{Disclaimer: There are depictions of drinking in this chapter, but I don't mean to endorse or promote drinking in any way. If you're of legal drinking age wherever you live, please drink responsibly... Other than that, please enjoy!}
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Aralynn submerged herself in the hot, steamy, water, sighing as her tense muscles relaxed. She floated on her back for a while, watching as beads of water trickled like rivulets of morning dew off her chest. Aralynn then sat down on an underwater ledge carved into the rock basin of the bathhouse.
According to a plaque on the wall, the bathhouse apparently took advantage of a hot spring that ran through the mountain of Escus. On the rim of the expansive bath were runes chiseled into the rock and imbued with magical properties—they purified everything that was placed into the bath.
Aralynn was grateful for that, as the bath was communal, separated into female and male baths, along with separate smaller and individual basins for those who didn't identify as either or felt uncomfortable going into a communal bathhouse.
Aralynn wasn't an overly clean person as her time in the Army showed, but she didn't want her sweat or the dried blood from her fights ruining anyone else's experience. She watched as the flakes of blood peeled off her skin and swirled briefly in the frothing water before evaporating as the magic of the bath did its job.
Aralynn gave her wings a shake, ruffling the feathers. Though birds and water didn't usually mix, she felt perfectly at ease. Her birdfolk lineage traced back to ospreys, so her feathers carried a natural sheen of oil that repelled water. It didn't keep grime off, though. She spread her wings in the water, letting it the gentle motion of the frothing water lap against them. The motion soothed her flight muscles and washed away the worst of the dirt.
It was the first thing in the morning, and it appeared that she'd beaten the rush for the bathhouse as no one else was there. There were walls surrounding the hot springs that connected to the inn, but for practicality purposes, there was no ceiling.
I wonder what it's like to take a bath when it's raining or wintertime, Aralynn thought. In the chilly morning air, her breath made puffs of mist along with the steam of the bath. She sank neck-deep into the water, the smooth, gentle bath soothing her soul.
… Then she got jumpscared as she heard a familiar voice call out.
"This is where you've been all this time? I thought it was strange, seeing you get up so early in the morning." Perona slipped into the water beside her.
Aralynn was proud of herself for holding in what possibly could have been the most high-pitched scream of her life.
Aralynn, self-conscious, was glad for the frothing water covering her, but she covered herself subtly with her white wings just in case.
"Relax, I won't look. I'm not like that," Perona smiled playfully. "Or at least not yet. I could be, though."
"W-What do you mean?" Aralynn stammered.
Perona looked at Aralynn's face. She was flushed from the heat of the bath. "Hmmmn~" Perona stretched. "What do I mean?"
The half-elf leaned back and dipped her hair into the water. The silver strands floated and bobbed in the water like silk. "I met the others in the hallway. After we get breakfast, we're heading into town—we all pretty much wanted to check out the shops, and we might as well take the time for a break."
"Oh—okay," Aralynn said.
The two bobbed in the frothing water of the hot spring bath for a while in awkward silence. Perona eventually hopped out first, water cascading off her as she stood.
"I'll meet you down there—don't stay in for too long."
- - -
By the time Aralynn got down to the party, she was rosy-cheeked from the bath. This time, she was wearing the clothes that Perona had picked out for her.
She was met with probably the most out of pocket scene of all time. Perona had pulled out the magical barrel with taps and appeared to be in the midst of a drinking battle with three dwarves. Hadarai had his face down on the table as he clutched his stomach. Amon, Grango, and Derrick were seated at a different table, looking onwards judgementally.
"I—what? Perona, you—what the heck is going on?" Aralynn gesticulated wildly.
Amon sighed and filled her in. "Basically, Perona challenged the dwarves to a drinking battle. They're on their—what, sixth round now?" He glanced towards Grango.
"Sounds about right," the frogfolk nodded.
"She's drinking first thing in the morning—she got out of the bath quite literally five minutes ago! How did this happen?" Aralynn exclaimed.
"No idea. That half-elf sure is something else," Amon said.
Aralynn got ready to walk over. "I'm stopping her. We can't have her drunk for the day—didn't she say that we were going to the market district?"
Amon stopped her. "Nah, let her drink. I've talked with her a bit—there's a lot more that she doesn't let on. Honestly, she deserves the drink. Don't worry, I'll step in when she gets a bit too tipsy."
Aralynn paused. Perona has problems too? I guess I was foolish in thinking that I was the only one… but she's always so cheerful, and she certainly doesn't let on. Unless that's just the way she copes? Aralynn took in Perona gulping down from her mug. "... Alright. I agree, she really does deserve it. But uhm… can you explain why Hadarai's lying face down on the table?"
"Oh, uh, Perona tried to use the barrel to get mead, but on her first try she somehow managed to get… rust-water, I think it was? Anyways, let's just say that Hadarai was a bit too enthusiastic and now has a bit of an internal and stomach problem."
"What."
"He'll be fine in a little while. Probably."
"Probably??? And why is there rust water inside that barrel in the first place???"
"No clue. Maybe a rusty screw popped loose or something." Amon shrugged.
… Really?
Amon ended up stopping Perona at her eighth round before ordering some hot tea for her to recuperate. A waiter came up to their table and Aralynn ordered a plate of beans, bread, eggs, and sausage. While it wasn't a high-class meal, it was a simple, good, hearty breakfast. It was nice to get a hot and fresh tavern-cooked meal after all the time traveling and on the airship—rations, soup, and some sky barnacles barely counted.
The party ate their breakfast while Perona recuperated from her morning-drinking session. After a little while, Hadarai was well enough to take a couple bites out of a loaf of bread that he'd ordered, and soon enough he was back to his original self.
Borrowing a mug from the tavernkeep, Aralynn handed it to Derrick and requested coffee if there was any out of the magical barrel. Derrick quickly found the right tap, and, after a taste-test (Aralynn wasn't about to blindly trust the barrel nor herself to find the correct tap after Perona caused Hadarai's stomachache), she topped up her mug with fresh coffee, jumpstarting her day.
"Alright," Perona said, interrupting their eating. The half-elf had sprung back to normal already.
Jeez, Perona really is something, Aralynn thought.
"Once everyone's done… it's time to hit up the marketplace!" Perona's eyes were practically gleaming with excitement.
… She just really loves shopping and buying things, doesn't she?
Perona turned her eyes back to Aralynn with a small knowing smile. "It's dress-up-doll time."
Aralynn face-palmed. Shit.