Night Bath

After dinner, we went to a prayer room on the second floor. We said some prayers and sang a few hymns. Faye was very into them, which was understandable, but Astra also had a grin throughout the whole thing, a smug one at that.

I remember reading some papers about the God complex of psychology. I think it's something like when a person is essentially worshiped by those around him, they get an inflated feeling of their own abilities.

Cisca said that I had some traits of it, which is completely false. People praise me because of my actual abilities. I do see myself very highly, but it's not inflated. It's factual.

Astra, on the other hand, is literally worshiped by those around her. I wonder if she suffers from this mental complex, as well.

That lasted for about an hour. Then it was time for rest. We were free to do whatever we wanted until lights-out, which is nine o'clock. The girls and I decided to go to sleep early, because the journey had made all of us tired, except for Astra, who has infinite energy, apparently.

I asked to take a bath, and Sister Lydia led me to a big barrel out in the backyard. It's not the kind of bath I expected, but the convent having a jacuzzi probably was not a realistic expectation, either.

Sister Lydia used her miracles to heat up the water, and she left me alone in the yard.

It's a nice open area. There are some trees and garden furniture around. The bath is in a rather exposed wooden shed without so much as a door, more like it's missing an entire wall. A well sits in the shed beside the barrel, which makes me think that the bath is probably this little structure's secondary function.

Hygiene was probably not a big concern during this time, or else the plague wouldn't have devastated Europe.

I scan the surroundings to make sure that no one is around, and I begin to undress. Taking off the Exosuit pendant does not make me feel comfortable, so I am keeping it on when I step into the lukewarm water.

It's no Cimavetta hot springs, but it will do. The lack of a roof allows me to see right up at the stars.

I exhale out of relief as I sink deeper into the water until it comes up to my collarbone.

The night air is chill, making the warm bath almost a luxury. I don't understand how the people here don't take baths even just for the comfort of it.

Like that, I sit for a few minutes before beginning to scrub myself.

"The stars are pretty tonight, aren't they?" Abigail's voice scares me from behind.

"Oi!"

I quickly lean and cover up the parts of my body I don't want her to see. The water shakes and spills from my sudden movement.

"Sorry, did I scare you?" She says sweetly, almost alluring.

I see her walk around to my front with her finger brushing along the rim of the bucket.

"W-What do you want?" I ask.

"I came to reap my reward, that's all," she says.

"The massage? Now?"

"That's right."

"But…"

"Don't tell me you are the kind of person who goes back on their words, Kris."

Those are among the people I respect the least.

"N-No, I am not," I say.

"Then, shall we get started?" Abigail smiles, tempting like the devil.

I let out a sigh.

"Fine, but you can't have Sister Melanie bind me down like last time."

"Sure."

Good, because now is not a great time to lose control of my body.

"So… what do I do?" I ask.

"Just sit back and relax."

"Do I have to sit back?"

"What, are you getting shy?"

"N-No."

"Then all you need to do is relax."

"A-Alright."

Reluctantly, I let down my guard and lean back toward the edge of the barrel.

Abigail looks down into the bath with a smirk.

"Can you not…" I say.

"Right, sorry."

She walks behind me and dips her hands into the water, then she places them on my head. I guess we are beginning with a head massage.

Abigail rubs my scalp with divinity in her fingers. I can feel my stress dissipating from my body in real-time. She is incredible.

"Your hair, it's natural," she comments.

"Mmm."

I am too comfortable to make out a whole sentence.

"How unique."

She then moves her hands down from my head and reaches my shoulders. The placements of her fingers and the force of her presses are perfect. I wonder from where she learned these techniques. Thousand-dollar spas I've had back on Earth can't even compare to this, or maybe it's just contrasted to the filth and grime of this world, Abigail's touch is heaven.

"Your muscles are tense," Abigail says.

"Mhm."

"Had some tough days?"

"Hmm."

"Must be crushing. One second you are a powerful man with wealth and status, and another you have none."

She is so much more correct than she realizes.

"Mhm."

"Don't worry. My sisters and I will take good care of you from now on."

"Hmm."

Abigail moves on to my upper back.

"You are a good man, Kris. I saw you defending your friend back there. Not a lot of people would have done the same."

"Well, I am not a lot of people," I say.

She chuckles. "Yeah, I can tell."

"Sister Abigail!" The shrill call breaks the serenity I was getting lost in a second ago.

Mia storms into the shed.

"Ugh, here comes trouble," Abigail says.

The intruder looks around to grasp the situation, and she lands her eyes on me. Her eyes open wide.

"I-I-I knew it! The second you and Kris were gone, I knew something was up! I told you both that this wouldn't happen again, wouldn't I? And look at you two now!"

"Nothing is happening, Sister Mia. I am just giving Kris a massage," Abigail says.

"Why is he naked, then?"

"That's how massages work. I can't give them through clothes."

"Excuses, you lustful sinners!" Mia shoots fire and fury out of her eyes.

"Calm down, Sister Mia. You can help me if you want."

"Wha- No! Go back to the convent now or I am reporting this to Her Excellency!"

Abigail sighs and says, "Sorry, Kris. If you want another massage anytime soon, come ask, alright?"

"Uh, sure," I say, thinking that this wasn't nearly as bad as I had thought.

"No! There will not be another time! Go!"

"Alright, alright. I am going," Abigail gives me a finger wave and leaves the shed.

Mia turns toward me and says, "And you! You already have so many beautiful servants, why do you have to prey on our sisters?"

"Prey? How about you say that again without glancing at my crotch?" I say.

"I-I am not!"

She kicks my bucket and storms away as aggressively as she had come.

Ahh. The first day at St. Margaret's Convent is already like this. I wonder what more is to come.