I wake up and go through my usual morning routine. Wash up, get dressed, head to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
The cabin is quiet except for the sound of Donny's gentle churring from his spot by the fireplace. He waddles over as I start pulling ingredients from storage, bumping against my leg in greeting.
I make breakfast for both of us. Simple and filling. Eggs, bacon, Emberbread. While I'm cooking, I prepare extra portions for the kids and their familiars. Everything goes into storage to deliver later.
For Snow, I prepare a tiny bottle filled with honey. She's developed quite the sweet tooth.
Donny and I sit down to eat together. The morning light streams through the windows, warm and peaceful. As we're enjoying the meal, the wooden doll on the table begins to glow.
Wood flows into skin, features sharpen, hair cascades down. Within moments, Jyne sits at her usual spot, fully manifested.
She looks tired.
[Jyne] "There's just too much work."
She slumps slightly in her chair, which is unusual for her normally perfect posture.
[Wright] "Shouldn't things lighten up now that the awful kingdom is gone?"
[Jyne] "The world keeps spinning, Wright. Work keeps piling up. Natural disasters don't stop because one kingdom fell. Prayers don't pause. Divine maintenance certainly doesn't take breaks."
[Wright] "Well, let's take things easy now. Treat this trip as a vacation."
[Jyne] "A vacation. Yes. I could use one of those."
She doesn't sound entirely convinced she knows how to take a vacation, but at least she's willing to try.
I finish breakfast and clean up. Donny waddles to the door, ready to head out.
[Wright] "Let's go deliver breakfast to the kids."
We make our way toward their cabins, Jyne walking beside us. The morning is beautiful. Clear sky, gentle breeze, birds singing in the trees.
As we approach, I notice Aiko's campervan parked outside the cabins.
The kids must have stayed there instead. Makes sense. The campervan has modern facilities, three separate rooms, and nice beds. Why wouldn't they use it?
I knock on the door.
[Takeshi] "Come in!"
I open the door and step inside. The interior is just as nice as I remember. Clean, spacious, well-lit. The kids are already awake, sitting in the living area.
Ignatia, perched on Yuki's shoulder in her small form, immediately spots Jyne.
Her golden eyes go wide.
The small dragon launches herself off Yuki's shoulder and lands on the floor with a soft thump. She drops into the most dramatic bow I've ever seen. Foreleg extended, head touching the ground, wings spread wide.
[Ignatia] "Goddess! Creator of all things! It is the greatest honor of my existence to be in your divine presence!"
[Jyne] "Please don't be so formal."
[Ignatia] "But you are the Goddess! The one who shaped this world from nothing! The—"
[Jyne] "And right now, I'm just Jyne. Please, rise."
Ignatia lifts her head, looking uncertain. She stands but maintains a posture of deep respect, wings still partially spread.
I pull breakfast from my storage and start distributing it. Plates for the kids, smaller portions for Umbra and Snow, and a dish for Ignatia.
[Wright] "Here. Eat up."
[Takeshi] "Thanks, Wright!"
[Aiko] "This smells amazing."
[Yuki] "You're the best!"
[Ignatia] "Thank you for the meal."
She sounds genuinely grateful, though she keeps glancing at Jyne.
Everyone starts eating. The kids immediately launch into conversation with Jyne, completely at ease.
[Yuki] "Goddess Jyne, have you ever visited hot springs before?"
[Jyne] "I rarely get a break. I think the last time was before this world was created. I recall finding them quite relaxing."
[Yuki] "Being a God sounds tough."
[Takeshi] "We've been working really hard with farming and training. It'll be nice to actually relax for a bit."
[Aiko] "Oh! And we've been learning so much from the high elves. Liora taught me about crop rotation, and Rhevan's been showing us tracking techniques."
[Jyne] "I'm glad you're making the most of your time here. Learning from the people of this world will serve you well."
The conversation flows easily. The kids talk about their dungeon exploration, their training, the friends they've made. Jyne listens attentively, occasionally asking questions or offering insights.
Ignatia watches this interaction, her eyes wide.
Her small form is completely still except for her eyes, which dart between Yuki and Jyne. The casual way Yuki speaks to the Goddess, the genuine warmth in Jyne's responses. It's clearly not what Ignatia expected.
[Wright] "We'll be setting off for the demon kingdom soon, so I figured I'd make lunch ahead of time while you all get ready. Any requests?"
[Takeshi] "Karaage!"
His response is immediate and enthusiastic.
[Yuki] "Oh, yes! I'd love karaage!"
[Aiko] "I can help cook if you want."
[Wright] "Sure, but finish eating first. Let's make it a full bento box meal. What ingredients do we need?"
I open my Online Shopping skill interface, ready to search.
Aiko starts listing items while I add them to the cart.
[Aiko] "Chicken thighs for the karaage. Potato starch for coating, cornstarch works too. Soy sauce, sake, ginger, and garlic for the marinade. Rice, of course. Eggs, sugar, soy sauce, and mirin for tamagoyaki. Broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and edamame for vegetables. Some tsukemono, pickled vegetables. Miso soup. I think just getting the instant version will work."
I add everything to the cart as she speaks. Then I pause, thinking about quantities.
We'll need enough for everyone. There's too many to count. Let's assume twenty. More than enough, and I can just keep any extras in storage.
I adjust the quantities and add twenty bento boxes and chopsticks as well. Click checkout.
My mana drains, and a large cardboard box materializes on the campervan's small table with a solid thump.
[Jyne] "You've gotten quite used to that skill."
[Wright] "It's incredibly useful. Thank you for granting my request."
[Jyne] "You're welcome. Though I notice you're still using it primarily for food."
[Wright] "Food is important."
She doesn't argue with that.
I get to work. The campervan's kitchen is well-equipped and surprisingly large. Must have been extended further with Aiko's level up. I prepare the rice first, then start marinating the chicken. Then I start with the vegetables, cutting them and blanching them well.
Aiko joins in after she finishes eating and works on the tamagoyaki. I fry the karaage. The chicken sizzles as it hits the hot oil, the coating turning golden and crispy. The smell fills the campervan, making everyone's stomachs rumble despite having just eaten breakfast.
We work in comfortable silence, the familiar rhythm of cooking taking over.
We assemble the bentos with care. Rice on one side, karaage pieces arranged neatly, tamagoyaki sliced and placed alongside the vegetables. Each container gets a small packet of instant miso soup tucked in the corner. Chopsticks slide into their designated slots.
Twenty perfect bentos, all packed and ready.
I store everything in my Storage to keep them piping hot.
[Wright] "Done. Let's head out."
We exit the campervan.
Everyone is outside, standing in a neat line.
And they're all bowing.
Liora, Eldrin, Nym, Rhevan, Kara, Lucien, and Seraphina. Heads lowered respectfully toward Jyne.
[Wright] "You won't last at this rate if you continue doing this throughout the trip."
Sylphaeris materializes beside Jyne with an amused laugh.
[Sylphaeris] "Look at them, so formal and proper!"
Jyne sighs.
[Jyne] "Please, everyone, relax. I'm on vacation. I'm not acting as the Goddess right now. Let's just have an enjoyable trip."
They rise slowly, though most of them still look somewhat stiff and formal.
[Wright] "Is everyone here going?"
[Nym] "Rhevan, Kara, and I will be staying behind to protect the fields."
[Rhevan] "Someone needs to guard the village while you're away."
[Kara] "And I'll keep working on those pottery pieces. The new designs won't make themselves."
[Nym] "I'll take over Liora's duties supervising the fieldwork. Everything will be maintained properly."
Donny churrs from beside me, his tone firm and decisive. I can guess what he's saying, but Yuki translates.
[Yuki] "Donny says he's staying too. He'll help protect the village."
I reach down to pat his shell.
[Wright] "Thank you for guarding everything while we're gone."
Donny churrs again, clearly taking his responsibility seriously.
Movement catches my eye. Someone running toward us at full speed.
Vesper.
She's sprinting across the field, hair disheveled, eyes half-closed, looking like she just rolled out of bed and immediately started running.
[Vesper] "Wait! Don't leave without me!"
She skids to a stop beside the group, breathing hard.
Jyne looks at her with mild curiosity.
[Jyne] "Truly a strange elf."
Now that everyone's here, we can set off.
[Wright] "Alright, let's go."
[Eldrin] "Are we walking?"
He glances at the forest path that leads away from the village.
[Eldrin] "It'll take about a week to reach Luminara. The Demon Lord will be meeting us there. He's already rented out an inn with the best hot springs for our group."
A week?
I stare at him.
A week of walking?
I forgot. Again. I always forget about travel time.
Jyne notices my expression and sighs.
[Jyne] "You always skip over the details of things, Wright. Transportation, travel time, logistics. You just assume it will work out somehow."
[Wright] "It usually does."
[Jyne] "By accident, not planning."
She's not wrong.
I was planning to use wind magic to get there quickly, but with this many people and Vesper definitely not being able to keep up, that's not going to work.
[Yuki] "What if we all ride on Ignatia?"
Everyone turns to look at her.
[Yuki] "Her true form is huge. She could easily carry all of us. And I can cast a wind barrier to make the ride comfortable, no wind resistance."
Ignatia's small form goes very still.
Being used as transportation is clearly not her favorite idea. The proud ancient dragon, reduced to a mount for travelers.
But then she glances at Jyne.
[Ignatia] "If the Goddess requires transportation, I would be honored to provide it."
[Jyne] "That's very kind of you, Ignatia. Thank you for offering to give us a ride."
Ignatia's entire demeanor changes instantly.
Her wings flutter with barely contained excitement. Her eyes practically sparkle. Getting praised by the Goddess has apparently made being a mount completely worth it.
[Ignatia] "It is my absolute privilege! I shall provide the smoothest, fastest flight possible!"
She scurries away from the group, positioning herself in an open area of the field.
Then she begins to transform.
The change is dramatic. Her small body expands rapidly, growing larger and larger with each passing second. Scales spread across her form like liquid metal, her body elongating into something massive and serpentine.
Within moments, she's enormous. An ancient dragon in her true glory.
She stretches nearly two hundred feet from snout to tail, covered in crimson scales. Her wings span a hundred feet when fully extended. Two massive horns curve back from her skull, enormous molten gold eyes, and claws that are longer than I am tall. Flames dance along her jawline.
The sheer presence is overwhelming. Heat radiates from her body in waves, and the ground beneath her claws is already starting to scorch.
[Ignatia] "I'll adjust my body temperature."
Her voice is different in this form. Deeper, resonant, like thunder rolling across mountains. But still recognizably her, still with that formal, regal tone.
She closes her eyes, concentrating. The shift in the air around her is palpable. The oppressive heat that was making the grass wilt and the ground crack begins to recede. The internal fire that fuels her body is being redistributed, pulled deeper into her core and away from her surface.
The golden edges of her scales stop glowing quite so intensely. The molten veins in her horns dim slightly. Steam rises from her body as the temperature differential creates condensation in the morning air. Within moments, the scorching heat has become merely warm, comfortable even.
[Ignatia] "The temperature is now regulated. You should find it pleasant to ride. Please, everyone. Board carefully."
She lowers her tail to the ground, creating a scaled staircase.
We climb up one by one. The scales are warm to the touch but not uncomfortably so, like sun-heated stone on a pleasant day. Each scale is larger than my hand, and the surface is surprisingly stable. The slight ridges between scales provide natural footholds.
Her back is vast. Easily enough room for all of us with space to spare. The scales form a relatively flat area along her spine, though there's still a slight curve to accommodate her massive body structure.
Everyone finds a spot to sit. Yuki positions herself near Ignatia's neck, raising her hands to cast the wind barrier spell. Magical energy flows out from her, forming an invisible dome around all of us.
[Yuki] "That should do it!"
Rhevan, Nym, and Kara wave from the ground.
Donny churrs loudly, his tail wagging.
[Wright] "We're off! Thank you again for watching over everything!"
[Nym] "Safe travels!"
[Rhevan] "Enjoy the hot springs!"
[Kara] "Bring back anything interesting you see!"
Ignatia's wings unfold with a sound like rolling thunder. She crouches slightly, muscles tensing.
Then she launches herself into the air.
The ground drops away beneath us. Despite the sudden acceleration, Yuki's barrier keeps everything stable. No lurching, no wind buffeting, just smooth forward motion.
Ignatia's wings beat with powerful, steady strokes. Each movement propels us higher and faster. The village shrinks below us, the fields becoming patchwork squares, the forest a green carpet stretching to the horizon.
Eldrin comments that the wind barrier is perfect and praises Yuki for a job well done. Inside our protected space, there's no air resistance at all. It feels almost like we're sitting in a room that just happens to be moving very fast through the sky.
Everyone settles in, getting comfortable.
[Seraphina] "This is magnificent! I've flown many times, but never on dragonback!"
[Lucien] "The view is incredible."
[Vesper] "I'm going to take a nap."
She's already lying down, using her pack as a pillow.
Sylphaeris floats near the edge of the barrier, watching the landscape pass below with obvious delight.
[Sylphaeris] "We'll reach Luminara by lunch at this pace!"
[Eldrin] "A week's journey reduced to a few hours. Remarkable."
Conversation flows easily as we fly. Liora and Eldrin discuss what they know about the demon kingdom. Seraphina shares stories about various hot springs she's visited over the centuries. The kids ask questions about what to expect.
Jyne sits quietly, looking more relaxed than I've seen her in a while. The wind whips through her hair despite the barrier, giving her an almost ethereal quality.
Below us, the landscape changes gradually. Forest transitions to rocky terrain. Mountains appear on the horizon, tall peaks with snow-capped summits.
Hours pass. The sun climbs higher, warming the day. Someone pulls out snacks. Water gets passed around. Vesper actually does take a nap, snoring softly against her pack.
[Ignatia] "We're making excellent time! Luminara should be visible within the hour!"
Her massive voice rumbles through the air, audible even over the sound of wing beats.
[Takeshi] "This is so cool! We're flying on a dragon!"
[Aiko] "I never thought I'd get to experience this!"
[Yuki] "Ignatia's the best!"
The dragon's pleased rumble vibrates through her entire body.
The mountains grow closer. Soon we can see individual peaks, valleys between them, and then Liora spots it.
[Liora] "There! I can see the city!"
Nestled in a valley between two mountains, Luminara spreads out below us. Even from this height, I can see steam rising from multiple locations throughout the city. The hot springs, clearly visible as pools of water scattered throughout the urban landscape.
[Ignatia] "Preparing to descend!"
Her wings adjust, changing our angle. We start dropping altitude in a smooth, controlled descent.
The city grows larger as we approach. Buildings come into focus, streets become visible, people moving through them like tiny dots.
[Sylphaeris] "Oh, this is going to be fun! I wonder how they'll react to a massive dragon landing in their city!"
[Eldrin] "The Demon Lord should be expecting us."
[Lucien] "I see him. He's waiting at the northern edge of the city."
Sure enough, as we circle lower, I spot a figure standing in a large open plaza. Even from here, I can see his distinctive black and red robes.
Ignatia descends toward the plaza, her massive form casting a shadow over the surrounding buildings. People in the streets stop and stare, pointing upward in awe and alarm.
We're almost there.
Our very own hot springs arc.