After leaving the guild, the atmosphere among us felt a little different.
It wasn't fear.
Nor was it exactly concern.
It was more that silent feeling that something was beginning to change once again.
The demonic attacks were increasing.
First the smaller kingdoms.
Then the trade routes.
Now an entire kingdom had directly requested help.
As we walked through the streets of Vailor, I noticed that the girls were quieter than usual as well.
Scarlet was the first to break the silence.
"So, giants..."
She crossed her arms while walking beside me.
"Honestly, I'm still trying to imagine what an entire kingdom full of people that size must look like."
Rai'kanna laughed softly.
"You were surprised just seeing those two giants at the guild."
"They were enormous."
"You talk as if you're small."
Scarlet looked at her.
"Compared to those monsters, I am small."
Elara seemed thoughtful.
"What caught my attention the most was something else."
I looked at her.
"What?"
"They asked for help."
Lyannis nodded slightly.
"Ancient races usually hate admitting weakness."
Liriel sighed softly.
"If they've reached the point of hiring outside adventurers, then the situation must be really bad."
Vespera walked a little behind us, observing the movement in the streets.
"Or the demons found a specific way to weaken them."
That made me remember what the Guild Master had said.
The giants were physically strong.
Very strong, probably.
So why were they losing?
I continued thinking about it as we returned to the mansion.
The sky was beginning to turn orange as we passed through the estate gates.
The servants immediately began preparing everything for the trip as soon as we informed them we would be leaving early the next morning.
Carriage.
Supplies.
Weapons.
Cold-weather clothing.
Everything needed to be organized.
I went up to my room to separate a few things while listening to the movement throughout the corridors.
A short while later, Scarlet entered carrying some folded clothes.
"Are you taking this?"
I looked at the sword on the table.
"Definitely."
"I'm not talking about the sword."
She held up one of the outfits.
"I'm talking about these old clothes."
"They're comfortable."
"They're horrible."
I ended up laughing softly.
Scarlet placed the clothes on the bed and began searching through the drawers without even asking permission.
"You know you have enough money to buy better clothes now, right?"
"I spend money on important things."
"Clothes are important."
"To you."
She turned toward me.
"Of course they are."
Soon after, Elara entered the room holding several papers.
"I finished organizing part of the finances before the trip."
"You didn't need to do that now."
"Yes, I did."
She placed the reports on the table.
"The cyclops lands will continue functioning normally during our absence."
Lyannis entered right behind her.
"And I prepared some magical scrolls in case we need them."
Scarlet looked at her.
"You're always prepared for war."
"Most of our journeys end in war."
"Unfortunately, she has a point."
Liriel appeared carrying small bags of herbs and bottles of potions.
"I also prepared medicines."
Rai'kanna entered shortly afterward carrying her sword on her shoulder.
"I honestly want to see how giants fight."
Vespera appeared silently at the doorway.
"I already checked the carriage."
I looked at her.
"Everything alright?"
"Yes."
She entered the room calmly.
"The coachman said the trip could take more than a day depending on the route."
I sighed softly.
"It's going to be a long journey."
Scarlet sat on the bed.
"Then let's enjoy our last peaceful night."
I ended up looking out the window.
The city of Vailor was beginning to light up with the first lights of the evening.
For a moment, everything seemed calm.
Normal.
But deep down, I could feel that strange sensation again.
As if something was slowly approaching.
I looked away from the window.
"Let's have dinner."
We all went downstairs together to the mansion's main hall.
The servants had already prepared the table.
That night's dinner ended up being more peaceful than I expected.
We talked about various things.
Scarlet wanted to bet how many giants would be bigger than Rai'kanna.
Rai'kanna replied that probably all of them would be.
Elara wondered how the economy of a kingdom that size functioned.
Lyannis was curious about giant magic.
Liriel wanted to understand how their spirituality worked.
Vespera simply listened in silence while eating calmly.
At times, it almost felt like an ordinary evening.
And perhaps that was exactly what made everything feel stranger.
After so many conflicts, battles, and wars, those small moments of peace had begun to feel rare.
When we finished dinner, I went alone to the mansion garden for a few minutes.
The night was cold.
The wind gently swayed the trees while I observed the distant lights of the city.
I heard footsteps behind me.
It was Lyannis.
She approached calmly, holding a small book.
"You're thinking too much."
"Maybe."
She stopped beside me.
"You feel something strange too, don't you?"
I looked at her.
"Why do you think that?"
"Because you always get like this when you sense a major problem coming."
I let out a small sigh.
"The demons are moving more than before."
"And that worries you."
"Yes."
She remained silent for a few seconds before continuing.
"But have you noticed something?"
"What?"
"Before, you would have gone alone."
I looked at her without answering.
Lyannis gave a small smile.
"Now you think about the entire group."
That made me reflect for a few seconds.
Maybe she was right.
Before, I simply moved forward without thinking much.
Not anymore.
Now I had to think about the girls too.
About the people in the lands I managed.
About the kingdoms that were beginning to trust me.
It was a different kind of burden.
A short while later, we returned inside the mansion.
Scarlet was already complaining because Rai'kanna had taken her spot on the sofa.
The two began arguing again.
Liriel tried to separate them.
Elara completely ignored it.
Vespera simply watched in silence.
For some reason, seeing that made me feel calmer.
Later, we went upstairs to our rooms.
The night remained peaceful.
After spending so much time together, there was already a natural connection between us.
We talked for quite a while before going to sleep.
About journeys.
About battles.
About the kingdoms we had visited.
About the future.
At one point, Scarlet rested her head on my shoulder.
"Do you think this mission will be difficult?"
I thought for a few seconds before answering.
"Yes."
She slightly raised her face.
"That honest?"
"I prefer to be."
Liriel gently held my hand.
"But we'll succeed."
I looked at each of them.
Scarlet.
Liriel.
Elara.
Vespera.
Lyannis.
Rai'kanna.
At some point, that group had stopped being just travel companions.
We had truly become a family.
I ended up smiling faintly.
"Yes."
I moved closer to them as the atmosphere of the night became more intimate and peaceful.
After everything we had faced together, those quiet moments seemed even more important.
For a few hours, I managed to forget wars, demons, and responsibilities.
I simply enjoyed my time with them.
Much later, already during the early hours of the morning, I lay looking at the ceiling while the girls slept close to one another.
The silence of the room was peaceful.
But my mind remained restless.
The giants.
The demons.
The increasing attacks.
Everything seemed connected somehow.
I slowly closed my eyes.
We needed to resolve this mission.
And quickly.
Because deep down, I had the feeling that this was only the beginning of something much bigger.
The next morning, I woke before dawn.
The sky was still dark when I got up.
The girls began waking shortly afterward as well.
We went downstairs together while the servants finished the final preparations on the carriage.
The cold morning air hit my face as soon as we stepped outside the mansion.
The horses were already ready.
The provisions organized.
I looked at Vailor one last time.
Then I climbed into the carriage.
Scarlet sat beside me while the others settled in.
The coachman took hold of the reins.
I took a deep breath.
"Let's go to the Giant Kingdom."