Chapter 61: Something to Love

Yulis slowly moved the tip of the arrow until it was angled right between Peace’s eyes.

"You have quite the something to lose."

Peace scoffed, staring at the arrowhead.

"What’s the point in serving me more threats?"

Yulis pulled the arrowhead back and twiddled it between his fingers.

"A threat? Is that what you call curiosity?"

Peace smiled.

"Given my circumstances, there’s no difference between curiosity and a threat."

’Any interest... any words directed at me...’

Peace didn’t have the liberty to overlook anything.

Letting his head hang for a moment, Peace whispered into the light breeze.

"Besides, I’m not such a coward as to claim I have nothing to lose... I know everything I stand to lose. But here’s a question for you, Yulis: do you know what you have to lose? Or are you as lost as your leader?"

Yulis began tying the arrowhead to a shaft before fletching the other end.

"The only thing I have left to lose is my life."

’It’s like I’m looking into a foggy mirror.’

Shrugging, Peace smirked, then said:

"Is that so...?"

"Yes."

Finishing the arrow, Yulis slid it into his own spatial storage bag, attached to the sash running over his shoulder.

Given its size and appearance...

’The cheapest bag? The 5kg one?’

Before Peace could say anything more, Yulis dropped both hands to his sides and continued:

"My parents were killed in the Night Parade. Since then, I’ve been scorned and blamed for what your kind did. I was never allowed the freedom to hold anything dear when every second of my life was spent just trying to see the next day."

"Is that your only goal then? Seeing tomorrow?"

Yulis shook his head.

"Not at all... my goal is to find a reason to seek tomorrow; to find something to lose."

Peace opened his mouth for a moment, then closed it.

He could have countered with some tiresome sophistry, arguing that the goal itself was something he stood to lose. But that would only cheapen the point Peace wished to make.

Instead...

Peace asked:

"How old are you?"

"Huh?"

"You heard me... How old are you?"

Suspicion crept into Yulis’ expression, but he slowly responded:

"About to be seventeen summers... what about it? Are you even that much older than me?"

’Ha... even real elves can’t tell the age of one another.’

Peace glanced at his hand.

"Two winters older."

"...? And? Then...? What’s your point?"

"That we’re both in the springtime of youth. If you want to find something to lose, find someone to love... It doesn’t have to be a romantic love."

Yulis raised an eyebrow, then shook his head.

"Ralph was right... you are weird."

Peace curled his lips, flashing his teeth, then said:

"I do have another question for you."

The young Day Elf clicked his tongue, then asked:

"What is it now?"

Without wasting a moment, Peace replied:

"Do you hate me?"

Slowly, Yulis rasped:

"...Naturally."

"For what reason?"

Yulis looked Peace up and down.

"Are you really asking that? Look at yourself!"

Peace flipped the gauntlet on his right hand and stared at his distorted reflection.

"So, is it safe to say you hate me because of my appearance?"

"Yes, it is safe to say that."

Looking up, Peace calmly said:

"Then... I hate you as well, you detestable elf."

"Huh?"

"You and your loathsome, odious counterparts caused that dreadful incident. Pieces of fucking shit. Wasters of clean air. We should throw you and your kind out into the Corrupted Lands where you belong."

"Hey— What are you—"

"Is it not obvious, Yulis? Nearly anything that can be said of me can be said of you. Aside from the physical differences, of course."

"Don’t give me that crap! You look just like them! How are we—?"

Peace cut him off, saying:

"You seem smart, Yulis. Surely you understand what I mean. I may look like them, but I’m not one. Just as you suffered for what they did, I have too. So, when you drive an arrow into my back, know you’ll be stabbing someone no different from yourself. I want to see tomorrow as well... who are you to try and take that from me?"

Yulis shook his head.

"You really are an idiot."

"An idiot is the greatest kind of genius."

Yulis stared blankly at Peace, clearly unsure what to make of his words.

"..."

Ignoring his confusion, Peace added:

"Know this, Yulis. In my short life, I’ve learned that both hate and love can drive someone toward heights they never thought possible. However, misplaced hate or love can just as easily lead them to ruin. What I’m trying to get at is... whether it’s love or hate, have a proper reason for it... or it’ll consume you."

Yulis let out a long exhale.

"You said you’re only two years older... why should I care at all what you have to say?"

Adjusting his seat against his bag, Peace shrugged, then said:

"I never said you should. What I will say is that it’s a terrible mistake to simply ignore what someone has to say. You don’t have to agree or even understand, but listen. Because if you don’t, one day you might find yourself saying the same words."

’Man... I’m speaking like I’m sixty.’

Yulis opened his mouth, then bit his lip.

"I..."

After that, the green-haired elf went silent.

As if they hadn’t spoken at all, he began fletching another arrow. Returning to the monotonous task as if it would erase the rational words Peace whispered.

But it was clear something Peace had said had settled somewhere in the kid’s head.

Perhaps, deep down, he’d already been aware of the hypocrisy.

Perhaps all Day Elves were.

But they clung to it because it blurred the truth. Maybe they believed that by scorning the Night Elves loudly enough, the scorn directed at themselves would eventually fade.

’But that’s not how it works...’

Somebody needed to be there to be blamed. With how rarely Night Elves showed themselves, the Day Elves were the obvious target for all that leftover hate.

In any case, Peace had said what he wanted to say.

’Hopefully that’s one less knife at my back.’

And if that knife were lowered...

Maybe, just maybe, Peace had earned another ally in this wretched world.