“Did it really have to be someone like him?”
Lysandro’s cry did not get my first appearance before the City Council off to a great start. Since my rescue by the Dark Elves, I had only interacted with Mattéonolio – he insisted on being called Matt’ as the contraction was frequent among the Elves – and a few people at his house. Matt’ wouldn’t want me to state it like that, but I was under house arrest. And now, I was standing before 67 Elves that would decide what to do with me.
I was starting to realise that even though the Council of Elders had exiled them, they were still Elves. Indeed, Matt’ was special, even among the Dark Elves.
Matt’ suppressed a sigh:
“This shouldn’t come as a surprise: most of the adventurers trying to enter Schwarzalbenheim are Dwarves – we can’t change that. The clear procedure we agreed upon doesn’t make a difference between Elves and Dwarves. Anyhow, this is the right thing to do, and it is even in our best interest. We can …”
The Session Chair interrupted him:
“Yes, yes, we know … but still.”
Others were tuning in:
“— Does he understand us?
— How long will he stay?
— Is he bringing diseases in? Was he tested for it?
— Did he have to pass a cognitive test?”
Matt’ ignored them and turned to the Session Chair – he could at least enforce the Council rules. After a few seconds, the old and seemingly bored Valeriano of Household Darselia deigned ringing his bell and calling for order:
“— My friends, please, we should listen to each other, lest we all end up shouting and not an inch closer to answers. Please, Mattéonolio, you were describing the dire state in which you found the Dwarf here. Still, your take was that he could and should be evacuated to Irathenæ?
— Exactly. Our spells had taken their toll on Namdy, but he was not dying. To me, and actually to the whole group, it was clear he was the first to successfully pass through the barriers. We did retrieve his companion, but he was too far gone, so you see, we did use our best judgement. We had to put an end to his misery.”
Even though I knew Urud’s fate, I was still shivering when hearing about it.
“— Actually, we hardly had to do anything. Some rest was enough for him to get back on his feet.
— Very well, now he can take these feet of him and go away!”
That was Cass’. As I would find out, a very amenable guy. He would later insist this was just a joke.
“He is a danger for the peace and harmony of the city!”
Matt’ would later tell me how Tiberio had been himself a danger for the peace and harmony of the city.
“— We accepted to save an adventurer that would pass the wards, but we never said we would then have to nurse him!
— Let’s ask the people of Calissara to take him!”
The inhabitants of the city of Calissara were among the few things Marcellan hated (almost) as much as Dwarves. I never could change his opinion.
“He will be perfectly lost among us!”
Aurelia was often disguising her questionable opinions under benevolence.
Matt’ had told me my presence – and his proposition – would be polarising, he had not expanded on the fact our “supporters” would be so silent. I gathered my best Elvish and said:
“Don’t worry, I am here to learn – and I will learn.”
With one sentence, I had achieved total silence in the room.
“I hope you will forgive me for switching to this international language you developed, rather than sticking to Elvish – just as Matt’ told me about your history, he also taught me – and I have to say, it is indeed easy to learn!
As I said, I know your history and why you are cut from the rest of the world. This proves your will to question what everybody took for granted, and to go beyond what others would have thought undeniable. This is exactly what I was looking for, and after having discussed with Matt’, this is what we are trying to achieve.
Why should I get to stay for a while among you?
First of all, I can put your philosophy to the test. I can bring a new perspective, a Dwarf perspective, and maybe shed some light on its contradictions. For instance, I don’t master any magic – does it change anything when trying to explain the world around us? So I intend to be a sparring partner for the best thinkers among you.
Second, and this might reassure you, I don’t intend to stay here forever. When I leave, and without revealing any secrets of you, I intend to change the Dwarf society thanks to your new ideas. My first encounters with the philosophy that got you banned convinced me that we, the Dwarves, are ready to accept it – after a few refinements. So you would not only improve your theories, but also have the opportunity to see what happens when these theories are implemented outside of your Elvish society.
And if all goes according to plan, you would gain a powerful, maybe decisive ally; already, the Trade Lands have a similar organisation as you, and some of your ideas permeated. If the Dwarf Empire joins the ideal of liberty and gives power to the people, wouldn’t the Elvish Lands have to reconsider their position? Imagine our continent joining forces to improve the lives of each one of us, without regards to our race!”
A glance around me showed me that we had won. The stronger opponents to Matt’s position reluctantly nodded, and some among the others even clapped. Sure, the debate went on for a while, but we were now discussing technicalities, and not the principle of me staying here.
It had been a few weeks since the City Council had given me a staying permit for a year. I was beginning to know Irathenæ well, and increasingly was able to find my way on my own in the city. My Elvish also was getting better, and I was becoming a reference for the international language.
But today, Matt’ was with me. He was showing me new parts of the city, getting me to know new persons, but he was also asking for a kind of feedback report.
“— I still have to get accustomed to a lot. For me, a city is something different. I know that in the rest of the Elvish Lands, it is even more nomadic, and a city is merely a clearing in the forest with a few infrastructure, but … I think what unsettles me the most is to be always, all the time outside. We Dwarves tend to dwell underground. More than that, everything is set up for a life outside, as if it were normal.
— It is normal”, Matt’ interrupted with a smile.
“Well for me, in a typical city, tens of thousands, if not hundred of thousands of people live together inside of a mountain. Most of them are born in this mountain, grow up in this mountain, find love in this mountain, work in this mountain, get kids in this mountain and die in this mountain. We travel, but home is linked to a specific place. Here, a city does have residents, but for most persons a city is a resting place before the next travel.
Another thing: there are whole days where we don’t see the sunlight, even more now that most of the cities have electric light.
Speaking of that, it still surprises me: you are supposed to be the most advanced Elves, so much so that it sort of cost you your liberty. But still, since I am here, I can’t help but being set back fourty years ago, during my childhood. This has a kind of old-fashioned charm that I find nice!”
Matt’s smile was a bit forced now. He looked around us:
“Maybe don’t be so loud when saying things like that?”
Maybe he was expecting another answer… which only reinforced my impression of a cute provincial stay.
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After more than a year in Schwarzalbenheim, it was time. Time for me to return home and turn everything on its head. Time for Matt’ to discover the Dwarf Empire – though he would have to hide most of the time, lest we draw too much attention and too much questions.
Was he ready? He seemed confident. He had taught me so much. Now it was my turn to give something back. On this long journey, he would be lonely. Even my closest friends might never accept him. He would miss the sun, the open sky, the forest air. What would he make of our cities—real cities?
We set off on our way.