CHAPTER 908: VOLLEYBALL AT THE MOUNTAIN HOT SPRINGS

Valley of Serenity, Heartwood Mountains.

It was a few hours after Theo and the others had their campfire meal. After their meal, everyone napped for a couple of hours before diving into the hot springs pools.

At the moment, everyone was enjoying the natural hot springs.

The natural hot springs of Serenity Valley were, to put it mildly, a revelation. After a morning that involved enough adrenaline to power a small city and an afternoon that demanded the culinary prowess of a seasoned survivalist, the group practically dissolved into the steaming, mineral-rich waters. Max, ever the dramatic one, emerged from the water with a triumphant yell, steam clinging to his hair like a particularly aggressive species of cloud. "I feel reborn!" he declared, dramatically splashing a cascade of water that managed to drench Lauren, who was attempting a serene meditation pose, looking more like she was trying to dislodge a persistent mosquito. She sputtered, "You jerk! More like re-drenched and slightly annoyed. I was just reaching peak inner peace, and you sent me back to the ’pre-nirvana’ stage."

Across the main pool, Kumiko had somehow managed to secure the most secluded corner, declaring it her "personal decontamination chamber." She’d even fashioned a makeshift visor out of large leaves, which, unfortunately, kept slipping down her nose, giving her a perpetually befuddled expression.

The air in the natural hot spring was thick with a mineral-rich steam, carrying a pungent, yet somehow invigorating, sulfurous aroma. "Honestly, Aurora," Kaori chuckled, her voice slightly muffled as she submerged herself to her chin, "Are we *sure* this isn’t the aftermath of a dragon’s particularly fiery sneeze? It’s got that certain *oomph*."

Aurora, splashing gently beside her, giggled. "A dragon’s breath, maybe, but more like one that’s been marinating in an old boot for a week! Though," she admitted, taking a deep breath, "it does have a certain... pungency. Like a really, *really* overcooked hard-boiled egg."

Kaori’s eyes twinkled as she tilted her head back, letting the warm water cascade over her face. "Ah, but my dear Aurora, listen closely to the *undertones*," she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Can you detect it? There’s a subtle herbaceous quality, a whisper of rosemary, perhaps a hint of thyme... It reminds me of the very blend I used in our stew last night. Quite remarkable, isn’t it?"

Aurora’s eyebrows shot up in delighted surprise. "No way! You’re right! It *does* smell like our stew. That’s... oddly comforting, actually. I never thought I’d associate a sulfur spring with home cooking, but here we are." She took another tentative sniff. "So, a dragon’s breath that’s been simmering with herbs? That’s a new one."

Even Shizuka, who typically maintained an air of serene poise even when wrestling with a particularly stubborn knot in her hair, was allowing herself a moment of uncharacteristic abandon. She was attempting to float on her back, arms outstretched, a look of determined focus on her face. The water, however, seemed to have other plans. She bobbed and swayed, a faint gurgle escaping her lips as a splash landed on her nose. "Hoo-boy," she muttered, righting herself with a splash. "This is harder than it looks. I’m aiming for swan-like elegance, but I think I’m achieving more of a... a slightly waterlogged duck with aspirations." A genuine, unrestrained laugh bubbled out of her, a sound as unexpected as a blooming lotus in a geyser.

Then there was Kin, the silent devourer, who had found his own method of relaxation: submerging himself completely, only his nose and a mischievous grin visible above the surface. He occasionally let out a contented gurgle, which the others interpreted as profound philosophical musings on the nature of hot springs and the existential dread of running out of roasted potatoes. Ayia and Theo, ever the bonded pair, were nestled together, their faces painted with pure bliss. Ayia, eyes closed, let out a soft hum of contentment, while Theo, ever the watchful guardian, kept a discreet eye on the others, a quiet smile playing on his lips as he felt the day’s tension finally ebb away. The Valley of Serenity, it seemed, lived up to its name, its waters a balm for both weary bodies and the lingering echoes of their extraordinary adventure.

A while later, everyone gathered around the biggest hot spring pool to play around. Theo had brought a volleyball for them to play with.

The steamy, mineral-rich water of the vast hot spring pool shimmered, its opalescent surface transforming into an impromptu, chaotic arena. A slightly deflated volleyball, imbued with a mischievous glint by Theo’s toss, sailed into the heart of the assembled group, signaling the start of an epic game of aqua volleyball.

Max, his skin still radiating the glow of his recent "rebirth" experience, immediately puffed out his chest. "Alright, team!" he boomed, his voice echoing slightly off the damp rocks. "I, Max, officially declare myself captain of Team ’Soaking Wet and Glorious’! Prepare for victory, my fellow baskers!"

Kumiko, adjusting the precarious perch of her hand-woven leaf visor, declared her patch of the pool with a dramatic flourish. "This corner," she announced, pointing with a paddle-like hand, "is officially a no-fly zone! No spikes, no serves, nothing gets through!" She then attempted to reinforce her declaration by heaving a sizable, moss-covered boulder into her defensive territory. To the uproarious amusement of everyone, the boulder, with a soft "plop," immediately began to sink, leaving Kumiko sputtering and flailing in its wake. "Oh, for the love of hot springs!" she yelped, doggy-paddling furiously to avoid being dragged down with her failed fortification.

Meanwhile, Shizuka, who had only moments before been struggling to achieve a semblance of graceful buoyancy, found herself unexpectedly adept at a defensive, almost balletic style of play. Her movements, surprisingly fluid and controlled despite the constant, enthusiastic splashing, were a stark contrast to Kumiko’s aquatic woes.

The game quickly devolved into a delightful, splashing chaos. Aurora, unleashing a serve with surprisingly potent force that sent a cascade of water over Kaori, nearly dislodging her own leaf visor, found herself partnered with a giggling Shizuka. "Mine!" Shizuka would squeal, her hands splashing wildly, as Aurora sent another powerful shot their way. Their strategy, if it could be called that, seemed to involve a lot of synchronized splashing, which effectively obscured their opponents’ view, and the occasional muffled, joyous shout of "Mine!"

Max, on the other hand, was employing a rather unorthodox, if undeniably effective, technique. He was using his entire body to block incoming shots, his arms and legs splayed wide, effectively turning himself into a human (or rather, a very buoyant and enthusiastic sponge). "Get ready for the MAX-imum defense!" he bellowed, absorbing a particularly fierce spike with a triumphant grunt.

Across the pool, Ayia and Theo, operating with a perfect, unspoken harmony, were the quiet powerhouses of the game. Their coordinated passes, executed with surprising precision in the swirling water, and unexpected, sharp spikes left the others in awe. More often than not, those who weren’t ducking were left completely, delightfully soaked.

"Nice one, Ayia!" Theo yelled, a grin splitting his face as he sent a perfectly angled shot towards Max’s absorbent form.

Ayia responded with a sharp nod and a wink. "Just returning the favor, Theo," she said, her voice barely audible over the din of splashing and laughter. "Looks like Max is enjoying his new career as a water feature."

Kin, true to form, participated from his submerged position, occasionally nudging the ball with his nose or issuing a surprised snort when it drifted too close.

The air was filled with the joyous sounds of laughter, shrieks of surprise, and the rhythmic *sploosh* of the volleyball being batted back and forth. It was a testament to the Valley of Serenity’s power that even the most competitive of them, like Max, found themselves dissolving into pure, unadulterated fun, the game a welcome distraction from any lingering thoughts of unsolved mysteries.