Chapter 231: Inspection of the Main Building

Iron pushed open the massive front door and stepped inside the Central sector for the first time.

​He was greeted by a huge, bright, and spacious first-floor hall. There was no furniture here yet at all, but the frame itself looked finished: neat doorways stood in their places, and massive doors were perfectly fitted to the jambs.

​Looking around, Iron evaluated the logic of the layout. On either side of the main entrance—to the right and left—two wide wooden staircases led up to the second floor.

​Taking his time, Iron began his ascent up the left staircase. The steps beneath his feet didn't let out a single creak—the iron oak held firm under his weight.

​Reaching the second-floor landing, Iron immediately spotted two doors positioned slightly to his right and left. Turning around and looking down the long corridor, he saw several more closed doors on either side.

Turning right, Iron approached a third staircase. Unlike the first two, which were located on either side of the hall, this one stood near the center and led up to the third floor.

​At the top, the first thing Iron saw was that very glass section of the dome he had just finished glazing. From the third floor, their entire small village could be seen at a glance: the wide central street and the neat rows of six houses.

​Pulling his gaze away from the view, Iron walked along the carved wooden railing surrounding the open, sunlit atrium. The third floor also had several passages and doors leading to future rooms.

​Stepping up to the railing, Iron leaned against it and looked down.

​"Elyria really did a great job," Iron said quietly, running his palm over the smooth wood of the handrail.

​Heading back down to the first floor, Iron made his way toward the side passages connecting the Main Building with the wings.

​He pulled the handle of the door leading to the right passage and stepped out onto the glass walkway. The frame of the covered bridge was sturdy and wide, but the glass panels in the walls had yet to be installed. Looking down, he could see the plain white-stone floor directly through the transparent panels under his feet.

​"This needs to be finished."

​Crossing the passage, Iron entered the Right Wing. It was noticeably smaller than the Central sector and consisted of two floors. Once inside, Iron turned left and nodded. Massive built-in bookcases made of dark wood stretched along the walls. There were no books yet, but finished wooden tables and chairs already stood nearby.

​"And here is the future library," Iron said quietly, mentally evaluating the space. "The furniture is ready, the work area is excellent... Now we just need to get some books to fill these shelves."

​Directly opposite the library, a wooden staircase descended from the second floor, with its lower end resting firmly on the floor below.

​Iron walked over to it, tested the sturdiness of the steps, and quickly went up.

​Once on the second floor of the Right Wing, he looked around. Unlike the Central sector with its numerous doors and corridors, there wasn't a single partition here. A vast, empty hall with a smooth wooden floor stretched out before him. The entire second floor was one large, open space.

​"Empty..." Iron muttered, taking a few steps across the hall.

​After thinking for a moment, he considered the possibilities. This place would be perfect for a spacious recreation area, an archive, or a work hall for group discussions.

​"I'll have to figure out what to do with this room later," he decided.

​Finishing his inspection, Iron went back down the stairs to the first floor, walked past the empty bookcases, and returned to the hall of the Central sector through the unglazed right passage.

​Crossing the spacious hall of the Main Building, Iron headed to the opposite door and stepped out into the left passage. Everything here was exactly the same: the sturdy wooden frame stood firm, but the glass panels had yet to be installed, and the floor beneath his feet was still made of glass, with the white-stone space intended for the aquarium visible below.

​After crossing the passage, Iron opened the door and stepped onto the first floor of the Left Wing. There were no bookshelves or work desks here. Instead, the room was furnished with soft sofas, armchairs, and low tables.

"Now this place looks great..." Iron said, casting a glance over the cozy setting. "Perfect for casual get-togethers."

​Just to the right of the entrance, Iron saw a dark oak staircase. It was wedged right between two wooden walls. The passage seemed quite narrow, yet there was still enough room to climb without brushing his shoulders against the walls.

​Iron climbed these steps and found himself on the second floor. Just like in the Right Wing, there were no walls, doors, or rooms up here yet. An entirely empty, spacious room with a smooth wooden floor stretched out before him.

​Iron went back down the stairs to the first floor.

​Leaving the Left Wing and crossing the passage once more, Iron walked through the hall of the Central sector and stepped out into the fresh air.

​After walking a few meters away, he turned around to take in the entire building. The massive, gracefully curved three-story dome of the Main Building, made of iron oak and white stone, was flanked by two symmetrical two-story wings connected by covered galleries.

​Iron turned around and headed toward the first wooden house.

​He looked inside. The room was packed to the ceiling: beds that had already been made, large wooden tables, carved chairs, wardrobes, and countless small furnishings stood in neat rows.

"The frame is finished. Now it's time to work on the interior."