After another trek up much of a mountainside, Azure stopped before a steaming pool of water about ten feet across. The wind blew wisps of the steam and heat toward the group, clashing against the general chill of the mountain. Azure turned back to Lusya and Ariya and grinned, while Ariya inched closer to examine the pool, frowning.

“Is this what we came out here for?” Ariya asked. “It’s just a pond. Why is it hot and smoking?”

“It appears to be a hot spring,” Lusya said. “That is steam.”

“One guess,” Azure said, smiling. “Full marks.”

“It was not a guess.” It was rather obvious.

Ariya nodded in understanding, and her mouth gaped as if she had just learned all the secrets of the universe. “So, this is a hot spring. I’ve read about them, but this is my first time seeing one.”

“Then you’re in for a treat,” Azure said.

“It is quite well-maintained for how remote it is,” Lusya said.

There was a small stone wall erected around the spring, and virtually nothing foreign in the white hot water. In fact, the trees around it had been cleared to prevent anything from falling in. Considering they were miles from the nearest settlement, it was impressive.

“I hear people from the neighboring villages take turns keeping it this way,” Azure replied. “They like a good soak too.”

“That’s nice of them,” Ariya said, bouncing on her heels. “Can we get in now?”

“You are quite eager,” Lusya said. Not that that was unusual. Ariya did not often balk at trying new things.

Ariya nodded. “Every time I read about a hot spring, it’s about how great they all are.”

“They are rather pleasant,” Lusya said. She might not have appreciated nature much, but a soak in a hot spring could be quite relaxing. While she didn’t stress easily, that did not mean she could not enjoy relaxation.

“And it looks like we have the place to ourselves for now,” Azure said, shrugging off her pack and cloak. “Ariya’s right. Let’s get in while that luck lasts.”

Ariya watched the cloak flutter to the ground, then blushed as she looked up to find Azure unbuttoning her shirt. She turned to Lusya, who as also in the midst of undressing.

“Wait,” Ariya said. “Do we have to get in naked?”

Azure nodded. “Of course. It’s kind of like a bath.”

“But we’re in the woods!”

Ariya’s reaction was curious. At the lake, she had been eager to swim. Even after realizing that necessitated undressing, she had hesitated for only a moment. There were several differences between that and this, but Lusya could not identify which were responsible. It might have been none of them. It could have been a matter of mood and whims.

Azure shrugged. “It’s that or soak your clothes.”

“Which you will not do,” Lusya said. “Even if you do not ruin them, we are not waiting for them to dry.”

Ariya pouted and looked to Azure again. “Azure?”

Azure chuckled. “You’re the kind of girl who asks Dad when Mom says no, huh? So was I. Listen to Lusya.”

“If you do not wish to enter, that is also fine,” Lusya said. “Just stay where I can see you.”

Ariya looked to the pool, then back to Lusya, then the pool again. After another moment’s hesitation, Ariya groaned and joined Lusya and Azure in undressing. Once all three were nude, they entered the spring.

“Hot!” Ariya squealed as she jumped in surprise, though she did not try to get out.

Azure let out a contented sigh, leaning against the side of the pool. “Oh, that’s great. I can practically feel my stress melting away.”

Lusya settled against a side as well. The water’s temperature was quite relaxing, though she refrained from such overt expressions of such. Though a hike up the mountain wasn’t much exertion for Lusya, the small bit of fatigue did somehow enhance the sensation.

“How are you two so relaxed?” Ariya asked. “It’s so hot!”

“Are you in pain?” Lusya asked.

Ariya shook her head. “I wouldn’t say that, but it is kind of uncomfortable.”

“It can be jarring when one first enters. You should adjust in a few minutes, but you are free to get out if you do not.”

Ariya pouted. Unlike Azure or Lusya, she did not relax on the sides. Nor did she take up Lusya’s offer to exit. She stayed rooted to the spot about a foot away, where her initial jump had landed her, standing still and tense as she tried to acclimate to the heat.

“Maybe Ariya’s a little too young to appreciate this,” Azure said. She had her eyes closed now, and had adjusted her position so she could lay her head on the bank.

“I am sure there are many adults who do not enjoy hot springs,” Lusya said. She did not think it was an issue of age.

Azure shrugged. “Their loss.”

Meanwhile, Ariya scowled at Azure. With a huff, Ariya marched to the side of the spring and leaned against it. Despite that, her body did not relax in the slightest. Nevertheless, her expression changed to a triumphant smile as she looked at Azure.

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“See? I’m a big girl,” Ariya said.

Azure opened one eye to look at Ariya and smirked. “So you are. There’s nothing wrong with being a kid, though. Everyone starts as one. Well, except demons. Romoro was five when I met him and six when he got Lusya’s mother pregnant. Imagine how creepy that would sound if you said it about a mortal.”

“I don’t really get it,” Ariya said, frowning.

“You probably won’t for a few years,” Azure replied.

Ariya looked to Lusya. “Lusya’s different though, right?”

“I am a half-demon,” Lusya said. “I was born like a mortal, and I have grown like one thus far.”

Ariya hummed in thought. “Yeah, but I bet you were still super cool and grown up as a kid. More than me.”

Azure giggled. “Lusya was unique, but she was a child, and she was childish.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Azure sat up straight, looked to Lusya, and smirked. “Prepare yourself, Lusya!”

Lusya tilted her head and blinked twice. “For what?”

“In your mother’s stead,” Azure said, pointing as if to issue a challenge, “I will take up the duty of sharing embarrassing stories from your childhood!”

Lusya blinked again. “I do not embarrass easily. Go ahead.”

In fact, she could not remember ever feeling embarrassment. If anything, she was curious to hear what kinds of stories Azure would tell. Between her lack of memory of her childhood and her lack of humiliation, Lusya could not begin to guess.

“Ooh, I want to hear about Lusya as a kid,” Ariya said, bouncing in excitement. “What kind of stories are there?”

“Hm. Well, maybe it’s just the environment reminding me of this one,” Azure said, “but one time, while Lusya’s mother was bathing, Lusya burst into the room in tears and ran to her mother.”

“Lusya cries?” Ariya exclaimed.

“It does not happen often,” Lusya replied.

Ariya nodded and let out a small “ah,” indicating she understood. “So, why was she crying?”

“I was getting to that,” Azure said. “So, Lusya runs up to her mother with tears all over her face, and, of course, her mother asks what’s wrong. Now, keep in mind this is secondhand information, but, if I recall correctly, Lusya’s exact response was, ‘I am a horrible monster who is hated by all.’”

“I was an articulate child,” Lusya said. She did not have much experience with children, but she could not imagine Ariya saying anything like that when they had first met, nor any of the other children she had encountered thus far. Granted, Ariya was more eloquent these days, but that was after months of learning languages from Lusya.

Azure nodded. “Yes, you were.”

Ariya gasped. “So, what did that mean?”

“It meant the cat living in the manor ran away when she tried to pet it,” Azure replied with a grin.

“…what?”

“I do not think I would become so upset over such a trivial matter,” Lusya said. “Though it is true that animals do not like me.”

She did not know why. She had no particular dislike for or hostility toward them.

“Yes, well, you were five,” Azure said. “The cat not liking you was the worst tragedy you had ever faced.”

“So, what happened next?” Ariya asked.

“Lusya’s mother found the cat and held it so Lusya could pet it. It got used to her and they were friends.”

Ariya sighed in relief. “I’m glad it worked out.”

“Why is it ‘the cat?’” Lusya asked. “Was it not my mother’s?”

Azure pursed her lips. “Well, for all intents and purposes, yes, but she didn’t get it on purpose. It just kind of showed up in the manor one day. To this day, I don’t think anyone really knows where it came from. It was healthy and well-fed even when she found it, so it must have been someone’s pet, but no one claimed it when she asked around, and nobody ever came looking for it either.”

“A manor,” Lusya said. “So, my mother was also a noblewoman.”

Azure blinked, then her eyes widened, as if she had not expected that observation. “Well, yes, she was. Is.”

That was not surprising. Lusya had suspected as much from the start. Being friends with a noblewoman and Paladin, the most likely options had always been a noblewoman, Sacred Knight, or servant for her mother’s identity. Or some combination thereof.

“That was a fun story,” Ariya said. “I like hearing about Lusya being silly.”

Lusya cocked her head and blinked twice. “Why is that?”

“I don’t know,” Ariya said. “I guess it’s because you’re so cool. So hearing about you as a kid makes me feel like I can be like you one day.”

“That is not a goal you should aspire to,” Lusya replied. “Nor is it one you will achieve.”

Ariya shook her head. “You’re not changing my mind. I’m gonna be cool and pretty and strong like you.” She smiled at Azure. “Can I hear one more story?”

Azure grinned. “I’ll tell you as many as you like.” She closed her eyes and hummed in thought before opening them again. “Did you know that Lusya once wrote an essay on why she should have a younger brother?”

Ariya giggled. “Really?”

“Three pages front and back,” Azure said.

“Wow,” Ariya said. “That’s a lot.”

Azure nodded. “It sure is. Little Lusya was quite the writer, though. She also penned about half a novel before she got bored and stopped. It was a shame, really. I wanted to see how it would end.”

“Was it good?” Ariya asked.

“For something written by a seven-year-old girl? Yes. In general…” Azure wriggled her hand in a “so-so” gesture. “…I’ve read worse.”

“Well, now I’m definitely gonna start writing something,” Ariya said. “I’ll make it at least half as good as Lusya’s book.”

“Oh, you want to be a writer?” Azure said.

Ariya nodded rapidly. “I wanna write all about my adventures with Lusya, plus a bunch of other stuff too.”

“Well, that’s a nice dream to have,” Azure replied. “I’m sure you’ll do great.”

“Yeah! Lusya, can you give me the writing stuff next time we stop after this?”

“If you wish,” Lusya said.

“Yay!” Ariya replied before looking back to Azure. “So, what was Lusya’s book about?”

“My memory’s a little hazy,” Azure said, “but I believe it was about a prince and a princess of rival kingdoms collaborating on an elaborate prank in order to save the world from destruction.”

“An interesting premise,” Lusya said. And one she was rather surprised she would write about. Pranks were a form of humor that still eluded her understanding, and she didn’t think she could have invented an original one, let alone an elaborate one, if her life depended on it. Now that Azure mentioned it, however, Lusya did have a vague memory of writing something like that, though she would have to take Azure’s word on the prank part.

“I imagine you would think so.”

Lusya cocked her head and blinked twice. “Did my essay work?”

“Nope,” Azure said. “Alas, your mother was solidly single and unconvinced by your argument that any random man would do as the father. As far as I know, you’re an only child. Sorry to disappoint.”

Lusya shook her head. “I may have desired siblings at the time, but I have no such desires now.”

“This has nothing to do with all that stuff,” Ariya said, “but, Azure, your Sacred Blade does ice stuff, right?”

Azure chuckled. “Yes, it does indeed do ice stuff.”

“Could you freeze this spring?” Ariya asked.

“Are you still too hot?” Lusya asked. She did not think freezing the water was an appropriate solution to that issue, but it would not have surprised her if Ariya disagreed.

“No, you were right,” Ariya said. “I’m used to it, and it feels pretty nice.” She did appear to have relaxed and now leaned easily against the side of the spring. “I was just wondering. Hot stuff is harder to freeze, right?”

“It is,” Azure confirmed, “but freezing this would be easy. I’ve frozen lava before, you know.”

“Lava is really hot, right?”

Azure nodded. “It makes this spring look like it’s already frozen.”

“Wow.”

“For an example you might find easier to understand, I’ve also frozen fire before.”

Lusya cocked her head and blinked twice. “How does one freeze fire?”

Azure shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’ve done it. Miudofay’s flames were immune last I checked, though.”

“I see.”

With that topic concluded, there was a brief silence. The three of them soaked in the water, steam wafting up past them, with nary a sound.

“So, do you have any more Lusya stories?” Ariya asked.

Azure replied with a grin broad as the sky. “Plenty.”