Ethan woke before sunrise again and felt the momentum rushing through the district like a river of possibility. The Magic Apartments were fully alive with tenants. The Enchanted Shopping Plaza was buzzing even at night. Now the Adventurer Residential Zone had two nearly complete lodging halls glowing with mana like sturdy luminous fortresses. Today would be the day they added finishing touches to the halls and began shaping the training yard. Adventurers had already asked for it dozens of times. A good training yard could become the pride of the entire region.

When Ethan reached the site, the first lodging hall looked even more solid under morning light. Mana lines shimmered faint cyan across the walls, the reinforced lockers lined the hallway, and the thick beams stood like old forest trees. A few adventurers had already wandered in to check the progress, tapping walls and peeking into rooms. Ethan smiled at their curiosity. It meant interest. Interest meant demand.

The beastfolk workers arrived carrying wooden boards, stone tiles, tools, and bags of rune powder. The mage followed them, yawning but cheerful, with a bundle of chalk and mana crystals. Ethan gathered everyone near the entrance of the second lodging hall and reminded them of the plan. Today we finish the interiors, strengthen the frames, and make sure every room feels like a safe place to rest. Then we start building the training yard.

The workers nodded and got straight to it. They began installing wall panels in the second hall, matching the style of the first: lower stone panels for durability and upper wooden panels infused with mana. The mage carved ventilation runes near the ceiling and activated them one by one. The air inside each room shifted with a soft, clean flow. Ethan stepped inside one room and took a deep breath. It felt like stepping into a quiet mountain cabin, safe and calm even though monsters roamed outside the city walls.

As workers hammered beams into place, Ethan checked the spacing of every doorway. Larger adventurers like beastfolk warriors needed wide frames. Ethan made sure even a fully armored knight could walk inside without scraping weapon handles against the walls. Comfort through practicality was one of his rules. If a building made everyday movement easier, people would return to it again and again.

By midmorning the workers began installing reinforced floors in the second hall. The floors were thick, made of layered wood and stone bonded with mana plates. Ethan guided the workers as they pressed each panel firmly into place. The mage sealed the corners with crystal dust. When activated, the floors glowed faintly as mana ran beneath them. Adventurers tested the floors by dropping heavy gear. The panels did not shake. One dwarf stomped so hard he cracked the ground outside the hall but the floor inside barely creaked. The workers laughed at his strength and Ethan added a note: “Shock resistant floor test passed.”

Next came the lockers. Each room received two large ones, tall enough to store long swords, heavy bows, shields, armor kits, and bulky gear bags. Workers slid the lockers into their designated slots, securing them with dense wooden braces. The mage carved protective runes onto each locker door, making them resistant to heat, moisture, and impact. Adventurers gathered around watching with eager faces. One said he had never seen lockers that didn’t wobble or creak. Ethan nodded proudly.

After finishing the second hall’s interiors, Ethan walked outside to inspect the training yard area. The open field sloped gently downward, perfect for running drills and practicing weapon swings. Ethan used ropes to mark boundaries for a long practice lane, a sparring circle, and a section for archery and ranged training. He also planned a separate area for magic users to cast spells safely without hitting nearby stalls or buildings. The mage agreed this was necessary. Spell users tended to get excited.

The workers brought over stone tiles for the sparring circle. Ethan guided them to place the tiles in a wide ring, making sure each stone fit smoothly. They added reinforcing plates beneath. The mage carved thick mana lines in the ground beneath the circle. When activated the entire ring lit up with a soft blue aura that absorbed impact. Perfect for hand to hand fights or weapon practice. A beastfolk warrior tested it by swinging his hammer straight down onto the tiles. The ground absorbed the blow like a cushion. Even the warrior looked shocked.

Next Ethan guided the workers to shape the archery lane. They installed wooden posts for target boards and built reinforced platforms for archers. The mage carved a thin mana barrier along the sides to prevent stray arrows from hitting wandering villagers. The barrier shimmered faint gold, stopping arrows gently before dropping them safely to the ground.

In the afternoon, Ethan and the workers added wooden dummies for sword training, heavy barrels for strength drills, and padded mats for unarmed combat. Adventurers began testing the equipment almost immediately. A pair of human fighters practiced footwork in the sparring circle. A dwarf archer tested the lane, hitting target after target with satisfying thunks. A beastfolk mage lightly tossed a fire spell toward the magic practice area. The barrier absorbed it instantly, turning the flame into harmless light.

Ethan stood at the entrance of the training yard, watching the adventurers train. This yard would become a major draw in the region. A place where adventurers could prepare for quests, hone their skills, and build community. Just like he planned with the apartments and plaza, this yard connected people through shared purpose.

As the sun dipped lower the workers finished installing lamps around the yard. Each lamp held a mana crystal that glowed in warm tones, perfect for evening training. The space looked alive even before sunset.

Ethan walked back to the Magic Apartments balcony and looked out over everything. The apartments glowed. The plaza bustled. The training yard thrived. And the adventurer halls stood sturdy. Bit by bit, the district grew into a magical urban center.

He whispered softly Tomorrow we finish the remaining halls. Soon this entire field will become a city outside the city.