Chapter 709: A Breath of Calm
I hesitated a long time before following the others into the long building. It was like an extended hallway, with many doors on either side, too similar to the slave quarters of the Divine Throne. Elaine walked confidently to the end, taking the final side door before the hallway ended in a door identical to the one we entered.
Inside, it was almost...ordinary. A few wooden shelves, cabinets, and a long metal bar with wooden hooks on it. Robes and towels hung from the hooks or were draped over the bar, dyed in soft, pastel colors. It was small, but it looked capable of holding a dozen people’s belongings.
R’lissea closed the door. It clicked, an enchantment automatically sealing us in. My pulse skipped, and my chest tightened. I backed against the wall, struggling to breathe.
Elaine snapped her fingers, and her dress flowed off her body, collecting on her finger in the shape of a ring. It was like watching water run down a window, smooth and seamless. The slits and cut of her dress had left little of her body a mystery, yet I couldn’t help but admire the ninth-level being. Her physique was flawless yet not overbearing, allowing her soft, more feminine curves to smooth her strength.
"Well?" she asked with a playful grin. "Don’t make me feel lonely."
I flushed, gripping my skirt tightly. I looked to R’lissea for support, but she’d already stored her clothes in her spatial ring. She gathered her hair and smoothed it down her back, coming a few tangles with her fingers. She noticed me watching and gave me a reassuring smile.
Reluctantly, I tugged my dress off, shivering as the warm, moist air took its place against my skin. My skin crawled as Elaine gave me a long, appreciative glance.
"Oh, child. You have nothing to be ashamed of," she said with a nod. "Sure, your back will never be sore, but you’re quite charming."
I covered my chest, flushing darker. The swell of my breasts would never be considered generous, but it wasn’t like I was flat anymore. Just...kind of. And it wasn’t like R’lissea’s bust was much bigger than mine, so why not tease her, too?
"I think you’re lovely," R’lissea said, dropping a robe over my shoulder. It was soft and silky, with a peculiar texture that made it waterproof. "Luke was an idiot to–ah, never mind. Shall we go?"
Elaine set her spatial ring and the ring formed by her clothing on a shelf. She snapped her fingers and chanted a fourth-circle spell, enchanting it with protection. Both she and R’lissea grabbed a robe. I slipped my spatial ring off, clutching it in my hand, and looked uncertainly around the room.