Chapter 123: Arriving at the Academy
The steam from the warm bathwater filled the spacious bathing chamber, softening the outlines of the luxurious marble walls and intricate runic carvings that lined them.
Orion eased beneath the shower, releasing a contented sigh as the water soothed his tired muscles and revitalized his aching joints.
"Ah... this feels wonderful," Orion murmured, eyes half-closing in satisfaction as the heat seeped into him, loosening the fatigue that had built up from his intense rune practice session last night.
Rina gently laughed from beside him, her blonde hair cascading gracefully down her shoulders into the water.
Her playful gaze flashed with amusement as she reached for the soap, filling her hands delicately. "Master really overdid it last night, didn’t he? That mountain of parchment—it looked like an entire group of mages had created runic papers in your room."
Orion chuckled lightly, enjoying the gentle sensation of her hands drifting softly across his back, washing away his exhaustion along with the accumulated sweat from last night’s intense practice.
"Perhaps a bit," Orion admitted laughingly, glancing back with a faint smile. "But learning those runes... it was addictive. I couldn’t help myself."
Fiora shyly joined them, her curvy figure made the atmosphere slightly shift as she rolled her sleeves back and joined Rina, cleaning Orion’s chest.
Her timid eyes peeked up at Orion with admiration, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "I-I thought... Master’s runes looked very impressive. Even the mistakes were... extraordinary."
He chuckled, reaching out to gently pat Fiora’s head, eliciting a bashful smile from her. "Thank you, Fiora. Though I’m sure I can do much better next time."
They continued bathing comfortably, the atmosphere filled with casual conversation and soft laughter. The pleasant scent of lavender soap mixed gently with the warm steam, creating an environment of serene tranquility.