Alvin sighed softly, his voice a mixture of frustration and deep admiration, almost like uncontrollable joy at Kazien's power. However, he braced himself again when Kazien gave him some information.
"Alvin, I sense a high concentration of life in this cave," Kazien announced, his voice suddenly sharp.
They stepped over the threshold, and Kazien immediately summoned a radiant orb of pure light magic. The intense glow aggressively pushed back the natural shadows, revealing a scene of utter horror: dozens of goblins-gnarled, green-skinned abominations with jagged teeth and rusted, chipped blades. At their center, dominating the space, a Goblin General hulked. It was a C-rank monster, muscles rippling like thick ropes, its eyes burning with savage, feral cunning.
"Perfect!" Kazien grinned, a flash of manic exhilaration crossing his face. "Time to hunt, Alvin!"
"You're certifiably insane!" Alvin laughed, the sound dry and light as he nocked an invisible arrow of wind magic. "Let's purge them!"
The ensuing assault was a beautiful, bloody symphony and slaughter. Kazien's sword danced in lethal, impossible arcs, his immortal speed cleaving foes mid-leap. Alvin's magic arrows pierced the air like divine judgment-fireballs erupted in the tightly packed goblin ranks, and spears of pure light magic impaled the General's monstrous heart. The horde's feeble resistance crumbled in mere heartbeats.
Panting lightly, Kazien wiped the last smear of vile green gore from his blade. "Alone, it would have been dull. You make it thrilling."
"Forget the revelry," Alvin chided, though a smirk played on his lips. "Harvest your proof for the quest. You need the general's heart."
"Right!" Kazien summoned his storage dimension-a shimmering void rift that swallowed the goblin corpses whole.
"To Lazavis City!" Kazien declared, clapping Alvin on the back with enough force to make him stumble. "We are going to dazzle them!"
Alvin's melodic laughter rang out. "The first human I've met with such peculiar hobby."
And then, hand in hand, they emerged from the humid mouth of the cave and into the fading twilight, bound by a contract and the thrill of conquest, their improbable love a bright, unwavering beacon in the gathering dusk. Eternity stretched before them-wild, unyielding, and gloriously theirs.
Kazien walked down the narrow forest path with a ridiculous spring in his step, humming an off-key tune as if the world had just unexpectedly handed him a lifetime supply of his favorite sweets. Every few seconds he would mutter to himself, his voice bubbling over with excitement.
"Alvin is cute... Alvin is soooo cute... My future wife is the cutest high elf in the world..."
Trailing a few steps behind him, Alvin watched the display in baffled silence.
...He's truly happy to have me. How long has it been since someone looked at me with that kind of pure, unadulterated joy? The high elf's chest tightened-not with sadness, but with a strange, unfamiliar warmth that was both comforting and utterly foreign.
Kazien suddenly twirled once for absolutely no reason other than exuberance.
Alvin stared.
This human... is strong, strange, ridiculous, reckless, and apparently out of his mind... But he's my future husband.
Alvin inhaled deeply. The words spilled out without a warning or a thought of consequence.
"Kazien, I love you..."
Kazien froze mid-stride. His left foot remained suspended in the air like a badly posed statue, and his entire body went rigid. Alvin also stopped, startled by the unexpected boldness of his own confession.
Kazien turned slowly, his wide eyes reflecting the deepening blue of the sky.
"...What did you say?"
"...Kazien, I love you..."
A heavy silence descended...
A bird somewhere chirped a tentative note.
A single brown leaf spiraled to the ground.
Then-
"YAHHUUUUUUUUUUUUU-!!!"
His scream rattled through the entire forest. A flock of startled birds exploded from the trees like a sudden fireworks display. Alvin nearly jumped out of his boots.
Kazien pumped both fists into the air, spun in a circle twice, and actually performed a little, hopping dance that should have been illegal for a future duke's son. He was overjoyed beyond mortal comprehension.
Alvin couldn't stop himself-he burst out laughing. "You're unbelievable, Kazien."
Kazien cupped both hands around his mouth and yelled toward the heavens,
"ALVIN, I LOVE YOU TOO!!!"
The forest echoed it back as if the trees themselves were gossiping about the embarrassing, over-the-top couple.
They continued walking, though Kazien still bounced with every step instead of walking normally. As they neared the massive city gate, Alvin suddenly reached forward and grabbed Kazien's hand.
Kazien froze yet again.
"Ah... your hands are warm," Alvin murmured shyly. "They make me feel comfortable." Kazien's exuberant energy settled, replaced by a soft, genuine smile.
Alvin looked at him, then said far too casually, "Hey Kazien, do you want to have sex with-"
Snap!
Kazien's finger flicked forward like a striking viper.
"OW! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!" Alvin clutched his forehead, his eyes watering slightly. "Is it wrong to want to have sex with my own future husband?"
Kazien inhaled deeply, rubbing his temples like a professor preparing for an exhaustive lecture.
"My dear Alvin... listen carefully."
Alvin immediately snapped to attention like a soldier awaiting orders.
"I'm still thirteen years old!"
"..."
"Wait until we're married! Then I won't mind doing it with you!"
"Really?" Alvin looked as if he'd just been handed a sacred, unimaginable treasure. "You're not joking?"
Kazien smiled gently, holding his gaze. "I promise."
"Then I'll wait patiently for that day!"
Kazien reached up and pinched his cheek. "That's the Alvin I love."
Even though they had only just met, the intimacy between them flowed naturally, as though their souls recognized each other long before they ever crossed paths in this life.
The towering wooden gates of Lazavis City came into view. Two city guards were leaning on their spears, chatting lazily, but the moment they spotted Kazien approaching with a stunning golden-haired elf at his side, both men nearly choked on their own breath.
"E-E-ELF? Why is there an elf in this continent?! Young Master Kazien-what happened?!"
"Nothing happened!" Kazien waved a casual hand. "This is my future wife."
Both guards froze, their expressions slack.
"..."
"..."
The silence was so heavy that even the wind seemed to hesitate before blowing again.
Alvin gave a polite, practiced bow. "Hello. I am Alvin, the future wife of Kazien Altavis-and a High Elf."
Both guards snapped to attention so fast that their armor clanked in protest.
"A-A-A HIGH ELF?!"
One of them slapped the other's arm "Hey! Am I dreaming?!"
The other slapped him back. "No! And stop hitting me, you idiot!"
Kazien held Alvin's hand and walked smoothly past them. "We'll go ahead. Have a good day!"
The guards bowed from the waist like they were seeing off royalty-not an entirely incorrect gesture, considering the high elf glowing like captured sunlight beside Kazien.
The moment they stepped into Lazavis, all eyes instantly locked onto Alvin.
Whispers spread faster than wildfire.
"Is that an elf?"
"He's so cute..."
"No, he's too handsome. Maybe he's a spirit?"
"Idiot, spirits don't walk!"
Alvin fidgeted. "Kazien... everyone is staring."
"It's normal," Kazien assured him with a squeeze of his hand. "This is the human continent. No elves, beastfolk, dryads, dwarves-nothing. You're the first high elf they've ever seen."
"...Ah." Alvin swallowed. "That explains why they're staring like I'm a rare flower."
"To be fair," Kazien said, leaning in, "you're prettier than most flowers."
Alvin blushed so hard his pointed ears began to glow a faint rosy color.
Kazien chuckled. "See? Even your ears are honest."
The heavy wooden doors of the Adventurer's Guild swung open.
Instant chaos. Every adventurer in the room turned their heads at the same time. They all looked at the elf figure they were seeing for the first time.
At the front desk, Rosalia-Lazavis' infamous receptionist known for her passionate imagination-looked up.
Her eyes widened.
Her jaw dropped.
Her brain short-circuited.
Is that the elf Young Master Kazien mentioned...? Wow... he's gorgeous! His face... his hair... his ears... even his eyebrows are handsome! Wait-Young Master Kazien is also handsome! If both propose to me, who should I accept first? No, Rosalia! Focus! You need to choose wisely! Maybe both? Both is good! No-wait-
"Rosalia," Kazien's voice cut through her internal monologue. "I've come to confirm that my mission is complete."
Her soul slammed back into her body.
"Y-Yes! Proof of extermination, please!"
"But before that," Kazien said, steering Alvin to the counter, "please register Alvin Dass'el Latreess as an adventurer."
Rosalia's heart fluttered dramatically.
Alvin Dass'el Latreess... Even his name sounds handsome...
She placed the form down. Alvin picked up the proffered quill.
Kazien asked, "Alvin, you can read and write, right?"
Alvin raised a perfect brow. "My dear, what are you talking about? Of course I can read and write. I am a high elf."
Rosalia blinked slowly, focusing on the quill in her hand.
Did... did he just call him 'my dear'?
"Young Master..." she whispered. "What did he mean by that? Did I hear incorrectly?"
"Nope! You heard right, Rosalia." Kazien pointed at Alvin with both thumbs. "He's my future wife."
The guild EXPLODED.
"EHHHHHHHHHHHH?!"
"Future WHAT?!"
"So the elf is a woman?!"
"No, wait-he's a man-no, he--WHAT?!"
"My brain can't handle this!"
An adventurer drinking ale choked and spat it across the room, covering his friend.
"BRO! WHAT THE-?!"
Kazien continued proudly, entirely unfazed by the surrounding panic.
"At first he didn't have a gender. I asked him to become a man so I could marry him. It confused him at first, but he agreed!"
Rosalia's quill snapped clean in half.
After Alvin completed the form, Rosalia, trying to maintain some semblance of order, asked him to demonstrate his elemental affinities.
A circle of light formed around him. A moment later-
Flames swirled fiercely. Wind spun in a gentle vortex. Light gathered in a blinding flash. Water flowed, defying gravity. Then the earth beneath them slightly shook. Lightning crackled. Ice crystals formed into beautiful, complex structures. Even darkness flickered momentarily behind him.
The entire guild fell into an absolute, terrified silence.
"But... can high elves use all elements?" someone finally managed to ask.
"No," Alvin replied proudly, straightening his spine. "Originally, I only had fire, wind, light, and water. But after getting a little help from my future husband, I can now use all elements!"
Everyone slowly, mechanically turned their heads to look at Kazien.
Rosalia's voice trembled. "High elves are comparable to dragons... so why are you learning from a human?"
Kazien looked at her sharply. "You have a mean mouth today, Rosalia."
"I-I'm sorry, Young Master!" she squeaked.
Alvin laughed, the tension dissolving instantly. "Don't bully Rosalia, my dear."
Alvin walked over and-right in front of the entire assembly-wrapped his arms around Kazien affectionately.
"My future husband is much stronger than me."
Rosalia stared. Her soul left her body for the second time that day.
"Young Master... Why don't you take the title of Duke? You're more than qualified."
"I'm not interested," Kazien shrugged, patting Alvin's back. "Plus I'm marrying a man. My brother William is already the heir."
Rosalia had no response. She wasn't sure if she should be profoundly impressed or deeply concerned for the stability of the kingdom. A few moments later, Alvin's adventurer license was ready.
Ø Adventurer's License Card of Lazavis City, Altavis Region, Garveon Kingdom
·Name: Alvin Dass'el Latreess
·Gender: Male
·Race: High Elf
·Rank: G
·Party: -
Alvin held his license card proudly, gazing at it.
Kazien stood beside him, smiling wide enough to light up the whole hall.
A new life had begun for both of them-filled with adventure, magic, overly dramatic declarations of love, public embarrassment, and whatever wild, glorious chaos their shared future would bring.