Upstairs...
Kaedros entered the bathroom and activated the runes around the tub. Heat rose from the water as magic stirred beneath the porcelain surface.
He turned to Taria, who stood stiffly by the door, unsure.
"Take off your clothes," he said calmly.
Taria had expected this. Kaedros hadn't helped her for nothing, he wanted something from her. She wasn't surprised, it was simply the rule of the world.
But why her? That was the question she couldn't answer. There are better options for him to choose from.
"Well? I told you, I'd wash you," Kaedros said, tapping the tub impatiently.
With stiff fingers and a red face, Taria undressed. She avoided his eyes, but still felt his gaze moving over her body. Her entire face burned with shame as she stepped forward.
"I said it, you're underfed and filthy. Get in," Kaedros said, waving her toward the water.
Taria climbed into the tub and let out a breathy groan of satisfaction. The heat enveloped her aching muscles, and for a moment, she forgot everything else. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd had seen hot water, much less get into one.
Kaedros grabbed the soap and sponge, stepping beside the tub. "Lean forward. I'll start with your back."
Taria blinked. "You're… really just going to bathe me?"
Kaedros frowned. "What else would I be doing?"
She turned away quickly, heart racing. Her mind had jumped ahead, assumed something else. She braced for something inappropriate, but he simply started washing her back. His touch was firm but careful, surprisingly gentle.
His hand moved steadily, tracing over her skin, and she was stunned by how warm it felt, not just physically, but… calming. Her body slowly began to relax under the steady rhythm of his hand.
Was she… disappointed?
She'd assumed he'd wanted something more. But all he wanted was to clean her?
Her muscles unwound even more as he massaged across her back, and she bit back a small moan as he pinched her side gently, like testing her ribs.
Kaedros's hand slowed as it moved lower, over her hips, and down to her backside. Taria tensed, unsure. Was this where it changed?
She loosened her legs slightly, preparing herself.
But his hand simply moved back up again, casually returning to her shoulders. Confused, Taria looked over her shoulder at him. Was he serious? Or just toying with her?
Kaedros remained unreadable, stoic as ever.
She flushed violently when his hand cupped her breast, and her nipples stiffened at the touch. But even then, he didn't linger. He was just kept washing.
That's when she jerked forward. "I'll do the rest!" she blurted out, face burning.
Kaedros paused. "Are you sure?"
"Yes!" she said quickly. "I can… I can manage, thank you."
He handed her the soap and sponge, then left the bathroom without another word.
"Humans are weird," he muttered outside. Then he paused, frowning. "I have to make sure my cover is presentable. At least her stink should not be disturbing my nose anymore."
His eyes drifted to the bed, where the fresh clothes had been laid. The bed was the only one in the room. He stared at it, sighed, and shook his head.
"Everything about humans is confusing. The only time they make sense is when I'm eating them."
A few minutes later, Taria stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel.
"Your clothes," Kaedros said, handing them over.
She dressed quickly. The black tunic and trousers were a little big on her frame, but warm and clean. She looked like a different person.
Night had already fallen.
Kaedros laid back on the bed with a yawn. "Good night."
Taria hesitated for a moment… then quietly climbed into the bed beside him. Not a word was said between them.
☆☆▪︎▪︎☆☆
Days later....
"I don't know how this is supposed to help me," Taria grunted as she stabbed at the wooden dummy again. The spear in her hands nearly pulled her forward with the weight of it.
Kaedros didn't even look up from where he lay lazily across a bench. She had been complaining about this same training for four days now. He had bought her the spear himself, using some of the money from the bounty hunter's Association account.
It was short and heavy, more for close-range thrusts than the traditional spear.
"Maybe I should switch to a sword," she muttered, wiping sweat from her brow.
Kaedros lifted a brow. "You're a warrior path and mana cultivation method I found for you is, Seraphic Warden spear technique. How can you use sword in such situation?"
It was part of the previous books that were destroyed in his old flying ship. But luckily he read the technique and since he was a Dragon, he still had most of it stored in his head.
They were training in the room Kaelith's team had paid for, a private space at the Association, stocked with dummies and basic equipment.
"Can't I just find a heavy long sword or something. It resembled?" she argued, grunting as she thrust again. The spear's gray metal shaft gleamed in the light.
"No, you won't," Kaedros said flatly.
He had her repeat the basic drills for three straight days. The goal
wasn't fancy footwork, it was just for her to continue thrusting the spear.
Taria huffed. "What about you? Aren't you supposed to be training?"
Kaedros waved her off. "Different topic. We need to prepare for our next bounty."
Her eyes lit up. "Now?!"
"After you make progress in your skills. It'll go better for you that way."
Taria groaned. "This spear is too heavy. A sword would be lighter and easier!"
"You're just weak," Kaedros said casually. "But we're dealing with that. You've been eating well. And training will build your muscles."
Taria grumbled under her breath, then suddenly gritted her teeth and drove the spear forward with all her strength. The impact was solid, the wooden dummy shuddered.
She felt something shift in her mind. She saw the image of a wooden spear, unimpressive but it had instantly filled her with strength.
"Yes!" she cried. "I did it!"
Kaedros smiled faintly from where he sat.
Finally.
The journey to forge his warrior had officially begun. Maybe it won't be bad investing after all.