Chapter 235

Joric’s bravado was paper-thin, and his shaking hands proved it. He reached out and picked up the delicate porcelain teacup from the table and lifted it to his lips with trembling fingers, the liquid inside sloshing dangerously close to the rim. He was acting like a man trying to act normal, which only made him look more suspicious.

Vana just rolled her eyes at his pathetic performance. "Let me do the talking, you idiot. You're going to get us killed"

A relieved, happy smile bloomed on Anya's face when the duo seemed to have come to a decision. "Wonderful! I knew you would see the wisdom in it. Please, follow me!" She glided from behind the desk, her apron swishing softly, and led them to the door marked 'SPA'.

It opened not into another dark corridor, but into a bright, inviting hallway. Three more doors lined the wall. One had a blue male symbol (♂). Another, a pink female symbol (♀). And the third, in the middle, was painted a deep violet with a combined symbol (⚤).

Vana pointed a finger at the middle door. "Miss, the male and female doors make sense, but… that one? The mixed symbol? What is that for? Is that a co-ed room?"

Anya’s smile stiffened slightly. "Oh. That one," she said, her voice suddenly a little less confident, a little more evasive. "Don't you worry about that one. It is for… special guests. Very special guests of the owner." She gave a quick, dismissive wave of her hand. "It's not part of the standard package. Now, please, your treatments await."

Anya directed Vana toward the pink door and Joric toward the blue one. The pink door opened, revealing a space that defied all expectation.

The air was warm, thick, and scented by aromatic oils and sweet, floral incense. The room was a grotto. The walls, instead of being rough stone, were covered in smooth, glistening moss shimmering with tiny, embedded crystals which cast soft, pinkish light, bathing everything in rosy glow.

In the center, sunk into the floor was a big, circular stone bath. It wasn't filled with water but a thick, viscous, watery slime. The blue liquid was crystal clear, tiny bubbles rising to the surface and bursting to release faint, pleasantly fruity scent. It looked less like a monster and more like a bizarre, translucent gelatin.

Around the bath, piles of the softest, fluffiest towels imaginable were stacked. Small stone tables held bottles of glittering lotions and oils, and a chaise lounge, draped in plush velvet, sat against one wall, inviting someone to recline.

Standing in the corner so still Vana hadn't noticed her at first, was a female goblin. She was small, her skin a sickly, mottled green, pointy ears twitching. Her uniform was immaculate – pristine white tunic top and matching pants, a stark contrast to her species' usual grimy rags.

When the door closed, the goblin glided forward, her movements smooth and practiced. She bowed her head slightly.

"Greetings, madam. I will be your attendant today. Welcome to the Serenity Slime Bath," she said, her voice surprisingly clear and polite contralto. It was completely devoid of the typical monster guttural stutter.

"Our signature slime, imported directly from the Core's private pools, is infused with regenerative properties and aromatic essences. A twenty-minute soak guarantees the melting away of muscle tension, the soothing of the adventurer's weary soul, and the restoration of your body to a state of peace. Afterward, you may enjoy a full body massage with our exclusive Midnight Oil, extracted from rare mosses found only in the deepest caverns."

She gave another little bow. "Please, allow me to assist you out of your travel-worn attire." Nimble, surprisingly deft fingers began unbuckling and unlacing Vana’s armor, carefully folding each piece before presenting her a bathrobe.

'The material is surprisingly soft,' Vana thought, running her hand over. It felt like silk against her skin, a stark contrast to the coarse wool and rough leather she was used to.

'Perhaps… perhaps I should just enjoy this while I can. No point in resisting anymore. It's better than being dissected by a goblin.' Her only remaining concern, a niggling thought at the back of her mind was for her man. 'I hope my not-too-bright husband won't cause any trouble in whatever strange place he is.'

"This way, madam," the goblin attendant said, her voice a calm guide. She gently led Vana toward the big stone tub which was gurgling invitingly. The fruity scent rose to meet her, pleasant, calming aroma.

Vana approached the edge of the bath and looked down. The slime was so clear she could see the polished stone bottom below. She took a breath and stepped in. The sensation was bizarre, it wasn't like water but thicker, denser, and incredibly warm, clung to her skin, not unpleasantly though. It was like being submerged in a warm, scented jelly. The slime enveloped her legs, rising to her waist then her chest.

When it closed over her shoulders, she felt an instant, profound sense of buoyancy and relief. The aches and pains of the long road, the tension in her shoulders and back, simply dissolved into the translucent goo. The slime pressed against her gently, cradling her body in a state of perfect, weightless comfort. It was the most relaxed she had felt in years.

Soft sigh of pure, unadulterated bliss escaped Vana’s lips. 'So good…' she thought, her body going completely limp. All her preconceived notions about slimes - vicious, acidic, monster-filled globs of goo were melting away right along the stress. The feeling made her chuckle. 'I hope it won't dissolve me.'

The goblin attendant watched her carefully, a faint smile on her lips. "Is the temperature to your liking, madam?"

"It's… it's incredible," Vana admitted, her voice dreamy. "I've never felt anything like this. I never knew a slime could be used for… well, for this."

The attendant’s smile widened. "The owner is very innovative. She finds new purposes for odd things." She let that hang in the air for a moment. "Do you wish to elevate the experience? For an even deeper state of comfort?"

Vana, now completely relaxed and intrigued, nodded. "Sure?" her curiosity piqued.

Right after she spoke, the slime responded. It thickened, becoming even more viscous. The surface level rose, covering her chin, then her nose. Instinctively, Vana held her breath, her heart lurching by a flicker of primal panic.

But the slime didn't block her airways. Instead, when it passed over her face, the glob became thinner into a fine, breathable membrane, oxygenating itself somehow. It was the most peculiar sensation. She could "breathe" the slime.

'I can still breathe while inside it? Interesting,' Vana thought, wave of wonder washing over residual fear. She was fully submerged, weightless, cradled in perfect comfort, her world reduced to soft blue glow and faint scent of fruit.

The goblin leaned over the edge of the tub. "Then please, have this mushroom juice. It enhances the treatment. The next process might be a little out of place," she said, her voice holding a strange, promising lilt.

A small wooden tray appeared at the edge of the bath. On it sat a single goblet filled with liquid so green it was almost hard to look away. It had a pearlescent sheen and glowing faint light, tiny flecks of gold floated within like captured stardust.

Vana rose from the bath, the thick goo clinging to her as she emerged, her skin shimmering. She took the goblet, her nose wrinkling at the earthy, sweet smell that was somehow both appetizing and off-putting.

She looked at the liquid, swirled it, and then, in one decisive gulp, drank.

As soon as the green liquid, warm and sweet, slid down her throat, a jolt ran through Vana’s body. It wasn't unpleasant though, it was electric. The slime surrounding her began to move with renewed purpose, actively explored.

Tendrils of the viscous goo, thinner and more dexterous than before, snaked up her thighs. They caressed her skin, leaving trails of warmth tingling and pulsing with strange energy. Vana gasped, her eyes wide inside the gelatinous medium.

"Don't... don't touch there!" she moaned, her voice a muffled bubble in the slime when two thick, determined tendrils pressed against the sensitive folds of her vulva and the tight ring of her anus. They began to knead and rub them gently.