Chương 94: Guilty by Birth

Teresa and her royal guard had spent the entire afternoon exploring Loxia. They had visited dozens of market stalls, listened to stories told by all kinds of magical creatures and admired a city that seemed to thrive on inexhaustible energy. Every street was crowded with people, merchants, artisans and travelers. Everywhere they looked, they saw commerce, cooperation and prosperity. It seemed like the perfect city. After several hours of walking, the group finally decided to take a break.

Teresa sat down on the edge of a large stone fountain in the center of the square and let out a soft sigh. A moment later, she grimaced in pain.

"Your Majesty, are you all right?"

"It's nothing…it's just my feet…I can't feel them anymore", she replied with a faint smile. One of the soldiers stepped forward.

"Would you like me to fetch the horses, Your Majesty?"

"No, that won't be necessary. I'm simply not used to walking this much. These heels are partly to blame as well, I should have bought those ankle boots from that elf". She then lowered her gaze toward the fountain. With the suffocating heat, standing beside the water felt incredibly refreshing. She slowly dipped one hand into it. The water was neither cold nor hot. It was perfectly lukewarm.

She closed her eyes for a few moments, allowing the soothing water to ease at least some of the exhaustion that had built up throughout the day. For a brief moment, she even managed to forget the burden of their journey. But the peace lasted only an instant. Cries echoed from the distance. Teresa's eyes snapped open. Without hesitation, she stood and headed toward the source of the commotion.

"Your Highness!" Naomi called, hurrying after her together with the rest of the royal guard. They arrived at a crowded square. Humans, elves, gnomes, giants, fairies and many other magical races had gathered in a circle around a large wooden post. Tied to it was a small goblin. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. He struggled desperately against the ropes, crying uncontrollably, unable to suppress his sobs.

He was no taller than one meter and thirty centimeters and it was obvious that he was still very young, perhaps even just a child. Standing before him was a tall, slender elf with long black hair. In his right hand he held a knife. He turned toward the crowd with a solemn expression.

"Do not let his tears deceive you. We all know what these monsters become once they grow up. They raid villages, burn them to the ground, rape and murder. That is why they are the only race in the world forbidden from entering Loxia". Teresa stood frozen. She stared at the little goblin. She saw the tears running down his face, his tiny body writhing helplessly in a futile attempt to break free, and the terrified look with which he searched the crowd for someone, anyone, to save him.

A feeling she experienced only very rarely arose within her. Compassion.

"Is he…going to kill him?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Isn't he too young?" Naomi hesitated for a moment before answering.

"The elf is right, Your Highness. These creatures must be stopped while they're still young, before they become a threat. They do not think as we do. They are incapable of redemption or change". The little goblin continued to cry. Violent sobs shook his frail body. The elf lowered his gaze toward him.

"May your death spare others from future suffering. Of all the creatures in this world, you goblins alone were not created by God. You were born of the Devil. And as such, there is no fate awaiting you but death". He did not hesitate. He drove the knife into the child's chest. The goblin let out a muffled whimper. Blood immediately began to pour from the wound. The blade had pierced his heart. His sobbing ceased instantly. His tiny body went limp against the wooden post, lifeless.

For several seconds, silence hung over the square. Then a long round of applause erupted. The elf smiled with satisfaction and offered the crowd an elegant bow.

"Now burn this little demon. He's too ugly to be looked at, even in death". Teresa remained motionless for another moment. She was the only one who did not applaud. Slowly lowering her gaze, she clenched her fists before turning away and walking off with stiff, measured steps. Naomi caught up to her moments later.

"Are you all right, Your Highness? Did that scene shock you?" Teresa took several seconds before answering. When she finally spoke, her voice was calm, yet filled with deep sadness.

"That's not it". She paused, looking at Loxia's elegant streets.

"This city seemed so perfect. As though it didn't even belong to the kingdom. It felt like something out of a fairy tale. Every race worked together. Equality, respect, kindness…" She slowly lowered her eyes.

"And yet violence exists even here. It seems the world cannot exist without violence". Naomi remained silent. Then she spoke cautiously.

"We can leave and visit another city, if you wish". Teresa slowly shook her head.

"It wouldn't change anything. Violence exists everywhere, even in places that appear perfect". She fell silent for a moment, as though reflecting upon herself.

"And I'm certainly no saint. As a human, I've hated other races more than once and have even justified genocides against them. This sudden burst of compassion is nothing but hypocrisy". She took a long breath.

"Let's return to the others". Behind them, the little goblin's body was drenched in oil and set ablaze. The flames quickly consumed the tiny corpse while the crowd watched without the slightest trace of pity. When nothing remained but ashes and blackened bones, the remains were gathered and thrown from the mountainside. The wind scattered them into the abyss. That little goblin, who had his whole life ahead of him, had been condemned not for what he had done, but for what he was.

The crimes, atrocities and reputation of other goblins had determined his fate before he had ever been given the chance to choose his own. He had been killed for one reason alone. He had been born a goblin.