Epic of Caterpillar

[Some hundreds of years ago] [Aquaria Kingdom, Royal Castle]

[Belle's Perspective]

Sigh…

There have been some disputes over the family recently, but I've kept silent for now.

It seems that the scary monster on the temple doesn't want any more sacrifices…

My father told me that he wanted me instead.

Because of my blessing, when I was born, I obtained a strange power.

The power of longevity…

According to my teachers, a common merfolk can live up to two hundred years, while royalty lives up to three hundred years.

However, my blessing is an exception to all of this, increasing my lifespan to over three thousand years, something that no merfolk would ever be able to achieve.

The most amazing thing is that I will also keep my youth until the last day of those three years, which makes this blessing even "better"…

But never being able to age with my family, seems more like a horrible curse…

I love my little brother very much… I wish I could live with him, and die before him like a true big sister should…

I don't want to see everyone who I love die in front of me…

I have nightmares every night… Where I'm holding my little brother, my father, and my mother, they look very old, almost mummified, as they lament their deaths, they slowly dissipate into ashes…

I don't… I don't want that…

How can the gods be so cruel?

Destiny! Why?!

Oh, great goddess of fate! Why have you given me such a curse?!

Was this… predestined?

My father tells me every day that he will never give me to that monster.

However, that means that he will keep feeding it other innocent merfolk…

I don't… I don't want that, either…

Can't there be a solution, where we can be friends?

Why is that monster so evil? What does he gain from such acts? From such behavior?

After pondering my thoughts for some weeks, I've been tormented by the countless lives given to that monster, to replace mine.

I cannot bear… I cannot bear all of their lives.

I can't… It's so painful…

I can't hold their lives on my shoulders, they're too heavy…

If it's for my people, I will give my life away…

I think that this is better, for everyone, even for me.

Like this, I won't see my family die from old age, and at the same time, I can secure the safety of my people.

This is… The best course of action.

I won't back down.

I'm sorry, little brother…

I love you so much, but you have to understand.

You are one of the most precious things in my life, so please, live your life to the fullest.

Make my sacrifice not be in vain.

Please, unify the merfolk Kingdoms…

I know that you can.

You are smarter than your big sister.

You also have a strong will…

I believe in you, Caspian.

The ritual ended, as I was lying on a bed made of rock, in the front of a blood lake.

As the ritual finished, a giant figure emerged from the blood lake.

It looked like the most terrific being.

So, this is the beast that has been tormenting my people for so many generations?

I stood up and confronted the being.

I asked him why did he do those things.

He laughed.

He said that he does what he pleases, as we are weak, and he is strong…

What kind of… Mentality is this?

How can you be like this?

How can he, a sentient being, have no remorse at all of what he has done to us?

Of what suffering he has put us through?

After saying those words, the monster approached me, and with his giant jaws, he ate me…

However, he didn't bite on me.

He created a small sphere where I drowned on a milky water.

As I drowned, I slowly lost consciousness…

Is this, death?

I don't know how much time has passed…

But my consciousness has not disappeared…

It has been drifting away, on a sea of memories.

Is this the afterlife?

Its calming, and soothing…

It feels good…

I don't have to worry about anything else anymore, I only float on the endless void…

Suddenly, I was awoken.

I was not dead.

My body was still there, just like I left it.

There were no scars, no change at all.

I was still alive, and just fine!

The one who rescued me was a beautiful fairy woman…

Her beauty was calming, but she also had a menacing glare.

And her aura… Was akin to demonic.

It far surpassed the being that devoured me…

However, she has a soft side, and she is also very polite with me.

It seems like she somehow killed the monster, and her servants were eating it right in front of me…

They are all… A colorful bunch…

It has been so many years… The Kingdom has been flourishing so well.

It seems that my little brother did manage to unify the Kingdom, there are so many different merfolk species living together in harmony!

I've never seen such a thing before; this is truly incredible!

The Mershark and Mermaids living together… The Eelman, even Tritonians!

You really did it, my brother!

Just as I reached the castle, I encountered no one than my little brother!

Even though he has grown so old, I still recognize him.

He is my little brother, no matter the appearance or his age, and I will always love him!

He also missed me, we cried for several minutes in front of everyone, it seems that it was really painful for him to grow without me at his side.

But my little brother is strong, he has grown strong too. He accomplished so many things…

Maybe my grandpa, my father, and my mother are dead, but as long as I have my little brother at my side… I will be happy…

At least, for now…

I wish… I could be old too, as old as little brother…

I try to not think about him dying, but its always on my mind…

These thoughts are always infesting my mind…

Death…

Death…

Sometimes, I just want to die too… So, I don't see others die…

I would had preferred if that monster killed me…

Kireina and her family had to leave us because she needed to attend her people.

For now, I will help my brother on taking care of the Kingdom.

Life is peaceful and nice… Knowing my little descendants is also nice, so many people.

Every child exudes talent and charisma. They will all become excellent people…

I love them all, I'm glad they can grow in a safe place now, without discrimination.

Hmm? It seems that Kireina has beaten someone very badly that wanted to take something from the forest.

She is so strong…

She is a very reliable woman, and very intelligent.

She may be strong and intimidating, but she protects what she loves.

My little brother has begun to act weird.

Sometimes he scratches his head while overthinking things.

Some days, he's never present for dinner.

As if he completely disappeared…

Today in the morning, I saw Caspian coming from a strange underground door.

What is that place?

Is it a secret room?

But I'm a princess, I shouldn't be prohibited to enter, right?

My little brother found out about it and told me to never enter there without his permission…

Well, he is very intelligent, he should have his reasons.

Oh, Kireina is back!

It has been so long!

I had a lot of time with her.

I don't know why but I missed her quite a lot…

She exudes something that attracts me… And she doesn't threaten me like royalty but like an equal…

Surprisingly, she didn't come with her wives, but with her two wolves and a ghost girl.

We had a big feast with her alongside the nobles. Everyone was surprisingly nice with her.

It was so much fun!

Today, I also spent the day with Kireina going around town while eating at various restaurants.

It was lots of fun!

With Kireina, nothing is boring.

She always has funny stories or fables to tell.

Sometimes she tells me weird stories.

There were some stories about Dragon Spheres and a boy that looked for them as they could grant a wish.

She also told me about a young ninja boy that had a terrible demon sealed inside, however, he always fought to be recognized by others not because of this demon, but because of his efforts.

So many stories… Each one always had inspirational messages about effort and to protecting what you love…

Today, my brother told me that he had something very important to tell me, but for that, we needed to go to the underground, through the door that he always uses.

I wonder what it is, for him to be so worried…

He seems, sad…

Has something happened to him?

I told him that I would always be by his side, however, he remained silent.

Little brother?

When we reached the underground room, a strange presence appeared.

It resembled a vast and almost limitless ocean…

From where is this coming?

It's not a monster, as it's a very calm and relaxing presence.

Surrounded by the countless riches, there was a giant blue colored coffin, made of Aquamarine Rocks.

Just what is this?

There is someone inside.

Caspian slowly opened the coffin as a very old man, that almost resembled a mummy greeted my eyes.

However, he had shining pink eyes, resembling that of me and Caspian.

And this familiarity… It's almost mystical.

Could it be?

It's the Old Ancestor?

I can't believe that the Old Ancestor of legends is still alive!

But brother, why haven't you told me about this before?

I would have loved to meet with him.

However, something was off…

The Old Ancestor spoke on a very slow and cracking voice, talking about me as if analyzing my entire self.

W-Why?

I am not an object… Aren't you, my Old Ancestor?

As the Old Ancestor stood up, he raised his weak hand and began to cast a strange magic, suddenly, more than one hundred different magic circles appeared on the floor.

A strange magic imprisoned me on a small pink bubble…

What is going on?

Caspian?

L-Little brother?

Why are you looking away?!

LITTLE BROTHER!!!

CASPIAN!!!

As the Old Ancestor began to chant more spells, the magic power amplified, beginning to absorb my magi essence, alongside my youth, and even my life force.

I could feel my entire life passing through my mind, as my body quickly began to become just like the Old Ancestor, resembling a weak mummy.

I can't move…

I can't talk anymore…

L-Little brother… Y-You betrayed me…?

B-But…

Even if I wanted to cry, I simply couldn't…

Even pain wasn't allowed on my old body…

Suddenly, my entire body began to dissipate into ash…

I'm dying?

Why?

This is all… too sudden… I wanted to… Keep living…

When I finally… Saw the beauty of living… My life is being taken from me…

Kireina… Help me…

Someone…

As my arms and fishtail dissipated into ash, my face also began to disintegrate.

My face fell in pieces, on by one, into nothingness…

My mind… blackened out…

All that time inside of that monster, I thought I was dead… However, I'm finally tasting what I've wanted for so long…

Yet, it's sad…

So many regrets…

I really didn't want to die…

Hmm… Again… Inside the void…

Who I am?

Was I… Someone?

I remember this void, but was I someone else before?

Hmm…

This is relaxing…

I suppose this is fine… I don't have to worry anymore…

[The Supreme Goddess of #### has selected you for Reincarnation]

Ah? Rein… Carnation? What…

Leave me alone…

I don't want to live…

Let me… Alone…

Flash!