Klaith closed the book halfway, his lips curving slightly.

"Ah," he said softly, " now we reach the real question."

He stared at Atheline for a moment, lost in thought. Klaith had been alive long enough to see the change in rulers and how they ruled.

Though he rarely interfered but recorded history as it was, it didn’t mean he would leave the kingdom to fall. He didn’t want the peace they were experiencing to end too soon.

Klaith didn’t really care if his future king was a high elf or another species, his faith was in Lilith as she had been trying to push the kingdom to a better place.

’Though violently’

As long as it remains standing he wouldn’t mind training the new addition to the royal family since he was clever as it is.

Atheline’s eagerness to learn and integrate into the kingdom while still maintaining his attachment to his kingdom had shown him that he could at least be trusted.

Klaith had expected Atheline to come visit since her majesty had informed him before his visit and was given enough time to prepare an overview that would help him choose, since it was clear he was stuck between politics and the military.

While military logics were simple and straightforward, politics wasn’t.

He shook his thoughts away.

"Historically," Klaith continued," control of such resources determines not just defense but authority.

He tapped his finger on the book lightly.

"If the military holds it," Atheline said, following the thought," their influence grows."

"Yes."

"If the council holds it..."

"They control distribution," Klaith finished, " which means they control loyalty."

’And if she holds it..."

He didn’t need to finish the thought, both of them knew. It was already happening at the moment, she held total control of both departments.

Noble factions, commoner factions, and the military factions were all trying to get on her good side.

Atheline was now tasting the true feeling of being in true power and he was starting to like it a lot.

"Then there is the third case," Klaith quietly said.

Atheline stilled.

"Go on."

"When such resources are held by a singular figure... outside traditional structures."

Silence settled between them.

"What happens?" He asked.

Klaith’s expression didn’t change but his voice slightly lowered.

"Everything depends on that individual."

That was pretty obvious.

"No balancing force," he continued," no distribution of power... only personal will."

’Isn’t that what the last king did’

"Instability," he quietly said.

Klaith didn’t disagree.

Atheline finally opened one of the books, scanning the texts without really seeing them because he had already formed the answer.

Just from those two conversations and Lilith’s compilations, the difference was distinct.

While the general wanted the crystals to move, the council most definitely wanted full control of them.

Atheline could relate to this since his father funded his own military. They owned three mines of sunfire crystals since the council has most of the crystals control but the distribution is always fair but too little to sustain everything.

It’s just that in the dark elf kingdom, they were still contending against each other since the royal family generally held control over most of the mines. That was why the four mountains were under the largest veins but no one touched them since they do provide aether for the court just like how the world tree does it.

Most nobles here probably had mines at the furthest or remote corners of the kingdom in order not to be found and forced to report them to the kingdom.

Who would want to share their spoils?

Atheline’s fingers stilled on the page as the thoughts poured into his mind.

"You’re thinking?" Klaiths asked in a lowered voice.

"Yes."

"Good," he said," most people stop at choosing sides. Just floating between the two."

Atheline exhaled quietly.

"I don’t have the luxury. "

"No," Klaith said, his tone mysterious," you have a different one."

He glanced at him.

"Which is?"

The faintest hint of a knowing smile appeared.

"Access," he said, looking down at the closed book," use it carefully. This will determine a lot of things in the future."

He knew what he meant. Access to Lilith isn’t just influence, it’s a risk he had already taken on.

He closed the book having understood enough, for now.

"The dark elf soldiers," he said, shifting slightly, "let’s say, if the stones were given to them directly, what would happen?"

Klaith considered for a moment.

"They would use them efficiently," he said," immediately and without hesitation."

"And politically?"

"The actions might signify trust," he replied," or defiance. No one wants the military to grow too fast and too much. Power will always align itself with paranoia."

He nodded slowly.

"Thank you."

Klaith inclined his head slightly.

"No problem your highness. If you require more..."

"I will."

Atheline watched as Klaith turned towards his reception area, disappearing behind the bookshelves.

He went back to his books, understanding flashing before him. He knew at the moment that the general wasn’t asking for resources but a shift of power while the council was trying to keep control.

Through all, Lilith was clearly looking down at them understanding the little dynamics and watching them play circus before her without the motive to create any sort of change.

.

.

.

Evenings come faster when time doesn’t favour you. Atheline glanced outside, night had already started to settle in and his joy of reading eventually came to an end.

He closed the book quietly, returning it to its original shelf before he left the library.

By the time he reached their room, the day’s exhaustion started to fade away slowly his low mood improving.

He pushed the door open without ceremony.

Lilith was already inside. Seated near the low table of the half-opened window, a book rested in her hand while a small tray was set neatly beside her.

Tea was already poured, still untouched with thin curls of steam rising from it.

"How has your day been?" Atheline asked, closing the door sofly behind him.

He started to remove his outer clothes without waiting for her answer.

She didn’t answer him immediately her gaze fixed on him as he changed into something more comfortable to wear.

"Did you go to the library?" She asked her gaze moving back to the book she was clearly not reading.

"Yes."

He took a seat next to her, leaning slightly against the seat the days tension finally drained away when he got into her orbit.

"The tea is almost cold."

Her voice came without looking up.

He picked the still-hot tea and took a small sip.

"Sorry... I lost track of time, the library took longer than expected."

A page turned.

"Mmh."

He moved closer to her, placing her leg on his thighs rubbing it softly.

"How long have you been here,?"

"A while."

She finally looked up again.