Contrary to what Leo had envisioned, the staff sector lacked the luxury he had come to expect for crew members.
The area resembled something much closer to his life in Sector C, with most of the staff residing in modest apartments and only a select few, such as the captain, enjoying the privilege of having an isolated bungalow like those in sector A.
As Leo made his way through the staff sector, several elf employees waved at him in greeting. Most of them were unfamiliar faces, yet they acknowledged him with polite gestures.
The only person Leo recognized amongst them was Raven, and coincidentally he was the only one he bothered to wave back at, which made the elf very happy.
After several minutes of walking through the staff sector, he finally arrived at another large iron gate, which swung open as it detected his presence, unveiling the VIP section that lay beyond the staff quarters.
“This is it brother…. Amanda, our new home” Leo muttered as the massive iron gate swung open, giving way for the three of them to go beyond.
As they stepped through, what lay before them wasn’t just another building; it was a sprawling estate unlike anything they had ever seen aboard the Arc Ship.
The estate was not marked with any physical wall or boundary, and had the illusion of stretching for as far as the eye could see, yet distinctly ending by a lining of trees and a thin forest that separated it from the next VIP manor.
At the heart of the VIP estate were three grand houses, facing each other, separated via a massive central courtyard that doubled as a training ground.
Cobblestone paths wove between the three houses and the open field surrounding it, evoking an old-world charm. Yet, the scale and sophistication of the architecture spoke of a luxury reserved for only the highest echelon.
“Finally,” Amanda whispered, awe evident in her voice as her gaze swept over the estate.
For days she had been wondering as to what the VIP estate would look like when they would eventually shift there and now all her curious doubts had finally been cleared.
The VIP estate was like an old beautiful ancient manor, mirroring the style of 18th century Japan, with three beautiful individual residences and a courtyard.
The individual residences, with their stone facades, arched windows, and wooden accents, resembled the estate of an ancient lord—timeless, almost ethereal in its beauty. And yet, all of this existed within the high-tech confines of the Arc Ship.
“The whole area feels like it’s not part of the ship at all, it’s like we are out in the open” commented Luke, as the entire VIP section felt completely different from the rest of the ship.
As the three of them stepped onto the stone walkway, a tall figure emerged from one of the houses and approached them dressed in a formal butler’s uniform.
“Welcome to the VIP quarters. My name is Elandor, and I am your personal groundsman for the duration of your stay here. Today, it is my honor to guide you through your new home, so should we begin with the house tour at once?” he asked smoothly, his sharp features and silver hair reflecting the disciplined grace of his kind.
Leo glanced at Amanda and Luke, both of whom seemed equally entranced by the sight of the estate.
This wasn’t just a residence; it was a sanctuary, a world apart from the chaos and noise of the lower sectors.
The tranquility and grandeur here were undeniable, and hence without hesitation, Leo agreed to Elandor’s offer of a tour.
******
As they followed Elandor across the courtyard, it became clear that this area was far from the cramped quarters they had once known.
The sheer space between the houses and the open ground in the middle gave a sense of freedom that was rare aboard the Arc Ship.
Leo’s steps slowed as he took it all in—the spacious stonework beneath his feet, the meticulously maintained greenery lining the paths, and the towering structures of the manor houses.
“The central courtyard can be used as you see fit,” Elandor said
“It has been designed for both leisure and training, should you require it. Many guests who have occupied this residence use it for combat practice or physical exercise.”
Luke’s eyes lit up at the mention of training, his gaze lingering on the open space. “It’s perfect for sparring,” he muttered, clearly imagining the possibilities.
Amanda, meanwhile, seemed more taken with the beauty of the place. “It’s like something out of an old fairy tale… I can’t believe we’re living here.”
Leo said nothing, but he agreed. This was more than he ever expected.
As they moved closer to the houses, Leo realized something peculiar—the temperature, the air, everything felt different from the rest of the ship.
It didn’t feel artificial; it felt like they were standing in open sunlight under a real sky and it was at that point that Leo stared towards the sky, which coincidentally felt very real and blue.
Elandor noticed Leo’s questioning glance and smiled slightly. “As expected of a master warrior like yourself, you’ve already noticed.
The weather here is special and customisable and mirrors the sensation of the real world.
Using ancient magic combined with modern technology, the weather inside the VIP sector is carefully curated.
There are runes subtly etched into the walls and sky here allowing the environment to shift to your preference.
Whether you wish for rain, snow, or even fog, you may control the weather at your leisure.”
Amanda’s jaw dropped. “You mean… we can change it to whatever we want?”
“Indeed,” Elandor confirmed.
“The default setting is this pleasant sunlight, but you are welcome to alter it at any time. It’s one of the luxuries reserved for those of your status.
Night, day, cloudy, it will all shift as per your leisure.” He said, as at this moment Leo felt the saliva dry up within his throat.
They had not even seen the insides of their manor yet, but just the outside was incredible beyond their wildest imaginations and a luxury far above sector S.