Elem reclined into the pool until he was almost fully submerged, allowing the steaming water to properly treat all of his aching muscles. He had heard of the healing properties attributed to bathhouses before, but he didn’t expect the sulfuric water to be so effective.
“Not too bad,” he murmured to himself. “Not bad at all.”
Maybe one day he could make baths like this part of his regular schedule, he thought with a silent chuckle. But only after winning the Duel Tower Tournament of course!
Elem tried to relax for a while, supposedly strengthening his cardiovascular system by regularly switching between the hot and cold pools. However, no matter how soothing the sulfuric water was to his body, he found it hard to fully unwind. He knew that recovery was an important element of progress and yet he couldn’t help but feel guilty for every second he wasn’t actively working towards his goal of becoming a master Summoner.
While it had been months since his father’s death, the pain of losing the person he’d loved most hadn’t subsided in the slightest. He had sworn not to rest before avenging Ardan’s death and here he was lounging in a luxury spa resort. The more he thought about it, the worse he felt about it.
Elem clenched his lower lip between his teeth. Was he growing soft? Was he straying from his purpose? He stood up and got out of the hot pool. He was feeling too restless to sit around and do nothing.
If he could at least use his time at the resort for something useful, then he would have no reason to feel this way. But what if he’d just practiced some cultivation cycles? He wondered. That was something he could do anywhere.
Elem walked past the assortment of occupied pools and stepped outside, hoping to find a quiet spot for himself.
He was in luck; it had just begun to drizzle and most of the other guests had elected to move inside. In fact, he could only see one other person sitting all the way on the other side of the outdoor area.
The part of the resort was shaped like a traditional meditation garden. Although painfully reminding Elem of the grounds of the Sekuheim School, he couldn’t deny how beautiful the area was. Carefully arranged rocks and patches of moss dotted a sea of freshly raked black sand as a few elegant trees towered above it all. It was perfect.
In its center were two large pools. The one closer to the resort was a hot, thermal bath. It had a natural appearance, blending in perfectly with the garden and even featured a small waterfall. The other pool was more bland and simply contained a basin of cold water for guests to cool off after soaking in the hot springs. Beside this pool sat a woman wearing a linen tunic. She seemed deeply entranced in a meditative state, unbothered by the poor weather.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Elem decided to not bother the woman and limit himself to the thermal pool. He plunged in and immediately waddled towards the waterfall. When he was younger, Elem had heard plenty of folktales of legendary Summoners cultivating while a mighty waterfall crashed down on their backs, now he had the chance to do the same thing. He took a quick gulp of air before stepping under the tumbling water.
The heat was distracting and at times even unbearable, making him work harder to hold his concentration. However, while entranced, Elem could sense an abundance of Essence flowing through the mineral rich water.
His body tightened with nearly every breath, strengthening until the water’s temperature no longer bothered him. He felt more present, more aware; as if his entire being had elevated to a different level. Elem also felt his Kappa’s presence to a heightened degree and noticed how his water Summon was enjoying its own element through him.
As Elem’s meditative state deepened even further, he slowly felt his perception morph. The world around him grew vague and nondescript while the Essence within his body softly blended with that in the external world, much like a block of sugar dissolving in a river. Not long after that, Elem even felt his own self- his very being- flow along with it all. Essence was everywhere and everything was Essence.
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It was hours later when a sudden splash and a firm hand grabbing his shoulder, pulled him out of his meditative trance.
When he opened his eyes, he was shocked to see his friend stand before him. Aja looked as if she had just seen a ghost. Her eyes were wide, her hair messy and her body had been hastily wrapped in a towel.
“Elem. Elem,” she told him. “You gotta wake up now!”
“What is it?” Elem asked groggily.
He needed a second to gather himself and fully return to the physical plane but Aja was in no mood to wait. She took Elem by the arm and pulled him away from the waterfall.
“We gotta go now!”
“How did you even get here?” Elem asked, still utterly confused by friend’s sudden appearance. “This is the men’s section. You’re not even allowed here.”
“I just climbed over the wall. But that doesn’t matter right now,” she replied hastily. “Just come with me, we need to get the hell out of here.”
“Fine,” Elem grumbled and moved to follow Aja back to the resort’s main building. He had never seen her so distraught before. This had to be serious. “Are you at least going to tell me what’s going on?”
He had barely finished his sentence before another woman and what looked like a white-furred Summon leaped over the wall, cutting off their path.
“Shit, shit, shit!” Aja exclaimed frantically.
“Ah there you are my dearest,” the woman said delicately. “You were not easy to find.”
The stranger wore a formal, immaculate suit complete with a vest and a black tie. She wore white gloves and her gray hair was done in a simple but professional bun. Elem recognized the creature besides her as a Kitsune, a powerful fire Summon resembling a massive nine-tailed fox.
“It is time to come with me, Aja dear,” the woman continued. “Your father has asked me to bring you home.”