Chapter 1310 (1/2)
When he walked out of the steam room in the largest bathhouse in Kharon, Randidly was surprised how genuinely relaxed he felt. It also helped that there were few noises in the empty hallway of the bathhouse other than the sound of water running through pipes overhead. The busy emptiness did a lot to set his mind at ease.
And despite talking with Lucretia about the loss he felt, Randidly dearly needed the peace.
That thought made Randidly press his eyes closed. But that’s exactly what Lucretia was talking about. I can’t avoid this pain. I just need to… learn to let it be a part of me. The prospect was slightly exhausting even to Randidly, who was a man who could count on his hand the number of break days he had taken over the past year.
While toweling off his freshly trimmed hair, he proceeded blithely forward down the hallway into the luxury bath area reserved for Kharon’s elites. An ornate series of carvings surrounded a bleak grey door that had been emblazoned with the emblem of the Order Ducis. Randidly glanced around to see if this area was different; Grim Intuition quickly reassured him that it was not. As he had expected, everyone was so busy with the preparations for his birthday that he basically had the whole building to himself.
Everyone was hard at work. So he had time to relax.
He pushed on the heavy stone door and it slid open with a silent smoothness that spoke to the workmanship of the hinges. Warm interior lights flicked on as Randidly stepped forward and closed the door behind him. To his surprise, it seemed that the area was one rather large room rather than more hallways and personal baths like the other half of the building.
Still, it was a good space. The rough tiles beneath his feet were pleasantly warm as Randidly walked forward and surveyed the area. The hum of Engraved water heaters began spreading out and adding a pleasant fullness to the room that was empty and still.
The room was certainly large. There were towels and heated stones at the end near him alongside several heavy wooden benches. In front of that area was a large pool. Deep enough for swimming in some areas with the water pleasantly cool to the touch. Perhaps it was Randidly’s imagination, but he immediately suspected that the water within the pool was uncommonly pure; his own reflection he saw in the placid surface had sharp edges.
Beyond that was the hot tub and a vat of powdery snow available as alternate ways to clean. Which is part of the reason that Randidly was here. With echoing footsteps, Randidly walked across the bathhouse only accompanied by the sound of his bare feet slapping against the stone tiles. Then he stood between the hot tub and snow vat, closing his eyes as the steam and cold air wafted upward and pressed against the sides of his body.
Randidly took a deep breath. Tonight is to show people that we need to stop getting caught up in fights with each other and realize we are part of a play designed by the System. We cannot let the current conflict eclipse the looming threats of the Calamities… and now there is also the problem of the Epic Danger Zone to address…
Tonight is to remind of the importance of images. Beyond that, it is to demonstrate what a sufficiently powerful image can accomplish…
Also, if I can, I’d like to warn people about some of the hidden dangers of the System… even if that might reveal some of my own secrets in order to make my claims believable…
Last but not least… I would like to receive a present from my father...
Climbing the stairs next to the hot tub, Randidly put his right hand into the water. Then he winced and fiddled with the glyphs along the side of the hot tub until the temperature spiked upward. One problem with post-System Earth was that their bodies had become so powerful that it was difficult to achieve the painful heat that Randidly had always savored in showers prior to the System.
To Kharon’s credit, it seemed they had some workarounds for this. Some mechanism quickly engaged and dumped another liquid into the hot tub. Very quickly the liquid within became milky, likely raising the evaporation point of the mixture. And when Randidly tested the temperature again, it was indeed pleasantly warm.
Not truly hot, of course, but it would do.
...who would have thought there would be a day that I remember fondly being forced to hide within a lake of lava in order to survive, Randidly thought with a smirk as he lounged in the tub and did his best to ease the tension in his shoulders. It was a difficult task. Randidly was very aware that today would be a day full of activities that he didn’t enjoy in the slightest.
Talking. Mediating. Explaining. Teaching. Placating…
Hopefully, I will at least get the chance to break up a fight, Randidly chuckled to himself. Because when the Nemesai contingent arrived, it would be rather shocking if people didn’t react poorly to their presence. The deaths at Zone 1’s football game were still fresh in everyone’s mind, after all.
As Randidly spun his body in the water, his eyes caught on a cupboard next to the hot tub. Curious, he drifted over and slid the wooden door open. Within there were several labeled slots where soap were placed. Most were empty, but there was one that looked like it had been recently refilled.
“...scent by Ghosthound…” Randidly muttered to himself. Then his expression turned extremely sour.
It was his first bath in a while, but still… Using this soap was a little bit embarrassing…
Once more Randidly scanned the surrounding area. His expression turned extremely aggrieved as he looked back at the cupboard's interior. Why did this one soap have to be the only one available… was it… unpopular…?
*****
The sun seemed to set early, as though sensing that everyone was filled with anticipation of what was to come. Without the sun the temperature quickly cooled, but the ambient heat of the industrial forges of Kharon seemed to keep the entire mobile city a pleasant experience.
The street was well lit, a clear pathway cut through Kharon that led directly toward the venue hosting Randidly Ghosthound’s birthday. The emerald moss spirits swirled around, clearly somehow aware of the pageantry of the night. They made sweeping movements, sometimes appearing more like a flock of infinitesimally small fireflies that spun above the pathway that the strange energy consciousness that they truly were.
A night that could convince someone to believe in magic, Mrs. Hamilton thought with a great deal of nostalgia. A night for miracles.
“Mrs. Hamilton? Did you hear what I said?”
Mrs. Hamilton sighed and lowered her gaze from the lovely sky and faced the pug-faced representative from the Order Fide. “Of course I heard you Carl, but let’s not jump to conclusions about what the Order Ducis will say about the Epic Dungeon before giving them the chance to speak, yes? They have been passive in the past, but isn’t this event proof that such a stance is now changing?”
“Miranda…” The man said with a condescending sigh. “Despite your status in Donnyton, sometimes I am quite shocked by how naive you can be! This birthday party is simply a vanity project. It can be seen from the Order Ducis’ prior actions-”
“Excuse, me, but it seems I need to talk with my subordinates.” Mrs. Hamilton said serenely. Then she turned away and ignored the man’s voice as he tried to call Mrs. Hamilton back over speak with him. They were part of a larger slow procession toward the venue, a group content to chat while taking in the unique experience of Kharon, meaning that there were several representatives and guests from other Orders who looked over curiously at Carl’s raised voice. Which luckily meant that Carl quickly scowled and fell silent rather than draw more attention to himself.