The northeastern gate of Ellenia drew closer, made from dark brown iron branches. Lumie admired their beauty and function as she pondered Elwin’s words.

“You have quite a way with words. The way you speak… it sounds like this ‘love’ you speak of is a powerful tool.”

“A… a tool?”

“Yes. Wouldn’t you agree? Especially when I consider the types of love you described earlier. Love is a tool to perpetuate oneself, one’s legacy, or one’s society.”

“No. No! Love isn’t just a tool. It’s something more. It’s ‘good’.” Elwin protested fiercely. Lumie seemed to be intrigued by his emotionality at this moment, rather than frustrated or exasperated.

“Isn’t it just a tool? How can a tool be ‘good’ or ‘evil’? A tool is merely an extension of those who wield it.”

“Love is different. Love is good. But it can be used to do evil things as you suggest.”

“A good tool that causes evil? That makes no sense.”

Elwin stopped talking to think for a moment.

“When you love something, you want to protect it. To some people, protecting one thing means destroying another.” He said, speaking from the heart.

Lumie seemed to be considering his words.“I suppose I can understand that. Amputating a leg can save a life.” It seemed that the transactional nature of Elwin’s analogy resonated with some part of her understanding.

“Yes.” The elf affirmed.

“And from your description, it seems that love is a strength for the one who is loved and a weakness for the one who possesses it.”

Once again, Elwin was confronted with the overtly practical nature of Lumie’s ideas. He worried that hearing her speak so callously was irreparably destroying his idea of her. “…That would be a pragmatic way to look at it, yes.” He answered nevertheless.

“Hmm...” Lumie said. She paused for a moment and held her tongue rather than let slip her true thoughts. “…Do you have love?” she eventually asked.

“Have love? What do you mean by that?” The elf was confused, though the tips of his pointy ears began to burn in uncontrollable excitement.

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“Do you possess it? I mean, do you have a love for someone?”

“I-I-, yes. I do.” Elwin stammered out.

“Who do you possess love for?” Lumie asked him, subtly and slyly turning her gaze to the side.

Elwin averted his gaze. “Everyone.” He replied coolly.

Lumie smirked at his response. “Perhaps you’re not as big a fool as you seem. Here I was thinking that you’d give a meaningful answer.”

“I was being honest,” Elwin replied, dead-faced.

They passed through the gate, coming into view of the house trees that were the trademarks of the elven city of craftspeople. But something was eerily different about the houses; they were shaped unlike any Elwin had ever seen before. For starters, the houses were far smaller than Elwin was used to. And most distinctly, they were all packed together like a stack of boxes in a Sarigold warehouse. It was efficient, but it was a most strange sight for the city of craftselves who prided themselves on beauty.

“Spit me out and send me to the stars! What is that?”

“What is what?” Lumie asked, following Elwin’s gaze. “The houses? I thought you were a local?”

“I am! But these houses are different.” Then, seeing Lumie’s disbelieving gaze, Elwin continued, “I’ve never seen houses so packed together like this. It's-…! It's not right.”

“Not right? You should be telling me how proud you are that Ellenians were clever enough to shape their trees into a form factor so efficient that even Drelarr the great dwarven inventor came to visit!”

This comment sent Elwin into even more of an emotional spin. “Drelarr? A dwarf? In Ellenia?” Elwin exclaimed in disbelief. Judging from the paleness of his face, one might think the elf might pass out.

“Yeah. Why? What’s wrong this time?”

“Why on earth would a dwarf come to Ellenia? After what they did to the fairies…”

“What do you mean?” Lumie asked

“The Dwarven Dread! You know… when the dwarves killed every last fairy living on the surface of their lands! It was a genocide on an unprecedented level.”

Lumie seemed confused. “So? What’s the big deal? The fairies were a plague upon civilisation. They refused to use the relics that were gifted to their people. The dwarves are incredibly resourceful, and have brought prosperity all across the land.”

Elwin could not believe his shapely ears. Dwarves had not been seen for centuries after the days of the Dwarven Dread, except for in Crassia, where the Electrin Academy had permitted their presence owing to their outstanding understanding of sciences. And even then, only the most talented dwarves were permitted to attend the Academy. To have a dwarf visit Ellenia, a place that relied on its goodwill and common sense, was utterly unbelievable.

“You said that you love everyone, and yet you expect hatred of the dwarves? Doesn’t that make you a hypocrite?” Lumie asked.

“No, just because I expect others to hate, doesn’t mean that I harbour those same hatreds. I would want the same for a dwarven stranger as I would for any other stranger.”

“And what might that be?”

“That they live loving lives.”

Lumie was perplexed by Elwin’s desire but did not know what she should say to it. What does that even mean?

“I’m hungry. Do you know of any good taverns? I’ll pay for your meal in exchange for more information on ADAM and his trials.” The Al Dherjzan knight said, changing the topic.

“There’s one in the centre of town. And you don’t have to pay me in coin for what I know. I ask only that you entertain my thoughts.”

“Alright then. And though I may not know this ‘love’ you speak of very well, the concept of it does intrigue me.”