Enter the bath.

You take a deep breath after the door behind you shuts.

The room isn't all that large. Unlike your own bath, which could fit a couple dozen people and still have room, this one is more modest. Only several people could fill the bath at best, though that doesn't mean it isn't a lovely room. A serpent of steel extends out of the wall at the far corner, and from it's mouth is a steady though gentle stream of fresh water pouring into the pool. Light glistens from the steamy surface, by the many magic candles that completely cover the walls of the chamber. The flames burn pale pink, and emit no warmth themselves, and they're able to stay lit no matter how humid the air. Some sit on shelves, while others rest in flower-shaped sconces.

But you're not alone.

You look to a figure sitting almost at your feet. Within the pool, there's a woman. In the moment you can only see a head of long, blonde hair. But she turns an eye up to you--Princess Dayna. She holds an arm up against her bountiful bosom, squeezing them in a surprisingly lazy attempt to conceal her naked body.

"Ah! I'm so sorry--" you say while reaching back for the door.

"No. It's all right," she assures you. Then slowly, she rises up from the pool.

You watch in a futile attempt not to ogle as water runs down her naked body. Though she still has one arm over her chest, it does little to cover her up. Clearly she doesn't meant to do so. While she was stunning before, to see her in such a state causes your heart to race. It reminds you of the fake Princess Abigail. Once again, it may not be the wisest to pursue the beautiful blonde before you, though instead of the reasons before, this time it's because she's a married woman. Still, she doesn't react with anger at your entrance.

"I was just finishing up," she says. "No worries."

"Right. Even then, I apologize for not knocking first. Catherine said to come here and wait."

She steps closer and places a hand upon your bare chest. Her eyes flicker quickly over your body. "I don't mind," she whispers. "But let's not tell Finaros this happened. He would come after you, and I don't believe he would stand a chance." Then after brushing past your arm, she exits the room.

That entire bloodline... Are Cat's genes so strong that all the women after her are just as hot, or what?

You hear her speak back through the doorway. "--you two. Enjoy yourselves. Ah good, my clothes are here."

"Yes. I just finished drying them, Princess Dayna," replies an unfamiliar voice, likely a servant of some sort.

Then soon there's silence yet again.

You dip your toe into the crystalline water. Slowly, you sink down into it, and rest on the seat beneath the surface. You sigh, and lay your hands back on the edge behind you. It feels just as incredible as you imagined. It always does. The flickering of the candles in this dimly lit room is like a sea of pink stars, and the scent of the incense in the previous chamber slowly trickles in from under the door.

After a few minutes, the entrance opens yet again.

You hear the patter of bare feet on wet stone. Then when you turn, you see a paradise of legs. Nyllia and Xiaoqing are completely bare, though the latter is legitimately covering herself up, unlike Princess Dayna before. She timidly tiptoes towards the pool, and to conceal herself swiftly, she sinks down into the water not far from your left.

Nyllia takes her time slowly walking around the corner of the bath. First she sits at the edge, dipping in her legs. Then she gradually slips down past the surface of the steam, and lets out a long exhale as the hot water coats her body. She looks at you and smiles wide. "I am happy to hear you are getting along well with Princess Dayna."

"Uh, yeah. She's very nice," you reply.

"Indeed she is."

You look to Xiaoqing, sunken enough to conceal her chest beneath the blurry surface of the pool.

"Mmm. This feels so good," she whispers under her breath. "You know, I may have made a deal with Aak'aba, but that doesn't mean I don't like a nice, hot bath."

You grin. "I'm glad to know you've relaxed a bit."

"As much as I can. I've never bathed so close to somebody else before."

"Yet you chose a seat directly next to him," Nyllia comments. "Despite there being so much room on the opposite side."

"W-Well, I didn't want to be completely alone either I guess. I don't know. Don't--"

"I am only teasing." She leans back, and stretches her leg out to poke a foot from the water. Then with a flick of her toe, she sends a bit of water in the other girl's direction. "Sharing a bath should be fun. It is relieving. Intimate. Brings people together. There is no reason to stress."

Xiaoqing covers herself from the splash. Then with a furled brow, she sinks even deeper, but holds a hand out towards the elf.

Suddenly, Nyllia bounces in place. "Ooh~! Cold."

"What happened?" you ask.

"Our naughty ice-woman chilled the water by my rear."

Xiaoqing sticks out her tongue playfully.

You smirk at them both. "I mean, you did start it, Nyllia."

It seems she's starting to loosen up a bit already. Perhaps she thinks the water is coverage enough, or she's stopped caring enough to cover up, though you can clearly see her small, cute pink nipples now. Condensation runs droplets of water down her slender body. She looks so familiar yet not--an Earthling, though the colour of her hair is unnatural, and she has powers just like you do. You wonder if she sees you in the same way.

"Crazy that this has been kinda commonplace, huh?" you speak up. "I mean, to experience baths like this on Earth... Most people would never get more than a small tub made of fiberglass or whatever. We meet dragons and wizards, and fight goblins and demons, and end the day with hot clean water and surprisingly delicious food."

"Surprisingly?" Nyllia asks.

"I just mean back on Earth we have so many different things. Big grocery stores of vegetables, fruits, spices, other ingredients... When we imagine a world like this, I think we picture what it was like in the Middle Ages. Mutton. Moldy bread and cheese. You know, stuff like that."

Xiaoqing nods. "A world like this. It's something straight out of an RPG, or a book. At first though I really hoped I was some sort of protagonist hero, like something out of an isekai anime. Life isn't so easy though, even here."

"I had the same thought when I first arrived too. Reality smacked that out of me pretty quickly. Though I guess good things come to those who wait."

"And you did not just sit idly by," Nyllia adds. "You have done more than you give yourself credit for, Kyle."

"But you have quite the life now," says Xiaoqing. It seems she's scooted a little bit closer a few times already without you noticing. "The big Hero King and his huge harem of women. Now that's an isekai anime."

"When you put it that way, yeah kinda," you respond.

"You're the protagonist here from my point of view."

"Do you still want to be the hero?"

"Mmm... not really. I have no desire to be in the spotlight. What about you?"

"I don't know. I just want to be happy."

"An admirable goal." She turns in her seat. Slowly, she slips her legs over yours, placing her feet on the other side. She pulls back her pale blue hair, and slowly slides her hand down and up one of her legs. "After everything, would you say you've already achieved that?"

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't very happy."

Nyllia smiles. "This has been quite a successful day, I must say."

You look into Xiaoqing's eyes. It isn't unusual she's more timid than Nyllia. Not only has she not known you for that long yet, but she's from Earth as well. Absoterra, especially the Empire of Tivera, definitely seems to have different standards when it comes to sexual expression. Though already, she's come in so closely. You can feel the struggle she's gone through, but she has no desire to bring up such things, knowing you've gone through much yourself. But you know that besides the Silver Hunter, she's been more alone compared to you and your army of allies. On top of that, you get the vibe that it's been a very long time since she... was properly relieved of her stress.

"I'm really glad you came to stay with us, Xiaoqing." You place a hand gently upon her other leg. "Are you still all right, leaving the crew?"

She nods. "I did travel with them for some time. I trust Captain Silver. But they were just a part of my journey, and I admit that I've already started feeling more at home. Maybe it's because you're also from Earth, or it's because you and the others are just so accepting. It doesn't really matter. For the first time in as long as I can remember here in Abso, I feel like I don't have to hide anymore."

Nyllia rises from the bath. She bows her head politely. "Please excuse me for just a little bit. I will return shortly." Her eyes look to yours knowingly, and then proceeds past you, back through the doorway into the changing room.

The room falls silent apart from the soothing trickle of running water.

That is until Xiaoqing speaks again. "Kyle, you've been incredibly kind to me. I feel like I can trust you, and that's been rare. I don't know what troubles will face in the future, but I'll fight alongside you."

"And I'm happy to have you here, Xiaoqing."

"I'd like to give you a little gift for accepting me so quickly."

"And what gift is that?"

She purses her lips, looking up at you bashfully. Then with a quick movement, she warps her arms around the back of your neck, and plants a firm kiss on your lips. She gasps as she pulls a few inches back. Locking onto your eyes causes her face to flush. "Th-That was it," she stutters out. "You're welcome."