One

Zerphia Elverish

As long as I remember, there was a story that my mother always tells me.

It was about our races.

She always says that we are a powerful creatures that makes the other races, especially, humans greedy.

We possess a certain power that can conquer the world. They say that elf have no weakness then when they learned that elf, our races can only love a person in their entire life, they decided to conquer every elf using this love. Back in the days, mother said that our race were naive and pure that was taken advantage so they succeed with the plan. The elves devote everything for their beloved to the point they willing want to be their slaves.

I though this was just a story but it was actually a history... our history that still on rampage.

"Look mommy! She's an elf! I want her to be my slave! She's beautiful!"

Said by a little child when saw her walking from the alley.

Her mother replied to the child.

"Dear my child, you need her to fall in love with you first"

Then her mother look at me and shamelessly smiled.

Humans are weakest compared to all the races yet they have the audacity to show this imprudence and arrogant towards our race.

The more that I think about it, I feel like humans are now abandoning their humanity and breaking into something wicked and trashy. And even without sharp teeth, big claws, horns and tail they can still turn into a monster.

I ignored the child and her mother and just continue to walk away. I also couldn't stand those eyes staring at me as I continue to walk towards my destination.

I ended up in a cliff where no one dares to come. This cliff already kill hundreds of people by falling.

The cliff was near the deep blue sea where in the suns shine so brightly. The sea breeze were strong and sway my hair away.

Ironically, behind this magnificent view that this place give lies danger one step away.

I'm already done with this world.

I already succeeded in every way but I somehow feel nothing but emptiness slowly teating me inside.

I could still remember the warm feeling eloping me whenever I come home. Their soft gentle smile and welcoming me home.

'Mother? Father? Please... I wanna come home'

I felt the sea water swallows my body.

I can feel the coldness of the water seeping away and replacing by a warm feeling I thought I would never feel again.

I sink in deeper and deeper in to the sea.

I felt the pain in my chest as I slowly run out of air.

I closed my eyes.

It was so quiet.

It felt so peaceful.

I suddenly feel sleepy.

Hmmm. Dying this way isn't bad.

° ° ° ° ° °

The smell of gun powder.

The sound of clashing swords.

Explosions.

Screams.

Cries.

The smell of blood.

It's the war.

"Mother!"

"Father!"

The little girl shouted. Desperately looking for her parents in the middle of the panicking crowd. The soldiers and knights were running in their positions and busy supplying their equipments. The nobles and high officials were all preparing to evacuate and save themselves. All the shops and households begun to panic and closing. Then a fire broke out and the sound of the explosions are coming closer. Meaning the enemy is near.

"Mother! Father!"

"Mother! Father! Where are you?"

The girl started to cry and panic unable to see her parents. A fear started to grow in her. What if she will never see her parents again? What will happened to her?

She tried to look everywhere until she finally see her father not far away from her.

She signed in relief.

A smile formed in her lips.

She run towards him happily.

"Fa-"

She couldn't finished her words when she see her father's head falls off.

She step back in terror.

Tears began to flow from her eyes. She wanted to say something yet her voice won't come out. She felt her knees tremble. She was left still in her place as if she couldn't move.

The blood keeps coming out from her fathers neck and it didn't stop. Her father's blood was everywhere.

Then she see her mother crying and begging to stop. Her mother's face was covered in fear, pain, and anger.

"P-Please Stop! Don't do this!"

Her mother runs toward her father. With her shaking hands, Her mother tries to save him but it wasn't enough. Her mana wasn't enough to fully save his life.

Her mother was crying desperately when her mother caught a glimpse of her daughter. Her mother's face turn pale.

Her mother immediately took away her eyes and glance back at her husband. She put her arms around his dead body and hugs it tightly while her tears couldn't stop falling from her eyes.

'Leave. Run away.'

Her mother says to the little girl's mind.

She did what her mother told her to do. With the little strength she have she tried to run away. She run the fastest way she can.

And for one last time she took a glance at her mother.

Her mother smiled at her for one last time until her body falls beside her fathers body.