With the war over, there was no need to worry about ambushes or take detours. Leon and his team took a direct route across the continent and returned to the Empire in less than ten days.

Arriving late in the evening, Leon declined the welcome banquet his friends had prepared for him, opting instead for a quiet meal at a tavern with Rebecca and a few others. He found it more comfortable to share simple moments with old friends rather than endure the formalities of a banquet.

“As I entered the city, I noticed that nearly all the streets have …