Clive let out a deep sigh as he eased himself into the steamy water of the hot spring,the warmth enveloping him like a blanket. The Elven Lands had an area full of hot springs on the outskirts of the city. The water shimmered gently, reflecting the surrounding stones and greenery, while wisps of steam curled up into the cool evening air, highlighting the glow of warm lamps.
It was nighttime, with the moon casting a soft glow over the trees that encircled the hot spring. He rested his head against the smooth stone behind him, closing his eyes, allowing himself to drift in the quiet. He let out another sigh as he allowed himself to fully relax. After the chaos in the labyrinth and the familial issues with his brother, Clive felt truly at peace for the first time in a long time.
Until he heard a loud SPLASH.
His eyes flew open, and his heart nearly stopped when he saw Lima slipping into the hotspring. "Master!" Lima yelled, excitedly as she made her way towards him. Her silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, with her wolf ears twitching as she felt the warmth. Her five tails were up behind her, brushing against the surface of the water.
Clive swallowed hard, his gaze darting between Lima's curves and a rock nearby. She was wearing an even more revealing bikini compared to what she wore at the lake. Her breasts seemed like they were about to explode. "Wh-what are you doing?" he stammered. "This is supposed to be the men's side!"
"What do you mean?" Lima said casually, "This is the women's side." She then pointed at the sign near the entrance…and she was right. Clive placed his hands on his face and blushed. How could he make such a silly mistake?! "It's okay, Master~" Lima continued, "It'll be easier to take care of you this way."
"You don't have to monitor everything I do…" Clive groaned.
"Of course I do!" said an uptight Lima, "My duty is to make sure my Master is safe!" She then eyed the area between Clive's legs and cocked her head. "Where are your pants, Master?"
Clive let out a funny noise in shock. "Is this not a nude hot spring?"
"No? Honestly Master, you should really read the signs." Lima then placed one of her bushy tails across Clive's lap, effectively covering his little friend from the public. "This should help~"
"Thanks…" Clive blushed.
Suddenly, two familiar faces opened the door to the hot spring and stood at the edge of the water.
"Ah, Lima, Little Clive!" Arianna said, "Did you want to bathe with us on the girls' side?" Her long blonde hair was tied back elegantly, making way for her busty body under her blue bikini. She seemed unfazed by the situation, completely at ease as she entered the water with a smile.
"N-no…I"
Tipha laughed, "I didn't know you were that desperate to stay with us." Tipha's new dark elf form looked striking under the soft light of the evening. Her dark skin and black hair contrasted beautifully with the steam rising from the water. Her breasts jiggled as she walked into the water, hips swaying in the process.
Tipha, Arianna, welcome!" Lima giggled. "The water is quite warm."
"You're right…ahhh" Arianna sighed as she slid into the water on Lima's left.
Tipha made her way and took a seat beside Clive, on Lima's right. "I've always loved the hot springs here." she smiled.
Without warning, Clive felt strong arms lift him from the water. He flailed for a moment, startled, before realizing it was Lima. She effortlessly picked him up under his arms like a child. "W-what are you doing?" Clive stammered, his feet barely kicking at the water.
Lima didn't answer immediately. Instead, she lifted him out of the water., her expression calm and motherly. Slowly, she placed him back down in the water, positioning him carefully between her legs so that his back rested against her chest.
Clive froze from the shock for a second, until he realized where he was. He leaned back, feeling the warmth of Lima's body behind him with her soft skin pressed against his. The tension in him melted away as her hands slid to his head, her long fingers threading through his wet hair. "There," Lima said softly, "You've been through so much so far. I want my Master to not stress himself~"
"Y-yeah…" Clive said, completely intoxicated by Lima's coddling. "This is great…"
Arianna giggled. "He looks cute when he's relaxed~"
"I'm not entirely sure who exactly is the master in this relationship." Tipha added.
The steam rose from the onsen, enveloping the group in a warm, soothing mist. The there women sat in silence, admiring the night sky and Clive. Lima decided to break the ice with a question she had longed to ask.
"You said you were escorting Master somewhere." Lima leaned her head back, "So... where's our next stop?"
Tipha, gave her a sideways glance. "The Desert of Abyad."
Lima perked up at that, a curious look crossing her face. "The desert? I've never been there before. What's it like?"
"It's hoooot." Arianna said, slightly adjusting herself in the water. "The sun beats down without mercy. Not to mention the sandstorms that can hit out of nowhere and the desert monsters that need to be dealt with."
Lima's brow furrowed as she took that in. "Is there a city there, like the Elven Lands for the Great Mystic Forest?"
"There are a few desert villages, but Al Abyad is the big city. It is known as a merchant hub between nations." Tipha crossed her arms, leaning back and resting against the edge of the spring. "It is almost like a different world. They have this...harem culture. The men and women there—especially the nobles and merchants—tend to have husbands or wives, all living together in these luxurious palaces."
Arianna nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and the women often wear harem outfits—those flowing, revealing clothes. They are quite beautiful!" Arianna's face then soured slightly. "Though, It could be a bit dangerous for little Clive if he's not careful."
Lima raised an eyebrow, glancing over at Clive, who was still fast asleep in Lima's grasp. "Dangerous?" she asked.
"It depends," Tipha replied, her tone serious. "There are some services that kidnap and sell visitors as slaves. I feel that Clive should be quite a commodity for the higher-class women there. This shouldn't occur if we keep our guard up."
Lima sighed softly, her hand absently tracing the surface of the water. "I won't let that happen to Master…."
Arianna smiled but shifted the conversation. "At least the food makes up for the heat. You'll love the kabobs!"
"Kabobs?" Lima mused, now more intrigued than worried. "What are Kabobs?"
"You'll see them when we get there," Tipha nodded slowly. "Don't worry, we'll survive. But we'll need to prepare—Abyad's desert isn't forgiving to anyone unprepared."
Clive had overheard the conversation a little as he was dozing off. He was already imagining the heat and the challenges that lay ahead, but more than that, especially with the kidnapping thing. He had met many kind people from Al Abyad visiting the Oshoen Kingdom before, but hasn't visited himself yet. Those harem outfits did peak his interest though.
As the conversation drifted to more details about Abyad, the warm water of the onsen seemed to dull the looming anxiety, if only for a while.