Chapter 397 - 396: Wise Words
For a brief moment, Jendar could sympathize with Solwyn. But as quickly as it came, he shook his head, as if trying to dislodge the feeling before it could root itself.
"How can I trust anything you say, human?" he snapped, trying to shake away his doubts. "You humans are nothing if not deceitful."
He didn't say it like a simple insult, but as if it truly applied to all humans. Solwyn could tell Jendar truly believed it.
'This is more than just baggage. This is trauma.'
Solwyn exhaled slowly and stepped forward, not in aggression, but in understanding.
"I'm not sure who hurt you to make you think this way... but just because some humans are bad doesn't make all of us bad." Solwyn said. "I won't lie to you. There are a lot of rotten humans out there. People who lie, steal, destroy, and only look out for themselves. But there are even more good ones, people who fight against that kind of evil. This isn't about race. I'm sure there have been bad elves in the past as well, but that doesn't mean all elves are evil. Does it?"
Jendar didn't respond. He didn't need to. The way his eyes narrowed, the way his hands trembled slightly at his sides, it was enough. This wasn't the first time he'd heard words like these.
In fact, another had told him something similar once. A human traveler, a curious merchant, who had snuck into Sylmasera's borders to learn more about the elves he'd only read about in stories. Jendar had eventually tracked him down and heard a speech much like this one. The man's goal was simple: to understand elven culture and share it with his family when he returned.
But sadly, he never got the chance.