I woke up shortly after sunrise.
For the first time in a long while, I didn't have to wake up early because of an urgent mission, an important meeting, or an imminent threat. The reason for that morning was much simpler.
We were going on a trip.
I got out of bed, got ready, and headed down to the first floor of the mansion.
Things were already in motion.
Some of the staff were making the final preparations while the girls finished gathering their belongings.
When I arrived at the dining room, I found everyone gathered together.
Scarlett seemed especially excited.
Which was usually a sign that someone would end up being dragged into some kind of trouble.
Fortunately, this time she was simply excited about the trip.
"Finally, you're awake."
I sat down at the table.
"It's not even that early."
"You're late."
"I woke up before most people in the city."
"But after me."
"That's not an argument."
Scarlett flashed a triumphant smile even though she hadn't won the argument at all.
Beside me, Rai'kanna simply shook her head.
Apparently, she had already given up trying to understand her rival's logic.
We had breakfast together while talking about the trip.
Liriel's assistant also seemed excited.
Although she tried to hide it a little, it was easy to notice her curiosity.
She had probably never had the opportunity to do something so simple.
For centuries, her routine had revolved around responsibilities related to divine affairs.
Now she was about to go sightseeing.
It still felt strange whenever I thought about it.
After we finished eating, the final preparations were completed.
A short while later, we were standing in front of the carriage.
The horses were ready.
The luggage had been loaded.
The weather was pleasant.
The clear sky promised a perfect day for traveling.
"Is everyone ready?"
I received positive responses.
Then we finally departed.
The carriage passed through the mansion gates and made its way through the streets of Vailor.
Even after living there for so long, it was still interesting to observe the city.
The streets were bustling.
Merchants were setting up their stalls.
Adventurers walked between the various establishments.
Children played in the town squares.
Life went on as usual.
It was exactly this kind of scenery that I wanted to protect.
Before long, we left the city behind.
The roads stretched out before us.
Green fields extended for great distances.
Small farms appeared from time to time.
A few farmers worked as usual while our group passed by.
The landscape was peaceful.
Very different from the battlefields I had crossed over the past few months.
I leaned back against the carriage seat and watched the scenery through the window.
It felt good to travel without rushing.
Without an urgent destination.
Without any immediate concerns.
Simply enjoying the journey.
The conversations started naturally.
Elara commented on some of the plants growing along the roadside.
Lyannis took the opportunity to explain details she knew about the regions we were passing through.
Liriel quietly observed everything, enjoying the moment.
Meanwhile, her assistant asked questions about almost everything.
"What is that building?"
"A windmill."
"And that one?"
"A farm."
"And that other one?"
"Another farm."
She stared out the window for a few seconds.
"Humans really like farms."
I couldn't help laughing.
"We need to eat."
"That explains a lot."
Scarlett laughed as well.
The journey continued at that relaxed pace.
At one point, we passed through a small village.
Some of the villagers recognized our group.
They immediately began greeting us.
Some waved.
Others thanked us for defeating Vaelthor.
A few children even ran after the carriage for several meters.
My fame had really grown a lot.
It was still something I found difficult to get used to.
After we left the village behind, the assistant gave me a curious look.
"They really like you."
I scratched the back of my neck.
"I wouldn't put it that way."
"They just ran after the carriage."
"That doesn't mean anything."
"Takumi."
"All right, maybe it means a little."
The girls burst into laughter.
Unfortunately, I knew I had no argument left at that point.
The rest of the morning passed pleasantly.
As we continued forward, the scenery gradually changed.
The open fields gave way to more wooded areas.
A few hills began to appear.
Small streams crossed the region.
The weather also became a little cooler.
Around noon, we decided to take a break.
We found a pleasant spot near a stream.
Nothing luxurious.
Just a peaceful place surrounded by trees.
We got out of the carriage to stretch our legs.
It was a relief.
Spending hours sitting wasn't exactly comfortable.
While some prepared a simple meal, I took the opportunity to walk around the area for a while.
The stream flowed gently over the rocks.
The sound was relaxing.
For a few minutes, I simply stood there admiring the scenery.
Then I heard footsteps behind me.
It was the assistant.
She walked over and stopped beside me.
"It's beautiful."
"Yeah."
She looked at the water.
"It's been a long time since I've seen something like this in person."
That caught my attention.
"In person?"
"I used to observe many things from afar."
That made sense.
She could watch the world without necessarily being present.
But there was clearly a difference between observing and experiencing.
She seemed to be discovering that now.
After a few minutes, we returned to the group.
The meal was simple but enjoyable.
Everyone was relaxed.
No worries.
No tension.
No need to discuss battle strategies.
When we finished eating, we resumed our journey.
The afternoon passed even more peacefully.
Some of the girls dozed off during the ride.
Others kept chatting.
At one point, Scarlett started telling exaggerated stories about some of our old missions.
Naturally, a good portion of them had been embellished.
"That didn't happen."
"It did."
"It didn't."
"It did."
"Scarlett."
"What?"
"I was there."
She fell silent for a few seconds.
"Maybe I improved a few details."
"You made up half the story."
"The important parts are still there."
Laughter once again filled the inside of the carriage.
Even Vespera ended up smiling faintly.
The rest of the afternoon continued in that lighthearted atmosphere.
The hours passed more quickly than I expected.
Before I realized it, the sun was already beginning to sink toward the horizon.
The golden afternoon light covered the road.
The shadows grew longer.
The scenery looked almost like a painting.
Then Lyannis pointed ahead.
"I think we're almost there."
Everyone turned toward the window.
I looked in the same direction.
Far away, nestled among the hills, the first signs of the town came into view.
A few buildings appeared on the horizon.
Thin columns of steam could be seen rising into the sky.
Even from that distance, the place was unmistakable.
The hot springs.
A smile naturally appeared on my face.
It had been quite some time since my last visit.
The town looked exactly as I remembered it.
Peaceful.
Welcoming.
Different from the rest of the world.
The assistant moved closer to the window.
Her eyes were filled with curiosity.
"So that's it?"
"Yes."
She looked at the columns of steam in the distance.
"Interesting."
"This is only the beginning."
The carriage continued moving forward slowly.
With each passing minute, the town drew closer.
The buildings became more distinct.
The roads grew busier.
The signs of life became more evident.
As I watched that scenery approach, I felt a strange sense of peace.
For a long time, my journey had been defined by battles.
By danger.
By responsibilities.
But at that moment, none of that existed.
Just a journey.
Just friends.
Just a few days of rest.
And, for the first time in a long while, it felt like exactly what I needed.
Little by little, the hot spring town completely filled the horizon.
Our arrival was close.