As soon as I entered the mansion, I heard several footsteps coming down the main hallway. I didn't have to wait long to find out who it was. Elara appeared first, followed by Lyannis, Liriel, Scarlett, Rai'kanna, Vespera, and Liriel's assistant. They all seemed to have noticed that I had returned.
Elara was the first to speak.
"You're finally back."
I smiled.
"I told you it was a simple mission."
"You always say that."
"Because it usually is."
She crossed her arms.
"That excuse doesn't work anymore."
I couldn't help laughing.
The others also seemed much more relieved now that they had confirmed I was alright.
Liriel watched me for a few seconds.
"Did you find the one responsible for the attacks?"
"I did."
"And?"
"It was a demon."
Everyone's expression became a little more serious.
We entered the main living room, and I sat down in one of the armchairs while briefly explaining what had happened. I told them about the wolves, the organized way they acted, and the mini-general who had been controlling the entire situation.
When I finished, Vespera became thoughtful.
"So the demons are testing new methods of warfare."
"That's exactly what I thought."
Liriel nodded.
"It doesn't seem like something that happened by chance."
Liriel's assistant, who was sitting near the window, also showed interest.
"If they truly manage to control creatures on a large scale, that could become a serious problem in the future."
I nodded.
That was exactly the point.
It wasn't the mini-general that worried me.
It was the possibility that others were doing the same thing in different regions.
But at that moment, there wasn't much we could do besides remain vigilant.
The conversation continued for a while until the servants announced dinner.
Everyone headed to the dining room.
The atmosphere became lighter as the evening went on.
Scarlett and Rai'kanna started arguing over which of them would have defeated more wolves if they had been with me on the mission.
"I would have wiped them all out in just a few minutes."
Scarlett said confidently.
Rai'kanna immediately replied.
"You can barely beat me in training."
"That's because you cheat."
"I never cheat."
"Of course you do."
The two continued arguing while everyone else simply watched.
It had become such a common scene that no one even tried to interrupt anymore.
After some time, the conversation shifted to calmer topics.
We talked about the hot spring city.
About the people we had met.
About the tournament.
About the journey.
Liriel's assistant seemed to have enjoyed that period very much.
"It was interesting meeting so many different people."
"You spent a lot of time observing everything."
Lyannis commented.
"It was impossible not to."
She replied with a smile.
"You all experience things that are very different from what exists in the heavens."
That remark even made Liriel laugh.
When dinner ended, we returned to the main living room.
I picked up the ancient mage's book again.
There were still a few pages I wanted to review.
As I read, Elara sat beside me.
"You really liked that book."
"More than I expected."
I flipped through a few pages.
"The more I read, the more I realize how brilliant this man was."
She looked at the book for a few moments.
"You talk about him as if you had known him personally."
"Maybe I wish I had."
That was true.
Even centuries after his death, that mage's teachings remained astonishing.
If he were still alive, I would probably have dozens of questions to ask him.
I continued reading for some time.
The final pages discussed magical efficiency, mana control, and methods of speeding up the casting process.
Many of the theories were still complex.
Others I was already beginning to understand better.
The most impressive part was that almost everything I tested actually worked.
It wasn't empty theory.
It was real knowledge.
After a while, I closed the book.
It was already late.
We talked a little longer before everyone headed to their rooms.
The night was peaceful.
No strange dreams.
No interruptions.
No problems.
When I woke up the next morning, the sun was already illuminating part of the room.
I got up and prepared for breakfast.
As usual, everyone gathered around the main table.
The servants served the meal while we talked about various topics.
It was during one of those conversations that I remembered something important.
The lands.
The lands that the King of the Giants had promised to grant me.
I had been postponing that visit for quite some time.
After Vaelthor's defeat and everything that had happened recently, I simply hadn't found a suitable opportunity.
But now the situation was different.
The world was relatively stable.
At least for the time being.
And I finally had time to take care of it.
I set my teacup down on the table.
"I think it's time to visit the Kingdom of the Giants."
The conversations immediately quieted down.
Elara was the first to understand.
"The lands."
I nodded.
"The king promised to officially hand them over."
Liriel agreed as well.
"That makes sense."
Lyannis rested her chin on one hand.
"Are you planning to go alone?"
"Probably not."
Before I could finish speaking, Scarlett answered.
"Great."
Rai'kanna nodded right afterward.
"It's been a long time since we visited that place."
Vespera also showed interest.
"The giants' culture is still fascinating."
Liriel's assistant raised an eyebrow.
"So this is the famous kingdom you all talk about so often?"
"Yes."
I replied.
"And I'd like to see it."
Liriel smiled.
"It seems that's already been decided."
The truth was that no one seemed willing to stay behind.
Not even if I tried to convince them.
And honestly, I also liked the idea of traveling with company.
Journeys always became much more enjoyable that way.
I spent the rest of the morning organizing a few things.
I reviewed documents related to my properties.
Spoke with a few administrators.
Left instructions for the mansion's servants.
Nothing too complicated.
At that point, most of the routine already functioned on its own.
Throughout the afternoon, the upcoming trip continued to dominate our conversations.
Liriel's assistant asked countless questions about the giants.
She wanted to know what the city was like.
How the local government worked.
What the royal family was like.
Even about the cuisine.
I answered what I could.
At one point, Scarlett decided to exaggerate a few descriptions.
"The king can crush an entire wagon with one hand."
"That never happened."
I replied.
"But it could happen."
She insisted.
Rai'kanna laughed.
Liriel's assistant seemed to grow even more curious.
By the end of the afternoon, we began the real preparations.
Carriages were arranged.
Supplies were packed.
Several gifts for the giant royal family were also selected.
Nothing extravagant.
Just something appropriate for a diplomatic visit.
By the time the sun began to disappear beyond the horizon, nearly everything was ready.
I stepped outside into the garden for a few minutes.
The weather was pleasant.
A gentle breeze swept across the estate.
I watched the sky turn orange while thinking about what awaited us.
Besides the lands, I also wanted to understand how things were going in the Kingdom of the Giants.
The effects of the demonic miasma were still affecting many regions of the world.
Perhaps they were facing difficulties as well.
Perhaps I could help somehow.
Or perhaps it would simply be a peaceful visit.
Which, honestly, would be welcome after so many conflicts.
A little while later, I returned inside the mansion.
Everyone was already finishing the last preparations.
Elara was checking the luggage.
Lyannis was organizing documents.
Liriel was talking with her assistant.
Scarlett and Rai'kanna were arguing over which of them would defeat more giants in an imaginary tournament that apparently existed only in their heads.
Vespera watched everything with a faint smile.
It was a simple scene.
But a pleasant one.
For a moment, I felt that those peaceful days held tremendous value.
Perhaps precisely because I knew they wouldn't last forever.
The war against the Demon King still existed.
The future remained uncertain.
But at that moment, it could wait.
When night fell, we gathered once more for dinner.
During the meal, I confirmed the final details of the trip.
We would depart first thing in the morning.
Everyone agreed.
The luggage was already packed.
The carriages were ready as well.
There was nothing left to organize.
After dinner, everyone went to rest earlier than usual.
The next day would be a long one.
Before going to bed, I spent a few minutes looking at the ancient mage's book resting on the table.
I still intended to continue studying it during the journey.
I felt there was far more knowledge hidden within those pages.
I extinguished the light in my room and lay down.
As I closed my eyes, one final certainty crossed my mind.
The following morning, we would leave Vailor behind and set out for the Kingdom of the Giants, where new responsibilities and new challenges awaited us.