Chapter 120: Chapter 118: A small glimpse on the side

Living in a city inhabited by humans is extremely hazardous and terrible for fairies, yet they have little say in the matter. These teeny-tiny, fragile beings, ranging to about the size of a potion bottle, are not designed to survive in the harsh and merciless environment of the urban landscape. They face a persistent risk to their health on account of the city's loud noises and bright lights, as well as the pollution and its larger inhabitants.

The fairies that make the western city their home have little choice but to adjust to the unforgiving environment, yet they are in danger at all times. The bustling streets are packed with foot traffic and carriages, putting the fairies at a continual risk of being run over or crushed to death. Free roaming house cats kill dozens of fairies every year, and the fairies kill just as many cats in turn, leading to anger with pet-owners. As a result of being confined to the city itself and being unable to leave the mountain as they once could have generations ago, it is difficult for the fairies to obtain the sustenance that is necessary for them to exist, as they must live in our world now.

The pollution from burning wood and artisinal crafting is a significant obstacle for the fairies as well. The fumes in the air, while barely a bad smell for a human, are very harmful to their fragile bodies, and as a result, they run the danger of becoming unwell or even passing away if they are exposed to them for even short periods. Because of the overpowering cacophony of the city, it is difficult for them to converse with one another or even hear one another, given their small voices. It's not only the natural dangers that make life tough for fairies; there are plenty of other challenges, too. People are typically too preoccupied with their own lives to notice or pay attention to these little folk since they are too busy living their own lives. It is not unheard of for humans to treat fairies cruelly, for them to become caught in traps, or for them to become ‘harvested’ for alchemical components, despite this practice being forbidden by law.

Some fairies adjust to city life and learn to coexist with its many challenges. However, they are perpetually vulnerable, and their very lives are precarious since they are reliant on the goodwill of strangers as well as their own capacity to endure in a setting that was not designed for them and is a never-ending struggle for life.