What's her deal? Maybe all they think is that beast and insect could only help if they ride on to them. She jumped off of my back and now I can see her face filled with disbelief and confusion. I thought insect and beast that can speak are normal here.
"What in the world are you!" The strange girl said. Isn't she afraid after I skewered a number of her enemy with my trunk? She's in front of it.
"Be mindful of your words. Because you sound like you're saying that me, being intelligent is weird and crazy."
"No it isn't, it's just that for greater insects, it's very rare. And your not from colonies building species. I've heard the most insects that can talk are from those species." She apologetically stated.
"It's because of what the individual experience and environment that it been through shapes it's intellectual capability and capacity." Damn, was that me?
The girl hanged her jaw open at my statement. I don't know if she was amazed or just shocked to hear words like this from an insect. Anyways, I didn't even fully understand what did I spat out. Maybe i read it somewhere or was formulated randomly.
"S-sorry about my words. It's just that this day had just become hectic."
"I can tell. What will you do now?" I asked her. I need to go back to my siblings already.
"I don't know. Actually, I want to go back but there's still a lot of them out there. What are you doing here Mr. ... beetle?"
"Kaiser. Name is Kaiser. "
"Oh, a named beast. Then did you come to help me?"
"Not for helping you. But for silencing them. They will wake up my siblings. And I also want to test out this new body."
They actually passed by our new den and even though they're assassins, they failed to make their step soundless as they stepped on the old leaves around my den. I was the only one who heard the sound and neglected it when I determined that they weren't here for us or the cave. But they're voices and laughter waked up even Kaisa. I had no choice but to deal with then and tell Kaisa to keep an eye for her siblings. I don't want them to wake up yet. For no reason.
"Oh, I'm sorry about that. It was my fault because I stopped here."
"Don't worry, it's okay. So what will you do now? "
I don't know why did I ask that, and I don't like the possible response from her which will lead to another scenario that I don't like.
"I don't know,like I said, I want to go back but, there's still a lot of them out there. I don't think I can deal with them. They also knew me very well and my weaknesses. I am thinking of laying low for now and wait until they stop searching for me." She stated while throwing eventual glances towards me. She knows that she's talking with an insect right? I'm living in a cave!
"Do you have any place to go then?"
"N-no."
That's what I thought! I knew it! Very well, if you don't like it then leave and stay out here in the forest!
"Follow me then." I said while setting off towards our den. I didn't check if she's following but I could here her footstep trailing behind.
Around 2 minutes, we arrived at the familiar cave with an unusual tree unbefitting in this forest where only leaning ones grow. I could hear her gasped in awe from behind. She must have never seen a stray tree like this one. From the entrance, I could see 3 little figures skittering out to greet me.
"Brother is back!"
"Brother left us!"
" What that?"
Kira, Kiro and Krono assaulted me with greeting, complain and question. Three little figure followed was Kaisa, Kai and Kaitron. They both stared confusingly towards the girl. Come to think of it, I haven't asked of her name yet. What am I doing.
"This is my younger siblings. Kira, Kiro,Kai, Krono, Kaitron and Kaisa. And you are?" I introduced my siblings first and ask her about herself. She straighten her posture and now in a noble stance and demeanor.
"I am, Elissia, Elissia Hestia. I'm the Princess of Hestion Kingdom. Daughter of Hector Hestia, the Champion of Hestion region." She proudly introduced.
"Woah? You're the Princess of Hestion Kingdom? How did you even end up in that situation earlier?" I might consider her a heroine living a common heroine life where she will be a damsel and distress and where a knight in shining armor will appear. But she was strong and was able to fought back, but of course with my help. And the one who appeared to help her was an insect.
"They were probably from some nobles or aristocratic family who wants my life and the throne. " she said firmly with a hint of anger on her face and brows and her fist tightly clenching.
"Very well, you're strong anyways. I bet you would be able to face them off as long as you stay alive and plan you're counter action." I said while urging my small siblings to go back deeper in the cave with my trunk.
"She's not an enemy brother? " Krono who managed to catch one of the point in my trunk and climb up on it asked me.
"No, but she will be if she do anything funny. You heard that Elissia?" I was actually joking but my insect voice made it sound like a threat.
"Y-yes! I get it." She stiffly replied. I feel bad for her. Although I wonder who's stronger, me or her? Well, I didn't even fully use my flame potential on that fight and she looks like she's giving her best earlier. Maybe I am? Seriously?
We entered inside and my siblings starts inquiring about her.
"Is she strong?"
"Can I fight her brother?"
"Where did you find her?"
"I want to play with her!"
"Can we play brother? "
"Is she food?"
What are you even asking Kaitron? Seriously, it gives me headache when they talk altogether. "She's not an enemy and she will be staying with us for a while. She was from far away and bad guys are after her. No more questions OK? "
They all shouted in protest but my very dependable younger sister Kaisa starts to shush them. I didn't even know when did she get this older sister attitude and personality.
I glanced at Elissia and saw her on the bright side of the cave. For us, it doesn't seem that cold temperature affects us too much. But this cave is somewhat very cold, and as a human, she should felt a little bit uneasy about the temperature. But she's just hugging her knees and staring with a smile on my siblings in front of me. Maybe it is related on her magic attribute. She's using ice after all. She met my eyes and gave a flustered expression.
"You guys stay here while we get food and woods okay?" I told my siblings but they only argued with me and starts climbing my forelegs up to my head. They somehow found this route towards my head yesterday and climbs up on it when they know I was about to go out. Well I guess it wouldn't be a problem.
"Come on Elissia. You need to hunt food for yourself anyway."
"Oh, thanks I really should. What do you eat anyways? Does it differ from your siblings?"
We both walked out towards the entrance with my siblings on top of me and I replied. "My siblings eat leaves and fruits, I do too but I started eating birds just yesterday."
I was able to hunt down birds on top of the trees by concentrating a fire ball to hit them. Although I can already shoot them, it's not that fast and they will only hit if I'm lucky or the birds were lack of alertness.
"How long since you evolve into greater beetle Kaiser?" She asked when we finally reach the outside. She started picking twigs and fallen small branche while i search above for any signs of bird.
"I think just 4 days ago." I heard the scrambling sound of small woods from Elissia's direction and saw her staring at me in disbelief.
"Sorry to disrespect you again but, how are you this intelligent already when it was just 4 days ago when you evolve into a greater species?"
"Well, I was once been to a human settlement as a lesser. And after it got raided, I survive and end up in an ant colonies. Their queen is intelligent to. And I learn a lot because I'm a fast learner I think."
Still wearing a perplexed expression, Elissia picked up the woods he gathered that fell from her hands earlier. "I've met a lot of greater beasts but not as intelligent as you. You can't blame me if I find you as a strange one."
I guess she's right. After all, I have my past life's memory.