Is it wrong to be an Elf in a Dungeon?

...

Ember Pov

The last two days hadn't been good for me, nor for my sister. Both of us didn't talk with each other, not even a bit. Even the soldiers were tensed seeing the condition and remained dead silent in our presence. ' Should I ask for her forgiveness? ', Such thought did cross my mind a few times, but what's the use of this forgiveness when I am going to do reckless things anyway?

I would rather not ask for her forgiveness, than to plead with false hope. She was angry at me, and had every reason for that, but I also had my own reasons. Sometimes in life two people against each other's opinion aren't wrong, but they have different perspectives, and my perspective doesn't allow me to waste time.

I had wasted plenty of my time in my last life, confused on what to do, thrown from here to there by my parents, teachers, my relatives. I still hardly belief that I managed to get out of that shit and became quite successful in my 30's. Dated two or three girls maybe, entered a sexual relationship, only to break it before marriage.

My past life was a mess, and as much as I would like this life to be the perfect one, it can't be. There will be some struggles, like now, there will be times I will hurt someone else, there will be times someone will hurt me. That's just the cycle of life. I sighed putting away the pessimistic thoughts clouding my mind.

" Your Highness- You had an argument with her highness, I heard", Remia suddenly asked me, I nodded and said," Yes, I did have an argument with her, she isn't wrong in her own right, but neither I am ", man I sound like some narcisstic bitch. After berating myself on my conduct, I walked till I was in the Royal Hall.

" Father... Mother", I did a small bow as I entered, my father was busy reading some reports, and my mother seemed to be having a bit of rest, as I could see a glass of fruit juice in her grasp. My father frowned, and my mother suddenly glared at me," Ember... I heard you did something reckless again", she said, I didn't try to drop the topic and bluntly stated," Yes, I did, however, it was essential for my growth."

" Ughh- Just two months have barely passed... Larfal I think it's time we put more attention on Ember, he must be feeling pressurized, and lonely because of us", she said, looking at my father who sighed and replied," Ada, I don't think our son did anything wrong- Reckless it might be, but he came out unscathed as a victor! Just think about it! Our Falnaless child killed four orcs on his own!"

They continued bickering for a few more minutes, until I dropped the bomb," Father, mother I want to leave the Alf's Forest", I said, they both stopped, looking at me stupefied. Suddenly the sound of glass shattering broke the silence, I looked to find the maid who had taken the half-filled glass from mother, had dropped the same glass, staining the floor with the juice.

But they both ignored it, all of them. Even I can see Remia shocked with my words," You won't!", I heard a cold reply coming from my father's reply, he walked towards me. " E-Ember, what are you talking about? Have we mistreated you in anyway? I heard Riveria had slapped you, that girl! Ughh! I will have her punished for that insolence!", my mother said, with a rare expression on her face, anger.

" Mother, Father with all respect. My sister's behaviour has nothing to do with my decision, I hope you don't hold her accountable for something she hadn't done. I-It's just I always had a desire to visit the outside world, but knowing how dangerous it is, I trained myself from an early age, I readied myself with the best knowledge and skills that were provided due to your courtesy, and I think- It's the time I take that step and become an adventurer", I said laying my intention bare.

I hadn't lied here, I wanted to explore the outside world, and whatever lies outside it. At first, I thought about escaping myself, but why take such drastic measure when I didn't even consult my parents? They have every right to know about my cherished dream. So, I told them about my intention.

" Ember! Have I never told you of Gods?! How evil they are! They treat our world, our lives, just like a game! Do you think I will let my son anywhere near those vile creatures?!", my father shouted with unhidden disgust for the Gods. I looked at him with a gentle look," Yes, father I understand that. But you must also understand that not every God is evil, there are some good among them. It's just like with every race, there are bad people, and good people", I said in a calm tone.

" Good Gods?! Hmph! They just deceive us through their tears, they don't cry for the loss of their so-called children but feel regret for losing another pawn in their game", he said, I guess I had hit a nerve. " Father, I promise, that I won't ever visit Orario for next fifty years, after that if I find that all Gods are as you have said, I will return to Alf's Forest", I said.

" Ember...", he stopped, anger faded from his face, but I got a chill seeing his face," Larfal wa-", my mother seemed to get the gist of his next actions but was too late to stop it as a slap landed on my face. The sound of the slap seemed to echo through the halls, there weren't many people present, Remia, some maids, and just a few ministers in the Royal Hall, however, all of them wore a look of disbelief on their faces.

' Ah, it stings ', I winced feeling the stinging pain, slapped by my sister first and now by my father. I held my head down, I had told him everything, even he, and everyone knew how hard I had worked for my dream. But he just slapped that dream away on my face, without any care. Ah! How Nostalgic! I smiled wryly.

My father stood coldly in front of me, shadowing my figure or I would like to say, but he is shorter than me. Next moment all hell broke loose," Larfalll!!!!", a bone-shuddering shout from my mother was enough to make my father wince. His overbearing aura subsided, replaced by slight panic as my mother stared him draggers.

" Why did you slapped him?!", she asked, he quickly retorted in anger," Ada! He is saying about leaving Alf's forest! It is taboo amongst Royalty to leave the Alf's forest! It is nothing short of cowardiness and betrayal to their Royal duty!", his words fell into deaf ears, as I was pulled into a hug. My mother caressed by cheek, and seeing the mark her anger intensified.

" Enough! You have slapped your son for such a silly reason! ", she said in anger, Larfal sighed, and said," Ada, in my name of Alf! I hereby punish Ember with house arrest for six months!", my mother glared at him," Ada, you can ask me anything! I will fulfill all your requests but only as your husband! Don't forget I am the King!", he said in a overbearing voice.

My mother bit her lip, in authority she was second to my father. It won't be good if she challenges his Royal Authority of the King, it may cause a dispute, and at worse, a civil war among their followers. That's how serious things had gone," Fine! But remember! If I got a whiff of another punishment, get ready for the consequences", she said, giving in.

My father glared at me, unable to meet my mother's glare. ' Well, that's new ', I thought sarcastically, the man was barely able to go against my mother's anger, and he couldn't give her a glare back. So, he chose me, with eyes that said, ' I am disappointed with you ', and ' You disgust me ', it would have been really painful, but I am way past that stage where you can guilt trap me.

Breaking from mother's embrace, I bowed to Larfal," I apologize to you, and mother for all the ruckus caused because of me. I accept your punishment", I said, easing his anger a bit, my mother snorted, pulling me into a hug," Let's leave son, let your father faithfully perform his kingly duties", she remarked, my father again winced at her words, and I was pulled away by my mother.

Remia who was silent till now, quietly followed us, fearing that she might entice anger of either party. We left the Royal Hall.

...

3rd Pov

" Um- Your Majesty", said a minister as Larfal fell on his throne,' Damnit! What have I done?! ', he thought, due to anger and disappointment towards Ember, not only he slapped him in front of his most trusted ministers, but also got an argument with his wife. He can already get the idea of his wife ignoring him straight for years if not decades.

Just the thought of it caused him a chill,' But I am not wrong! Ada why don't you understand me?! ', he thought with grief. There was a time, he yearned to see the outside world, just like Ember. But in the end discarded his dreams under the weight of his duties. Thus, just like his predecessors, he considered it to be a taboo to leave Alf's Forest, though even if he didn't admit it was more of jealousy.

How could he let anyone else visit outside world? When his own dreams were unfulfilled, such were the thoughts of the King of All Elves. " Y-Your Majesty, Her Majesty seemed really angry", the minister suddenly said, Larfal looked at Pempler, his minister. " Indeed, Pemp, I fear it would destabilize the Alf's forest once the words reach to her brother", he thought realizing the mess he was in.

Alf's Forest has a Royal Family, and seven ducal families, each ruling one major city. Each ducal family consisted of High-Elves, they weren't very large, having only one or two child each generation. Ada hailed from one of the ducal families, despite being High-Elves they respected the Royal Lineage as everyone, and never thought of settling anywhere out the Alf's Forest, despite having the chance of ascending to another Elven Royal Lineage themselves.

Even the Royal Family respected them, and treated them equally, if by chance Royal Family couldn't get a suitable successor, anyone else hailing from Ducal side will succeed them, however, their family name will be changed forever. It used to happen in past, before the descension of Gods, thus all the Families have extremely close ties with each other.

Now Larfal feared Ada's brother might cause a ruckus, after all who can bear their beloved sibling getting suppressed by their spouse? " Ember, that boy he has disappointed me",he said blaming the person responsible for the mess, the minister nodded. It seemed ironic, that the same people who used to praise Ember like he was the Elf's chosen one, now considered him disappointment because of his single wish, for which he burned his sweat and tears.

...

" Ember are you all, right?", asked Ada as Ember rested on her embrace, he nodded deadpan, his mother caressed his head with full of love. " Remia give me the cake, Ember must be hungry", she said to the maid who nodded and handed her over the plate. Ada quickly took a piece of cake with the spoon, and moving it close to Ember's mouth she said," Sweetie, say 'Ahh' ", Ember obediently opened his mouth, and Ada fed him the cake.

" Good boy", she said in a sweet tone, rubbing his hair, Ember meanwhile felt socially dead inside, his mother on the name of Son-Mother bonding forcefully, spent the entire night with him, hugging him tightly like a teady bear. Now, she had taken him in her embrace and fed him like a child. Usually he would feel giddy, but his mother was overflowing with love.

(A/N: Who is hoping for some Overflow? If yes! Then you are at wrong place!)

Once he had finished with the cake, he looked at his mother, who was showering him with affection. He gathered up courage and said," Mother please forgive me, because of me, you and father got in an argument", he looked ashamed recalling how his father yelled at him. Ada giggled and said," Don't worry sweetie, you father was asking for it! He had been getting on my nerves lately", her face fell thinking of Larfal.

" Don't worry! He will soon apologize to me, last time we got in argument, he did apologize in seven years!", she said in a nonchalant tone, while Ember almost got a heart attack hearing the time it took for his father to apologize. " Embe-", suddenly Riveria barged in his room, she looked at her mother and son cuddling together.

She sighed and looked at Ember, guilt filled her face as her eyes met his. " Si-ster", Ember said in a strained voice, Riveria closed the door,' Damnit! Why this old hag is here?! Should I leave! No that would make things only worse! ', she thought, Ada meanwhile realized her dilemma and said," Come her sweetie, don't you have to say something to him?"

Riveria barely nodded and sat on the corner of the bed, Remia quickly left the room sensing the atmosphere, " Em-Ember! Please forgive me!", she said as she lowered her head in front of Ember," No need sister, it was my mistake in first place, and I shouldn't have said those things either", he said with guilt.

" It might be, but I overreacted, an-and even slapped you! I can't believe it myself!", she said, with moist eyes, Ember pulled her into a hug," How about it? Sister you forgive me, and I forgive you", he said, and nodded, in the end both of them hugged each other. Ada smiled happily seeing her children reconciling.

' Oh Larfal, only if you can get out of your Kingly duties and see how much we have neglected our children, they are practically adults, yet we have been barely in their life from childhood till now. ', Ada thought, how she wished she could smash her husband's mind open and see what went wrong with him, why was he blind to such an obvious truth.

To be continued...

(A/N: Give me! Power stones!!)