Ryan returned to his room with a smile on his face. He wouldn't expect better than having new friends, in an otherworldly place like The Arena.
'I guess I will able to enjoy living in here.' he thought to himself as he walked along the busy dorm's corridors.
He was unease. He was afraid to have friends, not because he was an introverted person. Firstly, his skills were fall behind his peers, his younger peers even. He knew those could lead to bullying. He didn't want it. His life was already chaotic since he had been choosen.
Secondly, his life would be in constant danger. Fen had warned him—some might want him dead. Having friends could put them in harm's way too. That thought gnawed at him. He couldn't bear the idea of endangering anyone he cared about.
Well, he stayed at The Arena, what could go wrong. This place felt safe enough, surrounded by powerful beings. To enter, one needed to throw a blue light onto the ground.
The Arena was one of The Timestream's underling. So there would be many Guardians here as well. Not to mention, he had Fen as his personal bodyguard.
'It won't hurt to have a friend or two, right?'
Ryan took a deep breath. Friendships could be a source of strength. They could help him grow, improve his skills, and face challenges together.
***
He opened his room door, and saw Fen sitting at his bed, licking his paw.
Ryan frowned. He sniffed the air and the room smelled thick and metallic. Blood. It reminded him of what had happened at Savanna desert.
"Fen, why don't you take a shower or something? You smell awful." Ryan squinted his nose.
Fen looked up at him and smirked, then back to his grooming session.
Ryan's frown deepened.
'Damn… seriously, how could I sleep if the room still has this smell...' he thought.
Fen lifted up his head and lowered his paw.
"Okay, okay, Mr. Whinny. I will take a bath."
Ryan's face brigthened up. He rushed to the bathroom and shouted, "Great! I will get the water ready!"
He ran passed Fen with a sense of relief. But suddenly Fen bit his collar. Ryan jerked backward.
"What the...!"
"Why I should bath in human's tiny bathtub?" Fen released his fangs off Ryan's collar.
"What do mean by that? Where do you want to have a bath? You can't bath in river or something, it's freezing out there!" Ryan shot back, irritated with Fen's arrogancy.
Fen grinned. "I will take you somewhere beautiful."
Ryan crossed his arms, curious. "Like where?"
Still grinning, Fen said, "Somewhere with a view. And maybe a warm spring."
Ryan hesitated. "You better not be pulling my leg."
Fen chuckled. "No tricks. No Savanna. No hunt. Just a little adventure!"
Ryan lingered for a moment. "Alright, I'm in. But you better make sure the place doesn't smell like you."
Fen laughed. "Deal!"
***
They teleported to a very beautiful place.
The place had turquoise pools stretch out with crystal-clear waters sat in limestone basins, catching the soft glow of the moonlight.
Waterfalls flowed gently from one pool to the next. The sound was calming. It was like nature's own music, a soft melody that invited you to relax.
Then there were the white travertine formations. They looked like fluffy cotton, spreading endlesly.
Rolling hills and green fields strecthed out as far as you can see. In the distance, the Taurus Mountains rose majestically. Their peaks stood tall, creating a stunning backdrop.
That was Hierapolis Pamukkale, located at Denizli, Turkey.
Ryan gasped with admiration to the sight.
With a smirk, Fen entered one of the basin and washed himself.
Ryan removed his clothes, and followed suit.
"Ahh… so relaxing…" he said, sinking into the hot water. It felt good after days spent in freezing cold of The Himalayas.
"Fen, have you heard stories about this place's mystical past?" Ryan asked.
Fen replied, "You mean the legends of goddesses bathing in these sacred waters?"
"Exactly! Which goddesses are said to have bathed here?" Ryan wanted to know.
"Iore, Cleopatra, Aphrodite," Fen answered, "Artemis, they often enjoy these therapeutic waters."
"What do you mean with that present tense, enjoy not enjoyed? Are they still doing bathing here?"
Fen eyes widened, not sure where the conversation leads to. "Yes."
Ryan paused. The thought of those powerful and beautiful figures soaking in the same waters felt sureal.
"Wow! The goddesses of love and beauty."
Fen smiled mischievously, glancing at the cascading water. "You can imagine the goddesses' whispers in the waterfalls, when they are bathing."
"Imagine…" Ryan felt his blood boiled, hotter than the spring itself.
Fen laughed. "Perhaps, Ryan, you'll catch a glimpse of them bathing under the full moon."
He shot a glance at Fen, trying to divert the conversation."You know, Fen, if you cleaned up half as much as you brag about your hunting skills, we wouldn't be here."
Fen chuckled, "Oh, please. My 'bloody stench' is just a mark of my prowess. You wouldn't want me to smell like flowers, would you?" He grinned.
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Honestly, I think even the flowers would run away if they smelled you coming."
Then he splashed water at Fen, a bold move. Fen retaliated, sending a large wave of water right back, making Ryan stumbled and fell backward.
Fen burst out laughing and howling. The sound echoing against the rocky walls.
"Okay, okay!" Ryan held his hands up in surrender. "Just promise me one thing. If we ever met a dragon, you're not using me as a shield because of your 'natural musk'."
Fen pretended to ponder this, his head tilted to one side dramatically. "Hmm. Tough call. But I think I'd rather keep the dragon at bay with my charm."
***
They came back to their room after Fen finished his bath.
Fen fell asleep instantly, snoring softly.
Ryan settled into the plush armchair beside the bed and began to open a book, illustrated with earth elementals: towering golems, sylphs, and terra spirits.
Ryan lost himself in the yellowed pages of the book.
"Earth elementals harness primal forces," he read. "They shape landscapes and nourish life..."
He turned the page, eager to learn more. Each illustration sparked his imagination. Ryan could almost see the golems rising from the earth, the sylphs dancing in the wind. Each creature had a purpose. Each had a story.
As he read, time slipped away. Ryan felt at peace.