The moment I stepped into the rock bath where steam rose in thick plumes, a sigh escaped my lips.
"Man, hot springs really are the best..."
The mountainside open-air bath was spacious, with a tub carved directly from natural rock that offered a perfect view of the starry sky. Moonlight shimmered faintly across the surface of the water, and the chirping of insects echoed from the distance. The scent of sulfur drifted through the steam as the cold night air and the scalding water brushed against my skin.
As I sank into the water and rested my back against a rock, a long breath left me. I’d been soaking here nearly every day since arriving in Kyokutou, but I didn't feel like I’d ever get tired of it.
"Haaah... This is pure paradise."
Oliver stretched out his arms, narrowing his eyes in blissful contentment.
"It’s already been a month since we came to Kyokutou. Time really flies."
"Still feels like a dream to me," Haruto-san added, wading through the water to sit beside us. His face was flushed red from the heat, and his expression was unusually soft.
For a while, a comfortable silence settled over us. Oliver was the first to speak again.
"Come to think of it, Orun, how’s the Yoryoku training going? You tested that greatsword Fuuka gave you, didn't you?"
"I've tried a few things, but I'm just not there yet," I replied with a shrug. "It’s exactly what Sakuramochi told me. I can’t even draw Yoryoku out of the blade to begin with. At this rate, I don't see myself mastering it anytime soon."
"So, it’s not exactly smooth sailing, then," Haruto-san noted, furrowing his brows.
"Not exactly. But... I have a general idea of how to handle Yoryoku eventually. It’s just going to take a lot of preparation. So I’m not too worried about myself."
I looked down at the water's surface as I continued.
"The real problem is Luna."
Both of them turned serious gazes toward me. I exhaled a small breath.
"Technically, she’s already reached the level she needs to be at. The problem is her state of mind. On top of her hesitation and uncertainty, she’s started showing signs of impatience lately because she isn't progressing as fast as she wants. I want to help her, but there’s only so much someone else can do for a person’s mental state. In the end, she’s the only one who can overcome it."
Putting it into words made the weight in my chest feel heavier than the heat of the water.
"Luna has always been the type to bottle things up," Oliver muttered sadly. "She’s probably more frustrated than anyone right now. I wish she’d rely on us more, but she always tries to carry everything herself."
"Well, having a strong sense of responsibility isn't necessarily a bad thing," Haruto-san said, shrugging with the relaxed composure of an older mentor. "It’s not like she has to become a Transcendent by tomorrow, right? Sometimes time is the only thing that can solve these things. Let’s just keep an eye on her."
I didn't say anything, but I knew what they didn't—Titania was running out of time.
The more days that passed, the more her existence faded. Eventually, she would be lost completely. But if I told Luna that, it would only drive her further into a corner. I couldn't say it. Not yet.
Still, we couldn't afford to be patient forever.
As I ruminated on that, the conversation shifted naturally toward Haruto-san.
"So, how are things going on your end, Haruto-san?" Oliver asked.
"Hm? Me? The restoration work is pretty much finished. You could say the damage from last month’s God Summoning has finally been dealt with. I’ve finished making the rounds with the various factions, so it should be a bit easier to get things moving from here on out. Not that I did anything particularly special."
Haruto-san spoke indifferently, but I could hear a trace of quiet pride in his voice.
As the conversation reached a natural lull, the only sound left was the gentle rippling of water. I looked up at the night sky, watching the white moon waver through the steam.
The silence didn't last.
"...By the way," Haruto-san began, fixing his gaze on Oliver. "Oliver, you’ve gotten pretty ripped lately, haven't you?"
At the unexpected compliment, Oliver’s brow twitched slightly, and the corners of his mouth softened.
"I guess. I’ve been keeping up with my training."
"Still, you’re nowhere near my level."
Haruto-san puffed out his chest boastfully, causing the water to ripple.
"Having a good physique doesn't mean much if it's just for show," Oliver countered quietly, his voice laced with a sharp edge.
"Ho... Listen to you. I guess I'll have to show you that these muscles aren't just for decoration."
Taking the bait, Haruto-san thrust his arm forward. The two of them planted their elbows on the flat surface of a rock right there in the tub and began to arm wrestle.
"Gugh...!"
Sweat beaded on Oliver's forehead as he strained with all his might.
"Oi, oi, what’s wrong? Already at your limit?"
Haruto-san grinned with effortless ease, pouring even more power into his arm. The water sloshed violently, sending waves crashing into me.
"Could you two take this somewhere else?"
The moment I spoke up in exasperation, both of them snapped their eyes toward me.
"Come to think of it, I’ve never competed against Orun. Well, I don't even need to try to know you're weaker than me."
Haruto-san gave me a mocking look.
"...Huh?"
My voice dropped an octave.
"Don't give me that scary face. It's obvious my shoulders are broader and I've got more muscle, right?"
Beyond the steam, Haruto-san smirked. I couldn't tell if he was just trying to provoke me or if he genuinely believed it. Regardless, I wasn't about to back down after hearing that.
"If you're going to talk that much game, I’ll take you on. Don't go crying when you lose."
"Hah! I like that attitude. I'll give those words right back to you once you're pinned."
I moved to face Haruto-san, planting my elbow on the rock and gripping his hand.
"It’s rare to see Orun actually get motivated for something like this," Oliver noted, leaning in with a gleeful look. "Alright, I'll be the ref! Both of you ready?"
"Ready."
"Good to go."
Our elbows dug into the rock as we locked eyes, sparks practically flying between us.
"Here we go! Three, two, one—Go!"
The bathtub shook.
Water splashed everywhere as the rock bath was instantly transformed into a battlefield. I’d come here to wash away the day's fatigue, but in the end, I was going to leave more exhausted than when I started.
Still, it wasn't a bad way to spend an evening.