Warm mist still clung to Sylvia's skin as she stepped out of the great bath. Droplets of water slid from the tips of her long black hair, falling onto the stone floor and evaporating before they could even form a puddle.
She exhaled softly a quiet, contented breath, like someone who had just regained full command of her own body.
"That's enough," she murmured.
Her gaze shifted toward Stacia, who still sat at the edge of the bath, absorbed in the thick tome resting on her lap.
Steam veiled part of her face, but her calm, focused expression remained visible. Page after page turned beneath her fingers without pause.
"Don't soak for too long," Sylvia said gently. "You'll lose mana focus if you stay in enchanted water for too long."
Stacia didn't look up. Her reply came in her usual quiet tone, almost like a whisper.
"I know, Sylvia. Just a bit more."
Sylvia shook her head lightly, her damp hair swaying with the motion.
