On the outskirts of town stood a large barn that doubled as a workshop.
Jax led the Vixens inside without ceremony.
The space was wide and functional, with pens along one side holding unfamiliar barn animals native to the region. The scent of hay, oil, and warm metal filled the air. Toward the back, however, the atmosphere changed entirely. Thick sheets and heavy canvas had been draped from ceiling beams, shielding the rest of the barn from sparks and stray debris.
Behind those coverings, something big was being built.
Atop a partially enclosed carriage stood three young beastkin—teenagers by the look of them. They had drooping ears, long narrow faces, and soft gray fur.
Lurien.
They looked to be between eleven and fifteen.
"Mr. Darquebane, you're here!" one of them shouted.
He jumped down immediately. "I'll get my mom!"
Then he took off running.
The other two scrambled down from the carriage and rushed over, grabbing Jax's hands with unfiltered excitement.
"Come see! Come see!"
They tugged him toward the carriage, which was partially hidden behind hanging blankets and tarps.
Llandra leaned closer, curiousity bright in her eyes. "Jax, what is this place?"
Before Jax could answer, footsteps hurried in from the side room.
A female Lurien—late thirties, judging by her posture and eyes—entered the workspace, wiping grease from her hands.
"Mr. Darquebane," she said, ears drooping slightly with relief. "I'm so glad you could make it."
Jax looked down at her—she barely came up to his chest—and extended a hand.
"Please," he said warmly. "My business partners call me Jax."
She shook his hand firmly. "It's good to see you, Jax." She glanced at the Vixens. "I'm Barbarosa—Barb, to my friends."
Jax gestured around them as the Vixens took in the scene.
"Barb is a third-generation farmer," he explained. "She knows more about livestock in this region than anyone I've met. But what she loves—what she's passionate about—is building."
Barb's ears twitched.
"So I commissioned her," Jax continued. "I gave her a project. Build me a carriage to my specifications. Improve whatever I missed. Make it grand. And if she succeeds, we will expand and make it a business."
Barb smiled proudly. "That temporal stone you provided was incredible. The kids just have some cleanup and finishing touches left, but we could deliver tonight if you wanted."
"No rush," Jax said. "We'll need it in a few days. But if the inside and framework match the outside… you've done something remarkable."
Lurien didn't blush the way humans did—but something warm clearly colored her expression.
The Vixens circled the carriage, eyes wide.
Gold trim traced elegant lines along the frame. From the outside, it was large enough to seat eight comfortably. A reinforced front harness allowed for two beasts to pull it, and a rear platform hinted at storage.
"This is beautiful," one of the Vixens said.
"And practical," another added. "We won't need to ride in someone else's trailer anymore."
Jax studied it carefully. "How large is the storage?"
Barb grinned. "Let me show you."
They moved to the back. The children unhooked the rear platform, and it lowered smoothly, forming a ramp.
What lay beyond wasn't a compartment.
It was a space.
"You added a dimensional interior," Zee breathed.
Jax nodded. "I secured a few stones through Grathok. Minus his usual cut. Worth every coin."
They stepped inside.
The interior expanded into what could only be described as a warehouse—beams reinforced the edges and central supports, already fitted with racks and anchors for cargo.
Jax nodded slowly. "Excellent." His voice echoed in the large space.
The Lurien kids practically glowed at his approval.
"Now," Barb said, "the main carriage."
They exited the storage space and entered through the side steps.
From the outside, it looked plush.
Inside—it was something else entirely.
They stepped into a lofted living space.
A full kitchen stood ahead, a long dining table beside it. To the side, a bedroom with an enormous custom-built bed. Storage lined the walls—closets, cabinets, hidden compartments.
Three bathrooms.
And the master bath—
"There's a pool," Bunny said faintly.
Barb nodded proudly. "A self-cleaning magical bath. No maintenance required."
Jax didn't question the physics. As long as it worked, he was content.
The Vixens were speechless.
"We're… traveling in this?"
"This is riding in style."
"I call dibs on breaking in the bed."
Jax cleared his throat. "It's impressive. But is it functional?"
They exited the dimensional space. Jax crouched beneath the carriage with Barb, inspecting the framework.
"I followed your schematics exactly," Barb said. "Using a magical suspension system to reduce weight and allow partial lift—brilliant idea."
She shook her head in awe. "You really are something, Mr. Dar—Mr. Jax."
Jax smiled. "You're the master craftsman. I just gave you chicken scratch and a problem."
He looked at the kids. "And this fine crew made it real."
They beamed.
"This was a labor of love," Barb said quietly. "Thank you for trusting us."
One of the kids piped up, "I've never seen Mom this happy, Mr. Darquebane."
Jax felt that familiar warmth settle in his chest.
"Then you can all call me Mr. Jax."
"Mr. Jax!"
"Thank you, Mr. Jax!"
He handed Barb the final pouch of gold.
"Deliver it with two rented steeds to my hotel in three days. Please stop by my restaurants so they can stock it properly first."
Barb peeked inside the bag of gold coins and nearly froze. "Yes—yes, Mr. Jax. We're already prepping them."
They left soon after.
As they walked, the Vixens buzzed with excitement.
"That place is incredible."
"The storage alone—"
"How did you even find this?"
"I talk to people," Jax said simply. "I listen. Barb wanted more than the life she inherited."
"And you helped her reach it," Nyxian said.
Jax shrugged. "Mutually beneficial."
The Vixens exchanged smiles.
Every day with him turned ordinary places into something more.
Even a barn on the edge of town.