Story 408: The Glimmer of Rest

The soft hum of the glowing pool filled the bathhouse with an unearthly calm. Rook dipped his hand cautiously into the water. It was warmer than expected, soothing against the calloused roughness of his fingers. The rest of the group watched in uneasy silence, their exhaustion battling with their mistrust of this strange sanctuary.

“I’m still not sure about this,” Ghost muttered, leaning against a pillar. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest, his stance rigid despite the apparent safety of their surroundings.

Shadow rolled her eyes. “What’s the matter? Afraid of a little hot water? It’s the first clean thing we’ve seen in weeks.”

“Not clean. Magic.” Ghost’s voice was sharp. “That’s the problem.”