Chapter 75 : Jin Lia

Jin had always imagined having a place to call his own, but even he had to admit—this was beyond anything he ever dreamed of.

The mansion he had purchased was an architectural marvel, a sprawling estate nestled on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by lush greenery and high walls that promised privacy. The grand structure had towering pillars, enormous windows that let in the golden hues of the sunset, and a courtyard big enough to hold a small army.

And now, it was home.

Lia, standing beside him at the entrance, was staring at the massive double doors with a mixture of excitement and disbelief.

"You really went overboard," she said, crossing her arms and looking up at the imposing structure.

Jin smirked. "Hey, if we're going to settle down, we might as well do it in style."

Kaelros, who had tagged along for the first tour, gave an exaggerated whistle. "You planning to house an entire guild in here? Or maybe a small kingdom?"

Lillian clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "This is so romantic! A big house, just for you two! Like a fairy tale."

Lysander, never one to miss an opportunity, leaned in with a sly grin. "So, where's the honeymoon suite? Need me to decorate it?"

Jin shot him a glare. "You want to be thrown into the lake?"

Lysander chuckled, holding up his hands. "Hey, just trying to set the mood!"

Lia's face was slightly pink, but she quickly composed herself. "Let's just go inside."

As they stepped through the grand doors, the first thing that hit them was the sheer size of the place. The high ceilings, the luxurious chandeliers, the polished marble floors—all of it screamed extravagance.

Jin let out a satisfied breath. "Alright, first things first—dinner. I'm starving."

Lysander groaned. "I knew it! You buy a giant mansion, but food is still the first thing on your mind."

Kaelros nodded sagely. "A warrior must keep his strength up."

Lia sighed but smiled. "Fine. I'll cook something."

Lillian eagerly raised her hand. "I'll help!"

Jin and the rest immediately tensed up.

"No offense, Lilly," Lysander said, "but last time you cooked, the soup almost melted through the pot."

"That was one time!" Lillian pouted. "I've improved!"

Lia, ever diplomatic, stepped in. "Alright, you can help me chop vegetables."

As Lia and Lilly busied themselves in the kitchen, the rest of the group explored the mansion. The dining hall alone was vast, with an intricately carved wooden table long enough to seat twenty people. The library was filled with shelves upon shelves of ancient tomes, and the training ground at the back was spacious enough for mock battles.

Jin stood in the living room, taking it all in. This was a fresh start. A new chapter. He had fought so hard to get to this point, and now, for the first time in years, things felt… peaceful.

Then came a crash from the kitchen.

"Lysander, get in here!" Lia's voice rang out.

Lysander paled. "Uh-oh."

Jin sighed. "What did you do?"

Lysander hesitated before responding. "...So you know how we have those fancy spice jars? Well, I might have... accidentally swapped the salt with sugar."

Jin groaned. "Lysander."

Kaelros, watching from the doorway, smirked. "Looks like your first dinner in your new mansion is going to be an interesting one."

Despite the minor chaos, the evening ended on a high note. The food was surprisingly edible after Lia had fixed Lysander's mistake, and laughter filled the grand dining hall. They shared stories, poked fun at each other, and, for the first time in a long time, Jin felt… content.

As the night grew late, the others eventually retired to their own rooms or left for the night. Jin stood at the balcony, gazing at the moonlit garden below. Lia joined him, leaning on the railing beside him.

"This place… it's really ours now," she murmured.

Jin glanced at her and smiled. "Yeah. And we're just getting started."

She turned to him, eyes soft. "No matter how big this place is, it's home because you're here."

Jin's heart clenched at her words. He reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Then let's make every moment count."

She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder.

In this time Jin wasn't thinking about battles, enemies, or power. He was just… here. With Lia. In their home.

And for now, that was enough.