The guest chambers were exactly as they'd left them, though the mana-infused spring water had been refreshed and someone had left a platter of food on the table: fresh fruit, bread, and what looked like some kind of roasted meat.
Yuki immediately collapsed onto one of the beds, not even bothering to remove her armor or katana. The slime hopped off her head with a wet plop and settled on the pillow beside her, pulsing gently with that soft blue glow.
"Owen?" Yuki called out, her voice muffled by the pillow, with a concerned look on her face that he could just barely see.
"Yeah?"
There was a long pause. He could hear her breathing, could feel through their bond the turmoil of emotions she was keeping locked down. Fear. Relief. Exhaustion. Something else he couldn't quite identify.
"Take them off for me" she said as she turned around to lay on her back then peeked Through the pillow she still held onto to convert her face.
