“There’s no such rule; it’s just that people without magic usually don’t come here, so she was merely curious.”
Sharlene explained casually. Seeing that she wasn’t feigning anything, Lena whispered, “Alright then. I don’t want to cause you any trouble.”
“Pfft—”
Hearing this, Sharlene burst into laughter, shaking with mirth.
“Please, you’re just a flower shop owner. What kind of trouble could you possibly cause me? Even Vidona’s governor wouldn’t dare raise their voice in my presence, you know.”
The Hero Guild was an organization independent of the city, not under the empire’s jurisdiction. Thus, her standing within the guild was equivalent to Vidona’s governor.
Though she was usually approachable, if she truly lost her temper, even the governor would tremble in fear.
One needed to cleanse themselves before entering the hot springs, so Sharlene led them to the shop’s shower rooms.
The shower rooms were individually partitioned. After undressing, Lena turned on the shower.
Warm water surged from the showerhead, drenching her cheeks and long hair. The weariness in her body gradually dissolved under the soothing flow.
After a thorough wash and drying herself, she wrapped a bath towel around her and walked towards the back of the shower room.
Beyond the shower rooms lay the open-air hot springs. Green plants adorned the walls surrounding them, interspersed with beautiful red blossoms.
A faint white mist rose from the spring water. Several red petals floated on the surface, slowly drifting towards the edge where a maiden was submerged up to her waist.
The maiden gently blew, and the petals drifted away with the ripples on the water’s surface.
At that moment, she was the only one in the open-air hot spring.
“Celia.”
“Lena.”
The maiden glanced back. Upon seeing the newcomer, she tightened the yukata wrapped around her body, her cheeks flushing a light red—whether from shyness or the steam, she couldn’t tell.
Lena lightly touched the water with her toes, then slowly settled into the hot spring.
Enveloped by the warm spring water, she closed her eyes, indulging for a moment, before moving closer to Celia.
The moment she approached, the maiden recoiled like a startled rabbit, silently moving a little further away.
Though Lena knew this was merely a gesture born of shyness, she still felt a pang of sadness.
“I heard you trained all day at the guild today. Are you tired?” she asked.
“Not tired, exactly, it’s just…”
Celia seemed to recall something, submerging her entire body except for her head, as if she didn’t want to be seen.
“Just what?”
After a moment of silence, Celia glanced at Lena before finally speaking, “It’s just that I only found out today, my instructor is actually my idol!”
“But in front of her, I acted so immature, just like a child. If I had known she was my idol, I would have said less…”
She gazed melancholically at the water’s surface, deeply dissatisfied with her performance before Senior Silverbloom.
As a noble young lady, she had received an education earlier than many others, and her demands on herself were consequently higher.
Maturity was a necessity. Had she not harbored such an extraordinary desire to become a hero, she would now be like any other ordinary noble lady, continuing her studies of aristocratic etiquette and knowledge within her family.
Yet, the truth proved she was not mature at all.
It was utterly mortifying.
Seeing her immersed in sorrow, Lena silently moved closer.
“It’s alright, Celia. You’re already very mature. When I was your age, I was still a very rash little girl.”
She offered comfort, “Besides, perhaps your instructor prefers you just the way you are.”
Compared to a mature Celia, she genuinely preferred the Celia of now.
“Why? Don’t elders always prefer sensible children?”
“Do you think you’re not sensible, Celia?”
Lena’s counter-question plunged Celia into silence.
“To be both intelligent and sensible, yet still retain a childlike innocence—wouldn’t anyone find that endearing?”
“Your instructor might have wanted to fiercely embrace you the moment she first saw you,” Lena said, speaking nothing but the truth.
While Celia was lost in thought, Lena slowly extended an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
The maiden’s body felt incredibly soft; holding her was like embracing a plush pillow, exceptionally comforting.
Lowering her head, Lena could smell the faint, elegant fragrance emanating from Celia and saw the butterfly birthmark imprinted on her neck beneath her high-piled hair.
Unbeknownst to her, over a decade had passed. Her daughter was now an adult, with her own worries and concerns.
While feeling a sense of relief, she also felt a deeper pang of guilt.
Celia quietly tilted her head, leaning against Lena’s shoulder, her earlier shyness having vanished without a trace.
“Really?”
“Of course, it’s true. After all, you’re so adorable.”
“Huh? It’s maturity!”
“Yes, yes, yes, maturity.”
Receiving such an indulgent reply, Celia’s lips curved into a smile, while Lena also tilted her head, pressing close against her.
Red petals had drifted to their side unnoticed. The maiden raised a hand, cradling them in her palm, examining them with curious attention.
After a long moment, she lowered her hand, allowing the petals to float once more upon the water’s surface.
Leaning into Lena’s embrace, she rubbed her cheek against Lena’s ample chest like a kitten, murmuring softly, “Sister Lena, it’s so comfortable being with you.”
Humming softly with her eyes closed, she suddenly furrowed her brow and clenched a fist. “Unlike my idol, she actually bullied me today! Once I get stronger, I’ll bully her back!”
She used to think both the landlady and Senior Silverbloom were gentle women. Now, however, Senior Silverbloom had earned the mark of a ‘little devil’ in her heart.
Senior Silverbloom’s gentleness wasn’t as pure as the landlady’s.
Yet Lena remained silent, her memories stirred awake by Celia’s words.
‘It’s so comfortable being with her?’
‘It seemed someone had said the same thing in the distant past.’
****
“Hahaha, Silverbloom, did you see that receptionist? When she realized it was you, she was so startled she couldn’t even speak clearly.”
The short-haired girl with red hair, clad in a yukata, elegantly curled her pinky finger and let out a bell-like laugh in the hot spring.
“It’s not nice to laugh at others behind their backs, Chiling.”
Beside the girl, Silverbloom had her eyes closed, savoring the comfort of the hot spring.
“Oh, come on, that’s not mocking! I’m just marveling at your fame, Silverbloom. You know, this place only caters to heroes of Rank Five and above. Those receptionists have seen all sorts of important figures, yet they were still intimidated by your reputation.”
Chiling offered her explanation, then gripped Silverbloom’s shoulders with both hands, earnestly urging, “Admit it, Silverbloom, you are currently the most renowned hero among humanity.”
Silverbloom batted her hands away, shaking her head as she replied, “Boring.”
“I’m praising you, you know! You’re breaking my heart.”
Silverbloom’s retort made Chiling bristle. Disregarding whether her yukata might slip, she instantly pulled Silverbloom into a tight embrace, her voluminous chest pressing against Silverbloom’s face, nearly suffocating her.
“Unless I hug you for ten minutes, my heartbroken spirit won’t heal!”