"Humans are barbaric."

Bernard massaged his temples, trying to ignore Curtis' grating voice. The Core elf in training was young, smart, he had promise. But he was starting to drive Bernard insane. A young human woman had recently began working with the North Pole, keeping tabs on the young polar bears in the area. She was a smart young lady with a penchant for seeing magic other adults didn't. Judy liked her, Betty liked her, so things were working out.

Until Bernard bonded with her. Like, soulmate bonded. Elf hearts only loved once, and that love was predetermined by their individual magic. And it appeared Bernard's soulmate was this human girl. She was staying in Bernard's house, spending time with him. Loving him. Bernard hadn't been so stress-free since he was 900. They were still working on her transition into elf life, that way they wouldn't have to worry about her lifespan being way shorter than his. She could live with him, forever.

But Curtis didn't see things that way.

The younger elf had bad experiences with humans back in his village. And he'd never lost that viewpoint of the species as a whole. He didn't the way Bernard was overworking himself less, he just saw Bernard as being distracted and slacking in order to be with this creature.