Varen pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped aside with a polite smile. "Please, go in."
Sara didn't wait. She slipped right past him with a bright laugh. "I'll show them everything, Lord Varen! You just relax."
Varen blinked, then chuckled softly and let her take over.
Sara waved them inside like it was her own house. "Come on, come on! Let's start from the bottom."
The entrance opened into a wide hall with smooth wooden floors that didn't creak. Sunlight poured through big glass windows, making everything feel warm and bright.
"Living room first!" Sara said, spinning around. "See? Plenty of space for a big table, chairs, and even a couch if you want. And look at this fireplace, it's real stone, keeps the whole room cozy in winter."
Mira's eyes went huge. "Whoah, it's so big! We could fit ten people in here!"
Lys smiled, still a little stunned. "Yeah… way better than our old hut."
Elara walked slowly, running her fingers along the clean walls. Her eyes were soft and wondering.
Sara grabbed Elara's hand gently and pulled her toward the next door. "Now the kitchen! This is the best part for you, Miss Elara."
The kitchen was bright and open, with a big stone counter, shelves already built into the wall, and a wide hearth with iron hooks for pots. Elara stopped in the middle of the room, staring at everything.
Lys stayed back, giving her space. He knew she would be the one spending hours here every day.
Elara touched the smooth counter, then the big wooden table. "It's… so clean," she whispered, almost to herself. "And look at the size of this hearth. I could cook for all of us without trouble."
Sara nodded proudly. "Exactly! And there's even a little pantry through that door. No more storing food on the floor."
Elara gave a small, happy smile. "Thank you, Sara. This is… perfect. You have a good eye for choosing houses, I gotta say."
Suddenly, from the hallway, Mira's voice rang out. "Lys! Lys, come here right now! You have to see this!"
Lys laughed and hurried toward her voice. Mira was standing in the doorway of a side room, bouncing on her toes.
"Look!" she said, grabbing his sleeve and pulling him inside. "A real bathroom! With a bathtub, too!"
The room had a large wooden tub big enough for two people, sitting on a raised platform. There was even a small drain in the floor and shelves for towels.
Lys stared at the tub, then scratched his head. "This is nice… but how do we fill it? Carry buckets every time?"
Mira shrugged, still grinning. "Come on, there must be a way. Mr. Varen must've used it somehow, right?"
Varen stepped in quietly from the hallway. "About that, there's a pump behind the house," he said kindly. "It pulls water straight from the underground spring. Takes only a few minutes to fill the tub. And the drain goes out to the garden. Very convenient."
Sara popped her head in behind him. "See? I told you it was perfect!"
Lys got confused, hearing the word pump. 'Huh, how can there be a pump when there is not even electricity?'
Seeing the confused face of Lys, Sara said, "Oh, you don't have to worry about that, Lys. Mana core is not that hard to get, as many people think. I will get your daily needed mana cores for running that pump and other needs. So don't worry."
'Hmm, so instead of electricity, devices run on mana cores here?! But how do they even get those mana cores? Don't tell me, they have to kill monsters to collect mana cores from them, do they, like those isekai stories I used to read? Well, whatever it is. I'll find out later, for now let's enjoy this moment.'
They kept walking through the rest of the house. Sara led the way the whole time, pointing out every little thing.
"Upstairs now!" she said, climbing the stairs like an excited child. "Five bedrooms, one big one for you, Mira, and Miss Elara, and two smaller ones."
Mira ran ahead and peeked into each room. "This one has the best window! I want this!"
Lys followed slowly, checking the sturdy stairs and the solid doors. Everything felt strong and well-made.
Varen walked beside him and spoke softly. "The furniture stays, if you want it. I'm heading two hundred miles south, no point dragging tables and beds that far."
Lys nodded. "Thank you, sir. That helps a lot."
In the biggest bedroom, Elara stood by the window, looking out at the yard. She turned when Lys walked in.
"It feels like a dream, Lys," she said quietly, just for him to hear. "Will the money you have left be enough for this house…?"
Lys stepped close and gently touched her arm. "It's ours now, Mom. Don't worry about it. Sara knows my budget. So she must have chosen this house thinking about everything."
Sara clapped her hands again by entering from the doorway. "Well? What do you think, everyone? Ready to make it official?"
Mira rushed over and hugged Lys's side. "Yes! I love it already! Get this house, Lys."
Lys looked around at the three women, his mother, his sister, and Sara, all smiling in their new house. His chest felt warm and full.
"Yeah," he said with a grin. "Lets make this house our home officially."