The mansion had never felt so… alive.
I realized that early in the morning when I woke up to voices coming from the hallway. They weren't worried or tense voices like before dangerous missions. They were light, almost relaxed. A subtle difference, but one that completely changed the atmosphere.
I got out of bed and stretched slowly. My body no longer carried any trace of the previous battle. Everything was functioning perfectly, perhaps even better than before. Even so, the feeling of being on alert never completely disappeared.
I left my room and found Lyannis organizing some papers on a table near the window.
"You've already started the day working?" I asked.
She quickly looked up.
"Someone has to keep this mansion running," she replied. "And you tend to ignore important details."
"That's your fault for never letting anything slip by," I said.
She adjusted the papers with precision.
"Someone has to do it properly."
I went downstairs and headed to the main hall. The smell of food had already filled the room. Vespera was near the table, arranging the plates with calm movements.
"Good morning," she said without looking directly at me.
"Good morning," I replied. "How long have you been at this already?"
"Long enough," she answered simply.
Shortly afterward, Scarlett appeared, pulling out a chair.
"Finally awake," she said. "I thought you were going to sleep all day."
"I don't have that luxury," I replied.
Rai'kanna entered soon after, wearing a calm expression as she observed the room.
"It's quiet today," she commented.
"Is that a problem?" Liriel asked, appearing right behind her.
"No," Rai'kanna replied. "It's just different."
Elara was the last to appear, leaning against the wall, as always observing everything in silence before approaching.
"Let's eat," she said.
We sat down. The table was full. It was a simple moment, but rare in a way. No rush, no urgency. Just routine.
After breakfast, we decided to go on a mission together. Not out of necessity, but to maintain our rhythm and also to avoid becoming completely idle.
"What mission?" Scarlett asked.
"A request nearby," I replied. "Nothing complicated."
"Great," Liriel commented. "It's been a while since we had something easy."
We followed the road leading to a nearby forested area. The journey was peaceful. The sound of footsteps, leaves being carried by the wind, everything felt calmer than usual.
"Did you notice?" Rai'kanna asked.
"Notice what?" I replied.
"Everything feels… light."
"Yes," Vespera said in a low tone. "But that doesn't mean it will stay that way."
"You two really know how to ruin the mood," Scarlett commented.
When we arrived, we found the problem quickly. Several smaller creatures had gathered near a village, probably attracted by food or territory.
Nothing out of control.
"Let's finish this quickly," I said.
We moved together. This time, I didn't need to go alone or completely take the front line. Everyone moved with precision.
Scarlett charged first, fast, eliminating two targets with direct movements. Elara followed right behind, not wasting a single strike. Liriel used magic to stop the advance of the remaining creatures. Rai'kanna covered the flank, preventing any escape. Vespera maintained constant support, while Lyannis analyzed and adjusted everything with control magic.
I simply finished what remained.
Within a few minutes, everything was resolved.
"That was fast," Scarlett said, cleaning her blade.
"Coordinated," Lyannis corrected.
"Same thing," Scarlett replied.
"It's not," Lyannis argued.
"Are you two going to start?" Liriel asked with a sigh.
Rai'kanna laughed lightly.
"I think that's part of the routine now too."
We returned without any rush. The village thanked us, but there was no reason to prolong things. It was simply another completed mission.
By the time we reached the mansion, the sun was already beginning to set. Golden light filled the garden, creating an even greater sense of tranquility.
I spent some time organizing a few simple matters while the others followed their own routines. Nothing urgent, nothing heavy.
Later, everyone eventually gathered in the main hall. Casual conversations, comments about the mission, small teasing exchanges between them. It was… natural.
"You're quiet," Liriel commented, looking at me.
"I'm just observing," I replied.
"What?" she asked.
"This," I said, making a slight gesture around us.
Scarlett crossed her arms.
"Get used to it. Not everything has to be war."
"I know," I replied.
And for the first time, it wasn't just an automatic answer.
It was true.
That routine… those small interactions… they were also part of something greater.
Later, I went up to my room. The night was already quiet, the sky clear.
I approached the window and stared outside for a few seconds.
Nothing was happening.
No immediate threat.
No enemy appearing.
Just… peace.
I took a deep breath.
Maybe Rai'kanna was right.
Maybe I really needed to accept these moments instead of simply waiting for the next problem.
I stepped away from the window and turned off the light.
As I lay down, a single certainty crossed my mind.
If this was what we were protecting…
Then it was worth it.
I closed my eyes.
And let the silence take over.