The best the world can offer 1

Long ago, when the elf was a child, in an unknown elf village. 

"Ma, my flowers are dying." 

The young elf sits on the ground, crying. 

"Don't worry, Basil (the elf). It is probably just dehydrated." 

xxx

"Ma, I broke the toy." 

The young elf cries, holding pieces of her toy. 

"Let me see. I am pretty sure we can fix it with some resin and a little magic. Don't cry, dear." 

xxx

The young elf cries on the side of the path, holding her bleeding knee.

"Ma, I fell." 

"Don't cry. Don't cry. Ma is here. Let's get you treated." 

The mother carries the young elf away. 

xxx

The young elf asks her mother, "Am I a burden?" 

"Oh, of course not, dear." The mother picks up the young elf. "What makes you ask that? What's on your mind? Tell me."

"I-I get into a lot of trouble, and I cry a lot," the young elf replies. 

"Oh, every child gets into a lot of trouble and cries a lot." The mother carries the elf into the garden. "To me, you are the best thing the world can offer. And I couldn't ask for anything else or anybody else." 

The young elf soon falls asleep by the sun and her mother's lullaby, while still in her arms. 

xxx

The young elf has become an adult. 

"MA! I don't want to go," the elf cries as she packs her things. 

Her mother from a room over yells, "You are old enough, Basil. You need to leave the village to go get a life." 

Still crying, the elf replies, "But-but you told me I was the best the world can offer, that you couldn't ask for anything else." 

"Stop being difficult, Basil. You are all grown up now," says her mother. That's what you tell a child to grow. I don't know." 

"I've always known at some point a changeling replaced you!" The elf yells back. 

"Basil-" says her mother.

"Changeling! Give me back my mother!" The elf takes her bag and runs out. 

"Basil!" her mother tries to call her. 

The elf leaves the yard quickly. 

xxx

Back in the present. 

The caravan station is packed with all the people leaving. 

Due to the seal, adventuring down for crystals is no longer possible. All people displaced are leaving in search of opportunities elsewhere. 

"Basil!" The plainfolk calls out to the elf. 

The elf turns to meet him. 

"Basil, I just wanted to say goodbye," says the plainfolk. 

The elf does not reply and stares at him blankly. 

"Basil? Are you nervous? Why do you look so panicked?" the plainfolk asks. 

The elf stands there without a word. 

The plainfolk slowly reaches out to her and holds her hand gently. 

The elf's lips part slightly. Then, tears start rolling down. 

They hug. 

The elf's sobs are now audible. 

"Why are you wearing your metal armor everywhere?" she asks. They both laugh. 

The plainfolk pats her head. "Do you not want to go? You can stay here if you don't want to leave." 

"No, no. I have to leave," the elf answers. 

"You really don't have to. The guild is going to roll out positions for state-funded farms, and you know a lot about plants. Actually, we need you here," the plainfolk comforts her. 

They part. 

The elf keeps her eyes down, staring at the plainfolk's boots. "I have to go," she says. She wipes tears off her face. "I need to go." 

The plainfolk stares at her clearly distressed face. "Basil, if you have any problem, you can tell me." 

A long silence amidst the noise of the crowd. 

The elf turns away. "Goodbye, you stupid koala." 

The plainfolk hesitates. "Goodbye, Basil." 

After a few more seconds, the elf finally walks away. 

The plainfolk stares at her back until she disappears into the crowd. 

xxx

The elf sits down at a quieter bench in the station, but there isn't such a quiet bench in the crowd. 

People are yelling and bidding over the exorbitant prices to get a seat in the caravan. 

This is the fate of a burst town. 

These kinds of towns rely on adventurers going underground, fighting monsters and getting crystals. 

When a boss monster appears, the floor gets sealed, which means no more diving, which means no more business. 

Everyone leaves because there is nothing to be had in this town. 

Then, the town goes quiet and deserted. 

The elf opens her purse and takes out two cards.