Chapter 250 | Preparations II

Dexter’s expression became thoughtful. He would need to wake up early and prepare enough food for the picnic. Since the tradition involved exchanging meals, making only enough for himself and the girls wouldn’t work.

Fortunately, tomorrow was also one of the rare mornings when he didn’t have to prepare food for sale. Most businesses in the neighborhood would be closed for the festival. That included Tessa’s father’s bakery.

Technically, Dexter would lose a day’s income. But considering how much work he normally did every morning, having one day where he could cook without worrying about orders wasn’t exactly terrible.

"A day off won’t kill me."

He could wake up early, prepare several dishes for the picnic, and still have enough time to get ready before they left.

Dexter began mentally arranging everything he would need. Ingredients. Containers. Utensils. He would need to make enough for four people, plus extra for sharing. Maybe some pastries, since Lyra seemed to enjoy them. Something warm and hearty for Mira. And perhaps something lighter for Selene, whose body still struggled with the Eternal Ice.

Then his bedroom door suddenly opened.

A cold current swept through the room.

Dexter didn’t even need to turn around.

"Selene."

She stepped inside.

Something about her was different tonight. During her previous visits, Selene had always hesitated at the doorway. Sometimes she would stand there awkwardly, almost as though she needed to convince herself to enter. Her pale eyes would flicker around the room, her posture rigid with uncertainty.

Tonight, she simply walked in.

She only stopped briefly when her eyes met Dexter’s. He smiled. That seemed to remove whatever tiny amount of uncertainty remained.

Selene walked forward and sat on the bed opposite him without waiting for an invitation. She crossed her legs, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders like moonlight made solid.

"Hi."

"Hey."

Selene glanced around before looking at him again. "I hope I’m not disturbing you."

"Not at all."

"You’re sure?"

"Completely."

Selene nodded. "Okay."

She closed her eyes. Almost immediately, she entered a cultivation state. Her breathing slowed, her body stilled, and the cold energy within her began to stir.

Dexter watched her for a moment. Then he activated his Heavenly Flame talent.

No visible flames appeared. He deliberately kept the manifestation suppressed, allowing only the intense warmth produced by the Heavenly Flame to flow through his body. Heat gradually spread across the bed, radiating outward like invisible sunlight.

Selene’s tense expression relaxed almost immediately. The cold energy inside her was extremely troublesome, but Dexter had already discovered that his Heavenly Flame could suppress it. The closer she remained to him, the more effective that suppression became.

Less than a minute later, Dexter spoke. "Selene."

Her eyes opened.

"Come sit closer."

Selene blinked. Dexter tapped the empty space beside him. "You’ll feel the heat better from here."

Selene looked at the space. Then at Dexter. For a brief second, the old hesitation returned. But it quickly disappeared.

"Okay."

She shifted across the bed and sat directly beside him, resting her back against the headboard. A slight flush appeared on her cheeks—barely visible against her pale skin, but there nonetheless.

Dexter noticed it. He also noticed something else. She wasn’t nearly as uncomfortable around him anymore. The first few times she had entered his room, every movement had been filled with hesitation. Now she had walked in herself. Sat on his bed without being invited. And when Dexter asked her to move closer, she had done so without arguing.

Progress.

Dexter smiled faintly.

Selene noticed. "What?"

"Nothing."

She stared suspiciously at him. "You’re smiling."

"Am I not allowed?"

Selene looked away. "I didn’t say that."

Dexter chuckled softly. "Continue cultivating."

Selene closed her eyes again. Dexter did the same.

The Heavenly Flame stirred inside him. Warmth radiated outward. The cold energy within Selene instinctively reacted, but whenever it threatened to surge, Dexter’s heat pressed against it, suppressing the icy outbreak before it could spread.

Selene’s breathing gradually became calmer. Dexter focused on maintaining the balance. Heat and cold. Two completely opposing forces existed only inches apart. Yet instead of clashing violently, they gradually settled into an unusual harmony.

Minutes became hours. Neither of them spoke again. Eventually, the night disappeared.

---

Dexter’s eyes opened.

For a moment, he remained completely still. His internal clock had awakened him almost exactly when he wanted. He glanced toward his phone. Five minutes before the alarm.

Dexter reached over and switched it off before it could ring.

Then he tried to sit up.

Something stopped him.

Dexter looked down.

Selene was hugging him. Sometime during their cultivation, she had apparently moved closer until she was practically wrapped around him, instinctively seeking the warmth produced by his Heavenly Flame. Her arms were draped across his chest, her face pressed against his shoulder.

Her face was peaceful. More peaceful than he had ever seen it. The permanent tension around her eyes was gone. The slight frown that usually lingered on her lips had vanished.

Dexter stared at her for several seconds. Then he smiled.

"So much for sitting closer."

He carefully loosened her arms from around him. Selene shifted slightly. Dexter froze. She didn’t wake. He waited another second before slowly slipping out of her embrace and getting off the bed.

Selene instinctively moved toward the warmth he had left behind, hugging part of the blanket instead. Dexter almost laughed.

He pulled the blanket over her properly, tucking the edges around her shoulders.

Then he quietly left the bedroom.

The house was still silent. Outside, dawn was only beginning to arrive. The sky was a pale grey, the first hints of orange just beginning to creep over the horizon.

Dexter stretched his arms.

Today was the festival. And apparently, thanks to Tessa’s warning, he had quite a bit of cooking ahead of him.

Dexter entered the kitchen, rolled up his sleeves, and looked over the ingredients he had available. Flour. Rice. Vegetables. Meat. Eggs. Spices. Everything he needed was there, organized and waiting.

A smile slowly appeared on his face.

"If everyone is exchanging food..."

He reached for the first ingredient.

"...I might as well make something worth exchanging."

And with that, Dexter began preparing the meals for the picnic.