He leaned forward, letting the silence settle for a few seconds. The house was quiet, but not in an eerie way. It felt… solid. Grounded. Safe. For now.
"This is it," he said softly. "The start."
Mia looked over at him. "You're really going to go through with it… The Great Labyrinth?"
He nodded once. "I have to."
She didn't argue. She knew better.
Ethan leaned back, eyes trailing along the ceiling, listening to the hum of mana flowing through the walls. This place, for all its simplicity, was a foundation.
A base.
Something he'd never had before.
He stood up suddenly. "Alright. Time to run a full system check."
"What? Now?" Mia asked, lifting an eyebrow.
"Yes. Before I start prepping for the Labyrinth, I need to know this place won't fail me. Systems. Enchantments. Security. Everything."
She gave him a tired look. "You're obsessed."
"I'm prepared," he corrected.
Mia smirked. "Same thing."
***
