It’s lovely to live in Moku, Pamola—well, Pamola in general. Humans and elven living together in harmony, even though there is a hint of prejudice between the two races. I am half human, half elven; my father is human, and my mother is an elf. For some, a human and an elf being together is taboo, most don’t care. There has been discrimination to the mixed breeds such as me and it’s happened throughout… I’m sure 27 years of my life. But it doesn’t faze me. From how the people are feeling, I’m sure they’re simply scared or hurt individuals that can’t handle unknown means. My parents have always said to kill your enemies with kindness… and condescending comments. That last part? I added. Sometimes it would get me in trouble, but I swear, I’m a good person.

I stay in my own house, and I was let go of my job recently which I had to use my Hika which is a custom to elven that live in Pamola; humans are unable to do it. The job was to keep streetlights on for the night. Luckily, I got the Hika from my mother. So, I decided to work from home. What I also do is make jewelry. I get my materials from Alpine and Oreads for the stones and the metals I need to make the jewelry. As I was making a ring for a customer who needed it a week from now, Kaori, my elven partner and roommate came in from work and walked toward me while putting down his bag. I stopped what I was doing and embraced him with a hug; he embraced me back.

“How was your day, Yuri?” He asked me.

“It’s been alright, Kaori. How was your day?” I asked.

“Busy. I didn’t have much of a break. I was still working while I was at lunch.” He replied.

“Why?”

“Because of some young elven not knowing how to use their Hika, or they were too weak to power the streetlights or electric boxes for people’s homes. Yuri, I really wish you were still working there.”

I sighed remembering when my employer fired me for a redundant reason with me responding in a hair-splitting way about how he controls the company; it was the final nail in the coffin for me with him. Along with that, I got replaced with an inexperienced elf… Thinking about it now, the redundant reason was because I am mixed. Besides my efficient work ethic, I was discriminated against. Kaori looked at me with a concerned look on his face. I guess I was making the face where I squint and have a smirk. He put his hand on my shoulder to comfort me.

“Please, Yuri. Don’t worry about that prick. At least you don’t work for him anymore.” He reassured me.

I chuckled.

“I just hope he gets what’s coming to him.” I stated.

“He will. Right now, let’s think of something else other than work.”

He’s right. Thinking about past stupidity doesn’t help; it hurts. But still, it would be nice to see him get his comeuppance.

*At Night*

Kaori and I were recovering from our… wonderful moment together as we were in each other’s arms in between the sheets. We then heard the alarms outside, it was our safekeep making an announcement.

“People of Pamola. This is your Safekeep, Damos Sig speaking. Sorry to disturb you all on this night, but I have received some devastating news. Our queen who has governed the land of Elem for over 50 years, has passed away at the age of 72. Her memorial will be held a week from now in Nora, Elienta, if any of you wish to pay your respects. The next week after, a new queen will be crowned and take her role and the rest of the safekeeps along with me will retire on that week. Pamola will be needing a new Safekeep of Light to keep our light shining bright. Beit human, elven, or in between, come as you are for the tournament is to come a month from now. Also, I would like to say it has been an honor to be your Safekeep of Light for 20 years. And now, a moment of silence for our Queen Askari.”       

Kaori and I were silent in respect for our humble queen who kept peace for all the lands and was a sweet and kind elderly woman.

“Thank you all. You all have a good night.” Lord Damos stated.

After the announcement, Kaori was looking at me with his eyes glazed over. I think he saw I was in thought. I was thinking of entering the tournament which is a month from now.

“What are you thinking about, Yuri?” He asked in a low tone.

“… How would you feel if I entered the tournament?” I asked.

“Mmm… Well… it would be an interesting change of pace. Also, your Hika is strong. Strong as an elven, or even stronger than that, actually. Also, you’d be living in the temple and not here which is… a bummer.”

“Well… how about you live in the temple with me?”

Kaori looked at me with a surprised look.

“Really? You think that’s possible?”

“I’m sure it’s possible. It wouldn’t hurt to ask the new queen; whoever she is.”

Kaori then looked away from me, still concerned. I put my hand on his cheek caressing it and trying to comfort him.

“Please. Don’t look like that, Kaori. I know you don’t want to be away from me, and I don’t want to be away from you. I’m sure if I ask, she’ll say yes.” I assured him with a smile.

I can say my smile is contagious because when he looked at me, he smiled back and held my hand.

“I trust you, Yuri.” He stated.

*One Week Later*

Kaori and I came back from Nora, Elienta to pay our respects for Queen Askari. We went to the market where I could put my name on the list for the tournament. I then was thinking who the next queen would be. At the memorial, I did see a noble family there. It was a mother, father, their son, and their daughter. It was… the Nyle family if I remember. I was having a sense with the daughter, and I saw she had some type of mark which looked like one of the distinctive marks of the queen. By Alpha, the girl hadn’t reached womanhood yet and she’s our next queen? Alpha chooses the queens in a mysterious way. Also, she’s a sweet girl and I know she is going to need every amount of help during her reign.

*Three Weeks Later*

I was in line with 127 other contestants in the courtyard of the temple in Pamola. The queen, 11-year-old Furia Nyle, her parents, Lord Kivu and Lady Faye, her brother, Sir Kai, and the advisor, Madam Yenish Darsha who does have a questionable reputation here in Pamola since she is Pamolan born and everyone knows of the shady things she’s done, but they weren’t fully proven. Sadly, I don’t think the Lord & Lady even know about that. Also, along with them is the Safekeep of Time; 21-year-old Senuo Mika who is from Satori, Safekeep of Life; 16-year-old young man, Landon Endreas, hailing from Oreads, Safekeep of Water; 23-year-old Hanchia Gabura who’s from Haliae, and Safekeep of Fire; a cheerful 15-year-old Xianchi Soule hailing from Alpine. The queen wished us good luck in the tournament. If I remember correctly, I’m going to be performing and fighting tomorrow. So, I can just enjoy looking at the festivities with Kaori.

***

Looking at the showcases were giving me a few good ideas on what I can do. The weapons portion made me realize that I’m not a fan of spears, staffs, and swords. Daggers… I can work with those. With the battles, hand to hand, and Hika, the elven are rather good and determined in their fights, but too serious. I don’t think they’ll bode well with the queen.

*Next Day*

For my showcase, I had to make it simple, but stylish other than serious and stiff like the elven have done. I’ve even heard a few of them talking behind my back; calling me “impure”, “mutt”, and “low class” just because of my mixed race. Also, if I saw correctly, I swore I saw my former boss also fighting in the tournament yesterday. I’ll see in the coming days if I win my fights.

***

My fights have been… easy. I never thought they would be. Elven are a proud race in their status as being higher than humans… is laughable to my standards and claim that us mixed breeds are less superior because of our human backgrounds… Well… I am more than obliged to show them that they are highly wrong.

*Fifth Day*

Well, I have made it extremely far and I’m ready see it to the finish. I just won the semifinal match yesterday and the final match is about to start soon. And I know who my opponent is: my former boss. His name is Faniir Dane. Kaori is worried that I might lose to him because of our history of him firing me a month and half ago. That is my fuel, but I don’t plan on getting tunnel vision because of him. I know how to bounce back against “glass skin”. I walked to the front of my tent waiting for my name to be called.

“Faniir Dane!” The queen called out.

I saw Faniir come out of a tent adjacent from mine looking proud and confident as he walked out on to the courtyard.

“Yurich Kelun!” The queen called my name.

I saw the look on that prick’s face when he heard my name in shock; it made me smile with amusement. I walked out of my tent to the courtyard while tying up my hair. Seeing this man 8 feet away from me felt like a dream come true.

“Y-Yurich?” He called to me sounding surprised.

I chuckled.

“Nice to see you again, Faniir. Didn’t think you’d see me again?” I asked rhetorically.

He just looked at me and decided to smirk which confused me.

“I know why you decided to enter this tournament.” He commented.

“Oh?”

“You’re here to take your revenge on me because I fired you.”

“And… what makes you think that??”

“Because of your human nature. Humans have the need to take revenge on people that have wronged them and will stop at nothing to get back at the person. That’s what you’re doing right now. Luckily for you, you have Hika, so you have a power to take me on. Because if you didn’t, I would’ve definitely put you in your place once again. Also, no half breed should have a spot as the Safekeep of Light and represent Pamola.”

Everything that he said to me made me laugh at his prejudice and stupidity. I saw his smirk disappear.

“Wow. You don’t know how stupid you sound.” I laughed aloud.

He raised a brow wondering what I was talking about.

“I may have known that you were in the tournament on the first day, but I didn’t even think about you at all when I fought my opponents. I’m over you, Faniir. It sounds like you’re not over it. You may have been biased towards me because I’m a “mutt”; an inferior mix breed and you fired me because you think you’re “superior”. You’re an elf on your high pedestal. You believe you’re above me. That makes you look and sound weak, my dear Faniir. Your disdain against humans and us mixed breeds should not be the representation of Pamola. Also, the queen may be a noble from Elienta, but did you forget that she’s human? So, you’re saying she’s inferior too?”

He didn’t answer me. It looked like he didn’t want to admit what he said was flawed and he looked irritated at me. He should know me by now because I’m not finished speaking.

“You will ruin the reputation of Pamola. And I won’t let that happen. So, I’m not doing this out of revenge, I’m doing this to stop you from taking the temple and I know how you are, Faniir. For an elf, you would never change. Your pride will get the best of you, almost every elven’s downfall. You give them a bad name.”

Faniir couldn’t stand my voice now and was ready to… “put me in my place”.

“You think you’re a know it all, don’t you? Human weakness displayed within you as always, Yurich. You in for a lesson in knowing your place.” He sneered as he readied himself.

I chuckled at his remark and smirked.

“I’m sure it’s my elf side speaking. My human side gives me clarity. I’ll give you a lesson in humility, dear Faniir.” I stated as I readied myself as well.