Soak.

The wooden barricade makes it impossible to see into any other pool around, though it's build in a way that to your right, you can see off into the woods, away from the rest of the hot spring. The trees flow like an emerald sea. As you enjoy the sights, you see a cloud of birds flutter up into the sky, and disappear into the distance. You look back to the wall. Small holes are cut into the base, allowing the water to flow through and down the cliffside. You bring your hand through the unnaturally blue tinted water--presumably from the minerals that grant this spring the restorative properties you've heard about.

Maybe if we defeat the Demon King, every day can be like this.

It's wishful thinking, but you never know. All of your problems lately have been because of Sa'dis. Though when you first arrived, there were still plenty of obstacles to overcome. You can tell you've come a long way, however. You feel like this world has hardened your resolve, and as your levels grow, you feel your power grow as well.

Back in the dream. They suggested I was some kind of experiment. I guess I basically just have a custom class. Who knows what I'll unlock next? Though the idea also makes me uncomfortable. What if I become something I don't want to be? And why would they even--

Your ears perk up to a sound behind you.

Quickly, you turn your head, and prepare to leap out of the way of any danger. Your eyes catch a thief with an arm shoved all the way down into your backpack. There's an awkward moment where both of you cease moving, and stare directly towards one another. You even recognize her. She has black pigtails, dark skin, and one red eye--the other concealed behind an eyepatch. The rest of her body is covered by a brown robe including a hood shrouding her face in darkness.

"... Lynx?!"

She purses her lips. "Aha... Hello there, Kyle. You weren't supposed to hear me."

"Are you robbing me?"

Slowly, she withdraws her hand from the backpack. She holds the book you originally took from her within her grasp. "Technically, I'm taking something back."

"After you tried to kill us."

"I kept my word! I haven't told the Demon King a thing! I'm actually here because I'm hiding. I need to keep on the move so I'm not caught. There won't be any way for me to resist telling him everything. She knows all my command words. Now, I'll just take--"

"Stable Marmalade!" Stop Moving. Like I'd forget.

Immediately, Lynx freezes up as if she were paralyzed. Her mouth barely opens to speak. "D-Damn it. You remembered," she mutters.

You rise up from the water and walk over towards the frozen girl. Her eyes widen as she stares directly forwards at the lower half of your wet naked body. You reach forward and pluck the book from her fingers, and then drop it right back into your pack. "I'm going to put my stuff aside again, and if you try to steal anything when you can move, I'll remember the other command I didn't get to use last time. You know, the one labelled as Explosive Orgasm. I think I went something like... Elephant--"

"S-Stop, I won't!"

You then walk back to the edge of the water and sink back down with a sigh. "So you came here just to steal back the book?" you ask.

She gradually regains her ability to move. "No. I just happened to spot you." She groans as she raises her stiff body up. "I thought maybe I could yoink it and run before you even noticed. I feel so uncomfortable knowing you possess the secrets to manipulating my body."

"Well, you did directly serve under the Demon King, who is the enemy of Tivera right now. I feel like we could have been a lot more harsh than that for what you put us all through."

Lynx hangs her head. "I guess you're right. Well, I promise I won't steal from you again. Just don't say that command."

"What command? Elephant--"

"Stop!" she shouts. Her voice echoes out. Quickly, she places both hands over her mouth.

"I thought you were a master of stealth," you say.

She puffs out her cheeks. "I am, but usually I don't have an annoying boy to deal with." After awkwardly fiddling with her fingers, she walks over to the edge of the pool and squats down beside you. "I'm just scared. Even when I worked with the Demon King, he made me uncomfortable, but now I'm on the run."

"What was the name of the elven woman you mentioned before? The one that was translating those books with you. You said she worked as a magic consultant to Sa'dis or something. Vel-something."

"Velina Daliru," she says. "Fiery red hair, master enchantress. She could trap you within a dream, and you'd never even know."

You raise a brow. "That sounds familiar. Is she related to someone called Professor Davella?"

She taps her cheek. "I feel like I've heard the name before. Why?"

"Well, when we were at Redbloom Academy, we ran into a professor there by that name. She trapped the school in a weird dream that got even weirder because of a wild sprite. Eva and I managed to escape, and now she's in prison or something." You think for a moment. "She also had a fascination with manga, just like you."

"That must be one of her fake names! I knew she had an important mission she was going to work on, and I think I heard the name Davella at some point. There's no doubt about it. You must have seen her."

"No kidding. That makes sense. And of course she wouldn't have used her real name. Well, she's done now. We dealt with her."

There's a long pause of silence. Then, Lynx throws herself into you. She wraps her arms around your body and squeezes you tight. As she rubs up against you, her hood falls loose, and she nearly topples right into the water. "You really defeated Velina Daliru? Oh Kyle, you're amazing! I'm finally free. She's the only one that knows my command words. I'm actually glad you have the book then. I feel like I owe you that much! I'm so happy. Sa'dis will still be after me, but the one I feared the most is locked away."

After another pause, she pulls away. "Sorry," she mutters.

"So how exactly do you cure yourself of these hypnotic suggestions?" you ask.

"I guess Daliru would have to dispel them... or maybe I can get over them with time. I'm not really sure."

"You're working for us now then, huh? Now that I'm the only one that has that power."

"Now you're starting to sound like a Demon King... You don't have to restrain me that way. Of course I'll help you. But yes, if I don't listen, I guess you could simply utter a few words, and... This whole situation is embarrassing! At least be nicer than Daliru was, okay?"

"I'm the one with knowledge on those books you like. I feel like that's more than enough to get you coming back."

"You'll tell me more stories if I help you, right?"

You chuckle. "Of course."

She tilts her head and looks down. "Is the water level lower than it was before?"

You're submerged only to the level of your stomach, and you barely noticed until she brought it up. Not only that, but it's going down fast. "Is this not normal?" you ask. "Maybe it's like a tide or something."

Lynx stands and peers around. "I don't think so."

It isn't just draining. It's being pulled. The water rushes through the holes in the wall as it's sucked further down the rocks. It starts to pull you forwards, bringing through through the water to press up against the barricade. Everything speeds up. The rest of the water is violently pulled from the spring and you're nearly **** straight through the wooden planks. You look up to see Lynx perched above.

"There's something farther down!" she calls out. "Something stealing the water!"

"Amara... She could be in trouble," you say.

"The women are up from here. We're in more danger than they are. Hurry and throw on some clothes. We need to figure out what's happening!" With that, she leaps from the wall and disappears from sight.

You stumble to your belongings and begin throwing your clothes on as you move. The last thing you do is tighten your belt as you run around the barricade and along the pathways leading between what were once pools of water. You look up to see the water being pulled down from all the way farther up the cliffs. Wherever Amara is, she's definitely aware that something is wrong.

"Lynx, wait up!" you call out.