《Hidden Beacons (Magical Transformation Progression Fantasy LitRPG)》Chapter 16: To the Bathhouse
Advertisement
The short trip to the edge of Farrowport went uninterrupted. Miwah, Tamma and Lug all entered through the tall patch of grass that separated from the town from the large field outside of it. They stepped foot into a back alley behind a long row of brick buildings. Puddles filled the dips and uneven sections of the jagged walkway. With the spaces between the structures being so narrow, the three formed a single file line with Tamma in front with Miwah and Lug trailing behind. As they got closer to the core of Farrowport, the musings of its populace became louder.
"Now stay close to me," Tamma said after she turned around towards Miwah. "I don't want you getting lost."
Miwah nodded her head. "Understood." Further along the alley, people were travelling through the town's intersection. Tamma stepped out first with Miwah following directly behind her. Her eyes grew as she panned the area slowly, taking in the sights from left to right. The populace was diverse in regards to shape, size and color. It was clear what most of the pedestrians did and where they were from by the clothing they wore. None of them paid any mind to the two women that stood at the edge of the alley; all were too engulfed in their lives to take notice.
"The bath house is just on the other side." Tamma stood on the balls of her feet and put one hand above her head to block out the glaring sunlight from above. She pointed with her other hand towards a rising cloud of glass that poured out from the roof. "Now do you see where I'm pointing?"
Miwah squinted her eyes. "Yes! Now I see it!"
"Good. Now you know which direction to head in." Tamma stretched her arms above her head and straightened her back before yawning deeply. "Let's go over there quick. We'll miss prime market hours if we stay there too long." Tamma whistled and began walking with Lug eagerly trailing behind. Miwah continued next to her and kept close. The hunter led them in a straight line at a steady pace, weaving in and out of the narrower parts of the crowd.
As she stayed close, Miwah's eyes drifted towards her left. Amidst the citizens and visitors stood a large stone fountain. Its structure was abstract, consisting mostly of sharply angled stones resting on top of each other with small stone dishes scattered across it. The crashing of water as it poured out of the large mouth of the stone pillar in the center overcame the mumblings of the surrounding citizens.
Advertisement
"Miwah!" The seamstress turned her head in the direction from where she heard her name. Tamma stood in the middle of a swathe of people, completely still as others moved past her. The hunter waved her hand, urging her to follow through. Miwah dashed forward and caught up.
"Come on lass! I'll show you around Farrowport later." Tamma turned her head and gestured at the building just a few steps ahead with her thumb. "But let's freshen up a bit for now."
"I'm sorry," Miwah said with a hint of embarrassment. "I have never been in such a big town before."
Tamma let a hearty laugh escape. "You think Farrowport is big? It's busy, that's for sure. But it's far from what I'd consider ‘big.’ Especially when you compare it to some of the more populated areas under Remcroft's jurisdiction."
"I never left my village of Taipen. Everywhere seems big."
Tamma nodded. "Ah, that explains it. Then I'm guessing you've never seen a bath house with three stories before."
The seamstress tilted her head back, eyeing the height building. The windows were obscured by a fog steam, but silhouettes of people moved through them. The foundation was old yet firm; its age shown through the faded bricks that formed the outer walls. A long set of white stairs led up to a pair of massive wooden swing doors. A freshly cleaned couple walked down the steps, both wearing a satisfied smile and carrying sacks over their shoulder while wearing matching crisp white linens and trousers.
Tamma pulled out a pouch from underneath her cloak. She opened it up and shifted through its contents before giving Miwah a few silver coins. "We'll have to go in one at a time. One of us has to stay behind and watch Lug and the wagon. You can go first."
"By myself?" Miwah said, lifting her eyes from the coins to face Tamma. "I have never been inside a bathhouse."
"Don't stress it, Miwah. It's a straightforward affair. Just hand the clerk at the front the coins. They'll direct you to a room. You bathe. Clean your clothes while you're in there. Simple."
"I can handle that."
"Oh, and another important thing." Tamma leaned in towards Miwah's ear. "If anyone offers you to go to one of the upper floors... just don't. That's reserved for more intimate affairs."
Advertisement
Miwah nodded slowly. "Very simple. Give the money to the clerk and go straight to the room. Avoid the upper floors. I think I got it."
Tamma patted her on the back. "You’re a clever lass! I knew you'd get it!"
The seamstress took out the small pouch she had secured onto her skirt before handing it over to Tamma. "Would you be willing to place this in the wagon? And watch it close?"
"Of course!"
"And one more thing." Miwah began to pull off her necklace.
"Cover that up," Tamma whispered as she hovered her hand over the diamond of the necklace. "You don't know who's watching! A pretty little piece like that is bound to get some eyes on it."
"Apologies." Miwah quickly removed her Beacon and wadded up the chain so it fit inside her hands. Tamma kept an eye on the passing citizens, taking hold of the necklace without losing tabs on any suspicious individuals. With the necklace in her possession, she tucked it inside Miwah's pouch without looking at it. She secured the strings with a short tug and headed towards the wagon.
"Go ahead and take your bath. I'll make sure these stay safe," Tamma winked before putting the pouch with the rest of her items in her cart.
After a short bow, Miwah headed to the bathhouse alone. She pulled open the door with a drawn-out creak. As she stepped inside, a rush of warm and moist air blew her hair back. She winced as the scent of flowers went through her nostrils. Miwah waved her hand in front of her nose to diffuse the intense aroma. The building was dimly lit by candles spaced out sparsely along the walls but gave enough illumination to view the customers dressed only in towels move between rooms. Their hair was wet but long smiles lingered on their faces as they traversed through the bathhouse’s rooms.
She turned towards the counter, clutching the coins that Tamma had given her tightly. The man behind the counter looked small and timid despite his middle-aged appearance. He lifted his eyes from the book he was reading to look at Miwah. "How can I help you today?" he asked in a low tone.
"I am here for a quick bath," she replied in an equally soft voice.
"All right then. And I assume you have the funds for it?" the man asked. He lowered his book onto the counter, making sure to keep one hand on the page that he had been reading.
Miwah outstretched her open palm and showed off the handful of large silver coins. The clerk adjusted his glasses as he gazed at the money. He took one of them and scrutinized it under the faint glow of the bath house's lighting. "Paying for the short session I see,” he replied condescendingly.
"Yes."
The man took out the rest of coins from Miwah’s hand and placed it underneath the counter. "Your bath is number four. It's the door towards the center. You've got fifteen minutes." He returned to his book, paying Miwah no mind. With her money gone, she headed towards the instructed door. The further she moved towards her assigned door, the hotter the area became. The steam from the baths went through her nostrils, sending a relaxing sensation through her body.
She opened the door to her bath, letting a rush of steam escape into the main room. Once the gas cleared up, a slim bath was beyond the wooden floor. The water was crystal clear, giving her a view of the stone bottom. Miwah stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Her shoes came off first, making her sigh with relief as the warmth of the floor travelled up the bottom of her feet and throughout the rest of her body.
"I have a feeling I will be visiting here a lot," she said to herself. Miwah dipped one foot inside, smiling as the hot water tingled her skin. "Ah, I certainly will."
Advertisement
- In Serial85 Chapters
Soul of ether/Frozen road odyssey
The world is full of unknowns, whether dark chasms, secluded areas, abandoned cities, or desolate islands. It contains beasts and creatures yet seen by man, both horrific and spectacular. Long forgotten treasure, buried deep and waiting to be discovered. All of which lie beneath the countless veil of stars, ready to be found by the daring and heroic. Many have taken as their goal to search the world, few have succeeded, but those who do, become legends themselves. The world offers boundless rewards for those who search and follow through and horrible fates worse than death delivered with the unknown hands of destiny. During peaceful times like these, many find it the right time to explore once more. This story is the start of one of those journeys, the tale of a boy named Orel Eislandr, who, with glistening eyes, ventured off to become the first adventurer to have traveled to all of the world's hidden wonders.
8 139 - In Serial51 Chapters
World Breaker
Imagine the most handsome man in the world. Now imagine a partner worthy of him. What are the chances that such a couple exists in this world? Almost nil. But in World of Lorecraft, anything is possible. Be anyone, do anything. After a long day of work, Hupo descends into World of Lorecraft to join his assistant, an artificial intelligence, in a virtual world of endless adventure. However, space distorts and they are sucked into a mysterious land, where fantasy becomes reality. Stranded in a new world filled with cunning demons and ravenous werewolves, Hupo is no longer playing a game - he's fighting for survival. No longer tied down by his previous life, he takes the opportunity to turn his hobby into a career - he opens a restaurant. With the help of his beautiful assistant and armed with skills and knowledge he acquired from his old world, he charges courageously into this new one. Now available on Amazon.
8 171 - In Serial10 Chapters
The Curse Among Us
Alexander Armstrong, a young human boy that lives in a world where every human was bound by curses, was tortured and exiled by his own people, the Rosians. He soon discovers multiple illegal activities within Rosia's government. With the help of other races, Alex plots to stop Rosia and their scheme to destroy their rival country, Psycia. Cover art's Credit: https://www.instagram.com/water.dyspencer/
8 91 - In Serial9 Chapters
The Necromancer's Notebook
Typist's Note History of File #004789301: -Original stored in filing cabinet of one Detective Greary of Arkham police department until death in 1913 from heart attack, then moved to “Cold Case” cabinet in main office. - Originals relabeled “Case File #0003876: Evidence: Open” and moved to APD sub basement one, cabinet 08. July 8th 1925. - Box labeled “Case File#0003876: Evidence: Open” moved as part of district consolidation to Boston Police Headquarters Retention Room 10, row 9, shelf 5. April 30th 1975 - Contents of Box labeled “Case File#0003876: Evidence: Open”, reviewed by Retention Clerk Casey Damaset #11238 and labeled for removal. Contents of original documents typed by #11238 and refiled as document #004789301 in Final Retention cabinet January 2nd 1993 before originals were destroyed. Originals comprised mostly of handwritten notes stored loose leaf in a box with no discernible organization or order. For the most part seem to have been pulled from the same notebook approximately two inches by four in dimensions, bound along the spine like an old pocket book. No indication was made anywhere of the manner in which these documents came into the original officer’s possession. They have been recorded in the order in which they were found, with appropriate notes included to indicate where materials have deviated from the norm. Priority for retention: Low. Labeled for destruction at Final Retention Cycle end 2010. To read in full: Click here. Or start the first chapter.
8 151 - In Serial77 Chapters
letters to no one ➳ [poetry]
❝i've delicately chosen letters to form words and words to form sentences, each sentence a colorful paint stroke on the canvas of my mind.❞[ #1 in poetry on 27/08/16 ]
8 106 - In Serial8 Chapters
Payback! This Is For My Aibou!
When Prince Yugi gets hurt from his selfish, arrogant, jerkish half brothers, his mysterious and powerful admirer, Yami, sees a opportunity to get back at them, nobody mess his beloved light.
8 194

