Enjoy the company of my pets

The forest seemed to still after the final blow, the demonic creature collapsing into a twisted heap at our feet. The air felt lighter, the oppressive weight that had hung over us during the fight lifting with the creature's death.

Thrain sheathed his sword with a satisfied grunt, while Kaelen leaned against a tree, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"We did it," Kaelen panted, his grin wide as he looked around at the rest of us. "Not bad for a day's work, huh?"

Elaris gave him a half-smile, but there was a hint of something else in her eyes doubt, maybe, or suspicion. She cleaned her blade with a quick, practiced motion before sliding it back into its scabbard. "That was... too easy," she muttered under her breath.

I felt it too. The demon had put up a fight, but considering the stories we'd heard from the villagers, it didn't seem to match the level of destruction they had described.