The bath was quiet. Steam rose around them as they sat in the wooden tub, her back against his chest, his arms around her waist. The water was hot. It pulled the tension from their muscles, the smell of hydra blood from their skin. Neither spoke. They did not need to.
Afterward, they ate in the inn's small dining room. Bread and butter. Cold meat. A bottle of wine. The room was empty except for them. The other adventurers were still sleeping or still celebrating. Alex poured the wine. Saeko tore the bread. They ate slowly, savoring the silence.
When they finished, they went to bed. The sheets were clean. The room was dark. They lay facing each other, her hand on his chest, his hand on her hip. Her eyes stayed open for a long time, watching his face in the moonlight. Then she closed them. Then she slept.
---
