Chapter 58: A Shift In Power

Selene's POV

I sat at the head of the long table, my fingers resting against the smooth wood as I listened to the envoys lay out the revised terms of our alliance.

The power balance had shifted, and they knew it. Their words were chosen with caution, careful not to ignite the fury they had just witnessed.

And yet, behind their poised expressions, I could see it—the lingering fear in their eyes, the way their hands hovered close to their belts, as if still expecting the earth to tremble beneath them again.

"The council proposes an open channel between our nations," the envoy leader said.

His voice was steadier now, though I did not miss the way his throat bobbed as he swallowed.

"A delegation from Eldoria will be permitted to maintain residence in Aetheria, as will an Aetherian presence here. This will allow for transparency and prevent future... misinterpretations."

Axel leaned back in his chair beside me, arms crossed. "No forced envoy? No collateral?"

He sounded unimpressed.

The leader's lips pressed into a thin line. "No. We see now that such terms were unnecessary. Our only condition is that Eldoria does not seek retribution against those who stood aside during its fall."

I tilted my head slightly. "You mean against you."

A tense silence followed. The woman beside him, the one who had smirked earlier, now looked away.

"Yes," the leader admitted.

"Aetheria remained neutral during Eldoria's collapse, and not all in our city agree with our decision. There are those who see your return as a threat, just as there are those who see it as an opportunity. To ensure peace, we need certainty that Eldoria does not seek war."

"Eldoria seeks to rebuild, not destroy," I said, my voice firm but even.

"If Aetheria honors this alliance, then we will as well."

The leader let out a slow breath, nodding.

"Then we have an accord."

It should have ended there, but the woman envoy hesitated before reaching into her robes. I tensed for a brief moment, until she withdrew not a weapon, but a scroll. An old one.

The edges were yellowed with age, the ink faintly faded but still legible.

She placed it on the table between us. "There is something else you must know."

I exchanged a glance with Axel before carefully unrolling the parchment. The words were written in an archaic script, but I understood enough.

My pulse quickened as I read the first lines.

A prophecy.

"This was recorded in Aetheria's oldest archives," the woman continued.

"It speaks of Eldoria's rebirth and the return of its true ruler. You."

I clenched my jaw. "And?"

She hesitated. "It is incomplete. It tells of your return, of Eldoria's rise, but the last verses are missing. What we do know is that it warns of a second fall—a greater disaster yet to come."

A chill spread through my chest.

Axel frowned, scanning the text. "Convenient. A prophecy that confirms Selene's return, yet conveniently fails to explain the danger ahead."

"We did not alter it," the leader said quickly.

"This is as it was recorded. The missing parts were lost centuries ago."

I exhaled sharply, willing my mind to focus.

"You said not all in Aetheria agree with this alliance." My eyes lifted to meet the leader's gaze.

"Are we to believe that all in this room do?"

The way his expression stiffened was answer enough.

The feeling struck me then, like ice sliding down my spine. A presence—wrong, out of place.

I turned just as a figure moved at the edge of the room.

Too fast.

The world blurred as a spell detonated near the envoy leader, sending shards of light and force through the air.

Chaos erupted as shouts filled the chamber. Magic flared as blades were drawn. I pushed off my chair, reaching for my power—

And I saw him. One of the envoys, now standing with a dagger poised, his spell still crackling in the air.

Framing us for treachery.

His eyes met mine, and for the briefest moment, I saw the truth in them.

This had never been a negotiation.

It had always been a trap.

The moment of hesitation cost him everything.

Axel was the first to move. In a flash of silver, his blade was summoned into existence, the air humming as he closed the distance between himself and the traitor.

The envoy barely had time to react before Axel's sword knocked the dagger from his grip, sending it clattering to the floor.

The traitor staggered back, his hands crackling with the remnants of the spell he had tried to weave, but Tyra was faster.

She struck low, sweeping his legs out from under him. He hit the ground hard, a choked gasp escaping his lips as he scrambled to regain control.

I stepped forward, my presence casting a long shadow over him as he lay there, panting, his face contorted with frustration and fear.

His eyes darted toward the other envoys, as if seeking help, but they did not move. They only watched, expressions unreadable.

"Tell me," I said, my voice calm despite the fire surging beneath my skin.

"who sent you?"

The traitor spat onto the floor, defiance flashing in his eyes. "Eldoria should have stayed dead. You are a danger to this world. I did what had to be done."

Axel pressed his blade against the man's throat, his expression unreadable. "And yet, here you are—on the ground, outmatched, and outnumbered. Tell me, was it worth it?"

A heavy silence fell over the chamber. The remaining envoys shifted uncomfortably, their previous arrogance now buried under the weight of reality. They had seen enough to know that opposing us was a mistake.

The leader of the envoys finally exhaled, stepping forward with measured grace.

"This man is no longer one of us." His voice carried no warmth, no hesitation.

"His actions were his own, and he will answer for them."

I searched his gaze, looking for signs of deception, but I saw only weariness. The realization that their power, their supposed wisdom, had led them into a situation they could not control.

Two Aetherian guards moved forward, seizing the traitor's arms and pulling him upright. He did not struggle—he knew it was over.

Tyra crossed her arms, watching him with sharp eyes. "You thought you could frame us, turn this alliance into war."

She shook her head. "Not very wise for someone from the so-called Celestial Council."

The leader inclined his head, a subtle acknowledgment of their failure. "This has been an… enlightening experience."

Khael snorted. "That's one way to put it."

The air remained thick with tension as the Aetherian envoys barely managed to regain their composure.

Moments ago, their arrogance had crumbled beneath the weight of undeniable power, leaving them exposed in a way they hadn't anticipated.

But now, they stood before us, struggling to mask their shaken confidence.

The Aetherian envoys, once so composed and condescending, now stood before us with a quiet humility that hadn't been there before.

Their leader exhaled slowly, his gaze flickering to his fellow envoys before finally resting on me.

"We owe you an apology, Lady Selene," he said at last, his voice carefully measured.

"For our unannounced arrival, for our misplaced arrogance, and for… well, making fools of ourselves."

A dry, almost self-deprecating chuckle escaped his lips.

"It seems wisdom was not entirely on our side today."

Tyra let out a scoff, crossing her arms. "Took you long enough to realize that."

The leader did not argue. Instead, he inclined his head, accepting the rebuke.

"We came here believing we held the position of authority, that it was our right to judge you and your kingdom. But it is clear that Eldoria has no need for our validation."

Axel remained silent, but the way he shifted his weight slightly told me he was waiting, observing.

Khael, standing beside him, muttered under his breath, "At least they finally admitted it."

The woman with golden eyes and silver hair that caught the light, stepped forward and placed a hand over her chest in a formal gesture.

"Allow us to correct our earlier mistake. I am Lyra Vael of the Celestial Council, First Speaker of Aetheria. This is Kaelith Dorne, our leader in this delegation."

She motioned toward the man who had spoken earlier. "And our companions—Calen Ryth and Dain Solis. We stand before you not as judges, but as representatives of our people."

Kaelith gave a slow nod, the tension in his shoulders finally easing.

"Despite our missteps, we still wish to extend the offer of alliance. It is clear to us now that Eldoria's rebirth is not a fleeting ambition—it is reality. And reality must be met with respect."

I studied them carefully. Their humility was not just an act to save face; it was genuine.

They had learned today that they were not as untouchable as they once believed. And perhaps, for the first time, they truly saw Eldoria as an equal.

I inclined my head in return. "Your words are noted, Kaelith Dorne. And your apology is accepted. But let's make something clear—if we are to be allies, then there must be mutual respect. There will be no more tests. No more condescension."

Kaelith met my gaze and nodded firmly.

"Agreed."

The room settled into a quieter, more neutral air. The shift in power had been made clear, and now, with their formal introductions at last complete, the Aetherians prepared to take their leave.

But even as they turned to depart, Kaelith turned back one final time, his expression resolute.

"Our alliance shall continue next time in a proper way—one built on respect, not trials and doubt."

To be continued.