Epic of Caterpillar

After the exploration with Kireina into the Dark Labyrinth, Sol walked back to the house where Elfina, Fiere, and Floresse were. Apparently Floresse was off somewhere else, probably helping her soldiers prepare for the upcoming war, and Sol only saw a few maidservants and butlers walking around.

They offered him anything but he quickly ended walking back to his room. Aside from the strange thing that Kireina had done to the Dark Labyrinth, which was lingering in his mind, he had many other things to think about. All the things he spoke with her ended helping him realize various things and learn a lot as well. And it might had given him a new purpose, going back to Genesis, perhaps. But simply put, he had a new resolve, or perhaps, he simply realized that his resolve was always only one.

"I want to go back to my family…"

Sol only had a single thing inside of his mind, he wanted to go back to his family. Since he was a child that he loved everyone there. Even though he faced hardships, sometimes family dramas, and so on, things were always stable. His parents were quite strict, but loved him, and his little siblings were filled with life and energy, bringing light to his daily life.

He did everything just for them after all, he fought, killed, and fought and killed more. All to keep them safe. Despite having met other heroes and having forged many friendships and other bonds, he was always fixated in protecting the important thing in his life, his family. But at some point, amidst the pain of war, the bloodshed, and everything in between, he lost his path. He forgot his true purpose and became senseless and cold.

Without realizing it in time, he was a mere puppet for the nobles. And sadly, died by the hands of a wretched and insane woman that only wanted him for herself. He ended turning into an undead slave and forced to do even more horrendous things. It felt like there was never a true rest for his pained and tired soul… Until that bright blonde boy appeared. He fought against him, with respect and might, and defeated him. Sol, as a Hero himself, never thought that what he needed was a Hero such as that young man, to free him from his accursed life.

However, now that he was given a new chance at life, with his youthfulness restored, and everything else included, such as amazing magic and physical strength, he was now forced to face the same difficulties that ended turning him into the senseless and coldhearted puppet of the nobles he was before. A trauma was formed inside of his heart. He didn't wanted to become a puppet anymore. Even though he was now a Summon, and should be obeying the orders of his Summoner… He didn't wanted to go back to the same cycle of death and destruction.

Now that he had finally regained his true purpose to look for his family again, he didn't wanted to fall once more into the vicious cycle of senselessness and death, where there is nothing in his heart, where there is nothing but ta killing intent in his mind… the thing that made him do so many atrocities that he could no longer face his family anymore.

"What have I been doing with my life all this time? Compared to Kireina's life… Mine has truly been that of a slave, chained by my own fears… Hero? I was never one… I was merely a puppet."

When comparing himself with Kireina, Sol couldn't help but find that even a monster such as her lived a more honorable life and always kept her family close to her. She was truly someone incredible. Perhaps if they had met before, he might had followed her like the many figures that did so as well. She was truly someone that was changing his perspective of life, for the best, quite probably.

But now, what could he do to make a difference? He had died, and was reborn through summoning, a new and youthful body, probably ageless. He was strong too and could now level up more and grow even stronger. But.. deep down, he was also fixated in many other things. He wanted to really go back to his family. But for that, he would need to help Kireina.

…Of course, there was always the option of merely standing by and watching and then quickly going to her side when things were over and the gate was finally open back to Genesis. But would that truly be enough? Would Sol feel satisfied of doing something so shameless? Where was his honor as a man? Perhaps not a hero anymore, but where was his dignity as a person? He wouldn't be able to face his family if he was just a coward and didn't do anything to help those around him achieve the same goals he wanted to achieve himself.

Maybe he had a life filled with hardships and suffering, but didn't many other people as well? Even Kireina now was facing her fair share of suffering and hardships, she had just died for real for the first time and was coping with her own existence having disappeared and being suddenly reborn again. She had yet to tell him, but even Kireina had been doubting if she was really herself. After all, if her soul was truly destroyed, then who was the one she was now? Could she be merely another being entirely that simply inherited the memories of this previous Kireina?

Luckily, Kireina was way more optimistic than others, even when faced with such difficulties and doubts, she embraced the present and moved forward, seeking adventure, strength, and a path towards her goals, such as going back to her family. Sol perhaps needed such a mindset, as he felt that his will had always been weak, weaker than a man's will.

Knock, knock.

As Sol was pondering his own mind and thoughts, someone knocked the door of his room. When the room opened, Elfina timidly entered the room.

"Erm… Sol?"