Heroes of Etheron

The afternoon sun filtered through thin clouds over Veilden, casting a soft glow on cobbled streets. The town bustled with movement—hover wagons floated gently along marked paths, market stalls rang with voices of merchants, and the adventurer's guild was alive with chatter. Amid it all, Arriel, Lira, and Kael sat around a small table outside a bakery café, their plates empty except for crumbs.

"We can't keep living at inns," Kael finally said, stretching his arms behind his head. "One more night of creaky beds and thin walls, and I might start sleeping in trees."

"I don't mind inns," Arriel said, sipping his tea. "They're cheap. Besides, we'll be moving around a lot."

"Not if we keep using Veilden as a base," Lira said, brushing a strand of her blonde hair aside. "I vote we buy a proper house. With rooms. And a bathtub. And working magic heaters. I'm not freezing again next winter."

Arriel raised an eyebrow. "A bathtub?"

Lira narrowed her eyes. "Yes. A personal bathtub."

Kael chuckled. "You two are going to be fun. Luckily, I've got a friend who works as a house sales agent here in Veilden. I'll send him a message. He owes me a favor anyway."

And so, a few hours later, the three of them met with a smiling man in a blue tunic named Feran, who led them through narrow streets and quiet alleys to their first viewing.

---

The first house was… disappointing.

A small, boxy structure wedged between two larger buildings. The wood paneling was faded and peeling, and a flickering lamp buzzed by the door.

"Only 30,000 Git," Feran said cheerfully. "One bedroom, one utility room, shared water line. Old, but still holding up!"

Inside, the magic stove coughed blue smoke when tapped. The walls were scuffed. A single tiny window let in light to a room that smelled faintly of old mushrooms.

"This is… uh… simple," Arriel offered.

"I will literally die in this house," Lira muttered. "Either from dampness or despair."

Kael winced. "On to the next?"

---

The second house was a modest upgrade. Two bedrooms, a working fridge, and a decently ventilated kitchen. The heater functioned, and there was even a small fenced garden behind it.

"Fifty thousand Git," Feran announced proudly. "Best deal in the middle district."

Arriel looked around, nodding. "This is good. It has everything we need."

"No bathtub," Lira said, arms crossed.

"There's a bucket room!" Kael tried.

"Still no."

---

Feran led them uphill to the edge of town for the final stop. The sun was beginning to dip, casting golden light over a sleek, well-kept house with ivy growing neatly along the stone fencing. The magic lamp by the door glowed softly.

"This one just became available this week," Feran said. "Ninety thousand Git. Three bedrooms, one wardrobe room, all standard utilities… and yes, Miss, it has a personal bathtub."

Lira's eyes sparkled before she even stepped inside.

The inside was pristine—floors clean, enchantments fresh. The water pipe sang clear when tested, the heater and air flow crystals responded instantly. The wardrobe room had built-in mana-lighting. The bathtub was deep and perfectly round, made of polished ceramic with a built-in heat regulator crystal.

Kael gave a low whistle. "This is basically luxury."

"I love it," Lira said, twirling in place. "This is home."

Arriel stared at the price tag like it might attack him.

"I'll pay half," Lira said, turning to him with a small smile. "You pay the other half. Fair?"

He hesitated, looking at his savings. After the Heroes Division payout, he still had enough, but just barely. Ninety thousand Git was a steep cut.

But Lira looked happy. And it really was a good house.

"…Fine," he muttered. "But no complaints when we eat plain bread for two weeks."

Kael laughed. "You guys do that. I'll sleep over when I want a hot bath."

---

Later that evening, Arriel stood in the living room of their new home, arms folded as he looked around. The walls were painted a calming cream, and the magic lamps cast a soft glow over their new life. Boxes were stacked near the wall—just basic supplies they'd carried from the inn.

"Can't believe we actually bought a house," Arriel muttered.

"Believe it," Lira said as she walked out from the bathroom, hair damp, face glowing. "That bath is a miracle."

Arriel looked at his coin pouch again and sighed.

"We'll make it back," Lira said gently, stepping next to him. "We're not just adventurers anymore. We're a team. A family. And now we have a home."

Kael, coming in with a bag of groceries, grinned. "So… who's cooking?"