Chapter 406:Where am I?
Someone was approaching from the opposite corridor. He prepared himself for whatever was to come. Then the person stepped into view.
Atheline’s eyes widened.
"Zelpher?"
It was him but he looked terrible. The normally composed man walked with his shoulders slightly lowered, and his clothes were wrinkled as though he hadn’t changed them properly in days.
There were dark circles beneath his eyes, his hair was untidy, and the expression on his face carried the exhaustion of someone who had been forced to keep moving long after his body and mind had begged him to stop.
Zelpher didn’t notice Atheline. He simply walked past.
"Zelpher," he called but he got no response.
Atheline frowned.
"Zelpher."
The attendant continued. Atheline stepped in front of him.
"Wait."
Zelpher walked through him. Atheline’s entire body stiffened. He turned sharply, only to see that Zelpher hadn’t reacted.
Atheline looked down at himself. His body appeared completely normal. He touched his chest and found it solid. He touched the wall and his fingers met stone.
But Zelpher had passed directly through him as though Atheline didn’t exist.
"A memory."
That was his first thought.
But something about it felt different from the memories he’d witnessed inside the Doom Cave. Those had pulled his consciousness into events that had already happened.
This felt... Real.
Atheline didn’t like that thought.
He followed Zelpher. The attendant walked quickly through the palace, occasionally passing soldiers and servants.
Atheline recognized some of them but others were strangers. Every person he saw looked exhausted, several soldiers were injured; one had his arm wrapped in bloodstained cloth,and another was limping.
The servants weren’t much better. Fear hung over the entire palace. Atheline followed Zelpher toward the throne room.
The closer they got, the worse the damage became. One entire section of the hallway had collapsed. There were scorch marks across the walls.
A window had been completely destroyed and covered with wooden boards.
"What happened here?"
Atheline already knew nobody would answer him.
Zelpher reached the throne room. The doors were open and Atheline followed him inside.
Then stopped.
The throne room was broken. The magnificent chamber that normally served as the political heart of the Dark Elven Kingdom barely resembled itself.
Several pillars had been damaged. Part of the ceiling had collapsed near the far wall. One of the enormous windows was shattered.
The long council table had been moved closer to the throne, and maps covered nearly every available surface. But it wasn’t the condition of the room that caught Atheline’s attention.
It was the people.
Or rather... The people who weren’t there.
He immediately searched for the elder noble who had always been present during the kingdom’s most important discussions.
Missing.
Then General Thulem.
Missing.
Atheline’s expression became serious. Several other familiar councillors were absent as well. Those who remained looked considerably older and others had scars he didn’t remember.
And standing where the Head Councillor would normally have stood was someone Atheline knew very well.
"Simion?"
Atheline stared at him.
Simion looked exhausted.
There was a scar running across one side of his face, and his normally well-maintained clothing was damaged. His left arm was wrapped in bandages, while several documents were clutched tightly in his right hand.
There was no sign of Davison or the others nearby. Atheline’s gaze moved toward the throne, then his heart sank.
Lilith.
She sat there. But not the Lilith he had left behind on Dragonic Island.
She was wearing armour.
Dark plate covered her body, scratched and damaged from repeated combat. A dagger rested against one thigh while another weapon had been placed beside the throne.
Her dark hair wasn’t styled as it normally was during council meetings and instead had been tied behind her head in the simplest manner possible.
She looked tired,more than tired, there was something in her eyes Atheline had rarely seen.
Resignation mixed with anger.
Atheline instinctively walked toward her.
"Lilith."
She didn’t hear him, of course she didn’t. He stopped several steps away.
The councillors were speaking rapidly.
"The eastern defensive line won’t survive another direct assault."
"We can reinforce it."
"With what soldiers?"
"Move the fifth legion."
"The fifth legion is dealing with the corrupted outbreak near the southern villages."
"Then recall them."
"And let the corrupted walk directly into civilian settlements?"
"Then what do you suggest?"
"We negotiate."
"With whom?"
"The High Elves."
"They’ve already closed the border!"
"The Beastmen, then."
"They won’t answer our messengers!"
"The Demonic Kingdom..."
"It has its own problems!"
The voices overlapped.
Atheline slowly looked around. This wasn’t a council, it was desperation.
Simion slammed his hand against the table.
"Enough!"
The room fell silent. He looked exhausted, but his voice remained firm.
"We cannot continue discussing individual borders as though they’re separate problems. The armies gathering outside our territory are the immediate threat."
Lilith leaned back against her throne.
"And your suggestion?"
Simion looked toward her.
"That we do nothing."
Several councillors reacted immediately.
"Nothing?"
"We’re surrounded!"
"They’re already mobilizing!" Simion raised his voice. "I didn’t say we shouldn’t defend ourselves!"
Silence returned. He turned toward Lilith.
"I’m saying we cannot be the ones to start this war."
Lilith stared blankly at him. Simion took a breath.
"Your Majesty, if we attack first, we prove their point."
Lilith’s expression didn’t change.
"What point?"
"That we’re dangerous."
A faint smile appeared on her face. Simion continued.
"Every kingdom is watching us. Every species is frightened. The corruption has spread farther than anyone predicted, people are disappearing, entire settlements are being destroyed, and everyone is desperate for someone to blame."
Lilith leaned forward slightly.
"And they’ve chosen us."
"Yes."
"Then why should I care what they think?"
Simion’s expression tightened.
"Because there are more of them than us."
Lilith laughed quietly.
"That’s your argument?"
"It’s reality." Simion stepped closer. "We cannot go to war with every other species."
Atheline watched silently.
Simion continued.
"The High Elves alone have enough strength to force us into a prolonged war. Add the Human kingdoms, Beastmen, Dwarves, Demons and everyone else who decides they need to choose a side, and we won’t survive."
"We’re Dark Elves."
"That doesn’t make us immortal."
Several councillors looked uncomfortable. Lilith’s smile disappeared at that.
Simion softened his voice.
"I’m not questioning your strength, Your Majesty. I’m questioning whether our people should be asked to fight the entire world."
Lilith stood.
Atheline’s expression changed.
The movement was slow and far too calm. She walked down from the throne.
"You believe waiting will save us?"
"I believe it gives diplomacy a chance."
"Diplomacy?" Lilith laughed. "With people already gathering armies at our borders?"
"They haven’t attacked."
"Yet."
"Exactly."
Simion stepped forward.
"Yet."
Lilith stared at him.
Simion didn’t back down.
"If they wanted to destroy us without discussion, their armies would already be inside our territory. The fact that they’re preparing instead of attacking means there is still hesitation."
"Or they’re waiting until they have enough soldiers."
"Then let them wait."
Lilith’s eyes narrowed.
"Until we’re completely surrounded?"
"If necessary."
Atheline could see several councillors staring at Simion as though he’d lost his mind but Simion continued.
"Every day without war is another day we can investigate the corruption. Another day we can search for evidence. Another day someone outside this kingdom may realize the accusations make no sense."
Lilith looked toward the broken windows.
"And if they don’t?"
Simion remained silent. Lilith turned back.
"If we wait until their armies completely surround us and they decide to attack, we lose the advantage of choosing the battlefield."
"That is still better than becoming the aggressors."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
Lilith’s voice became colder.
"They will attack eventually."
"You don’t know that."
"I do."
"No." Simion shook his head. "You believe it."
Lilith’s darkness stirred around her armour. Atheline instinctively reached for her despite knowing he couldn’t touch her.
Simion remained standing.
"They’re afraid," Lilith said. "And frightened people don’t stop because you ask them politely."
"Then give them fewer reasons to fear us."
Lilith smiled.
"By kneeling?"
"By not attacking them!"
The sudden shout silenced everyone. Simion breathed heavily, then lowered his voice.
"We are already weak."
Lilith’s eyes sharpened. Several councillors looked away.
Simion continued anyway.
"We’ve lost soldiers to corruption. Villages have been abandoned. Trade routes are collapsing. Some of our strongest people are dead or missing."
Atheline’s eyes moved toward the empty places around the council table, his stomach tightening.
Simion gestured toward the maps.
"If we attack first, every rumour becomes truth in their minds. Every accusation becomes justified. They will say, ’Look. We were right. The Dark Elves were planning this all along.’"
Lilith was silent for several seconds, then she laughed. It wasn’t amused but bitter.
"They already believe that."
Simion’s expression tightened.
"Not everyone."
"Enough."
"No."
"Enough to gather armies."
"Armies gathered out of fear can still be sent home."
Lilith shook her head.
"You’re still hoping they’ll listen."
"I’m hoping we don’t give them a reason not to."
Before Lilith could answer, another voice entered the discussion.
"Your Majesty."
Atheline turned.
Zelpher had finally stepped forward and bowed slightly.