The sky was already dimming into orange hues by the time Temu barked out the final command of the day.
“That’s it! You’re done… for now. Clean yourselves up. You stink worse than the Goblin marshes.”
The team, coated in sweat, dirt, and exhaustion, all collectively sighed in relief. Even Alric looked a little more winded than usual, though he still managed a thumbs-up to the others like they’d just finished a friendly jog rather than a hellish, all-day gauntlet.
Kaida sat on the grass, drenched in sweat, panting. His limbs felt like lead. His 40-pound training weights had felt more like 400 after the mana exercises, sparring drills, and another 10km run. But despite the soreness—and the occasional twitch in his calves—he didn’t collapse this time.
Progress… maybe.
He glanced toward Alric, who was already standing, stretching his arms with a grin.
“You holding up, Kaida?”
“Define holding up,” Kaida muttered, wiping his face.
Alric laughed and offered a hand, pulling him to his feet.
“C’mon,” he said. “Let’s hit the bathhouse before Lorien beats us there and takes the only clean corner.”
“Excuse me,” came a dramatic voice behind them. Lorien approached with a slight limp, adjusting his glasses, his training uniform absolutely soaked. “I’ll have you know I follow very strict hygiene rituals.”
Kaida blinked. “Strict rituals?”
“He means he brings flower soap and talks to it,” Alric snorted.
“I do not talk to it. I just… encourage it to work harder.”
Kaida raised a brow. “That’s somehow more concerning.”
Lorien adjusted his collar with exaggerated dignity. “You wouldn’t understand.”
Kaida sighed, shaking his head—but for once, he smiled faintly.
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtceDlEbcF
The Bathhouse
The Crystal Empire’s training facility had its own bathhouse—an ornate, steam-filled hall carved from polished stone and enchanted tiles. It was divided by gender, each side with wide pools fed by mana-warmed springs. Soft lighting glowed from floating crystal orbs above, and the scent of herbs lingered in the air.
Kaida stepped in behind Alric and Lorien, slipping off the last of his gear and setting it on a bench. As soon as he eased into the water, his muscles practically cried in relief.
“Hoooooooh,” he exhaled, sinking until only his nose and eyes were visible.
“This… this makes all the suffering worth it,” Lorien moaned, practically melting into the water beside him. His glasses sat on a stone nearby, slightly fogged.
Alric leaned back on the edge, arms spread along the rim, clearly in his element.
“Best part of the day,” he declared.
There was a lull—just the soft sound of water rippling.
Then Kaida, with a smirk tugging at his lips, broke the silence.
“Hey, Lorien…”
“Hmm?”
“When I first met you, I totally thought you were a girl.”
Lorien stiffened… then slowly slouched deeper into the water.
“Y-You’re not the first,” he mumbled. “Probably won’t be the last.”
Alric nearly choked on his laugh.
Kaida raised his hands. “No offense! It was just the hair. And the face. And, well, the—y’know—voice.”
“I get it,” Lorien groaned, cheeks red. “I’ve been cursed with a delicate bone structure and a tragically misunderstood aura.”
Kaida chuckled. “You say that like it’s poetry.”
“It’s called coping.”
They all laughed—Kaida included, even if it came out a little awkward.
It was… weird. Sitting in a warm bath with two guys he barely knew in a world that wasn’t his own. But for a brief moment, it didn’t feel terrible. Alric’s laid-back energy, Lorien’s dry wit—it made the whole thing feel less alien.
He still didn’t know where his friends were.
Still didn’t know how to get home.
But for the first time since being summoned here… Kaida didn’t feel completely alone.
239Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxgGx9TcwZ
Later That Night
Kaida returned to his room after dinner, towel still draped over his shoulders, hair slightly damp. The moonlight filtered in softly through the open balcony doors.
He stood for a long moment, looking out into the night.
His hands rested on the edge of the balcony railing, knuckles white.
Olivia…
Kumuna. Tsubaki. Mishell…
Where were they?
He didn’t know.
But the image of them—laughing, arguing, teasing him in class—had never been clearer.
He closed his eyes.
And when he opened them, he whispered just loud enough for the wind to carry:
“…I’ll get stronger. I’ll figure this out.”
He turned back into the room.
And for once—he didn’t feel quite so afraid of what came next.
ns216.73.216.82da2
