Part 2/10:
On a friend’s suggestion, Lucius visited a public bathhouse, only to feel overwhelmed by the noisy crowds. Seeking solitude and clarity, he submerged himself underwater, where an unexpected current swept him through a mysterious tunnel. After several disorienting moments, he resurfaced—not in the Roman bathhouse he left, but in modern Japan. The sight that greeted him was unlike anything he’d ever experienced; he was in a bustling public bath surrounded by curious patrons.