A healer lifted a clear almost colorless vial and carefully poured its components between his lips.

Another guided the flow of Aether ensuring the antidote spread fully, reaching what the earlier stages had loosened.

The expected fanfare, like earlier, didn’t come but the air fell quiet as everyone held their breath, their gaze on the healer.

"..."

"It’s done," the words left his lips almost disbelieving, " he’s stable. "

A collective breath was released across the group subtly.

Lilith remained quiet her gaze never leaving him. She didn’t approach him immediately, fighting the urge to do so.

Time passed as everyone waited patiently.

The formation dimmed gradually, its purpose complete, while the attendants began carefully clearing the surrounding materials.

Eventually, Lilith moved when the circle completely dimmed. Her relieved gaze was tracing him, just to make sure he had survived.

Her hand hovered just above his arm, then lowered her fingers brushing against his before she took his hand into his.

"The corruption?" She asked quietly without lifting her gaze.

The healer smiled.

"It was minimal, probably from a scratch. It hadn’t fully integrated with his body."

She sighed.

"There is something else."

The older healer spoke, quieter this time. She didn’t look up.

"His body... it adapted during the process."

He paused as if he himself wasn’t entirely sure of his deduction.

"The strain from the poison, combined with forced circulation and probably some external stimuli... it pushed him past his previous limits."

Another healer nodded.

"He advanced during the healing," he said lost in thought, " to the next stage of body strengthening. We are not sure about the stage since his highness is stronger than us."

The words settled quietly in the air, unprocessable.

She finally looked at them without surprise but recognition in her gaze. Lilith had noticed the change as they healed him.

Her gaze moved to him, and a faint almost imperceptible change passed through her expression.

"Good."

The words were barely audible.

Lilith stepped forward and picked him up with care. Everyone stepped out of the way as she walked towards the mansion.

She carried him into the mansion, to the room that had been prepared in advance. Wide windows, curtains blowing with the salty wind, and a direct view of the quiet ocean.

Night came fast covering the blue sky quietly. Everyone had already dispersed. The patterns on the sand were slowly washed away by the tide until there was no trace left of what had taken place.

Inside the mansion, everyone moved with careful precision.

Atheline lay where she had placed him, the steady rise and fall of his chest evidence of his ongoing recovery.

She lay beside him, hand hung over him, aether flowing into his body guiding the healing.

No one dared disturb her.

Even the attendants moved with quiet restraint keeping their voices down where necessary. The night passed like in a quiet and peaceful cocoon.

Morning came gently.

Light spilled in from the horizon, pale at first, then gradually deepening as the sun climbed.

Quiet footsteps came again as the house came alive. Attendants preparing for the eventual wake of their masters.

By mid-morning the first signs of disruptions in the quiet sanctuary reached the mansion gates.

A small procession.

It wasn’t large enough to provoke but small enough not to be dismissed.

Protocol held them at a distance, barring them from entering immediately. Their presence needed to be announced before they could enter the premises.

Guards stationed at the gates exchanged brief words with them before one broke away moving inside to deliver the message.

.

.

.

Lilith had just finished dressing Atheline when the knock came. Her brow furrowed in irritation.

The door wasn’t open immediately.

"What?"

It was pushed open for only a fraction. An attendant stood at the threshold, posture straight with his gaze lowered.

"Your majesty," he began, his voice low filled with respect, " a delegation has arrived... they bear the crest of the Titam kingdom."

Silence met him.

Inside the room, Lilith finished feeding Atheline a healing potion before she turned to the door.

"Where?" She said flatly.

"Outside the gates," he quickly replied, " they await permission to approach further."

Silence fell over the room.

"How many?"

"Five your majesty," he replied, quietly, " they have come formally."

She was quiet for a moment.

"Allow them in," she said, then added, " keep them waiting. "

The door shut before he could answer.

They were kept waiting but not long enough.

The receiving hall had been prepared before they could arrive.

Tall windows, breeze from the sea bringing the taste of salt. Guards and attendants lined the walls of the room their gazes on the visitor.

At the centre of the room, five delegates sat. Clothed in formal attire that carried the distinctive design of the Titan kingdom.

The tension in the room could be tasted. The delegates were just as nervous.

The doors were pushed open.

Everyone stood.

She entered without acknowledging anyone and took a seat at the head seat.

Her gaze moved between the delegates, slow and assessing, coming to a stop at the head seat. Her legs crossed, leaning back on her seat slightly.

The delegation stepped forward. They bowed before her, low enough to show respect but still maintain their dignity.

The one at the centre, older, straightened first.

"We thank you for granting us audience your majesty." He said quietly, his voice steady, " We came on behalf of the Titam kingdom, to address what has transpired. "

She leaned her head on her hand, her expression unchanging.

"Speak."

The man swallowed, inclining his head slightly.

"We were made aware of your... arrival," he said, carefully choosing his words," the circumstances surrounding it have already been reviewed. "

He paused letting the words sink in.

Lilith nodded indicating for him to continue

"Our teleportation disruption was.... an error in judgment," he acquainted although all of them knew she had a part in it.

It was clear as day that it was an assassination attempt. The fact that their peaceful kingdom had been pulled into this sort of mess had rung an alarm.

No one wants to cross her.

"We have acknowledged the consequences it may have caused, " he didn’t look away as he spoke but the small nervousness in his tone could not be hidden, " we have also been informed of the condition he was in when he arrived. "

That was when the tension shifted. Her bored almost tired expression shifted, her cold gaze focusing on him for the first time.

He continued.

"We do not intend to justify what has already resulted in harm," he paused as though to catch his breath," but we do hope we can be permitted to amend it."

The room fell into suffocating quietness as they waited for her response. This had been their true purpose, if they could, they would have swept everything under the rug.

The fact that a threat of destruction hung above their heads was enough to get them to offer anything just to survive.

Their kingdom was too small to go into any war.

Her finger tapped on the handle of the chair, the small sound loud in the quiet room.

Her gaze moved up to the ceiling before settling back to them.

"He almost died," she quietly said.

Their heart dropped. This was like waiting for a pardon in an execution.