Ep V: Chapter 21

“Without clothes?” Enthea asks, puzzled.

“That’s a Doellist Purity Totem,” Scora says, pointing. “The contractors who broke ground on my property here were Kinyen. I let them put that there. You’re not supposed to wear clothes on the purity path.”

It’s a little hard to focus on what Scora’s saying when her penis is just hanging out like that.

Enthea shakes her head and looks Scora in the eye. This is a little transparent.

“My clothes stay on,” she says. “You’ve already seen me naked.”

“That’s fine. I respect everyone’s religions. That includes yours,” Scora says. With that, she turns and takes off along the path. Watching her run nude is more than a little distracting. Enthea musters her patience, sheds only her outer robe, and gamely runs after her.

The uphill run quickly becomes more of a climb, although the landscape is friendly to that with plenty of soft grass and beautiful outcroppings of crystal that make safe and reliable handholds.

The path curves away to the left and Scora goes right, targeting a steeper slope. Soon they’re truly climbing, freehand, up the crystal face of the mountain.

“You do this without safety equipment?” Enthea calls up to Scora, who scales the terrain with ease. This is safe enough for a Jedi, but for a naked Zeltron? This is serious thrill-seeking. The view is pretty thrilling too. The act of climbing shows off Scora’s physique in all kinds of ways.

Finally, Scora clambers up to a ledge of crystal. Enthea lightly leaps up beside her.

“That’s cheating,” Scora says, sitting on the edge, winded. She is staggeringly beautiful covered in sweat and pink light, reflected from the crystals. Enthea kneels beside her.

“Perhaps,” she admits.

“Drink?”

“I’m sorry?”

Scora leans over and pulls out a cooler that was hidden a moment ago. They’re sitting in the mouth of what appears to be a cavern. Enthea understands: Scora has been here before.

“Is this your private spot?” Enthea asks, accepting a pouch of tea.

“You could say that.” Scora gazes down at the resort. It looks lovely from up here with its gentle lines, paths, streams, and graceful structures. A perfect spot for meditation.

After seeing Scora work and now this… Enthea feels something new: respect. There’s more to this Zeltron than money and flirting.

“Do you meditate here?” Enthea asks.

“Meditate?” Scora smiles. “Sure. I meditate on… the beauty of life.”

“Maybe I misjudged you,” Enthea admits.

“Come on. I want to show you something.” Scora picks herself up and offers Enthea her hand. Curious, Enthea takes it and allows herself to be led deeper into the cave.

Scora kneels at the cavern wall, which is smooth crystal. She indicates a small hole. Intrigued, Enthea crouches beside her and looks.

Her heart sinks. She did not misjudge Scora.