A Spark From Childhood

Elf Paul was sitting on the throne of the goblin kingdom while wearing a luxurious robe. He had a proud smile on his face and was looking with satisfaction at the goblins working in the mine on skates.

Goblin Andrew said to Goblin Cain in a low voice as he carried a tray full of jewels.
"Look at the way he's looking at us. Damn him! I hope our prince, Isaac, comes back soon and teaches this insolent elf a good lesson."

Goblin Cain:
"Don't be angry, my friend. Imagine the funny scene of the elf being punished by Prince Isaac."

Andrew, knowing very well what kind of punishment Cain was talking about, began to laugh. King Paul's attention was drawn to him and he said:
"What are you laughing at, ugly goblin?"

Andrew said confusedly.
"Nothing, my king. My palm was drawn to the jewels and tickled me."

"You better watch your behavior or I'll tickle you with a whip."

And then he said to all the goblins:
"Work you useless sloths. Search deeper into the earth and find me the brightest jewels."

The goblins continued their work as they cursed their king in their minds, and Paul started playing with the jewels around his neck.

At night, as he laid on his bed in a state between wakefulness and sleeping, he saw in his mind an angry goblin dressed in battle clothes and holding a sword.

"How dare you enslave my people?"

Paul replied:
"Those vile creatures were created to serve me, and so are you."

And he pulled out his sword and attacked that goblin. Goblin bravely went towards him and greeted him with his sword.

The two of them fought each other with all their strength for a while until Paul felt a strong spasm in his muscles and the sword fell from his hand and he fell to his knees.

"It must be the effect of those jewels you hung around your neck. You knew they would have dire consequences on an elf's body, yet your desire to shine made you risk it."

And he went to Paul and put his sword on his neck.

"Kill me, filthy creature. I will go to the transmaterial realm and be there for a while, but eventually I will return and bring the worst of pain to you foul smelling creatures."

Isaac grinned.
"No, I'm not going to kill you. Your punishment will include things you can't even imagine."

And then he ordered to take off the elf's luxurious clothes and tie him to a pillar inside the stable with a rope.

When they led the naked Paul to the stable and everyone pointed their fingers at him and laughed at him, he hoped he would die.

Sobbing, he woke up and breathed a sigh of relief when he realized it had all been a nightmare.

He got up and looked at the view of the mines from the window of his room.
"When I was a child, the other elves treated me with contempt because of my illness and forced me to work for them like a slave.

Until now, I thought the reason for my behavior with the goblins was that they didn't deserve anything more. But tonight suddenly a spark struck in my mind and I remembered my childhood."

Paul had suddenly seen himself from a different angle and felt that all this time he had lived like the same elves that he hated from the bottom of his heart.