The next morning the Magic Apartments stood under bright sunlight like a completed monument rising from the open field. The roof shimmered with faint mana lines and the balconies cast smooth rectangular shadows across the grass. Ethan arrived early carrying a small notebook full of plans for interior finishing. Today would be about details. Walls floors doors furniture and the first round of safety wards. The building was almost ready to open but Ethan refused to let anything feel half done. Quality mattered. First impressions mattered even more.

The workers arrived energized. Seeing the completed roof made them feel unstoppable. The mage walked beside them with a bundle of chalk scrolls and small rune stones. Ethan gathered them on the first floor and explained the plan. They would install interior panels polish the floors mount door frames finish the balconies and prepare the entrance hall. Ethan wanted the building to feel inviting the moment residents stepped inside.

They began with the first floor hallway. Workers lifted polished wooden panels carved with simple grooves that caught mana light in soft patterns. Ethan inspected each one making sure edges were smooth and angles clean. The mage carved thin mana traces behind each panel drawing glowing lines that created a soft illumination once activated. When Ethan stepped back the hallway looked warm and modern almost like something from a well managed American apartment building but mixed with this world’s magical glow.

Next came the floors. The workers laid down thick wooden boards treated with a resin that resisted moisture. Ethan tapped them with the handle of a tool checking the sound. Each one felt firm. The mage dusted the edges with crystal powder binding the boards to mana channels hidden beneath. When activated the floor warmed slightly under Ethan’s shoes. He grinned. Mana heated floors. Tenants would love that.

As the workers spread across the hallway Ethan moved to the first room on the left. It still had bare beams and rough stone but that would change quickly. He marked the placement of the window frame drew a line for the bed corner and showed workers where to mount the ventilation rune. The mage carved flowing designs across the walls and when he activated them the room filled with a soft steady air circulation. Ethan stepped into the breeze and nodded. Perfect.

Workers installed a smooth wooden floor followed by sturdy wall panels. They carefully mounted the door frame and slid a thick wooden door into place. Ethan tested the noise dampening rune at the top. He spoke loudly outside the room and the workers inside barely heard a whisper. Privacy in a magical world. It would feel revolutionary.

As room after room took shape Ethan walked through each hallway like a proud inspector. Every room gained structure flooring and light. Some rooms had balconies some had larger windows some had extra storage space for adventurers with heavy gear. Ethan wanted variety in the building so tenants could choose based on lifestyle. He made mental notes about rental prices. Room with balcony higher. Corner rooms slightly higher. Standard rooms fair and affordable. Affordable meant more tenants and stable income.

By midmorning a group of adventurers approached again. This time there were more of them including humans elves dwarves and even a beastfolk monk carrying a heavy pack. They asked if they could see the rooms. Ethan allowed them to tour the first floor. They walked slowly through the hallways staring with wide eyes. One dwarf knocked on a wall and whispered Something this smooth is not natural. Another adventurer tested the mana lights by running a hand under the glow. One elf leaned out a balcony and said the view alone was worth the rent. Ethan watched them with calm satisfaction. The building was working exactly as he planned.

When the adventurers asked about move in dates Ethan smiled and said Soon very soon. They left with excitement buzzing in their voices. Ethan took a deep breath. Demand was real. That mattered more than anything.

Around midday Ethan gathered the workers on the second floor. They repeated the same process installing panels floors and doors. The communal room needed special attention. Workers polished the wooden walls while the mage carved a full runic mural across one side. The mural depicted flowing mana like a river winding through trees mountains and city walls. When activated the mural glowed gently filling the room with a warm atmosphere. It was not bright or flashy just peaceful. A place where adventurers could relax without feeling overwhelmed.

Ethan walked through the communal space imagining residents playing cards eating meals sharing stories or sharpening weapons. He imagined community forming naturally. A building became strong not only through walls but through people. This space would help.

In the afternoon Ethan turned his attention to the entrance hall. He wanted the moment someone walked inside they felt safe comfortable and welcomed. Workers installed wide double doors made of thick wood with reinforced beams. The mage carved subtle defensive runes along the doorway. When activated the runes created a faint barrier that allowed people to pass but deterred monsters pests and harmful magic. Ethan stepped through the entrance and felt a gentle resistance then a soft warmth. Perfect.

Near sunset Ethan and the mage installed the first full safety ward at the building’s corner. The mage placed a large rune stone on a carved pedestal and Ethan secured the base with stone clamps. When activated the ward erupted in bright light shooting energy lines across the roof edges. The glow settled into a faint shimmering dome over the building barely visible but strong. Workers stared in awe. The building now had true protection.

As the sky turned orange Ethan walked through each hallway breathing in the scent of fresh wood and faint mana. Everything felt real now. The rooms. The walls. The wards. The glow. The warmth. This was no longer a construction site. It was a living building.

Ethan stood on the balcony and whispered Tomorrow we make it move in ready. Tomorrow the Magic Apartments open.