Chương 97: The Story of Ugly: Part II

The gnome cleared his throat and, with obvious reluctance, continued reading. Still shaken, yet irresistibly drawn to what he had seen, Ugly began chasing the winged beast. He ran for miles, driven by curiosity and by a hope he couldn't even put into words, until the green dragon disappeared into the clouds. He was alone again. For a few moments, he kept staring at the sky, as though hoping the dragon would appear once more. Then he resumed his journey. Not long afterward, he came across three elves.

The moment they saw him, their faces twisted with rage. They didn't even speak to him. They attacked. Ugly was struck without warning. They hadn't even spoken. Not a single word. Only violence. But Ugly was used to it by now. Being chased, insulted and beaten had become his normal life. He endured kicks, punches and merciless blows. He collapsed to the ground, curling into himself as he shielded his face with his arms while pain coursed through every inch of his body.

"Just look at how ugly they are", one of the elves said, stomping on him.

"Why would God create creatures so hideous?"

"As if being ugly weren't enough", another sneered.

"They're monsters too. Wherever they go, they bring nothing but suffering". The beating continued. Harder. More brutal. Then, without warning, an invisible pressure crushed the air itself. The three elves froze. Their bodies stiffened, unable to move even a single finger. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. A man slowly approached. He was a swordsman with long black hair and cold, steel-gray eyes.

His mere presence was enough to make the ground beneath the elves' feet tremble.

"Leave", he said calmly.

"Before I cut you into pieces".

"What the hell are you doing?" one of them snarled.

"Are you actually defending a goblin?!" Another elf looked at him more carefully. The color drained from his face.

"Forget it…look at his uniform. He's a Prinz".

"Damn it…why would a Prinz protect a filthy goblin?" One of the elves spat at Ugly. Then the three of them hurried away. The swordsman walked over to the goblin and held out his hand. His name was Gareth. He said he was traveling the world, collecting stories, faces and destinies.

"An aspiring writer". That was how he described himself. Ugly, however, understood almost nothing he was saying. He had never learned the world's language. No one had ever taught him how to speak. He remained silent, his head lowered, but placed a hand over his chest in gratitude. Gareth studied him carefully. In that silence. In those frightened, yet still watchful eyes. He saw something. They were the eyes of someone who had suffered beyond measure.

And yet, he found none of the hatred that so often grows from a life filled with injustice. There was something else. Kindness. If kindness could take shape, Ugly's eyes would have been its perfect reflection. In that moment, Gareth realized he was standing before someone truly extraordinary. He saw potential. He saw a story worth telling. And so, the two of them began traveling together. Gareth didn't merely write about Ugly. He protected him. He defended his very existence against anyone who tried to harm him.

As time passed, Ugly learned how to speak. Every day, Gareth told him stories about his travels, the cities he had visited and the people he had met. Ugly listened in fascination. Until then, he had known only the cruelest side of the world. He couldn't believe that the same world was also filled with wonders. That so much beauty could exist. By listening to Gareth day after day, he slowly learned the language. At first, he could only utter broken, barely understandable sentences.

But little by little, his vocabulary grew. His words became clear. His speech became natural. One evening, as the sun sank below the horizon and the sky turned crimson, Gareth asked him a question.

"Ugly… what is your purpose? Why do you live?" Ugly turned toward him. His voice was hesitant, yet sincere, as he spoke of his dream. He wanted to build a city without violence. Without hatred. Without bloodshed. A place where everyone could live in peace, without being judged for what they were. Gareth's eyes lit up. It was a childish dream. Perhaps even an impossible one. The innocent dream of a child. And that was precisely what made it so pure. In that moment, Gareth knew he had been right.

Ugly's story truly deserved to be told. Because if there was anyone in the world capable of building such a city… It could only be him. So Gareth made a decision. He would help Ugly make that dream come true. No matter the cost. The gnome stopped, slowly closing the book.

"From this point on…" he said quietly, "the story becomes…heavy. Are you sure you want to keep listening? These aren't tales fit for young ladies". Teresa fixed him with a hard stare.

"Are you kidding me? Get on with it". The gnome sighed. Then he opened the book once more and prepared to tell the final part of the story.