Malek’s face darkened slightly. He looked away, closed his hand in front of his mouth, and cleared his throat, visibly flustered, not knowing what to do with the compliment.
It was unexpectedly endearing.
Now I was the one blushing. I looked away quickly, trying to banish the thought before it could take root. What was happening to me? At first, I’d thought he was handsome… and now, somehow, he was… cute?
Malek picked up both axes with one hand and gestured to the path back to the village.
"Now, bath. Then, kurark."
Dinner. Great. My mind clung to the idea of food with excitement. The bath, however…
"Where can I bathe?" I asked, feeling my face grow even hotter just by asking it.
Malek frowned before he answered. "Didn’t Kalisha show you?"
I shook my head. A quiet sigh slipped from his lips.
"Shakrar. Come with me."
We followed a narrow path behind the huts, where the vegetation began to thicken. The sound of rushing water reached me before the sight. Soon, we reached a small waterfall cascading between dark stones, forming a shallow pool of crystal-clear water. The surface reflected the light filtered through the tree canopies, creating silver patches that danced with the slightest movement.
It was an open space, with no walls, partitions, or any illusion of privacy. Clear signs of use were everywhere: tracks worn into the mud, stones smoothed by time, and simple cloths hanging from nearby branches. It was a living space shared by everyone in the village.
My cheeks warmed. "Here?" I blurted.
“Kar,” he confirmed, staring at me, clearly expecting me to run and jump into the water.
I watched the pool for a few more seconds. The water was so clear that the sandy bottom was visible, which meant that if I stripped, anyone nearby would see me. I’ve never been a shy person; in fact, during full moons in Ceilte, it was tradition to run naked through the forest and bathe in moonlight.
However, in those moments, people were far too focused on the wild magic of the forest to worry about anyone else’s nudity.
"And the soap?" I asked, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
"Soap?" he repeated, tripping over the strange word. "What’s that?"
"To wash yourself," I said, moving my hands over my body to show him.
Malek shook his head, a slight crease forming between his brows.
"We use this," he said, walking to the edge of the lake. He crouched down and plucked a few broad leaves from a plant with a thick stem. "And the water. It’s enough."
I took the leaves from his hand and examined them closely. With my affinity for An Talamh, I had always been skilled at recognizing plants, flowers, and trees, and Iimmediately identified it as ingyl, a medicinal plant. Its scent was fresh and slightly cool, reminding me of the herb we used to make toothpaste in Ceilte.
It wasn't the floral soap I was used to, but it was pleasant. Better yet, it should help soothe the muscle aches that were surely coming.
"Guk," I said, smiling at him. "And… where can I get a towel?"
Malek stared at me as if I had spoken another language—which, technically, was true. I explained what I needed, and he answered, "You dry with the wind."
I bit back a grimace. Everything here was so rudimentary. Not to mention, I had no clean clothes and would have to put the same dirty rags back on afterward. The mere thought made my stomach churn.
"Fine."
I approached the edge, my heart racing. My body was still coated in sweat and dirt, but stripping there, in full view of Malek, and any other orc who might decide to show up, made me uneasy.
"Aren't you going to leave?" I asked, pointing at him, then at the forest path.
He tilted his head to the side, studying me. I remembered that among the orcs, nudity didn't seem to be a taboo. At some point, I knew I would have to expose myself before others.
