I've always found it strange how peace can feel more unsettling than war.
After everything that had happened, returning to a normal routine should have been a good thing. It's what any ordinary person would want. Rest, silence, predictable days. But for me, it carried a different weight. As if something was out of place, even when everything seemed right.
Perhaps it was the sword's voice.
Since that night, the warning hadn't left my mind. "Prepare yourself." Two simple words, yet filled with something I couldn't ignore. I knew it wasn't an empty warning. It never was.
Still, there was nothing concrete. No attack, no clear sign. Just a constant feeling that something was approaching.
And that was exactly why I accepted the mission.
"A simple escort, then."
I looked at the paper in my hand as I walked through the guild's main hall. There was nothing special about it. A small group of merchants needed protection to a nearby village. Nothing more.
Rai'kanna was the first to react.
"Seriously? After everything, we're doing a merchant escort?"
Her tone wasn't exactly complaining. It was more like someone expecting something bigger.
"That's exactly why," I replied. "We need to keep the pace."
She crossed her arms, looking away for a moment before letting out a sigh.
"Okay, makes sense… but it's still kind of boring."
Elara stood beside her, glancing at the paper over my shoulder.
"Simple missions also have value. They keep the group stable, prevent unnecessary wear."
She spoke calmly, as always. Direct, without exaggeration.
Liriel gave a slight smile.
"Besides, it's not like we're forbidden from taking on something harder later."
Vespera remained silent, leaning against the wall, but her eyes scanned all of us. She was attentive, as always. No need to say anything to show she had already accepted it.
Lyannis, on the other hand, seemed almost excited.
"I like missions like this. You get to enjoy the journey."
I looked at all of them for a moment. Each reacting differently, but none refusing. That alone showed how much the group had adjusted.
"Then it's decided."
We left the guild shortly after.
The group of merchants was already waiting at the city's entrance. Three wagons, loaded with common goods. Fabrics, food, some sealed boxes I didn't bother inspecting.
Their leader was an older man, with a tired expression, but relieved to see us.
"You're the escort group?"
"We are," I replied.
He nodded quickly.
"Great. The road is quiet, but… you never know."
I simply agreed. He wasn't wrong.
We set off soon after.
The road to the village was simple. Packed dirt, surrounded by open fields and some distant forested areas. The sky was clear, and the wind carried a light warmth, typical of the region.
For a while, no one said anything.
It was a comfortable silence.
I walked in front, keeping the pace, while observing the path. There were no signs of danger. No unusual movement, no strange sounds.
Behind me, the group spread out naturally.
Rai'kanna walked closer to the wagons, alert to anything approaching. Elara followed beside her, analyzing the environment carefully. Liriel spoke quietly with Lyannis, while Vespera stayed a bit further back, covering the opposite side of the road.
Everything flowed effortlessly.
"You're quiet today."
Liriel's voice reached me.
I looked over my shoulder.
She was watching me with that attentive gaze, as always.
"Just thinking."
"About the sword?"
Direct, as always.
I didn't respond immediately.
She tilted her head slightly, as if she had already understood.
"So it is."
Lyannis looked between the two of us, curious.
"The sword spoke again?"
"Not exactly," I said. "But it made one thing clear."
Rai'kanna moved a little closer.
"And what's that?"
"That this isn't over yet."
Silence returned, but this time with a different weight.
Elara was the first to break it.
"Then it makes sense to keep taking missions. If something happens, we can't be unprepared."
"Exactly."
Vespera finally spoke, in a low tone.
"So this isn't just an escort."
I understood what she meant.
"No. It's training."
Rai'kanna smirked.
"Now it's better."
The tension eased a little after that.
We continued moving forward.
The rest of the journey went smoothly. Some minor monsters appeared along the way, but they were dealt with quickly. Nothing that truly required effort.
Still, I paid attention to every movement of the group.
Coordination.
Reaction timing.
Positioning.
Everything was better.
Much better.
When we finally saw the village, the sun was already beginning to set on the horizon.
The merchants sighed in relief as they crossed the entrance.
"Thank you," the leader said, clearly more relaxed. "Without you, I wouldn't have made this trip so smoothly."
I simply nodded.
"It's our job."
We received the reward shortly after. Nothing unexpected.
Simple.
Direct.
No complications.
Exactly as the mission promised.
But as we left the village to start the return journey, I felt something strange.
It wasn't danger.
It wasn't an enemy presence.
It was… familiar.
I paused for a moment.
"Takumi?"
Elara's voice came from right behind me.
I narrowed my eyes slightly, looking down the road ahead.
Someone was coming toward us.
Still distant, but approaching.
I said nothing.
But a subtle, almost imperceptible feeling passed through my chest.
As if this encounter wasn't a coincidence.
And, for some reason, I already knew who it was.
"Keep walking," I said.
But my eyes didn't leave the figure approaching on the path.
The return wouldn't be as simple as the way there.
And, for the first time that day, something truly new was about to happen.