100 Belle Floria Aquaria Perspective (1/2)
[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.