Elf Island(2)

In the elven village, a group of elves stood encircling one of their own. The glares they directed at the unfortunate woman were filled with hatred and contempt.

"Ugh, freak!" one of them hissed, curling his lips into a sneer.

"Talentless beast," another chimed in, lifting her chin disdainfully.

"Not only is she a freak and talentless, but she also bore a child from a human!"

"A disgrace to all elves," someone scoffed from behind.

"Her ancestors must be ashamed of such a sub-elf!"

The name of the one subjected to these cruel words was Yumeria. She heard these insults daily, from every elf residing on the island.

The reason for their hatred lay not only in her appearance or behavior but also in her son—Kyle. He was a half-elf, born of a human, which was considered unacceptable in elven society. However, the most horrifying aspect, in the eyes of the majority, was how he came into the world.

Yumeria had once been a servant to a nobleman from a neighboring kingdom. One day, he violated her, and the result was Kyle. Despite the horror she endured, Yumeria accepted the child as a gift and raised him with tenderness and love, becoming the best mother she could be.

However, this love couldn't shield her son from the contempt of others. Kyle was constantly mocked and humiliated for his "impure" origins. Eventually, even he began to distance himself from his mother, accusing her:

"This is all because of you! You're too kind, too trusting. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't exist at all!"

Despite his bitter words, Yumeria knew he didn't mean them. Her heart told her that Kyle still loved her, though he hid his feelings. Nevertheless, her son's words only intensified her inner torment. She began to blame herself for everything that had happened, for allowing such a terrible mistake.

Over time, Kyle decided to leave the village. He went to the capital, intending to sell himself as a slave, aiming to find a stable income for his mother. This news saddened Yumeria even more. Her confidence vanished entirely, and she began to believe that all the words spoken about her were true.

But what kind of woman was this, who evoked such strong disdain? Yumeria, despite her insecurities, was beautiful even by elven standards. Her long olive-green hair cascaded in silky waves down her back, and her golden eyes glowed with quiet sorrow. She was slightly shorter than average by elven measures, and her figure, lush and feminine, stood out among her slender kin. Her long, pointed ears looked elegant, but even this couldn't save her from the judgment of others.

Her kind nature, which in other circumstances might have been a virtue, was here a source of suffering. She was too gentle, too sensitive, and even words frightened her.

And now, passing by a group of elves, she heard the familiar jeers.

"Look, our 'freak' is coming again!" a loud voice rang out.

"How long will you keep disgracing us, Yumeria?"

She stopped, lowering her head, as if trying to hide her embarrassment and hurt. Her hands trembled slightly, but she didn't dare respond. A lump formed in her throat, and even words of defense seemed unattainable. At that moment, Yumeria heard footsteps behind her. Her heart clenched, and fear pierced her like a blade. She was sure that one of the elves had decided to take the opportunity to strike her.

However, a moment later, the silence was broken by the frightened voice of one of those who had just been insulting her.

"Oh... g-good day, Lord Viscount..." one of the elves began, but immediately fell silent when a sharp slap to the face knocked him off his feet.

Yumeria turned sharply, her heart pounding wildly. Before her unfolded a scene she never expected to see. One of the elves lay on the ground, clutching his face, tears streaming from his eyes, and a red mark from the slap appearing on his cheeks. Another elf stood nearby, his body trembling with fear, as if one wrong move could lead to a similar fate.

"One more word..." came a low, calm, but incredibly threatening voice, "and believe me, the blow will be harder... perhaps a bit lower."

The speaker tilted his head slightly, as if carefully assessing his interlocutor. The corners of his lips lifted in a slight, almost mocking smile, but behind this expression lay anger, cold and dangerous.

Yumeria struggled to look away from the elf, who was shaking like a leaf. Finally, she shifted her gaze to the one who had interrupted this bullying. Before her stood a human. His appearance at first glance seemed quite ordinary: tall and, judging by his clothes, muscular build, especially for a 15-year-old. But there were two details that caught the eye and made his face unforgettable. His hair, blacker than night, gleamed in the sun, and his eyes, as dark as a starless sky, literally drew attention. Such an appearance was a great rarity and involuntarily commanded respect, mixed with fear.

Yumeria didn't know what to say. She looked at him, trying to understand who he was and why he had intervened. His confidence, the slight sarcasm in his voice, and the complete absence of fear before the elves—all this seemed almost unreal to her.