The two boys undressed in the changing room. Arun gazed furtively at Julius' muscled body in admiration. Next, he approached a man who stood waiting by the door.
"Rub the two of us." He asked shortly while handing eighteen bronze coins to the man.
The man took the money with a nod before fetching two buckets and heading to a steam-filled room.
Warm steam greeted Julius and Arun as they stepped into the room, enveloping them like a comforting blanket. At first, Julius couldn't help but tense up. Soon, sweat began to glisten on his forehead as he struggled with the intensity of the heat.
But as time passed, he found himself surrendering to the gentle embrace of the warmth, the tension in his muscles gradually easing away. Julius soon realised that the hamam wasn't just about cleaning the body but about seeking comfort in the warm embrace of the steam and heat.
Simultaneously, the attendant opened two taps to fill the buckets: one releasing a cold stream of water and one releasing hot water. Next, he applied the brown, goo-like substance to his hands and massaged it onto the boys' bodies.
Julius jumped in fright at the sight of the substance approaching him. However, Arun quickly reassured him before letting the man rinse the soap.
"Pfff. That black thing is soap. Don't worry." Arun chuckled at Julius' reaction.
"Lie on the ground," the attendant instructed, looking at Julius.
Curious about what would come next, Julius followed the man's instructions and lay on his belly.
The attendant used the hard bathing glove to rub Julius's back vigorously. Soon, grey strands began to appear on the large, muscled back of the boy.
Then, the man rubbed Julius' legs, arms, neck, belly and chest.
'What's that grey thing?' Julius thought in shock as the strands appeared on every part of his body.
He has never seen such a weird scene back in the Belloria kingdom.
Noticing his astonishment, Adam chimed in. "It's your skin's dead cells, mixed with oil and other impurities like pollution... I think."
Julius gazed at his big brother in understanding. He would have never believed that despite keeping good daily hygiene, his skin would still contained that many impurities.
After finishing the rubdown, the man poured a bucket of water over Julius to clean him. Then, he took out a flask of perfumed oil and coated the boy's body.
Enchanted by the smell and the feeling of property, Julius watched the man repeat the same actions on Arun.
"I'm afraid I'll come back every day to clean." Julius suddenly said, becoming a fan of hamams.
"Haha, I don't recommend you to do so. You should limit your visits to once a week, or you'll end skinless." Arun explained, happy to see that his friend enjoyed the experience.
"I can rub you if you really want to come back. We can save a few coins that way." Adam proposed after calculating the cost.
Remembering that they had no money, Julius lowered his head in shame.
'I can't count on Arun to pay for my every expense.' He thought, determined to find a way to earn money.
Julius pondered what he could do as the man finished cleaning Arun, who asked with a radiant smile, "Want to go for a massage? Asha is already angry, so we might as well enjoy our day."
"You already did enough. I should start to earn money and pay for my own expenses." Julius said, shaking his head.
"Come on. It doesn't bother me. I'm even happy to have a friend accompany me." Arun insisted, still smiling.
However, Julius had inherited from Adam a dislike for debts, whether monetary or moral.
"I don't want to feel like I'm taking advantage of you by letting you pay for everything. It wouldn't be fair." He said righteously, unwilling to abuse his friend's kindness.
"I understand. Let me invite you from time to time, though. It really makes me happy." Arun nodded in response, respecting his friend's opinion despite not agreeing.
Julius agreed, then retraced his step back home alone. Arun still decided to get a massage, determined not to see his fiancé today.
It was true that Asha was upset, but not with him. He dreaded becoming her target and enduring endless shopping trips. So, he decided to head home, taking over Louise's supervision duty and allowing Asha to enjoy herself in the city.
After a short walk, Julius saw that the house's doors were open. He also noticed that Asha was relaxing in the garden and drinking a glass of fresh orange juice.
His eyes widened as he walked to the table she was sitting at, thinking, 'Is that how she monitors Louise's condition?'
"Welcome back. You got us scared this morning. Where have you been?" Asha asked, smiling.
"Sorry, I just wanted to walk under the morning sun," Julius answered apologetically.
Asha nodded at Julius's explanations, relieved he didn't reproach them anything.
"I have some great news!" Asha exclaimed before continuing, "Arun's father sent us two maids and a cook to make our stay more enjoyable and tend to Louise."
It was indeed great. With the presence of the two maids, they could now explore the city freely. Moreover, Julius wouldn't have to cook breakfast anymore. The cook would take charge of their diet.
Julius's eyes lit up in excitement, ready to return and navigate the city's streets. However, Adam suddenly said.
"If you plan to stay out all day, I won't accompany you. Wake me up when the materials are ready."
Adam was unwilling to be dragged left and right and waste his time. He wanted to focus on his training and improve his mana control daily.
After his endless duel with Gaston and subsequent awakening in this peaceful environment, he couldn't help but notice how slower his progress had become.
Moreover, he needed some time alone to refresh his mind. After all, it was mentally exhausting for him to be a mere spectator to other's enjoyment.
In response to his words, Julius's eyes widened in astonishment. It was the first time his brother stated he wanted to be away.