People of Adorea

++ The question was innocent enough she thought. The road was long after all, you have to have some way to pass the time right?

++ all any of us can hope for."

She held a hand into her chest gently thinking about the poor boy. It hurt to remember all they had been through but she knows it will be better.

"But hey that's enough of the downer talk. How about something else eh? How do you both have fun?" ++

After some moments of silence, the woman finally resurfaced, pulling her body up and out of the water and sitting on the edge of the heated pool still soaking her legs.

"Tiran will be okay that I am sure of. He has learned to open himself more and more each day and right now I think that's++

++ Her face betrayed her, she was thinking hard about it. Tiran was like a brother and to see his smile return would be priceless.

Though it would likely be easier to think when not around her current company. Turns out Mara had a bit of a weakness for gossip and being with these two didn't help.

"Not much you can do, being around him is the best I've been able to come up with so far. He eases with time and seeing the true face of people never hurt."

Mara sank softly into the steaming water her hair floating on the surface and only her nose up sat above it at this point. ++

++ That is why Tiran is so jumpy around your other friends. He worries far more than me. I could tell you were good, folk. He just felt the sting of the world a few too many times before I found him, and we came here. Now that he has a place he belongs to die to protect it."

++
when she found out their little scheme.

"Looking back on it now, it was probably the dumbest thing we ever thought to do. But in this world, it was eat or be eaten."

She laid back in the hot stone bath and sighed.

"Every day since has felt like a dream I'd never want to wake from.++

"She needed hands for the manor, and we came to the door. Never even told her once that we had experience being servants. Frankly, at that time, we planned to rob her blind that first night and leave by morning."

She laughed, thinking back on all of it and the scolding she got from her lady ++

++ than her male partner they had briefly met. Perhaps demons came in various species offshoots similar to beastmen and their various and complicated races and sub races.

++

"Anyway, pardon the intrusion."

She finally got her things folded and sat aside before grabbing a towel from the dry rack nearby.

"Frankly, I've been waiting all day to get in here, guests or not. These water work wonders on aching muscles."

Her skin was fair and less scaled++

++ our absolute best at all times because if we aren't the rabble out there, they will use anything they can to claim us destructive or harmful, hurting the cause our mistress fights for."

She was quite candid and open if truth was told. Guess she saw no need to beat around the bush.
++

"That she is but who in their right mind would want a devil living next to them? Me and my kin are tolerated only because of our mistress being our supporter. Though many won't speak on it openly, my mistress fights hard against the terrible treatment of my people. So she wants us on ++

++

"It would be a gift to be able to make decisions like you. Just pick something, and that will be it. With our mistress, things can get pretty hard. Not to say she is a bad woman or anything. She just worries a little too much, I think, and it can feel suffocating at times."

She seemed curious. The way they spoke was so relaxed that it almost seemed like she was envious. Her demeanor relaxed pretty quickly compared to her partner across the hall from them.

"Well, hope you don't mind a third..." She said, gathering her things close to the door.

++

++

"What brings you all out this way? Besides my mistress' request, obviously. I can't imagine this city has all that much interest to either of you ladies."

The 'mostly' in that statement left him on edge, not as much as 6 it was certainly going to take some time before he got more comfortable.

"I'll refrain from any other questions..."

Meanwhile, in the other baths, the horned woman offered the same tray to her guests.

++

++ slain another? Cut another being down?"

The way they were equipped before disrobing before told him plenty of their traveled roads. But what it didn't speak to was truly how often one might have use of a sword or staff. Did they protect themselves in a necessary capacity or seek danger?

His body shook with unease just being in this room with them seemed to cause his anxiety to rise. The scales that adorned the sides of his shoulders stood on end like quils of a prey animal, and his pupils dilated partly.

"My apologies for such a bare question, sirs, but have you ever++

Life has been a massive Rollercoaster recently. Moving house, jobs, and recently becoming engaged has made it hard to get on here much at all. I'll be responding as best I can with time.

//so sorry, life got very crazy I'll respond as soon as I get some free time this evening.

"Anything I can fetch for you, sirs?" The demonic male called from the doorway of the bath. In one hand, he held a tray full of fragrances free for them to use.

The man eyed the older brother, specifically his gazed locked like following an opponent. Perhaps he felt threatened somehow?

It wouldn't take long for the baths to be filled with perfectly hot water. Steaming in each of the enclosed rooms, each having a wide windowed view of the open grounds surrounding the bath house. However, they were divided in the middle by a solid wall, which gave the baths their privacy.

++

If it takes a while for me to respond to any ongoing threads, just know life got a little crazy and it's taking all my attention.

++
unfeeling masses of the underworld."

He sighed and ultimately understood the concern of the queen and stepped from his position.

"Still, if it eases your burden, I'll refrain from such practice. I'll reserve it for my trips to the overworld."

"The chances of a rebellion against one such as you are slim at best. Less so with us by your side."

He watched as the corpse be dragged away by a small persession of hellhounds.

"Besides the lack of raw emotion, here is exactly why it is as precious as it is. A rare commodity among the ++

"Male... Tiran... woman ... Mara. Ask if you need anything..."

With each new introduction, it seemed almost thematic. The witches servants were of demonic heritage, something not overly common, all things considered, which begged the question as to why or how she could employ such beings.

Azeal motioned for them to follow with her hands. It wasn't far at all from the hall in which they stood.

Down stairs and out a double set of doors and along a short stone path the party would be brought. Upon their arrival, they awaited two atendents.

The larger woman motioning at each. ++

"You can fill the time however you see fit. But if you want my suggestion, the bathhouse is perfect for a relaxing time after a long day."

The witch nodded and gently clapped her hand, having her servant stay with the group while she took her leave to the study.

"Please enjoy yourselves~"

The note was meant for her eyes only clearly. Upon it was inscribed a challenge.

"If you manage to reach my study this evening without my detection, we will discuss everything more."

++ advanced manipulation of mana. Essentially, we will start by learning how to properly control ourselves and the power, either if you possess."

She would hand a note to her servant, who would then glide across the floor to the elf.

"Here, if my answer did not satisfy, hopefully, this might."++