Submerged up to the neck, Vurckair sighed leisurely, yet annoyed.
{That Blondie is out of this world... I mean, she literally doesn’t belong to Ell’Thane. But...}
{How could she confuse a glorious «Thermal Bath» with «Hot Springs»?!. Its like mistake vanilla essence with Lovecolleid! (Coke soda)... Perhaps that’s a bad example}
Odette’s happiness brimmed, her naked body was coated in a yellow glint. "This thermal bath is excellent. Isn’t it?."
She made a pouting grin with double peace sign. "Did you like it?. We could come together regularly; Or every day!. You know, to forge strong bonds between comrades."
"True allies are forged in battle, not in celebrations." Retorted Miellessa, who clung to the thin towel that seemed small around her towering muscular body.
Which was surprisingly similar to Eth’Yaira’s silhouette under the thick cape.
Unlike Miellessa, Eth’Yaira is naked.
Comprehensible, because she belongs to a mouthless unknown species of black and dark purple smooth skin, with rocks in her forearms and head, as if she had a tuft crest made of amethyst quartz.
"Indeed. I didn’t understand it before. But today i felt like i was part of something when we worked together to banish those ugly ghosts."
"Yeah..." Odette smiled dimly. "I just feel bad that we won’t see them again."
"Do you like ethereal entities?!." Balalaika asked scandalized.
"What?! No!." Odette’s eyes went to Vurckair, shaking her head with adamant negation. "I was talking about the Golems. I became friends with them. They even taught me how to Solidify Nodes. Can you believe it?!."
"I still can’t." Acknowledged Naylyn. "It’s a skill that’s supposedly available only to those with a Grade 5 Singularity, or above..."
{The Variant had a different thought...}
"But remember this, Miss Mussers. You can only have 6 Solid Nodes physically or energetically together. If you add more, an explosion will occur. And since the Nodes are made with your Flow Magic, the Nimbar will be useless."
{I see the danger. But i have more ways to protect my body; Not just the Nimbar. I should give it a try later}
"I’ll keep that in mind, Miss Nephron. I know you don’t like your Global Nickname. But my idol always spoke highly of you, and how on her eyes you’ll always be «Perfection Incarnated»."
Naylyn raised an eyebrow. "Who is this idol of your’s?."
Smiling fanatically; Odette’s ablazed aura and Halo made her levitate as if she were a Saintess ready to preach. "Naíndra Nuxinus Nydrikova."
"The prostitute?." Casually commented one of Cailly’s friend, Mätzeniä; An emerald-eye athletic damsel of metalized, chocolate hair issued in a high ponytail.
Odette stamped her feet, splashing water around. "Someone tried to rape her!.Or rather, an idiot drugged her and sold her. How is that, prostitution?."
"She is selling her company." Nonchalantly stated Cailly. "How come that doesn’t make her a prostitute?."
Almendra and Odette’s Nameless bodyguard stood up; Their towels fell to the hot spring’s warm water, revealing their curvaceous silhouettes.
Both were pissed off. "We also offer our companionship. Are we prostitutes?."
Silence lingered in the steamed room. No one was stupid enough to answer the question.
{I’m surprised that a conflict didn’t start earlier. When Odette invited us; She involved all 18 Cadets in our Spears, as well as a few more who didn’t shy away and joined us}
"Are you insulting subordinates again, «Liliailly»?." Asked a mature woman with blue skin wearing an untied white terrycloth robe.
Piercing purple eyes scanned the area, barely moving the long, platinum blue wavy hair that matched the fur-colour of the cute twitching cat ears on top of her head.
"Granny Cardennia!." Screamed Odette, rushing through the water to hug her relative.
"I missed you too." Cardennia ruffled Odette’s hair. "Has De–"
"Ahem!." The Nameless Bodyguard cough, and Cardennia rolled her eyes. She is the Boss; But she won’t interfere in her Subordinate’s lives.
"So?. How did you get a Grade 1 Singularity, or this pretty Halo, «Tete»?."
"Mho!. Don’t call me that way, Granny. I’m not a little girl anymore!." She whispered at her grandmother’s ear. "But i’m Vurckair’s Good Girl."
"He starts with V and ends in a strong consonant..." Cardennia’s gaze roamed back the hot springs, and whispered. "The Vecturion, isn’t that right?."
"Yes. I like him a lot. Naíndra said a man should help me win, without doing everything for me. Don’t bother or pry too much in my life. And he must be genuine and truthful in his actions. Vurckair checks all boxes. I really want him as my partner."
"Did you invite him, to get my approval?."
Odette shaked her head. "I’m not Cailly. I can’t make a meticulous plan to mess things up with my words. I act. And whatever happens... i’ll see how to sort it out."
"Cheeky Tete." Snorted Cardennia, adopting sudden seriousness. "It will depend on him. You know that."
Odette lowered her face, then looked up with her blue eyes, and giggled cutely.
{They know i heard them. Right?}
"I’ve given you enough time to think the answer, Liliailly."
Cardennia wait a few more seconds. But Cailly remained quiet.
"Prostitutes get paid to provide carnal pleasure with their assets. You’re a Virniya at a Vecturion’s beck and call. And as a Cyannûss, you also owe obedience and respect to Coordinator Phrangnerth.
Cardennia sighed. "Let’s hope your Mother keeps the Frigid Dragon entertained long enough, so your virginity isn’t defiled for that woman’s amusement."
{Is Darcia that crazy and authoritative?. She didn’t seemed so unreasonable...}
"Gia. Tionnessa, and... Loreden’Ya. The three of you have grown up..." Cardennia paused and saw the modest bosom of her pink haired granddaughter. "Well, Tionnessa can try and develop her attributes a lot more."
{I agree; Although correcting her attitude would be nicer than bigger mounds}
"Son of–"
Odette grabbed her Grandma’s wrist, mimicking a name.
Cardennia didn’t understand why, but she followed her granddaughter’s adamant suggestion. "Allow me to be impolite, and blunt, «Vurckair»..."
{I hope she don’t ask me to marry, Blondie. Because they won’t like my answer}
"Coordinator Phrangnerth told me what Li...Cailly intended to achieve. Please accept my apologies for her stupidity–"
"I like beating asses, not bushes. What do you want?, «GILF»."
"GILF?." Cardennia ignored the word. "The outcome that Liliailly desperately desires to achieve. Bramnt City accepting the Nydrikoff House. Like her. I miss «Cincaid»–"
"I really don’t understand how you expect me to–" Vurckair detected an unnatural motion among the steam. "ABRAXZA!."
His Summon went out of Camouflage, firing with red Anph Electrons the enhanced 9-Node version of Shö’Thöm.
The hypersonic blast erased the steam in a shockwave, impacting almost immediately on an invisible presence.
A powerful, feminine silhouette materialized with a golden outline. "After five years. Is that how you greet your Venerable Mother?..."