The chatter about the hot springs began to fade.
Ryu noticed several male students straighten up or glance around awkwardly. A few grinned behind feigned nonchalance. It was a tradition as old as time, the legendary hot spring scenario. While most of them would never actually do anything inappropriate, the idea alone was enough to stir the imagination.
Soka leaned toward Ryu with a sly whisper, "This might be the highlight of the whole trip."
"You're incorrigible," Ryu muttered, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Once the room keys were handed out, the students began to disperse. The girls were assigned rooms along the left wing of the inn, while the boys took the right. The Princess was given a spacious corner room on the lower floor, sharing it with one of her personal attendants. Kalavan, ever the vigilant protector, was placed just around the corner, not that she needed guarding, but tradition was tradition.
After settling in, the students gathered in the inn's dining area for dinner. It was a cosy space with low tables, paper lanterns, and the smell of grilled fish and fresh miso in the air. Spirits were high, and soon enough, someone brought out a few bottles of wine and sake.
Of course, it was Soka.
"Come on, Ryu," he said, sliding a small ceramic cup in front of him. "Just one. For the culture."
Ryu sighed. "You're a terrible influence."
"Thank you."
Though not a drinker, Ryu gave in. One cup became two, and soon the group was laughing and mingling freely.
Not long after, several of the girls stood from their seats, robes tied loosely, towels slung over their arms. They walked toward the spring entrance with practiced ease, teasing glances exchanged with one another.
The boys immediately noticed.
There was a collective pause, followed by barely concealed grins from several male students.
And then it began.
Talk of "accidental" detours. Talk of vantage points. Jokes about steam and shadows. Most knew better, but the temptation hung thick in the air like fog. Soka, emboldened by his buzz, suddenly stood up.
"I'm gonna climb the rocks. I bet the view from up there is amazing," he declared dramatically.
"Wait—Soka, don't!"
But he was already outside, scaling the rocky outcropping between the bath sections like a monkey, like Sun Wukong himself. A few others gathered near a bend in the bamboo fence, where steam curled thick through the moonlight and someone whispered about a peephole.
Kalavan, standing nearby with arms crossed, shook his head. "Idiots," he muttered under his breath. He didn't move to stop them, though. He understood the appeal, but he was held to a different standard and nothing short of an invasion would warrant his interference.
Ryu facepalmed. "Oh no…"
And then... chaos.
A scream pierced the air.
There was a thud, followed by Soka yelling something unintelligible as he fell into the women's section with a splash. In a blur of shrieks and flailing limbs, he was promptly kicked — literally — back over the wall, towel fluttering behind him like a white flag of surrender.
Within moments, the girls cleared the bath, grumbling as they marched past the now-drenched Soka, who lay in a heap beside the rocks, his pride very much in pieces. Kalavan turned away, muttering something about writing a report no one would ever read.
Later, the boys retreated to their rooms, the mood somewhat subdued.
All except Ryu.
He stayed behind in the hot spring, his body sinking deeper into the mineral-rich water, the steam easing the tension in his shoulders. He tilted his head back, eyes half-lidded, breathing in the scent of stone and jasmine.
So much had happened. The tournament. The sketch. Yan…
Then, a sound drifted over the dividing wall, soft, melodic singing. A female voice. He couldn't make out the words, but the tone was gentle, soothing.
Is someone still in the other spring?
Ryu felt sleep beginning to tug at the edges of his thoughts. The warmth, the voice, it was a lullaby of sorts. He let himself enjoy it for a few more minutes, then rose slowly to leave.
But just as he turned the corner exiting the spring, he bumped into someone.
A soft gasp. A towel rustled.
His eyes widened.
It was her.
Princess Yan stood before him, clutching a white towel tight around her body, silver hair damp and clinging to her shoulders. The steam framed her like a painting, her skin flushed with heat and embarrassment.
Ryu's breath caught. He immediately looked away, his face blazing red.
"S-sorry—I didn't mean to—uh—"
She was blushing too, her eyes averted. "It's alright. I thought everyone had left."
"I… stayed a little longer," he said lamely, rubbing the back of his neck.
There was a moment of silence between them, filled only by the gentle bubbling of the spring.
"You were the one singing?" he asked, voice soft.
Yan's eyes flicked up, then quickly back down. "I wouldn't have thought you could hear me."
"It was… nice," Ryu offered, struggling not to glance down again. "Peaceful."
She smiled, small, but genuine. "Thank you."
They stood there awkwardly for a few more seconds, neither sure what to say next. Finally, Yan stepped aside.
"I should go," she said.
"Yeah, me too."
As she walked away, Ryu let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His heart thudded in his chest, wild and uncertain. He splashed some water on his face and sighed, watching the steam curl into the night sky.
Then, without a word, he returned to his room.
Ryu awoke to the soft golden light of morning filtering through the wooden blinds. The air in the room smelled faintly of last night's sake and wine and the muffled sounds of birds chirping in the distance.
Stretching slowly, he rose from his futon, tied his robe, and stepped out onto the wooden deck just outside his room. The crisp mountain air greeted him. It was quiet, peaceful, the perfect moment to do what he only ever found time for on weekends.
From his memory, he recalled all of the carefully drawn pages from his notebook and began mimicking the stances, creating slow deliberate movements. Each technique was performed with flowing control, his limbs moving like water as he followed the martial forms he'd sketched in painstaking detail.
Though he lacked formal training, Ryu's dedication showed, his form was nearly flawless.
Soon, other students began emerging from their rooms. A few stretched lazily, others joined in warming up with light drills. The innkeeper had quietly offered a bamboo-floored space behind the building, perfect for group practice.
A boy from the southern districts attempted a sword form but fumbled the footwork. Another student from Myar showed off a swift spear kata. Some clapped, others laughed. It was casual, but refreshing.
Kalavan arrived silently and joined the formation at the front, posture razor-straight. Though he didn't speak, his mere presence calmed the group. Everyone, including Ryu, grew a little more focused.
The morning grew into a rhythm of stretching, light sparring, and exchanging of ideas. Though few spoke directly to him, Ryu found himself respected. His notes, once dismissed as obsessive, were now sought out by students curious about his accuracy.
At nine o'clock sharp, he returned inside, changed quickly, and made his way toward the dining hall.
The common room buzzed with half-awake students. Some dragged their feet to the buffet line, others yawned mid-conversation. Soka looked like he hadn't slept at all — eyes puffy.
"You look like you fought a mantis beast in your dreams," Ryu teased.
Soka groaned. "Worse. My dreams had her kicking me out of the hot spring again. I don't think I'll recover."
Ryu chuckled softly, but his gaze drifted.
That's when he saw the princess.
She was seated at a low table near the window, bathed in warm sunlight. She wore a simple academy blouse and a long, dark skirt, but her silver hair was tied up, and her expression was bright and relaxed. Her eyes met Ryu's across the room and for a moment, they both paused.
She flashed a friendly smile at Ryu, meeting each other's gaze.
Ryu's heartbeat stuttered. He gave her a small nod and continued walking.
Breakfast passed smoothly. Everyone had a chance to eat, talk, and prepare for the hike ahead. At precisely 9:30, the bus arrived to take them as close to the ruins as it could reach. From there, they'd travel the rest of the way on foot into something old, sacred, and waiting.