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“Snrk- buh… huh?” R’tara was abruptly awoken from her slumber, barely aware of her surroundings. She took a second to collect herself realizing she was still in the bath, G’raha’s arms still lovingly wrapped around her. She must’ve dozed off in his embrace.
“Ah, welcome back, my love,” G’raha said from behind her. R’tara sighed, closing her eyes as she leaned back against his chest.
“Well,” R’tara started, a grin forming on her face, “tis good to be awake.”
“Mmm,” G’raha hummed in agreement at the familiar phrase. R’tara enjoyed the warmth of G’raha’s embrace for a moment, but eventually mild discomfort set in, as his embrace was the only thing that was warm. She must’ve been asleep for some time, as the bath water had grown tepid since she’d last been awake.
“Raha, love,” R’tara said, “You know you could’ve ran some more water? No need for you to sit in a lukewarm bath.”
“I did not wish to wake you, Tara, but now that you’re awake…” G’raha started to move out from under her, but R’tara didn’t let him.
“Nah, s’okay, I’ve got it,” R’tara said, already channeling her aether to the palm of her hand. She called upon the element of fire, though a much weaker form of it compared to what she used in battle as a black mage. Soon enough, a small fireball had appeared just above her palm.
“Tara, are you sure that's a good idea?” G’raha questioned.
“Sure it is! I’m just gonna heat up the water a little bit like so-” R’tara said, lowering the flame into the water. Immediately, disaster struck.
Unlike a regular flame, R’tara’s aether fueled spellfire did not go out once submerged. Instead, the near limitless extreme heat source heated the water beyond comfort in seconds. R’tara and G’raha yelped in surprise and mild pain, each one scrambling to escape the tub. They fell onto the wooden floor, making it out in time to avoid any severe burns, but not in time to avoid minor injuries.
“Tara, I ask again,” G’raha said as he lay on the floor, “are you sure-”
“Stop talking,” R’tara said, laid out just as he was. “Just, not another word.” Despite the harsh words, R’tara’s voice had an edge of humor in it. Humor that had them both laughing as they lay flat on the wooden floor.
“Shall I take care of the burns?” G’raha asked, “or shall I find Shtola and her healing expertise?”
“Do not tell Shtola,” R’tara told him, “Not a single word.” Another fit of laughter. “But, I would be very grateful if you were to see to my wounds.”
G’raha’s hands were already glowing with blue aether, and R’tara felt the pain ebb away within seconds.
“Better?” G’raha asked.
“Only once you've healed yourself,” R’tara said. G’raha turned his magicks on himself, his expression noticeably changing as he brought himself some comfort.
“There,” G’raha said, “All better.”
“Good,” R’tara grinned, “and now that the bath is surely a survivable temperature again, shall I show you how grateful I am?”
“Most certainly.”