Chapter 381:Welcome home.
The familiar distortion of space faded around them.
Atheline’s feet touched the polished stone floor of the palace teleportation chamber. For a moment, he simply stood there.
The teleportation circle beneath them gradually dimmed, its magical glow retreating until only the intricate markings carved into the floor remained.
Lilith appeared beside him, one hand still resting lightly against his arm. Their little fox emerged from the fading spatial distortion a moment later and immediately looked around.
Atheline exhaled slowly.
"We’re back."
Lilith smiled.
"It seems like it."
The journey had taken them across an entire continent and through places neither of them could have imagined before leaving.
Yet standing inside the familiar teleportation chamber made everything suddenly feel much closer. The palace was exactly as they had left it.
Then footsteps echoed from the corridor, and a familiar figure appeared.
Zelpher.
The palace’s main attendant immediately stopped when he saw them, his expression brightening.
"Your Majesties." He bowed deeply. "Welcome home."
Atheline smiled.
"Thank you, Zelpher."
Lilith gave him a small nod.
"It is good to be back."
Zelpher straightened.
"I hope your journey was successful."
Atheline glanced at Lilith.
"It certainly wasn’t boring."
Zelpher’s expression became slightly curious, but as always, the experienced attendant knew better than to ask questions that hadn’t been invited. Instead, he gestured toward the corridor.
"There is quite a bit to report."
Lilith raised an eyebrow.
"Something happened?"
"Several things, Your Majesty."
Zelpher’s tone remained calm, but there was enough seriousness in it to indicate that the palace hadn’t simply continued its ordinary routine while they were gone.
Atheline looked toward him.
"Go ahead."
Zelpher began walking with them.
"The council has continued its normal operations in your absence. Several administrative matters were resolved, and there have been some developments regarding the border territories."
"Anything urgent?"
"Nothing requiring your immediate intervention."
Lilith nodded.
"Good."
"There were also several reports from the eastern provinces concerning trade routes."
Atheline listened quietly.
Zelpher continued explaining. Most of the matters were relatively mundane; a disagreement between two noble families over land, several requests from local governors, a trade dispute that had already been settled, updates concerning the military, and routine matters that required the attention of the royal couple but could wait until they had rested.
Then Zelpher’s expression changed slightly.
"There is one matter, however, that I believe Your Majesties will find considerably more interesting."
Lilith glanced at him.
"What is it?"
"A letter."
"A letter?"
Zelpher nodded.
"From the dragons."
Atheline’s expression immediately became more attentive.
"The dragons?"
"Yes."
Zelpher continued walking.
"It arrived while Your Majesties were away."
Lilith’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"What does it say?"
"I have not opened it." He immediately clarified. "The document was addressed to the royal family. I considered it inappropriate to inspect its contents."
Atheline smiled.
"Good."
Zelpher continued.
"More importantly, it wasn’t sent only to us."
Lilith stopped walking.
"What do you mean?"
"The dragons distributed the letter."
Atheline and Lilith exchanged a glance.
"To whom?" Atheline asked.
"Every major kingdom."
Zelpher’s expression was serious.
"The human kingdoms received it, the Beastmen territories received it, the Elven kingdoms received it, the Demonic Kingdom received it, and, according to the diplomatic reports, several independent territories were given copies as well."
Atheline’s brows furrowed.
"That’s unusual."
"Very."
Lilith’s thoughts were already moving.
The dragons rarely involved themselves directly in the affairs of the other races. They were powerful enough that they didn’t need alliances in the same way kingdoms did and that they were the ones to maintain cordiallity of the kingdoms.
For them to distribute the same message to every major power suggested that whatever they wanted to announce was significant.
"Do we know why they sent it?"
Zelpher shook his head.
"No, Your Majesty."
"Did the messenger say anything?"
"Only that the document was to be delivered directly to the rulers."
Atheline glanced toward Lilith.
She was already thinking about the possibilities. After everything they had learnt and now the dragons, perhaps it was coincidence, perhaps not.
Zelpher continued.
"There is also a sealed copy waiting in your private chambers."
Lilith nodded.
"We’ll read it there."
"Of course." Zelpher hesitated. "There are a few other matters I should mention."
Lilith waved her hand lightly.
"They can wait."
Zelpher immediately stopped. Lilith looked toward him.
"We’ve been traveling for quite some time."
"I understand."
"I would like some time alone with my husband."
Zelpher bowed.
"Naturally."
She continued.
"Leave the documents in our room."
"All of them?"
"The reports that can wait."
"And the dragon’s letter?"
"Especially that one."
Zelpher nodded.
"I will have everything arranged."
Atheline smiled.
"Thank you."
Zelpher bowed once more.
"Welcome home, Your Majesties."
He turned and began walking back toward the administrative wing. After several steps, he stopped.
"Ah." He turned around. "The council will likely request an audience tomorrow."
Lilith sighed softly.
"Tomorrow."
"Yes."
"Then tomorrow they can have one."
Zelpher smiled faintly.
"Understood."
He bowed again before finally disappearing down the corridor. The hall became quiet.
Atheline looked toward Lilith and she looked back. For a few seconds, neither said anything, then Atheline smiled.
"That went better than expected."
Lilith laughed softly.
"We haven’t even read the dragon’s letter yet."
"Exactly."
He looked toward the corridor where Zelpher had disappeared.
"Maybe we should be worried."
"Maybe." She took his hand. "But not yet."
They began walking.
The palace corridors felt strangely peaceful after everything they had experienced. Atheline noticed small things he hadn’t paid attention to before leaving.
The sunlight coming through the enormous windows, the familiar paintings, the servants moving quietly through the corridors, and the guards standing at their posts. Everything felt ordinary.
Lilith seemed to notice the same thing.
"We’ve been gone longer than it feels."
Atheline nodded.
"A lot happened."
"Enough for several lifetimes."
He laughed.
"Let’s not think about that yet."
They continued toward their private quarters. The little fox followed behind them, its paws making barely audible sounds against the polished floor.
As they approached their room, Atheline looked at Lilith.
"Do you think the dragon’s letter has anything to do with what we saw?"
Lilith didn’t answer immediately.
"I don’t know." She glanced toward him. "But I wouldn’t be surprised."
Atheline nodded.
"Neither would I."
The Goddess had sent them searching for the Moon and Sun Crystals, and they had discovered a civilization hidden from the world.
They had uncovered ancient memories, they had witnessed the final moments of a battle between Sovereigns, and they had learned that the World Tree they knew today had somehow survived the destruction of the ancient world.
There were too many unanswered questions. Perhaps the dragons had answers, or perhaps they had questions of their own.
Either way, the letter could wait a few minutes longer. For now... they simply wanted to be alone.
Lilith opened the door.
They stepped inside, the familiar scent of their room greeting them. Atheline entered after her.