Chapter 50

Emerging from the basement after about ten minutes of heated deliberation, the group at last found a solution to the dilemma of who should carry Victoria.

Her steadfast insistence had been, "I won't allow just anyone to touch my pure body," sparking the lengthy debate. Initially, the consensus was leaning towards entrusting Xain with the task. However, Zee, concerned for Xain's recent recovery and most definitely not jealousy, interjected, arguing, "Xain has just recovered, so he can't carry you." In an attempt to break the deadlock, Zee generously offered to carry Victoria herself. Still, the mayor remained unwavering, firmly declaring, "I won't let an elf touch me!" This statement ignited further discussions regarding racial issues. Eventually, they reluctantly reached a resolution: Xain would bear the responsibility of carrying Victoria, much to Zee's discontent.

Larkin let out a relieved sigh, wiping his brow, and chimed in, "Thank goodness that's over."

Zee, who seemed equally drained, agreed, "I know, right? How did that turn into the most heated discussion I've been part of in over a century?"

Clarissa answered Larkin's question, explaining, "That's because, Master Lennix, every time you engage in an argument, you try to assert your point by beating the other person."

Lennix nodded in acknowledgment, conceding, "That actually makes sense."

Xain carefully set Victoria down before asking, "So where are the things you need?" Victoria, heading toward the stairs, replied, "If that cow hasn't tampered with my belongings, they should be upstairs."

Victoria had disappeared upstairs, leaving the group waiting downstairs. Ercale, however, had a request. *Head upstairs. I want to know what she's retrieving.* Xain didn't hesitate and started making his way up. Zee, noticed his departure and asked, "Why are you going upstairs?" Xain, Thinking quickly, Xain provided a reason that didn't just involve, the Demon Lord that lives inside me told me to, "I'm just want to know what she's fetching, and Cain's interested too." Zee decided to join him, stating, "Alright, I'll come with you." Xain welcomed her company with a nonchalant shrug, and they proceeded upstairs together.

Lennix noticed Xain and Zee heading upstairs and decided to ask Larkin for more information. He poked Larkin's shoulder and inquired, "What do you think is going on between those two?" Larkin turned his attention to Xain and Zee and responded, "I seriously hope there's nothing romantic brewing." Lennix was perplexed by this reaction and probed further, "Why not? Are you interested in Zee or something?"

Larkin's reaction was immediate. He appeared as though he might gag at the suggestion. "Absolutely not! She's probably as old as my grandmother, goddess rest her soul, if not older." Larkin clarified. Lennix then remembered that Zee was an elf and remarked, "It's hard to believe she's older than me, acting the way she does." Larkin retorted with a chuckle, "You're hardly one to judge. You don't act your age either."

Lennix, curious about Larkin's words, asked, "What do you mean?" Before Larkin could reply, Clarissa interjected in her usual monotone voice, "He means, Master Lennix, that despite being over a century old, you possess less intellect than a newborn infant." Her words were devoid of emotion. Lennix sighed, seemingly worn out by Clarissa's constant insults. "Clarissa, I'm beginning to doubt your claim of having no emotions, given that you insult me at every given opportunity," he remarked. Clarissa, however, didn't respond and continued with her own activities, whatever they were.

Lennix persisted in his questioning. "Anyway, that didn't answer my original question. Why do you not want them to be in a romantic relationship?" he asked, eager to know Larkin's reasoning.

Larkin scratched his beard as he elaborated on his reasons. "Well, shouldn't it be somewhat obvious? One's an elf, and the other's a human. Their lifespans will vastly differ, and given how society views elves, especially half-elves, I doubt they'd lead a particularly happy life," he explained. Lennix nodded in agreement, understanding the societal dynamics and prejudices that could complicate such a relationship. In his long lifetime, he had only encountered six elves, including Zee, and he knew firsthand that people, be they human or demi-human, often harbored reservations about elves, particularly given the history of atrocities committed by them.

**Back to Xain**

Xain and Zee watched as Victoria rummaged through a chest filled with clothes that appeared to be her size. Sneaking up behind her, Xain inquired, "Are the things you're looking for in there?" His sudden appearance startled Victoria, causing her to whirl around and scold him, "Why did you do that!?" Throwing a bit of a tantrum, which Xain found rather cute given her appearance, but he refrained from mentioning it. "Sorry, old habits," Xain apologized with a sheepish grin.

Victoria huffed, noticing that Zee had also followed her upstairs. Victoria then turned back to the chest and resumed her search. "Yes, they are. But why did you come up here?" She questioned. "Just curiosity, nothing more," Xain replied, raising his hands in a non-threatening gesture.

Zee's curiosity was piqued as she explored the upstairs room, which resembled a cozy bedroom. The window provided a pleasant view of the mayor's office courtyard. The room boasted a queen-sized bed, a well-polished dressing table, a roomy closet, and a collection of bookshelves brimming with a diverse range of books, most of them dedicated to the study of magic. This extensive collection left Zee in awe.

As she reached for one of the books, Victoria caught sight of her and sharply reprimanded her, saying, "Don't touch anything! I don't want your dirty hands on anything!" The sharpness of Victoria's words left Zee taken aback. She knew Victoria harbored a dislike for elves, but the level of animosity displayed caught her off guard.

Xain, seeking to defuse the tension, stepped forward, "Come on, isn't that a bit much? We're all friends here." Victoria, however, scoffed at his words and continued her search through the chest. "Yeah, friends. I'm only cooperating with that vampire and this elf because I have to, not because I want to," Victoria asserted, making her feelings quite clear.

Zee couldn't help but feel disheartened, her good intentions to explore the room and engage in a calm conversation now shattered. Xain, however, wasn't one to back down. He questioned, "Seriously, what's your problem with elves?"

Victoria halted her search, spun around, and unleashed her frustration on Xain, shouting, "Okay then, what's your problem? Why are you defending elves? Do you not know what they have done or do?"

Her voice was laced with anger as she confronted Xain face to face. Growing more annoyed by the minute, he retorted, "I might not know, but to hate every member of a race just because some committed bad deeds doesn't make sense."

Zee, attempting to ease the tension, interjected, "It's fine, Xain. It's normal for some people to have negative views of elves." Her empathetic words were meant to defuse the situation. Xain felt a pang of guilt, realizing that they were now in a very different world from Ironhelm, where such prejudices weren't as pronounced.

Victoria, showing no sign of backing down, responded, "Now, will you and your girlfriend stay quiet while I retrieve my belongings?" With that, she returned to her search through the chest.

Xain was on the verge of voicing his thoughts when Ercale's voice in his head resolutely silenced him, cautioning, *There's no point—cease your efforts.*

Bewildered and yearning to fathom the issue at hand, Xain probed further, asking, *What do you mean? Why?*

Ercale, in turn, proceeded to elaborate. *Listen, ape, whether you are aware or not, the elves are among the most loathed and feared races in the realm.*

Seeking to delve further into this issue, Xain probed, *Could you elucidate why?*

Ercale provided insight into the elves' behavior. *Elves subject all those who are not elves or orcs to the most deplorable treatment. They unnecessarily inflict cruelty upon all other races, infringing upon their rights and dignity.*

This revelation left Xain profoundly disconcerted, prompting his ultimate question: *But why?* He grappled to comprehend the motives behind the elves' animosity.

Ercale responded with a heavy sigh, unveiling the root cause. *It stems from their deeply ingrained belief in their own supremacy over all other races. Their conviction in their superiority arises from their status as one of the oldest living races in existence, as well as their extraordinary physiological advantages compared to other races.*

In the face of this disconcerting revelation, Xain was prompted to question further, *Just because of that?*

Ercale responded, driving home his point with a startling statement, *I am a Demon Lord, having spent the majority of my life in the depths of Hell. Let me make it clear that most demons regard elves in the same way as all of you perceive demons.*

Xain was left astounded by this revelation. Demons, beings that had long been the embodiment of fear, regarded elves with fear. The implications were staggering, yet he recognized that while this might be the prevailing sentiment among elves, it did not encompass every member of the race. Zee, for instance, and most certainly not...

Before he could complete his thought, Victoria exclaimed in excitement, "I found them!" Both Xain and Zee hastened to her side, eager to see what Victoria had unearthed, only to see...