Arcadia's Ignoble Knight: Dark Elf Arc

Chapter 8

After buying a pair of tickets for the next train tomorrow morning, Caspian and Elincia tried to find a place to stay the night. This proved to be harder than it looked.

"We don't let people like you stay here!"

"No elves allowed!"

"I refuse to let a monster come near my guests!"

Every person they met had the same reaction as the guy at the train station, but unfortunately, nothing Caspian said could convince these people to let them spend the night. Telling them they would remain at the inn until they agreed wouldn't work. So after attempting about five times to find an inn willing to let them stay, they were forced to conceded defeat.

"I guess we'll have to sleep outside." Caspian grimaced. "I wish I had at least thought to bring a sleeping bag..."

"I'm sorry, Caspian. This is all my fault."

The two of them were standing in a small clearing within Lígoton. There were a few buildings located all around them and some trees and shrubs. He and Elincia were behind one of the buildings, an inn that had just refused them service. His sorceress was crouched on the ground and drawing circles in the grass.

"This isn't your fault at all," Caspian argued with a shake of his head. "You never asked to be born an elf, and you never asked those people to treat you this way."

"I... I know that here." Elincia pointed at her head. "I know what you say is true, but my heart keeps telling me it's my fault."

Caspian sighed and scratched the back of his head. He had already been where Elincia is now, which was why he knew it wouldn't matter what he told her. Elincia wouldn't change how she thought until she realized for herself that none of this was her fault. Nothing he said could fix the problem.

Even so...

"Owch!"

Elincia winced as Caspian flicked her forehead. Crouching in front of her, he gave the girl a mild glare that made her look away.

"I don't want you to ever think that the treatment these people give you is in any way your fault. Ele, you are the kindest person I know. If they can't see that and are willing to judge you because of your race, then that's their problem, not yours."

"I suppose so..." Elincia trailed off and rubbed her forehead. She took a deep breath, and then she smiled. "Thanks, Caspian."

"Any time." Caspian stood up and held out his hand. Elincia, after a moment, grabbed it and let him pull her up. "Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's try and find a place where we can spend the night. We've slept on the ground before, so we shouldn't have a problem doing it again."

"Yeah..."

As they spoke, Elincia's ears twitched several times when a rustling noise caught her attention. Caspian heard it several seconds later and turned his head. What they found were a couple of kids staring at them, a combination of boys and girls who ranged in age from maybe five to ten. There were a dozen in total. It looked like they had been spying on him and Elincia for some time now.

The group of kids ducked behind the wall when they realized they'd been spotted, but then they peered out again as though their curiosity had gotten the better of them. When she saw this, Elincia smiled and waved at them.

Perhaps it was simply the nature of children, or maybe Elincia's open and honest smile lured them in, but a lot of the kids came out from behind the building, rushing toward Elincia and Caspian with star-filled eyes.

"Whoa! It's an elf! It's really an elf!" one boy said.

"Look at those ears! Those are real elf ears!" said another.