She uncrossed her legs, her gaze passing over all of them.

"My husband almost died," she repeated as though trying to get the feeling of the words," you speak of amendments so casually."

The delegates swallowed. No one dared to speak as they knew how problematic everything was.

She didn’t need an apology, that would have made everything worse.

A moment of silence passed.

The old man lowered his head, lower than before. His fist clenched behind him.

"We have prepared an initial offering," he said.

A subtle motion, and one of the delegates stepped forward, presenting a sealed case.

It wasn’t opened immediately but held with the ultimate care as though the components carried value beyond comprehension.

"Medical reserves, refined and preserved, " he continued, " for recovery... and future contingencies."

The case was placed carefully on the low table before her.

A second figure stepped forward next, a small parchment at hand placing it on the table.

"Access to our coast routes," he added, " restricted zones included. "

His voice was softer though it carried a forced kind of confidence.

"Should you require passage or... discretion," he finished.

The words were left hanging in the air, their implication a weight on the kingdom.

Routes were an important secret of any kingdom, especially sea routes and now they had just offered it on a silver platter to her.

The older delegate nodded discreetly, and the woman stepped back.

His head tilted slightly.

"Our surveillance has also reported disturbance along the southern waters," he calmly said," it may not concern you directly, but we deem it worth mentioning. "

He hesitated slightly.

"Several vessels have gone missing. Trade routes have begun to shift to avoid certain zones."

He didn’t embellish further, he didn’t need to. The information was deem of importance especially for those travelling by sea.

She stepped forward, past the table, and came to a stop just a step from them.

One delegate stepped back, almost subconsciously.

Lilith needed them to know that they hadn’t come for an exchange but to seek forgiveness and correct their mistakes.

"You will leave the resources and the access, " she said calmly, her arms crossed, " you will also ensure that nothing like this ever happens again. "

The man lowered his gaze.

"It will be done," he said without argument.

Anything for peace.

"Then go."

They couldn’t wait to leave. All five bowed deeply. When they turned, their steps were quiet and the tension on their shoulders had somehow reduced.

The door opened and they slipped away, their presence gone.

The room remained quiet, the offering still on the table unopened and untouched.

Lilith stood there for a moment, quiet, her uninterested gaze went to the gifts.

Then she turned towards the door.

.

.

.

His consciousness didn’t return at once. The first thing Atheline noticed was nothing.

There wasn’t the usual pain that accompanied him for the last week and he could feel his body was just as relaxed, all the tension gone.

A faint frown formed as his senses sharpened. The softness beneath him registered next, clean fabric surrounded him and a warm breeze passed over him.

The distant sound of waves filtered in through somewhere nearby, steady and rhythmic.

He was alive.

The realization came quickly, followed by everything else. His eyes flew open.

Light came into his vision, forcing him to squint before he got used to it as his gaze took in his environment. Unfamiliar ceiling, too much light than he had gotten used to, and the fluttering curtains that almost reached the bed with every blow.

"Huh," his voice came out rough from underuse.

He shifted slightly. And that was when he felt it, his body was lighter than normal. It was responding way too easily.

His muscles that should have straightened moved without protest and the pain he had braced himself for wasn’t there.

He felt lighter, stronger even.

His brows furrowed as he pushed himself up, slower this time.

His arm didn’t tremble instead there was a small tension beneath his skin.

He was familiar with this feeling.

"What?"

The words slipped out under his breath. He clenched his hands once, then again.

The response was immediate. A faint flicker crossed his eyes and instinctively he focused his attention inside his body but then...

[Body strengthening rank increased]

[Current stage: Master]

[Poison resistance acquired: mid]

The interface faded before he could respond. His lips curved.

’My suffering was not in vain’

His gaze dropped to his hand again. The difference was there. At that moment he wanted to jump out of bed and try his newfound power but his body still had that mild weakness.

Still, his body felt tempered, advancing from Elite to Master had increased his chances of survival even more.

His fist clenched, his body responding. A small laugh slipped through his lips.

"I’ll take it."

This felt like the ultimate reward from the system. He had expected to wait at least ten years before he could advance, it seems the fight for survival had really pushed his body to the brink.

’Maybe I should do that again.’

Atheline had never been in that kind of desperate situation in his whole life. He had lived in a bubble of protection from everyone around him.

Even in marriage, his own wife was a walking disaster who could crash anything before he got desperate and pushed himself.

’Yeah.. definitely going to do this for my elementals’

A small laugh escaped him.

At that moment, the door opened. Lilith stepped inside quietly her gaze instantly finding him.

Her eyes widened when she noticed he was awake. For a moment, she stopped, just slightly.

"You’re awake, " she said.

Her voice was steady, masking the relief she was feeling inside.

He glanced at her rolling his shoulders once as if testing the movement again.

"Yeah... looks like it," he said then more casually than he felt continued," where were you?"

Her fist clenched behind her.

She walked closer, unhurried.

"The Titam kingdom sent delegates. "

Her tone remained even as though she was stating something insignificant.

"They came to discuss what happened. "

His brows lifted.

"Already, " he said. He leaned back a little exhaling, " figures."

Her eyes twitched. She let out a small sigh barely audible. Her gaze stayed on Atheline as he processed it.

His eyes widened as it clicked.

"Wait," he looked at her again, more focused this time," they came here, right? That means... "

"They offered compensation, " she cut in her voice sharp," resources. Access to their coastal routes."

His expression subtly shifted then it became clearer.

"... seriously."

There it was, a flicker of genuine interest.

"Thats actually..."

"Atheline," she called cutting him off.

He turned to her with a smile on his lips. The possibilities were endless. What they had gotten was more than he had expected.

’We can search for the moon crystals’ location without having diplomatic problems... this is better than expected’

The coordinates were around the border of the kingdom.

He glanced up at her, his smile reducing.

"That’s good," he simply said, but there was weight in his words," really good."

Her gaze didn’t move from him but it got sharper and sharper with each of his words. Her expression was the opposite of his.

"You’re pleased," she stated coldly.