Page 22 of Stars in Nova

Raza was more than happy to oblige him.

‘My friend,’ he told Kisan. ‘You need the full package. Massage, heated towels, a rub down - the lot. May CyVoda soothe your troubles; let your weary bones find beauty, wonder, and peace.’

‘Is that right?’ Kisan drawled, eyebrow arched, ever skeptical.

‘’Tis. While I wax on about the artistry of the aerial dancers or the healing properties of the lake, my joy comes from seeing his patrons leave lighter than when they arrived. Life,’ Raza added, ‘is like this reservoir. Dark in its depths, glowing at its edges. My job, my friend, is to make you appreciate the glow.’

Persuaded, Kisan allowed Raza to lead him into a private treatment room tucked away from the busier central lagoon.

Here, the lake was divided into smaller, heated mineral pools.

Steam rose in tendrils, filling the air with a calming warmth.

A pair of attendants guided Kisan through a meticulous process.

First, a deep-tissue massage kneaded the tension from his back and shoulders.

Followed by a full body scrub—an intense, almost ritualistic cleansing with fragrant oils that left his skin tingling.

By the time they finished, Kisan felt close to weightlessness, pummeled into submission by the care and precision of their work.

‘Now take a swim, sir,’ one of the aides encouraged. ‘The reservoir is packed with minerals that will restore you. It’s a shared lake, mind, so you may bump into other patrons or some of our dancers while practicing.’

He raised a chin in gratitude, lassitude coming over him.

He slipped into one of the pools in shorts, letting the warm liquid envelop him.

It was unlike anything he’d experienced before—tranquil yet invigorating, as though the water carried a subtle energy that seeped into his muscles.

He closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting.

He opened them when the water shifted at the pool’s far end.

His eyes fell on a sleek form, cutting through the surface with practiced grace.

Finding the wall, he leaned on it, eyes on the streaking figure.

His eyes widened as the silhouette rose into the air. Buoyed by fluid kinetics, it began a series of complicated twists and turns.

It washer.

His heart lurched.

Samira.

She whirled and then came to an abrupt stop, her slick head tilting as she studied him.

Kisan’s breath caught, and his chest tightened.

Unworthy of her attention, yet irresistibly drawn to her, her soul his beacon above the shimmering waterway.

He’d returned.

Tonight, he’d let down more inhibitions, booking a pamper package and a swim in the lake.

CyVoda was working its charm on him because, the mother of Vaelorii, he was beautiful.

She stood at the bank’s edge, her feet touching the cool water, eyes fixed on him.

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