The four of them walked back to the old hut. The vilge was quiet now, most houses dark, only a few dogs barking far away. The night air felt cooler than usual after the warm day.

  Lys pushed open the crooked door of their old home. The familiar smell of dried herbs and smoke hit him right away.

  “Ahh, I’m going to miss this scent very much,” he said, while rolling up his sleeves. “Okay, let’s get everything out and onto the cart. We can make two or three trips if we need to.”

  Era looked around the small, dim room and sighed. “Lys, it’s already dark. Why not wait until morning? We can do it properly when the sun is up.”

  Mira, who had already grabbed an armful of folded clothes, spun around fast. “No way, Mom! I don’t want to sleep here even one more night. This pce is too small, too cold, and it feels way too cold when the wind blows at night. I want to sleep in our new big house tonight!”

  Lys smiled and nodded. “She’s right, Mom. There’s not that much stuff anyway. Just the clothes we bought today, the groceries, Mira’s mats and buckets, the herbs, and a few small things. It won’t take more than two or three hours. We’ll be done before midnight.”

  Era looked between her excited daughter and her calm son, then gave a small, tired smile. “Fine… you two win. But be careful with the heavy things.”

  Sara, who had followed them all the way from the new house, stepped forward. “I can help carry….”

  “No, no, Sara,” Era said quickly, putting a gentle hand on Sara’s arm. “You’ve already done so much today. How can I let you do heavy work like this? Lys and Mira can handle it. You just sit and rest.”

  Sara opened her mouth, then closed it. “But still… I feel bad just watching.”

  Era shook her head with a warm smile. “You’re our guest tonight. Sit down on that stool and keep us company. That’s enough help.”

  Sara grumbled softly under her breath, crossing her arms. “I’m not that old compared to them, you know…” But she did sit down on the low stool by the door, watching with a little pout.

  Lys and Mira got to work. Lys lifted the big bundle of new clothes and carried it outside to the small cart they had borrowed from Sara’s house. Mira followed with two of her woven mats rolled up under her arms.

  ------

  “Careful with that bucket, Mira,” Era called. “It still has water in it.”

  “I know, Mom!” Mira ughed, but she tilted it so the water wouldn’t spill.

  Sara couldn’t sit still for long. She stood up and picked up a small basket of fresh herbs from the table. “At least let me carry the light things…”

  Era took the basket from her hands gently. “Sara, please. You already worked very hard to find us a good house today. Let us do this part.”

  Sara sighed dramatically but smiled as Era complimented her.

  Lys walked past with a sack of potatoes and grinned at Sara. “You can help us reorganize the furniture at the new house tomorrow. Okay?”

  Sara’s eyes lit up. “Okay, don’t twist your words then!”

  ***

  They worked together in the ntern light, Lys carrying the heavier loads, Mira running back and forth with smaller things, Era carefully wrapping the st of the dried herbs, and Sara handing them small items even though Era kept telling her not to.

  After about two hours, the old hut looked almost empty. Only the thin straw mats on the floor, a few broken pots, the old hearth, and the small table were left behind.

  Mira dusted her hands and looked around one st time. “Goodbye, old hut. You were home… but I won’t miss you.”

  Era touched the wall gently. “Come on, Mira. That's not a good thing to say to it. We lived here for so long. Surely you’ll miss it time to time.”

  Mira huffed a little while saying, “Surely not.”

  Lys closed the door for the st time. “Ready to go home?”

  Mira grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the cart. “Yes! Let’s go!”

  Sara stood up, brushing off her dress. “I’ll walk with you. Can’t miss seeing you settle into your new house on the first night.”

  ***

  They walked slowly through the quiet vilge, the old cart wheels creaking softly behind Lys. Mira still held his hand, swinging it a little. Sara walked on his other side, close enough that their arms brushed now and then.

  As the new house came into view, its big windows seemed to glow warmly with the ntern light they had left burning. Lys slowed down and turned to Sara.

  “Sara… it’s getting really te,” he said gently. “Your house is just a few minutes from here. You should head back now. It might not be safe to walk alone ter.”

  Sara shook her head with a soft ugh. “It’s okay, Lys. Bertha is coming to pick me up in a little while. I already told her to meet me here. So I can just wait in your house.”

  Lys opened his mouth to argue, but Sara gave him that sweet, stubborn smile he was starting to know well. He sighed and smiled back. “Alright… if you’re sure.”

  Mira let out a happy little sigh when they reached the gate. “Look at it…it looks so beautiful in the dark.”

  The house really looked very beautiful in this dark night, being the only house in this area, and glowing dimly, which made it look very mesmerizing. It was like an award-winning picture came true.

  They pushed open the door and stepped inside. The hall was full of their things, bundles of clothes, rolled mats, sacks of food, and buckets stacked neatly where they had dropped them earlier.

  “Now the real work comes. It is time to put everything where it belongs,” Lys said, cpping his hands.

  Mira immediately grabbed a big bundle and headed upstairs. “I’m putting my new dresses in my room first!”

  While they worked, suddenly the air felt warmer than it should have for Lys.

  Every time Mira bent over to pick something up, her new blue dress rode up her thighs, showing the smooth skin Lys had touched earlier at the well. She caught him looking once and gave him a tiny, naughty smile, biting her lip.

  Era was on her knees sorting herbs on the floor. When she leaned forward, the front of her dress dipped low, and the soft curve of her breasts pressed against the blouse. Lys’s eyes kept drifting to her. Suddenly making his cock went a little hard seeing this.

  Sara noticed the hardness on Lys’s pants forming slowly. She brushed past Lys while carrying a small basket, her hip pressed against his intentionally. “Careful, big boy,” she whispered teasingly. “You’re staring.”

  Lys felt his heart slow down instantly as Sara had noticed him staring at his own family. He gave a dry cough to clear his throat.

  -----

  After everything was roughly in pce, Era dusted her hands and walked to the kitchen. “I’ll make something quick. You all worked hard today. So, a te-night dinner might ruin your health.”

  She turned the mana-core stove on with a soft click. The leftover core Varen had left behind glowed faintly. She seemed to be used to a mana stove quite well.

  Then she started chopping vegetables and a little meat they had bought earlier, stirring a simple but thick stew. The smell filled the whole house, warm and comforting them after the heavy work.

  While the pot simmered, Mira came up behind Lys at the table and pressed her front against his back, arms sliding around his waist. “I can’t wait to try the big bed tonight,” she whispered right by his ear, her breath hot. “And maybe… that thing you did to me at the well again?”

  Lys’s hand slid back and rested on her thigh, squeezing gently. “Behave… for now. Sara is just here.”

  Era gnced over her shoulder and saw them. Her cheeks turned pink, but she didn’t look away. Instead, she bit her lip and stirred the stew a little faster.

  KNOCK KNOCK

  A knock came at the door. Bertha was standing outside, smiling. “Ready to go, Miss Sara?”

  Sara waved her in. “Not yet! I’m staying for dinner first. Come inside. Miss Era made plenty.”

  Mira grinned. “You’re having dinner here?”

  Sara answered shamelessly while ughing a little, “Of course I am. I’m an uninvited guest tonight, but I don’t mind, haha.” She winked at Lys.

  Era ughed softly and brought the big pot to the table. “I made enough for everyone. Come sit, Bertha. Eat dinner with us.”

  They all gathered around the big kitchen table, Lys at the head, Mira on his right, Era on his left, Sara across from him, and Bertha beside Sara. The stew was simple but hot and filling. Steam rose between them as they ate.

  Mira kept “accidentally” brushing her bare foot against Lys’s leg under the table. Every time she did, she gave him an innocent smile while chewing. Lys’s hand found Era’s thigh under the table and rested there, his thumb stroking slow circles over her thighs.

  Era stopped eating, while being surprised by it, but she kept talking calmly, only her flushed cheeks giving her away.

  Sara noticed everything. She leaned forward, letting her dress dip low enough that Lys could see the soft swell of her breasts. “This stew is delicious, Miss Era,” she said, eyes sparkling as she looked straight at Lys. “Warm… filling…it’s making me want to stay even longer.”

  Bertha chuckled, unaware of the tension. “You can’t miss Sara. We have to go home after eating.”

  Lys swallowed hard, his body already heating up from the little touches under the table and secret gnces from Mira.

  Visioner10