Chapter 139 | Trying For Forgiveness
The four of them ate in suffocating quiet.
Just the clinking of spoons against the plate could be heard in the dining room.
Dexter cleared the table when they finished and started tk washed the dishes, listening to the girls disperse throughout the house.
Mira’s wheelchair rolled to the living room window. Selene’s went to the backyard while Lyra’s footsteps retreated to the bedroom.
’I can’t possibly explain to them that I need to kill monsters to increase my cultivation and upgrade my system.’
Dexter sighed as he stood at the kitchen sink, washing the last plate.
’I should probably speak to Lyra first.’
But she hadn’t given him the space to approach her. Every time he came near, she found a reason to leave.
’We’re staying in the same house. She will eventually let it go.’
Dexter shrugged, dried his hands, and went to his room.
He sat on his bed and began cultivating.
The mana flowed into him effortlessly as the ten Star Nodes greedily sucked energy from the surrounding.
But his mind wasn’t truly on cultivation. A few hours into cultivation—
"Ding-a-ling-a-ling!"
His alarm rang.
Dexter opened his eyes and checked the time.
It was the alarm he had set for Mira’s daily physical therapy session, the massage routine designed to stretch her muscles, prevent atrophy, and maintain what little function remained in her paralyzed limbs.
Especially for now that she was healing.
’I should move to the next style. Now.’
He stood up, stretched his legs, and headed to the living room.
Mira was at the window, her eyes closed, her spectral arms retracted.
She was cultivating deeply, her Star Nodes pulling in mana with speed.
Dexter walked over and stood behind her wheelchair.
"It’s time for your massage," he said.
"Hm."
Mira didn’t open her eyes, still indifferent as ever and didn’t respond.
Dexter didn’t wait, to ask for permission he had learned that asking Mira for permission only gave her an opportunity to refuse.
Dexter wheeled Mira to the bedroom. She didn’t like the other girls watching as her pride couldn’t bear being vulnerable in front of the other girls.
That was why she preferred to be taken care of by Dexter, rather than the two girls. She might not be able to do anything right now, but she still possess her pride and wasn’t willing to let it fall before the other girls.
Moreover, Dexter was a stranger to her back then so it didn’t count.
Lyra was already in the bedroom, sitting cross-legged on her bed with the ancient beast egg cradled in her lap.
She had taken a particular liking to the egg, always volunteering to cultivate with it despite not being the strongest cultivator among them.
When she saw Dexter wheel Mira through the doorway, she immediately understood what was about to happen. Without a word, she picked up the egg, stood, and left the room.
Dexter closed the door behind her.
He carried Mira from the wheelchair and placed her softly on the bed.
He removed her outer clothing, leaving her in just a sports bra and cotton briefs.
They had done this routine enough times now that Mira’s embarrassment had reduced considerably, though the faint pink tinge on her ears never quite disappeared.
Dexter, however, was a different story. No matter how many times he performed this ritual, his heart always raced.
He inhaled deeply and retrieved the nearly empty bottle of massage oil from the nightstand.
Pouring a small pool of oil into his palm, he warmed it between his hands and began.
The 36-Style Massage Technique activated instinctively, channeling precise threads of mana through his fingertips as he worked.
He started with her fingers, then her hands, her wrists, her forearms.
He moved up to her shoulders, kneading the atrophied muscles with careful, methodical pressure. Her neck followed, then her upper back, his thumbs working the tight bands of tissue along her spine.
He turned his attention to her legs. Starting at her toes, he stretched each one gently, then worked upward her calves, knees and thighs.
He stopped just below the junction of her thighs and waist, then gently turned her over.
The front of her body received the same careful treatment, her abdomen, her collarbones, her arms.
The oil seeped into her pores, carrying its restorative properties deep into her tissue.
When the massage was complete, Dexter lifted her carefully and carried her to the bathroom.
He used warm water and a soft cloth to clean the massage oil from her skin, patting her dry with a fresh towel the took he back to the room.
Then he dressed her in clean clothes.
Mira immediately closed her eyes and resumed cultivating.
She didn’t say a word throughout the entire process—not during the massage, not during the bath, nor after.
Dexter glanced her and smirked. "I’d thought I’d never see the day the Crimson Valkyrie would be silent."
Mira opened her eye and glanced at him. "Righteous idiot." Then she closed her eyes and ignored him.
Dexter almost choked on his own spit. ’Why was this girl such a savage?’
"Hmph!" He snorted and took her to the sitting room, close to the window.
***
Lyra was on the couch, the beast egg back on her lap.
Dexter glanced at her and an idea came to him.
He went to the kitchen and began preparing tea. He went all out, brewed a Grade-4 Arcane tea using the premium leaves and also mixed it with his premium alcohol.
He then retrieved the Celestial Moon Pastries from his storage ring.
He arranged them on small plates and paired each with a cup of the Grade-4 tea.
Mira first.
He carried a cup of tea and three pastries to Mira.
"I don’t want," she said flatly, without opening her eyes.
Dexter smiled. "Then toss it away if you don’t want."
Mira frowned and glanced at him. "Are you trying to bully me?"
Dexter grinned brilliantly. "Then stand up for yourself."
Mira’s eyes brow rose at the clever retort. "Hmph! Glib tongue."
She ignored him.
Dexter chuckled and placed the tea before her. She didn’t summon her specter arm to toss it which was quite the achievement.
Next, Lyra.
Dexter carried a cup of tea and four pastries instead of two.
He set the tea and pastries on the small stool directly in front of her.
Lyra opened one eye. She glanced at Dexter, then she closed her eye again, ignoring both him and the food.
Dexter chuckled softly but didn’t press. He placed the items where she could reach them and moved on.
Finally, Selene.
She was in the backyard, sitting on the old hanging swing chair that creaked softly.
Her hands rested on her knees, palms upward, and faint wisps of cold mana drifted around her like morning mist.
Dexter walked over and placed two pastries and a cup of tea on the empty space beside her swing.
Selene’s head turned toward him without opening her eyes. Through her echolocation, she could perceive his outline which was a blazing wild fire in the dark world.
"This is your cultivation pastry," Dexter said quietly. "It will help improve your cultivation speed. Try it."
Selene was silent for a moment. Then she muttered softly, "Thank you."
Dexter smiled. At least one of the three girls had thanked him today.
He turned to leave, but paused when Selene’s mouth opened slightly—as if she wanted to say something more. She hesitated, her lips parting and then closing.
The moment stretched.
Dexter raised an eyebrow but didn’t push. She would say it when she was ready. He simply nodded and walked back inside.