Epic Of Caterpillar

Chapter 1855 A Talk With Elfina

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After we spent the entire night eating out with friends, laughing, and enjoying life slowly, we came back to Oroʼs castle and we spent some time watching the stars. Over time everyone went to sleep and Elfina and I stayed looking at the night sky.

Although she had been enjoying herself, I still felt like there was something my Summoner was hiding from us, a slight… pain she felt. It wasnʼt physical, but perhaps there was something painful in her heart, something bothering her which she didnʼt really wanted to tell us about, maybe because she didnʼt wanted to bother us.

Despite how selfish and annoying she started as, Elfina had grown up a lot since she summoned me and has become someone responsible and even self-sacrificing for others. It is pretty obvious sheʼs hiding something, and it is worrying me a bit.

Mostly because I feel that I may soon depart, and I donʼt want to leave unresolved problems here.

”So?” I asked. ”Are you going to tell me whatʼs bothering you, Elfina?”

”O-Oh…” Elfina was a bit surprised. ”Was it too obvious?”

”I think the others had a similar idea.” I sighed.

”Ah… well…” Elfina sighed, sitting over a chair. ”Itʼs just that… I feel a bit bad about everything I did. I apologized yet… I was forgiven so fast. It feels like I wasnʼt punished for what I did, I feel guilty.”

”Well, why would we want to punish you for that?” I asked her. ”You got lost when that Desert King attacked us, and then was captured by the Genie. He used his powers to force you to go against us.”

”Yeah but… thereʼs something more to it.” Elfina sighed. ”At first he was unable to do it normally, I resisted but… When he attacked the depths of my mind and my fears…”

”Your mind and fears?” I wondered.

”I… I was forced to face my sins.” Elfina said. ”Unlike you, or mostly everybody else, I couldnʼt accept them and move on. I was a coward, and I denied them as my fault. I denied being part of the death of so many people and blamed it all to you… and everyone else. In that moment of weakness, the darkness finally took advantage of it and absorbed me.”

This was… not how I expected the Genieʼs magic to work.

”What… did you saw?” I wondered.

”I… saw many dead people. I saw hundreds- no, thousands. Mostly all the humans weʼve killed. I saw the Human Emperor, and even the Demon Lords.” Elfina cried. ”They were there, blaming me for their death. They said I was a monster, and that I did all of that to step on them, to selfishly move onwards to my own path. That by using a pile of corpses, Iʼll one day accomplish a dream I had…”

”…” I felt slightly surprised. ”I guess… I am one to blame for that. Sorry, Elfina. I did the things I did because Iʼve lived my whole life doing it. Youʼre not in the wrong for feeling afraid, or guilty. Maybe I am the weird one here. I just donʼt know anything better than killing and fighting to protect what I care for. Maybe there were innocents within the lives I took, but to me, it doesnʼt even matter as long as I get to protect you and all our friends, alongside the Kingdom of the Elves that protected me back then.”

”Kireina…” Elfina sighed. ”Iʼm sorry too… I should had told you this earlier. Youʼre not the only one to blame! Donʼt… carry all the weight by yourself. Iʼll also hold responsibility for the lives weʼve taken, and… I will try to stop being so cowardly, and dumb…”

I sighed, giving her a head pat.

”You may be dumb but youʼre not a coward, youʼre strong.” I said with a giggle. ”You havenʼt even taken a break since we freed you and you fought at our sides yesterday and today without faltering, thatʼs telling a lot, donʼt you think?”

”Hmm, maybe…” Elfina sighed, suddenly holding my arm and resting he head on my shoulder. ”Still, sorry for thinking the things I did, and for being so selfish… Youʼre not the origin of my troubles, you were the one that saved me, I shouldnʼt had thought otherwise.”

”Hahaha, itʼs all fine. For now, you should go and take a nap, alright?” I said, giving her a kiss in her cheek. She was honestly an adorable girl, and I could only see her as a daughter, or maybe a little sister. ”Rest and relax for now, weʼll move on later, and crush the one that made you suffer and think those things. I promise you.”

”Hmm… I will help as much as I can as well. Go rest now.” I said.

”Okay, sure~” She yawned. ”Good night, Kireina. And thank you for everything.”

As she went back to sleep, I continued looking at the skies for a while. What Elfina made me think a bit myself too. I guess I did some extreme things, like almost destroying that Human Kingdom, but honestly they were all fucked up people, so I didnʼt mind it.

I guess I am just like that, huh. It is always nice to have others that think differently and have other ways of seeing life than I do, so I can get a whole perspective of my actions, instead of the only one I can see.

”Oh, youʼre still here?” Frank wondered.

”Ah, Frank. Yeah.” I sighed. ”I was talking with Elfina about stuff, but I think she may feel better now.”

”I see.” He nodded. ”Are you feeling alright? Youʼve got a face I often never seen on you.”

”I look worried?” I wondered.

”Yeah, a bit.” He said. ”Are you okay?”

”I feel a bit ungainly…” I sighed.

”Oh… Well, I am all ears if you want to talk about something.” He said, smiling gently.

”Hah~ So gentle.” I laughed. ”Donʼt worry, Frank. I am fine. Iʼve went through these types of things too many times to be affected by them. More importantly, you owe me a night in bed, time to get moving.”

I dragged him to my room and then… Well, I guess it could be said I ate him (not literally).

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