Chrysalis

"Are you sure you want to retire now? There's so much uncertainty around town right now," Terrence asked.

"Wherever there are people, there's uncertainty," Enid groused as she brought her tea to her lips for a drink. "Ah, that's lovely. Is this a new blend?"

"The Colony delivered a few bags yesterday. They said it was a test batch. I'll need you to fill in a survey when you're done."

"Hah," she laughed. "I'll be happy to. Drinking their tea has been one of the great pleasures of recent months."

She picked up a biscuit and gave it a hearty nibble.

"And they bake so well. Who would have thought?"

"Mayor," her secretary said sternly. "You haven't answered my question. Are you sure you should retire now?"

"Of course I'm sure. If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't have done it," she waved the man's concerns away. "I've done everything I can for this place, more than I ever thought I could, but I'm old and tired. I don't have much time left and I believe it's important to turn these duties over to the younger folk while I'm still around to offer advice."

She eyeballed Terrence over the edge of her cup.

"And by the way, aren't you the mayor's secretary?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you here? I've resigned."

"I suppose I'll have to take the tea with me then...."

"Nobody said you have to go that far!"

The two chuckled together.

"I'd like to say thank you for all that you've done then, Mayor Ruther."

"Pish! Call me Enid."

"Very well. What do you hope to do in your retirement then, Enid? Now that you're free of all obligations?"

The old woman thought for a moment, a frown adding a few further wrinkles to her brow.

"I'd like to help in the hospital, for one. It's a joy seeing new children brought into the world. Even if all I do is chat to the parents, I think I'd enjoy that. I wouldn't mind one last trip into the Dungeon either. I haven't seen the Queen for a while, I'd love to have a chat with her again. Anthony as well, though that might not be possible. Goodness knows how deep he is now. Too deep for my old bones, I'd say."

"One last trip? You make it sound as if you've got one foot in the grave," Terrence said. "Surely you aren't as infirm as that."

"I'm old, Terrence. Far too old to be running this place. I've done the best I can to get Renewal off to a good start, but it's time for someone younger, with a little more vigour, to take on the role."

She eyed him seriously.

"I'm perfectly happy being a secretary, thank you very much," Terrence replied dryly. "I don't have a way with people like you do."

"Pish," Enid scoffed, "if you put in a little effort, you'd do just fine."

The two paused and sank into a companionable silence. Enid looked out the window, a soft smile on her face as she watched the people going about their days outside the window. She could never have imagined she would have the opportunity to make something good, this late in her life. The satisfaction in knowing that she had done the best job she could do, and the pride she felt seeing her fellow refugees rise to every challenge to make something remarkable, was something she never expected to feel at this age.

"Are you sure you'll be able to go that deep into the Dungeon?" Terrence asked quietly. "To meet the Queen and Anthony? It's dangerous down there."

Enid looked pensive.

"It won't be easy, but that doesn't mean it's not worth doing," she huffed. "I'm old, not decrepit. As long as I take my time and adjust to the mana levels, I'll be fine."

Terrence nodded. The Colony were very good about helping people go up and down in the Dungeon. They had begun to build chambers with the sole purpose of helping people adjust to varying mana concentrations.

"What do you think is happening back in the council chamber?" Terrence mused, allowing his mind to wander.

Enid snorted.

"They'll be running around like chickens with their heads cut off. But that's fine, they'll sort it out in the end."

Back in the council rooms

"She can't just quit!"

"This is a disaster!"

"Get that old woman back in here, right now!"

"Show a little respect!"

It was pandemonium, with fingers being pointed, shouting and a general feeling of bewilderment. Diplomant, the only Colony member in the room, watched it all happen with studious interest.

Such a fascinating lack of control. These boiling emotions demanded release and the normally professional and friendly members of the council had turned on each other to vent their frustrations.

Unthinkable amongst the Colony. Very few ants were so forward with their feelings, and none would let them get in the way of work. She would be fascinated to see how the rest of this conversation played out.

"Would all of you SHUT UP!"

A meaty fist crashed down on the table, cutting through the noise and drawing eyes to Mr Durn, owner of said fist.

"Good," he growled before jabbing a finger at the individuals around the table. "The mayor is allowed to resign. Of course she is! Enid Ruther has worked herself to the bone for this place, and I'll be damned before I let anyone take away her chance to rest and relax. If anyone in this place deserves it, it's her."

He glared and more than a few people wilted under that steady gaze.

"Well, what do we do now?" Mrs Blindon asked. "We've only ever had one mayor. Enid wasn't technically elected, even, nobody ran against her!"

"Well that's it then," Mr Durn stated, "we need to make an announcement about the mayor's retirement, and give notice that there will be a new mayoral election. If anyone wants the job, they'll have a week to secure a nomination."

"Isn't that too short?"

"We've got a thousand projects on the go right now. We need to establish a leader as quickly as we can, otherwise things will go to pot. Any objections?"

There were none. One foreleg rose into the air.

"Diplomant would like someone to explain the concept of an 'election'," the translator standing next to the ant said. "She is most curious about it."