A larva named Ulat lived on the tree of knowledge, an ancient tree whose roots crawled into a place called philosophy.
He was a larva both adorable and repulsive, because he could not decide for himself whether he was a miracle or a pest.
Among the other larvae, he was known as the caterpillar prophet. In truth, he was an angel assigned to remind the other larvae to avoid sin, such as committing suicide before becoming butterflies.
One day, in the region of Silva Nigra, he saw a strange organism standing upright. Its two lower extremities were longer than its upper ones, and its body moved as if the world had been made to be walked upon.
“What is that?” Ulat asked another larva who was having lunch.
The larva, still chewing a leaf, replied, “I once heard about them in a legend. They say they call themselves humans. But I forgot the rest. This leaf is too delicious, hehe.”
Ulat thanked him, then immediately went to his private prayer room behind the fold of a leaf.
“Great Mus,” he prayed, “give me guidance so I may learn about humans.”
From the trembling veins of the leaf, a revelation descended: “If you wish to know humans without being killed by them, visit the branches called Anthropology, Psychology, and Human Physiology. Eat their leaves in moderation.”
But the leaves were far too delicious. Ulat ate, then ate again. He learned of bones, muscles, language, fear, desire, and one thing that had never grown inside him before: envy.
Why did humans have bodies capable of reaching so many habitats, while he could only crawl across the surface of a leaf? Why was he, a more noble organism, created in a form so easily killed?
God knew what one of His angels was thinking. Before Ulat could reach the branch of Anthropology, he suddenly became unable to move. Not long after, he became a chrysalis.
When the time came, he emerged, but not as a butterfly of his species.
He had antennae like hardened horns, a black-red body, wings that were entirely black, two arms, two legs, and only three fingers on each hand.
He understood: God had cursed him.
And so he swore that he would protest against God before the other angels.
Somewhere else, God smiled in front of His laptop screen.
“Now he has become the Butterfly Devil,” He murmured. “A beautiful creature who was once My repulsive little angel.”