Once Kaiser mentioned the training place, the others became very interested; no one wanted to remain weak. They all desired to grow stronger to achieve their goals.
"That place you mentioned, Kaiser, can it make us strong enough to take back the kingdom?" Fain asked.
"I can't guarantee that," Kaiser replied, "but I can tell you that you will become much stronger."
That was enough to make everyone willing to go to that place to push past their limits. It was absolutely necessary if they ever wanted to reclaim the kingdom.
"I'd love to go right now, but I want to wait until Laira wakes up and make sure she's okay. Besides, I'm sure she'll want to become stronger too, and I'm not leaving her here alone," Reik said.
"I understand. We'll wait for her to wake up, and then we'll all decide together when to leave," Kaiser replied.
Hours passed in silence. Most of them rested after the intense battle, while others celebrated the victory with wide smiles, especially the former slaves, who were finally free.
Reik never left Laira's side. He watched her face closely, anxiously waiting for her to wake up. Finally, she moved slightly and opened her eyes. At that moment, a tear slid down Reik's cheek, gently falling onto Laira's face.
"Why are you crying? What's wrong?" Laira asked in a hoarse voice as she sat up, bringing a hand to her head in pain.
"Be careful, you took a really hard hit to the head. I was really worried," Reik said.
"Did we win? I remember being hit by a demon... I was distracted. I'm sorry for making you worry."
"The important thing is that you're okay," Reik replied with a smile.
Tharion, Fain, and Kaiser, who were nearby, approached when they saw that Laira had woken up.
"Finally awake, Sleeping Beauty. Reik was worried sick about you — he didn't leave your side for a second," Tharion said with a teasing smile.
Laira blushed when she heard Tharion's words and glanced sideways at Reik, who was smiling.
"It wasn't that bad," Laira murmured, somewhat embarrassed, as she adjusted herself more comfortably in her spot.
"It was a strong hit, it's normal for him to worry, but come on, if it had been me, I'm sure he wouldn't have worried as much…" Fain added, laughing along with Tharion.
"What do you mean? I don't understand!" Reik asked, furrowing his brows.
Tharion and Fain exchanged looks, holding back their laughter, while Laira let out a sigh.
"Nothing, Reik... just forget about it," Fain replied with a smile, realizing it would be best not to continue with the subject.
Kaiser, who had been silently observing, took the moment to speak about the training location. He approached Laira with a serious expression, though his gaze held a hint of kindness.
"Laira, when you're feeling better, I'd like to discuss something with you," Kaiser said cautiously.
Laira looked at him with curiosity.
"What is it about?" she asked, her expression intrigued.
"It doesn't have to be now, when you're feeling better..." Kaiser responded, trying not to pressure her too much.
Laira gave him a challenging look.
"Tell me now!" she exclaimed, showing a hint of impatience. "Don't tell me you have something to say and then leave me in suspense."
Kaiser let out a smile as he noticed Laira's determination.
"Alright..." Kaiser said, slightly lowering his head.
"It's about a training place I know. I mentioned it to Reik, and I think it would benefit all of you to become stronger. But I must warn you, it won't be easy. Quite the opposite!"
Laira looked at him, her eyes shining with excitement.
"What are we waiting for? The sooner we go, the sooner we'll get stronger!" she exclaimed enthusiastically.
"For now, rest a bit. There's no need to leave right away. Be patient," Reik said, looking at her with concern.
"Alright... but I'll only wait one day," Laira replied with determination.
"One day? Just one? You need more rest!" Reik protested.
"Just one, end of the conversation."
Reik sighed and, with a gesture of his arms, signaled that he was giving in. Meanwhile, Tharion, Fain, and Kaiser burst out laughing.
"Alright, later I'll tell you where that place is. For now, I want everyone to relax a bit," Kaiser said in a calm tone. He then turned to Reik. "Could you help me bury the bodies of our comrades?"
"Sure, I'll go," Reik replied without hesitation.
As he walked away with Kaiser, Reik briefly turned towards Laira and gave her a serious look.
"Rest, okay?" he told her before continuing on his way.
"Yes, don't worry! And thank you for everything," Laira replied with a smile.
As Reik and Kaiser gathered the bodies, the dense air and the bloodstained ground reminded them of what had happened. Without a word, they began to dig.
The shovel sank with difficulty into the hardened earth, accompanied by the sound of the soil slowly giving way. Reik felt the pain of those who had lost their lives with every body they buried.
When the last body was covered by the earth, Reik sighed deeply, relaxing his shoulders. Kaiser, standing beside him, gazed at the graves.
"I want you to know that many more will lose their lives... I know it's hard, but it's the reality. Still, the stronger we become, the more lives will be saved. You understand that, right?" Kaiser said, without taking his gaze off the graves.
"I understand. We will become stronger, strong enough to reclaim what is ours and save this kingdom," Reik replied, clenching his fists.
After several minutes in silence in front of the graves, Kaiser placed a hand on Reik's shoulder.
"Come on, the others are waiting for us. We need to prepare everything for tomorrow."
Reik nodded, and they both headed back to the others. Upon arrival, they found everyone seated and ready to listen. They were fully prepared to grow stronger; even the slaves, still aching from their long imprisonment, showed determination. No one knew better than them what it meant to live under the demons' yoke, and they were willing to change that situation at any cost.
"Tomorrow at dawn, we will head to Mount Pixie. It's two days from here. At the top, I know someone who could turn you into incredible warriors, but, as I always say, it will depend on your effort and will. It's a tough place, not for everyone. I expect great things from you," said Kaiser.
"Is that person strong?" asked Reik.
"Very much. To be honest, he could have defeated all these demons by himself, without the slightest problem," replied Kaiser.
Upon hearing that, everyone was amazed. The idea that a human could accomplish such a feat sparked intense curiosity within the group. Without saying a word, they got up and went to sleep. They wanted to begin the journey as soon as possible, and with it, their path toward true strength.
Hours passed, but Reik couldn't sleep. The idea of a warrior capable of defeating so many demons on his own kept running through his mind relentlessly. He got up and walked over to the campfire, where Kaiser sat, his gaze fixed on the flames.
"Can't sleep?" Kaiser asked, not taking his eyes off the flames.
"I can't stop thinking about your words. I'm so eager to meet that warrior... I'm filled with an immense curiosity."
"I understand. When you meet him, you'll understand many things. Power comes with great responsibility. And to reach the highest point, there's always a price to pay... and that price, Reik, is always steep."
"Did he pay a price? What was it?" Reik asked, full of curiosity.
"It wouldn't be right for me to tell you. Now sleep, you need to rest," Kaiser replied.
Reik didn't say anything else; he understood perfectly that it wasn't Kaiser's place to share someone else's personal matters.
"Alright, I'll try to get some sleep," Reik murmured.
He turned around and walked back to his spot, lying down on the cold ground. He looked up at the starry sky, trying to sort through his thoughts, which raged inside him like a storm.
Will I have to pay a high price to reach my goal?
He couldn't stop thinking about it, and the idea tormented him. He wasn't willing to lose anything he cared about, but he couldn't abandon his goals either.
Little by little, his eyelids grew heavier. The warmth of the campfire wrapped around him just enough to lull him into sleep, until he finally drifted off.
Dawn came quickly, and Kaiser's firm voice woke him up.
"It's time to leave. Finish gathering your things and let's get moving. We have a long journey ahead to Mount Pixie," said Kaiser, standing next to the extinguished campfire.
Reik got up with difficulty, still feeling pain in his ribs. Around him, everyone was starting to rise and pack their belongings. The excitement in the air was palpable; the anticipation and enthusiasm for the journey to the mountain were reflected on every face.