Chapter 24 : Bargaining by Aetherlight
Tense silence hung in the glittering cave for several long seconds. Tian Heng and the three elves exchanged steady looks, each side evaluating the other, calculating their next moves. Outwardly calm, Tian Heng's mind was racing—analyzing the elves' body language, noting how aether energy concentrated around the silver-haired leader's staff, gauging distances and potential angles for attack or defense. Beside him, Lilith stood like a statue of shadow and silent threat, her crimson eyes unblinking, locked on the elves.
At last, the elf leader broke the silence again, her voice—though melodic—now laced with icy sharpness.
"Your control?" she said with barely veiled disdain. "No human has set foot in this place for ages, if not longer. This aether is pure power, part of the earth's lifeblood as our spirits understand it. It calls to its kin—the forestborn. Not to your kind… or that."
She flicked her head slightly toward Lilith, her disgust plain.
The other elf girl, sharp-eyed, whispered something quickly to her leader—perhaps pointing out Tian Heng's lack of major injuries despite the shattered guardian, or the strange tools he carried. The young male warrior stayed alert, sword at the ready, his gaze flicking cautiously between Tian Heng and Lilith.
Tian Heng ignored the implied insult and their sense of ancestral entitlement. His goal was to assess the threat—and the intent. He replied with cold firmness:
"The past of this place doesn't matter. I'm here now, and that makes it mine. Either you state your names and purpose clearly, or I'll consider your presence here a hostile act."
After a moment of silence and exchanged glances, the leader answered warily, revealing part of the truth—but not all of it:
"We are not your enemies… for now. We are a scouting party from Willowleaf Haven. The echoes of this great power led us here. This place… may be our last hope."
Tian Heng didn't respond right away. He processed the new information with his analytical mind.
Willowleaf Haven… and a need for aether. That explains their presence—but not their right to it.
He paused, his cool gaze assessing the three before him. Then he asked the question that flipped the table—one they likely hadn't expected, stripped of emotion or politeness:
"Convince me. What do I gain by letting you stay… or even live?"
The three elves' eyes widened, surprise and alarm barely masked. The young warrior gripped his sword in anger and was about to speak, but the leader halted him with a sharp look. Ilara, the leader, realized this human was different. He didn't act from fear, honor, or even the typical hatred—they were dealing with cold, calculated pragmatism. She had to play his game.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her wounded elven pride. Her voice came out measured, offering what she could:
"We possess ancient knowledge of these mountains and depths—of herbs and minerals your kind often ignores. We understand aether training paths that differ from your own."
She gestured to her companions.
"Lyra is a tracker and shadow-walker, skilled at scouting dangerous tunnels and spotting threats. Vailar is a trained warrior—he could aid in defending against threats that exceed your current strength. As for me… I understand the flows of aether and the resonance of crystals in ways your stored machines likely do not."
She was offering skills and knowledge in exchange for survival—and limited access to the aether source. Tian Heng weighed the proposal.
Benefits: Possible new knowledge, useful scouting and defense skills, deeper understanding of aether. Avoiding costly battle. Buying time.
Risks: Shared access to the source (slowing his progress), potential security threat from powerful strangers nearby, chance of betrayal, exposure of part of his plans or abilities.
It was a gamble—but avoiding immediate combat and gaining information and temporary support seemed more advantageous than the risks of open conflict.
"Your knowledge and skills may have value," Tian Heng finally said, his tone still cool and cautious. "You may stay—for now—in the outer area of this cave only, under my strict supervision. Your access to the aether crystals will be limited—and only as I allow it. Any move that raises suspicion, any attempt at deception or stepping beyond the boundaries I set… and the consequences will be very, very severe for you and your so-called Haven."
He fixed his gaze on Ilara.
"As a gesture of good faith, start by telling me about the other dangers you know of in these nearby tunnels."
Ilara hesitated for a moment, weighing her words and limited options. They had secured a chance to stay and access the source—but they were now at the mercy of this cold, mysterious human and his silent demon. It was an uneasy and fragile alliance, built on mutual necessity and deep mistrust. Lilith let out a low hiss, a warning that the elves were being closely watched.
Ilara began to speak slowly and carefully, sharing initial details about crystalline beasts or dangerous fungal growths they'd encountered in nearby tunnels, while Tian Heng listened intently—absorbing every word, already thinking of how best to use his new, temporary allies to achieve his own ends.