CHAPTER 151: RESIDENCE

Residence

The group moved through several more sections of the campus, getting a chance to see numerous parts of the massive school before they arrived at another teleportation station.

This one seemed a little more private as there were fewer platforms overall with fewer people tending to them and using them, and they all looked like fairly important people too, indicating that perhaps it wasn’t such a simple place.

They soon got on one of the platforms, and like usual, runes lit up before they were teleported somewhere.

The platform’s glow dimmed, and the world seemed to quietness around them as they appeared in a new environment. The bustle of the main campus had faded, and here, the air itself seemed curated. It was infused with a crispness that hinted at hidden formations strewn about, making the atmosphere seem almost perfect.

A pale stone walkway led out from the teleportation pad, with low lights that illuminated the surroundings like captured fireflies.

The place they’d arrived wasn’t near a single large building, but a small cluster of residences arranged along curved paths. Not exactly street, and not quite gardens either. Each home had its own theme. Some were built from smooth white materials that had a modern look. Others were framed in dark wood and brass fittings, taking clear inspiration from the world before Mana appeared and resembling estates. They were placed far enough that privacy wasn’t something to worry about, but not so far that getting to another residence was a strenuous ordeal.

Between the houses, vibrant patches of greenery buzzed with life. The foliage wasn’t arranged, but shifted slightly to match the residents. Near one home, a shallow marsh shimmered under the sky, the perfect place for aquatic beasts. Another had a mini savanna within a translucent dome, with tall grass swaying by invisible wind. It was clear that these were all custom beast habitats, and they were built to fit in seamlessly with their surroundings. Not cages or pans, but a bit of the world tailored for its occupants.

The buildings themselves were just as intentional. Warm light spilled from windows, almost welcoming without seeming ostentatious. Balconies overlooked the paths below, and fountains released motes of light instead of simply spilling water. Even the stone of the walkway almost felt alive, reacting with a subtle hum to the group’s steps, like it were acknowledging their arrival.

It wasn’t exactly silent, but the sounds seemed to be selected carefully. Wind blowing within trees, the soft rush of distant water, the occasional call of a beast within its personal habitat. It all merged together. Private but not sterile, price but not haughty. It wasn’t simply accommodation, it felt more like a statement.

The people who stay here were among those who truly matter.

’This is... something else.’ Osho blinked as he let the scene wash over him. He’d expected a lot, but this was far more impressive than what he had originally anticipated. But even then, it wasn’t overwhelming, just... right.

’I like it here. It’s nice.’ Gale said with a touch of contentment, and Osho had to agree.

"This place is really something," Ellie mumbled, and Veronica chuckled as Indo started to move again, the steps of the large creature still silent despite its size.

"That it is," She agreed. "It’s a sort of subspace within the campus, making it even more private. But yeah, there isn’t an official name for these sorts of locations, but the most agreed-upon name is the Chartered Zones. Areas reserved for those the college deems as truly important." She smiled as Indo approached one of the residences. Unlike the other ones, this one seemed uninhibited, though, it was far from being in bad condition.

"The facilities of all residences include, but are not limited to, a single large master bedroom, a guest room, three bathrooms, two living rooms, two kitchens, a storage room, an underground training room, a specialized habitat for the beast, a library, a recovery room, a swimming pool, and in Osho’s case, a library." She explained, and everyone was surprised.

"And before you say ’that’s a lot for one person’, well, there are robots to help clean up the place. Moreover, you’re honestly free to visit or even stay in each other’s residences as long as the other person agrees. It’s all a matter of choice." She said with a shrug as they soon reached the residence they were heading towards.

It looked a lot like the other ones, in that it seemed pretty modern.

The residence rose out of the path like it belonged there, all clean angles and cleanly cut stone, the kind of design that spoke more of quiet wealth than bragging. Wide glass panels framed the front, half-hidden by a line of low trees that looked deliberately placed to break up the view without closing it off. The roof had a slight slope, not flat, not steep, just enough to catch the light from the hovering lamps scattered through the area like stars that hung too low.

The air here had a different weight to it, faintly cool and touched by something fragrant, not artificial, but the kind of carefully arranged greenery that always seemed a little too perfect to be natural. Just beside the main structure, a clear dome shimmered faintly, holding within it an expanse of terrain that looked far too large to fit in the space available. It seemed almost hilly with numerous ledges scattered about, with a large open space that would give flying beasts ample space to fly around. Osho guessed it was spatially expanded.

Inside, the foyer opened up wide and gentle. The floors were a polished, pale material that didn’t quite look like wood, but gave off the same feel under the light. Hallways split off in both directions, disappearing deeper into the residence. The ceiling carried faint inlaid lines of gold-colored runework, almost invisible unless someone tilted their head up to look.

Osho caught sight of a kitchen through one side door. It had sleek counters, equipment that probably ran on mana rather than electricity, the kind of place where even boiling water would feel like a particularly advanced action. Farther down, a staircase curved into the lower levels, the air around it noticeably cooler, and Osho felt a decent bit of Mana from there, making him guess that there were formatiknd down there, hinting that it was most likely the training room.

From somewhere deeper inside came the sound of soft running water, likely the indoor pool Veronica had mentioned. There was no single centerpiece, no "grand feature" screaming for attention. Everything simply sat in harmony, as though someone had thought through exactly how a tamer might live, train, and rest without ever needing to leave unless they wanted to.

"Osho, this is your residence." Mateo introduced simply, and the group nodded as Indo carried them down the path towards the entrance. When they git close, the dinosaur lowered its body, and everyone slid off to the ground. As soon as they did, light covered the beast’s body as it shrunk down, eventually taking a humanoid shape, and when the light vanished, a beast in human form stood there.

Indo appeared as a dark-skinned humanoid with toned muscles wearing a sleeveless bronze shirt and baggy pants. His eyes were slitted pupils, and he had an angular jaw. The beast-turned-humanoid kicked his teeth, showing off an impressive display of sharp teeth as he looked at Veronica who smiled and proceeded to pat his head despite the height difference.

The fact that Indo didn’t resist was kinda funny, not that it was surprising.

"Alright, let’s head inside. We have a few things to talk about in the meantime." Mateo said, and everyone agreed.

They all walked up the steps and entered the residence, taking in the interior which was as impressive as the outside.

The door opened without a sound, revealing a space that managed to feel open without being cold. Soft, indirect light traced the ceiling edges, giving the room a quiet glow. The floors were smooth and pale, broken up by dark runners that kept footsteps from echoing. A long wall of glass looked out onto the dome habitat, where the terrain shimmered faintly like a living painting.

The main living area held low, modern furniture arranged around a table of dark stone veined with gold. Doorways branched off in both directions, one leading toward what looked like a kitchen, its counters lined with unfamiliar appliances humming gently with mana, and another curving into a wide hall with stairs descending to the lower levels.

A faint, clean scent hung in the air, something floral but not overwhelming, and somewhere deeper inside came the muted rush of running water, hinting at the pool or recovery room. Even the walls carried subtle inlays of runes, the kind of protective wards you only noticed if you knew to look.

It wasn’t flashy, just... complete. Everything about it felt like it had been designed to serve rather than impress.