After returning to the mansion in Vailor, I felt something I hadn't experienced in quite a long time.
The feeling of being home.
The journey to the Kingdom of the Giants had been productive. The lands were prospering, the residents seemed satisfied, and I had managed to find someone trustworthy to continue managing the region in my absence. In addition, that period had also served to strengthen my knowledge of magic thanks to the ancestral mage's book.
Even so, returning to the mansion brought a different kind of peace.
It was a place filled with memories.
A place where I could relax without constantly having to think about responsibilities.
That afternoon, after organizing a few things and speaking with the servants, I went upstairs to my room, carrying the book with me.
Only a few pages remained.
Very few.
I sat by the window as the light of the setting sun illuminated the room.
For a few seconds, I simply looked at the worn cover.
It was curious to think that this volume had existed for centuries.
How many people had read it before me?
How many mages had learned from its teachings?
How many secrets were still hidden within its pages?
I slowly opened the book.
I began reading the final passages.
Unlike the earlier sections, those last pages did not speak about magical techniques.
They did not explain theories.
They did not present new methods.
They felt much more like a collection of reflections left behind by the author before completing his work.
The old mage spoke about his own life.
About the mistakes he had made.
About the successes he had achieved.
About the people he had met.
About the students he had taught.
The more I read, the more I realized those words carried a different tone.
It was as if he were speaking directly to whoever found that book in the future.
At one point, I came across a passage that caught my attention.
The author said that magic was a tool.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
It was neither good.
Nor evil.
Everything depended on the person who used it.
I continued reading.
Shortly afterward, I found the final message he had left behind.
I remained silent for a few seconds as I looked at those words.
"If you have made it this far, then you have learned much more than spells."
"You have learned about knowledge."
"You have learned about effort."
"You have learned about discovery."
"But there is something more important than all of that."
"Do not allow power to corrupt your heart."
"Do not allow your strength to make you forget who you are."
"No matter how powerful you become."
"No matter how many enemies you defeat."
"No matter how many people admire you."
"If you lose yourself, then you will have lost everything."
"Power is a tool."
"Never allow it to become your master."
I closed my eyes for a few moments.
Those words continued to echo in my mind.
Perhaps because I knew there was truth in them.
Great power really could change a person.
I had seen it happen countless times.
Some people began with good intentions.
But as they gained strength, wealth, or influence, they eventually changed.
They began to believe they were above everyone else.
They began to believe their own desires were more important.
They began to believe they could do anything.
And then they started to fall.
I remembered several enemies I had faced.
Many of them had been defeated precisely because of their own arrogance.
Power had consumed their minds.
Perhaps that was one of the hardest dangers to notice.
Because it did not happen all at once.
It happened little by little.
In silence.
By the time a person realized it, they had already changed completely.
I looked at the book once again.
Now I understood why those words had been placed at the end.
After teaching everything he knew, that mage had chosen to leave behind one final piece of advice.
Perhaps the most important of all.
I carefully closed the cover.
The reading had finally come to an end.
A strange feeling of satisfaction filled me.
At the same time, I also felt a bit of melancholy.
After all, that journey through its pages had come to an end.
But its teachings would remain with me.
Always.
I placed the book on the table and went downstairs to the main hall.
Shortly afterward, I found the girls gathered together.
Elara was talking with Lyannis.
Scarlett and Rai'kanna were discussing a training session.
Liriel's assistant seemed to be telling a story about something she had seen during the journey.
Liriel watched everything with a peaceful smile.
I sat down with them.
"Finished the book?"
Elara asked.
"I did."
"So?"
I thought for a few seconds.
"It was one of the best books I've ever read."
Lyannis smiled.
"I figured you'd say that."
I told them about the author's final words.
They all listened attentively.
Even Scarlett remained silent.
When I finished, Liriel was the first to speak.
"He was wise."
"I think so too."
The assistant nodded.
"Very few people leave behind such a valuable legacy."
We spent most of the evening talking.
The atmosphere was pleasant.
Light.
Without urgent concerns.
Without battles.
Without crises.
Just a peaceful evening among people who were important to me.
When it was time for dinner, everyone gathered around the main table.
The meal was lively.
We talked about the journey to the Kingdom of the Giants.
About the residents.
About the princess.
About the crops.
About the training.
Several times I found myself laughing along with them.
It was easy to forget my problems when moments like these happened.
For a while, I was able to simply enjoy that peace.
After the meal, we continued talking for a few more hours.
The night slowly passed.
The stars shone outside.
The mansion remained peaceful.
Perhaps too peaceful.
Because deep down, I knew that peace would not last forever.
The Demon King still existed.
The war was not over.
The final confrontation continued to draw closer.
Sooner or later, everything would change again.
When I finally said goodnight to the girls and returned to my room, that thought was still with me.
I changed my clothes.
Lay down on the bed.
Stared at the ceiling for a few moments.
Then I closed my eyes.
Sleep came quickly.
And, as had been happening for some time, the dream began.
This time, there was no mist.
There was no absolute darkness.
There were no confusing images.
Everything seemed clearer.
More real.
I stood in a vast plain.
The sky was gray.
The wind blew gently.
Ahead of me stood a single figure.
Tall.
Imposing.
Surrounded by an overwhelming presence.
I didn't need to ask who it was.
I already knew.
The Demon King.
He remained watching me.
I watched him as well.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he smiled.
A cold smile.
"So you've continued enjoying your peace, Hero."
His voice echoed across the plain.
I kept my expression firm.
"You seem bothered by that."
He let out a quiet chuckle.
"No."
"Then why did you appear?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Because I thought I should warn you."
"Warn me?"
"Yes."
An invisible pressure filled the surroundings.
Even though it was only a dream, his presence was terrifying.
But I didn't look away.
I showed no fear.
The Demon King continued.
"My army continues to grow."
"The world continues to weaken."
"With each passing day, my influence increases."
He took a few steps forward.
"You eliminated my generals."
"You destroyed several of my plans."
"You interfered countless times."
The pressure grew even stronger.
"But that is about to end."
I remained silent.
He continued walking.
"You have been a thorn in my side for far too long."
"So I have made a decision."
"When the time comes..."
His eyes met mine.
"I will kill you myself."
The wind seemed to stop.
Silence filled the plain.
For several seconds, we simply stared at each other.
Then I answered.
"You can try."
His smile disappeared.
"You're not afraid?"
"No."
"Interesting."
I crossed my arms.
"If you truly believe you can defeat me, then come."
His presence became even heavier.
But I remained firm.
"I defeated your generals."
"I destroyed your armies."
"I overcame every obstacle you placed in my path."
I took one step forward.
"You'll be just another one."
His eyes gleamed.
For an instant, the very landscape seemed to tremble.
Then he began to laugh.
A low.
Dark laugh.
"We shall see, Hero."
His figure began to disappear.
The plain began to dissolve.
The last thing I heard was his voice.
"Prepare yourself."
Then everything went dark.
I opened my eyes.
The morning light streamed through the window.
The dream was over.
I stared at the ceiling for a few seconds.
Then I slowly sat up.
The room was silent.
The mansion was still asleep.
But my heart remained steadfast.
That encounter had not changed my resolve.
Quite the opposite.
It had only reinforced what I already knew.
The final battle was drawing near.
The time of peace was coming to an end.
I looked at the sky through the window.
The sun was beginning to rise over the horizon.
I clenched my hand into a fist.
And made a silent promise.
No matter what happens.
No matter how powerful the Demon King is.
No matter how many obstacles appear.
I will win.
I will not lose.
Because there are people who depend on me.
People I want to protect.
And an entire world that deserves to continue existing.
With that thought, I rose from the bed as the first rays of dawn illuminated the mansion.
Peace still remained.
But I knew.
Very soon, the battle that would decide the fate of everything would finally begin.