The stronghold still had a faint, lingering smell of fresh wood and earth. The main mansion stood proudly at the center, newly finished, with hardly a scuff or mark to show for the few weeks it had been lived in. It wasn't luxurious by any stretch — the furniture was simple, the decorations sparse — but there was an unmistakable warmth to it. A home still waiting to be filled by its owners, who'd been rather busy in recent days.
Sylvaris moved gracefully, her gorgeous silver hair tied in a simple ribbon, and her voice calm as she guided Natalie through the halls.
"We've only just moved in, so there's still a lot left unfinished. Feels a bit... too clean, if you ask me."
"It's beautiful nonetheless," Natalie replied with sincerity, running a hand along the smooth railing of the staircase. "Sturdy. Lived-in or not, it feels safe."
