Chapter 12: The proposal
Charles was submerged up to his shoulders in a hot spring pool, steam rising in gentle swirls around him.
The warm water wrapped around his exhausted muscles, melting away knots of tension he didn't even know he had.
This part of the clan was an unexpected luxury: carved stone walls encircled the pools, moss creeping through the cracks, and small natural waterfalls fed a steady stream of hot water.
The sound of it dripping against the rocks was almost hypnotic.
Charles let out a long, deep sigh, leaning his head back against the stone edge.
'This... this is paradise,' he thought, closing his eyes for a moment as the heat climbed up his neck.
How he'd ended up here still baffled him. After Lira had staggered off his chest, shaken by his power, she'd said:
"Go to the hot springs and recover there... I'll shift your fights to tonight."
Before he could ask anything, she'd added:
"That bath's for arena fighters. Since you're so dead-set on fighting, you've got access now. When you're done, put on the new clothes they'll leave for you. You can head straight to the dining hall after."
Then, without another word, she'd turned and marched out of the room, leaving him sprawled on the floor.