Verdilith Castle—
-
Night…
Petra fell back with a soft splash, her small body plunging down, then up, and then lazily drifted across the water's surface. She lay on her back, spread-eagled, floating aimlessly as she stared up at the starry night sky. Her long emerald hair spilled out across the surface of the water, spreading out, and curling with the currents.
The fluffy wolf (doll form) hopped from the shore and onto her chest, plopping down and using her 'plank' as its own personal boat.
Steam curled in lazy spirals as the warm mist mixed with the sweet scent of lilies, drifting through the air and blending with the gentle sound of water trickling down the layered stone centerpiece. All around her, the lively chatter of young girls filled the bathhouse. Splashes, giggles, complaints, and eager cries to jump in drifted through the air like a cozy melody.
Petra let herself drift in the water.
Her mind slowly turned back to the ceremony earlier in the day.
According to Levy, everything had been successful, but it would still take some time before the plant spirit of the Emerald Ghost Tree fully awakened.
Back then, Petra had nodded to herself…
That was because she could feel it too.
The connection between her and the tree spirit had clearly formed during the ceremony. It was woven directly through the strange twin-colored tree in the center of her Inner Library. She still had no idea how she managed to form a contract with a tree, but it somehow just… worked.
Mm, anyways... she wasn't complaining!
Because of that link, Petra understood the Emerald Ghost Tree far better than before. The improvements from the grafting had given it an enormous amount of room to grow, but that growth required time and energy, far more than they had now.
Although there was no hurry, they would eventually need to find a new supply of spiritual energy, because even the Supreme Spirit Stone Mine was insufficient for the Emerald Ghost Tree.
Not only had the barrier strengthened by several levels, but the spiritual energy within the Verdilith Castle had thickened substantially!
Petra couldn't help but feel proud.
At first, she wasn't sure if her plans would actually work, but since they did, she was very happy.
She kicked her little feet, sending ripples across the surface of the water.
-
The hot spring bathhouse was built opposite the mansion, on the exact opposite side of the Emerald Ghost Tree, directly in the center of the Poison Garden.
The surrounding plants gave the entire place a mystical, dream-like aura. Tall purple plants swayed gently in the wind, glowing faintly with streaks of azure light. Small black flowers flickered with pink underbellies, shimmering in waves with the twisting wind. Luminous insects, countless kinds, drifted between the foliage, forming tiny white specks like wandering stars in the dark night. Some plants, those closer to the actual bathhouse, hung over the edge of the water, while others climbed towards its rooftop and entangled with its frame.
The entire place felt alive, and the night sky above reflected openly across the surface of the hot spring.
The bathhouse itself was shaped like a massive lotus, each petal forming an individual pool large enough for dozens of people, and eight pools made up the full lotus. In the center of the spring sat a towering stone fountain carved to resemble twisting vines wrapped around a vertical rock garden. Hot water spilled from its crown, cascading down terraced stone before flowing evenly into each pool.
The roof above formed a ring supported by sixteen thick white pillars, each carved from processed supreme-grade spirit stones. The center of the roof was open, a perfect circle revealing the sea of stars above. Moonlight poured through the opening like a soft spotlight, illuminating the drifting steam and its beautiful bathers beneath.
The Poison Garden surrounding the bathhouse acted as a natural curtain, providing both privacy and protection. Thick foliage, dense vines, and plants imbued with a subtle spirituality kept unwanted eyes away, and since Petra only allowed girls around the Verdilith Castle, no one here had any reservations about relaxing and wandering while nude.
Well—
Except those two! Cough-cough-cough—! (Rose & Noah)
Petra let out a long exhale, floating away like a pink pedal on pool patrol.
* * *
Bonk! Just then, a floating tray carrying fresh pastries, a warm bowl of rice, and a plate of crispy beef chips bumped straight into Petra's forehead!
It was a ruthless strike!
Or so Petra would say…
She blinked, her thoughts scattering like startled birds.
Her little nose twitched.
Without hesitation, her arm wrapped around and snatched a cookie at supersonic speeds.
Swoosh—! BOOM! 'Nibble-nibble-nibble-nibble-nibble…' She looked like a starving little gremlin, not even bothering to straighten herself out in the water before eating. Her legs flailed as she desperately tried to keep the food she was scarfing down dry, challenging the very concept of gravity as she did so!
After 'recovering'—
Her black eyes darted left and right, moving in perfect sync with the ball of fluff sitting proudly on her chest. Together, they scanned the surrounding bodies.
Mell, Lilly, and Luna were the closest.
The trio was huddled over a steaming pot near the edge of the pool, cooking something that smelled suspiciously like spicy stew. Luna stirred with an intense focus, Lilly chopped vegetables with crisp, practiced chops, and Mell washed dishes beside them.
Further off, Levy reclined on a smooth stone slab, sipping tea and looking relaxed enough to melt.
Meanwhile, the twelve human girls were half-submerged nearby, laughing loudly, splashing each other, and practically wrestling in the water.
Petra squinted at them.
Why did it feel like they were getting more and more boyish with each passing day?
Did they forget they were supposed to be mindful maidens?
"Mm," Petra hummed.
Nibble-nibble-nibble…
Her drifting gaze fell on Jillian.
The poor necromancer was desperately trying to hide her 'buoyancy' by curling herself into a tiny ball. Every time 'they' rose to the surface, she shoved 'them' back down, her face burning redder each time. Ahem, should it be said, as expected of a shut-in?
Inversely, Rose and Noah weren't much better.
These two were shoulder-deep, both pretending not to notice the other's existence, their faces were bright red and steaming. Their noses barely rose above the water like two embarrassed ducks. Mm, as freshly baked girls, these two still needed some time to adjust.
Nibble-nibble-nibble…
The busty bunny moved gracefully from pool to pool, serving fruit, pouring drinks, and refilling traveling trays. Their chests bounced with every step, much to Wind's annoyance, as she muttered under her breath, clearly jealous.
Wind had the smallest chest of all the girls.
Well, except for the 'AA' duo of Petra and Poya…
Lira splashed around like a child introduced to water for the first time. She ducked under and popped up, giggled, and swam in clumsy circles.
Considering her background, she had probably never seen a luxury bath like this before, no, she definitely didn't…
She probably hadn't seen anything luxurious before.
Under the central spring, Dorothy, Bell, and Elli sat in a row.
Hot water fell over them like a streamer.
Dorothy hummed softly, Bell was half-asleep, and Elli sat perfectly still with her eyes closed, letting the water run through her hair without the slightest reaction.
Poya wandered through the poisonous plants surrounding the bathhouse, half hidden, half glowing with her own faint luminescence. The three poison elves followed behind her, slipping between poisonous plants like little spirits exploring the forest.
Nibble-nibble-nibble…
As for the dwarven sisters—
Petra snorted.
—The dwarven sisters had sunk straight to the bottom of the pool!
Unlike Petra, they didn't float!
These chunky eggs were a lot heavier than they looked. The two little lumps of coal sat at the bottom, only their hair buns poking out, small bubbles escaping every few seconds.
On a stone bench nearby, the avian alchemist sat wrapped in a towel.
Steam curled around her as she quietly cleaned herself, washing away the scent of herbs and dangerous chemicals from between her feathers. It shouldn't need to be said, but just a 'toe's worth' of the bath water was enough to kill most people.
You didn't think it was normal water, did you?
Wind and Soryn bathed together in silence.
Perhaps the only two behaving normally were the silver sisters. Wind leaned on the edge with closed eyes, while Soryn washed her hair under the open sky.
Nibble-nibble-nibble…
As for the beast girls…
The deer girl had taken it upon herself to wash the dog girl's back, her tail wagging as it dipped into the water and splashed around. Meanwhile, the mouse, squirrel, and cat were engaged in a chaotic chase around the pool, slipping, scrambling, leaping, and occasionally falling into the water with high-pitched yelps. The owl perched stiffly beside the avian alchemist, wings drawn in tightly, looking nervous and deeply embarrassed. Apparently, she didn't like the water…
Did you know that owls weren't waterproof like normal birds? Petra didn't…
The fox had absolutely no shame.
Short, smug, and proud, she strutted across the edge of the pool without even trying to cover herself. Petra felt as if she had the aura of a nine-tailed fox, but the body of a fennec! Unfortunately for her, she could compete with Wind for 'smallest size'…
Near the entrance, the raccoon girl sat guarding everyone's clothes. Her eyes narrowed like a soldier on duty, and she hissed whenever someone got too close, even if it was just to collect their own things.
Petra nibbled her cookie and let out a satisfied hum.
It was a very harmonious scene.
-
Just then, Levy walked over and sat beside Petra, lowering herself onto the warm stone with a soft sigh. She dipped her snow-white feet into the steaming water, propped her cheek up with one hand, and looked down at the floating little demon from directly above her head.
Petra looked up, eyes wide and clueless.
Levy asked, "Since everything's done, what do you plan to do for the next year?"
Petra hummed to herself, her little cheeks puffing out as she drifted in lazy circles.
There was still a lot of time before the next calamity.
Honestly, she wasn't even sure she wanted to participate. Originally, she had zero intention of getting involved, but after looting so many good things during the second calamity… Petra found it very, very hard to ignore!
The protagonist's job was to progress the story, and Elena seemed more than happy to do her part.
Petra had no intention of stepping in, but that didn't mean she couldn't… ahem… 'skirt around the edges.'
For example… go on a fishing trip?
Yes…?
After all, she still had five maids left to 'collect'...
Obviously, the next batch had to be seaside beauties.
Was the 'river' enough for them?
Should she build a lake…?
"Mm…"
The Sea Clan probably needed water, right?
Her eyes rolled around thoughtfully. She made a quick mental note to learn more about the Sea Clan before bed. If she was going to recruit one, she needed to know what they needed to survive and grow, kind of like a pet, right?
Levy stared at her blankly, easily noticing that Petra's mind had drifted away.
She sighed.
"You're done with your willpower curriculum, so it's time to start the second lesson, 'Mental energy!'"
Petra froze in place, bobbing like a dead fish.
'Fuck!'
"Hm? Wait…" Petra blinked up at her. "Mental energy? But I already have mental energy. And, and, and… the other girls don't have any!"
Levy smirked, a slow and sadistic smirk that carried a terrible implication. "I'll naturally have all of you open your sea of consciousness. It's never a bad idea to dip your toes into the mystic path." She tilted her head with a bit of, er… pity?
Petra trembled violently.
Levy continued, "And you. You can't even control yours, can you? Can you 'refine' it? If you can't do the basics, how are you going to 'mutate' it? When will you start 'transforming' your mental energy and branching off into the other 'fields of mysticism'?"
Petra's heart turned cold.
Wasn't mental energy just… a big brick?
Why did Levy make it sound so complicated?
How abominable!
Desperately, Petra changed the subject, "Since you're my mother's student, don't you have to go for, um… lessons or something?"
"Pfft! Hahahaha!" Levy burst out laughing.
"My lessons and your lessons aren't the same. You're still stuck on the theoretical stuff. I'm handling a few… hm, practical exams right now."
Her smile widened.
"But don't worry. Even though your mother was called the 'Doomsday Professor' back in the academy, I'm sure I can live up to her expectations!" She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Compared to her, I'm very lenient."
Puuuw~!
Petra deflated and sank down into the water.
A few sad bubbles floated up.
Silence…
—!
After the little imp finally resurfaced for air, Levy leisurely continued her sentence.
"Since we've got plenty of time, are you interested in taking some extra lessons on space and teleportation? I planned to teach you eventually, but it's a long way off. Since you've got talent, I don't mind giving you some early pointers."
Only Petra's head poked out of the water, eyes narrowing suspiciously.
A few bubbles escaped her mouth.
Blub blub blub~
After mumbling to herself, she finally nodded.
Blub!
She could teleport, sure… but her method was less 'art' and more 'swinging an axe through a wheat field'. It was a bit violent, even ugly, no… it was just crude…
Levy grinned, satisfied, and stood up to leave.
Petra watched her leave.
Her little face twisted with a sudden concern.
With a quiet sigh, she slowly sank down, choosing to hide in the water, completely ignoring the flailing wolf doll in the background.
Blub blub blub~
Blub blub~
Blub~
* * *
Thirty minutes later…
The air was crisp and clean as everyone filed out of the bathhouse, skin still steaming, hair damp, and wrapped in tight towels that varied in size depending on each figure. The Poison Garden glowed gently under the night sky, petals shimmering faintly and luminous lights drifting overhead.
They gathered in the pavilion that wrapped the back of the bath house, each girl finding a seat along the cold marble bench.
Paper lanterns bobbed along the railing, soft golden lights shaped like little lotuses. They had been crafted by Lilly and Luna as a surprise.
Petra sat cross-legged near the very front, her tight towel wrapped around her like a warm cloud. Seven tiny dolls burrowed in her lap, while one stubbornly hung from the side of her head.
Petra pulled down the silly spider, tossing it to her lap before turning up and staring at the sky with sparkling eyes.
Luna and Lilly sat behind her, each holding a cold cup of milk.
The others spread out across the platform.
Rose and Noah sat awkwardly together, while Jillian clutched a pillow, ready to fall asleep. Wind wrapped herself in a blanket, Soryn quietly meditated with one eye open, and the dwarven sisters seemed to have been forgotten…
Levy raised her cup. "Alright. Let's go!"
With a flick of her finger, a rune ignited above the distant garden!
Freeeeeeee!
A sharp whistle shot into the sky.
Then—
Boom!
A mystical flash of blue light exploded overhead, scattering shimmering sparks that rained down like falling stars. The girls gasped, and even Nebula's eyes widened.
Fireworks existed, but they were exceedingly rare. This was because magic suppressed them in every way, so people often forgot about this colorful display of explosive beauty, choosing to perform large scale 'magic shows' instead of firework arrays during large festivals. This left 'real fireworks' in a somewhat forgotten place, where they were often overshadowed.
Of course, this only applied to 'normal fireworks', not the kind created by a high-level witch!
Only Levy, Petra and Elli were immune to its allure.
Boom!
More lights followed, greens, purples, reds, and golden streaks, all intertwined with magic and movement, laws and rules, life and death, motion and static, illusions and emotions! It was a dynamic display of dazzling dyes!
Petra didn't know at the time, but these fireworks were her 'graduation exam' for her next curriculum! (Mental Energy)
She leaned back, her eyes rippling with color.
The night, fresh and peaceful, wrapped around them like a soft blanket, marking the end of a great day.
* * *
While certain people were living a life of leisure, the world outside continued to move…