The bathhouse was massive.
A traditional Japanese indoor bath — stone-lined, sunken deep into the floor, with gently steaming water reflecting soft overhead lights. The warmth clung to the air like a second skin — humid, soothing, carrying the faint scent of cedar and herbal salts.
The walls were crafted from smooth dark wood — polished to a soft gleam — and small bamboo fountains trickled water continuously into the pool. The sound was rhythmic — drip… drip… drip… — like nature's own lullaby.
Separate washing stations lined one side — mounted showerheads, polished wooden stools, small wooden buckets for rinsing.
It was beautiful.
Peaceful.
"Nothing beats a relaxing bath after an entire day of training," Marian said — already soaking inside the large bath.
Her body melted into the water.
Her blonde hair with its pink edges stuck to her shoulders — wet droplets trailing slowly from the top of her head down her neck, down her collarbone. Her vibrant pink eyes showed comfort and relaxation, half-lidded, dreamy.
Even though her body was covered with a towel — submerged in the water — the towel barely concealed anything. It was already struggling to contain her breasts, the fabric stretched thin. Her tanned skin was fully on display — glowing under the soft light and her toned arms rested on the bath edge, fingers drumming lazily against the stone.
"I'll have to agree with you on this one," Daisy said.
She sat on the edge of the bathpool — soaking her pretty little feet in the warm water. A white towel covered her body, but her green eyes lit up with relief. Her short blonde hair was tied into a neat bun — a few stray strands curling against her temples.
"Hmmm…" Elira slightly moaned in pleasure.
She hadn't done anything tedious whilst the others were away but a nice warm bath was always calming. She still adorned her eyepatch ,her other golden eye surveying the surroundings, maybe out of habit.
Her black hair made her stand out amongst the two blondes — also tied into a neat bun, exposing the elegant curve of her neck.
A nice silence quickly filled the room.
Everyone was preoccupied with dealing with their physical and mental exhaustion.
Steam rose.
Water trickled.
Bodies relaxed.
Then —
"So… no one is going to acknowledge what happened last night?" Marian said suddenly.
Her eyes were still closed — still leaning on the bath edge but her lips curled into a teasing smile.
The faces of Daisy and Elira immediately flushed pink.
"Wha… Wha… what are… you even… talking about?!" Daisy stammered, her finger pointed shakily at Marian.
Elira's head slowly sunk into the water — until only her golden eye remained visible above the surface, staring daggers.
"I'm not discussing this with these two idiots," she thought.
"Yeah…" Marian's smile widened. "I'm guessing from the reactions from everyone this morning… I'm not the only one that had an orgasm surprise."
"Shut up!!!!" Daisy shouted — her face now crimson.
"Seriously…" Marian continued, undeterred. "For those two to do such a thing whilst we were downstairs… truly bold."
"Her lovely big sis was defiled by a huge pervert that just came out of nowhere…" Daisy thought — her blush still burning. "…crashing into their lives. Truly unacceptable."
But then —
"…but it did feel —"
WHAT AM I THINKING!!!!
Daisy splashed the water — venting her frustrations in a spray of droplets that caught the light like tiny diamonds.
---
"But on a serious note…" Marian's voice dropped — losing its teasing edge. "…I think the Captain's blessing is getting stronger. Or something."
Elira rose from the water — her black hair slicked back, water cascading down her shoulders.
"Why do you think so?"
"Back then… the Captain could sense our emotions. Heck, even pinpoint our location." Marian looked at the chain tattoo on her shoulder.
It still looked somewhat the same.
Which didn't help prove her theory — because the general assumption was: the darker the tattoo, the stronger the effects of Lover's Chain.
"But now…" Marian continued. "…the Captain's emotions were sent directly to us. Like…"
"The blessing is becoming two-sided," Elira finished.
"Do you guys even have any idea what you're talking about?" Daisy asked — her voice sharp, but her eyes uncertain.
"We don't." Marian shrugged. "Since the Captain's blessing is still a huge mystery — even to her."
"But why would her blessing suddenly change all of a sudden?" Daisy asked.
"Hiro."
Both Elira and Marian said it at the same time.
Hearing this, Daisy went silent.
"…But… that's possible?" she whispered.
"Crazy idea…" Marian leaned forward — water sloshing. "…what if we could use his Aether through the link?"
"That's not possible." Elira immediately shot the idea down. "The blessing may — or may not — be getting stronger. But we are still somewhat slaves according to the blessing. So for us to use the Aether of another slave … seems very unlikely."
What Elira was saying was true.
Lover's Chain allowed the mistress to siphon Aether from her slave — whilst strengthening the two as their affection grew. But for it to allow another slave to siphon Aether from a different slave?
Impossible.
If it were possible… they would have done it a long time ago.
"That sucks," Marian muttered.
A brief moment of silence passed.
"So…" Marian's smile returned. "…who's excited for the tour? Just like I am?"
"It's just a tour. Nothing to be worked up about," Elira responded.
"And plus…" Daisy crossed her arms. "…going on the tour means seeing those idiots once more."
"Daisy, you can't say that about your region members. You're practically their senior," Marian said.
"Which makes it worse," Daisy muttered.
"But you are seriously worthy of the position…" Marian's eyes dropped. "…just look at your boobs."
Before Daisy could react —
Marian moved.
She slid behind Daisy in the water — quick, fluid and began teasing her nipples whilst groping her breasts from behind.
"Mhmm…" Marian's voice was low, breathy. "…They're so soft…"
"St… op it… you idi… ot!" Daisy stammered — her body slowly becoming hot, her breath hitching.
"What is there to be embarrassed about, Daisy?" Marian whispered into her ear — her lips brushing the shell of it. "We're all girls here."
"Yep…" Elira thought — eyeing the both of them with exhausted resignation. "…she's still a deviant."
She could see how this was going to end.
Quietly, she left the bath — her bare feet padding against the wet stone.
"What would happen if I…" Marian said — her hand slowly approaching Daisy's lower region —
"I said STOP IT ALREADY!!!!"
---
CRACK.
Purple lightning shot from beneath Daisy's feet — dancing on top of the water — shocking anything in its path.
And anything in its path was currently Marian.
*BOOM!! *
An explosion of steam quickly filled the room — thick, white, blinding — making it almost impossible to see.
But with Elira's Blessing?
She could see everything clearly.
Her eye glowed golden.
Every bit of water had vanished from the bath — evaporated in an instant — leaving only Daisy in her towel at the center. Purple sparks of lightning danced around her — crackling, snapping, fizzling.
And at a distant corner of the bath —
Marian was slammed face-first into the wall.
Sticking to it.
In an awkward pose — like a badly hung painting. Her towel had burnt corners. Her body twitched.
"Yep…" Elira thought — stepping out of the bathhouse, reaching for a dry towel. "…saw that coming."
Behind her — Marian's groans echoed.
"I was just… tea… sing… you…"
---
Meanwhile — in the other bath…
Hiro wasn't having it easy.