The morning after the grand opening Ethan stood outside the Magic Apartments watching tenants step out into the glowing hallways with sleepy excitement. Adventurers stretched on balconies letting the cool breeze wake them up. A pair of beastfolk siblings sat near the entrance sharing breakfast while murmuring about how soft the mana warmed floors felt. A dwarf tenant leaned on a railing polishing his axe while humming a tune. The building finally had life. Not construction noise. Not hammer echoes. Real living sounds.

Ethan let himself take in the moment but he knew today was not a day for rest. If the Magic Apartments were the beginning then the next move would shape the future district. To build a thriving community he needed commerce. Shops. Food stalls. Tailors. Potion crafters. Armor repairers. Places where residents could buy and sell without crowding inside the city walls. That meant Ethan needed to start planning the Enchanted Shopping Plaza.

He walked around the side of the Magic Apartments scanning the open field. The grass shimmered in the early sunlight and the mana pulses under the soil gently vibrated because of the building’s protective wards. Across the clearing he pictured a line of small storefronts each powered by mana channels connected to a central trunk line. He imagined wide walkways clean stone paths and enchanting glow panels that lit the plaza at night. A plaza where every race could shop without worrying about overcrowded city markets.

Before starting the layout he walked back into the building to check on tenants. The communal room was already lively. Two adventurers played cards while a dwarf heated tea using a mana crystal burner. A human family stood near the mural admiring the soft shifting colors. The beastfolk siblings from earlier waved at Ethan and thanked him again for creating a peaceful place to rest. Ethan nodded but his mind was already planning the next phase.

He met the mage in the communal room. The mage looked rested and curious. He asked Ethan what he planned next. Ethan explained the plan for the Enchanted Shopping Plaza and how it would connect directly to the apartment building. The mage’s eyes widened. A commercial district outside the city walls. It sounded bold. Ambitious. Possibly even foolish to some. But the mage understood Ethan’s style. If he could build a multi level apartment building with glowing mana lines and protective wards then a shopping plaza was not impossible. The mage agreed to assist with the rune layout.

Ethan stepped outside with the mage and used a long rope and chalk to draw the outline of the plaza. He planned for a semicircle of storefronts facing inward with a large path running through the middle. In the center he wanted a fountain powered by mana water channels. He imagined merchants selling enchanted food stones, lightweight armor packs, magic scrolls, and supplies for adventurers. He also planned an open dining area where workers and residents could sit comfortably.

As Ethan knelt to draw another line they heard footsteps approaching. A group of merchants from the city walked toward him carrying small ledgers and bags of coins. They introduced themselves and said they had heard rumors that Ethan was building shops outside the walls. Ethan explained the plaza concept and the merchants’ eyes lit up. They asked how large the stalls would be, how much rent would cost, and whether protection wards would extend to the plaza.

Ethan explained that each shop would have mana reinforced walls, stable lighting, and optional storage rooms. Rent would be fair but based on shop size and foot traffic position. The merchants exchanged murmurs of excitement. One even asked if he could reserve two stalls before construction started. Ethan took his name and made a single condition: he had to commit to staying for at least a month after opening. The merchant agreed immediately. Ethan smiled. Demand once again came before supply.

As he continued mapping out the plaza a group of adventurers approached bringing a problem. They reported a small tremor near the far side of the field. Possibly another burrowing creature or a minor mana leak underground. Ethan and the mage walked with them to check. The ground around the far corner pulsed irregularly with blue light. The mage kneeled placing both hands on the soil. After a moment he explained that a mana pocket had formed underground possibly affected by the wards of the apartment building.

Ethan considered the situation. A mana pocket could be dangerous but also useful. If stabilized it could power the entire shopping plaza. He asked the mage if he could anchor the pocket safely. The mage nodded saying he would need runes, crystals, and assistance from a few earth aligned adventurers. Ethan agreed immediately. If they could establish a dedicated mana source this plaza would become legendary.

They returned to the main field and Ethan called for the beastfolk workers who had been resting near the entrance. When they saw Ethan with chalk in hand they understood immediately. Construction was about to begin again. Some groaned jokingly but all of them smiled ready to work. They followed Ethan to the new construction zone. He showed them the plaza layout explaining storefront angles, walkway width, and drainage runes that would prevent water from pooling.

The workers quickly set up boundary markers while the mage began carving the main mana trunk line through the center of the plaza. The glowing green line spread like a living vein shaping the foundation of future shops. Ethan walked alongside the mage adjusting angles and spacing. Villagers approaching the city stopped to watch. Some asked if they could open food stalls. Ethan wrote their names down too.

Throughout the afternoon Ethan and the team prepared the ground. They leveled soil, cleared stones, and carved shallow foundation pits. Each step felt like déjà vu from the Magic Apartments but lighter, more familiar, more efficient. The workers had learned the new building style well. They moved with purpose and confidence.

As the sun lowered Ethan stood in the middle of the freshly carved plaza outline. The entire space buzzed with mana energy. The future Enchanted Shopping Plaza was taking shape. Ethan could already see the future foot traffic, the lively noise, the smell of food, the display of magical goods. He felt a sense of momentum building. The kind that turned one building into a district. A district into a city. A city into an empire.

He whispered to himself quietly This is how real expansion starts. Not with walls but with community.