City of Desire-Chapter 627: Tranquill Bathhouse

Barb Utsa

"Vethe Island," I said as I looked at the beautiful island in the turquoise sea.

We are just a few minutes away from it.

"It took us a long time, but it's worth it, " Tara said beside me. I nodded. The journey had been long and difficult, but as the island came into view, its beauty made every moment feel justified.

We exchanged smiles, but beneath them lay a quiet, unspoken seriousness.

Our journey is not a vacation but a mission with very high consequences. The survival of the Velvet Garden depends on it.

Minutes passed, and the port came into view. It was neither large nor small, but the sleek presence of yachts made it clear—this was a place of wealth.

Vethe had once been just another holiday island, unremarkable and quiet. But the birth of the legacy had changed everything, altering the island's fate forever.

Soon, our yacht docked at the port, and we got out.

"Welcome to Tranquill City, guests from Velvet Garden," welcomed Rylan Aardwyn. Surprisingly, he came himself to greet us.

"Thank you for the welcome, Mr. Aardwyn." I thanked him. We introduced our party members before walking toward the carriages.

I stepped inside one with Rylan, and it began to move toward the city.

"It's a beautiful city," I said as I looked through the window. It's stunning, with most buildings made of limestone.

Many of these buildings are old but look new like they were built only a few years ago. Many of these buildings are big, with many of them being villas and mansions.

The best ones are overlooking the sea.

The information said the city is a playground for the rich and powerful. The fate of the legacy could change that very quickly.

The city is also in the sovereign's direct control; it didn't use to be but became so after the legacy was born.

According to the kingdom's laws, the place automatically becomes the sovereign's personal domain if a legacy is born in the city.

"It is a piece of heaven," he replied.

I looked at the people and saw many wearing that Otonian robe called a toga. However, most are wearing regular clothes.

Like all Otonians, they have dark skin, but there are people of different skin tones and races as well. I could see the people's races—elves of all skin colors, dwarfs, and some giant bloods.

I didn't spot any orcs; they are rare here.

Minutes passed as the carriage moved, and we made small talk until, finally, the carriage entered the compound.

"Welcome to Tranquill Bathhouse," announced the half-elf as the carriage stopped. A moment later, he got out, and I followed him.

"Wow!" gasped Gloria while I sighed, looking at one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen.

Nestled along the rugged coastline, the grand bathhouse complex sprawls gracefully, its elegant arches and tiered terraces blending seamlessly with the cliffs. Each section is designed to offer a breathtaking panorama of the endless turquoise sea, where waves crash gently against the rocky shore, their rhythmic song adding to the air of tranquil luxury.

White marble colonnades frame a vast open-air swimming pool, where the water glistens under the vibrant sun.

Intricately paved misty walkways lead to the heated chamber, its steaming pools infused with aromatic herbs. The warm hall offers a gentle respite beneath vaulted ceilings adorned with celestial mosaics.

At the cliff's edge, a cascading aqueduct fills the cold plunge, its cool waters pouring into a circular pool that reflects the sky.

Secluded gardens, shaded pergolas, and private bathing chambers provide spaces for quiet indulgence, while lively courtyards echo with the murmurs of merchants and nobles alike.

Here, where luxury meets the sea, the bathhouse is not just a place of cleansing but a sanctuary of relaxation, culture, and timeless grandeur.

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It is massive, covering nearly twenty-five thousand square feet.

If it were in Zenid, it would make this bathhouse one of the biggest legacies of the continent, but Oton is a continent of power.

It has the most legacies of any continent, and they are powerful. It has a titan, heavenly arenas, and the most powerful incursion gate in the world.

"I will first give you the bathhouse tour before taking you to meet my father," he said, and I nodded.

I first wanted to meet the Master of the Legacy, but I also wanted to see this fantastic bathhouse before doing anything else.

We walked toward it and climbed on the first step. I felt the power of the legacy.

It's powerful—more powerful than what one feels after entering the velvet Garden. It's not surprising that it is a pawn of the throne legacy; it shares some of its power.

It relieved me because it's not more powerful than the Velvet Garden.

The power we show to others and the power we have are entirely different.

Very few people know about it. Even I didn't, despite being a madam for so long. It is one of the most guarded secrets of the Velvet Garden.

I was shocked when they showed it to me after Caena told her class, and it took me quite a while to recover.

'It's so different than the Velvet Garden or Vanis's Tavern. It was lighter and gave the feeling of refreshment. That seemed to open every pour of my body just by entering the domain of the legacy.' said Gloria. To that, I nodded.

"It's wonderful," I praised, and the man smiled.

We entered inside and walked toward the large pool, where both men and women were present—enjoying the bath and swimming.

Some are smoking by it, drinking and eating fruits and cheeses. These are considered classical bath activities in the Oton.

I could feel their eyes on us. Some smiled, and I smiled back while watching everything.

"This is a natatio, the communal pool. As you can see, both the men and women enjoy the bath in it," he said as we walked by the large pool.

I looked at it but also admired the beautiful mosaics.

"Is it true that this bathhouse has been in your family for generations?" Gloria asked. He smiled. "It's been in our family for over five hundred years," he replied with pride.

We reached the other side of the pool and took a turn by the small garden.

All the plants here have grown in the mist since it became the legacy. Like most legacy masters, they didn't make any changes to it after it had turned into the legacy.

They will give us these plants. Carla told me they had resisted quite a lot, but they agreed in the end.

Soon, we reached the other section of the complex. It consisted of a collection of small pools, each with a misty privacy screen. Some had only men, some had women, and some had both.

"These pools are caldarium, tepidarium, and frigidarium; the cold pools, warm pools, and hot pools," he informed us as we walked by.

I looked at everything, including the beautiful ocean view this bathhouse provides.

He showed one section after another of the bathhouse complex, including the herbal pools, the bath halls, and the very private section reserved for the most important guests.

Finally, we reached the place guarded by powerful-looking guards with the insignia of the royal family.

"They are guests from the Velvet Garden," he informed them. They kept looking at us for several seconds before opening the door.

"Thank you," I replied, and we entered the room.

Gasp!

The moment we did. We gasped, all four of us; it was too grand not to gasp in the shock.

"This is Rhidon's Vitae," he declared with a flourish. And indeed, it was magnificent.

In front of me is a well or fountain, depending on how one perceives it, and it is massive—as big as a house.

At the heart of the chamber stands a breathtakingly carved well, its grand structure commanding attention. Within it, a second, smaller well rests—its intricate carvings even more exquisite, as if crafted by divine hands. Suspended above, a mesmerizing water swirl defies gravity, cascading down in an endless, shimmering cycle.

Encircling the well, towering columns rise, each adorned with lifelike figurines of animals so meticulously sculpted that they seem ready to spring to life. Their watchful presence adds an air of reverence to the scene.

And behind it all, a magnificent arch looms, its surface adorned with a tapestry of intricate artistry, telling stories long forgotten yet eternally preserved.

This is the Rhidon's Vitae—an artifact of beauty.

It is grander and more beautiful than I heard. It is also very old, over ten thousand years old. It had passed through the hands of many people before it ended up here.

It isn't just water that comes out; mist also comes from the animal's mouths.

It is a rare healing artifact; the water flowing out of it has healing, cleansing, and energizing properties.

Master Silver had said this artifact would be one of the biggest blockades in our quest to swallow the Tranquill Bathhouse.

"It's beautiful and massive; I didn't think artifacts could be this huge," said Gloria, playing the awestruck part well.

She is awestruck and enamored, actually. I can't blame her; I am feeling the same emotions.

"There is no limit to the size of the artifacts, Miss Gloria. In the world, there are artifacts far bigger than this," replied Rylan without looking away from the artifact.

"It must have taken quite a lot of effort to bring it here. Does this artifact change its size? I heard some do," she asked. He smiled at that.

"It took a lot of effort to bring it here; the forces attacked in a bid to steal it when his majesty had sent it here," he replied.

I read about that. It was quite a battle.

It's an artifact, after all. Even if it is not an offensive type, it is still very valuable. Especially here, in Tranquill Bathhouse, where its abilities complement the abilities of the legacy.

"It must consume a lot of emotion essence?" I asked. To which he sighs.

"It does, even when we limit water use from it in only one section of the bathhouse, but it's worth it," he replied.

A few seconds later, he turned and walked toward the door. I would have liked to stay for longer; the artifact is too beautiful to leave so quickly.

We walked out of the door and, a few minutes later, stepped out of the domain of legacy toward the six-story building in the compound.

It's beautiful, with large limestone columns. We entered inside and took the elevator to the top floor.

"The view is magnificent," said Tara as she looked at the vast turquoise sea. "It's the most beautiful place in the world; nothing could compare to it," he proudly replied.

"I respectfully disagree," I replied.

Surprised, he didn't say anything and walked toward the large wooden doors.

The guards standing by it opened it, and we walked inside.

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"Lord Ardwyn," we greeted the handsome middle-aged elf sitting behind the table—the master of Tranquill Bathhouse.