WORLD OF BEASTS: A Girl For The Beasts

Morning Bath

Chapter 035: Morning Bath

A faint crimson glow still lingered on the horizon as the sun had only just risen.

Anindira, who was usually reluctant to wake up early and preferred staying longer in Halvir's embrace, now found herself unsure of what to do. Eventually, she got out of bed and opened the window. The cold air immediately struck her face, making her shiver, but she left it open anyway, enjoying the freshness of the morning.

Slowly, the sun climbed higher. Its bright rays made Zia pull her blanket tighter around herself, feeling the chilly air coming through the open window.

"Zia, if you're already awake, come on and get up!" Anindira called out.

Still half asleep, Zia sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed her eyes.

"Were you awake that early?"

"Yeah," Anindira replied while looking out the window again.

"Why are you up so early?" Zia complained, turning away from the sunlight streaming into the room. "You can just go back to sleep and wake up when it's time to eat..." she added lazily, pulling the blanket over her head.

"When it's time to eat?!" Anindira exclaimed in surprise and immediately hurried over to her. "Zia, come on, get up now!"

"It's still too early," Zia replied from beneath the blanket, whining.

"Let's go take a bath!" Anindira suggested, patting Zia's shoulder.

"No." Zia shook her head while remaining wrapped in the blanket. "Later. I'll take a bath when I start feeling hot."

"Zia!" Anindira whined. "Don't be so lazy!" She tried pulling away the blanket.

"What?" Zia asked, clearly annoyed that her sleep had been disturbed.

"That habit of yours!" Anindira huffed. "Come on, get up and take a bath!" she said while shaking Zia's body.

Still sleepy, Zia looked confused by Anindira's unusual persistence.

Seeing that, Anindira gently patted Zia's cheeks, trying to wake her up.

"Hey, come on!" Anindira insisted firmly, though a smile and laughter still lingered on her face. "Let's freshen ourselves up!"

In the end, Zia forced herself to get up, though her face still clearly showed reluctance and laziness.

"You said you wanted to look like me," Anindira coaxed with a smile. "If you're serious about that, then don't be lazy!"

"What does waking up early have to do with any of that?" Zia complained with an irritated expression.

"Of course it has something to do with it!" Anindira leaned closer, her serious eyes fixed on Zia. "Consistency is the key to success!" she continued. "So don't be lazy... The first step is getting used to waking up early and taking a bath. I'll explain the next steps later..." She tried helping Zia to her feet.

"Ugh..." Zia groaned, frowning. "Fine..." she said, surrendering to Anindira's persuasion even though she still felt reluctant.

"Father!" Zia called several times, waiting, but no one came. "Are you home?" she called again before stepping outside.

Not long afterward, Ruvi appeared and approached them.

"What is it, Zia?" Ruvi asked while gently patting her head. "Mischa went hunting," he added, stroking her hair affectionately.

"Father Ruvi!" Zia greeted him with a spoiled smile. "Can you help us down and accompany us to the river?"

Ruvi frowned in confusion.

"But it's still early, Zia. What are you going to the river for?"

"To take a bath," Zia answered honestly without hesitation.

"A bath?!" Ruvi exclaimed, stunned. "It's still very early. What if you get cold?!"

"But I want to be like Anindira. She has beautiful skin..." Zia whined in her usual spoiled manner, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Anindira said that waking up early and taking baths regularly is one way to achieve that."

"No!" Ruvi firmly refused. "I'm worried you'll get sick."

"But Anindira is fine!" Zia argued carefully. "She's healthy, her skin looks nice, and her hair is neat too... Unlike mine, which is all tangled..." Her pitiful expression made Ruvi look at her with a mixture of concern and patience.

Mischa, Ruvi, Koza, Kaj, and Axel all already had mates, so they rarely paid attention to other women. It was no wonder they had never noticed that Anindira was somewhat different from most women in this world. But when Zia started complaining, Ruvi turned and examined Anindira more carefully, only then realizing that Zia was right.

Anindira's appearance truly stood out compared to most women.

"Umm..." Ruvi narrowed his eyes and studied her carefully. "Anindira, is that true?"

"I think so." Anindira nodded confidently. "That's what I was taught."

"But what if you get sick from the cold after taking a bath this early?" Ruvi still objected. His voice softened, but his concern remained firm and genuine.

"I don't know about here. But where I come from, we were taught to wake up early and take baths. Not only to refresh ourselves but also to keep ourselves clean. That way, our appearance stays well maintained, and our health remains good because of cleanliness," Anindira explained, trying to convince him.

"But, Anindira... Cold weather is very dangerous for women. Many become sick, and some even die because of it. I don't want to take that risk!" Ruvi emphasized, his tone firm yet caring.

Anindira lowered her head and patiently considered Ruvi's words. Her experiences in the modern world might not necessarily apply in the Beast World. She began to doubt herself, but she still wanted to observe things directly and better understand the local conditions.

"Sorry, Uncle..." Anindira lowered her head respectfully, and her polite attitude visibly moved Ruvi.

"Umm... How about this..." Ruvi paused. "Alright. It's fine. You may go to the river."

Ruvi smiled softly, pleased by Anindira's manners and her closeness with Zia. Watching the two teenage girls interact so warmly melted his heart—he simply could not bring himself to refuse them.

"Anindira, are you used to doing this?" Ruvi asked while gently stroking her head.

"Yes." Anindira nodded with a faint smile. "I do it because my grandmother and my mother did it too."

Ruvi's eye twitched as he thought about her words while looking at her striking appearance.

"I'll take you to the river. But not for bathing. I still can't allow you two to take a bath this early!" Ruvi declared firmly, still worried. "Bring coats and shoes. I don't want either of you getting cold!"

"OKAY!"

Anindira and Zia answered at the same time, full of enthusiasm.

Ruvi could not suppress his smile. The two girls' adorable behavior amused him. Shaking his head, he watched them with a smile hidden in his heart.

You're really that happy to have a new friend, Zia... Ruvi thought as he looked at his daughter gently. Thank you, Anindira. This house feels livelier now.

Zia lent her coat and shoes to Anindira. Because Anindira's body was smaller, the coat fit her perfectly, as though it had been made for her. The shoes fit fairly well too, though they were slightly loose around the heels.

Ruvi only carried Zia. Carrying Anindira—a woman who belonged to another man—would not have been appropriate unless absolutely necessary.

The cold morning air bit at their faces. A gentle breeze from the river blew through Anindira's hair, making it dance with each step she took. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the cold, but her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Anindira, how about we take a short rest...?" Ruvi asked, lowering his gaze toward her. His voice and expression were gentle, revealing sincere concern.

"Hm, why?" Anindira looked at him seriously, both curious and puzzled. "Are you tired, Uncle?"

"Huh?!" Ruvi was startled. "Me? Tired? No!" he exclaimed, shaking his head, his expression a mixture of confusion and amusement.

Anindira tilted her head, waiting for a clearer answer.

"Anindira, I was worried that you might be tired. That's why I suggested resting..." Ruvi added awkwardly, slightly embarrassed by how seriously she had taken the question.

"No, I'm not tired. This is normal for me. Even though it's been a long time since I've done it..." Anindira replied calmly but firmly. "That's because Kak Halvir is stubborn. He absolutely refuses to listen whenever I ask to walk by myself."

"I see..." Ruvi responded, still somewhat awkward but visibly relieved. He adjusted his pace to match theirs.

After only a few more steps, the sound of flowing water grew closer. Ahead of them, the clear surface of the river reflected the newly risen morning sun, creating golden sparkles that dazzled the eye.

At last, they arrived at the riverbank, where a new morning adventure was just beginning.