21 Prejudice
(Ella's POV)
I had Grom sit down and poured him hot tea.
He cupped the teacup with both hands, his skeletal thin body trembling slightly.
"Where did Milla disappear? What was she wearing when she disappeared? Tell me any clues you have. Maybe I can help." I was very worried.
A little goblin girl missing outside is very dangerous.
"Do you have a portrait of Milla? I can post it at my door. So many people come and go—maybe someone saw her."
Grom raised his cloudy eyes to look at me.
He actually cried.
Tears flowed down his wrinkled green skin, dripping into the teacup.
He cupped the teacup with both hands, his skeletal thin body trembling slightly: "Thank you, Miss Ella. You're a good person! I really don't know what to do. I don't know who to ask for help. I went to the knight order, the priests, the witch. I even wanted to make a deal with the merchant guild... But no one paid attention. No one is willing to help me find my daughter!"
My nose tingled. My eyes heated.
"I'll try my best to help you." I said. "I'll try my best. Tell me where Milla disappeared. Leave her portrait. I'll post it at my door and ask people I know."
I paused.
"Someone will see her."
Grom opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but said nothing.
Kyle walked out from the inner room at some point.
He leaned on the doorframe, quietly watching this scene.
His expression didn't change, but those blue eyes sank slightly.
I know what he's thinking.
He's thinking—this world never cares about humble lives.
Perhaps to him, my doing this is wasting time. Just a goblin—who would care?
"I, I can't draw moving portraits." Grom said sadly.
Magic portraits must use spells. No wizard would help Grom.
I took the parchment he handed me. On it was a little goblin—pointed ears poking out from messy hair, eyes drawn especially large, round, timidly looking forward.
The drawing was crude, but the spirit was there. The person who drew her must have put great care into making this portrait.
"It's fine. This is enough." I accepted the drawing.
I tried hard to hold back tears: "Tell me anything you need. Oh!"
I turned to the medicine cabinet and took out a cloth bag with some potions inside.
"This is hemostatic agent, beast repellent powder, and healing potion."
Grom hurriedly waved his hands.
"No no, I can't afford—"
"A gift."
I stuffed the potions into his arms.
"It's very dangerous outside recently. Be careful when you go out. If you need help, come find me."
Grom stared at me blankly.
After a long while, he lowered his head.
"...Thank you, Miss Ella."
Before leaving, he suddenly seemed to remember something.
"Oh right." He said. "After I can't supply, you can find a human merchant."
He pulled out a wrinkled note from his chest.
"He's been purchasing herbs recently. Though the price is a bit higher, the supply is stable."
I took the note.
It had a name and address written on it. The merchant was called Mark. He would come to Thorn Town to supply goods every month from now on.
After Grom left, I stood behind the counter for a long time without speaking.
Kyle sat by the window.
"You're very worried about him." He said.
"Of course I'm worried." I sighed. "Grom is a good goblin. His daughter Milla is also very good."
And good goblins in this world often have very hard lives.
I looked down at the portrait in my hands.
Milla is so small. Where did she go?
Did she get lost? Or encounter magical beasts?
Or...
I didn't want to continue that thought.
"You want to help him?" Kyle asked.
I was silent for a moment: "Yes."
"Then why not find that knight?"
My motion paused. Of course I knew he meant Colin.
But I don't know why—since last time we met, I suddenly didn't know how to face him.
Before, I always habitually asked him about Wayne's news.
But now... my life has Kyle in it.
Thinking of this, I felt a bit guilty again.
"I won't go to Colin for help with everything. He has his own work." I said quietly. "If Grom really needs help, I'll go find Colin then."
Kyle looked at me. The emotions in those blue eyes I couldn't read.
He walked in front of me and picked up Milla's portrait: "I can help you. Help that... goblin."
The word "goblin" came out with difficulty, as if saying it caused him some discomfort.
I looked at him, somewhat surprised.
"What will you do?"
Kyle didn't answer.
He took Milla's portrait into the inner room. When he returned, he held a blank piece of parchment and the charcoal pencil I usually use for bookkeeping.
He sat down by the counter.
Sunlight slanted in through the window, falling on his light brown short hair. That tear mole was lit so faintly it almost melted into his skin tone. His lashes lowered, he placed Milla's portrait in front of him, comparing, and began drawing.
I'd never seen Kyle draw.
Much less expected he could draw.
The charcoal pencil spun between his fingers. His wrist was very steady. Lines flowed from the pen tip, light as wind passing over water.
He drew very intently.
Hair at his forehead hung down. He tilted his head slightly. Lashes lowered, they cast a small fan-shaped shadow below his cheekbones. The line of his nose bridge was very straight. Lips slightly pressed together. Completely focused.
I stood beside him, quietly watching.
He drew the eyes, dotting highlights deep in the pupils. Then the little braids, folds in the clothing, small clenched fists...
"Done."
He put down the charcoal pencil, picked up the drawing, studied it for a few seconds, then closed his eyes.
His lips moved, reciting a string of incantations I couldn't understand.
His fingertips lit with a faint glow. He pressed his fingers on the portrait. That light spread from his fingertips, flowing along the charcoal lines.
The little goblin in the portrait blinked.
She tilted her head, looked left and right, seeming somewhat confused. Then she looked down and saw a flower had appeared in her hands.
I don't know when Kyle drew it—a small wild flower blooming in her clenched fist.
Milla smiled, showing two uneven teeth. Her braids swayed.
I froze. This was a magic portrait. Kyle drew Milla a magic portrait.
"You..." I looked at him, momentarily not knowing what to say.
Kyle opened his eyes and handed me the drawing.
"This way she's easier to recognize." He said, tone very flat, as if he'd just done some trivial small matter.
I took the portrait. Milla spun in a circle on it, then looked down at the flower again.
I looked up at Kyle. He stood in the sunlight, looking at that smiling little goblin in the portrait.
I suddenly felt my throat tighten.
I felt ashamed of my thoughts. I believed Kyle was once a noble elf. I'd heard of elves' disdain for humans, so naturally I also knew elves' contempt for goblins.
I subconsciously thought Kyle had prejudice against Grom and Milla.
But I didn't realize that having such thoughts, I also had prejudice against Kyle, against elves.