> Lara PoV

“This is the house?” (Lara)

Kira said she was taking us to where their- I mean, our, new home. Ellie went off to take care of some chores. There’s just one problem.

“Isn’t it a bit small for five people?” (Lara)

From the outside it looks like a one-story, three-room house. You’d barely fit two people in there, five would be crowdy.

“Big sis, I’m sure it’s enough... “ (Sophie)

Sophie, who’s holding onto my hand, quietly reminds me. It’s a house, it’s got a roof and it has walls. It looks a bit rickety, but it’s better than using old crates for shelter. I guess... I just uselessly got my hopes up.

“Don’t you girls worry, this is just the formal address.” (Kira)

“What’s a formal address?” (Sophie)

Sis tilts her head in confusion. I’m not too sure what that means either.

“We don’t live here, it’s just a place for people to send letters. Our real home is outside the city.” (Kira)

“Huh? Then why did we even come here?” (Lara)

“You’ll see. Inside you go, come now.” (Kira)

Kira ushers us inside. It’s a bit dusty and there’s no furniture. There’s an ominous looking stone archway though. It’s about the size of the doorway and there’s a pedestal as tall as I am.

Kira walks up to it and puts a hand on the pedestal. The stone blocks start glowing with a bright green light.

“Dragons are really scared of apples.” (Kira)

Apples? What?

*OWOOOOONNN*

A big green circle fills the archway! It seems to swirl around for a few moments, but then reveals entirely different scenery behind it.

“This is a [Gateway], it’s a magic door into our real home. Since it’s far away, we use this to make things convenient.” (Kira)

Wow! That’s amazing! What’s with this weird pulling on my skirt though?

Ah, Sophie has hidden behind me while I was staring in amazement. I think the strange noise scared her.

“Come on sis, don’t be scared. We’ll enter together, okay?” (Lara)

“O-Okay!” (Sophie)

I squeeze her hand a bit tighter and we leap through the doorway together. I instinctively close my eyes! It was pointless though! I didn’t even feel anything. It’s exactly like walking through a door.

“You distrust me that much, huh?” (Kira)

Eeep!

“Not at all! It was just surprising! That’s all!” (Lara)

“Fufufufu, don’t be so nervous. Come now, I’ll give you the tour!” (Kira)

*Clack clack clack clack*

Hmm? Now that I calmed down I hear strange noises from all around.

“What’s with all the spiders!? Nooooo! They’re coming this way! Save me Kiraaaa!” (Lara)

I hide behind the most reliable person around! Don’t let them come near meee!

“Oh my, these aren’t spiders. They’re Nano’s golems.” (Kira)

Huh? Golems? Like the flying ball thing? I peek out from behind Kira’s legs. They just look like spiders, but their white, smooth shells make them a bit less scary. The only problem is they’re almost as tall as me!

“Don’t be afraid Lara. These things aren’t even alive, they just do the heavy lifting around here.” (Nano)

Ah, Nano’s ball-like thing came down!

“Go on, give them a hug! They won’t bite. They don’t even eat!” (Nano)

Really? I look at them again. The head has several big glass-like things and some bits stick out, but there’s no fangs or mouth. I warily reach out a hand at place it on the white golem’s head.

It’s… weird. It’s not fur or leather, it’s not metal either. It’s hard and smooth and warms up quickly from my touch.

“Big sis! Look!” (Sophie)

I look at Sophie ride them around like miniature horses! That… looks like fun… I’m still kind of scared though. I never liked spiders. Bunch of piss-dr- I mean, disgusting things.

“Well, I hope you get used to them soon. Rest assured they never go inside the tower other than to clean every few days.” (Nano)

All the spiders shuffle away, back to doing what they were doing. Except the one giving sis a ride. Ugh, that does look like fun… maybe later.

* * *

What a huge place! There’s five floors in that tower and each of them is more spacious than that house from before!

The ground floor has a dining table and lots of chairs and sofas and rugs and pillows and pretty paintings! Apparently everything in here was made by Nano! Even the squiggly pictures! They don’t make any sense but they’re colorful and mysterious so they’re fun to look at!

Half of the first floor is going to be for me and Sophie! There’s so much room! And the beds are amazing! There’s even an indoor toilet and a small bath! I almost feel like a princess!

Kelly’s room is on this floor too, but Nano says she barely uses it.

The second floor has Ellie and Kira’s bedroom! It’s a bit like ours, but there’s a huuuuge bed in it! It’s wide enough to fit 6 people! There’s also all sorts of books and weird-looking things on the walls!

The third floor is a storage room. No, treasury is more accurate! All sorts of food and other stuff are there. Even a bunch of sleeping white spiders which I silently hope will never wake up!

The fourth and final floor was Kira’s research room. Here she practices magic! I want to see but she forbade us from going in because it’s dangerous. They said the same about the basement where Nano and Kelly work. I'm really curious about that too, but I'll be a good girl and will keep away from both places!

* * *

The outside is almost as big as a village by itself! It’s like a mansion! There’s white spiders everywhere though. Apparently they act as guards. I don’t like the big black wall, it looks pointy and creepy…

There’s also a vegetable garden, orchard and even a flat area to practice! Oh and a flowerbed! It’s pretty and smells great!

Nano served us dinner a while ago. It was much tastier than the inn food we had on the way here! There was so much meaaat! And the bath was warm and pleasant and forget princess, this must be how a queen lives!

It’s been an exciting day so me and sis are a bit tired. We go into our room and prepare for bed. Kira, Ellie and Kelly went into town to celebrate their safe return. It's just us and Nano’s golems.

Me and sis put on our brand new pajamas. Mine are yellow and hers are pink. They’re really soft! Nano said he made them while we were on our way back! Nano also made all the furniture and even the tower!

Ah, no good, I’m getting excited again! I’ll never get to sleep like this.

I lie down in the big bed and Sophie climbs in with me. She has her own but she’s probably nervous about sleeping alone. I am too, to be honest. We’ve only had each other to depend on and had to hug close like this for warmth every night.

…

This is the first time we’ve been apart from those people since we met, isn’t it?

…

Kira , Ellie and Kelly are coming back, right?

* * *

The door to our room opens slowly. I jump up in surprise and stare at it. It’s Kira and Ellie! They came back!

“UWAAAAAA!” (Lara)

Tears start leaking from my eyes the instant I confirm their faces. Why can't I stop them!?

“Lara? What’s wrong!?” (Kira)

Kira runs up to the bed in a panic, but-

“I was so scaaaared! *Sniff Sniff* The room is big and dark and feels lonely and I thought you *Sniff* you *Sniff* you wouldn’t come back so *Sniff*” (Lara)

“Oh, sweetie, come here...” (Kira)

Kira sits down next to me and hugs me from the front. I let out muffled sobs while burying my face in her chest. I feel Sophie’s tiny arms wrap around me from behind. Ellie is also sitting on the bed, gently stroking my head with a kind smile.

“We’re not going anywhere, okay?” (Kira)

“See!? I told you they’d be back! Big sis you dummy!” (Sophie)

“There, there…” (Ellie)

The strange room which felt so empty and dark just moments ago now feels like the safest place in the world.

So this is what a family is supposed to be like...

* * *

“Hee hee hee, big sis was crying so much!” (Sophie)

“Sophie please stop that! It’s embarrassing! Besides you were scared too!” (Lara)

“I didn’t cry though. Maybe I should be the big sister?!” (Sophie)

“Ooooh, getting awfully brave all of a sudden huh? Okay! Then you can sleep alone tonight!” (Lara)

“Umm… UMM!” (Sophie)

Huhuhu, she’s panicking! Time for the final blow!

“Since your big sister Lara is a crybaby she will snuggle with Kira and Ellie where it’s safe and warm!” (Lara)

“I’m sorry! Big sis! Please don’t leave meee!” (Sophie)

“Lara! Stop teasing your sister and eat your breakfast!” (Kira)

“Urk! Okay…” (Lara)

Sophie started it, but somehow I'm the one who got yelled at.

That sudden fear I had last night was much worse than when I was worried about food or shelter. It's no good, I have to get stronger! Those three may need to leave on a job and be gone for days! I can’t be selfish like that all the time!

“Lara, kids are supposed to be selfish.” (Ellie)

“Please stop doing that!” (Lara)

“Sorry…” (Ellie)

“Is Ellie doing that thought-stealing thing again?” (Kelly)

“Yes! It's really creepy! And strange!” (Lara)

Kelly cuts into the conversation as I reach towards the boar bacon. I take a formidable stack from the big plate in the middle and put it on mine. Having meat for breakfast is the best!

“Why don’t you just get Nano to help?” (Kelly)

“But… those ear cuffs look painful and...” (Lara)

“You know it doesn’t need to be ear cuffs, right? Those are mostly there for Nano's sake. If it's for keeping Ellie out of your head, you just need some of the special stuff they're made from.” (Kelly)

“Huh? Really?” (Lara)

“That’s right, it just needs to be near your head. Oh I know, how about we make you a hair clip?” (Kelly)

“Ohhh! Can you do that?!” (Lara)

“Of course! Anything you want me to put on it?” (Kelly)

“Um… Oh! Can you make it look like Scrappy?!” (Lara)

Kelly and Scrappy are just way too cool! Just remembering Scrappy in action gets me fired up!

“Hohoho, you have some good taste there young Lara! Alright, leave it to me!” (Kelly)

“I want one with flowers!” (Sophie)

“Sure thing kiddo, I’ll make you the cutest little marigolds you ever seen!” (Kelly)

“Yay!” (Sophie)

Sis throws her hands up in joy while Kelly storms off into the basement. I can’t wait either! I’ve never had an accessory before! But! I too want cute things! And Scrappy is pretty cute! Er, once you wash off the monster bits...

“Huh? Nano, it’s just the material?” (Kira)

Ah, Kira and Nano are talking now.

“So when you were sleeping back then, they should’ve kept blocking Ellie’s [Star Magic], right?” (Kira)

“Ah, that’s right!” (Ellie)

This conversation has nothing to do with me, so let’s do my best to ignore it and focus on this bacon! It’s not going to defeat itself!

*Nom nom nom*

So goooood!