Leisure Time

"Phew—"

"I finally feel alive again..."

Isolte slowly sank into the pool. The water was the perfect temperature, washing over her skin in an instant, flowing along her waist, back, and chest, warm enough that even her toes curled slightly.

She let out a soft breath, unconsciously arching her feet as she stretched in the water and gave a satisfied sigh.

Hilde seemed much calmer.

Wrapped in a bath towel, she sank into the water, warmth seeping through every inch of her skin and into her bones, as if she were slowly being enveloped by gentle, soft hands.

She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall of the pool, letting the steam flush her cheeks a faint red.

She usually bathed every day. Even when conditions were poor, she found a way, because after practicing swordsmanship each day, the sweat clung stickily to her body, making it truly hard to sleep.

Perhaps because it was still early, the bathhouse was empty and quiet.

Hilde opened her eyes, her gaze naturally settling on the person across from her.

Isolte was not wrapped in a towel. Everything below her chest was submerged in the water, and the surface gently rippled with her breathing, reflecting the clear shadows of her collarbones and her rounded shoulders. Droplets slid down her slightly rising and falling chest, flashing in the wavering light.

It was a child's body. There was nothing worth looking at.

That might be true, but Hilde's eyes had ideas of their own.

Isolte's arms were covered in thin, well-proportioned muscle, and those long legs beneath the water must have been full of supple strength as well. Her slender-looking body actually held lines sculpted by years of training, and even the subtle curve of her chest was probably mostly muscle.

How nice...

She was a little envious.

Hilde looked down at her own body.

Whether her thighs or her arms, no matter how she trained, she could not build muscle.

She was too skinny.

Granted, she had not reached the age for development yet, but she kept up such intense training every day and still could not gain even a bit of muscle. What was going on with this body?

She did not want to become some delicate young lady who looked like she could be blown over by a breeze.

While she was lost in thought, water splashed softly.

Isolte paddled through the water and came closer.

Smiling, she hooked her arm around Hilde's, her warm cheek pressing against her.

"What are you doing?" Hilde froze.

"You were staring at me just now, weren't you, Hilde? Where were you looking?"

"I wasn't staring... Don't make things up."

"Really?"

Isolte chuckled, then suddenly wrapped her arms around Hilde's waist from behind.

Hilde's whole body stiffened.

The warmth pressing against her back came through the thin layer of water.

Too close...

So close she could feel the soft curve pressed against her back.

Was... was this...

The kind of horseplay girls often did with each other?

No, wait, she did not swing that way!

Hilde suddenly crouched down and submerged herself, using her slender figure to slip out of the other girl's embrace before quickly retreating several steps.

Isolte was startled for a moment, then immediately gave chase.

"Why are you running?"

"You suddenly pressed up against me..."

"Do you hate it when I do that, Hilde?"

"I don't hate it, it's just..."

"It's just a hug. It's not like you'll lose a piece of yourself."

The water swayed gently, ripples spreading outward in rings.

The two of them chased and dodged each other in the pool, stirring up a spray of soft splashing sounds.

Amid the drifting mist, even the light, shadows, and their breathing seemed to blur.

"Ha, today really was satisfying!"

By the time they walked out of the bathhouse, the moon was already hanging in the sky.

The wind at the turn of spring and summer carried a trace of chill, making Isolte, who had only just come out of the hot bath, shiver slightly. She turned her head and glanced at Hilde behind her, who looked a little drowsy, then hugged her from behind again.

Hilde was so small.

So comfortable to hug...

She really wanted to keep one.

"Hey, stop suddenly hugging me all the time."

Hilde's expression darkened.

It was one thing back in the bath, but this was the middle of the street. Wasn't she embarrassed?

"Sorry, sorry..."

Isolte stuck out her tongue. She had hugged her on instinct just now.

But after thinking about it carefully, it really was a little inappropriate.

"All right, that's enough for today. Time to go back."

Hilde waved a hand.

She had already been a little tired after finishing physical training during the day, and then she had been put through the wringer in the bath just now. Right now, all she wanted was to go back and get a good sleep.

As for the part-time work, she could think about it tomorrow.

"Okay, then see you tomorrow!"

"See you tomorrow."

Isolte waved and said goodbye to Hilde.

On the way home, her steps were light, her thoughts drifting everywhere, and a smile hung at the corners of her lips.

As soon as she entered the house, she smelled the aroma of dinner.

"Grrrr~"

Isolte rubbed her rumbling stomach and called toward the living room, "I'm back!"

"Welcome back."

Tantris came out of the kitchen carrying plates.

"Dinner's ready. Come eat."

"Okay."

Isolte sat down directly at the dining table.

After Tantris set the dinner he had prepared in advance on the table, he sat down as well, and the two of them began eating together.

Their parents had died young. Although their grandmother was still around, the old lady was busy with affairs and usually had almost no time to manage the siblings' daily lives, so the brother and sister had depended on each other since several years ago.

The two ate while chatting idly.

"Why are you back so late?"

"Mm, I went to the bathhouse after leaving the dojo."

"Did you go by yourself?"

"Hilde was there too."

"Hilde, huh... You've been with her a lot lately."

"It's Grandma's arrangement, after all. And she's very cute. She's a good kid."

"A good kid..."

Tantris could not help laughing at that, while also feeling relieved by his younger sister's current situation.

For a long time, as her elder brother, he had been limited by his own talent. He had been of no help at all in swordsmanship, the thing most important to his sister, and could not even push her forward. All he could do was take care of her daily life.

Now, at last, there was someone who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Isolte.

No matter how he looked at it...

It should be a good thing.

"If there's a chance, why not have her come over for a meal? What do you think?"

"Huh? But we've only known each other for a few days..."

"But you're already very close, aren't you?"

"Mm, I guess that makes sense..."

Isolte pondered it, beginning to seriously consider the possibility of inviting Hilde over for dinner. But with Hilde's stubborn, tough-it-out personality, she probably would not agree so easily, right?

"I'm back."

Hilde casually tossed her backpack into the corner.

The empty inn room was pitch-dark. Night wind blew in through the window, carrying a hint of chill. In the unlit room, the only sound was the wooden structure creaking and groaning. Other than that, all was silent.

Snap!

Hilde snapped her fingers.

A flame lit on the candlestick atop the table.

The flickering orange firelight brought a trace of warmth to the room. Hilde closed the window and sat down, then pulled a sheet of letter paper from the drawer and picked up her pen to write a letter she planned to send home.

It was her third day in Royal Capital Arus.

She had made new friends.