The private spring was stunning.

It was an outdoor pool surrounded by smooth, dark river stones and lush green ferns.

Steam rose from the crystal-clear water, swirling lazily in the cool night air as the only light came from the soft glow of the moon above and a few lanterns placed around the edge.

Klaus stepped down into the water.

The heat was intense, but it felt amazing. He waded over to the far side of the pool and sat down on a submerged stone bench.

The water came right up to his chest.

Klaus leaned his head back against the smooth rocks, closing his eyes and letting the tension melt out of his muscles.

[Ooooh~ My King, this looks amazing!]

’It sure is Valeria... fortunately you can’t feel it.’

[Sniff Sniff... My King, don’t you mean unfortunately? You’re mean]

A few minutes later, the door from the female changing room slid open and Klaus opened his eyes.

The four girls stepped out into the night air. They were all wrapped in identical white towels that clung tightly to their curves.

The steam from the water instantly made their skin glisten.

Taula walked out first, her blond hair tied up in a messy bun. She stretched her arms over her head, unbothered by the chilly air, and grinned down at the water.

Serra followed behind her, stepping carefully, her blonde hair cascading down her back.

Mirela stayed close to the wall, holding her towel tight against her chest with her face already flushed red from embarrassment.

Zephyra walked out last. She had dropped her magical disguise. Her true, striking features were on full display with her vibrant purple eyes shining in the dim light.

She locked eyes with Klaus as a playful smirk made way to her lips.

"Well, Hubby," Zephyra purred, stepping down into the hot water. "Don’t just sit there... Make some room."

Zephyra waded through the steamy pool, the liquid rippling against Klaus’s chest as she moved.

She didn’t just sit near him; she closed the distance entirely and pressed her wet side directly against his right arm.

She wrapped her hands around his bicep, resting her chin on his shoulder, and let out a long content sigh.

"Haaaaaah~ This is amazing~"

Her skin was incredibly warm rivaling the temperature of the mineral spring itself and the scent of the floral soap she had used in the showers drifted up to his nose.

Serra followed next.

The blonde healer stepped down the submerged stone stairs with careful elegant grace.

She found a smooth flat rock near the corner of the pool and sank down until the water reached her collarbone and she closed her blue eyes with a look of genuine relief washing over her soft features.

"This is wonderful," Serra murmured, looking very relaxed.

She scooped a handful of the clear water, letting it trickle back down into the pool. "I read in a book in the Library that these specific volcanic minerals draw out muscle fatigue and promote deep natural healing. It feels like a blessing after today’s dungeon raid... You chose a lovely place for us to rest, Boss."

"I didn’t choose it, Lira and Elen gave us the passes," Klaus replied, leaning his head back against the smooth rocks behind him. "But I’m glad we came."

Mirela scurried in next.

The young goat-eared girl was blushing from head to toe, her face burning as red as a ripe tomato.

She clutched her white towel tightly against her chest and quickly hurried into the water.

She went deep, sinking down until the water covered her mouth, leaving only her wide eyes and twitching ears exposed to the cool night air.

She blew a few nervous bubbles, sinking lower whenever anyone looked at her.

Klaus offered her an encouraging nod, and Mirela smiled behind the surface of the water with her ears relaxing slightly.

Finally, Taula stepped into the spring.

She waded directly through the center of the pool, her vibrant green eyes locked entirely onto Klaus.

She found a spot right across from him, sitting on a submerged ledge so they were face-to-face and the steam rose between them in wispy white clouds but it didn’t mask the grin resting on her face.

’Well this is quite peaceful...’

For a few minutes, the only sound in the private courtyard was the gentle trickling of water from a bamboo spout and the rustling of the wind through the trees outside the walls.

Taula rested her arms on the wet stones behind her, kicking her legs lightly beneath the water.

"Sitting in silence is boring..." Taula announced, breaking the quiet atmosphere as she splashed a tiny bit of water toward the center of the pool. "Let’s play a game to pass the time."

"A game?" Zephyra asked, opening one purple eye to look at her rival. "What kind of game?"

"Questions and Answers," Taula grinned, her eyes darting back to Klaus. "The rules are simple... One person asks a question to anyone in the circle and the person asked has to answer truthfully. If they lie, refuse to answer, or stay quiet, they have to step out of the hot water and stand in the freezing night air for two whole minutes."

Serra smiled softly, resting her cheek on her hand.

"That sounds like a fun way to learn more about each other more... I agree to the rules... It’s a good bonding exercise for our party."

Mirela popped her head out of the water, taking a deep breath. "I will play too!"

Klaus let out a soft sigh.

He knew Taula well enough by now to realize she had an ulterior motive.

She was highly competitive, and she clearly wanted to use this game to stir up trouble or corner him into answering embarrassing questions but sitting in the hot water and talking sounded harmless enough.

"Fine," Klaus agreed. "Who goes first?"

"Since I suggested it, I’ll start," Taula declared. She looked around the steamy circle with her gaze skipping over Klaus for now.

She pointed a wet finger at the blonde healer. "Serra. You always have your nose buried in a book whenever we have downtime. What’s your favorite thing to read about?"

Serra chuckled, her blue eyes shining in the dim light of the paper lanterns.

"Oh, that is a lovely question. I have a rare, very expensive encyclopedia on divine herbs that I cherish greatly but if I’m being perfectly honest with you all... I really enjoy the fictional romance novels imported from the Capital."

Zephyra blinked in surprise. "Romance novels? You?"

"Yes," Serra admitted with a small pink hue dusting her cheeks that had nothing to do with the heat of the spring. "The ones with noble knights rescuing runaway princesses, or childhood friends realizing their true feelings. They are sweet, and they always have a happy ending. It is a nice escape from the reality of treating injuries all day."

"Runaway princesses are a lot more trouble than the books make them out to be..." Zephyra scoffed playfully, splashing her hand in the water.

"I’s my turn to ask, right?" Serra said, pivoting the attention toward the disguised royal. "Zephyra, since you joined our party, you’ve adapted incredibly well to the lifestyle we live but what do you miss the most about your old life in the palace?"

Zephyra thought about it, tapping a wet finger against her chin.

"The endless supply of custom clothes, definitely and maybe the palace bakers. They made these tiny lemon pastries that melted in your mouth." She paused, looking up at Klaus with a bright genuine smile. "But I wouldn’t trade Hubby for a million lemon pastries... I like being here much more."

Klaus felt a small pang of appreciation for the royal. Well even though she had practically forced him into the engagement

"My turn," Zephyra announced. Her innocent smile vanished, replaced by a fierce glare as she looked directly across the water at Taula. "Why do you keep trying to flirt with my fiancé?"

The question hung in the humid air. Mirela sank back down until the water covered her nose again and Serra took a sudden intense interest in the smooth rocks near her feet.

Taula didn’t blink. She didn’t look away, and she didn’t get flustered. She matched Zephyra’s glare with her own fierce determination.

"Because I saw him first back before you came," Taula answered truthfully. "Klaus is my first friend... he accepted my apology for carrying him all over Yerefall Grove like a doll and he let me stay in his house... I mean you could be his fiancee but because he hasn’t married you yet, he’s still fair game right? Besides... I’m first."

Zephyra sighed and then she squeezed Klaus’s bicep tighter. "We’ll see about that."

Of course this was a ploy between the two girls to make him focus on them.

"Alright, my turn again," Taula grinned, satisfied with her answer.

She turned her green eyes directly onto Klaus. The playful banter was over as she was aiming right for the main target. "Klaus. What is your ideal type of woman?"

Klaus looked at her. He leaned back against the warm stones, considering his words carefully.

He didn’t want to start a war in the middle of a public bathhouse, but he had to answer truthfully according to the rules of the game.

"Someone who can watch my back in a fight," Klaus answered. "Someone who doesn’t complain when things get tough... Someone who is honest with me and someone who knows how to cook."

Zephyra gasped happily, pressing her wet cheek against his shoulder.

"I know how to cook scrambled eggs now! You and Taula taught me! I am basically a master chef!"

Taula smirked, splashing a tiny bit of water with her foot.

"I can fight and watch your back better than anyone here~ Also I’m the best cook~"

Mirela blew a long stream of bubbles from the corner of the pool, her goat ears twitching rapidly.

"It’s my turn," Klaus said, eager to take the spotlight off himself. He looked over at the shy girl hiding in the corner. "Mirela. Do you like the new staff I bought for you?"

Mirela popped out of the water, taking a huge gasp of air.

Her eyes were wide and shining with pure gratitude. "I love it, Master! It is the most beautiful thing I have ever owned.. The mana conductivity is so smooth, and it makes my spells feel so much stronger. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

She quickly ducked back under the water to hide her burning red face, leaving only her ears sticking out.

Serra laughed softly at the display. "She spent an entire hour polishing the crystal last night before we cooked... It was very sweet."

The game continued for another twenty minutes.

The questions bounced around the circle, mostly focusing on their pasts, their favorite foods, and their goals for the future.

Klaus learned that Taula wanted to eventually open her own training dojo, Serra wanted to publish her own journal and Mirela just wanted to stay with them forever.

It was a nice natural bonding experience but as the time passed, the temperature of the water seemed to rise.

The steam grew thicker clinging to their skin and filling their lungs with hot humid air.

Klaus felt the sweat beading on his forehead. He reached up, wiping the moisture away with the back of his wet hand.

The heat was getting intense, and the constant piercing stares from Taula across the pool weren’t helping him cool down.

"Round two," Taula announced.

She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees beneath the surface.

The water lapped gently at the top edge of her white towel, threatening to reveal more than it covered.

"Klaus," Taula asked with her green eyes locking onto his dark ones. "Have you ever been with a woman?"

The entire private spring went dead silent as the sound of the trickling bamboo spout suddenly seemed incredibly loud.

Serra’s blue eyes widened in shock, her hands freezing in the water. Zephyra stopped humming her happy little tune with her grip on Klaus’s arm tightening significantly and Mirela’s ears stood straight up, picking up every single detail.

Klaus looked at Taula.

"No," Klaus said simply.

Well... he had been with his Ex in the past but this was a new life so it didn’t count right? Besides if he spoke Yes, he might as well be dead.

Taula’s grin widened revealing a flash of white teeth.

"Interesting."

Zephyra swallowed hard pressing herself closer to his side. "That is perfectly fine, Hubby. I haven’t either so we can learn together."

The game went on but it was quite different... Klaus splashed a handful of water onto his face, trying to cool his flushed cheeks.

Taula watched his movements closely.

She paddled a bit closer to the center of the pool, cutting the distance between them in half.

"You look flushed, Klaus," Taula said, tilting her head to the side. "Is the water too hot for you? You can get out and stand in the cold air if you want."

"It’s fine," Klaus replied, resting his arms on the submerged rocks. "I can handle the heat."

Taula paddled a few inches closer.

She reached out, her hand breaking the surface of the water, and splashed a small wave directly into his chest.

The water splattered against his collarbone.

"Or maybe you’re just nervous," Taula teased, her voice filled with bold, playful mockery. "You’ve been hiding under the water since we got in, crouching down on that bench like a frightened rabbit. Don’t tell me..."

She paused for dramatic effect, a wicked smirk crossing her lips.

"Are you worried we’ll see that you’re small down there?"

Zephyra let out a loud, genuine gasp of shock at the sheer audacity of the insult. And Klaus froze.

He looked at Taula’s teasing confident face. He saw the challenge in her green eyes.

’What the hell is she on?’

He could tolerate several insults thrown at him but talking about his weiner? His cucumber like that...? It was impossible to tolerate it.

Klaus stood up and he rose from the submerged stone bench in a single fluid motion.

The hot mineral water cascaded down his chest, streaming over the toned muscles of his stomach and thighs.

As he stood straight up in the shallow end of the pool, the sudden movement loosened the knot of the white towel secured around his waist.

He didn’t reach down to catch it nor did he try to cover himself.

The wet fabric slipped effortlessly off his hips, falling into the pool and floating away on the surface of the steamy water.

He was fully exposed to the crisp night air and due to the intense physical proximity of the girls, he was currently sporting a full, incredibly impressive erection.

The reactions around the pool were instantaneous.

Taula’s teasing grin vanished the exact second the towel dropped.

Her jaw literally fell open, parting in stunned silence. Her green eyes immediately darted downward, tracing the lines of his body and locking onto his lower half.

’Uhh... Like back then... He’s still really big.’

She stopped breathing entirely. All of her bravado, all of her competitive mockery evaporated into the steam.

She sat frozen in the water, staring at him with wide, thoroughly impressed awe.

Zephyra, who was still sitting exactly where his right arm used to be, stared upward with wide purple eyes.

She pressed both hands against her burning red cheeks and let out a breathless high-pitched squeak but despite her shock, the disguised royal didn’t look away for a single second drinking in the sight with open fascination.

Serra gasped loudly. The kind, composed healer turned her head away instinctively, her modesty kicking in.

She faced the bamboo wall with her face burning so hot it rivaled the temperature of the spring.

’Goddess... Please forgive me...’

Yet, despite her best efforts, she slowly parted her fingers, stealing a very obvious peek from the corner of her eye, her breathing growing shallow.

Over in the corner, Mirela broke the surface of the water with a loud splash.

She immediately threw her hands over her face, shaking her head but her fingers were spread wide open, giving her a perfect, unobstructed view.

Klaus stood there for a few long seconds, letting the reality of the situation sink into their minds.

The cool night breeze brushed against his wet skin, but he didn’t shiver.

He looked down at Taula, whose mouth was still hanging open in silent shock.

"Any other jokes?" Klaus asked calmly.

Taula swallowed hard, her throat bobbing visibly. She slowly shook her head left and right with her eyes still glued to his waist. "N-no. No jokes."

"Good," Klaus said.

He reached down, grabbed his floating white towel from the surface of the water, and calmly wrapped it back around his waist, securing the knot tight.

He sat back down on the submerged stone bench, resting his arms on the rocks behind him.

After another thirty minutes of soaking in the springs, they decided to call it a night.

"This was really relaxing." Klaus said as he got out of the water first.

He walked into the male changing room, dried off with a fresh towel, and put his clothes back on and then he waited in the lantern-lit hallway of the bathhouse leaning against the wooden wall.

A while later, the sliding doors opened, and the girls emerged.

They were all wearing their regular clothes again with their hair damp from the steam.

They were incredibly quiet with their faces still flushed a deep shade of pink.

"Did you enjoy the water?" the older attendant asked politely as they walked through the lobby.

"Yes," Serra managed to say, offering a strained polite smile. "It was very... relaxing. Thank you."

They left the Galen Hot Springs and began the walk back to the Forest-Edge Compound.

The streets of the commercial district were mostly empty at this hour, illuminated only by the glow of the streetlamps and the bright moon overhead.

The cool night air felt amazing against Klaus’s skin, washing away the lingering heat of the spring.

’Well this is awkward...’ He thought and then someone tugged on his shirt and he turned to face Taula.

"So Klaus... do you want to have sex?"