Having a bath

"Then, can I buy the communal area for an hour, I want to fucking bath in privet!" he was getting rather annoyed by this.

"I-I need to ask the manager, I-I'm sorry, I will be right back," he stuttered and ran off.

"You shouldn't be this mean to them," a feminine voice sounded.

"What?"

"The slaves, be nice to them," Liam turned around to look at the owner of that feminine voice.

"Do you know how long I have been without a proper bath?"

"Yes, I can smell your odor from here and I am on the other side of the hall."

"You..." he had to consider her words. The woman in front of him was the first person in the entire city who had straight hair and no horns, but she gave off a powerful feeling. He felt something that was resonating with her, but he couldn't be sure, and checking that was impossible at the moment.

At the moment of his distraction, the attendant returned with the manager.

"Sir, how long would you like to rent the communal area for your privet use?"

"An hour."

"That would be 25 bronze pieces."

Liam took out his pouch and fished out a silver coin.

"Two times, once today and once on the day I leave, and keep the change if there is any," he fished out some more coins, placing them on the counter as well. "Now, someone told me I should be nice to you," Liam stepped back, placed a hand over his heart, and bowed his head. "I apologize for my earlier rude behavior."

The lady in the back was as astonished by his behavior as the two in front of him, to make it more shocking was the fact that the words felt sincere.

"Sir, please stop! This is not necessary," the manager hurriedly tried to stop him, but he didn't lift his head.

"It is necessary, you are the unrecognized pillars of society. I must never forget this." he lifted his head then. "I have another request where I would like your help. I am new to the area and need a few sets of spare clothes. Can you bring me some and how much would you need for that?"

"Sir, this is ... " the manager's words were caught up in his throat and the attendant took over.

"It would depend on what kind of clothes sir needs?"

"Casual mostly, I don't require much."

"Then it would mostly cost one or two silver coins."

Liam fished out four. "Bring me a few sets and oh... Shoes. One set should be all black, one that fits well in a natural setting and whatever else you think might be necessary. Thank you in advance and let me know when I can have my private bath," he left for his room after that.

The two looked at each other and wondered why a Nobel actually bowed to them. The nobles had every right to be rude and disrespectful but... This guy had given them the first form of Noble's Apology. How were they supposed to deal with something like that?

The Lady approached them.

"Do not get full of yourselves, you probably won't ever see a sight like that again." She left without another word and the two scurried off. One to the communal bathing area and the other went shopping.

Liam went back to his room.

The room was not to his liking. It had no bathroom. Funnily enough, it had a toilet, but why the hell was there no bathroom. He even checked the sink; the water was there so why was it so hard to make a bathtub or a freaking shower stall. Was that really so hard or have they not come up with the concept yet.

This place made him cringe. They had computer-like things but ... So, what happened with people having private baths. That didn't suit him at all.

And to top it off, maybe they would consider him some sort of freak if the people from this place saw his hair. It was, after all, white as freshly fallen snow. Now that he had seen straight hair, he could relax just a tiny bit.

He signed as he looked out the window, marveling at the structure of this place. He didn't even know what to call it. Liam didn't even remember what the place was called other than Maple. It didn't look big enough to call it a city, maybe a town, or an outpost of some forsaken family. He didn't know and he cared even less about that.

The place was built like a fortress, to withstand attacks of long duration. Maybe it was a fortress.

He looked away and grabbed his bag from the bed. He pulled out the stuff that was in it. The three money pouches. He took them up to examine them further. More than that he wondered how they were made. It looked like a simple leather pouch on the outside, but it somehow fits a lot more than a normal pouch. He found a tiny crystal embedded into the leather itself. It wasn't sowed in, more like it was infused into the leather.

He gave up about ten minutes later as he couldn't figure out anything.

A knock sounded on his door. He went to get it and the manager of the place greeted him respectfully.

"The communal bathing area has been cleared from all guests. Sir can use the place as he likes."

"Thank you, would the other attendant be back by the time I finish?"

"He should be so, yes," the attendant confirmed.

"Please let him deliver the clothes just inside and tell him not to look. Show me the way," Liam grabbed his stuff from the bed and followed the manager.

He was led to a place that had a lot of steam coming out.

Shortly after the manager left and Liam was finally able to take off the hood and sigh in relief. There was a slight scent of pine and peppermint in the air.

He took off his dirty coat and underclothes. He saw showers next, 'so they do have those, but why not in the rooms?' He washed off the biggest dirt there and looked around what else might be there.

He found there different kinds of saunas, a pool that had a thin sheet of ice covering it, and five hot springs. He tested those hot springs with his toes and thought to just jump into the middle one.

But Pollen intervened here. Making his presence known when Liam was testing the hottest one. He whined just a little to himself but sat down in it.

Two minutes passed and Liam thought that the temperature of the water had risen since he had sat inside it. A minute later, he frowned again as he felt the increase in temperature once again.

Liam knew what was going on when the temperature rose for the third time. He wanted to protest that this was supposed to be his downtime, but he didn't say anything. He just marveled, that the Avatars must have learned their lesson, as at least two of them must be working together to make all of this happen.

After ten minutes, the temperature rose slightly after every half a minute.

His skin started to sustain real injuries about ten minutes after that and he couldn't stand it after five minutes of torture. He jumped out of the scalding water and ran carefully to the cold water.

Sudden relief washed over him like a tide only to be replaced by the water getting colder. He sighed and made himself comfortable. The cycle started again but this time the water was getting colder. A thin sheet of ice was gradually getting thicker.