I woke up feeling a sense of peace that had not been part of my routine for a very long time.
For a few seconds, I remained lying in bed, staring at the ceiling of my room, with no hurry to get up. The silence was pleasant. No messenger knocking on the door. No urgent reports. No summons from kings or nobles.
Just another day of rest.
After getting dressed, I headed down to the inn's main hall.
As expected, some of the girls were already awake.
Elara was drinking tea near a window.
Lyannis was reading a book she had bought the day before.
Vespera was watching the street through the glass.
Scarlett and Rai'kanna were arguing about something I preferred not to ask about.
It was probably something related to who was stronger.
Liriel was talking with her assistant.
As I approached, I noticed that the assistant seemed quite excited.
"Good morning."
She turned toward me.
"Good morning."
"You seem happy."
"I am."
"May I ask why?"
She nodded.
"Today we're going to visit the hot springs."
That made me laugh.
Her excitement was almost childlike.
Liriel raised a cup to her lips before speaking.
"She's been curious since yesterday."
"I noticed."
The assistant didn't seem embarrassed in the slightest.
"It's a new experience."
"That's true."
A short while later, everyone had gathered for breakfast.
The meal was peaceful.
We talked about our plans for the day while the inn staff brought out a variety of dishes.
Bread.
Fruit.
Meat.
Drinks.
The town was clearly accustomed to receiving visitors.
The service was excellent.
After we finished eating, we finally left the inn.
Our goal for the day was simple.
To enjoy the famous hot springs.
The streets were busy, though less crowded than the day before.
Many visitors had probably gone straight to the hot spring complexes.
As we walked, we could see more and more steam rising from different parts of the town.
Some springs were inside establishments.
Others were public.
There were also more secluded areas for those seeking privacy.
The main complex was located near the town center.
That was exactly where we were heading.
When we arrived, even I was impressed.
The place seemed larger than I remembered.
Several buildings were connected by wooden walkways.
Small gardens decorated the area.
Artificial ponds complemented the scenery.
The sound of flowing water created a relaxing atmosphere.
The assistant looked around at everything.
Her gaze constantly moved from one side to the other.
"So this is it."
"Yes."
"It's bigger than I imagined."
"I thought so too."
She kept looking around.
She seemed like someone visiting another world.
After we entered, one of the attendants explained the basic rules of the facility.
She showed us the available areas.
The separate baths.
The mixed bathing areas.
The relaxation rooms.
The gardens.
Everything was very well organized.
We received towels and a few additional instructions.
Then we split up.
The girls headed to the women's area.
I went to the men's area.
Before disappearing down the hallway, Scarlett looked at me.
"Don't fall asleep in the water."
"That never happened."
"It did."
"Once."
"So it happened."
Unfortunately, I had no argument.
I continued on my way while hearing laughter behind me.
A little later, I arrived at the men's area.
The place was spacious.
Several natural pools drew directly from the hot spring water.
Steam covered part of the area.
Some visitors chatted peacefully.
Others simply relaxed in silence.
I chose a more secluded spot.
Then I stepped into the water.
Immediately, I felt the pleasant warmth spread throughout my body.
I let out a long sigh.
Now I understood why so many people traveled great distances to visit this place.
The feeling was truly relaxing.
I closed my eyes for a few moments.
The hot water helped relieve tensions that I hadn't even realized I was still carrying.
The past few months had been incredibly intense.
Battles.
Wars.
Responsibilities.
All of it had left its marks.
Perhaps not only physical ones.
I remained there for a long time.
Without thinking about anything.
Simply enjoying the moment.
When I finally got out of the water, my body felt much lighter.
I grabbed a towel and began walking through the complex's inner gardens.
The place was truly beautiful.
Small trees lined the pathways.
Bridges crossed artificial canals.
Colorful flowers completed the scenery.
That was when I came across some of the girls.
Elara.
Lyannis.
Vespera.
And Liriel.
They were walking peacefully.
The assistant was with them as well.
As soon as she saw me, she walked over.
"Now I understand."
"Understand what?"
"Why this place is so famous."
"Did you like it?"
She nodded immediately.
"A lot."
That brought a smile to Liriel's face.
"It seems the experience has been approved."
"Definitely."
We continued walking through the complex.
There were many areas to explore.
Some pools were outdoors.
Others were surrounded by gardens.
There were also small buildings intended for visitors to rest.
The place felt more like a resort than simply a collection of hot springs.
As we walked, we passed through an elevated area that overlooked much of the complex.
The view was excellent.
Steam rose gently from different locations.
The lush vegetation completed the scenery.
Everything radiated peace.
That was when I noticed something different.
Near the main entrance, there was a large crowd.
Many people had gathered around a bulletin board.
Curious, I decided to take a closer look.
The girls came along as well.
When we got closer, I understood the reason for the crowd.
There was a huge poster.
At the top, it read:
ANNUAL TOURNAMENT OF THE STRONG
I carefully read the information.
It was a traditional event held in the town.
It took place every year.
Participants from various regions came to compete.
The focus wasn't magic.
Nor weapons.
It was purely a contest of physical strength.
The winner would receive a large reward in gold.
As well as the title of annual champion.
"Interesting."
Scarlett appeared beside me.
"Interesting?"
She smiled broadly.
"I think you meant fun."
Before I could answer, Rai'kanna stepped forward as well.
She studied the poster for a few seconds.
Then her eyes lit up.
That was never a good sign.
"I want to participate."
"Of course you do."
Scarlett crossed her arms.
"So do I."
"Of course you do too."
Elara let out a small sigh.
"You two only think about fighting."
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is."
"Maybe a little."
I looked at the tournament information again.
It really did seem like an interesting event.
Besides, I was on vacation.
Taking part in something like that could be fun.
That was when Scarlett looked directly at me.
"You're participating too."
It wasn't a question.
It was a statement.
"It seems you've already decided for me."
"Because you are."
Rai'kanna immediately agreed.
"It would be interesting."
I looked at the two of them.
Then at the poster.
Then back at them.
Honestly?
It sounded fun.
Besides, it had been a long time since I had taken part in something so simple.
No danger.
No wars.
No demonic threats.
Just a tournament.
"Maybe."
Scarlett immediately flashed a victorious smile.
"That means yes."
"It doesn't."
"It does."
"You have the irritating habit of deciding things for other people."
"I know."
At least she admitted it.
While we continued looking at the announcement, the assistant walked over.
She read the poster.
Then looked at me.
"Are you really going to participate?"
"It seems I'm being pressured into it."
"Then you're going to participate."
Even she had started.
I shook my head.
"You're all terrible."
Laughter immediately broke out.
We spent a little more time reading the information.
Registration would officially begin the following day.
The qualification trials would take place shortly afterward.
Everything seemed very well organized.
When we finally left the area, I noticed that Scarlett and Rai'kanna were still arguing.
Each insisted she would win easily.
Neither seemed willing to back down.
As we walked through the streets of the town, I began to think that perhaps the tournament would end up being even more entertaining than I had imagined.
And judging by the enthusiasm of those two, it would probably be quite noisy as well.
By late afternoon, we returned to the inn.
During dinner, the tournament remained the main topic of conversation.
Scarlett already considered herself the champion.
Rai'kanna clearly intended to prove otherwise.
The others simply watched.
The assistant seemed curious to see how it would all turn out.
And I was beginning to suspect that the competition would become an attraction of its own during the trip.
When night finally fell and everyone began returning to their rooms, it was still possible to hear Scarlett and Rai'kanna arguing about who possessed the greater physical strength.
Apparently, the competition had already begun long before the first match.
And something told me that the next few days were going to be very interesting.