Epic Of Caterpillar

-----

When Elfina opened her eyes, an entire hour had passed. She quickly realized she had passed out due to embarrassment and shock, and was lying over her bed. Right next to her was Sol sitting over a chair and reading a book, and Fiere was at the other side looking at the window.

"Huh? What happened?" She wondered.

"Lady Elfina!" Fiere ran towards her master, as she hugged her.

"Ah! Fiere… I think I passed out due to embarrassment and shock, I think- uwah! Sol?!" Elfina asked in shock, as she saw Sol right there again. Her face grew redder by the second.

"Elfina, I am sorry for having made you pass out, it wasn't my intention. I won't try to touch you again… It must have been scary." He sighed.

"Yeah! You better be sorry, Sol!" Fiere roared back at the hero. Her fierceness to protect her master knew non bounds, the poor hero felt completely afraid of her and backed down even more.

"I am sorry! Please forgive me!" He cried.

"Fiere! Don't be so rude!" Elfina said. "Sol, why are you so sorry? Don't worry."

"I-I wanted to say sorry for my own attitude before as well. You sought help yet I acted like a childish and immature man. Despite all the things I went through life, I can't believe I've acted like such a child in front of someone like you. I apologize from the deepest of my soul. Form now on, I will act honestly as how I truly am… I hope you can understand." Sol said while getting in the floor.

"Don't worry… It is nothing bad at all, I was the one that wasn't considerate. It was a completely expected response from you, seeing your situation. Please stand up…" Sighed Elfina. Sol was currently kneeling in a dogeza-like fashion.

"No, it was all my fault for being selfish and inconsiderate." Said Sol.

"B-But I was also being very inconsiderate…" Said Elfina.

"You are a good person, Lady Elfina. I was just-"

"Okay stop it!" Fiere said. "If you two continue apologizing to one another, we won't get anywhere!" Fiere crossed her arms while looking at her lady and Sol.

"R-Right…" Elfina said while fidgeting.

"True…" Sol muttered, quickly standing up.

"Well now, Sol, you're joining us?" Wondered Fiere.

"Yeah, that's what I wanted to make clear. I went to level up with Kireina in the Dark Labyrinth and got a time to calm myself and think through things. I think that stew she made really calmed my mind as well, it was the thing of gods." Sol said, recalling the delicious stew that Kireina prepared, and then that skewered meat, which was just as delicious. …Although it was made of "mystery meat" which Kireina was not wanting to specify other than a "rare monster".

"Oh yeah, Kireina's cooking is the best! She makes the best food… Ah, I am hungry now." Sighed Elfina.

"I have to agree in that, she makes very delicious food despite being a large bug-like monster." Said Fiere.

"A-Anyways, after that, I came here to think. I was just about to go to your room and tell you that I as willing to fight, Lady Elfina. I learned through Kireina about the Cosmic Staircase, and as someone from Genesis, I would like to go back to my world after this journey ends." Sol said with a gentle demeanor.

"I see! So Kireina told you about that. No wonder you wanted to go there. If you really miss your family there and everything else, I am nobody to tell you to not go. And I appreciate your help a lot as well! Thanks a lot, Sol… But are you sure you want to kill humans? Are you… Willing to do this?" Elfina asked.

"I've made up my mind fully knowing that. In my previous life, I used to be manipulated like a puppet by nobles, always forced to do things I didn't wanted to do. I was forced to become a weapon for my Kingdom, and never truly felt like I wanted to fight for these corrupt people that only cared about their own profits… I always only fought for my family. Seeing you do the same, jumping into the battlefield despite being the princess… it fills me with enlightenment. It made me realize there are people like you. I've finally found someone that I want to protect, someone I truly want to be their hero." Sol said. "So please… Let me give you hope."

"Sir Sol!" Elfina muttered, almost beginning to cry out of how emotional she was feeling. Sol's words were so honest and motivating that it made Elfina felt like there was truly hope.

"Thanks for trusting me." He said.

"Likewise!" She said with a gentle smile.

Deep down, the former hero felt a warmth that he had long lost. A flame began to blaze through his entire soul and body, as he felt motivated, and filled with youthfulness and emotions. He had missed feeling so alive like this before…

"Anyways, where's Kireina?" Wondered Elfina.

"Ah… She went to the backyard I think… After the Dark Labyrinth disappeared, she wanted to test her new powers or something." Sol said.

"I see! Let's go meet her and ask her to cook something for us then- Eh? What did you said?" Asked Elfina.

"The Dark Labyrinth is gone…" Said Sol.

"Huh? What?" Elfina asked while raising an eyebrow.

"Eh? Has nobody notified you?!" Asked Sol in surprise.

BAAAM!

Suddenly, a group of soldiers entered the room in a hurry.

"Lady Elfina, the Dark Labyrinth has suddenly disappeared! This is an unprecedented event! Could this be the doing of a demon?!"

"Lady Floresse is already investigating! Perhaps there might be a demon able to control dungeons nearby, please stay safe in here!"

"We have to come to guard you!"

The trio of soldiers reassured Elfina that this fictitious foe wouldn't attack her…

But Elfina couldn't help but feel… angry!

"KIREINAAAAA!"

Elfina cried in anger, as she suddenly ran out of her room all the way downstairs.

Kireina heard the scream of Elfina from the distance, as she was leisurely hunting wild monsters at the outskirts of the fiefdom.

"Oof, so she already learned, huh?"

-----