Just ONE more spin

The ship’s descent into the next world was almost anticlimactic after the crystalline labyrinth. Instead of sterile silence or looming guardians, the viewport filled with rolling hills of jade stone, steaming vents, and pools of turquoise water that shimmered under a soft lavender sky. The air was thick with mist, carrying the faint scent of minerals and something sweet, almost floral.

Atlas leaned forward in his chair, eyes wide. “Are those… hot springs?”

NV arched an eyebrow. “Looks like it. Finally, a planet that doesn’t want to kill us.”

Tanuki blinked at the sight, still carrying the weight of the crystal planet in his chest. “So… what’s the quest here?”

Atlas grinned. “Who cares? I’m calling this one a side mission.”

They landed near a cluster of steaming pools surrounded by smooth stone terraces. The moment they stepped out, the heat wrapped around them like a blanket. Atlas wasted no time. He stripped off his armor and cannonballed into the nearest spring, sending up a geyser of water that splashed across the rocks.

NV sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You’re insufferable.”

Atlas surfaced, hair plastered to his face, grinning like a fool. “Insufferably relaxed.”

Tanuki hesitated at the edge of the pool, still in his cloak. The steam curled around him, and for once, there was no danger, no shards, no memories pressing in. Just warmth. Slowly, he slipped into the water, the heat seeping into his muscles. He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

NV eventually joined them, though she chose a smaller pool off to the side. She leaned back against the rocks, her gauntlet set carefully on the edge, eyes half‑closed. “If you tell anyone I enjoyed this, I’ll deny it.”

Atlas splashed water in her direction. “Noted. But I’m still telling everyone.”

The springs seemed to have a mischievous spirit of their own. Bubbles rose unexpectedly beneath them, sending Atlas yelping as if something had grabbed his leg. Tanuki laughed an unguarded, genuine laugh that startled even him. NV smirked, watching Atlas flail. “Maybe the planet doesn’t want to kill us. Just humiliate you.”

Later, as the mist thickened and the sky shifted to twilight, they found themselves lounging on the rocks, towels draped over their shoulders. Atlas was already snoring, sprawled out like a giant boulder. NV sat cross‑legged, sipping from a cup of mineral tea a local vendor had pressed into her hands. Tanuki stared into the steam rising from his own cup, the warmth settling deep into his bones.

For the first time in what felt like forever, there was no storm, no shards, no weight pressing down. Just the three of them, sharing silence that wasn’t heavy, but easy.

NV glanced at him, her voice softer than usual. “You laughed today.”

Tanuki blinked, caught off guard. “I… guess I did.”

She gave a small nod, then looked back at the steam. “Good. Don’t forget how.”

The springs bubbled quietly around them, the mist curling upward into the lavender sky. For one night, at least, they let themselves rest.

The hot springs planet had more to offer than just steaming pools and mineral tea. As the mist cleared along one of the terraces, they discovered a sprawling resort built into the hillside. Lanterns glowed warmly, music drifted through the air, and the sound of laughter and clinking glasses carried from within. A carved sign above the entrance read simply: The Springside Casino.

Atlas’s eyes widened as he turned to NV, ”Oh no.”

NV’s reaction was sharper, almost electric. Her usual cool composure cracked into something fierce, her eyes narrowing with focus. “A casino. Look. CASINOOO!” She said the word like it was sacred. “Gamba, my beloved.” she said as she strolled in.

Inside, the casino was alive with color and sound. Crystal chandeliers reflected across polished stone floors, and tables buzzed with players tossing dice, flipping cards, and shouting at spinning wheels. NV moved through it like a predator, her gauntlet glowing faintly as though it too was eager for the games. Atlas followed, grinning. “This is going to go one of two ways. Let’s just observe this creature in her natural habitat.”

They eventually found themselves at a corner of the casino where a crowd had gathered. A miniature racetrack wound across the floor, complete with tiny jumps, glowing checkpoints, and cheering holographic fans. On the track, remote‑controlled cars revved their engines, their neon paint jobs gleaming under the lights.

Atlas burst out laughing. “RC cars? This is what people are betting on?”

NV’s eyes narrowed, her expression dead serious. “This is it. This is the purest form of competition. Humanity has peaked.”

Before Tanuki could protest, NV was at the betting counter, slamming down chips with the intensity of a general planning a war. “Put it all on number seven. The green one. Look at its handling. Look at its cornering. That’s a champion.”

Tanuki rubbed his temples. “They’re toys.”

NV ignored him, her eyes locked on the track. The race began, the tiny cars zipping forward with surprising speed. NV leaned forward, shouting like a seasoned gambler at a horse track. “Come on, seven! Take the inside line! Don’t you dare let that red piece of junk cut you off!”

Atlas was facepalming in utter disbelief. “She’s actually coaching it. Like it can hear her.”

Tanuki couldn’t help but smirk despite himself. NV was on her feet now, fists clenched, barking orders at the tiny car as though her will alone could steer it. “Yes! Yes! That’s it! Overtake on the straightaway! You’re a legend, seven!”

The green car wobbled, clipped a corner, and flipped spectacularly into the crowd. The audience erupted in laughter and groans. NV froze, her face unreadable. Then she sat back down slowly, her voice flat. “That was sabotage.”

Atlas nearly fell out of his chair laughing. “You just lost a week’s worth of credits on a toy car.”

NV’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “It wasn’t a loss. It was reconnaissance. Next round, I’ll know their tricks.”

Tanuki shook his head, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward. For the first time in days, the weight of shards and storms felt far away. Here, in the absurdity of hot springs and RC car races, they were just three people laughing, bickering, and living.

After about an hour, after NV has jumped from game to game, enduring loss after loss, and she was down to barely enough atomints to afford a plate of holographic meat loaf. With tears in her eyes as she was being dragged out by Tanuki and Atlas, each grabbing her by one of her legs and pulling, which took a surprising amount of force as she was digging into the ground with her unretracted claws, she was dragged away shouting “JUST ONE MORE SPIN,” in utter desperation until she was no longer audible to anyone within the casino.