The Dungeon’s Hot Spring

Luckily so, it is Beluacor’s day off. It doesn’t take him long before agreeing to bring us down to a particular spot of the dungeon, located beyond the first levels.

    With the Mimic King as a means of transport – to Timoria’s despair – we head to a secluded spot, far enough to keep most of the Knockers from strolling there.

“That is the perfect spot for our lunch!” I declare proudly as we set foot in a large enough cave.

    Here, the temperature is warmer than in any other place of the dungeon. As a cause of that pleasant condition, the warm air emitted by the body of water stretching between the rocks. Of a splendid azure. A faint glow from the crystals hanging from the ceiling ensures enough light.

    I glance at the inviting water with longing.

“Ahhh!! A hot spring!”

“It’s been long since I came here.” Beluacor notes. “I’m surprised you knew about this place.”

“Stars Crosser’s wisdom.” I conveniently let out.

    Standing by my side, Timoria watches in awe at the water.

“Is it really safe to bathe there? We’re rather far from Toll Dubh.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay!” I reassure her with a pat, her cow ears twitching at the contact. “We’re only at the intermediate levels. We’re pretty able to defend ourselves. If anything, we’ll just get enough to make an opulent meal.”

“Ehhh??”

    Sweat pearls form on her forehead.

“Ahaha, joking, joking.” I smile innocently. “I’ve already brought enough with us for that.”

    Standing a few steps away, Tyffeon eyes me suspiciously.

    Feeling his gaze, I turn my head to him.

“Come and sit down. In no time, you’ll beg for more!”

“Haah?!” He replies, pretty annoyed.

    Settling not far away from the water, we take our time to appreciate our meal together. Beluacor shows much interest as I unwrap the boxes containing what I prepared before we left the cottage.

    Small bites of rice topped with raw fish. Vegetables, cheese, more fish….. all wrapped up in rice. Thanks god Toll Dubh is convenient when you search for anything related to food. I even found an edible component which resembles nori seaweed.

“These are sushis! It was my comfort food back in my world.”

“That seems tasty, though… Why… did you give us these hairpins?”

    I glance at Beluacor as he doubtfully takes hold of the chopsticks.

“I’ll show you how to use them, dear father-in-law.”

“And you let her call you like this.” Tyffeon sternly scolds Beluacor.

    Everyone tastes the sushis with more or less easiness. The verdict is unanimous.

“It’s delicious!”

“That’s… surprisingly edible.”

“Make sure to share the recipe with me.”

    The meal unfolds peacefully, if not for Beluacor’s frustration each time the sushis escape the amateurish hold of his chopsticks. Even if I try my best to show him the correct way to do so, the moisture in his silver eyes convinces me that this may be a bit too early for him. I end up freeing him from further torture, and encourage him to eat in a more convenient way for him.

    Once the meal is over and our bellies pleased, I glance at Timoria and we exchange nods.

    Standing up, we undress to reveal the stunning swimwear we’re wearing beneath the fabrics usually covering our skin.

“Does this look good on me?” Timoria wonders, a yellow two piece suit covering, well, the necessary. I personally advised her on this one, the lace frills looking especially cute on her.

“Gorgeous.” I nod appreciatively before turning to Tyffeon with a proud look. “Say, say! Aren’t we pretty?”

    As for me, I chose a white and lilac striped two piece suit, delicate ribbons hanging from the sides.

“When did you even get the time to find these?” He frowns, outraged.

“Is this the first thing crossing your mind?” I frown back, hands on hips. “I strolled through Toll Dubh with Timoria when you were occupied visiting your acquaintance.”

    Unconcerned by our sweet debate, Beluacor gets himself ready in turn, before taking a few steps in the water.

“Warm.” He notes with a pleased expression.

    After finally obtaining from Tyffeon that he remove some unnecessary clothes, we can all plunge into the azure water. Like Beluacor noted, it’s warm. Soothingly warm.

    Leant against the minerals, the Knocker chills, eyes closed.

“Gotta say…” I begin, glancing at Timoria. “Nature appreciates you quite much.”

“Huhh?”

    Sneaking behind her, I place my hands over her chest with a smug smile.

“You can’t deny this fact now, can you?” I tease, pressing my fingers against her swimwear.

“Heeew!! Amako s-stop this!”

    Glancing at us, Tyffeon rapidly averts his gaze, his hand covering his mouth.

    Perched on a large leaf floating over the still water, Awa drowses. Enjoying in her very own way the hot spring.

“Won’t you unfrown a bit, humm?” I’ve approached Tyffeon.

    Despite all of my attempts to distract him, he’s still too serious. I guess at least he doesn’t seem depressed, of course, but I’d really wish I was able to make him laugh. Not even smile, I’m not that desperate of a dreamer. Just to trigger one of these laughs he funnily fights to hold back, as if it was enough for me not to see them.

“You seem to be quite enjoying yourself.”

“Well, this is actually the aim of our little outing. Why wouldn’t you, too?”

    And with a wink, I playfully splash water at him. Water soon drips from his pastel green hair, but the elf… the elf remains unfazed. He crosses his arms.

“Should I remind you that we are supposed to look for the next emissary? What makes you think that we have the time for such trivialities?”

    Closing my eyes, I flash him an annoyed smile.

“Maybe I just consider that my fair companion’s state of mind matters? You know, wearing your enemies out isn’t a winning strategy for nothing. But since you’re oblivious to that logic, you leave me no choice but to enforce you to envision things in a different way.”

    Before a concerned expression has fully the time to appear over his features, I pounce on him, initiating a tickle assault.

“Don’t! Don’t approach!! Hands off! Hands off, imp!!”

    Biting back a laugh and a blush, he rapidly catches hold of my hands, attempting to keep me at bay.

    A rumble.

    But, at the same moment, a distant ruckus echoes from the galleries. Growing… less and less distant, if you ask me so.

“Humm?”

    Coming to a standstill, Tyffeon and I turn our gazes towards the entrance of the cave.

    The rumble is now pretty close, as if something was smashing every single rock on its way.

“What is this…” Timoria pales while Beluacor just opens an eye.

    A massive figure rolls into the cave, crashing into the wall at the opposite side.

    Fragments of rock shatter all around, reaching the water, rippling its surface.

“Huhh?”

    Extracting itself from the wall... An enormous, spiral shell, akin to an ammonite. Precious stones sparkle here and there, inserted in the shell.

    A monster has just spawned into the cave.

    Slowly, the tentacles until now stretched along the shell to allow it rolling on its side outstretch, and a sort of octopus peers out of the shell.

“A Gemollusc.” Beluacor calmly comments, straightening up. “I’ll handle that.”

    Such situations aren’t as dire as they may seem. Not for someone who lives in a dungeon for centuries now, not for a tamer.

    But I can’t help a glance at the belongings we left aside, the tentacles ominously outstretching near them.

    I feel my heart miss a beat.

    The pendant! I left it along with my clothes to avoid soaking it…

    Before I even think about it, I rush out of the water.

“Amako, wait!” Tyffeon reaches out his hand but I’m already running on the ground, kneeling to take back the precious necklace.

    Deep down, I know that I would have just needed to wait until Beluacor used his benediction but… the monster would have had the time to roll over it and shatter it to pieces before. I couldn’t let this happen.

    Of course, the moment I raise my head back and intend to stand up, the eyes of the monster are on me. Outstretching a tentacle, it aims at my back.

“Amako!”

    Before I am tossed against the wall by a viscous arm, Tyffeon catches me against him and we roll to the ground, dodging the attack.

    Instead of me, the tentacle hits a rock. As it is sent shattering against the ceiling, the crystals hanging there tremble… a tremor spreading through the cave as they begin to fall.

    We have no time to glance at our companions, as the following moment the Gemollusc retracts into its shell.

“Amako, run!”

    And rolls in our direction, forcing us to get to our feet and flee out of the cave.