The main street of the capital of Solarpunk stretched out before them—noisy, vibrant, and… terrifyingly expensive.
Tall buildings lined both sides of the wide road, their structures unlike anything the three boys had ever seen. The walls were not merely stone or wood, but a seamless fusion of nature and technology. Living vines crawled up polished wooden frames. Massive leaves curved outward like natural awnings, casting gentle shade over glowing shop windows. Crystal-like energy cores were embedded into façades, pulsing faintly with green and gold light beneath the late afternoon sun.
Suspended above the street, thin bridges woven from braided branches connected rooftops together. Small wind turbines spun lazily overhead. Transparent solar panels shimmered like sheets of glass suspended in the air. Even the pavement beneath their feet felt alive—smooth stone patterned with faint glowing veins that carried energy through the city like arteries.
People walked past them in steady streams—well-dressed men and women wearing light, flowing fabrics threaded with subtle luminous fibers. Their conversations were relaxed. Their laughter was genuine. No one rushed. No one looked worried.
The calm confidence in their expressions felt almost cruel.
Kai, Duke, and Mike stood there, stiff and silent, clearly out of place. Their school uniforms, wrinkled and dusty from earlier chaos, only made them stand out more.
Kai swallowed hard.
Kai: Uhh… are you two sure about this?
Duke folded his arms, pretending to be confident.
Duke: Trust me. Just look at it. This place smell like a place to stay for a long time
The house in front of them was especially eye-catching. Two stories tall, built from pale wood that seemed to glow softly in the sunlight. Real tree branches grew out from its walls, twisting upward as if the house itself were still growing. Green leaves rustled gently in the wind, almost like the building was breathing.
The windows were large and clear, framed with vines carefully woven into decorative patterns. From the outside alone, it looked expensive.
Very expensive.
Just as they were hesitating, the front door opened.
A middle-aged man stepped out. His posture was straight, his hair neatly combed back. He wore a perfectly tailored dark vest and trousers, and his shoes were polished so thoroughly that they reflected the light like mirrors.
He looked them up and down in one smooth glance.
Man: May I help you, gentlemen?
Mike cleared his throat awkwardly.
Mike: Uh… we're interested in buying this house.
The man's lips curved into a satisfied smile. Not warm—confident.
Man: An excellent choice. This is one of the finest homes in this district. Prime location. Stable energy flow. Close to the Academy's central grounds. And the soil beneath it is exceptionally fertile—very rare in the capital.
Duke nodded seriously, as if he understood every word.
Duke: Right… so, how much?
The man clasped his hands behind his back.
Man: One hundred and fifty gold coins.
Kai nearly choked.
Kai: One hundred and WHAT!?
The number hit them like a punch.
Duke forced himself to stay calm.
Duke: Sir… could you maybe lower it a little?
The man sighed dramatically, as if personally wounded by the request.
Man: Hmmm… very well. Because I am in a generous mood today. One hundred and forty gold coins. Final offer.
Kai exploded.
Kai: THAT'S NOT A FUCKING REAL DISCOUNT!
The man's polite expression hardened instantly.
Man: If the price does not suit you, I suggest you look elsewhere. I assure you, I have no shortage of interested buyers.
The door closed before they could say another word.
—
They walked away in silence.
The sun continued its slow descent toward the horizon.
They searched.
And searched.
And searched.
They passed rows of elegant homes surrounded by gardens glowing faintly with bioluminescent flowers. They passed compact apartments stacked vertically like woven nests. They passed tall towers where entire balconies were miniature forests.
Some houses were beautiful—but impossibly expensive.
Some were affordable—but cramped, damp, poorly maintained, or located in narrow alleys that felt slightly unsafe.
After dozens of inquiries, Duke's hand holding the bag of gold felt heavier than before. Not physically—but mentally.
Each rejection chipped away at their hope.
Mike bent forward, hands on his knees, breathing hard.
Mike: It's getting dark…
Kai stared at another house listing etched onto a glowing board.
Kai: Why is everything here so damn expensive…
His fist tightened.
Kai: Damn it!…. this stupid world!
Duke rubbed his temples.
Duke: There has to be something cheaper…
Kai briefly considered it—sleeping outside. The streets were clean. The air was peaceful. But that thought quickly faded.
This wasn't their world.
They didn't know what happened at night.
Were there patrols? Creatures? Laws they didn't understand?
The uncertainty was worse than the price tags.
Just as their hope was thinning to nothing, a raspy voice spoke behind them.
Old Woman: I couldn't help overhearing… you boys are looking for a house, aren't you?
They spun around immediately.
Standing there was a small elderly woman. Slightly hunched. Wrapped in a plain brown cloak that had clearly been repaired many times. Her silver hair was tied neatly into a low bun. Her face was wrinkled with age, yet her eyes were bright—sharp, observant, almost amused.
For a moment, she looked like salvation.
Duke stepped forward cautiously.
Duke: You… know a place?
She smiled gently.
Old Woman: I have a house I need to sell quickly. It hasn't found a buyer yet. If you don't mind something a little outside the center…
Duke: How much?
She answered calmly.
Old Woman: Thirty-three gold coins.
The world seemed to freeze again.
Duke: …Thirty-three?
Kai whispered under his breath.
Kai: That's suspiciously cheap…
Duke asked her to wait, then dragged Kai and Mike aside.
Duke: What do you think?
Kai: Thirty-three for a house ? That's insane. What if it's a trap?
Mike crossed his arms.
Mike: And what if it's not? We don't have time. If we miss this, we're actually gonna sleeping outside tonight.
The sky was now streaked with orange and violet.
Silence lingered between them.
Finally, Duke inhaled deeply.
Duke: We'll take it.
He handed over one bag of gold coins—exactly thirty-three. The old woman checked briefly, nodded, and tucked it away.
Old Woman: Follow me.
—
They walked.
Away from the vibrant center.
Away from the crowded main streets.
Gradually, the tall buildings thinned out. The glowing towers gave way to open space. The hum of the city softened into distant background noise.
Soon, they were walking through wide fields of gently swaying grass. The wind here was cooler. The air smelled fresh—cleaner than the city center.
After several minutes, the old woman stopped.
There it was.
A modest circular house stood quietly near the edge of the capital. It wasn't large, but it was beautifully shaped. The walls were smooth and pale, built from layered wood that curved naturally into a dome-like structure. Windows were round and warmly framed.
Behind the house stood a massive tree.
Its trunk was thick, roots digging deep into the earth. Its branches spread wide, leaves forming a natural canopy that seemed to shelter the entire home.
It didn't look abandoned.
It looked… peaceful.
Old Woman: Here it is. From now on, it belongs to you.
She turned to leave without further explanation.
Old Woman: Good luck.
Kai: wait!
The old woman stop by the called of kai voice
Kai: why did you help us?
The woman just smile gently
"Nothing important"
The wind carried her cloak gently as she walked away, disappearing down the path.
The three boys stood silently for several seconds.
Duke stepped forward and pushed the door open.
—
Inside, the house was far better than they expected.
The first floor contained a small but cozy living room. A circular sofa wrapped around a low wooden table. Soft light panels embedded in the ceiling gave off a warm glow. The kitchen area was compact yet efficient, equipped with a bio-energy stove and neatly arranged shelves stocked with basic utensils.
A small bathroom sat tucked neatly into one corner.
Everything was clean.
Upstairs, a spiral wooden staircase led to three separate bedrooms. Each room had a simple bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a window that opened outward toward the fields.
There was also a small balcony.
Mike looked around in disbelief.
Mike: …Okay. This is actually pretty good.
Kai stepped out onto the balcony.
The sun was setting fully now. The sky burned with deep orange and crimson hues, fading slowly into purple. The endless fields stretched beyond the capital's boundary. The distant city lights shimmered faintly.
He inhaled deeply.
The air was cool.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
Kai: Yeah… it's not bad at all.
For the first time since being dragged into this world, the crushing weight inside their chests felt lighter.
Not gone.
But lighter.
They weren't home.
They weren't safe.
They weren't certain of anything.
But they had walls around them.
A roof above them.
And for now—
a temporary refuge,
and a fragile, trembling sense of peace.