Hot Spring Session - Exclusive

“This better be worth it…” Celica grumbled, her blue fingers gliding over the paper in her hand as she looked up at the gates to her destination.

The village of Steamount, a small and quiet town nestled on the Horizon Ridge, just barely north from the border of Shorelan. Fine wooden homes decorated the rocky surface, the road winding up among them and towards the bathhouse that marked the end of the town. Celica’s gaze fixed on the steam rolling from behind that house, her long pointed tip tail flicking slowly back and forth as she studied the locale.

She had traveled from the north to get here, leaving the city of Ivorshore just to scale the mountain and arrive here. If the other clerics were correct, the waters of the spring had remarkable healing capabilities. Though, most noted that it was more for physical recovery rather than the special case that Celica had. However, given the toll that the hike here had taken, her tired body could certainly use the added relaxation.

Celica stepped forward, moving as briskly as her body would allow for down the streets, her sandals shifting steadily across the gravel roads. She could already feel the glances from the villagers here, each step being met with lingering looks and quiet muttering. It wasn’t uncommon for her and yet it always annoyed her to no end. “Mmhh…” Celica growled quietly, ears flicking as wind and gossip swept through the town.

Why can’t people keep to themselves instead of being pests about oddities…?

The bathhouse itself was massive in scale, the true highlight of the town that easily dwarfed every other building there. The structure was at least two floors, maybe more if the rooms weren’t spacious, with water wheels on the left side that fed into the stream rolling down the mountain side. A bridge was built over it, a narrow wooden one that gave enough personal space that only thinner folk could easily squeeze past one another. Finally, a sign was built above the entrance. Fine red wood, clearly well maintained to ensure all could read it, with a beige backing behind it from pine wood. The Steamount Hot Springs.

Celica took a deep breath, sighing softly as she looked towards the doorway and stepped inside. The interior was fairly cozy, with warm lighting and ambience from the heat of the springs. It gave a feeling akin to warming oneself up with a hot drink during a cold winter day. Celica felt a shiver run down her spine, the cool wind was picking up as she stepped in and moved towards the desk. 

“Welcome to the Springs. How may I- O-Oh, by the gods…” The reception paused, eyeing up the blue daemon before him. Celica raised an eyebrow but her eyes remained narrow just as a poker face should be. She stared blankly at the man before her. 

“Why are you shocked to see another halfblood?...” Celica asked bluntly. 

The man was also half-infernal. His skin a lavender hue with dark violet hair that was long and curly but pulled back into a workable bun, his own tail was thicker and shorter than Celica’s yet with a thinner point at the end. He was wearing the uniform of the bathhouse employees, thin and baggy clothes to keep the body from sweating up a storm. Though he seemed to be wearing an extra layer or two given his bloodline. 

“Y-You’ll have to excuse me.” He laughed nervously, “I-It’s just that the last one I ran into was… uh… very similar to you.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Y-Yup. M-My name is Lui, what can I… get started- I mean- do for you? Are you here for just a dip or will you be staying at the inn?”

Celica clicked her tongue quietly, taking a moment to try and jog her memory on what she was told. It would be a waste to take the time to get here and just leave after thirty minutes. She might as well stick around and get as much healing as she could. “Charmed. I’ll be staying at the inn for the night.”

“Great. That comes with a pass to enjoy the hot springs as you wish, for only one platinum piece.”

Celica dug into her coin pouch, the sound metal rattling around as her hand fished out ten gold pieces. She gently placed them on the table, counting each one off to make sure she had enough before Lui pulled them in and continued. “Right then, what would you like the room name under?”

“Celica.”

“Celica-?”

“Keres.”

Lui froze at the name, his blood running cold as the tip of the quill in his hand came to a dead stop just above the paper. “I-I’m sorry, c-could you repeat that?”

“Keres. K. E. R. E. S.”

“A-As in… Castile Keres?!”

Celica blinked. She’d never heard that name before. Though, perhaps it wasn’t exactly a rare name or maybe she had some family around these parts. Given what she knew from Lui, however, she might have figured out exactly who the relation was. The other Keres here, Lui clearly knew of this individual, but were they… bad? 

“I’m not familiar.” Celica bluntly answered, Lui letting out a staggered sigh of relief.

“Oh, I just- I figured you may have known him.”

Celica cocked an eyebrow, glaring intently at the lavender demonkin, “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I mean no harm by it! I’ve just… never met a hellspawn with the same set of horns he has. Figured they were unique.”

Celica never really considered that part of her genealogy before. Sure, she’s met a handful of fellow hellspawn before but it never crossed her mind that their horns were a part of the genes. Whoever this Castile was, perhaps it was worth looking further into. She never really knew her parents…

“Regardless, Ms. Keres, here are your room keys. Would you like the special spa treatment as well when you visit the hot spring?”

“Will it cost me extra?”

“Only if you wish for it to last longer than the first hour. Then it’s an additional gold for every extra hour you wish to spend there. Though if it helps, it is a private pool.”

Celica thought about it, the additional boon of getting a room here did mean she could truly relax. Not to mention, if it was private and complimentary, why shouldn’t she take it. “I… suppose.”

“Excellent, I shall see you there then.”

“I’m… sorry?” Celica asked, her hand gently toying with the key but her glare resting firmly on Lui’s joyful expression.

“Well, I’m actually one of the scheduled masseuses today! I’m only here to cover for another staff member while they’re on break.”

“Are you some kind of pervert?...”

Lui let out a soft but amused chuckle. “Oh gods, no! You need not worry, Ms. Keres, I don’t swing that way.”

Celica studied the man for a while, the smile on his face not faltering even as she stared daggers into his very being. It lasted a while before she was satisfied and finally her gaze pulled away. “Very well, my apologies. I… guess I’ll see you there.”

The devilkin slowly climbed up the stairs, the wood creaking under sandals as she gradually ascended each step, soon rounding the corner and starting off down the balcony towards the hallway. She counted each room, soon stopping and unlocking the door to her suite. It was nothing too fancy, a comfortable one bedroom place for her rest at. There was a desk near the window in the corner, the curtains drawn open to reveal a stunning view down the mountainside and a set of towels already prepared for her.

It wouldn’t take her long to grab a towel, strip down, ditch her sandals for slippers and don a bathrobe. She took a moment to enjoy the cosiness of her new footwear and robe, the fatigue of her journey settling. Soon, she arose, locked the door to her room and set out towards the private pools. It felt weird being so exposed like this but given that everyone here was coming for the same thing it probably wasn’t that big of a deal. At least she wasn’t walking around fully nude in the open.

She moved past the large entrance to the main pools, the changing rooms, and down towards the more secluded section. Each moment she felt more lost, usually she was met with a sign to point her in the right direction. But eventually she found herself within a smaller lobby area. The checkpoint was rather quiet, only two customers within the space, gradually getting guided down the hall until her turn came.

In the end, it was a fairly brisk and easy process, with the hellspawn being guided further down until she was brought to the far end pool. “Feel free to strip down to whatever you feel comfortable.” The attendant said, bowing, before shuffling back down the hall.

Celica pushed past the cloth, stepping out into the frigid weather that was surprisingly… comfortable. The mist rolled off of the hot spring like fog over the fields, the gentle sound of water trickling down from a shoot of some kind, all while snow slowly drifted down from the heavens. It was such an odd sensation, standing out in what should be arctic temperatures and being totally soothed.

Celica slowly disrobed, discarding her slippers, before allowing herself to gently lower down into the warm waters. “Ahh…” Celica sighed in contentment, a slight smile breaking across her usually stoic face.

It really was true. The waters here truly did have a healing factor to them. Her back began to feel utterly relaxed, her shoulders soothed like never before and legs feeling as fresh as a scholar’s would be. 

But the most striking of all was that for once, her feet felt… normal. Not sore, not demanding the eager lashings of tongues. Perhaps this was the way to remove her curse? To simply rest and enjoy these waters for as long as she could… Yet again, maybe it was only temporary. Either way, the added sensitivity was gone and only the softness remained.

Though, the tranquil silence would only last so long as a familiar face entered the area. “Good to see you again, Ms. Keres!” The lavender skinned demonkin chimed, waving as he stepped in, which only made Celica instinctually move to cover her body.

Lui noticed quickly, letting out a soft chuckle, “Ah, don’t worry. I only work at the back. And again, you have no worries with me.” He hummed, cracking his knuckles as he moved in front of her.

“Right…” Celica huffed, lowering her arms reluctantly.

“Where shall I get started then, hm? Back, shoulders?” Lui asked, slipping off his sandals to dip his feet into the toasty waters.

“Mmhh…” Celica hummed, slightly annoyed she had to deal with him so soon but her body moved on its own and acted before she could say anything.

“Oh, I’m sure your feet must be exhausted from the trip here. I’ll be happy to soothe them.” Lui’s hands moved, gently gripping her silky skin, only to be surprised by the texture.

Celica, however, jumped at the touch and tried to keep her gaze averted. This curse of hers, no matter how much she tried to escape or evade it, always found a way to prevent her from removing it. The universe just seemed to get a sick sense of satisfaction by providing unique attention to her soles. 

“Ms. Keres, I must say, you have the softest feet I’ve ever felt.” Lui began, pressing a thumb into the smooth skin.

Celica’s tail began to slowly wag, enjoying the attention as he rubbed in a gentle circle, completely enamored by her texture. “What lotion do you use?” Lui asked.

“It’s… a secret.” Celica grumbled.

Even when she was trying to just enjoy herself, the universe seemed eager to toy with her. How was she to cope with this? Perhaps, just maybe, this Castile would hold some answers. He would be someone to look into. 

But that would be later, for now there was just the stunning surroundings, gentle atmosphere and a gleeful masseuse clueless as to the effect he was having on her silken soles.