The first thing Echo noticed was the stench.
It wasn’t a subtle, creeping smell; it was a full-on assault, sharp and putrid, hitting his nose like a physical blow. His eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright, gagging as the air around him seemed thick with the noxious odor.
“What the—” he started, only to be cut off by Rook’s equally panicked groan from the other side of the room.
“What is that?” Rook choked out, covering his nose with his forearm. His voice was muffled, but the disgust in his tone was unmistakable. “Did something die in here?”
Echo forced himself to take a deep breath through his mouth, trying to assess the situation. The smell was everywhere, clinging to the air and their skin like an invisible miasma. It was sour, acrid, and utterly overwhelming. For a moment, he thought they might have left some food out—or worse, that some creature had found its way into their quarters and expired during the night.
Then he remembered the Pyresalt bath.
“Rook,” Echo said, his voice hoarse but steady. “I think it’s us.”
“What?!” Rook’s eyes widened in disbelief. He sniffed at his arm, immediately recoiling. “Oh gods, you’re right. What the hell happened?!”
Echo swung his legs off the bed, his body surprisingly light and energized despite the previous day’s exhaustion. His muscles felt taut, his joints flexible and smooth. The soreness he had expected was absent, replaced by a sense of vitality that was almost foreign.
But the smell...
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Discovering the Cause
Rook stumbled toward the small mirror hanging on the wall, his expression a mix of horror and confusion. “Please tell me this smell isn’t permanent. I can’t live like this.”
Echo followed, leaning closer to inspect his reflection. His skin had an odd sheen to it, almost like it had been oiled, but it wasn’t sweat. He ran a hand down his arm and grimaced as a thin layer of grime came away, dark and sticky.
“It’s the impurities,” Echo muttered, realization dawning. “The bath—it pulled them out of us, remember? This must be what’s left.”
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Rook groaned loudly, throwing his head back. “Great. So we’re walking toxic waste dumps now?”
Before Echo could respond, a familiar voice chimed in his head—his AI, its calm tone contrasting sharply with their current predicament.
“Good morning, Echo. Based on analysis, your body has successfully expelled approximately 97% of physical impurities. The remaining material is a byproduct of the Pyresalt process. Immediate cleansing is recommended.”
Echo blinked. “Cleansing? You mean, like a shower?”
“Yes,” the AI replied. “However, please note that the chemical composition of the impurities may require enhanced cleaning agents for full removal.”
Rook’s AI chimed in next, its voice slightly more enthusiastic. “Rook, your impurity expulsion rate is 96%. Congratulations! A thorough decontamination protocol is advised. Would you like me to assist in locating appropriate resources?”
Rook scowled. “Yeah, sure, find me a flamethrower while you’re at it.”
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The Cleansing Process
The smell only intensified as they made their way to the communal washroom, their movements quick and purposeful despite the lingering discomfort. The room was equipped with high-tech cleansing stations, each one fitted with sprays and nozzles that glimmered with an almost clinical sterility.
Echo stepped into the first stall, his AI providing a stream of instructions. “Activating enhanced cleansing protocol. Please remain still.”
A series of jets sprang to life, spraying him with a mixture of water and some sort of thick, foamy liquid. The grime on his skin began to dissolve almost immediately, the foam turning a murky gray as it carried the impurities away.
“Okay, that’s disgusting,” Echo muttered, watching the liquid swirl down the drain.
In the stall beside him, Rook was having a similar experience. “I don’t know what’s worse,” he called out. “The smell or the fact that this stuff was inside us.”
“Just be glad it’s out now,” Echo replied, trying not to think too hard about it.
By the time the cleansing process was complete, both of them felt like entirely new people. Their skin was clean and smooth, their bodies light and energized. The stench was finally gone, leaving only the faint scent of whatever chemicals had been used in the cleansing foam.
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Reflection
As they stepped out of the washroom, dressed in fresh training gear, Echo couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The process had been grueling, and the aftermath unpleasant, but the results were undeniable. He could feel the difference in his body—his strength, his endurance, even his clarity of thought.
“This is what it’s all about,” he said, flexing his fingers experimentally. “We’re stronger now. Cleaner. Ready for what’s next.”
Rook nodded, though his expression was still one of mild annoyance. “Yeah, sure. Just remind me to never complain about regular sweat again. I’ll take that over... whatever that was any day.”
Echo chuckled, clapping Rook on the shoulder. “Fair enough. But hey, we survived, didn’t we? That’s gotta count for something.”
Rook grinned despite himself. “Yeah, it does. And if this is just the first step, then bring it on. We’ll handle whatever they throw at us next.”
With renewed determination, the two of them headed out, ready to face the challenges that awaited them.