Chapter 12:Avoid

Lilith was quiet for a moment. She tapped her finger on the desk in thought.

"When is the wedding set?"

"Four weeks from now, during the Eclipse. "

She nodded. The eclipse was one of the most anticipated times. Anyone who got married during that period would get an increase in power during their wedding night and a blessing from both the Gods.

Lilith just hoped, her husband would be impressive enough for her to bed him if not it didn’t matter, she was strong on her own.

"The ministers have already started their preparations but..."

"Wait," Lilith cut him off," free some time a week before the departure, I want to see if my future consort is at least passable... I can’t only trust your input you see."

She leaned back on her chair her hands crossed as she talked. A smirk formed on her lips as she watched Zelpher go from confused to horrified.

"That wouldn’t be advisable, you can’t sneak into the kingdom it will spell disaster."

She scoffed.

"Get me a permit, I hope you’re not this stupid every time."

"Yes, your majesty. "

Zelpher slinked away after noticing her sour mood.

Lilith waited until his footsteps receded before her face dropped. What was left behind was pure coldness.

The temptation for the moon crystals had been too much for her to refuse. Her kingdom didn’t lack anything, but she still couldn’t let a free meal go.

She stood up and walked to the open glass windows and looked down at parts of her underground kingdom.

Luminous vines were growing around the large cave walls proving lights to the residents who moved down below.

She felt proud of her achievements. It had taken her fifty years to get it where it was and she wasn’t about to let some mere goddess control her fate.

"I’ll probably find an excuse to kill him after I get the crystals, " she mumbled to herself softly.

.....

Atheline arrived home faster than normal. He felt as though something was looking at him with every move.

Lucky for him the moment he arrived home he found his older brother was just about to leave.

"Helther, wait i have something to ask you?" He called out before he could enter the carriage.

Helther stopped and turned to look at him but the small tick at the corner of his mouth showed his impatience.

Atheline noticed it.

"Are the dark elves already in the kingdom?"

Helther raised his eyebrow in inquiry.

"Yes, it’s just a small number of soldiers, they’re stationed outside the capital. They were left behind by the envoy, didn’t your father tell you about it?"

Atheline shook his head.

"Father told me to stay as far away from them as possible."

Helther nodded in agreement.

"And you should listen to that, they’re brutes with little to no decorum. I hate the fact that they can’t keep their killing intent in their bodies...must we know that you kill," Helther said in frustration.

Atheline felt pity for him. Although there has never been a full-blown war in the last five hundred years, normal squabbles are to be expected.

Especially from rogue dark elves.

"Why don’t they restrain their killing intent?" He asked.

Helmer clicked.

"Their kingdom is extremely chaotic. The strong rule and fights could happen at anytime. Killing intents show your might and prevent those weaker or just battle maniacs from approaching. It’s really an annoying thing and those insensitive bastards were throwing it around during the meeting."

Since Atheline was too young, he had not been present in the meeting. He only got word from his father and mother.

"So that’s the reason..."

He stopped his musing when he felt his brother’s gaze.

"What?"

His brother narrowed his eyes and walked towards him. He came to a stop just a step from him and placed a hand on his waist while looking at him suspiciously.

"Why are you asking these questions all of a sudden?"

Atheline sighed inwardly.

"I met a dark elf today while taking a walk in the forest, I was just surprised thats all."

"Yeah, you shouldn’t go back there at the moment. It’s better if you stay within the capital grounds."

Atheline nodded, he wasn’t planning on going back there until after the wedding.

’I’m not stupid enough to go and take a shower in another killing intent.’

"Okay, this is good to hear. I’ll be going outside the capital to Belmont for a while."

Atheline’s brows frowned.

"But, isn’t the place dangerous. The king sent more knights to the border yes?"

Belmont bordered the elf kingdom. A large river separated the two kingdoms.

’It seems the corrupt are getting more and more serious if brother is going’

"Be careful, I don’t want you coming back as a corpse or joining them," Atheline said seriously.

Helther rolled his eyes.

"Stop being like mom, I’m going to be fine. You think I’ll let a corrupt bite me."

Atheline rolled his eyes at the jab. Helther patted his shoulder one last time and stepped back.

"Then be careful.. oh right bring me those sweets from there the little blue ones you brought the other time."

Helther paused at his turn and looked at him with a smug smile on his face.

"I told you you’ll like it, how the mighty have fallen. Don’t worry I’ll bring them to you I’ll even add another variety."

’What, I like sweets’

Atheline nodded in anticipation despite Helther’s subtle mockery of his sweet addiction. He was unfortunately a sweet tooth something that seemed to have followed him from his previous world.

Atheline stood there and watched the carriage disappear down the road as it headed to the train station.

He turned to Luther who had arrived behind him at some point.

"Let’s go train since my rest was cut short."

Luther nodded.

Atheline threw the matter of the dark elf to the back of his mind, he didn’t see a reason to care about it.

’It was probably a coincidence I’m sure I’ll never see her again ’

Atheline chalked it all up to a normal encounter with a wandering dark elf soldier

She didn’t give him her name to begin with.