The staircase indeed turned out to be not as long as Finn had imagined. After about ten minutes, light began to appear, not the kind emitted by fireflies, but brighter, as if it were as light below as during the day.
Shielding his eyes slightly with his hand, he descended lower, letting the bright light engulf him. A moment later, squinting, he saw...
Many huts, huts covered with perfectly green moss. More than a hundred houses stood around a large space, in the center of which was a waterfall, flowing not downwards as usual, but upwards.
This entire space was surrounded by a huge cave, on the sides of which tree roots twisted. It was not difficult to guess which tree these roots belonged to; this did not surprise Finn much. What truly surprised him was what the houses were built from. No, rather, how the tree roots made wooden boxes, which these creatures then inhabited.
Turning around, the boy saw, about a hundred steps away, a large sun, no more than seven of his bodies in diameter, laid flat in a column—the sun... "What is this..." Finn wondered. He couldn't look directly at the small copy of the sun, but it was clear that it was an important part of the ecosystem of this place.
Finn stood there the whole time, looking around, while the creatures standing behind him waited quietly. A moment later, the leader silently approached him and lightly touched his shoulder.
"Finn, you will be given a personal tour of this place, and for now, we have more important things to do, so please," the woman's light tone attracted Finn's attention.
"Yes..." Finn replied meekly.
After Finn's response, the leader gestured to continue the descent, which already led to the ground, and he began his descent again, but not as before, thinking through every step. Now he couldn't wait to explore this place.
Stepping onto the ground, he felt an unusual firmness. He stepped as if on cotton. Fluffy moss stretched around all the houses, surrounding the square, in the center of which was a kind of circular pool, also made of tree root, but with elegant patterns on the edges. It wasn't visible from afar, but Finn wanted to examine them.
Walking a little on the moss and getting used to the unusual sensations, Finn looked around and noticed that only the leader was standing nearby.
"Uh... Where did everyone..." Finn wanted to ask, but the lady in black interrupted him.
"They've gone to their homes, please don't worry about it and follow me."
It was hard to refuse her firm but calm tone, so Finn simply and humbly followed her, enjoying the soft ground. "Why didn't they think of this in that city?" Finn thought to himself.
Following the leader's figure, Finn kept trying to examine the houses they passed along. He didn't see anything special in them; it was stranger, rather, that the houses resembled the suburban houses of the city where he had spent the night. Ordinary wooden houses with a fireplace inside without a chimney. The huts themselves did not rot, as if they had been built very recently, but looking at the lived-in nature of this population, Finn knew for sure that they had been living here for a long time.
Approaching a remote section of the cave, to a house that was twice as large as those inhabited by these creatures, he felt a pleasant aroma of moisture with a hint of saltiness. There were two entrances to the house; this fact caused Finn a slight shock.
"Finn, please," the woman's voice indicated the right door. Finn's gaze turned towards the female figure, but the leader, reading his eyes, gave a simple answer. "I can't let you see the elder in this state and with this smell..." her voice seemed not to want to be rude, but the last words forced a sarcastic tone out of her.
After a few seconds of awkward silence between the two figures, the leader broke the silence with a sharp voice.
"Finn, take a bath, and I'll bring you a new set of clothes and food. But there will be problems with the latter, so wash thoroughly!" her sharp voice was unlike that of someone who had ambushed city knights just a couple of days ago.
"Yes... Okay," Finn said slowly, enunciating each letter.
Glancing towards the right door of this hut, Finn slowly moved towards the porch. His boots, the soles of which were already worn to the base, leaving only the simple insole, stepped onto the stairs.
Finn cautiously entered the bathhouse, his boots rustling softly on the wooden floor. The air was warm and humid, filled with a light aroma of wood and something faintly floral. He looked around, taking in the simple but elegant design of the room. The walls were paneled with thick wooden planks, and the ceiling was high, with beams that seemed endless. Soft light filtered through the cracks in the walls, creating a golden hue that enveloped everything around.
In the center of the room was a bathtub—a large bowl, masterfully carved from wood. The craftsmanship was magnificent, with intricate patterns and symbols engraved on the wood. The water inside was crystal clear, with a slight shimmer that caught the light and made it sparkle. Finn reached out and dipped his hand into the water, feeling the warmth envelop his skin. It wasn't too hot, but just right, soothing his tired muscles.
He slowly undressed, his movements deliberate as he carefully placed his clothes on a small bench by the wall. The bathhouse was quiet, except for the soft rustle of water in the tub. Finn stepped into the tub, the water rising to meet him, swirling around his legs and then his thighs as he sank deeper. The feeling was amazing—warm, comfortable, and almost therapeutic.
He leaned back, letting the water embrace him, and closed his eyes. The warmth penetrated his muscles, relieving the tension that had built up during the long journey. He took a deep breath, the aroma of the bathhouse filling his lungs—a mixture of wood, water, and something faintly floral that was both calming and invigorating.
As he floated in the water, Finn's thoughts drifted far away. He thought about his journey, the strange and wonderful things he had seen, and the challenges he had faced. He felt a sense of peace wash over him—a rare moment of tranquility in what had been a tumultuous few days.
The bathhouse was a sanctuary, a place where he could just be, away from the noise and chaos of the outside world. He opened his eyes, looking at the ceiling, which seemed endless above him. The light filtering through the walls created a dance of shadows and highlights, adding an ephemeral quality to the room's atmosphere.
Finn reached out and ran his hand along the edge of the tub, marveling at the craftsmanship. The wood was smooth to the touch, cool despite the warmth of the water. He dipped his hand deeper, feeling the gentle movement of the water as it swirled around him.
The bathhouse was quiet, except for the soft splash of water against the sides of the bowl. Finn allowed himself to sink deeper into the water, his thoughts drifting again as he savored the tranquility of the moment.
Finally, Finn sat up, his muscles feeling more relaxed than they had in days. He reached for the soap, a small rectangular bar of fragrant soap that smelled of lavender and herbs. He lathered his hands, the scent filling the air as he began to wash himself, unhurriedly and enjoying the feel of the soap on his skin.
As he washed, Finn couldn't help but feel grateful for this moment of peace. It was an impossible luxury, and he was determined to make the most of it. He rinsed off the soap, the water swirling around him again before he stepped out of the tub and reached for a towel.
The towel was thick and absorbent, the aroma of the bathhouse lingering on it. Finn dried himself, the warmth of the towel contrasting with the coolness of the air. He wrapped himself in the towel, feeling a warmth and comfort he had never experienced before.