I woke up with a light weight in my chest.
It wasn't fear. It wasn't tranquility either. It was a strange sense of balance, as if my mind had found a point somewhere between being too alert and too relaxed.
I stayed still for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling before moving. The room was still quiet. Morning light came in through the window, drawing pale bands across the floor.
Around me, they were sleeping sprawled across the bed as always.
Elara with her face partially covered by her hair. Vespera on her side, breathing deeply. Liriel curled up as if trying to take up less space than she actually did. Rai'kanna sprawled without any ceremony, taking up more space than she needed. Lyannis quiet, motionless, almost as if she were awake even while sleeping.
I watched all of them for a few moments.
And I realized something simple.
I liked this.
I got up slowly, trying not to wake anyone, but as soon as I put my feet on the floor I heard Lyannis' low voice.
"You always wake up first."
I looked back. Her eyes were still closed.
"You never really sleep either."
She opened one eye.
"I rest. It's different."
I smiled faintly and left the room.
I went downstairs to the kitchen and started preparing breakfast. It was almost automatic now. Water on the fire, bread sliced, fruit set aside. Small gestures that occupied the mind without demanding effort.
While waiting for the water to heat, I leaned against the counter and looked out the window.
People walking down the street.
Carriages.
Distant voices.
Everything ordinary.
And I was beginning to realize the value of that.
Footsteps on the stairs.
Rai'kanna appeared first.
"Don't you get tired of waking up this early?"
"No."
"I get tired for you."
She grabbed a piece of fruit and sat at the table.
Soon Elara appeared.
"Smells good."
"It's just coffee."
"For me, that's already enough."
Vespera came shortly after, complaining about the cold. Liriel appeared last, fixing her hair with the expression of someone still halfway in the world of dreams.
Lyannis came down in silence and sat without saying anything.
The table filled with light conversation. Random comments. Small jokes. Complaints that didn't matter.
And at no point did anyone mention demons.
Or generals.
Or threats.
And that made me realize something else.
They were doing it on purpose.
Keeping the subject away from me.
Elara noticed that I had realized it.
"Today is a no bad things day."
"Was that agreed on?"
"It was."
Rai'kanna smiled.
"You're forbidden from overthinking today."
"That's impossible."
"Then we'll distract you."
After breakfast, we decided to tidy up some parts of the mansion that had been messy since we returned from the dwarven kingdom. It wasn't necessary, but it was useful.
Vespera organized the weapons. Liriel sorted the books that had been left scattered around. Elara took care of the kitchen. Rai'kanna started adjusting the curtains for no reason at all. Lyannis cleaned the living room with almost exaggerated calm.
I helped a little with everything.
And while we did that, time passed without me noticing.
No tension.
No rush.
No weight.
In the middle of the afternoon, I sat on the porch steps to rest for a bit. Rai'kanna sat beside me.
"You're better."
"I'm trying."
"No. You really are better."
I looked at the street.
"It's strange how simple things help."
"Because they're real. The rest is only in your head for now."
She was right.
The fifth general was still just a shadow.
And I had been letting that shadow take up too much space.
Lyannis appeared with two glasses of water and handed one to me.
"Your gaze isn't lost anymore."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment. It was an observation."
I smiled.
In the late afternoon, I decided to go out alone for a few minutes. I walked through the streets without a clear destination. No sword. No armor. Just me.
I passed by a square where some children were playing pretend, acting like adventurers. One of them held a piece of wood as if it were a sword.
"I'm the hero who defeated the demons."
The others laughed.
I stopped for a second.
No one recognized me.
And that was perfect.
I kept walking.
I bought some bread at a small bakery. Talked to the baker about the weather. Ordinary things.
But real.
When I returned to the mansion, it was already getting dark. The house lights were on. I heard laughter inside before I even opened the door.
They were playing some kind of game at the table in the living room.
"You took a while," Vespera said.
"I went for a walk."
"Alone?"
"Alone."
Elara looked at me approvingly.
I had dinner with them still laughing about whatever game they were playing. I didn't ask what it was. I just sat down and joined the conversations.
At no point did my mind return to that dream.
And when I realized that, I understood what was happening.
I was regaining control without noticing.
Before going to sleep, I stood for a few seconds by the bedroom window, looking at the dark sky.
Silence.
Nothing strange.
Nothing wrong.
I lay down.
Closed my eyes.
And for the first time since I returned, my last feeling before falling asleep wasn't worry.
It was normal tiredness.