To understand what just happened, time needs to go back to before The Long Night started. After Fishy returned from the Rynad Kingdom the city was in full force, preparing everything they could for the painful nights they knew they would have up ahead.
"Excuse me, my lord." The sharp-headed Ziu approached and bowed to Fishy whilst he was working with Silmor, out on the construction site.
"Yeah…?" Fish responded as he was still uncomfortable with being called a lord.
"I have the list of names that you require."
"I'll leave you two alone," Silmor said as he noticed he would be third-wheeling on something.
"I see… Anyone promising, take me to them."
Fishy and Ziu left the construction site and began slowly walking their way down to the other end of the city, waving and smiling to everyone as they did so,
They eventually reached the outskirts of the forest that surrounded them from both ends, where the knights would often train due to its large open area away from civilization.
"They've all been trained under me, I say we can trust them. As for skill, it's clear they need more practice, but I can't just throw them away."
"I see…"
Fishy and Ziu approached a line of guards, all different shapes, sizes, and genders, stuck in light silver armor. The guards were all too different from each other that it seemed useless to tell who was good at what.
"However, this one is the one I wish to talk about." Ziu raised his hand as he pointed to the third person down the line. A teenage-looking girl with long blue hair that would stand out in any crowd. Her basic training gear was covered by a dark cloak that wrapped around her neck, but it didn't hide the dagger she had sheathed on her back.
"Have I met her before?" Fishy asked.
"She arrived whilst you were in Rynad. She says her name is Ena."
Fishy carefully approached the cautious-looking girl, holding out his hand in front of him, as if going to pet her, only for it to be slapped away by Ena.
"Did I do something wrong?" Fishy asked as he turned around to Ziu, almost crying at the thought of being rejected.
"She's been like that since she arrived."
"Where did you come from, Ena?" Fishy asked but didn't get a response from the person he wished, and instead got a strange and sudden response from the vampire that lived inside his shadow, Lilith.
"Smells like an elf." She said to Fishy's strange disgust as Lilith's senses.
"An elf?" Fishy said out loud, unaware of the repercussions that could have caused.
Ena jumped on high alert at hearing it, pulling out the dagger she kept sheathed on her back, dashing up to Fishy with a single kick off the ground, and resting the cold rusted blade against his neck.
"Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry if I offended you," Fishy asked again as he became even more confused.
"Is it true you are an elf?" Ziu asked as all the other trainees standing around them started to get visibly nervous.
"What's wrong with being an elf?" Fishy asked out of ignorance whilst the blade was still against his neck.
"Elves and half-elves are usually slaves," Ziu explained "Because of this, it's common for them to hide who they are. I've never seen a full elf free. I've only seen elves that would be dragged around with large metal collars around their necks, begging to be killed. Cai was just like that once, but she has protection from Va now, forced to work there for their protection."
"Va isn't free of sin," Ena interjected. "They only gave residency to some elves to make themself look good, but they can't change the views of the residence. I assume your friend gets harassed a lot."
Ziu's face said all that Ena wanted to know. Even if it was known to Fishy at the time, it was the harsh reality that Cai had put up with ever since she gained citizenship.
"Well, this is all interesting." Fishy said, "If you want to hide who you are then go ahead, but just know that none of us will ever harm you here."
Empty words that Ena had heard all before, countless times. But, for some reason, as Fishy's warm smile showed no sign of hostility, even with a blade against his throat, she lowered her weapon and took a step back.
"If I may ask, why did you come to this city?" Fishy asked.
"She showed up one day," Ziu said, "The first thing she did was ask to join the army and even tried to challenge me to a fight. Of course, I rejected it but let her join."
"Why?" asked Fishy.
"I wanted revenge," Ena spoke for herself, the other guards were dismissed by Ziu who told them to get back to training. "I wanted revenge for what they did to my brother and parents."
"When you arrived you were injured as if you were mauled by a bear, it was a miracle you were alive." said Ziu "We even offered to heal you and shelter you but you didn't accept, instead, you stole our medicine and slept in the trees that surrounded this city. You'd only join for training sessions but wouldn't open up to anyone."
"Well, of course." Fishy said, "Would you trust random strangers in a newly built city."
"I suppose I wouldn't…" Ziu said as he lowered his head, believing he got scolded by his boss.
"Well, since it's trust I know of the perfect way to make people trust you," Fishy walked up to Ena with a straight back as he held his hand out in front of him, just like before, and asked:
"I'd be happy if you fought me and then joined me afterward for dinner in the evening."
Ziu was uncertain as to where Fishy intended to go with the conversation, and wished to step back. He looked at Ena, a gorgeous thin elf who anyone would adore, but he was confused as to if Fishy would try it on with another girl.
"I've fallen for the dinner thing before. The last time it happened I was raped and beaten."
"If it helps we can have our discussion in front of everyone, or you can hold a knife to my throat. We will do whatever we can to make you feel safe and comfortable."
Ena didn't smile, but she didn't frown. Even when reminded of her past she didn't bat an eye, she only said:
"Very well, but I won't go easy on you."