Chronicles of Merslin 1: Mage of the Hidden Tongue

After completing their mission in the druid village, Merslin and his party returned to the inn. As they rested and recovered from the recent battles, they gathered to discuss their next destination.

Merslin spread out a map before them and said, "We've gathered all the information we can here. It's time to move on."

Elena nodded in agreement. "You're right. The threat of the Blood Elves isn't over yet. We need to head to the next village and find out more."

Lisa, full of energy, leaned forward. "Where are we going next, Merslin?"

Merslin pointed at a location on the map. "Our next destination is the Hot Spring Village. We can rest there and gather new information."

Aria's eyes lit up with excitement. "A hot spring village? That sounds like the perfect place to relax!"

Serena grinned. "Yeah, soaking in a hot spring sounds great. Plus, we might hear some useful rumors from the villagers."

After packing their belongings, they bid farewell to the innkeeper and set off on their journey. They crossed forests, climbed mountains, and after a long trek, they finally arrived at the Hot Spring Village.

A Relaxing Bath… Or Not?

Upon arrival, the group checked into an inn and immediately made their way to the hot springs. The warm, steaming water was exactly what they needed to soothe their tired bodies. The hot springs were separated by gender, but there was a unique village tradition—once a month, the men's and women's baths would switch places.

However, this month, the innkeeper had forgotten to change the signs, creating an unintended mix-up.

Elena, Aria, Lisa, and Serena were already soaking in the warm water, sighing in relief.

Elena leaned her head back against a rock. "This place is amazing. I've never felt so relaxed before."

Aria swirled the water with her fingers. "It does feel special… It's almost as if the water has some kind of magical energy."

Lisa smirked mischievously. "You know, Merslin is just on the other side of this wall, right?"

Serena's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh? Should we mess with him a little?"

Elena grinned. "That sounds like fun. We've been too serious lately—time to lighten up a bit."

Meanwhile, on the other side, Merslin was soaking alone, enjoying the peace and warmth of the hot spring. He sighed in satisfaction, letting his muscles relax.

Then, suddenly, he heard giggles from the other side of the wall.

"Merslin! What are you doing over there?" Lisa called out.

Merslin's eyes snapped open. "Lisa? What are you guys up to?"

Serena's teasing voice followed. "We just thought we'd check in on you! Don't be so tense—chat with us for a bit."

Merslin sighed but couldn't help smiling. "I was just trying to relax. You all seem to be having fun."

Elena chuckled. "Of course! But you know, it might be even more fun if we were in the same bath~"

Merslin quickly cleared his throat. "You guys are impossible… Fine, let's just talk like this—from opposite sides of the wall."

An Unexpected Mix-Up

Unbeknownst to them, the innkeeper had just realized his mistake—he had forgotten to swap the entrance signs for the men's and women's baths. By the time he rushed to correct the mistake, it was already too late.

Elena had momentarily stepped out to grab a towel, and when she re-entered, she accidentally walked into the wrong side—the men's bath.

At that moment, Merslin was still soaking in the water, eyes closed, unaware of what was about to happen.

Elena, unaware of her mistake due to the thick steam, walked deeper into the bath.

Merslin finally opened his eyes and froze. "Elena? What are you doing here?"

Elena blinked in confusion. "Merslin? Wait… why are you in the women's bath?"

Merslin's face turned red as he quickly turned away. "No, this is the men's bath. I think… you just walked into the wrong one."

At that exact moment, the innkeeper burst in, looking horrified.

"I-I'm terribly sorry! I forgot to change the signs!" he blurted out. "I'll fix this immediately!"

Elena and Merslin stared at each other for a few moments before… they both burst into laughter.

"This is so ridiculous," Elena said, laughing as she grabbed a towel to cover herself.

Merslin chuckled. "Yeah, definitely not something I expected today."

Elena quickly rushed back to the women's side.

The moment she returned, Aria, Lisa, and Serena were waiting with mischievous grins.

Lisa raised an eyebrow. "Elena, where did you just come from? Don't tell me… you went into the men's bath?"

Serena smirked. "Oh, judging by your red face, something interesting must have happened."

Elena waved her hands frantically. "N-no! It was just a mistake! The signs were wrong, and I didn't realize it until it was too late!"

Aria gasped. "Wait… was Merslin there?"

Elena turned even redder. "…Yes. And he was just as surprised as I was!"

Lisa and Serena burst into laughter.

Lisa wiped away a tear. "Oh, I wish I could've seen Merslin's face when that happened!"

Serena patted Elena's shoulder. "Hey, don't worry. Mistakes happen. But next time, maybe double-check the sign first?"

Elena sighed, but soon laughed along with them. "Yeah, yeah, lesson learned."

A Moment of Peace

Later that night, Merslin and Elena sat by the hot spring, watching the steam rise into the starry sky.

Merslin stretched his arms and smiled. "You know… it's nice to have moments like these. A chance to relax and just talk."

Elena smiled back. "Yeah. Even though today was… unexpected, I think it brought us all a little closer."

Merslin chuckled. "True. But let's try to avoid any more 'unexpected' incidents next time, alright?"

Elena laughed. "Agreed."

With their spirits lifted and their bodies rejuvenated, Merslin and his party prepared to continue their journey. Though the threat of the Blood Elves still loomed, for now, they enjoyed a well-earned moment of peace.