When we returned from the castle, I felt a different kind of exhaustion from anything I had experienced before. It was not the fatigue of a battle or the weight of intense training. It was the feeling that an important stage of my journey had ended and another, much more dangerous one, was about to begin.
As soon as I entered the mansion, some servants came to welcome us with respectful smiles. I thanked everyone for their work and asked them to prepare only a simple meal for that night. After an entire day discussing strategies, all I wanted was to enjoy a few hours of peace beside the people who had always been with me.
We headed to the main room.
Scarlett was the first to break the silence.
"The meeting went better than I expected."
Elara agreed.
"For the first time, all the kingdoms truly seem united."
Liriel settled into one of the armchairs.
"And that only happened because everyone understood the scale of the threat."
Her assistant took a deep breath.
"I confess that I was impressed."
"I never thought so many different kings could reach an agreement so quickly."
Lyannis smiled.
"When the enemy is the same, the differences end up becoming smaller."
Vespera simply gave a slight nod.
"Now no one will be able to say that they are fighting alone."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms and looked at me.
"Your plan was very well received."
I smiled discreetly.
"It was a plan built by all of us."
"Every experience we had ended up contributing to it."
The conversation continued for quite some time.
We reminisced about events since the beginning of our journey.
We talked about the companions we had met along the way, the cities we had visited, and all the battles we had faced.
As I listened to each of them, I realized how much we had changed.
At the beginning, I was just an adventurer trying to understand that world.
Now I carried the responsibility of leading a strategy that involved practically every known nation.
It was a huge change.
After dinner, we walked to the mansion's garden.
The night was quiet.
A gentle breeze passed between the trees while the moon illuminated the stone paths.
We stopped near the small lake.
I watched my reflection in the water for a few moments.
Scarlett approached.
"Are you thinking about the future?"
"Yes."
"Are you afraid?"
I thought before answering.
"It would be a lie to say I am not."
"Anyone who faces an unknown enemy will always feel some apprehension."
She smiled.
"But you have never allowed that fear to control your decisions."
I looked at her.
"And I hope to remain that way."
A short while later, the others also approached.
Elara held my hand.
"Regardless of what happens, we will be by your side."
Liriel nodded.
"Until the end."
Lyannis smiled.
"You will never have to fight alone."
Vespera added.
"We are a group."
Rai'kanna gave a slight laugh.
"And groups don't abandon their companions."
Even Liriel's assistant joined the conversation.
"After everything I have experienced alongside you, I also want to help in any way I can."
I thanked them all with my gaze.
At that moment, I understood that my greatest strength had never been only my magic.
It was those people.
We returned inside the mansion when the night was already well advanced.
We talked a little more in the main room before each of them headed to their rooms.
When I finally entered my room, I felt that the silence was different.
As if the world itself were waiting for something.
I slowly lay down.
I closed my eyes.
It did not take long for sleep to come.
Then everything changed.
When I opened my eyes again, I was no longer in the mansion.
I found myself in an enormous void enveloped by deep darkness.
The ground seemed to be made of shadows.
The air was heavy.
An enormous amount of demonic mana filled the entire place.
I already knew that scene.
It was the same one from my previous dreams.
A few seconds later, a figure began to slowly emerge before me.
Black robes.
Red eyes.
An overwhelming presence.
The Demon King.
He remained silently watching me for a few moments.
Then he gave a small smile.
"I see you have finally begun moving your pieces, hero."
I kept my gaze firm.
"It was only a matter of time."
He took a few steps toward me.
"The kings have finally decided to unite."
"Do you really believe that will be enough?"
I did not answer immediately.
He continued.
"You plan strategies."
"Form alliances."
"Distribute armies."
"But you still do not understand the true difference between us."
His voice echoed throughout the darkness.
"Your world still does not know true despair."
The mana around him became even more intense.
Even in that dream, I could feel the crushing pressure of his power.
He smiled again.
"Your end is approaching."
I took a deep breath.
For a long time, those words might have shaken my heart.
Not anymore.
I took a step forward.
"Then come."
His smile widened.
"It seems you have finally begun to act like a true hero."
The next instant, all the darkness began to disappear.
The Demon King's figure slowly faded away along with that world.
Before disappearing completely, his voice echoed one last time.
"We will meet soon."
I suddenly opened my eyes.
The room was still dark.
Only the first rays of dawn were beginning to pass through the window.
I got up and walked to the balcony.
I silently watched the horizon.
The city was slowly awakening, just like on any other day.
But I knew that nothing would be the same from that point onward.
The alliances had been formed.
The preparations were complete.
The first pieces of that great confrontation had finally been placed on the board.
And, for the first time, I was absolutely certain that the encounter between the Demon King and me was getting closer and closer.