He remembered the welcoming banquet from the previous evening. The careful smiles, the deliberately vague answers, and the way both Lilith and Atheline had avoided every question regarding where they intended to travel.
At the time... he had already understood they were hiding something because whatever they sought required secrecy. He couldn’t even blame them. If their positions had been reversed... He would have done exactly the same.
"They never lied." Seragus mused. "They simply never answered."
The ministers slowly began understanding. The Head of Intelligence spoke first.
"So... the western city was a decoy?"
Seragus pointed toward him.
"Exactly. They knew perfectly well we’d keep an eye on them, as we should. They’re foreign rulers traveling through our territory; it would be irresponsible not to."
He folded his arms.
"So... they gave our intelligence network something to watch."
The realization spread across the room.
"They wanted to disappear after arriving there."
Seragus nodded.
"I’d wager they left before dawn using methods our agents never anticipated."
The Head of Intelligence lowered his head.
"My apologies, Your Majesty."
Seragus waved dismissively.
"Don’t apologize. If my intelligence service could effortlessly follow Queen Lilith... I’d be more concerned."
Soft laughter spread through several younger officers. The older ministers, however, still looked uneasy. The Minister of Defense cleared his throat.
"Even so... Shouldn’t we attempt to locate them? What if they encounter danger?"
That question made Seragus laugh again, though more quietly this time.
"Danger?" He smiled broadly. "Minister, you’re speaking about the woman who united the Dark Elven Kingdom under one crown and the man who was crazy enough to fall in love with her."
He shook his head.
"If something dangerous finds them, I’ll pray for whatever made that mistake."
A few ministers couldn’t help smiling. The image was admittedly amusing. Before anyone could continue, another familiar voice entered the chamber.
"I heard our honored guests have gone missing."
Prince Lucifer walked through the open doors with his usual relaxed confidence. The crown prince bowed respectfully toward his father before looking around the room.
"I leave for sword practice, and the entire palace falls into chaos."
Several ministers sighed.
"Your Highness... this is serious."
Lucifer nodded.
"I know."
He looked toward his father.
"So... they slipped away?"
Seragus grinned.
"They certainly did."
Lucifer chuckled.
"Sounds like Atheline."
Several ministers looked toward the prince.
"You expected this?"
Lucifer shrugged.
"We spent weeks together during the moon crystal negotiations and after his coronation. "
He smiled at the memory. Atheline had never enjoyed unnecessary attention. Whenever formal meetings ended, he had quietly disappeared to explore workshops, libraries, or marketplaces instead of attending endless banquets with the dark Elven nobility.
"He always preferred solving problems himself." Lucifer folded his arms. "If he wanted people following him, he’d have noticed, and if he didn’t... well."
He smiled.
"Our intelligence officers never stood a chance."
The Head of Intelligence sighed dramatically.
"I suddenly feel very unappreciated."
Several people laughed. The tension inside the chamber eased considerably.
Seragus finally stood from his throne, his expression growing slightly more serious.
"Listen carefully."
The room immediately quieted.
"No search parties, military patrols, or attempts to locate them."
The Minister of Defense looked surprised.
"But Your Majesty..."
Seragus raised one hand.
"They came here willingly and hid their destination deliberately. If we chase after them... we’ll only interfere."
He slowly descended the steps before the throne.
"More importantly... If Queen Lilith and King Atheline are investigating something significant enough to evade an entire royal intelligence network... then I trust their judgment."
He stopped beside one of the great windows overlooking the Demonic Capital.
"They accepted our hospitality and respected our kingdom; the least we can do is respect their decision."
The ministers remained silent. One by one, they nodded. Seragus smiled faintly as he looked toward the distant eastern mountains barely visible on the horizon.
"Besides..." He murmured almost to himself. "I have a feeling, the next time we meet, they’ll have one incredible story to tell."
.
.
.
Night settled completely over the ancient forest. Moonlight filtered through the immense canopy in scattered silver beams, illuminating only fragments of the world around them. Beyond the circle of their small campfire, darkness stretched endlessly between the colossal trees.
The fire wasn’t truly necessary. Neither Lilith nor Atheline feared the beasts that roamed the forest. It simply provided a point of reference in a place where even direction itself could no longer be trusted.
The little fox remained awake. Curled beside Lilith, she stared into the darkness with unusually alert eyes, her ears twitching every few moments. Whatever instincts she possessed were telling her the same thing as its masters.
This forest wasn’t normal.
Morning arrived quietly.
Atheline extinguished the campfire with a small stream of Water before packing away their belongings.
"We try again."
Lilith nodded.
"But differently this time."
He smiled.
"I was hoping you’d say that."
If brute force had failed, then they would approach the problem as scholars rather than rulers.
They returned to the stone marker where they had spent the previous evening. This time, instead of immediately walking forward, Lilith carefully examined every carved line upon its weathered surface.
The symbol itself was elegant despite the passage of countless ages. Three crescents, a tiny star, and countless smaller lines connecting them. She traced one finger across the carvings.
"They aren’t decorative."
Atheline stepped closer.
"You think they’re functional?"
"I think..." She narrowed her eyes. "...they’re channels."
He immediately understood. Just as modern manipulators carved circles to guide Aether, ancient civilizations had done the same. Only with techniques largely forgotten after the Cataclysm.
Rather than experimenting immediately, they continued examining the surrounding area. Within another hour, they discovered six additional stone pillars hidden beneath roots, vines, and centuries of moss.
None stood in a straight line; instead, when viewed together... they formed a rough circle nearly two hundred meters across.
Atheline stood in the center.
"This isn’t a road."
Lilith slowly nodded.
"No. It never was." She looked from one pillar to the next. "It’s a structure and a very large one at that."