While Aether and Chad were lost in their own conversation elsewhere, the scene shifted back to Kaelith.
He sat with the others inside the small wooden love nest he had built with his own hands, a quiet sanctuary shaped by care and stubborn devotion. Every plank and beam carried intention, chosen not for grandeur but for safety, for warmth, for her.
Here, no one would question him. No one would raise a blade or whisper threats against him or his beloved. That certainty was why he chose this place, why he allowed himself to breathe, to indulge in monts of peace while carrying only a single, distant worry instead of a thousand.
Enough about their love life for now...
Kaelith lowered himself into the chair with a heavy groan, sounding like an old man far older than his years. He exhaled slowly, then lifted his gaze toward the gathered figures.
"So," he said at last, "What is it that everyone wanted to talk about?"
His eyes moved instinctively to Maelona beside him. Aria sat close, while Kaelen and Liora occupied the right side.
Maelona drew in a steady breath, fingers tightening around the docunt she held as if anchoring herself.
With an echo of authority she had worn for years, she said,
"Kaelith Zephyr forrly held the titles of Emperor of the Aerionis Zephyra Empire and King of the High Elves. These titles were recognised by law, lineage, and the will of the tribes."
She paused briefly,
"In ti, Kaelith Zephyr was formally removed from the Crown. He thereafter accepted the position of Elder of the High Elves, while retaining the title of King, as permitted under tribal governance."
Kaelith nodded again, slower this ti.
Her fingers tightened subtly around the docunt as she continued, her tone unwavering.
"Subsequently, due to his personal union with an Elven male, a union that broke the natural order, Kaelith Zephyr voluntarily relinquished the title of King. Though this act was not enacted through legal decree, its effect was recognised in practice.
At that ti, authority over the High Elves Tribe was entrusted to Maelona Zephyr, his lawful spouse, under the designation of Temporary Authority."
Kaelith released a quiet sigh, his head dipping forward with a small nod.
"Later," Maelona said, pausing only briefly,
"Upon the dissolution of our marriage, Kaelith Zephyr ceded full governing control of the High Elves Tribe to , Maelona Zephyr. From that mont onward, Maelona Zephyr assud the role of ruling authority of High Elves, while he still continued to hold the position of Elder."
Kaelith nodded calmly, though sothing unreadable flickered behind his eyes.
Maelona inhaled once more, then rose from her seat. Her spine straightened, and when she spoke again, her voice carried a quiet finality.
"However, after careful review of tribal law, bloodline authority, and ancestral doctrine, I acknowledge that my rule no longer stands upon a legitimate foundation."
Kaelith blinked in shock.
"I therefore declare, before all witnesses present, that I relinquish my position as Ruler of the High Elves Tribe. This decision is rendered by my own will, in accordance with law, tradition, and responsibility to the tribe’s future."
She inclined her head slightly, "From this mont onward, I no longer claim governance over the High Elves Tribe."
Kaelith’s eyes widened. He turned toward her sharply, disbelief breaking through his composure.
"What the—"
"Father," Aria interrupted gently, her hand closing around his. Her voice was calm, steady, yet filled with concern. "Please let Mother finish."
Kaelith blinked, drew in a breath, and nodded. His grip tightened briefly around Aria’s hand before he turned back to Maelona, signalling for her to continue.
Maelona t his gaze, her expression solemn.
"Maelona Zephyra does not possess true authority over the High Elves Tribe," she said with precise words, "Nor does she carry their bloodline. I was an outsider who married their King. Through that union, I held authority equal to the King’s, though never above him."
She paused, eyes flicking briefly to the docunt.
"But the King relinquished his seat, and the marriage itself was rendered null. With that, the foundation of my authority collapsed. By tribunal law and by tradition, I no longer hold power over the High Elves Tribe—"
"Maelona," Kaelith cut in, his voice firm but strained. "As long as I am the one granting permission, you hold that authority. I stated it clearly in the docunt. Even after the divorce, I gave you the right to govern the High Elves Tribe."
"That is not how it works, Elder Kaelith," Kaelen said, finally speaking with a serious tone.
"Your Majesty?"
"The Elder and the Ruler of a tribe must be one who bears the bloodline of that sa tribe," Kaelen said steadily. "None other is permitted to rule them."
Kaelith frowned, lines deepening between his brows as he folded his arms.
"I know that law," he replied. "But I gave her authority while placing our daughter as the next in line. Aria carries the bloodline of the High Elves. There is nothing wrong with that arrangent."
Kaelen nodded once, acknowledging the logic without yielding to it.
"We understand that," he said. "But it does not erase the fact that Maelona Zephyra belongs to the Moon Elves Tribe. Even if she is the last of her kind, as long as she lives, she remains the Elder and representative of her tribe. One person cannot hold more than one Elder position, not even across tribes."
Kaelith blinked, his thoughts stumbling over themselves. For a brief mont, his face reflected pure disbelief, "But she is the only one left," he protested. "That is not a tribe to begin with—"
His words froze.
A soft glow blood between them as a blue butterfly appeared on Maelona’s open palm. Its wings shimred faintly.
Kaelith stared, stunned.
"Y-You cannot possibly consider a butterfly as a mber of a tribe," he said. "Are you?"
Kaelen leaned back slightly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Then can it be considered for the ritual you perford yesterday?" he asked calmly.
Silence fell over the room.
Kaelith’s breath slowed, his mouth closing as the implication struck him. He said nothing, his eyes fixed on the fragile creature resting on Maelona’s hand.
Kaelen’s smile softened,
"The mont you believed in it," he said, "the mont you accepted that butterfly as her and Da-Lord Aether’s living essence child, it beca one of us. From that instant onward, it was a mber of a tribe, Elder Kaelith."
Kaelith blinked again, his gaze never leaving the butterfly. A long sigh escaped him, heavy and resigned.
"Does it even have the blood of a Moon Elf?" he asked quietly.
Maelona nodded,
"She was born from ," she said. "She carries the aura of a Moon Elf. I believe in that truth, and I accept her as my child. Therefore, she is a Moon Elf."
Kaelith groaned softly, lifting a hand to rub the bridge of his nose. His shoulders sagged as if the argunt had drained years from him.
"When did a butterfly stop being just a butterfly and beco an elf? What the heck?" he muttered. After a mont, he straightened, "What are you all trying to achieve?"
Maelona smiled, though there was sadness behind it.
"Please co back," she said. "Take care of your tribe again. They are your people. Whether they admit it or not, they love you far more than they ever loved ."
She lowered her gaze briefly before eting his eyes again.
"You were once their King and their Emperor. Of course, they favour you. Even the Elders lean toward you, while I struggled just to earn the support of one."
Kaelith gave a weak smile, emotion flickering behind it.
"I understand where you are coming from," he said softly. "But what I do not understand is why now. Everything was going well. You ruled the tribe wisely. Soon, Aria and her husband would have taken over—"
"No," Kaelen interrupted firmly.
Kaelith turned to him.
"My father, Lord Aether, cannot hold Elder authority over your tribe," Kaelen continued. "He does not carry the blood of the High Elves."
Kaelith frowned deeper.
"But the whole world bowed before him," he argued. "You saw it with your own eyes. Even you knelt before him."
Kaelen nodded.
"Because he holds a special authority," he replied. "One that none of us possess. Unfortunately, I cannot reveal its nature. What I can say is this."
He leaned forward slightly, "Every Elder in the council voted yes to a new law created solely for my father. Every single one. It was the first unanimous decision in history. Because of that, he cannot side with your tribe... nor with ours, Elder Kaelith."
Kaelith blinked slowly, "Every Elder?" he asked. "What about ? Why have I not heard of this?"
Kaelen flinched, "Oops... Forgot to inform you, Elder... No, Mr. Kaelith. You are no longer the Elder of the High Elves," he said.
"Huh?" Kaelith uttered, genuinely stunned.
Kaelen continued.
"Since my mother remains the Elder of Darkfang, we decided to appoint Aria as the Elder of the High Elves. It is a mirrored authority, created to stabilise the balance between the tribes."
Kaelith frowned, his brows knitting together as frustration tightened his chest.
"I understand where it is coming from," he said slowly. "But without my permission, or even my presence, you cannot simply erase my role. You cannot pretend I no longer exist."
Liora tilted her head slightly, a faint smirk forming as she crossed her arms.
"Actually, he can," she replied. "The Emperor has the authority to remove an Elder who failed to fulfil his duties for the past century. That power exists, and it applies here."
The words struck harder than expected.
Kaelith fell silent. It was not as if they were wrong. He had missed countless council etings, ignored votes, and more than once learned of decisions long after they were finalised. He had neglected his responsibilities, whether by choice or exhaustion.
Liora continued, her voice steady and unapologetic.
"And considering your direct descendant is present and eligible, the process beca far easier than usual."
Kaelith’s hand curled into a tight fist. Disgust twisted across his face, betrayal flashing openly in his eyes.
"Why go this far?" he demanded. "Why could you not simply inform ?"
"Would you have accepted it, Father?" Aria interrupted.
Kaelith blinked, the answer lodging painfully in his throat. He knew it imdiately.... He would not have accepted it.
"That is why we did this," Aria continued, "Father, I know you feel betrayed, but we did not have a choice."
Kaelith turned fully toward her, pain etched into every line of his face.
"Why?" he asked quietly. "Why are all of you doing this? Why?"
Aria leaned closer, her eyes burning with emotion she had held back for far too long.
"Why?" she echoed. "Of course it is for you, Father. Who else would it be for? I want my father to walk proudly through the streets again, chest lifted, eyes forward... like the Emperor he once was."
Her voice trembled slightly, though she did not stop.
"I want to see people look up to you again. I want you to feel that pride, that strength. Is that truly wrong?"
Kaelith’s lips trembled, his breath unsteady.
"B-But," he stamred. "Do you really think it would end well? For and... her?"
Aria reached out and held his hand, her grip firm yet gentle.
"Father," she said softly. "How long do you plan to hide here? There are laws that protect you. There are laws that protect both of you. Why hesitate now?"
She lifted her gaze, "Everything was fine, and even today. Aether, my husband, brought the entire world for your marriage!"
Kaelith smiled faintly, weak and sorrowful.
"My dear," he said quietly. "You are still too young to understand. Those Elders and the people, even if they smile to our faces, will whisper behind us."
His voice dropped lower, almost breaking.
"And she may look strong on the outside, but she is easily broken apart.
She is like a fragile flower. I do not want them to hurt her."
He gently pulled his hand away, his fingers trembling.
"Please," he begged. "Just leave us here. We will be fine. We will live quietly, happily. Please, dear. Just once more... For your father."
Aria’s eyes trembled as she lowered her head, sha and sorrow crashing into her at once. She had done all of this for him. She wanted to see him bright again, proud again, just as he was when she was young.
He had always been the one she looked up to.
Kaelith nodded once, forcing himself to stand firm.
"If that is all," he said quietly, "then please leave."
He waved his hand dismissively, though it shook more than he wanted to admit.
Aria and the others sat frozen as they sighed and decided to leave him alone for the ti being, when...
Maelona parted her lips at last.
"Then what about ?" she asked furious tone.
"Huh?" Kaelith blinked, turning toward her in surprise.
Maelona exhaled sharply, irritation flashing across her face as she looked straight at him.
"You are a selfish fucking bastard!" she snapped, clenching the docunt in her hand.
The room stiffened.
No one had ever heard her speak to Kaelith like that.
A sudden flutter of wings filled the air.
"Fucking bastard... Selfish bastard.... Selfish fucking bastard."
The blue butterfly, Elona, darted upward, circling Kaelith furiously.
User Comments
0 comments from readers