Hwarwa frowned seeing that her son had been so emotionally traumatized. Their son who they had never wronged, but still grew up cheery and kind. She laid a hand on his shoulder, "Wolves are not supposed to be around these parts. I will check it out after your competition, you get changed." Hwarwa smiled comforting at her son, and Elanor softly brushed through his hair, "You heard your mother, we are not going to let your big moment go to waste. We know how much you trained for this day, how often you lied to us that you went to sleep."

Wilwarin pretended to be embarrassed and smiled shallowly, "Got it." He said and smiled one last time at his parents, before going upstairs. Upstairs Wilwarin looked at the doors, trying to find out his own, but then he saw a cute detail on one of the doors. It was a birch door, on it were little carvings of a rose and a sunflower. Opposite the door was a door with a little butterfly, Wilwarin smiled and went inside. As the raven said Wilwarin Varta meant 'changing butterfly', but he was somewhat sure that his mothers' names had nothing to do with flowers. He had a feeling there was something deeper about those flowers at the door.

He walked into the room, it seemed warmer to his own. The sun shone through the window like a soft blanket, laying on the floor, the bed, and the plants on the sill. The warm color of the wood, the green of the plants, and the soft sheets on the bed. It made the room look so warm and comfortable, a huge difference to his.

Wilwarin looked at this room and thought of his, Felix. His room was black, a contrast to the soft milky white of the room he was standing in. The bed was cold, a metallic frame with dark blue sheets and pillows, but this bed had a nice wooden frame with personalized sheets and pillows that had butterflies stitched on. The room was full of personality, something his own room didn't have. Felix's room was to live in and Wilwarin's room was full of life. A heavy breath haunted the room as Wilwarin walked to the bed and sat down, he sank right in.

As he looked at the wall opposite, it was full of books. Fairytail books, or in this case history books, differences between elves and other species. He laughed to himself as he thought, 'That stupid raven didn't tell me the whole plot, he said he would tell me more. What I got was the rundown of the Empire or Kingdom I am in, I already forgotten everything anyway. The sin of world dump.'

Wilwarin stood up and walked to the wooden closet, it had was carved with butterflies and little caterpillars. He opened it up and it was a sea of light clothing, soft fabrics, and one or two pairs of sandal shoes. Wilwarin wondered how the elves dressed when it was winter. He picked a deep green undershirt and a mix of white and cream-colored cotton tulle coats.

The deep-green undershirt went down to his ankles and showed his shoulders, the white tulle coat had the same length, but had sleeves to his elbows. The cream tull coat on top went down to his knees and the sleeves were so large that it went past his wrist. When he looked at a bronze mirror on the side of his door, it looked like the fabric he was wearing was playing with him. The deep green complimented his eyes, he looked through the other drawers to find some jewelry.

Wilwarin opened his drawers and looked at the bottom of his closet and found some bronze ankle bracelets, in the drawer he found nice bronze rings, and bronze earrings with nice green jewels.

He brushed through his hair and braided those bronze rings into his hair, he put on his earrings.

It was just bronze, but it looked expensive on the dark-blond hair, he put bangles on his wrists and on his arm over the fabric.

He put on the rest and looked in the mirror, he looked divine. Wilwarin never thought he looked better, maybe it was the original owners' good looks. He smiled to himself and went out, and back down the carefully carved stairs, that he didn't notice before. The railing had beautiful flowers, from sunflowers to daisies, carved in. The more he walked down, the more the flowers changed into caterpillars and then to butterflies. It seemed like the mothers of Wilwarin, found it important to have the meaning of his names all over the house.

Wilwarin couldn't understand that, it was just a name after all. The name Felix didn't have that much meaning, or if it did he wouldn't know it. A slight look of sadness rushed through his eyes, but he put it away when he was spotted by Elanor.

A pure look of astonishment flew on her face, and a proud light, "You look enchanting."

Hwarwa came up behind her and put her arms around her shoulder, she kissed her wife on her cheek, "Just like you when you first danced, so beautiful that it took my breath away. So talented I wanted to ask you to marry me on the spot."

Elanor turned a bit red and shoved her elbow into the ribcage of Hwarwa, "It's our son's big day, not your turn to ruin it with our love life."

Hwarwa just chuckled and looked as her son came closer, "Blow them away, show them whose son you are."

Wilwarin smiled as he looked at his two mothers, "Of course, I could never put shame on mama's name." Elanor smiled kindly as she got out of her wife's embrace and walked up to kiss her son's cheek, "As if you could ever bring shame to me, you are the son I am most proud of."

Wilwarin laughed, "I am your only son, mama."

Hwarwa walked to the front from behind her wife, "The only son we need, the only son we could ever ask for. Our little butterfly."

Happyness filled Wilwarin's chest as he listened to the encouraging words and endearing words of his mother. Deep inside he knew that these words were never truly meant for him, but just this moment he allowed himself to be a bit selfish again.

So he smiled and hugged both his mothers, he kissed each cheek as he looked toward the door ready for his dance competition. An eager look fleeting through his eyes, wanting to prove to himself or more to his mothers that he was worthy of this love.

This time it felt different, Wilwarin wasn't even near the competition and felt that even if he were to lose. His mothers wouldn't annihilate him because of that, they would probably comfort him.

He got out of the hug, he walked past his mothers, "I will show you how much I practiced."

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Both his mothers smiled, Hwarwa walked up to him and put her arm around his shoulder, "Let's get going then, the participants must be there at least an hour before it starts."

Elanor walked with them to the door, "Be there in a bit, just a thing to do."

Wilwarin furrowed his brows before he could ask though his mother had already taken him out.

The door shut behind him and he looked up at his mother who was a bit taller than him, "What was that about?"

Hwarwa looked at him confused, "Nothing, sometimes grown-ups have a thing to do."

He looked at her with a look, "I am grown up and mama isn't a good actor."

"No, she is a talented dancer. Just concentrate on the competition, Vulen will not go easy on you," Hwarwa tried to distract her son. It worked, he looked in front and thought about what music they would play. He didn't know any of the music played around here, but he could imagine flutes and he saw a few violins on the stands when he walked in with that stranger...

Wilwarin's eyes went wide as he looked around, Hwarwa confused by her son's actions asked, "What are you doing?"

"I walked her with a guy, he was... He met me when it rained and got lost. Yeah," Wilwarin said, hiding he was probably there longer than he let on, as he was also soaked to the bone. Thinking of this he shook his head, "He's not that important, never mind."

Hwarwa furrowed her brows but guided him further to the plaza, walking further and further into the center he saw a big round stone platform in the middle. It reminded Wilwarin of the platform in the space Void sent him to. The only difference was that it didn't have any of the jewels on the side. An elderly elf walked up to Wilwarin and Hwarwa, "Come to participate I assume, after what Vulen told me I thought you were done for by the wolves."

As the elderly elf finished their words Hwarwa's gaze was as cold as ice, "So you mean to tell me that you knew my son was in danger but didn't report it?!"

The elf just smiled, "He is the son of you, after all, he knows how to defend himself." These words were said lightly, and the head soon looked back to Vulen, "Just thought that a little mercy would be nice since Vulen tries to achieve what your wife tried to."

Wilwarin muttered out loud, "Letting her only son be killed surely is mercy." He was surprised these words came out of him, panicked he looked at his mother only to see her smiling.

The elf glared at Wilwarin, for but a second before smiling like a fox, "I wish you luck."

Then he walked off, his cotton tulle robes fluttering after him. Hwarwa got her arm off Wilwarin's shoulders and smiled at him, pride shining in her eyes, "Told you, mama, that is the only way to talk to pricks like Jaekes, thinks just because he is 419 he can do what he wants."

Wilwarin laughed at the expression of his mother, "So we just stand her or are we going to get me signed in?"

"When did you get so cheeky, must have gotten that from me," Hwarwa said as she pinched her son's cheek. She proceeded to walk in front of him and Wilwarin just followed, he looked at the obvious other contestants. They were decorated with silver and gold from top to bottom, Wilwarin was focusing hard to see the fabric under all that jewelry. His mother walked to a nice dwarven lady, Wilwarin looked as she quickly and efficiently filled out a piece of paper and then gave it to his mother.

Hwarwa walked back to her son, "Got your favorite song, I know you've been practicing to it day and night."

Wilwarin looked at his mother and smiled, he really wished he had these wonderful parents. He knew that he wouldn't have to prove anything to these two, but in the end, it's always the other people's parents that treat one better than their own.

A fleeting look of loneliness that was quickly suppressed and his perfect fake smile came to light, it was flawless as it always fooled everyone. Whether it was his concerned teachers, classmates, or Val, though the last one always seemed to look through his mask.

"When is my turn," he asked eagerly and put his head sideways on Hwarwa's shoulder to look at the paper. He saw about ten to fourteen names, his own right under Vulen, "So I am after Vulen."

"Seems that way, let's search for a good place and spy on the competition," she said and showed a wicked smile. Wilwarin laughed and followed her to an area where they had a better view. They waited for thirty more minutes, and then the first elf walked to the stone platform.

The music that was played was soft, like a nice summer day, bees flying around. The dance of the elf was equally as peaceful, they finished with a warm feeling. The next was the complete opposite, it was deep music, brooding, depressing, the elf's dance was resembling a sword dance. It didn't have much of the intent nor the grace that should come with it, it told a story of war, but it felt like the war had already been lost. Hwarwa had been mumbling that it was a dance full of war, full of hope, I should have given a feeling of victory. Instead, it seemed like a corpse dancing, and though there are many interpretations, dancing like this felt as though it disgraced the song. The tune of hope.

More dancers gave their piece and then Vulen walked to the platform, she gracefully bowed. Wilwarin could have a sword she looked at him with a hint of panic, but it was gone as soon as she turned around.

The music began to play it was a speeding tune, a tune of a hurry, her movements flawlessly accompanied the melody. Quick footwork and the graceful movements of her arms, it looked like her feet were busy while her arms went for a morning stretch.

As the music slowed so did her footwork, she danced like she was lethargic, her feet danced nimbly across the floor and her torso bending left and right as if falling over any second. All these movements had tune and harmony, as he watched her he felt as though he had lost already. He saw the passion, and the feeling that went into every step, into the movement of her arms and the dreaming look on her face.

Wilwarin felt as though maybe it was okay to, let her be first. He knew he never had so much passion for something as the elf woman in front of him. He just learned how to dance, and now it was expected that he would win against this burning passion? It seemed wrong to take something this intimate away from someone that had worked so hard for it.

He wasn't Wilwarin, not really, so how could he show such passion. Passion he had never felt for anything he did. Half the time he wasn't even sure who he was, or who he was supposed to be.

The dance was finished, Vulen stood in the light that shone through the leaves of the mothertree, she was smiling proudly as she then bowed to the viewers. Wilwarin's stomach dropped when he realized he was next.