Cerberus Rex, Nameless

Into The Hatch, 22

Asinis emerged from the washroom smelling like a mix of caramel and vanilla, which Silas thought better than the sweaty soiled cotton of the past handful of weeks. Though, he wouldn't have known the names of the sweet scents had Mr. Noarwin not shown off his bath salts as he dumped a bunch in the water before stripping Asinis of his shirt and shoving him in at a belly flop. It had caused a momentary commotion, but Asinis managed to catch his breath, and Mr. Noarwin dragged Silas and Feri away to give the drowned wizard some privacy. Mr. Noarwin had stolen Asinis's clothes moments later and replaced them with a simple shirt and trousers. Both swallowed Asinis, whose wiry form seemed emphasized by the shirt. He'd tucked it into the pants tied by a cord around his waist. Silas worried Asinis might not have been eating well then remembered the amount he gobbled at lunch and decided it more likely that he couldn't retain weight.

"You're next, Feri," Mr. Noarwin called from where he sat. He kept his ankles crossed on the table beside him where he pointed his nose down at a book in his lap. Feri scrambled away, seeming anxious to get in the water. She spent a while longer than Asinis did, who had turned to reading like Mr. Noarwin. Silas glanced at them in silence then looked out the window. He watched the sun prod across the sky, a bird sweep through the lines of clothes out to dry, and people pass the window. Some looked in, others didn't. He wondered what to do with himself. A foreign thought as he hadn't spent time doing anything in his six years in Waywin. Life seemed so busy now. Not doing anything felt more strenuous than racing after danger or even walking down the street.

Feri returned, her bits of fur dripping and soggy under her clothes. Asinis looked up from his book when he heard her. She smelt damper than he did upon returning. Though Silas supposed that was due to the fur on the backs of her arms, legs, and ears. Asinis tried helping her dry off the rest with a towel. He fluffed her hair, which she seemed to enjoy, and Mr. Noarwin set his book down and stood up.

"Silas. It's your turn," he said.

Silas looked from Asinis fussing over Feri to Mr. Noarwin parting the hall's purple curtain. He followed him to the washroom and looked down at the filthy water. Mr. Noarwin made a face.

"Hm. It's not quite good for cleaning yourself in anymore," he said.

"Because of the dirt, you mean?" Silas had used the spring and brooks to cleanse himself every now and again, so he knew something about hygiene. He agreed the water's conditions no longer appropriate for its purpose.

"Yeah." Mr. Noarwin scratched his head. "We can start the process over—"

They could, but Silas didn't want to put everyone through that work. Not for his sake. He didn't feel the need to indulge in this thing called a bath, but Mr. Noarwin would likely want to take advantage of it himself. Silas uttered a spell, and Mr. Noarwin's voice dropped off as the dark water cleared.

"What was that?" he asked.

"Purify water. I can do it anew after I've finished," Silas explained.

A slow, content smile found Mr. Noarwin's face. "I would appreciate that. You can put your clothes there—"

"They're not real," Silas said.

Mr. Noarwin paused. "Your clothes?"

Silas nodded. "They are an extension of my stag mantle. It's magic. I think I can just." He closed his eyes and stood naked.

Mr. Noarwin chuckled. "That is a useful trick. I'm quite envious. Very well then. Enjoy your bath, Silas." He shut the door for Silas, who immersed into the tub. Its warm water lapped around him, and the tension melted from his muscles. He sighed. His chin dipped in the water. He'd accepted a mission. Left home to fulfill it. And he didn't know what to do. How did he help the others? Could he? He felt useless and lonely. He didn't spend long in the water and got out of the bath with a rush that sounded like a waterfall. He used the towel Mr. Noarwin left for him, sighing, and then stepped out. He stopped when he heard Mr. Noarwin chuckling.