The silence that had settled over the meeting room of the royal palace carried the weight of an entire month of artificial calm. Sitting before the large oak table, I analyzed the pile of reports that had arrived that morning, feeling the texture of the rustic paper between my fingers.
Around me, the constant presence of my companions filled the spacious room. Vespera remained strategically stationed near the entrance, her arms crossed over her light armor, her attentive eyes scanning the corners of the room with every movement of the guards outside. Scarlett and Elara flanked my chair; the former casually kept one hand resting on the pommel of her sword, while the latter organized the scrolls that had already been read with her usual meticulous efficiency. On the other side of the table, Liriel and her assistant observed the tactical map spread out before them, whispering about the supply lines, while Lyannis and Rai'kanna kept their focus on me, deciphering every change in my facial expression.
The King of the Humans broke the silence with a tired sigh, resting his elbows on the dark wood.
"The reports from the Council of Nations confirm what you already suspected, hero. The Demon King's army has changed tactics. They are no longer marching in large masses, but sending small vanguards to test the perimeter of our borders."
I nodded positively, passing the report to Elara, who immediately stored it with the other documents.
"Our troops have managed to contain all incursions so far, Your Majesty," I remarked, allowing my voice to echo firmly throughout the room. "But this is only reconnaissance. They are measuring our response time, physically exhausting our soldiers, and forcing us to burn precious resources on logistics. This is a dangerous calm."
Rai'kanna stepped forward, crossing her arms firmly.
"He's right. The smell of blood at the border hasn't diminished, it has only spread more subtly. My instincts tell me that this calm is the retreat before a gigantic wave."
Faced with that tense assessment, I made a decision that had been taking shape in my mind for days. I stood up, drawing the attention of everyone present in the room.
"If the enemy wants to play the waiting game, we can't just sit around watching. I need to strengthen our more distant support bases. I've decided to take advantage of this period to visit my lands in the Fish-Men Kingdom. The administration of that underwater region needs direct supervision if we want to use it as a secure point for resources and refuge in case the surface is put under too much pressure."
The King raised his eyebrows, surprised by my choice, but soon nodded with obvious respect.
"An astute strategic choice, Lord Takumi. The sea has always been a territory too isolated from our defenses. Ensuring that your lands there are prosperous and loyal is vital to the survival of the alliance."
Lyannis smiled slightly, adjusting her posture elegantly.
"A trip to the bottom of the ocean sounds exactly like the kind of productive distraction we need before the real chaos begins."
As we left the palace, I led the group toward the carriage that would take us back home. The journey was marked by a mixture of relief and silent anticipation. As soon as we crossed the gates of the main residence, the heavy atmosphere of the war council finally began to lift from our shoulders.
Gathered in the mansion's great hall, I brought all the girls around me to align the details of our departure. Liriel's assistant, who until then had maintained a restrained posture near the door, suddenly jumped with enthusiasm, breaking any remaining trace of solemnity in the room.
"We're really going back to the underwater kingdom?!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with pure excitement. "The architecture, the cuisine, the hydrostatic mana flows... there is so much I want to write down and study up close this time!"
Liriel let out a soft laugh and walked over to her, touching her subordinate's shoulder with a condescending air.
"Calm down a little. We're going there for work and training, but I admit that the purity of the mana from the depths will be an excellent setting for us to renew our energies."
Scarlett walked over to the hall's window, watching the reddish sunset that was beginning to tint the gardens outside.
"A change of scenery will do us all good. Training on the surface with this constant tension was starting to stiffen our movements. I can't wait to see how my sword techniques adapt to the resistance of the water."
Vespera approached Scarlett and simply nodded, although a rare flicker of satisfaction crossed her usually stern gaze.
"Security down there requires completely different protocols from everything we do here. I'll check our protective equipment before we go to sleep."
Elara was already beginning to draft a detailed list of provisions in a small notebook, wasting no time on distractions.
"I'll make sure the transition during our absence from the mansion is imperceptible to the servants. I'll leave everything prepared to ensure an entire month of autonomy for the estate."
Night fell over the estate, bringing with it a welcoming and intimate silence that we had not felt in a long time. Knowing the journey we would face the following morning and the imminence of a conflict that would change the fate of the world, my companions gathered in my room. There was no room for formalities or barriers between us in there.
The room was filled with whispered conversations, restrained laughter, and a deep exchange of affection and companionship. Rai'kanna rested her head on my chest, listening to my calm heartbeat, while Lyannis and Scarlett shared the space beside me, enjoying the warmth and security that our mutual presence provided.
Elara and Vespera remained seated very close to us on the large bed, freed from their daily obligations, while Liriel watched the scene from the corner with a serene smile, feeling the magical and emotional connection that united the group grow even stronger during that moment of shared vulnerability. Each gentle touch and every exchanged glance in the dimness of the room served as a silent vow that we would face whatever the future held for us, always together.
The early hours of the morning gave way to a clear and fresh morning. The sun had barely broken the horizon when the mansion's courtyard became the center of coordinated and swift activity. With the luggage ready and the supplies properly loaded into the travel carriage, all my companions positioned themselves firmly at my side.
Liriel's assistant was already holding her note-taking scrolls with hands trembling from anxiety, while Vespera and Scarlett performed one final visual check of the area around the horses. Elara gave the final signal to the coachmen, while Lyannis and Rai'kanna exchanged a determined look with me.
Knowing that the period of calm on the surface was numbered, I breathed in the fresh morning air one last time and gave the group a firm nod. Without looking back, I gave the order to depart, and we all began the journey toward the coast, taking the first sure step toward the mysteries and responsibilities awaiting us in the depths of the ocean.