What's a hat?"

  Beatrice should've known hats wouldn't be common knowledge among bees. For one thing they'd get in the way of a bee's antennae.

  "Well Ian, A hat is equipment you wear on top of your head. Mirella's hat should be red and, pointy probably? Made of cloth." Beatrice hoped that Ian could find the hat with her description.

  Ian just nodded as she spoke then started towards the door. "Make sure to bar the door after I leave." he said, before closing the door behind him. The bar was Beatrice's idea, and Ian was clearly happy with the thing. Overprotective bee that he was.

  Beatrice lowered the bar into place with a wooden *Thunk*, and went back to comforting Mirella.

  Several hours and countless tears later, the door to the hollow shook with three clear knocks.

  'Finally! I was about to lose it, stuck in here with this whinny... person.' Beatrice thought with relief. She slid open a peep-hole to make sure it was Ian outside, and she almost didn't let him in. Ian was covered with sticky red blood, some of it dry, and some of it dripping onto the wood platform outside. He looked uninjured, but Beatrice felt the need to check and opened the door.

  Ian didn't step inside when Beatrice opened it. "My dear Beatrice. I'll be back in a few minutes after cleaning up, but I thought it important to stop by, if only to ensure your mental well-being." Ian flourished a claw and a small red hat appeared from his storage bracelet.

  "Oh, thank god! Thanks so much Ian!" Beatrice grabbed the hat in her mandibles and walked over to Mirella who was sniveling and whimpering in a corner. Mirella's eyes were swollen, to the point where Beatrice doubted she could see. Beatrice carefully placed the hat on Mirella's head.

  '*Gasp* Y-you found it! Thank you thank you thank you thank you...' Mirella started crying again. Just a few hours previously, Beatrice hoped Mirella would stay and chat for a while. But now? She just wanted some peace and quiet.

  'No need to thank me. Just, stop crying please.' Beatrice hoped Mirella didn't have any other landmines to step on. No more gnome questions.

  Mirella's face transformed into an expression of fury, but not at anything Beatrice had said. 'It was bad enough that the human scum killed my family, chased me into the ground and tried to defile my purity.'

  'Yeah. No kidding that's bad enough.' Beatrice thought, aghast.

  'But then the Keldarian savages went and desecrated my very gnomehood!' Mirella shrieked. She wavered for a moment, then fell to the floor unconscious. She was already close to collapse before spending hours in hysterics, so it wasn't a surprise.

  Beatrice didn't know what to do after enduring all that, but sitting and enjoying the silence felt good. Ian returned a few minutes later, mostly clean and a little damp. He went back to his current project after exchanging some pleasantries with Beatrice. Beatrice was still a little burnt-out after enduring Mirella, so she ended up watching Ian work.

  Ian's mandibles sheared through the silver wood like it was paper, and his claws carved into the wood as he worked. Curls of silver wood shavings fell as runes took shape across the surface of the wood. Beatrice had to admit that Waximillian was quite the specimen by bee standards. If there was another drone at Ian's tier and with Ian's drive, then she'd eat Mirella's hat.

  'A bee being attracted to other bees is normal, so maybe I should just accept it. I mean, things could be worse. At least he's hot.' Beatrice walked over to her honey collection, and distracted herself with some delicious honey. She thought about maybe making some honey candies, but a bee's digestive system wasn't designed for solids. Using her Honey Manipulation (C) she started trying to deal with the honey that was crystalizing. After some experimentation, Beatrice was able to take the honey crystals and and melt them back into liquid honey with a minor application of honey mana. The reverse was easy enough to figure out, and it took even less honey mana to form the honey into sugary crystals.

  'Woah. Can I use this to make honey blades?' Beatrice tried to use a shard of honey crystals to cut through some silver wood, but the blade shattered without leaving a mark. 'Not Ideal, but I could use the shattered blade's shards easily enough.' Beatrice tried compressing the a honey blade, but it didn't help much, and the blade barely nicked the small block of silver wood. Then she tried holding the blade together with her honey mana, and found limited success. Yes the blade could cut through the silver wood block, but the amount of honey mana required made the technique impractical. Unless... 'Time to level up.'

  Mirella stirred in her unconsciousness and Beatrice slumped slightly. 'Maybe I can leave her here?' Beatrice turned to one of Ian's older project and perked up.

  Mirella awoke feeling drained of energy, and her emotions were dull. When she looked up and saw silver wood barring her vision, the sense of betrayal was more of a pinch than a blow. Looking around her little prison she saw a wooden acorn sitting on a small silver stand, and there was a small table with a plate of what looked like honey candies, a bowl of that pollen honey mix, and a few cups. The acorn turned out to be full of water, so Mirella grabbed a cup and drank water until she felt less like a shriveled prune. 'Well. Being a prisoner isn't so bad. At least I have my hat.' Then she started working on the candies.

  Ian carried Beatrice in the basket at her insistence, and despite Ian's protests. "You can store it in the bracelet and just drop me if something happens. I can fly after all." There wasn't much Ian could say to that, since he didn't object to Beatrice resting or even being lazy. Beatrice taking life easy and tiering up slowly but surely would be a relief to him.

  'Now I need a cushion for this thing, and maybe some snacks.' Beatrice looked out of the basket and watched the magnificent forest pass by. 'Nice view from here.' Then she looked up at Ian. 'Oh no.' The view was a bit too nice. 'Note to self; add lid to basket for sanity purposes.'

  Beatrice used her usual strategy to kill several tier three monsters, and after some cajoling, she convinced Ian to let her fight a tier four monster. Well, calling what she did a fight was a bit... off. It was more like committing war crimes. Or maybe assassination would be a better term, since it was a targeted attack.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Soon they stood at the edge of a clearing, a big green lizard sitting in a ray of sunlight that filtered through the silver canopy far above. The lizard wasn't as big as the dire black bear, but it was close.

  "Is that what I think it is?" Beatrice asked Ian.

  "That my dear Beatrice, is a forest drake. I'm confident in keeping you safe from the beast, should you require my aid." Ian said gallantly.

  'There you go again being all protective.' Beatrice turned to the forest drake and estimated the size of it's airways.

  "Ian, gimme some honey." Beatrice said with confidence.

  Ian knew what she was getting at and summoned a barrel of honey they'd prepared earlier. Beatrice took hold of the honey with her honey manipulation skill and floated it up and into the air. Certain of her victory, Beatrice started walking over to the beast. She didn't want to wake up the big lizard with her buzzing and ruin her surprise attack. She walked closer until she was near -but not in front of- the drake's face. The drake's mouth was closed, but air flowed in and out of it's nostrils. Time for a rude awakening.

  With her increased stats and Honey Mana Core (C), Beatrice could pull the honey into thin streams that flowed into the drake's nose as soon as it finished exhaling. Beatrice made sure the honey went down smoothly, careful not to let the honey block the airflow until the drake stopped inhaling. The big lizard took a moment to realize something was terribly wrong, and it was too late to react when the honey reached the lungs. Beatrice flew into the air as soon as the drake stirred, moving in what she hoped were evasive patterns. The drake's eyes shot open and quickly focused on the annoying buzzing monster as the probable source of it's pain.

  The drake tried to roar, but it didn't have any air to do so. The drake tried to breath fire, but air was needed for that too. In a last ditch effort to be rid of the pest, the drake leapt at Beatrice. Beatrice's maneuverable wings got her out of the way and the drake barreled through the undergrowth. Beatrice followed along to make sure the honey stayed down. She'd have to work hard to make up for the honey used in the fight.

  Then the lizard did something unexpected. It stood up and flexed its abdominal muscles, the force attempting to push the honey from its lungs. Beatrice flexed her will, and it became a tug of war between Beatrice's mind and the drake's muscles. The muscles the drake was using can't have been as strong as it's legs or jaw, but Beatrice began to slowly lose the struggle.

  The Drake pushed the honey inch-by-inch, and Beatrice felt like her brain was going to pop. Then there was a pop, and Beatrice was afraid that would be the last thing she'd hear/feel.

  Congratulations! Due to your efforts, talent, and affinity for honey, you have advanced the skill Honey Manipulation (C) to Honey Manifestation (B).

  The honey in the drake's airways expanded, the amount of honey increasing as Beatrice pushed her mana into it. Honey poured out of the drake's mouth and nose, along with a gout of blood from its lungs rupturing. It collapsed to the ground soon after, and Beatrice got her notification.

  You have killed a Forest Drake Level 39 Tier 4.

  Congratulations! you have reached Level 20.

  Congratulations! You have reached the max level for your tier. Tier evolution is now available.

  Congratulations! You have unlocked multiple branching race evolutions. Please select your preferred path to begin evolution.

  Beatrice relaxed, and the excess honey created from her mana dissipated as the mana fueling its existence was cut off. Ian flew over and proffered the basket. She wasn't sure how to feel about how easily Ian accepted her foibles, but her head pounded from the effort of controlling the honey, and she felt empty from using so much mana. Ian was faster than Beatrice too.

  Beatrice used her Novice Soothing Buzzing (F) skill in an attempt to sooth her aching head. It worked a little. Beatrice was very excited to evolve, and she felt like there weren't any more uncomfortable surprises the system could throw at her. But there were some things to take care of before evolving. Beatrice could swear her Novice Honey Alchemy (D) was close to advancing, and the same with Novice Soothing Buzzing (F). She didn't know if the System would make her evolve at some point like with her reward selection, but she didn't intend to wait long either.

  When Beatrice and Ian returned, Mirella was sitting on the floor of her cage and humming a little tune to herself. Mirella jumped to her feet at the sight of Beatrice and started sending thoughts her way.

  'Release me, and I'll pay you one hundred golden sovereigns. I'm good for it, I swear.' Beatrice looked at Mirella weirdly and walked past the cage to work on her honey.

  'Fine! Two hundred! And I'll throw in an artifact from the treasury.' But Beatrice wasn't listening. Instead she was half focused on her alchemy and half on an interesting resonance between their mana whenever Mirella spoke using the Language of Life (B) skill.

  Congratulations! Due to your efforts, talent, and innovation, you have advanced the skill Novice Honey Alchemy (D) to Honey Alchemy (C).

  It was a bit like rubbing your belly while patting your head as a human, but Beatrice continued to work on the issue of the strange mana resonance while using her Novice Soothing Buzzing (F). In order to keep up the resonance she had to continue an ongoing conversation with Mirella. And if she actually intended to ransom the gnome, negotiations were going well.

  'Fine. You can have the dukedom of Urfgrann, but only if you guarantee my safety to the capital. You will be conferred the title of duchess after I have reclaimed the palace.' Mirella sent, her thoughts resigned but hopeful.

  'And that's in addition to the hundred platinum sovereigns, the three crown artifacts, and the Aista-regalia?' Beatrice didn't know what an Aista-regalia was, but the name was cool.

  '*Sigh* Yes, yes. And half of the human slaves taken shall be yours, in exchange for your aid in battle. But no more than half, since we'll need them in the reconstruction efforts.' Mirella's mind voice exhausted.

  'Oh, you can have the humans back after I'm done with them. I just want to develop the dukedom with cheap labor. But are you sure about giving a bee the dukedom known for it's delicious apples? Our honey-apple pies might be too delicious for the Morntham kingdom to handle.' Beatrice sent, her voice full of false worry.

  Mirella visibly drooled. 'Ahem! Those terms are acceptable. I, Mirella drin-Morntham, do swear on the System to uphold our bargain. Do you accept?'

  Mirella drin-Morntham, the Crown Princess of Morntham, presents a contract.

  Mirella drin-Morntham swears to grant Beatrice; one hundred platinum sovereigns, three crown artifacts of Morntham, the Aista-regalia, the dukedom of Urfgrann, and half of all human slaves taken during the course of the war between the Empire of Keldar, and the Kingdom of Morntham. In return, Beatrice must escort Mirella drin-Morntham to the capital and assist in the retaking of the palace, and the kingdom of Morntham. Beatrice's contribution must be considered significant, either in the form of supplies, support, or in battle.

  Do you accept? Yes or No.

  'Damn that's a good deal! Denied!' Beatrice's mirth finally breaking her focus.

  You have rejected Mirella drin-Morntham's contract.

  'What?! Why?! That was the deal of a lifetime! Do you intend to keep me here forever you vile fiends!?' Mirella's voice becoming desperate at the prospect of eternal imprisonment.

  Congratulations! Due to your luck and talent, you have acquired the skill Mana Communication (C).

  'A C grade skill right off the bat? Sweet!' Beatrice thought. She ignored the desperate babbling of the little gnome, buzzing happily at the new skill.

  Congratulations! Due to your efforts, you have advanced the skill Novice Soothing Buzzing (F) to Soothing Buzzing (E).

  'And that's all she wrote. Time to evolve!' Beatrice thought

  'Wait! What about me?' Mirella sent. She was started tearing up again.

  'Oh right. You.' Beatrice climbed down from her honeycomb and walked over to Ian. "Hey honeybunch. I'm going to evolve, so I'll need the evolution cage." Beatrice said, only cringing at herself a little.

  "Of course dear Beatrice." Ian walked over to the cage and lifted the whole thing, the bars smoothly pulled from the floor of the cage. "Why did you call me honeybunch?"

  Mirella boggled at the completely unsecure cage, and at Ian's raw strength. Beatrice nudged Mirella aside and walked onto the cage floor. 'Excuse me.' Mirella stepped off the base of the cage and onto the floor of the hollow. Ian replacing the cage around Beatrice. And Mirella continued to look shocked and confused.

  "Ian, could you take care of Mirella while I evolve. If she needs food just put her in the basket and take her to get some meat. Oh, and she might want a fire to cook it, and maybe find some giant vegetables... And I called you honeybunch because I like honey." Beatrice turned away and started going through her evolution options.