The days that followed Vaelthor's fall were the most peaceful we had experienced in a long time.
For the first time since the beginning of the northern campaign, there were no urgent reports arriving at dawn. No alarms echoed across the city walls. No messengers rushed through the castle corridors carrying troubling news about enemy movements.
The war was not over yet.
Everyone knew that.
The Demon King still existed.
Other generals were still alive.
But the defeat of the First General had created something rare.
Time.
Time to breathe.
Time to rest.
Time to remember that life was not made up only of battles.
During the first few days after our return, I spent most of my time recovering my strength.
My body still felt the effects of the battle against Vaelthor.
The pain gradually faded, but it was still there.
Liriel insisted that I rest.
Scarlett said exactly the same thing.
Even Rai'kanna started complaining whenever she saw me training too early.
That was worrying.
When even she thought someone was overdoing it, there was probably a problem.
That morning, for example, I was in the mansion's garden practicing a few basic sword movements when I heard footsteps approaching.
"You never learn, do you?"
I looked back.
Scarlett was walking toward me carrying a cup.
"Good morning to you too."
She stopped beside me.
"Your body is still recovering."
"I'm just training."
"You said the same thing yesterday."
"Because it was true yesterday too."
She sighed.
"You're impossible to argue with."
I couldn't help but smile.
It was a conversation we had already had many times.
Scarlett handed me the cup.
The warm aroma immediately caught my attention.
"Thank you."
"Consider it an investment."
"An investment?"
"If you collapse from exhaustion, we'll all have problems."
I shook my head while taking a sip.
She was probably right.
A few minutes later, we went back inside the mansion.
The atmosphere was much calmer than it had been in the previous months.
No battle preparations.
No military strategies.
No emergency meetings.
Just a normal routine.
Or at least as close to one as we could have.
In the main hall, we found Vespera sitting by the window.
She was reading a book while watching the movement outside.
Something rare.
She was usually training.
"Since when do you like reading?"
She didn't even look up.
"I've always liked it."
"This is the first time I've seen it."
"Because you're usually busy fighting something."
I couldn't argue with that.
A little later, Elara appeared carrying several bags.
"It seems like the entire city is happier."
She placed the groceries on the table.
"The merchants too?"
"Especially them."
Rai'kanna appeared right behind her.
"They practically gave me food for free."
Vespera closed her book.
"You ate half the samples before you got here."
"That's beside the point."
Her answer made Elara laugh.
Even Scarlett ended up smiling.
It was strange.
But pleasant.
The mansion felt lighter.
As if everyone had finally managed to relax.
Later that same day, I received a message from the Adventurers' Guild.
An official invitation.
Or rather, a friendly summons.
According to the letter, I was expected to appear at the main headquarters the following morning.
When I showed the letter to the girls, Lyannis understood immediately.
"They're going to honor you."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
"Maybe it's just a meeting."
No one believed that.
Not even me.
The following morning, I headed to the Guild.
The streets of Vailor were still bustling.
The atmosphere in the city was completely different from what it had been before the campaign.
People seemed more confident.
More hopeful.
Perhaps because Vaelthor's fall had proven that the demon generals were not invincible.
When I arrived at the Guild, I found the place packed.
Adventurers filled nearly the entire main hall.
As soon as I entered, several conversations stopped.
That was already a bad sign.
Before I could think about going back home, I heard a familiar voice.
"You're here."
It was the Guild Master.
He looked pleased.
Which didn't help either.
I was led to the center of the hall.
Every eye followed me.
I began to suspect I should have stayed at the mansion.
The Guild Master raised his voice.
"For years, adventurers have fought against the demonic forces."
Silence filled the hall.
"But few achievements have had the impact of the northern campaign."
Some people nodded.
Others simply watched.
"Therefore, on behalf of the Adventurers' Guild, we officially recognize the man who led our adventurers during this war."
Before I could react, a round of applause echoed throughout the hall.
There was no escaping it.
I spent the next several minutes receiving congratulations.
Talking with adventurers.
Listening to exaggerated stories about events I had personally witnessed.
At one point, I heard someone claim that I had defeated a hundred demons with a single strike.
I didn't even bother correcting them.
It would have been pointless.
When I finally managed to leave the Guild, I felt as though I had taken part in another battle.
At least this one hadn't involved the risk of dying.
When I returned to the mansion, I found the girls gathered outside.
They seemed to be enjoying the afternoon.
Elara was tending to some flowers.
Liriel was talking with her.
Scarlett was reading a book.
Vespera was practicing her aim.
Rai'kanna was resting beneath a tree.
Lyannis was organizing documents.
A simple scene.
But one that felt precious after everything we had been through.
I sat down near them.
For several minutes, no one talked about the war.
We talked about ordinary things.
Food.
Travel.
Places we had visited.
Old stories.
Little things.
At that moment, I realized how much I had missed that.
War consumed far more than energy.
It consumed time.
Moments.
Simple experiences.
That was why those days were important.
The rest of the week passed in much the same way.
No major problems.
No emergencies.
No battles.
The city continued to recover.
Soldiers returned to their families.
Adventurers resumed their normal missions.
Merchants reopened their businesses.
The kingdom's entire atmosphere seemed different.
As though an enormous weight had been lifted.
One evening that week, I went alone to one of the mansion's balconies.
The sky was clear.
The city's lights shimmered in the distance.
I quietly admired the view.
It was difficult to believe everything that had happened.
A few months ago, I had been nothing more than an adventurer trying to survive in an unfamiliar world.
Now I had taken part in the fall of one of the Demon King's most powerful generals.
Life really changed quickly.
I heard footsteps behind me.
When I turned around, I found Lyannis.
She calmly walked over.
"I thought you'd be here."
"How did you know?"
"You always come to high places when you're thinking."
That was a little concerning.
Maybe she knew me better than I had realized.
Lyannis rested her arms on the balcony.
"What's on your mind?"
I looked back toward the city.
"A lot of things."
"Such as?"
"For the first time in a long time, I feel like we've truly made progress."
She remained silent.
Then I continued.
"For so long, it felt like we were only reacting to the demons' attacks."
I looked toward the horizon.
"But not anymore."
Lyannis nodded slowly.
"Because we defeated a general."
"Exactly."
Those words summed up everything.
Vaelthor wasn't just a powerful enemy.
He was a symbol.
His defeat showed that the Demon King's army could bleed.
Could lose.
Could be defeated.
And that changed everything.
The night breeze drifted gently across the balcony.
Below us, the city remained alive.
People walked through the streets.
Lights stayed lit.
Laughter could be heard in the distance.
Small signs of normality.
Small signs of peace.
I took a deep breath.
Perhaps the war was still far from over.
Perhaps even greater challenges awaited us in the future.
But at that moment, as I looked over Vailor illuminated beneath the night sky, one certainty came to mind.
For the first time since the beginning of that conflict, I felt that we had gained a genuine advantage.
And as the lights of the capital shone in the distance and the world finally enjoyed a few days of tranquility, the hope of a brighter future began to feel more real than ever.