Chapter 89 | The Bakery And Tessa
Soft golden light filled the bakery, reflecting off cream-colored walls and polished wooden shelves stocked with preserves, specialty flour, and bundles of dried herbs that looked more suited to an apothecary than a bakery.
But it was the display case that captured his attention.
It stretched across the entire counter, filled with pastries unlike anything Dexter had ever seen.
The bottom shelf held Cloud Biscuits, pale pastries hovering just above their trays and glowing faintly.
Baked with refined cloud wheat flour. Levitation effect lasts approximately three minutes after removal from packaging.
Beside them sat Starfruit Tarts with deep violet crusts and fillings that swirled with gold and silver like miniature galaxies.
Nearby were Ember Rolls, their glossy surfaces glowing with a soft red warmth while wisps of steam rose from them despite being fully baked.
Infused with low-grade fire essence. Maintains ideal eating temperature for up to six hours.
The middle shelf displayed larger creations.
There was a Mooncake the size of a dinner plate, its surface patterned like lunar craters and its filling visible beneath translucent dough that shimmered like moonlight.
Next to it stood the Dewdrop Tower, a layered cake of pastel colors crowned with edible crystal clusters that scattered tiny rainbows across the glass.
The top shelf held the premium items.
Phoenix Feather Pastries rested inside a lacquered box, each one shaped like a flame-colored feather.
Produces a gentle warming sensation from throat to chest.
And beside them sat ten pastries unlike anything else in the display.
They were round and roughly the size of a fist, their golden crust threaded with a faint shimmer as though strands of light had been woven into the dough itself.
Through small openings in the top, a pale cream filling could be seen shifting between white and gold depending on the angle.
A handwritten card rested against the plate.
Celestine Dew Pastry. Family Recipe. Limited Batch.
Dexter’s eyes widened.
His mouth watered as he stared at the display case like a man who had lived on plain bread all his life and had suddenly wandered into a royal banquet hall.
"Dexter?"
The voice came from behind the counter.
He tore his gaze away from the pastries and looked up at the girl standing there.
She was about 15 years of age, with auburn hair tied in a messy bun dusted with flour and an apron smeared with vanilla cream. She wiped her hands on a towel and smiled at him with easy familiarity.
It took him a second to recognize her.
"Tessa," he said. "Hey. How have you been?"
"I’m actually doing alright," Tessa replied, leaning against the counter. "Though I feel I should be asking you that question. How are you doing after the monster outbreak and the attack at your home?"
Dexter shrugged and replied.
"I’m quite alright."
Tessa nodded. "What about your wives? Are they okay too?"
Dexter nodded in reply. "Yeah. They were not affected by the beasts."
"I thought the damage to your place made you move away from the area. When I heard about the monsters attack, I tried seeing you but you weren’t around so I figured maybe you left the neighborhood. "
Dexter shook his head.
"No. The Hero Association stepped in and moved me and my wives to a hotel while the repairs were being done."
Tessa’s eyes widened slightly.
"That explains the construction noises. I thought your building was being renovated."
"In a way, it was."
She laughed.
"Fair enough. My dad and some of the neighbors were worried about you."
Then a mischievous grin spread across her face.
"Though I guess I won the bet."
Dexter head tilted slightly and he blinked.
"What bet?"
"The neighborhood betting pool after the attack."
She held up five fingers.
"Some people thought you ran away. I said you didn’t. Looks like I just made five thousand dollars."
Dexter stared at her.
The neighbors had started a betting pool on whether he had fled.
Not whether he was safe or whether he needed help, it was whether he had run.
"The audacity of my neighbors," Dexter muttered.
Tessa laughed.
"What can I say? They’re quite entertaining when you get to know them."
A reluctant chuckle escaped him.
"Well, congratulations on the win."
Then he glanced back toward the display case.
"So, what’s good here?"
Tessa immediately pointed toward the top shelf.
"The Celestine Dew Pastries. Family recipe."
Her expression brightened as she spoke.
"The dough uses sun wheat flour grown on the eastern mountain slopes, and the filling is made with dew nectar harvested from dawnflowers. The ingredients are difficult to get, so we only make a small batch each day."
She pointed at the porcelain plate.
"And that’s the last batch."
Dexter looked at the pastries.
There were exactly ten left.
"I’ll take all ten."
Tessa froze.
"All ten?"
"All ten."
Lyra always ate more than everyone else, and if there were not enough to go around, she would be the first to notice.
Besides, if they tasted even half as good as they looked, everyone would want seconds.
Ten was not excessive.
Tessa laughed and reached for a pastry box.
"You really don’t do things halfway, do you? Most people buy one or two. You walk in and buy the entire batch."
With care, she placed each pastry into its own compartment before tying the box shut with a ribbon.
Dexter watched quietly as the scent of bread, vanilla, and warm sugar filled the air around him.
For a brief moment, despite the bags digging into his arms and the lingering ache in his body, everything felt peaceful.
Tessa set the box on the counter.
"There you go. Ten Celestine Dew Pastries."
She smiled.
"Tell me what the girls think."
"I will."
Dexter picked up the box carefully.
"Thanks, Tessa."
⸻
Tessa rested her elbows on the counter.
"So, how’s training to becoming a hero going?"
Dexter shifted the bags in his arms.
"Pretty well."
"Pretty well," she repeated.
Then she tilted her head.
"That’s funny, because I can’t sense you anymore."
Dexter’s expression remained calm, but his attention sharpened.
"It’s strange," Tessa continued. "Before, I could always sense and feel your strength."
She tapped the counter.
"Now there’s nothing much. It’s like you’re not even here."