The Hunt for Him
### Chapter: The Path Forward
Turai and Gareth sat side by side in the large, steaming hot spring, their bodies soaking in the warmth. The heat of the water enveloped them, and the steam rising from their skin was a clear sign of the temperature. They leaned back, muscles relaxing as the tension of their long journey melted away.
Turai glanced over at Gareth, his freshly trimmed hair still glistening with droplets of water. His own hair had been cut shorter, styled neatly so that it framed his face in a more refined way, something he had never bothered with during his years of training. Gareth, on the other hand, had left his hair longer, letting it fall just past his shoulders, but he'd taken care to trim his unruly beard into a clean, respectable look. Despite the signs of aging, Gareth looked more youthful and spry.
"You clean up well, Old Gareth," Turai teased, his voice filled with amusement.