Estheria (ii)

Anything to get stronger, anything to earn even a glance of recognition.

And finally, one day, I felt strong. Strong enough not to flinch at even the fiercest spells.

I held knowledge deep enough to answer any absurd question the teachers threw just to humiliate me.

But no one acknowledged me. Because I was still just a lower elf.

Even with all the knowledge-- Even with absurd strength to withstand magic most couldn’t bear-- I was still nothing to them.
It only got worse.

I was expelled from the class.

Now, older students ganged up on me-- Armed with stronger magic, Eager to test me, break me, laugh as I endured.

That’s when he stood up.
In front of everyone.
His voice rang sharp and clear.
Looking at me

“Don’t you have any pride, low elf girl ?

I hate people like you. Who just watches and let whatever happens happen

Those who can’t stand for themselves but crawl for acknowledgment.

What are all those work hard you do for?

Tch--learn to stand up for yourself…you moron..

He pointed his wand at the students surrounding me. His eyes--crimson red, burning cold.

“And you all… Don’t waste your time doing things that don’t make you stronger.

I hate people like you more than anything.”

The students faltered. Their faces drained pale.

“We’re sorry, Aeliff!!”

They scattered and fled.

Then--

He turned to me.

He placed his hand over me. A soft, warm light spread across my body.

Healing magic. It felt different than the cruel spells I’d known. Warm. Gentle. Quiet.

I looked at him and whispered

“Thank you… for helping me.”

He scoffed, irritated.

“Helped you? Why would I help a lower elf?” He glared. “All of them were weaklings. Nothing compared to me.

Them bullying some weakling was just an eyesore, so I stepped in.” He turned, walking away.

Without looking back, he muttered:

“Don’t be a loser.”

Tell me one thing he says without turning back He didn’t turn back when he spoke. His voice cut through the silence, flat and sharp.
“What do you fight for?” I froze.

“What do you work so hard for? Why? What’s the reason?”

My mouth opened, but nothing clear came out. My chest tightened.
“I… I just…”

The words crumbled before they could form. I couldn’t even answer confidently.

He kept walking-- Unbothered, distant.

“Not even confident in your own answer.” “You don’t even know what you’re fighting for… or why you work so hard.”

He clicked his tongue, the disgust in his voice unmistakable.
“Pathetic.”

And without sparing me a glance, He disappeared into the distance.

Back then, I didn’t understand what he meant. I didn’t understand what it truly meant to stand up for myself.

I was working harder than anyone. I was doing more than anyone. Pushing my limits every single day.

So why…? Why did he call me a loser?

Was it just because I was a lower elf? Because of something I couldn’t change?

No— The truth is, I didn’t have the answer to his questions back then. Not really. And even if I thought I did… I wasn’t confident in it. Not deep down.

My reasons were shaky. My purpose, hollow. I was running endlessly… Without ever knowing why.

After that day, the bullying stopped.

The boy who had stepped in-- Aeliff Grasfoldd-- Wasn’t just anyone. He was the genius student. The top scholar of the entire Academia.

From there, I just carried on with my life. Day after day. Training myself. Studying relentlessly. I never stopped.

Years passed. Finally, the end of our Academia days approached.

At the end of every six-year cycle, the Academia held a Grand Tournament. The winners of that tournament were crowned as the Elite Mages of the Academia— A title of honor, prestige, and undeniable recognition.

Everyone speculated the same thing. Aeliff was the favorite. No one could match him.

Then the Grand Tournament began.

Even being a lower elf As part of the higher elf section, I was allowed to participate.

My fellow lower elf mates congratulated me genuinely. But none of them had hope. Because no matter what, I was still a lower elf--just like them.

But when the tournament began… Something shifted.

I faced elf after elf-- Mages, spell casters, prodigies.

Until now, I had always trained myself to endure-- Not to fight, Not to hurt.

But in that tournament, When I stood against the-- My physical strength far surpassed all of them.

I won every round. One after another. I defeated every well-known, celebrated student of the Academia.

I had grown so much stronger, Even without realizing it myself.

Then-- The final match.

Aeliff stood before me.

We fought. Harder, fiercer than anything I had ever experienced.

And at the end-- Only one of us stood victorious.

The Grand Mage stepped forward and announced the victor.

I had never even dreamt of this moment. I never once hoped for it.

But… I was the one who won.

Aeliff’s eyes widened. He stared at me, disbelief cutting through him. “How could I lose…?”

He looked at me-- Rage simmering deep in his crimson gaze.

I extended my hand to him. He slapped it away.

“I lost to someone who couldn’t even stand for themselves. I lost to someone who doesn’t even know how to respect themselves. I lost to someone who doesn’t even have their own pride. I lost to someone who doesn’t even know what they are fighting for.”

He glared, rising to his feet.

“I’ll never acknowledge you.” When he said that, Something inside me felt empty. Like something had quietly broken.

In that moment, The victory I had just earned felt light. Hollow. Meaningless.

No cheers or medals could cover up what his words left behind. It didn’t feel like a win-- It felt like I had lost something I couldn’t even explain.

The entire coliseum fell into shocked silence-- And then uproar.

Stones were hurled at me.

“Lower elf!” “How is this even possible?” “She must have cheated, for sure!”

The Grand Mage’s voice roared across the arena.

“SILENCE!”

He called me forward to the podium. He placed the medal of victory in my hands. Then gently, he patted my shoulder.

“You’ve worked hard for it. You earned it. Well done, young Estheria.”
I didn’t deserve that medal…
When I looked back, Behind me, Aeliff was already walking away. His back turned, His steps slow and heavy, Like the weight of his defeat was too much to carry.
He never looked back. Not even once.

After those six years at the Academia, After everything that happened— I returned to my village and lived a quiet, simple life, As if none of it had ever happened.

Back then, I didn’t have an answer to what Aeliff said to me.

But now… I understand.

As I settled back into village life, I found myself doing the same things I used to. Helping around. Carrying baskets, tending fields, mending homes. And every time I helped-- I saw them smile. A simple, genuine smile. They thanked me, they treated me kindly. Not because I was strong. Not because I had won some title. Not because I had proven anything. But simply because I was there-- And because I cared.

I didn’t have to try so hard like I did back in the Academia. I didn’t have to fight endlessly just to be seen.

That’s when it all became clear.

I had been blind. I had strayed from the path of that curious little girl I once was— And became someone desperate for attention and acknowledgment.

I kept telling myself I wanted to prove what a lower elf could do. But deep down… I was just chasing something hollow. I had lost sight of why I even started. I had blinded myself back then.

But now-- Things are different.

Now, I’m strong. Stronger than I ever dreamed of being.

I can stand on my own. And more than that-- I have a reason to fight.

Not for pride. Not for acknowledgment. Not for revenge.
But for something far more important-- For the people I care about, For the people I love, For the people I want to protect.