The more she had explored this city the more the angel had come to feel uncomfortable in it. Apart from a vast majority of the population being female, and that in and of itself didn’t bother Sirona, she was more curious about it, it was the openness of sexuality that got to her. Sirona had entered the city through the North Western entrance into the Oracle District and had worked her way clockwise through the city around the castle until finding the Red District and the herbal bathhouse that was in it. The Purple District had been fine thanks to the library, she had avoided entering the maze that North out of the city.

It was after that that things turn a downward turn for the angel and her opinion of this place. The cemetery was huge but being what she was Sirona passed through with no issues. In the Black District she learned what was in there by over hearing some conversations and had quickly left the place, not wanting any part of that.

Next was the Yellow District and this place she had moved as swiftly through as possible. It was the energy in the air that she could making her uncomfortable at first but that slowly grew as she went deeper in. It was getting dark and the taverns were open now and getting busy so the area was heavy with the sounds of partying and rowdy customers drinking their day away. Sirona didn’t partake of any alcohol, so she avoided taverns and the temptations therein.

What really started making her walk faster was upon seeing two females hugging and kissing each other. They had no shame in the act either, and it made Sirona’s skin crawl, and the same thing when she was down the road a bit and saw two males doing the same! Shuddering in disgust the angel continued on but stopped just outside of a building and saw one of the females outside. ”Excuse me, is this a bathhouse?” She asked.

”We have baths, yes, but it’s a brothel, sweetheart. You want a bath, you pay for it and a worker. Otherwise, go to the Yellow District.”

Sirona did her best to keep the sick and disgusted look off her face. A brothel?! How deplorable! Money for sex acts instead of love between the couple, shameful! ”Th, thank you.” Sirona replied and turned and quickly made her way down the road more intent on getting out of this place. Maybe she should just leave this city and never come back? But she was far North on the continent, it was getting dark and she was in a desperate need of cleaning up.

But now she was in the bathhouse talking to the clerk. ”Yes, a room alone please, no interruptions unless I ring for someone.” Sirona repeated to the clerk who seemed a little confused.

”The private rooms are for special cases, ma’am, I can’t just rent them out for no reason. Everyone shares in the large pool here.”

Sirona frowned and sighed. ”Look, I’m willing to pay extra for it if I have to. Please? I, um, I can’t do public things, not like this.” Sirona tried to explain, making a motion of taking off her armour.

The clerk smiled. ”But you’re a beautiful woman, you have nothing to…”

”Not the point!” Sirona cut the woman off her cheeks going to a bright red in an instant. She could have found a place in the wilds to bath, but she wanted some hot water for once and a place she knew she wouldn’t be found out while bathing. ”Please, I don’t…. I can’t be around others in that situation, ok?” Sirona tried again and placed her coin pouch on the desk.

The clerk seemed to catch on. ”Ok, follow me then, ma’am.”

Sirona followed the woman into a room off to one side, avoiding any kind of line of sight to the main bath area that was at the moment full of people and bare skin. The clerk opened the door and after a few moments got the bath ready for Sirona who waited standing stock still not removing her armour. ”Towels are there, soap there. Is there anything else you need?”

”N, no, thank you. Oh, can I light joss sticks?” Sirona replied as she saw the clerk out slipping her a few extra coins as the clerk nodded to her question.

Upon shutting, and locking, the door, the angel finally was able to take a deep breath in. Alone and with a hot bath! She would finally be able to soak he muscles and wounds in the heat and herbal waters. Removing the sword and shield from her side she set them down and took out her goddess box and opened it removing some joss sticks from it. She placed those in her holder and used a candle the clerk had lit to get the joss sticks burning, releasing their sandalwood scent into the air.

With that finished Sirona kneeled on the ground and bowed her head, hand clutching a set of prayer beads. ” To the Gods I pray

That Life continues to flourish, and Love spread to even the darkest hearts

That the souls of the Dead find their way peacefully, and those who pray find their Desires

That sweet Dreams come to the sleeping, and that the Light forever shines

That Knowledge is always expanding, and that Magic will be used for good

That Luck rolls good, and the Storms water and renew the lands

That Hunting is bountiful, and the Wilds protected

That Strength can be found in hearts and minds, and that War is a last resort

And that Darkness is a balance to the Light, and that Fear is tested in those that say they have none.”

She said her prayer twice over before she opened her eyes and stood again. Setting her beads down Sirona made sure the door was locked again and checked that the curtains to the windows were tightly closed and that the windows themselves were also locked.

With that done she finally started to remove her armour and set it aside one piece at a time until she was standing there in bare feet and her small clothing. A plain white shirt and long white trousers, nothing special. She hesitated on taking the rest off for a moment, thinking to bath in what she was now wearing, but no, she decided to remove it as well. As she removed the rest of her clothing it revealed a body that was in perfect shape, with her almost milky skin it was perfect except for a few scars on her arms from fighting.

She was also concealing even more angelic tattooing under her armour, along her belly, throat and arms. Sirona’s chest was modest, a C cup if someone was being a bit generous, her armour made her chest look larger than it was. She was about to slip into the bath when she caught site of herself in a full-length mirror and stopped what she was doing to stand in front of it and study herself, almost like she hadn’t seen herself naked before.

Even in this simple action of seeing her own reflection Sirona blushed, opening her wings she then frowned when she saw the black feather. She turned her head to look at the offending feather directly for a moment. Without a word she pulled her wing in around herself some more and with just enough effort pulled the feather out of her wing, wincing slightly at the pain.

She eyed the black feather for a few moments before, she knew exactly why that had turned black. It had been her thoughts on what she might do once she was here alone by herself with only her thoughts. She hadn’t before but it was always a temptation she had to fight each time she had cleaned herself. The pure angel took the black feather and held it over a candle for a moment until it was ash in the air.

With that she finally slipped a foot into the bath and heaved a small sigh as the heat soaked into her flesh. Sitting neck deep in the water with her wings out around the edges of the bath in the water still, as comfortable as she could be all stretched out, the angel relaxed. She put her head under for a moment to get her face and black hair soaked as she settled in placing her head back, intent on staying in this lovely water until her skin went wrinkly, or cold, whatever came first.