That evening, Irilanze appeared as if taking over from Eliana, pestering Annan to show her his latest Magic Film.
"Let Magic Fly?"
"The one where you play the Vampire Count."
"Five Hundred Years of Terror? You haven't seen it yet?"
"No."
What Irilanze said next took Annan by surprise: the Elven Royal Court had brought in only three Magic Films so far—The Mage Tower's Fall, 300 Warriors of Free City, and Annan Potter and the Magic Stone.
"What about Betar's Redemption and The Pursuit of Happyness?"
Irilanze told Annan that Betar's Redemption had been slated for release in the Emerald Capital, but when it was screened on the outskirts of the Elven Royal Court, they discovered that its protagonist was an Orc and that Elves became prisoners. It was banned before it could reach the city. The other two met the same fate: the Elves refused to accept stories starring Orcs or Vampires.
"Doesn't the Elven Royal Court know these are stories about happiness and hope?"
"They find it hard to bear having an Orc's ugly face in front of them..." Irilanze's answer was astonishingly shallow.
Even though Annan had only adapted the stories, he still felt a flash of anger at seeing them dismissed out of prejudice.
"Irilanze... you should head back. There's something I need to do."
Annan put off visiting the other delegations for now. He had something more important to do. Besides, as the Elven Royal Court's future ally, shouldn't they be the ones visiting him?
"I'll come with you."
Annan shook his head. "Some people in the Emerald Capital might not like what I'm about to do. I'm not an Elf, and I'm a potential ally, so they won't dare do anything to me. But I'm worried they might take it out on you."
"You're