Chapter 248: Picnic!

For a while, neither of them moved from where they were sitting, just enjoying the beautiful environment they found themselves in, as they knew it was rare they got time off and were able to do such truly relaxing stuff.

This was a moment they had to savor carefully, and both of them really knew that.

The mountain peak stood silent beneath them, untouched by the noise of war, politics, or responsibility. The wind flowed freely, tugging gently at Orianna’s dress and brushing through Jax’s coat, carrying with it the crisp scent of high altitude and untouched stone.

Below them, the clouds shifted slowly, like an endless expansive ocean, calm and alive.

Orianna rested her weight slightly against one leg, her arms loosely crossed as she looked out across the horizon.

"...You really picked this well," she said after a while, her voice quieter now, less sharp than usual.

Jax glanced at her briefly before looking forward again. "Of course, I needed to put alot of effort to make sure you enjoyed it,"

She nodded, "You did a real nice job. There’s nothing up here. No noise or pressure."

A faint smirk touched her lips as she continued, "...No idiots asking me for reports every five minutes."

Jax chuckled, "Sounds like a dream."

"It is." She said.

Silence settled again, but this time, it was more comfortable.

Orianna tilted her head slightly, her gaze drifting upward toward the sky.

"...You know," she said slowly, "I can’t remember the last time I just stood somewhere like this and did nothing."

Jax raised an eyebrow.

"Not even before everything?"

She thought for a moment.

"...Maybe," she admitted. "But even then, I was always preparing for something. Training. Fighting. Leading."

Her eyes shifted toward him.

"...I don’t really know how to stop."

Jax smirked faintly.

"Then don’t think about it."

She blinked.

"...What?"

"Stopping," he clarified. "You don’t have to ’learn’ how to relax. Just... be here."

He gestured slightly toward the view.

"No expectations. No goals."

Orianna stared at him for a moment.

Then huffed softly.

"...You make it sound simple."

"It is."

She shook her head, but there was no real resistance behind it.

"...You’re strange."

"Yeah, you said that already."

A small laugh escaped her.

"...Still true."

Another stretch of silence followed, but this one lingered longer.

Orianna’s posture slowly shifted, less rigid, less guarded. Her shoulders relaxed just slightly, and her arms loosened as she leaned more comfortably against the edge.

For once, she wasn’t thinking about her work with the Demon Military or with the Dragon Clan, or any other responsibilities she had.

She was just... there, and Jax didn’t interrupt it. He simply sat beside her, letting the moment exist.

Eventually, though, Jax decided to move.

"...Alright," he said, pushing off the edge slightly.

Orianna glanced at him.

"That it?"

"For this spot, yeah. We have a long day,"

She raised an eyebrow, "Oh? So there’s more?"

Jax smirked, "Told you. Couple plans."

Her lips curved into a sharper grin, "...Now I’m curious."

"Good."

Without another word, the air around them shifted again.

Space folded and the veil of reality peeled back, revealing another location beyond.

Jax stepped forward and Orianna followed without hesitation.

The next location felt... different. Still high above the world, but warmer.

They appeared on another mountain peak, but this one was broader, more open, with a natural plateau carved into its surface.

The wind here was gentler.

The light brighter, and at the center of it was a setup.

Orianna blinked.

"...Wait."

A large, finely woven blanket had been laid out across the smooth stone, secured subtly so it wouldn’t shift in the wind. Around it were low cushions, comfortable and arranged intentionally.

And on top of it was food.

A spread that was nothing short of impressive.

Freshly prepared dishes, still warm. Grilled meats glazed with rich, aromatic sauces. Delicately cut fruits that shimmered faintly with natural mana. Soft breads, layered pastries, and small dishes filled with vibrant, flavorful sides.

Crystal-clear drinks rested beside them, catching the sunlight like liquid gems. Everything a foodie would drool over.

Orianna stared at it for a moment.

Then slowly looked at Jax.

"...You did this?"

Jax shrugged.

"Yeah."

She walked forward a few steps, her eyes scanning the setup more carefully.

"...When?"

"Earlier."

"You had time for this?"

Jax smirked.

"I make time for what I want."

She exhaled softly, something in her expression shifting again.

"...Huh."

There was a brief pause.

"...Thank you."

The words came quieter than usual.

But they were genuine.

Jax glanced at her.

"Don’t mention it."

Orianna stepped onto the blanket, lowering herself down onto one of the cushions. The movement was far more relaxed than anything she would’ve done in the war room.

She reached for one of the dishes, examining it briefly before taking a bite.

Her eyes widened slightly.

"...This is good."

Jax sat down across from her.

"Of course it is."

She gave him a look.

"...You cook too?"

"Not exactly."

"Then?"

"I know what tastes good."

She huffed lightly, but didn’t argue.

Instead, she took another bite.

Then another.

"...Okay, yeah. This is really good."

Jax chuckled as he reached for his own plate.

The two of them began eating.

At first, it was quiet—just the sound of the wind and the subtle clink of utensils.

But unlike before, the silence wasn’t empty.

It was filled with ease.

Orianna leaned back slightly as she ate, far more relaxed than Jax had ever seen her.

"...If the generals could see me right now," she muttered.

Jax raised an eyebrow.

"What, sitting down and eating?"

"Relaxing," she corrected. "Not barking orders. Not throwing someone across a training field."

Jax smirked.

"Yeah, that’d shock them."

She snorted softly.

"...They’d think I got replaced."

Jax chuckled.

"Well, lucky for them, you didn’t."

Orianna glanced at him, a small smile forming again.

"...Yeah."

She took another bite, then leaned back slightly, looking out across the horizon once more.

"...This was a good idea."

Jax nodded.

"Figured you’d like it."

She didn’t respond immediately.

Instead, she just sat there, food in hand, wind brushing against her, the endless sky stretching before her.

"...I do."