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To rinse away the confusion and uncertainty and just let the warm water relax me.
I rose from my seat, feeling the cool air of the room brush against my exposed skin, creating goosebumps.
The soft rustle of my robe followed as I made my way toward the showers.
The water felt like a cascade of liquid warmth as I stepped beneath the stream.
I closed my eyes, letting the droplets soothe my aching muscles and tangled thoughts.
The scent of the fragrant soap replaced Ashale’s musk.
My fingers combed through my wet hair, and the sensation was almost therapeutic.
The hum of the water enveloped me, drowning out the world and its complexities.
Under the warm embrace of the shower, my thoughts turned back to Ashale.
I replayed our moments together, searching for any hint, any sign that might reveal what had been missing from him.
What had he hoped to find?
Why had he looked so lost at times?
I longed for answers, but they remained elusive.
All I knew was that our paths had crossed for a reason, and despite the uncertainties, I cherished the moments we’d shared.
Whatever the future held, I’d face it head-on.
For now, though, I’d take comfort in the warm embrace of the water and the memories of a night that had changed my life forever.
* * *
The mood in the Prize Pool was animated when I returned from the showers.
Soft chatters had turned into energetic discussions, and an undercurrent of excitement flowed through the room.
The sound of dice rolling on a board captured my attention, and I saw Faela, another female I had become friendly with, engaged in a game.
Her opponent was a raven-haired beauty named Lilia, whom I hadn’t yet had the chance to know.
The game seemed simple enough: a board covered in symbols, dice with intricate designs, and pieces that looked like miniature creatures.
The goal, as Faela once explained to me, was to reach the end while overcoming various challenges, much like some board games from Earth.
The one difference was that each time you lost a piece on the board, you had to substitute it for a scale, clump of hair or, in one Prize’s case, teeth.
“Want to join?” Lilia asked, her bright blue eyes dancing with mischief.
I hesitated. “I’m… not familiar with the rules,” I said, looking for a way out.
“That’s okay!” Faela exclaimed, her cheerful tone infectious. “We’ll teach you. It’s easy once you get the hang of it.”
We were — thankfully — interrupted by a sudden uproar from the other side of the room.
A throng of females crowded around a large window that overlooked the fighting pits.
Their excited murmurs melded into a cacophony of voices, making it hard to discern individual words.
