The applause continued for a few moments after the last firework disappeared into the sky. Little by little, people began to stand up and make their way back to the city. Some were still talking about the spectacle. Others simply walked in silence, enjoying the pleasant atmosphere of the night.
We remained on the hill for a little while longer.
No one seemed to be in a hurry to leave.
Perhaps because everyone was enjoying the tranquility.
Perhaps because moments like these were rare.
The night breeze continued to blow gently while the city's lights shone in the distance. There was still plenty of activity in the streets, but from up here everything seemed much calmer.
Elara was the first to break the silence.
"It was beautiful."
"It really was."
I replied.
She smiled.
"I think that was one of the best festivals I've ever been to."
"You say that every time you find good food."
Lyannis said.
Elara pretended to be offended.
"That is a very serious accusation."
"But it's true."
Vespera commented.
Her response came so naturally that even I ended up laughing.
Elara crossed her arms.
"You're all so mean."
"But they're right."
Scarlett added.
That answer drew even more laughter from the group.
Even Elara ended up laughing.
It was hard to stay upset when no one was taking the argument seriously.
While they talked, I looked at the city once again.
The streets were still illuminated.
Music continued to echo in the distance.
Several lanterns floated above the river.
The scene was beautiful.
Simple.
But beautiful.
After a few minutes, Liriel's assistant walked over and sat beside me.
She also looked out at the scenery.
For a while, neither of us said anything.
Then she broke the silence.
"You seem different."
I looked at her.
"Different how?"
"More at peace."
I thought about it for a moment.
"Maybe I am."
"It's rare to see you like this."
She wasn't wrong.
Over the past few months, my life had been nothing but one problem after another.
There was always some danger.
Some mission.
Some enemy.
Some responsibility.
It was difficult to simply relax.
"You've changed a lot since the first time we met."
She continued.
"Everyone says that."
"Because it's true."
There was no arguing with that.
I really had changed.
When I first arrived in this world, I was nothing more than someone lost, trying to understand where I was.
Now the situation was completely different.
I had allies.
Responsibilities.
Lands.
Influence.
And enemies far more dangerous than before.
The assistant continued looking at the city.
"But some things are still the same."
"Like what?"
"You're still more concerned about others than yourself."
I remained silent for a few seconds.
Maybe she was right.
Maybe she wasn't.
But before I could answer, Liriel walked over.
"Are you two having a serious conversation without me?"
"Maybe."
I replied.
She sat down beside me.
"Then I want to join."
The assistant sighed.
"You're still the same."
"That's a compliment."
"It wasn't a compliment."
Liriel simply smiled.
It was amazing how the two of them sometimes seemed like sisters.
The conversation gradually expanded to include the rest of the group.
Little by little, everyone began talking about various topics.
Old memories resurfaced.
Funny moments from past journeys.
Missions that had gone wrong.
Embarrassing situations.
Things that had seemed like enormous problems at the time, but had now become nothing more than amusing stories.
At one point, Rai'kanna commented,
"Now that I think about it, it's strange."
"What is?"
I asked.
"It's been a long time since we fought a giant monster."
Scarlett immediately responded.
"Don't say that."
"Why?"
"Because every time someone says something like that, trouble shows up."
I laughed.
"That sounds like superstition."
"Maybe it is."
She replied.
"But I don't want to take the risk."
Even Vespera agreed.
"Our track record isn't on our side."
That made everyone laugh again.
The truth was that there really was a strange pattern to our journeys.
Whenever everything seemed too peaceful, some kind of problem always ended up appearing.
But that night, no one wanted to think about that.
The conversation continued.
We talked about the city.
About the tournament.
About the hot springs.
About places we still wanted to visit.
Then Lyannis asked an unexpected question.
"When all of this is over, what do you all plan to do?"
The group fell silent.
It was a simple question.
But it was also a difficult one.
Because everyone knew what she was talking about.
The Demon King.
The war.
The future.
Elara was the first to answer.
"I want to travel."
"More than we already have?"
I asked.
"Yes."
She nodded.
"But without monsters trying to kill me."
"That sounds like an improvement."
Liriel commented.
Then it was Vespera's turn.
"I want to rest."
"Just that?"
Scarlett asked.
"Just that."
Her answer was so direct that it drew a few laughs.
Lyannis revealed that she wanted to study more magic.
Rai'kanna wanted to continue training.
Scarlett said she planned to find strong opponents.
Which surprised absolutely no one.
Liriel remained thoughtful for a few seconds.
"I think I'd like to spend more time with the people who are important to me."
Her assistant smiled when she heard that.
Then everyone looked at me.
I had already expected that.
"So?"
Elara asked.
"What do you want to do?"
I thought for a few seconds.
The question seemed simple.
But I had never truly reflected on it.
Most of my goals had always been tied to survival.
Then to the war.
Then to the Demon King.
But beyond that...
What did I want?
I looked at my companions.
I looked at the illuminated city.
I looked at the starry sky above us.
Then I answered.
"I want to live in peace."
The answer came naturally.
Without effort.
Without needing much thought.
Because it was true.
I didn't dream of wealth.
Nor fame.
Nor power.
All of those things had lost their importance a long time ago.
What I wanted was something much simpler.
I wanted peaceful days.
I wanted the people who mattered to me by my side.
I wanted to wake up without worrying about another war.
I wanted to live.
That was all.
No one laughed.
No one made any jokes.
Everyone seemed to understand exactly what I meant.
Perhaps because they wanted something similar.
Silence returned for a few moments.
But this time, it was a comfortable silence.
Liriel's assistant was the next to speak.
"You know it won't be easy."
"I know."
I replied.
"But it's worth trying."
She nodded slowly.
"Fate is usually complicated."
"I've noticed."
She let out a quiet laugh.
"At least you've learned that."
That made me smile.
After that, the conversation turned to lighter topics.
We talked about simple things.
Without worries.
Without responsibilities.
Without thinking too much about the future.
The night continued to pass.
The city grew quieter and quieter.
Many people were already returning to their homes.
Others were bringing the festival's activities to an end.
Before I realized it, we had been there for quite a long time.
"We should head back."
Lyannis commented.
"Before Elara falls asleep sitting up."
"I wasn't sleeping."
She replied immediately.
"The fact that you answered so quickly only makes it more suspicious."
Scarlett said.
A few more laughs followed.
Then we finally stood up.
We began walking down the hill toward the city.
As I walked beside them, I felt once again the same sense of peace I had experienced during the fireworks.
It was a simple feeling.
But an incredibly precious one.
Perhaps Liriel's assistant was right.
Fate really was complicated.
Maybe new problems would appear soon.
Maybe the final battle was closer than I imagined.
But that night, none of it mattered.
Because, at least for a few hours, I could simply enjoy the company of the people who had walked beside me throughout that entire journey.
And as the city's lights illuminated our path back to the inn, I realized that some of the most important moments in life were not made of battles or great achievements.
Sometimes, they were simply made of peaceful conversations beneath a starry sky.