Ostus chewed thoughtfully for a moment, considering Kiara's words. She was right; he could not understand why she would want to be someone else when she had an ideal lifestyle already. Perhaps if she knew what true hardship was like she would recognize her good fortune.

Then again, he couldn't imagine spending his life locked away in some castle, and he would certainly not tolerate being told who to spend the rest of his life with.

"I felt like you once," he said between mouthfuls, "when I was around... eight years old, I believe. My parents died in the war. Lots of kids' parents died in this war; the orphanages, to this day, are always packed. I never got along with the other elf kids -- too weird, they said." He smirked ruefully at the memory. "To everyone else, I was just... there, I suppose. I would have fucking killed to have a family back, to live like normal children did." He took a moment's pause to bite and chew, his mind drifting back to those distant memories. "One day, some goblin kid was being picked on. An annoying little twerp, no one really liked him, but to be ganged up on like that... I didn't see it as fair. I got my ass beat for helping him, but word seemed to get around... other kids approached me to help protect them from bullies... eventually, I sort of realized that my place in the world was protecting others. I haven't looked back since."

Ostus turned his head to look at Kiara. "If you're so unhappy with your life, do something to change it," he suggested. "I only got as far as I have due to busting my ass. Like fuck I was going to grow up as some aimless loser in a misguided life. 

"I'll admit, your situation is much harder. Most folks would be more than a little angry to find out that you backed out of a chance at peace. Still, your life is only a dead-end street if you make it that way." He shrugged, not sure what else to tell her. He resumed his eating.