Bath

The duo entered the bathhouse and immediately felt relaxed. The girls washed up and when they were done they immediately felt sleepy.

Nova glanced over at the mysterious lady. She seemed nice even though she knew almost nothing about her.. Nova felt attached to this woman.

Her own parents had died and this lady was the first since then to treat her so. The town of Anglze was a weeks ride by land and so the nice lady brought Nova down to the docks to catch a ride on one of the passenger boats available.

Nova had never been on a boat before since there weren't any large lakes near her home. The woman took a pendant out from the inside of her jacket and showed it to the man at the ticket booth.

The man immediately gave her a bow and ushered us into the first-class rooms for one of the boats that were due to leave first.

The lady thanked him and he left.

"Nova"

The use of her name surprised her. She jumped up and stared wide-eyed at the lady.

[What kind of reaction is that?]

"My name is Valentina, you may address me as Val."

Nova nodded and looked away, seemingly fascinated with the cloth on the bed beneath her. Val was a little irked at the lack of care Nova showed but quickly brushed it off.

[No point in losing my temper over something so miniscule]

The boat rocked a bit and then began to glide down the river to Anglze