Finally, with their stomach full, they decided to enjoy a bath before locating the room corresponding to key number three. Each entered one of the rooms set aside for guest baths. As before, the bath areas were serene and secluded spaces, adorned with soft, ambient lighting emanating a gentle, ethereal glow. Surrounded by lush greenery and the soothing sounds of nature, the bath is designed to provide a sense of tranquility and connection with the mystical surroundings.
Entering, they were presented with an array of aromatic bath salts, carefully crafted with botanical essences found in the surrounding bog. Among the options were fragrances of lavender, chamomile, and hints of moss, creating a calming and immersive experience. Floating on the surface of the bath were delicate petals and blooms from mystical flowers that grow in the bog. These accents added a touch of natural elegance to the water, creating a visually enchanting scene.
Soaking in the warm waters, they were offered the option to enjoy a selection of herbal infusions made from locally foraged herbs served in ornate, handcrafted cups. These teas were known for their soothing properties. As they enjoyed soaking in the tub, the attendant took their clothes for washing. Further enhancing the bath experience, a selection of ambient sounds mimicing the rustling of leaves, distant whispers of the willows, and the gentle hum of the bog could be heard around them.
After the bath, the attendants enveloped them in plush, soft towels warmed to perfection infused with subtle scents of lavender and other calming botanicals. The fine bath experience at this inn was an amazing sensory journey combining the magical essence of the bog with thoughtful details, ensuring anyone partaking of such left feeling not only refreshed but also enchanted by the unique and rejuvenating atmosphere provided by this extraordinary experience.
Following their baths, the two youths made their way to room three. Climbing the worn wooden staircase, they could tell the sounds from below were diminishing as it began to get late. The music had finished and hushed conversations were all that remained from the common area below. The air was infused with the enchanting scents of calming aromatic herbs, helping to those below to relax preparing them for a restful night and subtly ushering them toward the door to go home or even better, to their rooms.
Turning toward the far side of the building from the balcony room of last night, the hallway leading to room three seemed to be in an older section of the inn. The hallway here was softly illuminated by delicate sconces emitting a gentle, silvery light reminiscent of moonbeams. The floor, made of well-worn wooden planks, bore the marks of countless footsteps, adding to the inn's rustic charm. In contrast to the arras of the other hallway showing scenes of mystical creatures and colorful landscapes of the bog, in this hallway, the tapestries decorating the walls depicted moonlit landscapes and elven celebrations infusing the corridor with a sense of magic.
Reaching the door of room three, Von and Monica discovered an intricately carved moon-shaped sigil etched into the sturdy wooden surface. The sigil shimmered faintly as if touched by celestial energies, serving as a protective ward for the room within. Holding the key before the door, the sigil and key glowed solidly for a moment as the door opened of its own accord providing entrance to the two towel-wrapped youths.
Entering their room, Von and Monica were greeted by the sight of a large, open window framing a picturesque view of the Moonshadow Courtyard. The courtyard below was bathed in the soft glow of enchanted moonflowers, their petals unfolding in response to the moonlight filtering through the towering trees of Sungrove. A quaint writing desk nestled near the window offered a space for journaling or crafting magical scrolls. Quills and inkwells sat neatly arranged, and a leather-bound grimoire lay open, inviting guests to record their own tales.
In the center of the room was a luxurious canopy bed with drapes cascading like moonlit waterfalls. Their clothes lay folded on top of a bedspread featuring intricate celestial patterns, and plush pillows which seemed to invite the two of them to relax and unwind. Standing near the window, a moonstone-embellished vanity reflected the gentle glow of the courtyard. Atop the vanity sat a crystal-clear mirror surrounded by silver filigree, offering a place for Von and Monica to prepare for their next day's adventures.
Across from the foot of the bed, a small fireplace crackled with soft flames, its warmth adding to the cozy ambiance while above the mantel, a moon-shaped mirror reflected the dancing flames, creating a mesmerizing play of light on the floor beyond the hearth.
The walls of the room featured artwork portraying scenes of moonlit forests and mystical creatures which seemed to come alive in the enchanted glow, inviting guests to lose themselves in the magic of the room.
As Von and Monica settled into their room, the sounds of the moonshadow courtyard filtered through the open window. The gentle rustling of leaves, the distant melody of wind chimes, and the occasional ethereal song of a nightingale created a symphony of nature's nocturnal beauty. Overall, this room was a tranquil haven, providing the children with a magical retreat within the mystical embrace of the town. As they looked out over the Moonshadow Courtyard, the whispering enchantments of the Bonechill Bog seemed to harmonize with the serene melodies of the night.
"Hey, V? I was thinking." She looked back at the two piles of clothes on the bed. "First, I like the blue dress and all, and I know it's clean now, but we need more clothes. We have some money now, so we can buy a backpack or two and a waterproof cloak for each of us at the Bogrunner's Supplies. Then we can get some new clothes and good boots, so when we leave the bog, our feet don't get all squishy again."
"Okay, if we have enough money. I don't know how much stuff costs here, but we can wake up early and find out. There were several clothing shops on the way to the Bladesteel Forge where Oren is. You said, first. What's second, Mon?"
"What happens if I can't find a teacher and I cause something bad to happen again. I feel really bad because I hurt you with magic, V, all 'cause I didn't know what I was doing. What if it happens again?"
"I can see your magic now. Maybe since I can see it, I can help you somehow, and it won't get away from you again. Even better, since I can see it, maybe I can learn it too and we can help each other. Wouldn't that be good?"
"That would be really good. Maybe you can teach me some of your magic too! We could be like those heroes in the bard's songs, fighting demons and beasts and saving towns."
Grinning, he walked back to the bed and look at his once fine clothes. The bog and caverns had not been gentle on them. Monica's blue dress, which was less than a week old had quite a number of rents and holes in it too. He thought to himself, 'too bad he didn't know how to make them look like new.' Even so, he figured he did need a change of clothes. He'd been wearing these for what felt like a week. "Yeah, Mon, I think I'd like that. People would write songs about us, and we'd be famous!"
He hid behind the curtains of the canopy bed and changed into his clothes before crawling into bed. The two of them had seen each other many times without clothes, but somehow in this place it wasn't the same as swimming or at home, and he knew adults behaved differently when they were somewhere else. For some reason, it was going through his head, he needed to act better. Something about all the scenes he had seen and the time which passed strangely. He felt like something was different since this system got ahold of him.
Still worried about the future and the possibility of doing more harm, Monica spent another hour gazing at the courtyard and the fire, anywhere to keep Von from seeking the tears trickling down her face. Her face bore the weight of a heavy conscience, and her eyes, usually vibrant with life, now held a haunted expression.
As she replayed the events in her mind, Monica couldn't shake the vivid memories of the mock battle in which she almost took Von's life. Despite the cool outside air drifting through the window, the air in the room felt stifling, and Monica's chest tightened with the guilt clinging to her like a suffocating shroud. The warmth of the inn seemed distant and inconsequential, a stark contrast to the cold shiver running down her spine.
Monica's hands trembled as she recalled the scene and knowing she had control over the strange power but didn't have any idea she was using it. The realization of being untrained in luck magic, a force capable of both great fortune and grave misfortune, weighed heavily on her. She questioned her abilities and her very essence, as she grappled with the consequences of her powers remaining untrained and unchecked.
A sense of isolation enveloped Monica as she grappled with the truth: the person she had almost harmed was not just anyone, but her best friend, Von. Their shared laughter and the bond they built over the years echoed painfully in her mind, a stark reminder of what could have been lost.
Monica's emotions swirled in a tempest of regret, fear, and self-loathing. Her shoulders slumped, burdened by the weight of the potential tragedy she narrowly averted. Surrounded by the crackling of the fire and what should have been soothing sounds from outside, Monica was left to confront the fragility of her own existence and the consequences of wielding magic without understanding its nuances.
Right now, more than anything else in the world, she longed for guidance, for someone to help her navigate the complexities of her newfound abilities. The flickering candlelight seemed to cast judgment on her, and the room itself became a witness to Monica's internal struggle. Her journey towards redemption and self-discovery had just begun, leaving her to grapple with the profound impact of her actions on the delicate thread that bound her to Von.
Eventually, she ran out of tears and exhaustion washed over her. Wanting to remain next to her friend, she crawled into bed and watched Von sleep as she continued to ruminate about how she had almost killed her best friend without knowing she was doing it, or how she did it. These fears wore at her spirit until at some point during the night, Monica yawned for one last time before the fatigue of her worries forced her into sleep.