I was on the mansion's balcony when the letter arrived.
The seal was not made of common wax. It was polished stone, engraved with the symbol of a hammer crossed over an anvil. Even before opening it, I felt that it came from an important place.
Elara approached and rested her arms on the railing beside me.
"Takumi, have you ever seen this?"
I showed her the seal. Her eyes widened.
"That's from the dwarves, isn't it?"
I nodded and called everyone to the main hall.
Vespera sat on the arm of the sofa. Liriel stood with her arms crossed and that air of superiority she always maintained. Rai'kanna positioned herself behind me. Lyannis approached in silence, curious as always.
"What kind of mood is this?" Lyannis asked. "It looks like someone died."
"Maybe it's worse," I replied, breaking the stone seal.
I opened the letter carefully.
The handwriting was firm, heavy, as if each letter had been carved instead of written.
"To the group that defeated demon generals and won the guild tournament. I, Durgan Ironhammer, King of the Dwarves, formally invite you to visit my kingdom. I wish to receive you as honored guests and meet those whom the entire world speaks about."
I remained silent for a few seconds after finishing the reading.
"King of the dwarves?" Vespera said quietly.
"This is big," Elara murmured.
Liriel let out a small laugh.
"Finally someone with good sense recognizing our greatness."
"I don't remember you defeating any general," Rai'kanna replied.
Lyannis let out a contained chuckle.
I continued reading.
The letter said that a royal carriage had already been sent and would arrive by the end of the next day to take us.
"They're not inviting us," I said. "They've already decided we're going."
The silence that formed in the room was different from any we had before.
I sat down slowly.
This wasn't a common request. It wasn't a guild seeking fame. It wasn't a noble interested in appearing by our side.
It was a king.
And not just any king.
The dwarves were known throughout the world. Not for magical power, not for the size of their army, but for their absurd wealth and the weapons only they knew how to craft perfectly.
"This changes a lot," Elara said.
"It changes everything," I replied.
We spent a few minutes discussing what that meant. A visit like that was not mere courtesy. It was politics. It was recognition. It was a silent alliance being built.
Rai'kanna was the first to say what everyone was thinking.
"They're betting on you."
I knew.
That left a strange weight in my chest.
Lyannis sat on the edge of the table.
"You're going to accept, aren't you?"
I looked at everyone around me.
I had already made the decision before asking.
"We're going."
The reaction was immediate. Vespera smiled. Elara looked excited. Liriel feigned indifference, but her eyes showed curiosity. Rai'kanna simply nodded. Lyannis gave a subtle smile.
We spent the rest of the morning organizing what would be needed for the trip. We didn't know how long we would stay there. We packed clothes, equipment, and a few personal items.
While organizing my things in the bedroom, I paused for a moment.
A king.
The king of the dwarves wanted to receive us.
Not long ago, I was just another adventurer trying to survive simple missions. Now, entire kingdoms were watching our steps.
I went downstairs and found Rai'kanna leaning against the corridor wall.
"You're thinking too much," she said.
"I was remembering how everything used to be."
"Before, you didn't have a king sending a carriage to pick you up," she replied with a faint smile.
"That's exactly what worries me."
She stepped a little closer.
"You don't realize it, Takumi. This isn't just about respect. They know the world is changing. They know the demons are moving. And they know you're in the middle of all of it."
I stayed silent.
She was right.
By late afternoon, everything was ready.
The letter was still on the table. I looked at the stone seal again. It was heavy, firm, solid. It perfectly matched the one who had sent it.
Lyannis appeared beside me.
"I've always wanted to see the dwarven kingdom," she said. "They say the houses have jewels in the walls."
"We'll find out," I replied.
She smiled and walked away.
Night fell slowly over the mansion. We had dinner together, talking about what the trip would be like. The mood was light, but behind everything there was a silent expectation.
Before going to sleep, I went to the balcony once more.
The wind was calm.
I looked at the dark sky and thought about how much things had changed.
I was no longer just reacting to the world.
The world was beginning to react to me.
I went back inside.
Tomorrow, the king of the dwarves' carriage would arrive.
And, for the first time, I had the clear feeling that we were about to enter a part of the world I had never imagined knowing.
I closed the bedroom door.
Lay down on the bed.
And fell asleep thinking about the weight of an invitation made of stone.