Cole drove the whole way, winding through Alexandria’s outskirts before the urban sprawl finally gave way to actual countryside. Farmland opened up – fields of wheat or some local grain variant, broken up by the occasional stone fence or homestead.

  The road itself stayed well-maintained, but the further they pushed toward the coast, the more it felt like they were headed into wilderness.

  Forest started encroaching around the hour mark, scattered groves popping up where the farmland hadn’t quite reached. The canopy stayed light, enough to provide shade while keeping the roads relatively clear.

  Miles claimed the window seat and took full advantage, leaning out to take in the scenery like he’d just been freed from house arrest. Ethan, meanwhile, continued flipping through his pamphlet, occasionally spacing out. And Mack! Honestly, Cole couldn’t have been more relieved. The guy seemed to actually enjoy watching the landscape roll by, actually present for once instead of just occupying space.

  That left Elina, who turned out to be the most talkative of the team. She’d asked about resorts; standard stuff, mostly: what they looked like, how they operated, whether everyone could access them or just the wealthy.

  Cole answered what he could. He knew what resorts were supposed to be like back home, but this place? Some isekai’d Japanese guy’s fever dream of recreating comfort in a fantasy world? Yeah, he had no clue what that actually looked like until they got there.

  And they finally did, after about two or three hours of endless road.

  It popped up through the trees, sticking out like a casino in the desert. The resort itself sat on its own stretch of property, nestled into pristine forested hills that could’ve passed for a national park back home.

  Or more accurately, like the hot springs in Hakone. Now those were something else; just thinking about them had Cole second-guessing whether Terraland could actually measure up, or if it’d fall short trying to recreate something that good. Guess he’d find out soon enough.

  The closer he got, the more details he could make out. The main building spread out for at least an acre, wider than it was tall. It sat front and center – four stories of the British Empire’s style, but mashed with a bunch of Japanese elements. Temple rooflines on stone turrets, pagoda eaves over Georgian columns; whoever designed this must’ve just said ‘fuck it’ and mixed everything together.

  The whole thing should’ve been a disaster, honestly. Somehow it wasn’t. Maybe it was the scale, the whole setup being big enough that the mismatched elements had room to breathe instead of crowding each other. Or maybe whoever designed this just had good instincts about what worked versus what looked like shit. Either way, the architectural identity crisis cohered into something that actually came off as deliberate instead of confused.

  The grounds were much the same: European formal garden sensibility but with Japanese aesthetics woven in, stone lanterns dotting pathways between hedges. Water features had been scattered everywhere, streams and ponds connected by ornamental bridges of distinctly foreign design.

  Off to one side, the golf course stretched toward the tree line, fairways manicured to putting-green standards. The other side had a cluster of auxiliary buildings – spa, theaters, whatever else the resort had packed in.

  And of course, they’d lavished just as much attention on the entrance. The drive swept into a circular roundabout anchored by a massive fountain, whose jets rose and fell in perfect choreography, like the Bellagio show back in Vegas. Which, come to think of it, might not be coincidence; whoever built this place probably just stole the idea wholesale.

  But that was only the tip of the iceberg. Like any resort that knew its worth, the staff didn’t wait for direction. The moment the car slowed, they sprang into action like they worked at a Four Seasons resort.

  All in all, they were off to a good start. Cole was ready to see whether the inside lived up to the hype.

  “Alright, guys. Here we are – Terraland.”

  He eased the car toward the portico, where a uniformed attendant approached the driver’s side window. The man hesitated for a beat – surprised, maybe, that the driver wasn’t separate from the guests – then recovered.

  “Good day to you, sir, and welcome to the Terraland Resort. Shall I have one of our porters see to your automobile, sir, or would you prefer to see to it yourself?”

  “I’ll handle it,” Cole said.

  The attendant nodded, gesturing toward the left side of the building. “The guests’ motor court lies just beyond this wing; therein you will find attendants in readiness to receive your luggage and convey it within.”

  “Got it. Thanks.”

  “Certainly, sir. I do hope your stay proves most comfortable.”

  Cole followed the signage toward guest arrival, steering around the main building’s flank. The path opened up to reveal a parking structure that was, frankly, way too fancy to just be a parking lot.

  It was multi-story, covered, and decorated like a fancy Victorian mansion. Which, to be fair, wasn’t much of a surprise for Celdorne.

  Still, a parking lot looking like this? Back home, these were just concrete blocks – functional, ugly; basically the architectural equivalent of giving up. After all, why would anyone need a fancy parking lot? It’d just eat into construction costs, draining funds with no return to show for it.

  The resort, evidently, had no such concerns, instead deciding that even the most mundane of its structures needed the full Victorian treatment. Because apparently nothing in Celdorne was allowed to just exist without getting fancy about it.

  Like, they’d even applied architectural makeup to the support columns of all fucking things. Where he’d normally see flat concrete, maybe adorned with ancient gum or a simple sign at most, these had floral reliefs carved into them. Geometric patterns wound up the sides, sporting decorative flourishes that would’ve taken normal craftsmen weeks of dedicated work.

  And that wasn’t even getting into the metal railings lining each level – curved, detailed, fancy enough to work as garden fencing if someone decided to repurpose them.

  He’d say all this would be egregiously opulent, but that assumed modern work conditions and limitations. Here, magic threw all of that out the window.

  If mages could use earth magic to extrude stone and carve details in a fraction of the time, why the hell wouldn’t they? A halfway decent mage could probably knock out one of these columns in an afternoon, reliefs and all.

  Cole slowed down to admire. But the aesthetics, as beautiful as they were, didn’t keep his attention for too long – not when he actually needed to find a parking spot.

  Most of the bays near the front were taken, vehicles of various makes lined up in neat rows – predominantly carriages, but with a few of the newer car models mixed in. He kept going, scanning for an opening, and finally spotted one around the halfway point. Not ideal, but close enough to the entrance that it wouldn’t be a pain in the ass to walk. Assuming they even needed to handle their luggage.

  He pulled in, straightened out the alignment, and cut the engine. Everyone started climbing out.

  Two attendants in pressed uniforms were already heading their way from the direction of the unloading zone. One made for the trunk while the other approached to greet them.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “Welcome to Terraland Resort,” the closer one said. “I trust your journey was pleasant?”

  Cole nodded. “Yeah. Smooth roads, even through the forest.”

  “Y’all really went all-in on makin’ this place look good, huh?”

  “We endeavor to provide the finest experience possible, sir.” The attendant gestured toward the trunk. “If you’ll permit us, we can see to your belongings and have them delivered directly to your rooms.”

  “Yeah, by all means.” Cole popped the trunk, and the two men moved in right away.

  “The main entrance lies just beyond those doors, sir,” the first attendant continued, pointing to a set of gilded revolving doors that were already impossible to miss. “Our clerks within are prepared to check you in. Might I procure anything further for you before we go inside?”

  “Nah, we’re good. Thanks.”

  “Of course, sir. Please, follow us.”

  The attendants led them toward a covered walkway connecting the garage to the resort proper. It was more of the same aesthetic excess Cole had seen since their arrival – smooth stone, ornate columns holding up the awning, planters with flowering shrubs, whatever. At this point, the fancy details barely registered.

  What did catch his attention though, were the revolving doors.

  Historically, they were completely wrong. Cole was pretty sure that these didn’t exist until after the Victorian era, and even then they were American – not something he’d find in Victorian Britain. But Cole had to hand it to them; they fit, somehow. Historical accuracy had clearly taken a backseat to making things feel right, and it worked.

  They went through. Elina hesitated briefly before stepping in, figuring out the rhythm and coming through without faceplanting.

  Inside, the lobby didn’t pull any punches when it came to luxury. Chandeliers shining with magic daylight, marble floors polished enough to throw his reflection back at him, gold-framed paintings, sculptures… yeah, this was five-star, alright. Hell, it was exactly the type of luxury he’d imagined back in high-school English when they made him read The Great Gatsby – all the gleaming excess, none of the tragedy.

  Miles muttered something low, probably the same thing Cole was thinking. Even Elina looked impressed – not that she’d admit it.

  Cole started for the front desk before anyone could start gawking.

  The woman behind the counter looked up before he even reached the desk, smile already locked and loaded. “Welcome to Terraland Resort, sirs and madam. It is our privilege to receive you. Might I assist with your registration?”

  “Yeah,” Cole said. “Made a reservation on the Scrying Pane yesterday; should be under Cole Mercer?”

  She nodded and drew a thick ledger from the counter, landing immediately on the page she needed. “Ah, yes – Mr. Cole Mercer, party of five, including Lady Elina Gracer. Three double suites for five nights, if I am not mistaken?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Splendid.” She marked the page. Your accommodations await upon the third floor – ocean view, private balconies, and the full privilege of the resort. Your luggage shall already be en route.”

  The smile didn’t even blink between sentences; either she practiced in a mirror, or the resort had found a way to automate courtesy.

  From beneath the counter came a set of brass keys, heavy and old-fashioned – luxury by way of nostalgia. Even the tags were engraved, as if a little weight would make the place feel more permanent. “Suites 301 through 303, adjoining, for your convenience.”

  Cole handed the keys around.

  The attendant kept going, her tone shifting into what was obviously a rehearsed pitch but delivered smoothly enough that it didn’t sound robotic. “Breakfast is served in the East Conservatory from six until ten each morning. Luncheon upon the terrace from noon until three, and dinner in any of our salons between six and ten. Should you prefer something lighter, the café on the ground floor remains open throughout the day.”

  She gestured to a set of giant signs hanging over equally giant walkways. “The spa, gymnasium, and pools are housed in the east wing – corridor to your right. Theatres, bowling alley, and recreation gallery may be found in the west, while the golf course, tennis courts, and gardens lie beyond the rear promenade.”

  She then held her hand over a stack of pamphlets on the desk. “These contain a full directory of our facilities, including hours of service and any reservations required. Should you need assistance at any time, any member of our staff – or the concierge – will be delighted to oblige.”

  Cole took one. It was a newer edition than the one they’d found back at the house, containing a different cover, an updated map, and maybe a few promises the old version hadn’t been bold enough to make. “Appreciate it.”

  “Our pleasure, sir. Is there anything further I might assist you with this afternoon?”

  Cole shook his head. “We’re good.”

  “Then please, enjoy your stay. May your time at Terraland prove most memorable.”

  Cole stepped back from the desk, the others closing ranks around him. “Alright,” he said, glancing between them. “Let’s drop our stuff off and figure out what we’re doing first.”

  He brought them to the elevator, and hit the button for the third floor. It seemed almost normal – especially the grid of buttons by the door – which nearly threw him off. Had to be magic making it work, but damn if it didn’t look like the real thing.

  They reached the third floor and found their suites clustered together as promised.

  Cole turned to the team. “Mack, you’re with me. Miles, Ethan. Elina, you’ve got your own.”

  Miles grinned. “Lucky you, Gracer. No snoring roommate.”

  “Hey, you snore more than I do!” Ethan countered, smiling through mock offense.

  Elina just laughed and took out her key. “A mercy I shall cherish.”

  Cole followed suit, unlocking his room and pushing the door open.

  The room was massive. Like, way bigger than what ‘double room’ normally implied for most hotels. But then again, this wasn’t most hotels.

  The floor space probably rivaled an apartment, complete with a sitting area, dining area, and private Scrying Pane. Floor-to-ceiling windows along the far wall opened to a balcony that faced the ocean.

  Their luggage was already waiting inside, neatly arranged near the two king-sized beds.

  Mack stepped in behind him, taking it in. “Huh. This is… nice.”

  “Yeah, matches what we’ve got at the mansion, pretty much.” Cole crossed to the balcony, pulling the doors open. Salt air breathed into the room – clean, light, not pushy about it. The view stretched out over the gardens below, past the property line to where the coastline started showing itself through the trees.

  “Never seen anything like this outside of YouTube,” Mack said.

  “Yeah, right? Living like those influencers.” Cole turned back inside.

  Mack had already started unpacking, setting his pajamas on his bed and arraying his toiletries.

  Cole did the same. “So, what’re you thinking? You wanna hit something specific first, or just see what’s around?”

  Mack paused. “I mean, hot springs, for sure. But honestly, there’s a lot here. Might make sense to do a tour first, get the layout down.”

  That was a good sign of healing – Mack not only pumped, but even thinking ahead; taking initiative.

  “Yeah, tour sounds good.” Cole zipped his bag back up and straightened. “Let’s go ask the others. Imma take a piss real quick, then head down.”

  “Same. Wait up.”

  Cole hit his bathroom – yeah, his. As in, his own private bathroom. Apparently, ‘double’ meant an entire two bed and two bath apartment. He probably would’ve gotten a single if he’d known, but whatever. OTAC was footing the bill anyway.

  He set up his toiletries along the sink and did his business before heading back out. He linked up with Mack and headed down, finding the others chilling on a couch by the front desk.

  “Everyone good?” Cole asked.

  Miles grinned. “Hell yeah. Woulda never reckoned our room to be a whole apartment, but hey, I sure as hell ain’t complainin’.”

  “Mmhmm,” Ethan agreed.

  Elina didn’t seem as enthusiastic about the amenities, though. “It is rather… expansive, I suppose.”

  He almost wanted to offer to move in, but that’d seem a bit too forward, wouldn’t it? Sure, he was interested in Elina, and she probably reciprocated, but he’d only really known her for what, a few weeks? Not to mention having to leave Mack alone, or how awkward it’d be to even bring up such an offer.

  He backtracked. “Right, so Mack and I were thinking we do a quick tour first, figure out where everything is. That work for everyone?”

  Miles shrugged. “Might as well. We got time.”

  “Works for me,” Ethan said.

  “I’ve no objection,” Elina added.

  Cole nodded and tilted his head toward the reception area. “Alright. Let’s head down and see if someone at the desk can spare us a tour guide.”

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