Chapter 374: The Hot Spring Expedition

The closer the group came to the basin, the more difficult it became to pretend they were still on an ordinary expedition.

Warm mist drifted between the trees. Water rushed down smooth stone channels, collecting in pools of different sizes and colors. Some were shallow enough to see every pebble beneath the surface, while others were deep enough that their blue-green water concealed the bottom.

Arthur stopped at the edge of the first terrace.

"This place is incredible."

Kong leaned around his shoulder, his eyes wide.

"Look at all that water!"

Melo folded her arms. "Yes, Kong. That’s generally what happens when you find a hot spring."

"But there’s so much of it! We could spend the entire day here!"

"That appears to be the plan," Vedas said, "which is precisely why we need to inspect the area before anyone gets too comfortable."

Arthur looked at him. "You know, you could try enjoying something without turning it into a security operation."

"I am enjoying it."

"You haven’t even smiled."

"I don’t need to smile to enjoy something."

Melo leaned toward Athy. "He has a point. I’ve seen him enjoy things before."

Athy nodded thoughtfully. "Usually when everyone else stops making noise."

Vedas looked between them.

"I’m standing right here."

"We know," Melo replied cheerfully.

Professor Scolding clapped her hands, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Before anyone enters the water, we need to establish a few rules. The outer pools have been inspected from a distance and appear stable, but the deeper pools still require testing. Nobody is to approach the ancient roots or touch the markings around the largest pool without permission."

She pointed toward the broad stone terraces.

"Keep the walking paths clear, stay within the designated bathing areas, and inform one of us if you notice anything unusual in the water."

Sun raised a hand.

"What qualifies as unusual?"

"Anything that glows, moves against the current, changes temperature suddenly, or attempts to pull you beneath the surface."

Sun slowly lowered his hand.

Mithra smiled. "Were you planning to test the last one?"

"I was asking a perfectly reasonable question!"

"Of course."

Professor Roland added that the group would divide into suitable bathing areas, with separate changing spaces and clear boundaries around the untested pools. The villagers who had accompanied them could use the inspected outer springs, while those who preferred to remain dry were welcome to explore the surrounding terraces.

Arthur nodded at every instruction.

"Understood."

Professor Scolding narrowed her eyes.

"You agree rather quickly."

"Because they’re reasonable rules."

Vedas turned toward him.

"That is the most suspicious thing you’ve said all morning."

"What do you want me to do? Argue with the professor?"

"No. I want to know what you’re planning."

Arthur gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"I’m planning to enjoy the hot spring."

Vedas watched him walk away.

"I don’t believe him."

"Neither do I," Melo said. "But I’d like to see how this turns out."

Once the initial inspections were complete, the group finally had permission to enjoy the water.

Arthur lowered himself into one of the broad outer pools and leaned back against the smooth stone edge.

A long sigh escaped him.

"Oh, this was an excellent decision."

The warm water surrounded his shoulders, easing the stiffness left by the journey through the southern woods. The gentle sound of a nearby waterfall filled the air, and the mist drifting across the pool made the rest of the world seem wonderfully distant.

For several moments, Arthur said nothing.

Then he closed his eyes.

"I could stay here forever."

"Three days ago, you were complaining that we hadn’t explored enough," Vedas remarked as he settled into the pool nearby.

"And now I’ve discovered something worth exploring thoroughly."

"It’s a pool."

"It’s a magnificent pool."

Vedas rested his arms along the stone edge. "I reserve judgment until the inspection is complete."

Arthur opened one eye.

"Your shoulders are relaxing."

"They are not."

"They absolutely are."

"I’m enjoying the temperature. That is different."

Melo laughed from the next pool over.

"Athy, record this. We’ve discovered a new phenomenon."

Athy looked up from the small notebook she had brought along.

"What phenomenon?"

"Vedas relaxing."

"I see. Should I also record the location of this rare event?"

"Please do," Arthur replied. "We might never witness it again."

Vedas straightened immediately.

"I can still hear you."

"That’s a good sign," Athy said. "It means the hot spring hasn’t damaged your hearing."

Vedas stared at her.

Athy returned to her notes, perfectly satisfied.

Arthur chuckled and leaned back again. Star wiggled happily on a dry stone beside his towel, its small body shifting shape as the warm mist drifted over it. Every so often, it bounced in place, apparently fascinated by the moving reflections on the water.

Arthur glanced at it.

"Having fun?"

Star bounced twice.

"I’ll take that as a yes."

The Beasts had discovered their own entertainment.

Kong had found a shallow pool near the edge of the main terrace. A broad piece of fallen wood floated on its surface, and he had immediately decided it was a boat.

He climbed onto it, crouched low, and pushed himself away from the bank with a small stick.

"Behold! The first voyage of Kong’s magnificent watercraft!"

Melo watched from the stone edge.

"That’s a piece of wood."

"A magnificent piece of wood."

"You’re sitting on a floating branch."

"A magnificent floating branch."

Kong pushed himself toward the opposite side of the pool, looking extremely pleased with his invention.

Then the branch slowly turned around.

He paddled harder.

It turned again.

Melo covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

"Your ship seems to have a problem."

"It’s navigating!"

"It’s going in circles."

"That’s part of the navigation process!"

Athy glanced over from her notebook.

"If you want to reach the other side, you should push against the water at an angle rather than straight backward."

Kong tried her suggestion. The branch moved forward for several seconds before drifting sideways into the bank.

He looked at her.

"That was almost perfect."

"Almost," Athy agreed.

Kong hopped onto the stone edge and pointed at Melo.

"Fine! If you’re so confident, let’s race."

Melo raised an eyebrow.

"Race where?"

"Around the shallow pool. No powers, no cheating, and no pushing!"

"Agreed."

Kong climbed back onto his branch. Melo took her position on the safe stone walkway beside the water.

Arthur turned toward them.

"Remember the rules. No racing near the deeper pools."

"We heard you!" Kong called.

The race began.

Kong pushed off with all his strength, while Melo moved along the walkway with an easy, steady pace. For a few seconds, it seemed that Kong might actually win.

Then his branch spun sideways again.

"Not this time!"

He paddled furiously.

Melo reached the finish first and turned around just in time to see Kong’s branch gently bump against the bank.

Kong crossed his arms.

"The current was against me."

"The pool barely has a current," Athy observed.

"The current was emotionally against me!"

Melo laughed so hard that she had to sit down.

Even Vedas’s mouth twitched, though he quickly returned to his usual expression when Arthur noticed.

Star bounced excitedly on its stone perch, its body briefly stretching into a rounder shape before settling again.

Arthur smiled.

"This might be the most peaceful expedition we’ve ever had."

Vedas glanced toward Kong, who was now attempting to improve his boat.

"Don’t say that aloud. You’ll jinx it."

Sun had meanwhile claimed the warmest available pool.

He sat in the center with his arms resting along the stone edge, looking as though he had personally conquered the entire basin.

"A proper warrior understands the importance of recovery," he declared. "After enduring the hardships of the journey, one must allow the body to return to its optimal condition."

Mithra entered the neighboring pool and settled comfortably beside him.

"Are you finished?"

"I have barely begun."

"Then continue. I’ll let you know when the speech becomes longer than the journey."

Sun turned toward her.

"Must you undermine every moment of greatness?"

"Only when you make it so easy."

He gestured toward the surrounding water.

"Look around! Warm pools, natural waterfalls, mineral-rich water, and an atmosphere of perfect tranquility. This is an ideal resting place for an accomplished warrior."

Mithra dipped her hand into the water.

"It’s certainly warm."

"Exactly!"

"And yet you chose the smallest pool."

Sun looked down at the water surrounding him.

"It is not small."

Mithra stretched her legs, taking up a little more space in the neighboring pool.

"Then you won’t mind if I borrow some of yours."

"Hey! You’re taking up half my pool!"

"Strange. I thought you said it was spacious."

Sun splashed water in her direction.

Mithra retaliated immediately.

Within moments, their argument had become a brief, harmless water fight that drew laughter from the nearby students.

Professor Scolding called out from the terrace.

"Keep the splashing away from the walking paths!"

Both of them stopped.

"Yes, Professor," Sun replied with remarkable speed.

Mithra smiled innocently.

"See? He can follow instructions."

Sun gave her a wounded look.

"This is a conspiracy."

The villagers had gathered around a quieter section of the basin, where warm water flowed beneath a small waterfall.

An elderly woman named Mrs. Bell stood beside one of the stone markers, running her fingers over its worn surface.

"I remember this place," she said softly. "My parents used to bring us here when we were children."

Luna approached her.

"You’ve visited the spring before?"

"Many times. Before the village fell, families would come here during the colder months. Some brought food, others played games along the terraces, and travelers often rested here before continuing south."

A man standing nearby chuckled.

"And the children always argued about who could carry the most water without spilling it."

Mrs. Bell smiled. "You were the worst of them."

"I was the strongest!"

"You dropped your bucket before you reached the first terrace."

"That was one time!"

Luna laughed.

The villagers began sharing more memories. One remembered a summer gathering when the entire square had traveled south together. Another described the old stone channels that once guided water between the pools. Several recalled how the spring had remained warm even when frost covered the surrounding hills.

Luna listened to every story.

For so long, her memories of home had been dominated by the corruption, the ruined buildings, and the fear of finding no one alive. Hearing the villagers speak about ordinary days reminded her that their home had been much more than the disaster that destroyed it.

"This place really was important to everyone," she said.

Mrs. Bell nodded.

"It was a place where people could rest. Where families spent time together. Where we could forget our troubles for a little while."

She looked toward the turquoise water.

"I’m glad we can see it again."

Luna smiled, her eyes shining.

"Me too."

Nearby, Arthur had stopped listening to Kong’s latest argument about boat ownership. He watched Luna speaking with the villagers and felt quietly pleased that the journey had given her another good memory of her homeland.

Not every part of the expedition needed to end in a battle or a dramatic revelation.

Sometimes, finding a place where people could laugh again was enough.

As the afternoon passed, Athena continued examining the spring’s properties.

She had collected readings from the outer pools, compared the mineral deposits, and recorded the temperature differences between the flowing channels. At first, the results appeared ordinary enough, but the readings around the largest pool kept drawing her attention.

She crouched beside a stone terrace and brushed away a layer of moss.

Beneath it lay a series of faint markings.

Athena leaned closer.

"These aren’t natural cracks."

Professor Roland approached.

"What have you found?"

"The mana readings around the largest pool form a repeating pattern. I thought it was caused by the roots beneath the basin, but the pattern changes direction at specific points."

She pointed to the markings.

"Look. The circulation follows these lines."

Professor Scolding joined them, examining the exposed stone.

"Are you saying the pool was deliberately constructed?"

"Not necessarily," Athena replied. "The basin itself is natural. But someone may have shaped the surrounding channels to guide the mana."

Arthur climbed out of the water and approached, wrapping a towel around his shoulders.

"So we found a hot spring and an ancient mystery?"

Vedas emerged from the neighboring pool.

"I knew we weren’t going to have a normal vacation."

Melo grinned.

"You were the one who kept saying we should enjoy ourselves."

"I was enjoying myself before the mystery appeared."

"Then enjoy yourself while we investigate."

Athy joined Athena and examined the markings from another angle.

"The pattern resembles the root diagrams from the village records. It’s not identical, but the way the lines divide is similar."

Luna stepped closer, recognizing part of the branching symbol.

"I’ve seen something like that before."

"Where?" Athena asked.

Luna studied the markings, trying to remember.

"I can’t be certain. It might have been in my grandfather’s records."

Professor Roland examined the surrounding channels without touching them.

"Then we should document everything before drawing conclusions. The pool is safe for ordinary use, but we don’t know what the markings are meant to do."

Arthur looked toward the broad turquoise water.

"Does this mean we have to stop enjoying the spring?"

"No," Professor Scolding replied. "It means you can enjoy the spring while we investigate the markings."

Arthur smiled.

"Excellent. I knew this was a good destination."

Vedas sighed.

"I should have stayed in the village."

Athena returned to her notes, already preparing a more detailed survey for the following morning.

The group had come south looking for a place to rest.

They had found that—and something else.

Beneath the largest pool, the ancient mana pattern continued beyond the visible stone terrace, disappearing under the roots and into the depths of the basin.

Whatever its original purpose, it had been waiting here long before their expedition began.

And tomorrow, Athena intended to find out why.