Chapter 2: THE GOBLIN'S FAIRY TALE

According to folklore, if the goblin's bride could present the goblin a white lily, the goblin's endless existence would be ended. And I've been waiting for that white lily for thousands of years for this.

She had neither a father nor a mother when I saw her for the first time, on the day she was born into this world. She is the baby I saved when she was a newborn. At the time, I had half-cold, half-sympathetic eyes for her. Perhaps her birth has lighted my otherwise dreary life. She has a bright smile, so lovely to the heart, and her first and final grin in this brief life is for me.

Winter in renaissance Italy in 1450:

"Ancanta, slow down," I shouted to the young girl who was racing rapidly on the heavy snow; she didn't appear to frightened; she simply raced forward like a small bird eager to discover the huge world.

"Uncle Hector, if you don't run as quickly as me, I'll leave you alone; I'm serious." Ancanta turned to face me, and for the first time, I noticed a curiously naive and innocent grin. From a human girl, that grin didn't appear to contain any thoughts, and for a minute, just for a moment, I wished I could protect that smile forever.

I laughed as I saw Ancanta's figure fade away from my view. I'm a goblin, I can teleport anywhere I choose. Anyway, Ancanta is only a child; how far can she run? But here's the funny thing: I've lost Ancanta, and I can't locate her anywhere, even though I've gone a long way and back to where I was, but I can't see her. My tiny Ancanta vanished like smoke and vanished forever in this world, exactly like the day she arrived in front of me, frail and delicate as if she would vanish at any moment…

“ANCANTA…”

"Have you ever heard of a goblin fairy tale?" The elderly saleswoman, her face wrinkled, looked lovingly at Ancanta and softly caressed her head.

Ancanta appeared to be drawn to the elderly woman's compassionate stare, so she smiled, still with the same sunny grin, and politely replied: "Uncle Hector never told me anything about goblins, they what? Isn't it like the devil to perform the terrifying things Uncle Hector used to warn me about?"

"Of course not." The elderly lady smiled as she handed Ancanta a hot cake that had just come out of the oven "Goblins are the ones who are punished; they made a tremendous error and were punished by the gods above. As punishment, goblins exist on their journey to serve the gods, guide lost souls, and guard children from perils."

"Aren't the goblins pitiful? Having to serve others their entire lives without ever doing anything for themselves, Uncle Hector described persons who only think about others and sacrifice for others as pathetic people. Will the gods be able to forgive and set them free?” Ancanta's wide eyes were full of innocence and compassion as she glanced at the old woman.

"It is stated that if goblins can eat a hundred hearts donated by individuals who have been helped by goblins, then goblins will be released." When she observed the terror, Ancanta's expression was filled with fear. The elderly woman's eyes narrowed "In fact, there is another elf legend, if later the goblin's bride can..."

"Stop frightening children with fairy stories, venerable goddess.” I finally found Ancanta, who was sitting with someone, no, one of the gods, noble god that I am not very interested in “Thanks to your grace, I was unable to locate Ancanta, perhaps next time if you have the desire to seek Ancanta to discuss in your dull existence. Please pardon me."

"Can't you locate her, poor goblin?" The old lady smiled, and her smile was usually so warm; it reminded me of my dear old mother "Hector, she just doesn't want you to find her. It's been hundreds of years, yet you and I are still the same; the only difference is that you've discovered your destiny."

I don't want to prolong a meaningless conversation with a god I despise; if I remain, she'll probably cram my mind with a bunch of the stupidest fairy stories on the globe. life, and at least one of them contains a folk story about elves. I hurriedly grasped Ancanta's hand, drew her towards me, and then politely bowed to the goddess of leisure, who was preparing cookies and took her away.

"I like her; she resembles her mother; they all have wonderful smiles; it's just a shame that people like her are all miserable."

I ignored that goddess's remarks and proceeded on my way, carrying Ancanta; this time I have found Ancanta, and I will not let her from me anymore.

"Uncle Hector, she didn't appear to be a nasty woman, do you?" When Ancanta noticed my fairly hostile move towards the elderly woman, he innocently inquired, "She didn't injure Ancanta; it's simply that Ancanta saw her on the street and she invited me to eat cake; Uncle Hector isn't upset because I abandoned you?"

"Next time, don't listen to strangers, especially odd elderly ladies who want to invite you to eat cake and drink tea." I snorted, caressing Ancanta's head; I didn't like the refined pleasures of the gods, who usually appeared out of nowhere and invited people to try the sacred cakes and wine, and then told them about their own terrible lives. Humans are fortunate in that they do not know what their future will hold, so they have hope and are more motivated to live. "I simply don't like you listening to these fairy stories, later on."

"Do you think goblins are pitiful, Uncle Hector? What sins have the elves done in order to live such a life?" Ancanta gripped me closely, her face flushed from the cold, and I turned involuntarily to delicately kiss her cheek, like a father shielding his young daughter

"The elves are just paying for their mistakes; it's both a gift and a punishment from the gods." Actually, being an elf isn't all that horrible; it's only that goblins get lonely occasionally. What if Ancanta meets an elf later?" I grinned back at Ancanta. "Is Ancanta scared?"

"If elves can be as gorgeous as Uncle Hector, Ancanta is not worried," Ancanta replied in a high-pitched voice, looking adorably cute.

I grinned, the road ahead was still covered in white snow, and I couldn't see the route ahead, but this road was not only for me, but also for Ancanta, and I no longer felt lonely. I used to hope that my dull existence could be spent with Ancanta, and that working as an elf would be so much fun.

Autumn in 1455, in renaissance Italy:

Today is the first day of fall, and I'm sitting on an empty chair, watching the leaves turn yellow. They will fall gradually, just like every human being's life will. They are green with energy and ambition while they are young, but as they get older, they will be like the golden leaves of autumn, gently withering and dropping down into the ground as nutrients to nurture other new leaves That's also Ancanta's life; I didn't think Ancanta would get old and fall like that autumn leaf, but Ancanta is also a human who was raised by an elf. However, she will never be able to break free from humanity's tragic cycle. I suddenly remembered my everlasting existence, and maybe, one day, when I get a lily flower from my imagined bride, I, too, shall be like a human, growing old and dying.

"Mr. Hector" The faraway voice seemed frantic, as if it was something really vital. "My Zeus, Mr. Hector, I have been seeking for you all day, Lady Ancanta at the convent has faced a snag."

What is Ancanta's problem, I wondered? How could anything dreadful happen at a monastery that was once a secure haven for female students? I looked at the old guy, who was breathing heavily, and began asking him what was wrong.

"Sir, the monastery library caught fire today. All of the girls have escaped; just one child is unable to flee; Miss Ancanta has rescued that child..." In a sorrowful voice, the housekeeper added.

"Where is her now?" I can't maintain my cool any more; I have a sense of unease, as if when people I care about die one by one, I will, too.

I dashed to the monastery, where Ancanta was laying still. I look at her, see her breathing weakly, seemingly not breathing anymore, and remember the time when I led her under the heavy snow five years ago, hoping that I would have been able to walk this long distance with her, but now, in front of me, is an Ancanta with wounds and broken breaths, weak like her mother in the past.

"Ancanta, I'm here." I touched her scorched hair tenderly, my eyes straining to fight back tears. "Don't be frightened; I'm here to defend you. Uncle Hector will look after you."

"Uncle Hector" Ancanta opened her weak eyes and gazed at me as if she wanted to utter her final words; she even tried to wipe the tears from my face with her hand. "I'm sorry, but I didn't. I won't be able to stay with you for the rest of my life; all I can hope for is that I can live a good life for you."

Ancanta drew a long breath; she wasn't fine, I sensed. The emotion I never wanted was there in front of me, the sense of punishment, if only I wasn't an elf, if only I could grasp her hand and lead her down the path. at the end, but I can't, I can't do anything, it's insane.

"Uncle Hector, I heard you say, if the elves can eat a hundred hearts presented by the humans the elves helped, the elves will undoubtedly cease their immortal life and become human." Ancanta replied with a grin, that smile still shining at her darkest moments, "Uncle Hector, if there is an afterlife and a hundred lifetimes to come; I'm hoping to be the one to bring you a hundred hearts, so please waiting for me!"

Those were the final words I heard from my Ancanta; she already knew I was an elf but stayed silence; she even had plans for me but didn't want to tell me. Why have you left so quickly, Ancanta? I let Ancanta, a ten-year-old kid, depart the world because I was an elf and had to accept the gods' punishment. My Ancanta, it's fall in Rome today, I've lost my Ancanta, I softly touched her closed eyes, sensing her last breath, my Ancanta, it's autumn in Rome today, I've lost my Ancanta.