Chapter 177: Book 2 Bonus 8

Leopold visited Sofia. The two played with her simple dolls. Sofia wanted expensive dolls from the city, but her parents didn't have the money.

Leopold preferred to play with other things. But if his other friends wanted to annoy him because he played with girl things, he told them that real friends also played with the things that their friends liked. And he was a real friend.

"And if I ask my parents?", the ten-year-old suggested. "For a doll for you?"

Sofia shook her head. "No. Your parents need their money for you. It's your birthday soon."

"And if I want you to get one of the dolls you like?"

Sofia grinned. "Mom says I'm almost too old for dolls. And only humans have that much money. So, I don't need that doll, right?"

"What?" Leopold frowned. "Too old? My mom has dolls. They sit on the dresser in my parent’s bedroom!"

The two were busy building a castle out of books and pillows for the dolls. They had made a dragon out of cardboard, which wanted to eat the dolls. But the dolls were stronger. They would drive the dragon away.

"Oh? Mom says she stopped playing with dolls when she was eleven. So she doesn't want to buy me a new one... And because the doll I want is very expensive." Sofia placed one of her dolls on the castle tower. "Leo? Don't you want to get older either?"

"Why? The older kids are allowed to do much cooler things than we do... They are allowed to carve and other things. Mom won't let me carve because she doesn't want me to use a sharp knife... But Collin carves wood. He carved some figures for me!"

"How nice. But that's not what I mean. When we're fifteen, maybe the soldiers will take us with them."

"Not me. I will free us all one day!" Leopold snorted. "I can do it! And when I did that, then you don't have to be afraid anymore!"

"You promise?"

"I promise!" He winked at her. "So. Now the dragon must be defeated! Attention! He's attacking!" He grabbed the cardboard dragon and let it fly toward the castle.

"Oh no! A dragon! Fast. The slingshots!", cried Sofia, laughing.

When the young elf ran home a few hours later, he knew exactly what he would want for his birthday. A beautiful doll for Sofia.

He had everything he wanted. So why shouldn’t he wish for something for his best friend?