Fantasy World Creations

Location: New World - Wind Temple of Velothia - Dalina's Home
Date: Day 2 - Morning


Waking up that morning, it looked like the rest were still asleep. There were two bunk beds on either side of Dalina's room. The Priestess and her sister on one bunk bed, with you and Ren on another. Sometime during the night however, Ren had managed to make her way into your bed, and she was still sleeping soundly, with her tentacles wrapped around you, and in your clothes.

Gust was perched out on the window, looking inwards, he chirped a few times,. "Morning!" He said, but eventually flew away.

The slimeling on the other hand was already awake, it looked like it had begun eating the covers and bedsheets on Ren's bed. It left the mattress underneath untouched however. When it noticed you were awake it plopped a few sounds that you understood as its language.

"Food giver!" It then flew into the air, aiming straight for your face.

QuoteYou could attempt reflex, DC 10, to move out of the way and catch it deftly instead, or just have it go through.

     Jean let the slime plop onto his face before pulling it off, untangling himself from Ren, and standing up.  He stretched his arms out and then looked down his outstretched arm at the slimeling.  "We need to figure out what to do with you."  He softly spoke, trying to avoid waking up the others as he looked at the damage the slimeling had done.  "You have quite the appetite and yet..."  He maneuvered the blob around.  "You don't seem much larger than yesterday.  Nor do you have the form of your other self.  I wonder if this is how your race reproduces or if it is some unique survival mechanism."  He sat on the edge of his bed and held the blob in both hands, looking down at it.  "I wonder if we find your other self what will happen.  Will we reincorporate you or maybe just let you be..."
     He looked behind him to Ren as she lay sleeping in his bed.  In his old life, he could not have imagined this scenario occurring, and yet rather than be filled with giddy excitement he felt a kind of serenity knowing that Ren was there.  Perhaps it was the horrors he ensued with her at his side, but he felt attached to her in a way he could not compare to any relationship he had ever had before.  "No dreams last night... I guess that might be for the best.  The dreaming city..."  He continued to watch Ren's slumbering face for a moment before turning back to the slime.  "I've got a lot of research to do...  but before that I need to be able to fight.  My ineptitude has cost us greatly.  Isn't that right?"

The slimeling didn't respond immediately. It instead seemed to be preoccupied rotating its face.

"Me... I am other me!" At that moment, the slimeling started to attempt to morph, it seemed to struggle however, but the shape it was trying to go for was unmistakably like its previous form when it was much larger. Back when it had mimicked Eloise's body. However, the slimeling's attempt failed, it seemed like it was starting to form, but it was shivering, as if trying hard to shape it and maintain the form.

It eventually gave up though.

"But... not me!" It didn't seem particularly bothered though, as this time it started to wrap itself around your hands and fingers. Almost like some sort of viscous living goo.

"You... did okay, Food Giver!" The slimeling said resolutely. "You... should have... me stop it. Big metal thing."

It clambored back to your hand normally.

"It hurt. I want protect Food Giver and Snack." The slimeling moved slightly, as if peering behind you, staring at Ren.

"Tentacles... nice too!"

     Jean smiled at the slime's attempt at transforming.  "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it.  I wonder how long it will take you to grow to your original size."  He looked out the window to the dawning sun as he listened to the slime.  "Maybe I should have left you...  I don't imagine that my death could have caused the fall of the academy but ten years is a long time to have been gone, a long time I could have spent doing something...  But I couldn't have just let you die for me anymore than you could let me do the same...  meiotic division not withstanding."  Looked to Ren once again with the slime's last sentence.  "Yeah, the tentacles are nice.  I guess I never would have seen her true form if it wasn't for my death.  I wonder if I ever would have known her had the encounter with the metallum gone differently."  He bent down and gently moved a lock of Ren's hair aside before leaning in and softly kissing her forehead.  "Your name may have come from a place of madness, but it is perhaps all the truer because of it.  You nurtured me when I was wounded, you caressed me when I was flayed, you were my companion in my solitude.  I owe you my life and more.  I'm sorry you died for my folly." He caressed her face as softly as he could, trying not to wake her.
     Jean stood up and patted his thighs.  He picked up the slime and set it on his shoulder.  "Time to get to work.  I wonder if Vitaliya is awake yet."  His stomach rumbled its protest and he patted his belly.  "Actually, I need to see about getting some food first.  I wonder what they have in here."  He went into the kitchen and began rummaging around for something ti eat.

Ren stirred lightly when you caressed her face, but she didn't wake up. There was some rustling from the other bed where Dalina and Anja slept. It was Anja who seemed to have started to wake up herself, sitting herself up with sleepy eyes, she rubbed them awake.

"Good morning... Mr. Hero." The girl said slowly while she was still in bed. More than likely she had heard you speak out loud quietly to yourself.

"Sister's going to be asleep for another few hours still... Wanna eat?"

---

Regardless of your answer, Anja made her way to the kitchen then, picking up some eggs, and a metallic plate. Heading outdoors, she went bent down near a fire pit, then lighting it with some nearby flint, started it up. Using the plate she brought with her, and placing it on some stone positioned above it, she began to cook.

     "Oh hey Anja...  Yeah something to eat would be nice.  Why are you awake up so much earlier than your sister?"  Jean asked as he looked at the kitchen's shelves.  He grabbed what he thought was some kind of jerky and followed Anja outside.  "I'd offer to help but I wasn't much of a cook before I came here and I doubt my skills have somehow improved."  He watched her work with her primitive setup.  "You sure seem to know what you're doing...  and that stew last night was really good.  Does that make you the better cook of you and your sister?  I don't have her food to compare but if you are always up before her then in sure you get a lot of practice in the morning."  His ears perked up when he heard a bird chirping in the background.  "Oh, when do you get a bird companion of your own?  I thought everyone was supposed to have one.  And what kind of path are you training for?  Your sister said you had lessons yesterday. "

"Being the Priestess of the Hero means all you do is focus on the hero. She's completed all of the studying and learning for it, so her responsibilities now are just eating and sleeping. Well... Taking care of you too. And guiding you, whatever that means." There was a hint of envy in her voice.

"For me? I still go to training every day. And no... No bird of my own yet. Only after I finish my training do I get to take care of a bird companion... It's really when the priest instructor feels you can have that responsibility that they let you have a bird companion..." There was a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"I'm hoping to get mine soon at least! I'm hoping it's any day now. For now..." She pointed at Gust who was perched on the roof, keeping an eye on you two.

"Usually it's a relative's bird companion that looks after those who do not have a bird companion yet. And the older ones teach the younger ones. It was mother's bird companion who taught Gust. And when I get mine, Gust will teach mine." Anja explained as she finally finished cooking some of the eggs, and putting them on a plate for you, she cracked a few more eggs though and began cooking that next batch.

"There really isn't much to cooking... Really. Plus these are just eggs. But..." Anja lowered her voice as she shivered. "You don't want to try my sister's cooking... ever." You swear Anja turned a bit pale.

"Sister once said she should do all the cooking since I'm still going through training. And I guess she really wants to help? And I get that, I really do. But big sister doesn't know how to cook at all... At least I managed to convince her to do this 'taking turns' thing."


"It makes sense though. Big sis never did the cooking. It was actually mom who used to do it all. I would help too! I was a good helper! Mom told me herself." She smiled a bit from her comment, recalling that memory.

"She would try to teach us both... We'd be out here, like how you and me are right now. And mom would tell us what ingredients worked well with each other and how to cook things properly. You know... Even though Dalina is my older sister, she never really picked it up very well. But I listened to mom's teaching well. I learned a lot more from her than my teachers... and she always made it so much fun."

"She was a great cook. Like really really good! If you thought my stew was good, my mom's was amazing! She would even find ways to make simple things like this egg be more interesting. Every time we'd land in Mt. Velothia to restock, she always made sure to bring home all sorts of interesting spices. I remember she would spend some nights just experimenting with them all... Everything she made was good! Everything she cooked was amazing! Everything she did was amazing. I..." Anja bega poking the egg that was frying slowly, staring at it deeply as if seeing something.

"I miss mom." She poked it again as swells of tears began to form in her eyes. "I wish... I wish there was no such thing as heroes. It was because of them that mom had to go! She could have stayed right here, where it's safe! Everyone worries about the winged demons, but I'm sure we can lose them up here... We don't have to help the stupid land-dwellers! I hate them... And I hate the heroes. I know I shouldn't be thinking that... I'm not sure, but sometimes I think that's why the instructor is holding back. Everyone my age already has their bird companion..."

"You know. When I heard the stories that you stripped everyone naked... I thought... I thought that means I could hate you too, but then you came here. And... you aren't that bad... You even got that weird lady tentacle person to try to apologize... And you ate at our table, it was like family... Sister and I... never had anyone at our table ever since mom left." She used a free hand to begin wiping the accumulating tears.

"I thought it'd be easy to hate you when you were finally brought here... But seeing you here, you're just trying your best too aren't you? Mom promised me... she promised she would be back to see me each year. She broke that promise. Then she broke that promise again the year after... and-" By this point Anja had begun to sob, her words being choked up.

     "Shit, uh..."  Jean fumbled over himself trying to think of what to say.  He looked down at the eggs and jerky he had been eating, averting his gaze from the crying girl.  "Look...  I'm sure your mom had the right idea.  It's just that...  Sometimes we have to make hard choices to do the right thing and sometimes those choices end up hurting those we wanted to protect.  We can't know beforehand how some decisions we make are going to hurt until we make them.  Trust me, I made the same decision your mom did and I died ten thousand times for it but I know that I wouldn't have had it any other way because I chose to protect my friends.  I think your mom did what she did because protecting you and your sister was more important to her than being able to stay here."  He timidly put a hand on Anja's shoulder.  "Besides, just because your mom hasn't been able to fulfill her promise doesn't mean she's gone forever...  She may just be out there fighting the demons and unable to make it back to the mountain."

She seemed to have been about to get mad, or even further upset. But your words managed to calm her slightly.

"T-That... That's..." Anja said wiping her tears with her robe and sleeve as she shivered. Once she was done, she tried to face you, and put up a smile, but you could tell it was forced. A moment after that, her mouth quivered, and without another word, she flung herself towards you, attempting to hold on to you in a small embrace.

"That's true... but... it doesn't change the fact she isn't here anymore. I just miss her... I just miss her so much."

Anja will proceed to continue clutching on to you, softly sobbing.

It would be a couple minutes more, when you noticed movement. It was Dalina standing at the doorway of their home. Her gaze was sympathetic, from her sister's tears, and the fact she had clung on to you, and knowing that her sister still missed their mother, she managed to figure out the situation. Ren was there too, peeking out from behind, confusion on her face, but choosing not to say anything.

At that moment, you smelled something burning. It was the food.

QuoteSome assumptions made above, let me know if I need to tweak

     Jena patted Anja on the head, letting her cry. "Don't worry.  It's alright to miss your mom."  He looked over to Dalina and Ren and nodded his head to the burning food while he put a hand on Anja's head.  He waited for her to finish crying before talking.  "I think breakfast needs to get finished Anja.  Everyone is awake and we need everybody to get well fed before we all go to our activities today.  We can't have everyone get food poisoning to start the day right?"

She wiped her face one more time.

"Yeah... I know. Food poisoning's my sister's job." She giggled, then breathed in deeply and smiled briefly. She gave you one more brief hug though, then stood up. She walked a short way grabbing a little pack that contained her lunch, then with that in hand, she started to make her way towards the temple.

She stopped midway, turning around she shouted.

"Good luck with the food!" Anja called out, then started to jog away.

Dalina made her way towards you, smiling first at you, but then frowning at the burnt food that was left on the make-shift stove top.

"Well... it doesn't look too bad. But... what's this about food poisoning's my job?" Dalina's eyes moved towards you. She was smiling, but there was a certain intensity to that smile. If you had to characterize it. it was scary.

     Jean smiled back.  "Secrets of The Whispering Librarians...  whatever that might mean?  Things just keep coming out of the corners of my mind."  He crammed the now cold eggs and jerky into his mouth and stood up.  "Anyways, gotta go train!  What are you going to do today?"

"Well... u-umm... I was planning to sleep, but Ren woke me up when she noticed Anja with you. Umm.. Maybe I can do some cleaning around the house, or maybe... I could cook you some lunch and bring it over?" She seemed a bit flustered. "I'm the Priestess of the Hero so I should be guiding you or helping you in some way!"

"Yeah, that's it. You'll be a Vitaliya's? I'll come by later with some food!" She announced.

QuoteFeel free to move to the Training area, then roll your Training checks.

     "Alright I'll see you later then."  Jean took his leave and went to the training hall with with Ren and the slime in tow.  He got to the training hall and set to work against the striking stone, trying to launch his blows the way that Vitaliya had shown him the day before.

QuoteTraining
Unarmed Strike: 3/6

It was around noon when Dalina came back. She brought with her a tray. The moment she arrived, Ren perked up.

"Master... We... get to eat more food?" Ren licked her lips, remembering the stew from last night.

Dalina waved with her free hand at you.

"It's ze lunch time now is it? Ahaha..." Vitaliya mumbled. "I brought my own food..." The trainer said excusing herself.

"Vitaliya not going to join us?" Dalina asked when she noticed the trainer walking away. "Oh... well, that means just more for us!" She smiled happily as Ren herself moved up closer, her eyes sparkling.

Then... She opened it.


Ren immediately dipped one of her tentacles in eagerly, and was about to put it in her mouth.

QuoteYou can stop her if you wish.

    "Yeah, actually usually people eat three meals a day.  Sometimes we get to snack between meals too...  Um...  Lunch eh?"  He said seeing the meal laid before him.  "Sorry, it just uh...  Looks different than the food I'm used to..."  He saw Ren eagerly go for the food and took up a piece of what looked like it might have been fish.  Anja's words from that morning played through his mind.  "Hey Ren, before you tuck in, let me just say...  Sometimes the flavor of foods can be...  Intense..."  With that, he let Ren eat the food and stuck the morsel he had picked from the spread into his mouth, bracing for impact.

The moment Ren put it in her mouth, she paused, though, she didn't spit it out or anything. You could tell that she was trying to figure out the new flavors that were assaulting her mouth. Her face was devoid of expression. When you put it in your mouth, the awful flavor spread throughout your mouth. It was a combination of bitter, sweet, salty, with the grains that looked similar to rice, seemingly feel like mush in your mouth. There was a hint of a charred flavor to it. But surprisingly, you managed to down it, it was true it looked horrible, but once you get through the biting initial taste, it wasn't that bad.

QuoteWith your ridiculous modifier, you won't fail even if you roll a 1, so treat this as normal food.

Ren seemed to smack her lips. She seemed to be of the same mind, and started to dip her tentacle back into one of the dishes.

Dalina on the other hand was overjoyed. She was literally beaming.


A short moment after that, Vitaliya came back hesitantly, realizing you and Ren had eaten some. She had a completely confused look on her face.

"Want some too?" Dalina asked.

Vitaliya took one look at the food, then looked at Ren who was stuffing herself with the food, then lastly at you.

"Is zat a good idea?"

     Jean simply shrugged.  "It's not that bad.  Though, I would definitely say it doesn't taste like anything I have ever had before."  Jean ate another bite.  "What exactly is it?  I'm not sure that any of these foods are ones you can find back where I'm from"

QuoteRetroactively applied the Training changes, your Unarmed Strike training should now be at 5/6.

"Let's see... Fish our fishkeepers keep. The grains are a type of rice... But my method makes them a bit mushy. That one over there is fermented beans... Along with those vegetables. I was trying to the same process for some of the rice. Oh! And there's some salted roe too in there somewhere."

Dalina explained as she pointed to each of the bowls and containers. She then grabbed a spoon and place some in her mouth. She made a face at first but began eating it normally.

Thi was enough to convince Vitaliya, so she herself grabbed one of the spoons, and hesitantly scooped some up, and placed it in her mouth. Her face soured, but she didn't spit it out. However, she did decide not to eat anymore.

Some of the students too ate their own food watching intently, but as Vitaliya was being friendly, and even shared her own food with the two of you, one by one the other students started to near, and even talk with you, Ren, and Dalina. The moment a female student neared though, Ren's tentacles twitched, and you could tell she had started looking hungrily at them.

Ren didn't seem to strike out though, remembering what Dalina had talked about, but you could tell it was bothering her. Instead, she did sat closer to you, and wrapped you up in her tentacles.

     Jean saw Ren's restraint and smiled.  "See?  That wasn't so bad now was it?"  Jean looked to the newcomer.  "HI, I guess we haven't really had a chance to get acquainted.  Who're you?"  He asked as he took another bite of his lunch.

The girl looked vibrant, and she had an easy smile.

"Dasha. And you are... Jean Valois the master of the malevolently monstrous menagerie of madness!" The girl said cheerily. "Everyone's been talking about you, you know? We were all kind of afraid of you when you first appeared yesterday... But if sensei seems to fine with you, then I guess it's okay with everyone else too."

"Jean's ze hero. He's my star pupil! Two days, and he's already almost mastered fighting unarmed... Its ridiculous to think. You hear that everyone? Don't let ze hero show you up!"

Dasha laughed, and so did the others. From that point on, many of the other trainees introduced themselves.They talked about themselves and of their hopes of you beating the demons. They all seemed to be in awe of you. Some of the trainees has begun sharing their own food as well, which Ren eagerly bit into. However, time and time again, Ren continued to snack lightly on the food Dalina prepared. One of the trainees had been brave enough to try it, but the poor kid ended up vomiting on the spot. This only merited laughter of course. Over all, the atmosphere was light.

QuoteSome assumptions above, let me know if things need tweaking, we can also RP that out more thoroughly if you want as well! Roll your next Training check for the second 4 hours, unless you have other plans.

     Jean finished his lunch with the other pupils and resumed his training, once again working on his strikes and even trying a kick or two to try and get the hang of the motion.  Vitaliya had a point, he never had tried any martial arts back in his old world but he was never that coordinated or strong and yet here he found his ability to move and execute the maneuvers Vitaliya had taught him to be easier than ever before.

The next 4 hours of training wasn't just matches with Vitaliya. The rest of the other pupils found it more comfortable being around you, and Vitaliya had thought to give it a go that you would spar with the others as well, while continually giving instruction on both form and methods of attacking. Dalina had stayed behind and watched, practicing in some of the drills herself, though with Dasha giving her tips this time around. The slimeling too wanted to get in on the action, and had, for a short bit, pretend to be 'striking' out with its slime tentacles, though, you noticed its reach was far from the reach of what you remember of the original. When the day was done and everyone was getting tired, Vitaliya had been grinning.

"Zere has been no others as fast as learning as you... Two days of mastery over ze basics..."

QuoteLet me know if you plan to do a 3rd bout of training, which would require a CON roll. If not, let me know if you have other things you wanted to do for Day 2.

     Jean wiped his brow and put his hands on God's hips.  "Thanks, I got to say: this is a good start.  Hopefully now..."  He walked over to one of the weapon racks and picked up a training spear.   "I can get started on something a bit more complicated."

It was around 8 PM when Vitaliya and you had finished. The rest of the pupils had already gone home, saying goodbye to you, but Dalina was still sitting out. Since then, she had brought forth a lantern, and had been enjoying the evening peacefully as she watched you and Vitaliya continue to spar with the spears this time. As this was the first training session, Vitaliya had focused on the basics, such as how to hold it, or attack with it.

You were able to get some progress, and you didn't feel tired either.

QuoteTrainings
Spear Proficiency: 1/8

     Jean finished his training and looked to Vitaliya.  "Well that's enough for today I think."  He took a swig from one of the water jugs and exhaled hard before turning to Dalina.  "I think it's time for dinner.  Are you cooking today or is it Anja again?"  Jean gathered up his stuff and began to make his way back to the home.

"Well... It was supposed to be my turn tonight, but I was busy with... umm... hero duties and watching over you... So... I'm sure Anja took care of it though!" Dalina forced a smile.

"I'll make it up tomorrow!" Dalina said as she began packing the few things she brought with them.

"But nevermind that... You managed to get a lot of practice in, and seeing you throw those punches, I can't help but be a bit jealous? I've gone through a similar kind of training years ago, but it took a hell of longer time than 2 days to get to the point you're at. Plus... You're already moving on to weapons, huh? Were you always a quick learner back in your world?"

Like before the slimeling perched on Ren's head, while Gust was flying about, skipping from tree to tree, continually keeping an eye out, and traveling with the group.

---

Eventually arriving at the home, you saw Anja waiting outside, with a lantern herself as she waved towards you. She then began jogging towards you, finally stopped when she was in front of the group.

"Guys! My training was... different today..." She looked at you specifically.

"And umm... hero, I have a favor to ask..." Anja began. "Can you... come with me to my training tomorrow?"

     "Not at all.  I wasn't a very good student of anything really.  I spent all my time reading books, and not the ones that I was supposed to be reading."  He let the breeze chill him as it swept his sweaty face.  "Nor was I that good at sports or any other physical activities...  This all seems to come from my status as a hero  it would seem."

---

     "Sure, I don't see why not.  Who knows, maybe I'll learn something while I'm there.  Does Ren need to come too?"  Jean asked as he walked up to the house.  He entered in and stopped in his tracks.  The house was a shelter to the constant wind he experienced outside and in the exposed training hall and with the lack of a wind to air him out, he realized his own body odor for the first time since being summoned.  "Um...  Before dinner, I don't suppose I could take a bath?"  He said as he stepped back out into the cool evening breeze where hopefully his stench wouldn't offend anyone.

"It's been hundreds of years since my people had last summoned a hero... Some of these details are lost. I think when I get back to our house I'll probably write in my notebook." She paused for a second, and she seemed to blush slightly.

"Well, umm, my house... that you're staying in too." She said correcting herself.

---

"Of course... The bath is at the back. There's a large tub... Let me prepare it for you real quick?"

"Umm..." Anja looked hesitantly at Ren, and Ren in return stared right back at her.

"Well.. I..."

Ren continued to stare, almost pleadingly.

"Well.. okay... She is kinda a part of you- Whoa!" Ren had jumped forward, squeezing the poor girl into a tight hug.

(http://forums.fantasyworldcreations.com/Themes/envision2013_smf20_rev3/images/dice_warn.gif) This dice roll has been tampered with!
Ren Mental Resist 1d20+8 : 10 + 8, total 18

To her credit, Ren didn't let her tentacles interfere. And Anja began to slightly blush from the sudden attention.

"Okay... Umm... Miss tentacle lady..." Anja paused for a moment and decided to hug Ren back.

"It's not that big of a deal... really.. You can come along with us too, okay... Ren?"

     Jean smiled at Ren's actions, proud of her achievements, and then looked out into the night sky.  "I can't believe I didn't bath yesterday.  It's something I rarely ever missed before...  Back in my original world, we had this thing called plumbing and it let us have hot baths and showers whenever we wanted.  I guess I'll need to get used to this...  Come to think of it there are a lot of things I probably will never get to use again.  The internet, electricity, buses, trains...  All of those are now only existing in memory...  It's kinda weird."

"Intern-net..." Dalina repeated the strange word you spoke of. The translation magic didn't seem to trigger for concepts or words that had no direct translation. When Dalina repeated it, it was in your own language, and you didn't detect the strange sensation of seeing her mouth move a certain way, but you end up hearing different words.

"Bathing daily... Alright, I'll get that setup. Anja you can start preparing the food, and you can probably give the slime-creature a fresh blanket... I'll go to the market tomorrow and see if the slime creature will eat anything else. Oh... but that reminds me, the slime creature is your pet, Jean? It is kinda like how Ren appeared with you too?"

Dalina then left to prepare the bath, while Anja began serving up plates of her cooking. This time around it was roast chicken, with some of the stew from last night, but seemed to have been augmented slightly with some other ingredients.

---

QuoteIf you happen to follow Dalina, or watch her. You could interrupt her too if you wanted.

At the bath Dalina began preparing the water. There was a giant wooden tub, with a seat in it that allowed for easy sitting. At the side of it, looked to be a way for water to flow into it. It looked like it was controlled by what seemed like some sort of miniature floodgate with a pool of water at the top. The contraption was separated into various small pools, and there seemed to be a place where the fire would heat up each individual pool.

She began lighting up each of the sections, beginning to heat the water. The entire process would take perhaps 30 minutes, but after that, it would be warm enough to start bathing in.

     "Yeah the internet.  It let you read things from anywhere on the planet if you knew where to look.  Though a lot of people used it for other things, like playing games or watching porn.  Though who needs RPGs when your world is a giant MMO?  And the porn?  Well...  I don't think that would do much for me now either...  As for the slime, well I don't know.  She was from this world.  I met her after I was summoned the first time.  I don't know how long she had been in this world though.  I think she was native to a region that had just appeared."

---

     Jean watched Dalina set about making the bath.  "This sure seems elaborate.  How often do you bath?  Where I'm from it's considered kinda gross when people don't bathe that often."  He looked at the various basins.  "Maybe there is a quicker way to do this...  It's too bad we don't have an electric kettle..."  Jean watched the water slowly heat up until he was hit with an idea.  "Oh!  I know!  Why not use magic?"  Before Dalina could answer he reached into the place of his incantations.  "Fire!  Water!  Boiling spittle of the beaked cobra that chases the stone.  Scalding water!"

"You said so many weirds words I'm kinda confused... Your world is kinda complicated... But it's... a she?" Dalina had stared at the slime-creature. "It makes plopping sounds, but I guess you could understand that too."

---

"It's gross to not bath often? O-oh..." Dalina seemed to get embarrassed.

"Umm... we usually we don't take bathes actually... We get a damp cloth and clean ourselves with it. Oh! But once in awhile I heat this up, and soak in it though! Haha..." Dalina was definitely embarrassed.

When you finished casting, a stream of hot boiling water appeared. The waters mixed.

"Fire magic!" Dalina said. "Of course! You're a hero... I should have realized..." She grinned. "Everyone here has an affinity for Air magic, no one else can use anything else but that. Air magic can be useful too you know? But I admit, it must be nice being able to use fire whenever..."

Then she realized something.

"Wait, did you just invoke two elements? That's actually kinda amazing. Since you're the hero, you should be able to use the main elements. But invoking more than one at the same time in a single spell is rare, even among masters."

QuoteAdded the spell as Tier 0 to your list, though any spell can be effectively be any tier, it just mainly dictates how strong it can be overcharged, along with if it can contain special spell effects.

     "It seems I can understand most languages, a skill I definitely did not have back in my world, I call it a she only because that is the general form that she has taken in the past.  Or well...  The form I believe she will eventually be able to take.  Her species seems capable of some kind of replication that I don't completely understand."

---

     Jean dipped the tip of his finger into the hot water and let some of the cooler water flow into the tub to get it to a more appropriate bathing temperature.  "Yeah, I learned that from the person that first summoned me.  Apparently I can use most of the elements."  Jean started to take off his shirt but then stopped and looked at Dalina.  "Um...  Not sure about when you wash yourselves but uh...  Where I'm from bathing requires you to be naked so..."

"O-oh r-right..." Dalina said blushing. She stood up then, but instead of leaving, she began to remove her cloak.

"Hop right in..." She mumbled while still blushing.

"IT'S NOT LIKE I HAVEN'T SEEN EVERYTHING ALREADY." Her face was red.

     Jean quickly turned away also blushing.  "Umm...  Well uh...  I mean that's true but...  Well..."  He looked down at the bath.  "Where I'm from it's not appropriate for a boy and girl to bathe together like this unless...  Well unless they are...  Together"

"O-oh-" Dalina started to blush even more red, if that was possible. "N-no! I m-mean, not that I wouldn't mind- I mean... T-that's not what I mean! I j-just meant..."

She was still red but she took a deep breath to calm herself.

"I'm just... not good at anything else... And this is my calling, to help the hero... to help you in any way I can." She started to get red again.

     "I...  Um...  Sure...  That's fine I guess..."  Stammered Jean as he took off his shirt and the rest of his clothes, trying to put the tub between himself and Dalina as best he could before getting into the tub himself.  Despite his nerves, the warmth of the water quickly relaxed him and he let himself sink down into the water as deep as the tub would allow.  He let out a long breath.  "I guess nothing ever will beat a good hot bath...  I can't believe your people don't have a strong bathing culture..."  He said as he looked up into the night sky.

Being so high up in elevation, the night skies themselves looked absolutely amazing. Not only was there no light pollution, the fact that there were hardly any trees, gave you a full view of the stars. The stars were breathtaking, though, none of them were familiar at all. The moon too looked larger than it actually was.

Dalina was still blushing, but she managed to sit behind you on a chair next to the tub. There was a bar that you assumed was soap, and she took that.

"No... Our life is usually a peaceful and simple one... Apart from the learning and training that we all do, there are those who grow the fields, raise the livestock, work with the hatcheries, and the like. We share with each other what we have, we don't have a currency either, and we don't partake in extravagances very often, much like this bath... In fact, most homes don't even have this tub."

Taking the bar of soap you felt her begin to scrub. You noticed that the bar of soap didn't seem to lather as much at all compared to the soap you were used to.

     Jean continued to look at the sky.  "Yeah but what about taking the time to relax?  All this time spent on sustenance and spiritualism...  When do you take time for yourself?  Even if this is consisted an extravagant luxury, it's just as important to do stuff that makes life worth living as it is to pursue your duties and spiritual goals."  Jean leaned forward and tested his chin on the edge of the tub as he continued to muse.  "Besides, back in my world, bathing was more than just washing  yourself for a lot of people.  Our lives, while peaceful by the standards of this world, were blighted by a different kind of chaos and stess.  For many, myself included, taking a bath at the end of the day was a shield to protect against that...  Even people that don't have the kinds of problems I did took this time though.  It was special.  While it wasn't a common custom in my country, many went to communal baths where they could bond in a moment of shared nakedness...  And when not at such a public place, bathing with someone else was a deeply romantic thing that lovers would do in the privacy of their own home.  Where you see extravagance, I see more than just luxury.  I see a moment of stillness in a world of endless movement..."  Jean turned his eyes up to the unfamiliar starscape as he set his chin on his crossed arms resting on the edge of the tub.  "It's spiritual in its own way..."

You heard some shuffling behind you, and a moment after that you heard the splash of water. Turning around it was Dalina, she had removed her robes, shirt, and shorts, and all she had on were her black undergarments. Though, those were soaked now too since she had jumped into the tub with you.

"I w-was having a hard time reaching when you move forward like that... It's not like this is anything s-special! B-besides you've seen more already anyways, and you said this was supposed to be spiritual! And I'm definitely a priestess so...."

She started to continue scrubbing your back, but continued to blush fiercely.

     Jean looked away with a blush to match Dalina's.  "Um...  Uh...  Okay..."  He pulled his legs up to in front of him to try and minimize his exposure to Dalina.  Staring straight ahead, he nervously asked.  "So...  You said that you're the priestess of the hero and that it's your job to help me but um...  Is this really part of your duties?"

"Y-yes! O-of course... I'm to help out the hero with anything they need! As the Priestess of the Hero, it's my job to do this!"

It was at that moment you noticed Anja and Ren both peeking. Dalina was self-absorbed in scrubbing that she didn't quite notice.

     "Right...  Um...  What other responsibilities do you have?  Anja said that you don't have the same kinds of duties as the other priests.  You said you're supposed to help me with anything I need but that almost makes you sound like a servant."  Jean asked, trying to distract himself from the mostly naked girl behind him.  Seeing Ren and Anja over by the corner of the house,  Jean started to have a bad feeling.

"The main duty... is to come with you, once you decide to travel the world. I'm to fight with you, too... Though, my specialty is more in the magic than what Vitalya teaches, but I can do the basics of that at least. B-but a servant?" She stopped scrubbing your back.

"I wouldn't say servant... Maybe... like a helper?"

"You're a servant." Anja said.

"A-anja?! Why are you h-here? This isn't what it looks like!" Dalina attempted to smack your head.

As she was starting to stand up, her swing was too wide however, and she began stumbling over behind you. You felt two soft mounds crash into the back of your head.

     "Oh uh...  Hi Anja!"  Jean said, trying to keep his cool.  He tried his best to shrink down into the water and keep Anja from seeing him naked.  This backfired when Dalina fell onto him and he was submerged in the now soapy water, inhaling some of the water.  He came back up for air, coughing and with suds in his eyes.  He had trouble seeing and his hands were just as soapy as his face, only making the stinging worse and leading him to reach out instinctively for something to wipe his eyes with where he usually had a towel waiting for him.

"When you two are done being lovebirds, we have dinner ready." Anja said flatly. "Come Ren."

"I want to join!" Ren said in response, not budging.

In that next moment, Ren, jumped into the tub as well, her tentacles coiling around both you and Dalina. She seemed content as the warm waters gushed around her. The water in the tub had risen, and some of the water had escaped when Ren jumped in. She turned around and motioned to Anja.

"Come join too flat-" Ren paused, trying to remember Anja's name. "... Anja!"

"N-no... I shouldn't..."

Ren looked over to Dalina, then back to Anja. You can tell Ren was visibly and purposefully pouting.

     Jean started to laugh at the comedy of the situation as he leaned over to splash some of the reserve water into his face and clear the suds from his eyes.  "Come on in Anja, the water's fine.  I'm sure we can make space."  He looked to Dalina.  "See?  Communal bonding, just like I said.  Maybe this will change your mind on how extravagant bathing like this is."

"I s-suppose..." Dalina said. "Alright... Well, Ren help her in-"

Without warning, Ren's tentacles shot forth, grabbed Anja, and proceeded to dump her in the tub next to her. Ren looked completely happy, not realizing what she had just done.


"... After she removes her clothes..."

Anja was in complete shock, as her robe and clothes were soaked in the soapy water. Dalina was silent for the longest second, with Ren still smiling happily. But a moment later...


"Take that!" Anja said as she made sure Ren's face was splashed with water. Figuring this was some sort of new game, Ren's tentacles reached up to the reservoirs of water still above them, that replenished the actual tub, and forming her tentacles into something like a large cupped hand, she poured its contents over the entire group.

QuoteFeel free to wrap the scene up, and/or the dinner scene, unless there's specific other things you want to do for Day 2 evening.

     Jean finished up the bath and ate dinner before retiring to the room Dalina had said was intended for his use where he spent the rest of the evening experimenting with his powers.  After finishing, he looked at the barren room.  "Needs something to make it more...  welcoming...  Oh well, something to work on later."  He then headed for bed, crawling into his bunk.  He sat staring at the underside of Ren and the slime's bunk, getting a feel for the material of his bed.  The night before he had been too tired to even think about what his bunk was like.  It felt too narrow, definitely smaller than the bed he once had, and while the cushioning material was suitable to his taste the fabric of the bedding was of a rougher material than what he was used to.  Eventually his eyes became heavy and he drifted off to sleep.