Chapter 268: Chapter 268- Cozy

The air inside the shared living quarters was warm and filled with the inviting, savory aroma of a stew simmering over a magical heating stone. Soft light glowed from enchanted crystals, creating a cozy atmosphere.

In the kitchen area, Clarissa hummed a soft tune, her brow slightly furrowed in concentration as she carefully stirred a large pot. A dusty cookbook lay open on the counter next to her.

"Aya, could you pass me the dried thyme, please? I’m trying a new recipe from this old book I found. It’s supposed to enhance stamina recovery," Clarissa said, her voice warm and hopeful.

Aya, who was diligently chopping vegetables at a nearby counter, nodded quickly. "Of course, Clarissa." She wiped her hands on her apron and scurried to the pantry, retrieving the small jar of herbs. "It smells really good already. I hope it turns out well."

"I’m sure it will. Your help with the prep work has made it so much easier," Clarissa replied with a grateful smile.

While the two of them were focused on their culinary mission, a silent shadow observed them from the doorway. Zoe had entered the room, drawn by the scent of food. Her blank eyes were fixed on the pot. With the silent, fluid movement of a cat, she drifted past Aya, her hand subtly reaching towards a piece of uncooked carrot on the cutting board.

"Zoe, no," Clarissa said without even turning around, her voice gentle but firm, as if she had a sixth sense for these things. "That’s not cooked yet. You’ll get a stomachache."

Zoe’s hand froze mere inches from the carrot. She slowly retracted it, her expression unchanged, but a faint, almost imperceptible pout seemed to form on her lips. She didn’t leave, however. Instead, she simply stood there, watching the pot with an intense, unwavering focus, as if trying to will the food to cook faster through sheer silent demand.

Just then, the main door opened, and Julian, Emma, and Veronica filed in, followed by Celestia. The lively scene in the kitchen greeted them.

Julian took a deep breath, the familiar, comforting smell a welcome change from the scent of decay and ozone. "Something smells good."

Emma immediately perked up, her previous tiredness forgotten. "Food! I’m starving! Is it ready? Is it ready?"

Veronica swiftly caught her by the collar, pulling her back with a look of disgust. "Absolutely not. We’re all covered in grime and sweat from that nest and the training ground. We are not sitting at the table like a pack of wild animals. We are cleaning up first."

Celestia, nodded in agreement. "Veronica is correct. The most time-effective solution is for us to shower together. We can be in and out quickly."

Emma whined, clutching her stomach dramatically. "But I’m staaarving! My stomach is about to declare independence!"

"Endure it," Veronica stated flatly, already steering Emma toward the bathroom. "You’ll enjoy the food more when you’re not smelling like a zombie’s lunch."

It was then that Julian, seeing the logic in a quick cleanup, moved to follow them. "Makes sense. I’ll join you. The faster, the better."

He barely took two steps before three voices stopped him in his tracks.

"Absolutely not," Celestia said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Not a chance," Veronica added, crossing her arms.

Clarissa, wiping her hands on her apron, gave him a gentle but firm look from the kitchen. "Julian, if you go in with them, no one will get clean in a timely manner. The food will be cold by the time you’re all done." She gestured to the steaming pot. "It’s best if you wait your turn. Be a gentleman and let them go first."

Julian looked at the determined faces of the women, then at the promising pot of stew, and finally let out a short, resigned sigh. The combined front was impenetrable. He was outnumbered and outmaneuvered.

"...Fine," he grumbled, shoving his hands into his pockets. He leaned against the wall near the bathroom door, the picture of a formidable warrior defeated not by monsters, but by domestic logistics and the united will of his team.

Just as Julian was resigning himself to a long wait, he felt a small, insistent tug on his sleeve. He looked down to see Zoe standing there, her usual blank expression replaced by a faint, expectant glimmer in her eyes.

Before he could ask what she needed, she did a slow, deliberate twirl in front of him, showing off her neatly buttoned shirt and properly fitted boots.

Julian stared for a second, puzzled, before the memory of the morning’s chaos, Zoe’s fumbling fingers and Veronica’s exasperated help clicked into place. A look of understanding and pride softened his features.

"Well, look at that," he said, his voice warm with approval. "You dressed yourself all by yourself? That’s impressive, Zoe."

Zoe stopped spinning and gave a series of quick, happy nods, a rare and genuine spark of joy in her eyes. The simple accomplishment clearly meant the world to her.

A soft smile touched Julian’s lips. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair. "Good job."

Zoe’s usual flatline expression melted into something softer under Julian’s praise. A tiny, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips as she leaned into his head pat like a contented cat.

Seeing her reaction, Julian continued in his calm tone. "Since you’ve done so well, I’ll take you out somewhere later. Just the two of us."

Upon hearing this, Zoe’s eyes instantly lit up with a rare, vivid sparkle. She began nodding her head with such enthusiastic vigor that her black hair swayed wildly, her quiet joy radiating from her entire being.

Julian observed her closely, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "Your beast instincts... they’ve been much more stable lately. You haven’t lost control even once during recent battles." He placed a hand on her head again, his voice carrying a note of quiet pride. "It seems you’re finally growing accustomed to your power."

Zoe blinked slowly, processing his words. She then looked down at her own hands, flexing her fingers slightly as if seeing them in a new light.

A soft, barely audible hum of acknowledgment escaped her, a sound that, for her, was equivalent to a wholehearted agreement.