Reykjavik, Iceland

"Please... five more minutes..."

Severa groaned as she rolled over onto her back, only to feel a sharp thud and cold floor beneath her. Her eyes snapped open, and she realized she had fallen right out of bed. The wooden floor felt unforgiving against her cheek, and she winced, pushing herself up onto her elbows.

Blinking in confusion, she took in her surroundings—she was back in her hotel room. But how had she gotten here? The last thing she remembered was sitting under a tree, caught in the rain... and then...

Her thoughts trailed off as she pushed herself up to a sitting position, her head still spinning slightly. She felt a flash of irritation. How had she managed to get herself into such a mess?

She noticed the open door to her small bathroom and dragged herself to her feet, stumbling slightly as she moved to the sink. Splashing cold water on her face, she tried to shake off the grogginess. Her reflection stared back at her, hair tangled and damp, eyes bleary with exhaustion.

She turned away from the mirror with a frustrated sigh, heading back into the main room. Her suitcase lay open, clothes still scattered around from her half-hearted attempt at packing. As she moved to close it, she caught sight of a folded piece of paper on the desk. Frowning, she picked it up and unfolded it.

The note was written in neat, unfamiliar handwriting:

'I hope you managed to rest well. You seemed like you needed it. Until next time - Alexander'

Her eyes were drawn to the small sketch of an umbrella doodled in the corner. She stared at it, her mind racing back to the man in the rain. Of course, he must have been the one who brought her back here.

Her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and irritation."Great," she muttered under her breath, crumpling the note slightly in her fist. "As if I needed another reason to feel like a fool in this city."

She walked over to the bed and flopped down onto it with a heavy sigh. Staring up at the ceiling, she tried to piece together the events of the night before. How could she have been so careless? Falling asleep on a stranger's shoulder and letting him bring her back to her hotel like she was some helpless damsel in distress... It was embarrassing.

But even as she replayed the scene in her mind, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of warmth at the thought of Alexander's kindness. He could have just left her there, cold and alone, but he hadn't. Instead, he'd taken the time to help her, even going so far as to leave a note.

She groaned and rolled over, burying her face in the pillow. "Stop it," she muttered to herself. "Stop thinking about him."

After a few moments, she pushed herself up, determined to shake off her frustration. This was supposed to be a break from her usual routine, an adventure. She wasn't going to let a few awkward encounters ruin it.

With newfound determination, she made her way down to the front desk, watching as guests walked in and out of the building, their conversations blending into a low hum around her. She approached the front desk clerk, who was busy sorting through some paperwork.

"Excuse me," Severa began, her tone more brusque than intended. "Do you have anything to do at this hotel? Like... a gym or something?"

The clerk, a cheerful woman with dark hair tied back in a neat bun, looked up with a smile. "Ah, good morning! Yes, we do. We have a small gym on the second floor, and there's also a lounge area with board games and books if you're interested."

Severa nodded, not particularly enthused by the options. "Thanks," she muttered, glancing around the lobby as if searching for something else, something more to occupy her restless energy.

The clerk continued, sensing Severa's dissatisfaction. "We also have a spa in the basement, if you're looking for some relaxation," she offered, her smile unwavering.

Severa raised an eyebrow. A spa? The thought of sitting still for any length of time seemed almost unbearable, but maybe... just maybe... it was worth a try. "Spa, you say?"

"Yes, ma'am," the clerk replied. "Massages, saunas, hot stone therapy. It's very popular with our guests, especially in this weather."

Severa hesitated for a moment. She wasn't the type to indulge in things like this, but wasn't that the point of this trip? To try something different, to get out of her comfort zone?

"Alright," she said finally, with a small sigh. "I suppose I'll give it a go."

The clerk's smile widened. "Wonderful! I'll book you in for a massage. I think you'll enjoy it."

Severa nodded, though she still wasn't entirely convinced. As she turned to leave, she glanced out the window at the cloudy sky. The rain had stopped, but the ground was still damp and the air heavy with the promise of more.

"Perfect weather for staying inside," she muttered to herself, half-smiling.

Hotel Nott

Severa didn't even know how this was supposed to go.

When she asked for a gym, she was hoping to punch out her feelings, not be pampered like some fragile thing. Now she was heading down to the spa, about to get a massage from someone she didn't even know. The whole idea felt strange, but she had already agreed, and backing out would be even more embarrassing.

As she stepped into the spa, a wave of warm, soothing air greeted her. The room was dimly lit, with soft music playing in the background. A woman in a white uniform approached her with a welcoming smile.

"Hello! You must be Severa. My name is Ingrid, and I'll be your masseuse today," she said in a calm, gentle voice. "Would you like to start with a hot stone massage or something more traditional?"

Severa hesitated, but then decided, "Hot stone, I guess," hoping the unfamiliar would keep her distracted from her thoughts.

Ingrid nodded with a pleased expression. "Excellent choice. The hot stones are wonderful for easing tension. Please, follow me," she said, leading Severa to a private room with a massage table covered in soft white sheets. "You can leave your clothes on the chair and lie face down on the table. I'll be back shortly."

Severa nodded, feeling slightly awkward as she undressed. She folded her clothes neatly on the chair and settled herself on the table, her body tense against the unfamiliar comfort. The warm air and soft lighting did little to ease the discomfort she felt at first, but she took a deep breath, determined to give this a chance.

A few moments later, Ingrid returned, carrying a small tray with smooth, dark stones. She placed them near the massage table, and Severa could hear the faint clinking of the stones as they were arranged.

"These stones have been heated to just the right temperature," Ingrid explained soothingly. "They're designed to help relax your muscles and improve circulation. Just breathe deeply and let go."

Severa felt the first warm stone gently placed on her lower back, its heat sinking deep into her skin. Slowly, Ingrid placed more stones along her spine, and with each new weight, Severa could feel the tension begin to melt away.

It was... different. The warmth spread through her muscles like a gentle wave, soothing aches she hadn't realized were there. Her breathing slowed, and for the first time in a while, she felt herself start to relax.

As Severa lay there, just starting to enjoy the rare sensation of relaxation, she suddenly felt a searing heat against her back. One of the stones was much hotter than the others, and the burning sensation cut through her calm like a knife.

She jumped up with a yelp, her eyes snapping open. "Bloody hell!" she shouted, swatting at the offending stone as if it were a dangerous creature. The stone clattered to the floor, still radiating heat.

Ingrid gasped, clearly startled. "Oh! I'm so sorry! I must have picked one that was too hot—"

But Severa was already up and wrapping herself in a towel, her patience completely gone. "Forget it," she muttered, feeling a mixture of frustration and embarrassment. "I should have known this wasn't for me."

Ingrid tried to apologize again, but Severa waved her off. "It's fine," she said sharply, already halfway to the door. "I'm done."

Without another word, she grabbed her clothes, muttering under her breath as she stormed out of the room, so much for trying something new. She'd stick to her own ways from now on—no more pointless attempts at pampering or trying to enjoy herself.

Stepping out into the hallway, she felt a rush of cool air against her skin, and it was almost a relief. She was done with all of it—done with trying to relax, done with letting herself get too comfortable in a place that wasn't home.

Walking back into her room, Severa tossed her clothes and the towel to the side, not caring where they landed, and collapsed onto the bed. She buried her face in the pillow, letting out a frustrated groan.

"So much for a relaxing getaway," she muttered to herself, her voice muffled by the pillow. The whole idea of trying to find some peace had been ridiculous from the start. Why had she even bothered?

Rolling onto her back, she stared up at the ceiling, feeling the dull ache of tension settling back into her shoulders. The coolness of the room contrasted with the lingering heat on her skin, and she found herself thinking that maybe she was just cursed to never feel at ease.

She let out a deep sigh, her eyes drifting shut. "Next time, I'm just sticking to books," she whispered, a hint of stubbornness in her tone. At least with books, she knew exactly what she was getting into. No surprises, no discomfort—just something she could control.

Speaking of books, Severa rolled onto her belly and eyed the book she had bought from Anna, still lying untouched on the bedside table. Its dark, romantic cover seemed to mock her from across the room.

She sighed, reaching out to grab it. "Might as well," she muttered, flipping the book open to the first page.

The words stared back at her, and she hesitated, feeling a strange reluctance. Romance. It wasn't her usual choice. In fact, it was the last thing she would normally pick up, but maybe it would offer a distraction from the disaster this day had become.

Settling back against the pillows, she began to read. The story unfolded with an innocent charm, a far cry from the usual darker potion books she preferred. At first, it felt almost ridiculous, but as she turned the pages, she couldn't help but find herself a little drawn in by the sheer absurdity of it all.

Notes:

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