Charles was submerged up to his shoulders in a hot spring pool, steam rising in gentle swirls around him.
The warm water wrapped around his exhausted muscles, melting away knots of tension he didn't even know he had.
This part of the clan was an unexpected luxury: carved stone walls encircled the pools, moss creeping through the cracks, and small natural waterfalls fed a steady stream of hot water.
The sound of it dripping against the rocks was almost hypnotic.
Charles let out a long, deep sigh, leaning his head back against the stone edge.
'This… this is paradise,' he thought, closing his eyes for a moment as the heat climbed up his neck.
How he'd ended up here still baffled him. After Lira had staggered off his chest, shaken by his power, she'd said:
"Go to the hot springs and recover there… I'll shift your fights to tonight."
Before he could ask anything, she'd added:
"That bath's for arena fighters. Since you're so dead-set on fighting, you've got access now. When you're done, put on the new clothes they'll leave for you. You can head straight to the dining hall after."
Then, without another word, she'd turned and marched out of the room, leaving him sprawled on the floor.
'What's going on in that nutcase's head?' Charles thought, cracking one eye open to watch the steam drift over the water.
The way Lira had acted didn't match the picture he'd built of her…
And the worst part? When he tried digging into Rian's mind for any memory about it…
Nothing.
Charles sank deeper into the water, letting the heat ease the ache in his arms and chest.
'How am I supposed to win without using my powers?' he thought, frowning as the water lapped at his chin.
Lira had been crystal clear: if anyone saw his ability and pegged it as magic, he was a dead man.
Not only would he lose the fights, but his head too.
But without his power, what could he do?
Rian's body was a mess—every time he tried to strike, it froze up, like some part of Rian flat-out refused to fight.
Against Toren Vask's sons, it'd worked because the water amplified his electricity by dumb luck.
But against Lira…
'Why'd that even work?' he thought, replaying the moment he'd told her to repeat herself.
Honestly, he'd done it out of pure desperation—zero faith it'd actually pay off.
'Am I sharing this body with Rian…?' he wondered, trying to figure out how to pull that same trick against his next two opponents.
But… nothing came to mind.
The water's warmth was starting to lull him, and a yawn slipped out unbidden.
"This is so relaxing," he mumbled, letting his arms float on the surface. "I'll figure out the arena stuff later. That's a problem for Future Charles."
It was his go-to excuse for exams, and since he'd always scraped by with that approach so far…
Charles rested his head against the stone rim, gazing up.
The chamber's ceiling soared high, sunlight filtering through cracks and tinting the steam with golden hues.
He let his eyes drift shut, the sound of the water washing over him.
'Just five minutes of rest for now…'
◇◆◇
"Lira," Kraus Cole said, his tone stern. "You know I'm busy. What's going on now?"
Lira stopped before the throne and gave a deep bow, holding it for a moment before straightening.
"Father," she began, her voice steady despite the lump in her throat. "I need you to do something for me… it's about Rian."
Kraus frowned, a low growl rumbling from his throat.
"Rian?" he repeated, not bothering to hide his disdain. "What's that useless brat done now? Didn't accept being your servant?"
Lira swallowed, feeling the weight of his stare.
"I want you to delay today's fights," she said, keeping her voice even though her heart pounded. "Announce they'll happen tonight, and make Rian Cole's last two back-to-back—the big finish. Give them the best promotion you can. Please."
The silence that followed was so thick Lira could almost hear it pressing down on her. Then Kraus let out a harsh, dry laugh.
"What?" he barked, standing up. "You sure you want to risk your reputation for that failure?"
"Yes," Lira replied curtly.
"Idiot, you're talking about making that useless kid the night's closer! Have you lost your mind, Lira? What's your angle here?"
Lira bowed her head again, heat creeping up her face.
The pressure radiating from her father was overwhelming—a force that filled the room and crushed any doubt.
But she wasn't backing down.
"I'll take full responsibility for that fight," she said, lifting her eyes to meet his. "If anything goes wrong, if Rian screws up… it's on me. I'll handle it. But I'm asking you to do this. Please."
Kraus Cole stared at Lira in silence for a moment before responding: