The following morning arrived under clear skies and pleasant weather.
When I opened my eyes, it took me a few seconds to remember that I was in the Kingdom of Giants. Over the past few months, I had traveled through so many kingdoms, fortresses, battlefields, and different cities that sometimes it took me a while to get my bearings after waking up.
I got out of bed, got dressed, and walked onto the room's balcony.
The giants' castle was still just as impressive as the first time I had seen it.
Down below, I could see guards patrolling the surroundings, staff members carrying out their duties, and a few residents coming and going from the main area.
Everything seemed peaceful.
No rushing.
No worries.
No signs of war.
For a moment, I simply stood there watching the scene.
It was strange to think that only a few months earlier, I had been fighting demonic armies.
Now I was standing there watching people begin another ordinary day.
After a while, I headed downstairs for breakfast.
The girls were already gathered around a large table prepared by the castle staff.
The Giant Princess was there as well.
As soon as she saw me approaching, she smiled.
"So you finally woke up."
"It's not even that late."
I replied.
"Maybe not for you."
She answered.
Scarlett immediately agreed.
"His usual routine is waking up early."
"So any delay already counts."
I ignored the comment and sat down.
Breakfast was peaceful.
The conversation revolved around the hot spring city, the improvements to my lands, and some funny situations that had happened during the trip.
Even Liriel's assistant seemed more relaxed than when she had first arrived at the mansion.
It was understandable.
For the first time in a long while, everyone was truly resting.
After finishing the meal, I decided to spend the rest of the morning visiting some areas I had not yet seen.
The Giant Princess offered to accompany the group.
I accepted.
Over the next several hours, we toured different parts of the region.
We visited workshops.
Warehouses.
Markets.
Several agricultural production areas.
We also checked the progress of small construction projects funded by the resources from my lands.
The results were better than I had expected.
In many places, I found residents working as usual.
Many recognized me.
Some came to thank me.
Others simply greeted me respectfully.
I had always found that kind of treatment strange.
But I had already realized that trying to convince people otherwise was pointless.
As we walked through an area near the farmlands, Lyannis observed the crops.
"The administrators have done a good job."
"They really have."
I agreed.
"When I received these lands, I never imagined they would grow this quickly."
"You chose capable people."
She replied.
Maybe she was right.
Over the past few months, I had learned something important.
It wasn't possible to do everything alone.
Choosing the right people made all the difference.
And fortunately, the administrators were living up to expectations.
After lunch, we returned to the castle.
That was when I realized something.
Over the past few days, I had rested quite a lot.
Maybe even too much.
My body had recovered.
So had my mind.
So I decided to spend part of the afternoon training.
Nothing excessive.
Just enough to keep my rhythm.
When I mentioned it to the girls, the reaction was immediate.
Scarlett smiled.
"Finally."
"Finally what?"
"I was starting to think you'd retired."
I rolled my eyes.
"We've only been resting for a few days."
"Even so."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms.
"A little training never hurts."
This time, I agreed.
Shortly afterward, we headed to an open area used by the giant warriors.
It was spacious enough to accommodate even the largest fighters in the kingdom.
As soon as we arrived, a few guards became curious.
They probably thought we were about to put on some sort of exhibition.
But that wasn't the goal.
The training began simply.
Basic movements.
Physical exercises.
Mana control.
Combat practice.
Nothing too intense.
Even so, it felt good to move again.
For most of the afternoon, we trained together.
Sometimes I sparred with Scarlett.
Other times with Rai'kanna.
I also practiced several techniques with Vespera.
I observed Elara's progress.
And watched part of Lyannis's training.
Even Liriel joined in at certain moments.
Her assistant simply watched.
At one point, I sat down to rest for a while.
As I caught my breath, I looked at my companions.
All of them had become much stronger.
When we first met, none of them were at the level they had reached now.
In truth, neither was I.
It was incredible to think about everything we had gone through together.
The battles.
The defeats.
The victories.
The journeys.
The challenges.
Every experience had changed us.
Perhaps that was why the group worked so well.
We had all grown together.
After a while, Scarlett sat down beside me.
"Thinking?"
"A little."
She followed my gaze.
"About what?"
I looked at the others as they trained.
"About how much everyone has changed."
She remained silent for a few seconds.
Then she smiled.
"That's true."
"When I first met all of you, I never imagined we'd come this far."
"Neither did I."
She replied.
The conversation ended there.
Not because we had run out of words.
But because we both understood what it meant.
By the time training finally ended, the sun was already beginning to set.
We returned to the castle.
Took baths.
Rested for a while.
And then gathered for dinner.
The meal was pleasant.
The King of Giants also joined us.
During part of the conversation, he spoke about the current stability of the kingdoms.
About trade.
About the alliances formed after the war.
Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.
But even as I listened to that news, part of my mind kept returning to another subject.
The Demon King.
I didn't want to think about it.
But it was inevitable.
Vaelthor's defeat had been an important victory.
Perhaps the greatest one so far.
Even so, the true enemy was still alive.
And dangerously silent.
When dinner ended, I left the hall and walked alone through one of the castle's corridors.
Eventually, I reached an outdoor balcony.
The night sky was beautiful.
The stars shone brightly.
A gentle breeze drifted through the area.
I rested my arms on the stone railing and quietly watched the landscape.
That was when I heard footsteps behind me.
Liriel.
She approached silently.
"I knew I'd find you here."
I smiled faintly.
"Am I really that predictable?"
"A little."
She stopped beside me.
For a few moments, we simply watched the night.
Then she spoke.
"You're thinking about him again."
I didn't need to ask who she meant.
"Yes."
I replied.
"I thought so."
I sighed.
"It's hard not to."
"I know."
She answered calmly.
I continued looking at the distant lights of the city.
"We defeated Vaelthor."
"But it was difficult."
"More difficult than I'd like to admit."
Liriel didn't answer immediately.
She waited for me to continue.
"If it hadn't been for the plan."
"If it hadn't been for everyone's help."
"I would have lost."
She nodded.
"Maybe."
"But you didn't."
I looked at her.
"That doesn't change the fact that the Demon King is probably even stronger."
Liriel remained silent for a few seconds.
Then she answered.
"Maybe he is."
"But you're not the same person anymore."
I fell into thought.
She was right.
I had changed.
We all had.
There was still a long road ahead.
But it was also true that we were no longer the same adventurers we used to be.
Much less that clumsy group so many people used to ridicule.
After a few more minutes of conversation, we returned inside the castle.
The girls were still gathered in one of the rooms, talking.
I ended up joining them.
The night continued peacefully.
Without worries.
Without problems.
Just another simple moment beside the people who had become important to me.
Later, when I finally went to my room, I spent some time staring at the ceiling before falling asleep.
The events of the past few days passed through my mind.
The hot spring city.
The tournament.
My prospering lands.
The Kingdom of Giants.
The rest we had enjoyed.
All of it was important.
Because even knowing that a great battle still awaited us in the future, it was also necessary to appreciate moments of peace.
Moments worth protecting.
I slowly closed my eyes.
Tomorrow would probably be another peaceful day.
But somewhere in the world, I knew the clock was still moving forward.
And sooner or later, the time would come to face what had been waiting for us since the very beginning.
The Demon King.
For now, however, I would simply allow myself to enjoy that peace for a little while longer.