Later that evening, Levian and his father sat inside the Emberbury Estate, home of his fiancée Diana, and her father Lord Vesper.
The two men laughed and chattered amongst themselves loudly from across the table, as they dug into the finest cut of steak.
Whereas Levian and Diana... they hadn't said a word to each other other than their greetings.
It was the first they had spoken, as the marriage was purely an arrangement set up by their fathers to create an alliance between the Bladeblessed and the Emberbury families.
But that didn't stop things from being awkward.
Diana Emberbury was a stunning woman.
Red curly hair, blue eyes, and pure white smile that suggested innocence.
However, Levian had a feeling deep inside of him that she was not interested.
After all, he was known around the empire as a noble who had somehow managed to fail his awakening seven times.
He watched as the woman looked down at her plate, cutting her food delicately without even sharing a gaze with him.
I should be using this time to create new weapons...
"So, young Levian" Lord Vesper's voice suddenly came from the other side of the table. "I've heard you've finally awakened?"
Lord Vesper was a red-haired man just as powerful as Odin. He was one of the few humans capable of rivalling the finest elves in magical prowess.
Despite being fifty years of age, he had just recently fought in a crucial battle against the high elves, which ended in a victory for the humans.
Sources said that he was High-Platinum rank, but some rumours suggested that he might have even broken into the greater realms, a ranking system that followed after platinum.
Levian did his best to manage his nerves.
"I have, Lord Vesper. I'm glad that I will finally be able to aid the empire in our war against the elves."
Lord Vesper and Lord Odin both nodded their heads, pleased with the young man's response.
However, Levian noticed something strange with the young lady, Diana.
He thought he might have been seeing things, but there was no mistaking the look on her face.
It was one of disappointment.
But why?
---
After the meal was finished, Levian and Diana were ordered to take a walk around the estate and familiarise themselves with one another.
In the meantime, the two fathers would discuss their alliance and the current state of the world.
Levian heard them mention a civil war brewing within the Dwarven Empire. A race that had been well known for peace.
...
For the first few minutes, the two walked in silence around the gardens. The sun was shining, and the sky was beautiful.
That did nothing for the awkward tension that hung between the couple, until Levian couldn't take it.
He had to break the silence.
"Why do you hate me?" He asked softly, stopping the woman in her tracks.
It was the first question that came to mind.
Diana looked at him for a second, face giving nothing away, before she continued walking.
"I do not hate you..."
"Then why do you refuse to speak to me?"
...
"Perhaps we just have nothing in common."
Her words were prideful, as most nobles were.
However, Levian believed that he sensed something else in her voice.
Contempt?
"Look, I understand that you might have something against me, regardless of whether you'll admit it or not. If we are going to be married, it will make things a lot easier if we can just get this out of the way from now."
It wasn't the ideal way to handle the situation, but Levian felt like he had no other choice.
The couple crossed over a small stone bridge situated over a pond.
Diana stopped to admire the ducks below.
"Let me ask you something, Levian Bladeblessed." Her soft voice suddenly came, as her red hair glowed beneath the sun.
Levian stared at her, waiting.
"Why do you kill the elves?"
...
The question caught Levian off guard completely.
"I... I haven't killed a single elf in my life?" He stammered, but Diana shook her head.
"No, you haven't. But you're awakened now, and will be sent to pillage their lands and steal from their dungeons. All because of what, a racist belief founded by the first emperor?"
Her words were half-true.
The first conflict between elves and humans started when the first human emperor, Gal, believed that a human life was worth more than an elf's life.
This led to the idea that humans should own more land and resources than the elves, despite being the only two races that lived in the same country.
Naturally, the Elf Emperor of the time disagreed with this statement, which led to wars.
These events dated back hundreds of years. The current wars were no longer centred around racist beliefs, but rather various ongoing conflicts that had brewed over time.
Levian struggled to find an answer for a moment. A justification for the taking of elven lives.
Then, he found that he no longer wished to find a justification.
Was it so wrong for him to believe that no such thing existed?
"The elves are not innocent." He suddenly spoke, the first words that came to mind.
Diana went to speak in defence of the elves, but Levian continued, cutting her off.
"But the humans are not innocent either. I want nothing but peace between the two races."
Diana's blue eyes went wide, and she turned to look up at the man beside her.
Levian stood there, hands clasped behind his back and face serious, yet calm.
With his black victorian suit, and slicked back hair, he looked like a prince.
"I wish for the two races to coexist peacefully, as we did in the beginning of times... If I end up fighting, then that is what I will fight for."
The words came naturally to him, despite being the first time he had expressed such sentiment.
Silence hung in the air for a few moments, and he risked a glance at Diana, wondering if she now thought strangely of him.
Instead, he saw something else entirely.
Admiration.
The woman's demeanour changed. Her posture seemed to relax, and she leaned against the barrier of the bridge casually.
She flashed Levian a cheeky smile.
"I've never heard a noble human speak so beautifully before." She said with playful charm. "But do you have the strength to back it up?"
Levian felt his body relaxing too.
The interaction now felt completely different.
The woman, Diana Emberbury, had interested him.
Not just because of her beauty, but also her unique empathy towards the elves, despite being human herself.
He too, had never seen such a thing before.
"You doubt me right, because of my seven failed awakenings?" Levian joked with a smile.
Diana shrugged her shoulders, with a sarcastic expression on her face.
Even then, she looked beautiful.
"Don't worry... I've awakened a talent that will turn my dreams into reality."
---
Don't forget to gift power stones if you're enjoying the story!