Kian silently finished his hot chocolate. It was like drinking a melted chocolate bar. Still, the drink’s creamy and rich chocolaty efforts couldn’t elevate his mood.

Not even the beauty of his surroundings could help as the tiny confiserie was filled with deformed customers and workers groaning and crying at their attractive new features.

They’ll learn to like and appreciate it soon.

It then occurred to Kian why he was dejected. He looked down at his empty, dirty cup and remembered she had never tried hot chocolate. She would’ve loved it.

He took out some francs, left them on the table, and walked out into the snow. Bahnhofstrasse prided itself in being one of the most expensive streets in the world, but to Kian, there was nothing beautiful about predatory department stores and boutiques. The half-mile-long railroad street looked much better after his specimen gave the locals and tourists bewitching makeovers.

It was a picturesque view with snow sprinkling from the milky night sky. The snow looked like stars gently descending on the blessed street. People of all ages were running around panicking with their bloated faces, extra eyes, or enlarged mouths.

As Kian strolled under the moonlight, he thought back to his life living as an elf in the Elven Realm. There was nothing more disgusting than living as a royal. Encouraged to treat others like dirt as they treat you like a deity, having access to anything you want without giving anything in return, and no respect towards nature.

After being sold to the Royal Sun Elf Family as an infant, he never sought to find his mother. Kian was told she was enjoying a lavish lifestyle in another Realm.

When his Mana Pores opened around the age of 10, he began to travel between the Elven Realm and Human Realm at will, and that’s how he met his father for the first time. He was a swell man with good values and would be considered ugly by the standards of stupid people that populated most of the Earth. Sure, his father allowed his carnal desires to be entranced by his mother’s vanity, but he admitted to his mistake.

Kian eventually started to work as a doctor for the royal family and earned their respect with his formidable medical knowledge. He was better than any other elf of his time. He journeyed to many other Realms to study the many different infectious diseases. Funnily enough, the best stop was the one nearest to the Elven Realm: the Goblin Realm. He decided to visit it out of curiosity, even after being told all the atrocious things about them.

From the second he met Iloszea, it was clear that the rumors were a load of crap.

Kian pulled himself out of his head and continued his tour of the street into a clock and watch museum. The building was filled with even more of his beautiful creations. Unfortunately, he was unable to communicate with the receptionists in their state. He left money on the desk and carried on.

He explored the display room and its wondrous pieces from all over the world and different periods. A magnificent miniature singing bird clock called for his attention as he neared it to observe it up close.

It was mind-boggling how a species could be capable of creating such captivating things while capable of heartlessly taking away other people’s lives or their stuff, and lie and rape. When it came to the elves, their heinous actions outweighed the good they’d done by a large margin. It didn’t matter what kind: Sun Elves, Moon Elves, Sea Elves, Snow Elves, Fire Elves, Wood Elves — they were all monsters.

Iloszea was the sweetest soul he had the pleasure to meet. She showed him around the Goblin Realm and all its beauty. The community of green humanoids was powered by love, happiness, and mutual respect. He was invited into Iloszea’s home and was given delicious food.

Kian had never heard of an elf show that kind of hospitality to strangers, let alone a stranger of another species.

Of course, he had to keep his visits to the Goblin Realm a secret. To be more cautious whenever he played with Iloszea, he ensured they were in more secluded places.

Iloszea helped Kian understand his magic powers better and taught him how to fight with a sword far better than any of the teachers his royal family arranged for him. She moved with a sword with such grace that would embarrass even the sun elf princess. In return, Kian took her to other Realms. They swam with selkies, climbed on the backs of playful giants, danced with gnomes, and enjoyed feasts with friendly lizard people filled with laughter.

Throughout the years as they grew, Kian began to notice Iloszea’s enticing features. Normally, her green skin and fangs that protruded upwards would have an elf running in the opposite direction, but not Kian. She was more beautiful than any elven his family tried to set him up with. He only wanted Iloszea, and luckily, she felt the same.

There was no honeymoon phase. Their entire relationship was the honeymoon. But nothing can stay a secret forever, and the Royal Sun Elf family couldn’t accept, in their words, the atrocity Kian brought to elvenkind.

They demanded that the relationship be terminated immediately. Still, he tempted fate and continued to see her in secret, and without realizing a couple of his siblings realized this.

In reality, Kian had a sad smile and banged his fist into his thigh. He looked at more unique timepieces on his way out.

Kian reached the quaint area of Lindenhofplatz and walked down the path that gave him an excellent view of the river and historical landmarks. Police officers were scattered around the scene but were too preoccupied with their deformities. As he stopped to look at the boats sailing on the waters once again, his mind spun back into the painful past.

One day, his father in Iceland got sick. He traveled back to Earth and cured his illness quickly, but took it as a sign to spend time with him for a couple of months.

When Kian returned, he learned that the Royal Sun Elf Army had invaded the goblins and taken whole communities as slaves.

He picked up a sword and fought against his family, demanding to know why. The reason was just as senseless as their gold-plated undergarments. The elves’ disdain for goblins reached its pinnacle, and they decided to do something about it. They hated them simply for finding them too ugly and lowly creatures but were well aware of their incredible natural strength, meaning they would make great workers.

The plan had been brewing for years, and thousands of elves set out to capture goblins and make a transdimensional market out of their goblin slaves.

Elves would put special markers on the goblins’ so that only their master could sense and locate them. After shedding gallons of blood Kian’s brothers confessed to toying with Iloszea until they grew bored and sold her a black market.

She could have been in any of the thousands of Realms by now. Dead or even worse.

Markers were like contractual curses or specific lock spells, or amalgamation spells. Even with all the magic in the world, there was no way to break them unless certain conditions were met. He demanded the name of the one who bought Iloszea, but his siblings lamented about not knowing the mage’s name, and he kept his Mana identity hidden with a strong cloaking spell.

Kian had enough of the agonizing memory and sat on the ground looking at the river as he sobbed heavily over his failure to find Ilozsea. Not knowing even if she was alive or dead.

He swore revenge against the elves before leaving to work tirelessly on a perfect disease. He was now living in the reality he had fantasized about for years. Just a little longer, and he will take the disease to the Elven Realm.

They’ll learn what true beauty is.