"I don't know," Karl said with a grin. "Everyone might just spend all their time in a hot spring rather than do their work. It's so relaxing."

Sabine giggled, bowed her head and leaned her head on Karl's shoulder. "Just now you were afraid that this was not safe."

"I wasn't afraid. I was simply being careful," Karl said quietly, still grinning. He put an arm around Sabine's shoulders.

A gentle wave in the water preceded Lunise wading up to them all, neck deep in the water. Her blonde hair drifted behind her just on the surface. She looked to be struggling and hunched as she walked along the bed of the pool in a squat. When she sat down beside Meesei, she exhaled in relief and closed her eyes. Just like for everyone else, the murkiness of the water obscured Lunise's body. Her claw-etched scars were out of sight and mind.

"Were you okay, Lunise?" Sabine asked.

"Yes, yes," Lunise responded airily. She took a deep, slow, and utterly relaxed breath. "I took my time settling into the water. That is all." Meesei felt Lunise's arm curl around her waist.