After Queen Elyria had officially welcomed Kira, Kira bowed respectfully and thanked her.
“You are both dismissed,” Queen Elyria said afterward, and on hearing that, Kira and Lythari exited the throne room and left the castle.
Now as they stood outside the castle, Kira took a deep breath and looked around once again as she was beginning to feel more at ease.
“Kira?” She heard Lythari call, bringing her out of her quiet moment with her thoughts.
“Yes?” She answered.
“There is a place I would like to show you,” Lythari said and then turned to her, her expression unreadable yet inviting. “I want to know what you think of this place.”
“Okay,” Kira agreed with no hesitation. “Sure.”
Glad about Kira’s response, Lythari started walking ahead, and Kira followed right behind her, her eyes wandering over the landscape as she followed Lythari.
The next path they took was surrounded by tall trees, and the deeper they walked, the more beautiful trees Kira saw. And as they walked some more, she saw a clearing ahead where a house stood in the center.
The house was a two-story building, built from dark brown wood with a sturdy, rustic feel, which actually made it look very nice. The wood used also had a natural, slightly aged appearance, blending perfectly with nature and with the trees around it.
The roof was steeply sloped, covered in dark brown shingles, and the eaves extended out slightly, giving the house a sweet, cozy and protective feel.
The house also had large windows stretched across the front, and from where Kira was as she walked, she noticed that some of the windows were slightly opened, letting in fresh air.
The door, of course, was wooden as well, simple but strong, and the small porch stretched across the front with wooden steps leading up to it, was so calming just by looking at it.
“I haven’t seen the inside yet, and I already love the feel,” Kira said to Lythari as they drew closer to the house. And to the side of the house, she spotted a few potted plants seated on the ground.
The front yard was not too decorated, just a space that had natural designs like where grass and small wildflowers grew freely, and then two lanterns were hung near the door on each side.
The lanterns would probably be unlit in the daylight but glow warmly at night, and since the sky seemed to be getting darker, not the full night sky dark, the lanterns glowed a little.
The house seemed really comfy, and it gave off a peaceful, inviting feeling. It was not very large, but it was simple and peaceful.
Climbing the wooden steps leading to the porch as they finally reached the house, Lythari and Kira’s footsteps made soft sounds against the wood.
Lythari reached for the door, unlocked it and pushed it open, while Kira still took in details of the house and the environment.
“Kira?” Lythari called as she turned back, looking at Kira with a small smile. “Come in,” she said gently and then opened the door wider, revealing the space inside.
Eagerly, Kira stepped forward and crossed the doorway, finding herself inside.
“I think you already know what I would say to a place like this,” Kira said to Lythari as she looked around. “My mind tells me you don’t need anyone at all to tell you what they think about this place… Literally.”
“Well…” Lythari chuckled as she stepped inside as well and closed the door. “It won’t be bad to know what someone else thinks of it, and I would like that someone to be you. So please, feel free to move around and check the whole place out… and then tell me what you think when you are done.”
“Gladly,” Kira accepted with a smile and started looking around.
First, she started with the living room, which was spacious and filled with soft, natural light. She noticed that the walls were still made of the same rich, dark brown wood as the outside of the house, giving the space a warm and cozy feel, which she was already starting to feel just by standing there and looking around.
The floor made of polished wood was smooth and clean. There was also a large, comfortable-looking couch, which seemed to tempt Kira to sit on, but she was more tempted to check out the rest of the house.
The wooden coffee table that stood in front of the couch was also smooth and sturdy, and then she spotted them… books. Books that she would probably check out later.
Tearing her face away from the books, Kira turned to the side only to find a fireplace made of stone.
Though at that moment it was unlit, a few logs rested inside that could be used when needed, and above the fireplace was a wooden shelf, which had candles and other stuff.
There was a large rug covering the part of the floors, the windows had sheer curtains, and as she stepped further inside, catching every detail, she could easily imagine herself sitting there on a quiet evening, listening to the fire crackle and reading a book.
Lythari, who was silently watching her, broke the silence and said, “Come, let me show you the rest. I feel you might not move if I let you remain here.”
“You can’t blame me,” Kira responded and laughed softly, Lythari joining her.
“So, this is the Kitchen,” Lythari announced calmly as they walked into it. “It has the dining in here. They are combined, but the space is still spacious. And… it is quite easy to move around, I would say.”
“It is,” Kira agreed and walked around the kitchen, tracing her hands over the wooden cabinets that were smooth and well polished.
The countertops in the kitchen were sturdy and clean; the sink was set beneath the window in the kitchen, which to Kira was amazing because of the view she could see from there, and above the counter, were wooden shelves that held plates, bowls, and neatly arranged glass jars filled with spices and ingredients.
“Everything seems to be here,” Kira noticed as she turned to the stove, which stood to one side, a kettle on one of the burners, before she turned to the dining area.
In the dining area, the dining table just beside the kitchen was a solid wooden table at the center surrounded by matching chairs with simple designs. There was also a vase with fresh flowers that stood in the middle of the table.
“Did you pick this?” Kira asked Lythari, thinking that maybe she was the one who did, as she had access to the house.
“Yes, I did,” Lythari answered with a smile. “I thought it would add a touch of color to the space.”
“It did,” Kira said sincerely as she ran her fingers lightly over the table. “It really did.”
Watching her reaction, Lythari gave a small nod and said. “Let’s continue.”
“Of course. Where next?” Kira asked.
“The Bedroom,” Lythari answered and led them down a short hallway.
When they reached a door down there, Lythari pushed open the door, and she and Kira walked in.
The bedroom was just as warm and cozy as the rest of the place; the bed was large and very inviting. It was covered in soft blankets and pillows, and Kira could already see herself wanting to lay down there and get a good rest.
“I really need one,” she thought and let out a breath, although she didn’t make what she was thinking noticeable and kept her focus on the frame of the bed, which was wooden and which also matched the rest of the house.
A nightstand sat beside the bed, and on it was a lamp and a book.
“More books?” Kira thought and smiled to herself. “Lythari must love books.”
Moving on from that, she saw a wooden dresser against the wall, a small mirror and a decorative piece.
Well… Overall, everything to her was looking great, well arranged, neat and also very clean.
“One more room,” Lythari gestured again after waiting and letting Kira take everything in. “Let’s go.”
“And… that would be the… Bathroom,” Kira said, as that was the only important room she still had not seen.
“Yes,” Lythari agreed. “The Bathroom.”
Getting to the bathroom, Kira found it to be simple but amazing, while Lythari went back to being quiet, letting her check out the room.
The room was made with wood, which was no surprise, and it matched well with the wood in all the other rooms. In fact, everything matched well with everything about the house, and the bathroom floor was tiled, cool and clean. It also had a large mirror hung above the sink.
The sink itself was made of smooth ceramic and had a sturdy wooden cabinet beneath it, which would probably be for storage, and there were also a few neatly folded towels that Kira spotted on a small shelf nearby.
There was a bathtub with a curved shape that was beautifully designed and looked perfect for soaking. It had a faucet with both hot and cold water, which Lythari explained briefly, and a few bottles of bath oils and soaps arranged nearby.
Turning to look at Lythari after she was done exploring, Kira had no words and simply walked out of the bathroom, heading to the living room with Lythari following.
“So… What do you think?” Lythari asked as they were finally standing in the living room, facing each other.
“What do I think?” Kira repeated and smiled. “I am… literally speechless. The design of the place is amazing. I wish I could think of a better word to explain this place and how it feels, but nothing is coming to me right now, and all I can say is that this house is everything. Everything.”
“And this house, which is everything…” Lythari continued, “Is now yours.”