The next day dawned far too clear for the tension building in Vaillor.
The sky was clean, an intense blue, without clouds. One of those days when everything seemed too normal, almost provocative. I knew, from experience, that this kind of calm usually hid something moving underneath, slow and inevitable.
I went down early to the mansion's main hall. The table was already occupied. Liriel flipped through some documents, Elara distractedly stirred a still-steaming cup, and Vespera leaned back in her chair, eyes attentive, as if listening to something the rest of us could not hear.
"You felt it too?" I asked.
Vespera gave a brief smile. "Since before you woke up."
"Making plans or sensing disaster?" I teased.
"Both," she replied.
Liriel placed the papers on the table. "We received reports during the night. Strange movements around human territory. Nothing declared, but… many people moving at the same time."
"Guilds?" I asked.
"Some. Others have no banner."
That was not good.
I finished breakfast in silence. My mind connected points, recalling every recent conversation, every sideways glance during the tournament. When an old balance breaks, the world tries to reorganize itself in ways that are not always predictable.
I decided to go out.
The streets of Vaillor were full. Merchants shouted offers, children ran between the stalls, adventurers displayed freshly polished weapons. The victory in the tournament still echoed there, transformed into collective pride.
But not everyone shared the same enthusiasm.
I stopped near the main guild. Some lower-ranked adventurers spoke in low voices. When they saw me, they straightened their posture, a mix of respect and nervousness.
"Good morning," I greeted them.
"Good morning, Lord Takumi," they replied almost in unison.
I noticed hesitation in the eyes of one of them, a young man with armor far too simple for someone who looked like he had been through a lot.
"Do you want to say something?" I asked.
He swallowed. "It's just… people are saying that now Vaillor is going to become a target. That adventurers like us will pay the price."
I observed the group for a few seconds before responding. "Vaillor has always been a target. The difference is that now we are strong enough to stop pretending we aren't."
They seemed to calm down a little.
"If you feel fear," I continued, "speak. Silence is more dangerous than any enemy."
I moved on. That brief conversation confirmed what I already suspected. Fear was spreading just as fast as fame.
Early in the afternoon, I received an unexpected visit.
Rai'kanna appeared at the mansion gates, dressed simply, without armor, which was rare. There was something in her gaze, a mixture of restlessness and resolve.
"We need to talk," she said, without preamble.
We went to the inner garden, away from curious ears. The sound of the fountain water filled the spaces of silence between us.
"I received information from my kingdom," she began. "Strange movements near the borders. They are not demons. They are… people."
"Mercenaries?" I guessed.
"Something worse. Independent groups that profit from instability. Wherever there is tension between realms, they appear."
I crossed my arms. "So it's not just Vaillor."
"It never is," she replied. "But you've become a central point. Whether you want to or not."
She looked at me for a few seconds. "If things get worse, my people will not stand still."
"Are you warning me or offering help?"
"Both."
Her sincerity drew a faint smile from me. "I appreciate it. But I hope it doesn't come to that."
Rai'kanna inclined her head. "So do I."
When she left, the sun was already beginning to sink on the horizon. The shadows stretched long, and with them, that uncomfortable feeling that time was accelerating.
At night, I gathered the group.
We sat in the living room, without formalities. It wasn't a full strategy meeting, but I needed to align something important.
"I won't lie," I began. "We're entering a different phase. It's no longer just about direct battles."
"Politics?" Vespera asked, grimacing.
"Influence," I corrected. "Expectations. People trying to take advantage."
Elara sighed. "I'd prefer an army of monsters."
"At least they're honest," Liriel added.
I smiled faintly. "I want you to know that I won't force anyone to stay. If this becomes too heavy—"
"Don't even finish that," Vespera interrupted. "If we left now, everything else would make no sense."
The others nodded.
The weight in my chest eased a little.
Later, already in the bedroom, I tried to rest. But sleep took time to come. I stared at the ceiling, thinking about how much everything had changed since the beginning of the journey. Before, every step was to survive the next day. Now, every decision echoed far beyond me.
I only closed my eyes when exhaustion won.
And that night, I dreamed of something different.
Not of battles.
Not of demons.
I dreamed of a city that was far too silent, flags torn by the wind, and empty paths where voices used to exist.
I woke before dawn, heart racing.
It was just a dream.
But some dreams do not come from nowhere.