hi hi hi!

Illuga had come to visit Flins impromptu. He hadn't given the man any warning, so really it was Illuga's fault for not giving him some kind of notice. Sure, Illuga normally visited Flins on Thursdays every single week for the past three-ish years, but he normally reminded the man before he came! Truly, there was no reason for him to be bothered by the fact that he showed up to find that Flins wasn't alone. There was no rule that said Flins had to be free of all distractions and pay all his attention on Illuga when he visited, that would be completely absurd. Illuga was just a friend, a colleague.

So when Illuga did show up and see that Flins was entertaining Jahoda, Lumine, and Paimon, it should have been fine. After all, they were his friends too, right? Everyone here was friends to varying degrees!

But you didn't fight alongside them, Flins had made you leave. The rest of them got to stay and fight alongside him, while you had to twiddle your thumbs waiting an ocean away, useless, praying to whatever divine force who would listen that Flins would be safe.

Illuga's jaw was tight as he greeted them all and dropped off some supplies and paperwork for Flins. He insisted on putting the supplies away himself so that Flins could continue hosting his guests, and he excused himself soon afterwards. Paimon and Jahoda questioned him the loudest, but Lumine and Flins looked disappointed by his rush. He didn't back down to stay though, he'd rather not bring down the mood while that ugly feeling was so strong in his gut. He smiled at them all apologetically with an excuse that he was too busy and just wanted to make sure he brought Flins some more supplies. Then quick as he came, he left, his pace uncomfortably rushed along the beach back to the nearest dock. He just needed to go home and cool off.

That had been embarrassing… Though no one had asked him about it.

It happened around the knights too.

The Knights of Favonius loved to celebrate and share their joys with those around them. This was a good thing, Illuga and the other ratniki were quite endeared to the knights after fighting alongside them these past few years. After a harsh battle shared, it was common for the knights to insist the lightkeepers come out with them for some drinks.

Illuga didn't normally go, he didn't enjoy drinking all that much, or at least not what the knights had to offer and the Flagship unfortunately didn't always have good mead. Still, both Varka and Illuga's own squad insisted he come and take a break. Even if he didn't want to drink, he could relax and have some good food with good company. It should have lifted his spirits and, at the beginning, it did.

But Flins showed up and was roped in on the fun.

This should have been a good thing. In fact at first Illuga was delighted to see the other and even told the man himself as much. Something shifted however as the night lingered on. Maybe it was the pint of ale he got, even though he knew it was too weak to do anything to him. Maybe he was just a little under the weather.

Maybe it was Varka's arm around Flins' shoulders talking directly into Flins' ear. Maybe it was how Flins was just smiling in amusement and letting him like it was the most natural thing in the world. Illuga knew Flins wasn't drunk, he didn't think Flins even could get drunk, he just liked pretending to be after his second glass or so. Illuga had known that, that Flins was sober, but was Varka fooled? He didn't know.

But the closeness between the two of them was killing him.

Illuga began laughing and smiling less and less, then engaging less all together, until he was just curled up practically brooding over his pint at the bar, sounds of revelry behind him. After finally finishing the food he'd gotten over an hour ago (long gone disgustingly cold), he chugged the remains of his ale and stood. He didn't want to be here anymore, he stopped enjoying himself ages ago but couldn't will himself to get up until his chest ached. No one had even spoken to him in a while. Maybe he looked as gloomy as he felt.

And no one seemed to notice him pay him tab or put his coat back on at the door. No one stopped him from leaving. None of them would notice his absence.

He bit down on the inside of his cheek to force a neutral expression as he walked through Nasha Town down to the port. He needed to catch the last ferry to Piramida so he wouldn't have to come back to the bar again…

Now Illuga should have known better with this one… He knew Flins had become a bit closer with Miss Lauma and Miss Nefer. He was very well aware of it, so surely Illuga should be happy about it too, right? That was what friends were supposed to feel, right? to feel joy upon seeing their dear friend having more friends, after seeing how lonely he used to be?

Illuga barely listened at the Guild meeting, instead focusing on the very important matter of Aedon sitting in his lap wanting pets. It would actually be cruel of him to not shower his precious nightingale in affection, so he was blameless.

But afterwards, right after stepping outside, he caught Flins talking with Lauma and Nefer. Flins didn't attend meetings, Illuga was the lightkeeper holding that seat, but Flins had been waiting outside anyway, just to talk to Lauma and Nefer. It sounded like Lauma and Nefer were having a petty argument and Flins was joining in for the sole purpose of seeing what annoyed reactions he could get out of Nefer without overstepping and having the target put on himself. It was a fun game the three had by this point, he'd seen it play out once or twice before. He didn't like it then either.

His fists clenched and he suppressed a glare.

It wasn't fair to anyone, this vile venom in his stomach. Lauma and Nefer were nothing but kind to him so far and he would like to treat them both the same… but how could he when seeing them just talking with Flins so casually made him want to drag Flins away from them by his hair?

What was wrong with him?

"I'm the leaf nearest to you, aren't I?" is what Illuga had said to Flins once… Flins had of course given him a non-answer, not anywhere near the validation he was looking for, even if truly getting that kind of validation right in front of Lumine would have been embarrassing the moment he'd look back on it.

But really… Wasn't he the closest?

He used to be, before everything ramped up in Nod Krai. He used to be the person Flins spent the most time with, at least not counting the ghosts. Times changed and Illuga was being outmatched. He felt left behind.

He swallowed down bile and walked away. Aedon settled on his shoulder and nuzzled against his neck to comfort him. His nightingale knew him too well, they were connected after all, he knew exactly what ailed his human partner. He whispered a thanks and scratched the bird's chin.

He didn't look back to see if Flins noticed him. He didn't want to set himself up for the disappointment.

It was probably for the best that Flins got closer to others over him anyway. If Illuga was feeling like this over a couple close friends, then maybe Illuga was getting far too selfish. Illuga had no right to hoard Flins' time all to himself, he was just his coworker. Flins wouldn't even call him by just his name, not even when Illuga explicitly begged him to.

Who had he been kidding anyway?

All he was was an excited kid who made constant excuses to deliver supplies to someone who was barely even trying to hide that he didn't need any of it, but what too polite to admit it.

He always thought Flins was lonely and that he enjoyed Illuga's visits, but if Flins' time was filled with so many more people, where was the room for Illuga? Did Illuga even deserve a space at all if this was how he was reacting?

"Are you feeling alright, my boy?" Nikita sat down beside him in the mead hall, a comforting hand on his back. "You're glaring into that cup like it kicked a puppy."

Illuga didn't flinch from surprise, he was a bit too tired for it. "Ah, sorry, pops, I just…" He sighed and bowed his head. "It's not anything important. I'm just a little frustrated over something."

"Does this something happen to involve a certain bothersome old soul we both know?" Nikita asked with a knowing grin.

Illuga felt himself flush. "It's nothing Sir Flins did…"

Nikita's laugh boomed in the empty hall. "Hah! I knew he had to be his fault my poor little bird was so gloomy." His hand rubbed soothing circles on his back. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Pops, do you think I'm…" He frowned and looked up at his dad, brow furrowed. "Am I selfish?"

Nikita silently blinked at him for a moment before he burst out laughing, deep and bellowing. "Illugi, hahah-! You're the most selfless, self-sacrificing person I've ever known!" He smiled fondly when he settled back down and pet the top of Illuga's head. "Everyone in Piramida, especially myself, have spent years trying and failing to spoil you out of that. I would love for you to be more selfish."

Embarrassment burned his cheeks and he couldn't keep eye contact anymore. He turned back toward the table to grab his glass and actually drink the water he'd been blankly staring into for who knows how long.

"So what exactly did that fool do to make you start getting wrinkles this young?" Nikita leaned on the table.

"It really isn't anything Sir Flins did, I've just found myself a bit-" Illuga started, but didn't get to finish.

"Oh my, might you two be talking about me?" Flins stood in the entree-way to the hall, hand on the door frame as he trailed around it.

"Flins! What the hell are you doing up in Piramida?" Nikita eyed him suspiciously, but the smile never left his face. "Don't tell me you're actually filing your own reports for once?"

"Well you see, my dear Starshyna, I unfortunately had not received any supplies the past two weeks, so I thought it best to return for a quick visit." Flins hummed happily, innocently.

Illuga's eyes widened.

Two weeks?! He had been avoiding Flins for two weeks??? He never meant to neglect his duties along with the distance! He was barely even conscious of the distance!

"Sir Flins, I am so so sorry!" Illuga pushed himself to stand. "Forgive me, I don't know how time got away from me to such an egregious degree."

"It's nothing to worry about, Young Master." Flins held a hand over his heart and bowed at the hip. "Just being in the presence of your warmth for but a moment more than makes up for my twiddling stock of lamp oil."

"I had a bag prepared at home and everything to bring next time I was able." Illuga groaned in frustration. "I'll go get it for you! It's missing the soup I planned to make for you, but there's dry rations."

Flins couldn't suppress the grimace on his face. His voice fell quieter. "…We're past pretending I need the dry rations, right?"

Illuga's eyes widened. "You hate them that much to admit it?"

"I'll gladly attempt eating whatever you wish to make for me of course, Master Illuga, but please," He smiled fondly. "Unless you're punishing me for something, I'd rather those rations go to squads that need them."

Nikita snorted into his hand before standing up himself. "Illugi, why don't you take the afternoon and go back with Flins?"

"Huh?" Illuga's eyes snapped to his father.

"Clearly this pathetic man," He clapped Flins' on the back. "Missed you enough to risk having to do actual work at headquarters."

"You are far too cruel to me, old friend." Flins huffed a soft laugh, completely unaffected by Nikita's strength which would knock a normal person of Flins' build three meters forward.

"Besides you need the break, clearly." Nikita sidestepped Flins to put a hand on Illuga's shoulder. "I can get your work done. Take the day." Then he subtly nodded his head toward Flins and Illuga had to duck his head to hide how his cheeks burned.

"Y-yeah, if you're sure." Illuga suppressed the nervousness that bubbled up in his chest. He really was an open book, at least to Nikita. "Thanks, pops."

"Well then," Flins gestured to the door when Illuga looked at him. "Lead the way, Young Master."

Illuga tried to push aside the excitement in his just, he was just too pleased about getting Flins' attention to himself. Was there any truth to Nikita saying Flins missed him? It was said in jest, he was just teasing Flins, but the thought of it made his chest flutter.

It also made him feel a little pathetic though admittedly. He avoided Flins without even thinking about it for a fortnight over such petty and childish reasons, punishing himself and inconveniencing Flins for reasons that felt out of control.

He kept all of that inside as he chatted with Flins on the walk to his house. It was light and casual, full of Flins' usual teasing and flowery language that lead Illuga into a million directions despite his best efforts. Flins was a bit… kinder than normal today however, not trying to get a rise out of Illuga. Uh, not that he was ever mean or anything!

It almost felt like he was tiptoeing around Illuga, like he thought if he pushed a little too far in any direction that Illuga would push him away and hide for a few more weeks.

By the time they got to Illuga's front door, the guilt was consuming him from the inside out. He didn't let it show through his smile.

Flins awkwardly stood in the doorway when Illuga walked in.

Illuga scoffed a laugh. "You know you're always welcome here, Sir."

Flins perked up and blinked at him owlishly before his smile grew softer. "I'm honored, Young Master." He put his hand over his heart and bowed his head before he stepped in and shut the door behind him. "Pardon my intrusion."

"I intrude on you all the time." Illuga shook his head fondly and went to grab his bag. It was still left on the kitchen counter, waiting for him to put containers of soup inside that he never made. He mentally chastised himself before reaching inside to take the dry food rations out.

The realization just set in that Flins had just casually admitted to Illuga that he wasn't human… The thought thrilled him. Sure, he still didn't know exactly what Flins was, though he had theories, but he had plenty of time to ask. For Flins, he'd be willing to wait as long as it took for each kernel of truth the man was willing to share.

"Yes, but you always have a good reason for paying me a visit." Flins watched happily as Illuga unpacked the unsavory rations and set them onto the counter.

"Are you saying that you coming here for supplies isn't a good reason?" He paused and raised an eyebrow.

"I could just as easily have gotten lamp oil in Nasha Town, no?" He leaned over the counter, head pillowed in his arms so he could look up at Illuga for once. "Is it so hard to imagine that the old man's assessment was correct?"

Illuga's cheeks flushed. "You… You're saying you missed me?"

"Am I?" His eyes glinted in the light coming through the window.

"…I really am sorry I haven't come to see you, Sir. I just…" He tried to busy himself with the bag, but there was nothing left with it to do. He fiddled with the straps after he closed it up, anything to not look Flins in the eye.

His father's words echoed in his head: "I would love for you to be more selfish."

"I think I was being a bit selfish with you before." His shoulders deflated. "It wasn't a very pretty feeling."

"Oh?~" Flins' growing grin was loud and clear without having to see it.

"I felt myself getting a bit frustrated whenever I saw you were enjoying yourself with anyone other than me," He picked the bag up and slung it over his shoulder. He didn't look to see Flins' face, he walked right past him out of the kitchen. "Which isn't particularly fair to you or anyone else involved… Though I suppose not coming to visit you wasn't fair either."

Flins' eyes burned against his back. His silence made Illuga's heart feel like it was going to explode.

"I know it's pretty immature of me." He forced a closed eyed smile back over his shoulder. "You have nothing to worry about though, I won't let something like that keep me from visiting again."

"Illuga." Flins was suddenly right behind him, looming.

Illuga felt like a jolt of electricity went up his spine and he jumped a step forward before spinning to face the man. Flins never called him by just his name. The sound of it felt like he was being yanked by a chain towards the other.

"Perhaps I have been taking our time together for granted." He reached up and gently brushed Illuga's bangs aside before holding his cheek. "Had I any idea you felt this way, I would have given you more of me."

"You shouldn't want to give yourself to me, Flins." Illuga's cheeks must've been the same shade as his earring, but he still smiled up at him instead of shying away. "I don't think I'd ever be able to let go."

"I trust myself in your capable hands." He leaded down to press his lips to Illuga's forehead, before he stepped back and let go, leaving Illuga cold. "Perhaps we should depart now? We're far less likely to have this discussion interrupted in my humble dwelling than in yours."

"Oh!" Illuga blinked as awareness returned to him. "Yes, right, that's- ahem… That's a good point. Let's go."

He dared to take Flins hand in his to lead him out of the house. He tried very very hard to ignore Flins' happy smile and he tried even harder to ignore anyone else looking at them on the way out of Piramida. Every time nervousness and doubt crept in and told him to let go, Flins squeezed his hand and the feeling ebbed.

Even in his weakened state, Shadow Milk Cookie knew exactly where to direct a portal to as an escape from Pure Vanilla Cookie and those pesky kids.

There was an old student of his, from all the way back before he abandoned the Virtue of Knowledge. This student was the first subject he'd tested magic of longevity on, a prototype of the spell he later used on Black Sapphire Cookie. He wasn't entirely positive how his student was doing after all these eons, but he at least knew they were alive and where to find them. That would have to do!

It wasn't like he would ever willingly allow the other beasts to see him in his current state. His dough was cracking for Forks' sake! He needed to see a familiar yet neutral party.

Even better when that neutral party was someone he once taught powerful regenerative magic to!

The portal opened up to a small clearing in a section of the Ravenous Woods full of cinnamon trees and sugar stick firs. Shadow Milk found it a little funny- after all the years, and their student was just a ways to the west up the Skim Milk River from his Spire of Deceit. Though from an outside perspective, this clearing was an empty meadow, one that someone could even walk right through as though it was normal, but if one entered through the correct arch of trees… Ah-! There it was! Just a couple paces to their left, stood two cinnamon trees with six point star sigils carved deep into the bark, marks that the trees could not heal.

Although his levitation magic was working fine, he allowed Black Sapphire Cookie to wrap his arm around his shoulders for support and he let Candy Apple Cookie grip onto his sleeve. He was too tired to voice any complaints about the closeness. They were pretty rattled and scrapped up too, so he allowed them this, for now.

He simply directed Black Sapphire toward the correct set of trees to walk under and as they passed the barrier, the clearing changed into a flourishing garden. The space even appeared larger than the meadow that original held it. Beds of jellies, berries, and wheat framed the outer perimeter of the garden, while flower beds surrounded a small soda pond in the center. There were trellises on the far end of the garden, granting shade to the porch on a quaint cottage, yellow, blue, and white sugar roses twisting through the wood.

In a rocking chair on the porch, there sat a cookie reading. They didn't notice there were any uninvited guests just yet, not until they'd made it to the pond. They abruptly set their book on the table beside them, put their glasses on, and shot up from their chair.

It had only take them a moment to recognize who it was. After all, no one else looked like Shadow Milk Cookie.

"Professor?!" Lemon Anise Cookie almost tripped rushed down the stoop to his porch.

Shadow Milk Cookie found a small shot of pride seeing that his student hadn't appeared to age a day since they left the academy. Ahh, even though his immortality spell had yet to be perfected, it was clearly still holding up marvelously.

There were curls of lemon zest now streaked in their very short white icing hair, but otherwise they looked unchanged. Their yellow sweater looked handspun from cotton spider wool, their brown overalls looked old but well taken care of. How long since they'd visited a village with other cookies? How long since they left the Beast Yeasts? he wondered.

"Ah, Lemon Anise Cookie! Just the pupil I was hoping to find!" He found his grin straining as they rushed over to meet them. He was in a bit more pain than he'd realized. He clutched his stomach and tried not to grimace. "Mind helping a guy out?"

"What happened?! You're crumbling!" Lemon Anise Cookie, never one to care for personal space, was already cupping his cheek to examine his injuries. It was truly as though not a day had passed, while eons had already long gone by.

Now Shadow Milk wasn't one to really care about this, it was purely for medical purposes, but he wasn't the only one here…

"Don't just go touching my Master!!!" Candy Apple Cookie loudly protested and knocked Lemon Anise's hands away.

"Gah-! Sorry, I just need see how deep the cracks are." They floundered. "Uhh…" They awkwardly looked between the three in front of them. "I recognize you as his ward from back then." He gestured to Black Sapphire Cookie, who suppressed a glare. Then looking back to Candy Apple Cookie, they asked, "Are you his um… apprentice…?"

Shadow Milk Cookie could hear the thought that popped in their head clear as day: "Headmaster wouldn't have a kid, right…?" He really appreciated them not asking something like that out loud because he did NOT want to deal with how awkward that would end up.

"They're both my minions." Shadow Milk cut in, but waved a hand to seem noncommittal, now that Candy Apple freed his other arm. "They're only my wards when I'm in a good mood." He laughed.

"Ah, so the student-teacher dynamic wasn't enough of a power trip for you." They scoffed a laugh, before spinning around. "Alright, come inside so you can all sit down. I'll go look for the right spell book."

Black Sapphire and Candy Apple shared a very annoyed look. Shadow Milk wouldn't normally notice or care, but considering he was right between them, it was hard to miss. Black Sapphire held onto him a little tighter (though still careful of his injuries) as they all followed Lemon Anise inside.

"Just let him down on the couch, you two can sit wherever." Lemon Anise waved his hand dismissively. "I need to check my study before we get started."

"The book you need had a purple cover, unless you got a newer edition." Shadow Milk called after him. "The pages are lined with silver."

"How would you know if I have such a tomb?" He asked.

"Because I keep track of all the books that belong in my Spire." His eyes gleamed brighter when their eyes minutely widened. "My security was really slacking without me around! You just waltzed right in! Hah!"

"WHAT?!" Black Sapphire was shocked by this. It was he who was tasked with protecting the Spire of Deceit in his master's absence. How had he missed a petty thief? and why had Master not told him if he knew it was stolen?

"I was once a welcomed guest to that Spire, you'll recall, Professor." They slipped away down the hallway before he could tease them further.

"…I don't like them." Candy Apple huffed in annoyance and plopped down on a chair, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at the coffee table in front of her.

"Are you sure we can trust this cookie, Master?" Black Sapphire helped Shadow Milk to lay down on the couch.

"C'mon, kids, Lemon Anise Cookie was taught magic by the best of the best!" He stretched out a bit to relax on the comfy cushions, but immediately had to ignore how much the stretch hurt his chest like hell. "I.E. Me!"

The two of them ignored the burning desire to snoop around this stranger's home. Their focus had to be on their Master and his health… But maybe just a peek at the nearby bookshelf would be fine?

Black Sapphire barely got to read a single spine before their host was back.

"Bad news, bats. I don't think I have enough milk for this spell." Lemon Anise strolled back in, their glasses hooked on the collar to their sweater and eyes focused on the pages of the old tome. "Though maybe I should check the ice box in the cellar first…"

"Milk? What do you need that for?" Black Sapphire grumbled and leaned back on his staff, which grumbled in turn to mimic its master.

"I need some of Shadow Milk Cookie's base ingredients. I have fresh blueberries in the garden, but…" They put a bookmark in the page and closed the tome gently. "How quickly could either of you go get milk from the river?"

"Well, I'm way faster than him." Candy Apple Cookie pushed herself up to stand, only to float up in the air a moment after. She had been getting better at her levitation magic, but… She was definitely slower than both himself alone and his microphone. However he decided to let it go since she was so passionate about taking on the task. "How much do you need? I'll bring the whole river if it means Master Shadow Milk Cookie will recover!"

"Pfft- hehehe, we don't need that much." They smiled in amusement. "I'll grab a container from the kitchen, c'mon."

The breeze caused from Candy Apple's rush knocked loose papers and small trinkets off the bookshelves and tables as she flew into the kitchen behind Lemon Anise. Black Sapphire groaned and bent down to start cleaning up the mess without any second thought.

"What is the spell they're doing exactly?" He asked, pausing to hold a pendant with a star charm he picked up off the floor.

"It's a form of restoration magic, buuuuuut… It's actually more like a mixture of dark moon magic and an early proto form of pastry magic than how normal restorative light magic spells should work. The light of my Soul Jam is dimmed now after… Everything…" He grimaced deeply, it hurt his face. "I knew I'd need something stronger and I needed someone I knew could use it."

Black Sapphire silently simmered. Shadow Milk ignored him and kept talking.

"Now-! It's not exactly like healing magic- which is good because this vessel wasn't made naturally and I'm not exactly just sure yet on how healing spells might work on it. It could potentially counteract with Dark Enchantress Cookie's magic and cause some unsavory side effects." Shadow Milk held up an arm and tugged the ruffles on his cuffs up to examine the cracks in his wrist. The damage was enough to be cause for concern, but he'd also gone through far worse plenty of times in his life. "Lemon Anise Cookie has both the access to and the ability to use the exact kind of spells I needed. That's why I wanted to see if he might still be around."

"Might?" Black Sapphire stood and set the bobbles in his hands down on the coffee table. "You mean you weren't even sure if they were here? Master, you said your gaze of deceit casts upon all of Earthbread."

"Well, yeah, Black Sapphire Cookie, but who do you think taught him how to even make hidden domains? My eyes can not see inside this place from the outside… I told you, he learned from the best." He gave his minion a flat deadpan look. "Besides, I knew the book was here, that'd be enough. I would have just taught you how to do it or something."

Black Sapphire tried not to look too upset at that, but he couldn't help it. Sure, he wasn't his master's student, not for a very long time, though he had learned a great deal from him, he was still just a servant… an employee, even. Thinking of how much this student, who his master had never mentioned after all these centuries, after millennia, learned so much from his master that he had no knowledge of… It burned deep in his core.

"Master!" Candy Apple flew back in the room in a rush, a thermos tightly grasped in her hands. "I'm going to go get that milk for you so fast!"

"Do me proud, okayyy?~" He waved dismissively as she excitedly flew across the room and out the front door in a flash.

Darn it, Black Sapphire had just picked up everything off the floor…

"She's a real whirlwind, huh…" Lemon Anise stood in the archway to the kitchen with a wicker basket in hand and huffed a laugh, slipping their glasses back on their face. "You can just leave the mess, hon, she'll probably just do it again when she gets back."

Black Sapphire stood up straight and grimaced at being called "hon."

"Apologies, but I realize I hadn't gotten to properly introduce myself." His jaw was clenched, but he floated over to them leisurely like he was completely unbothered.

"I already know all about you, Black Sapphire Cookie." They walked over to meet him in the middle and held out a hand to shake. "Still. It's nice to finally meet you properly after all these millennia."

"Please, the pleasure is all mine." He took their hand, refraining from gripping so hard as to crumble their dough. "But do tell me… How might you have heard of me, while I've never heard even a whisper of you?"

"Oh you know…" They were looking up at him far too amused for his liking. Their lemon peel tail was wagging like a cake hound bringing you a stick to throw. "Through the grape vine."

Oh, great. They did puns too… Black Sapphire's eye twitched.

"Kids, kids, please!" Shadow Milk groaned, and not just from the physical pain. "If I knew it'd be like this, I would have come alone…"

"Pardon me, Master," Black Sapphire pulled his hand out of Lemon Anise's grasp before floating closer to Shadow Milk. He clutched his chest. "But there's no way Candy Apple Cookie and myself would ever willingly part from you while you're in this state."

"Ugh…" He cursed under his breath. "I know…"

"Well…" Lemon Anise awkwardly chimed back in. "I need to go pick those blueberries, so um… Black Sapphire Cookie, can you help him disrobe while I'm gone so he doesn't further crack himself? I'll need his injuries exposed."

"I can just will my clothes away!" Shadow Milk hissed and backed further into the cushions. "Take him with you!"

Lemon Anise pouted, while Black Sapphire glared at him and crossed his arms over his chest in a huff.

"Fine, but if you hurt yourself further while we're gone, I'm telling your wards about that time you had me put my hand in-"

"NOT NECESSARY! I'LL BE FINE!" Shadow Milk hissed and his hair tendrils flared out, every eye in the pitch black yogurt glared at them. "NOW GO!"

"Okay, okay." Lemon Anise laughed and wrapped his tail around Black Sapphire's waist, starting to tug him toward the door.

Black Sapphire grabbed their tail and pulled it off of himself with an offended scoff. "I can move around for myself."

"I don't doubt that." He hummed and picked up a basket hanging on a hook by the door. Candy Apple actually hadn't closed the door in her haste to leave, so Lemon Anise just gestured for Black Sapphire to go out ahead of him.

Oh, he really didn't like this guy…

The two cookies however manage to form a silent agreement to speak to each other as little as possible while out in the garden. Was Black Sapphire still unbearably curious about the other? Oh absolutely, but he was also so annoyed with them that he felt painfully irrationally close to exploding. He had to put off any arguments until after his master recovered. Once Lemon Anise was no longer useful for Master Shadow Milk's plans, then all cards could be cleared off the table.

For now, he would calmly pluck the big blueberries from the bushes in the garden. The eyes on the berries opened up when they were ready to be plucked, so he and Lemon Anise picked a baker's dozen of the biggest, bluest, ripest ones before the basket was full.

"That's enough. Thirteen feels right." They'd said after placing the last one in the basket.

"It feels right?" Black Sapphire snapped. "You mean to tell me you're just going to work off of vibes? You have got to be kidding me!"

"It's not like there is a specific recipe for this stuff you know." They looked at him unimpressed. "Every cookie is baked differently and all I have to go off of is how badly he's injured. None of this is as dire as you're acting, we can always pick more."

"Ugh, if we didn't need you, I would throttle you!" His wings flapped aggressively. Though the gust he created blew their icing, Lemon Anise looked rather unimpressed. "And you need to treat it as dire! The more time we waste with you, the less time there is before we're needed elsewhere for new stages of the plan."

That gave them pause. "…It's not Shadow Milk Cookie's plan?"

"No." He cut off his levitation spell and lowered his feet to the ground. He found some pleasure in being able to loom over them without even having to fly, as he now leered down at them. "Dark Enchantress Cookie offered Master and the other four beasts new bodies and power in exchange for their cooperation."

Lemon Anise's eyes widened minutely. "Y-you mean he wants me to use magic on a body made by her?"

Black Sapphire delighted in the fear that so vividly overtook their expression.

"Wh-what if she could tell magic was used on his body? What if she thinks it was tampered with? What if she could trace back who performed the spell?!" They looked down into the eyes of the blueberries, as if they could provide any help at all. "I already avoided her last war! I-I can't just-!"

He slapped his hands down onto their shoulders, shocking them enough for their head to snap up to look him in the eye. "You can." He grinned widely. "And you will. If Master Shadow Milk Cookie requests it, you don't have a choice, I'll make sure of that."

Black Sapphire decided then that dread made Lemon Anise look so much more appealing.

"Ugh, you two took so long!" Candy Apple scolded them when they eventually walked back to the house. "I brought the milk!" She held up the sealed thermos and shook it lightly for emphasis.

"Right. Thank you…" They walked over to her and gently took it. They did not smile and the knot now set in their brow was deep. "Let's, um… Can you two help him into my study?"

They did not wait for an answer before walking down the hall.

"What did you say to them?" Shadow Milk glared at Black Sapphire after a beat of silence. There wasn't much heat to it, but Black Sapphire still squirmed.

Black Sapphire obviously couldn't lie here. Lying to his master could get him crumbled, even over something so small, and of course the Beast of Deceit would be able to tell if his servants ever told a lie.

"I'd just mentioned where you got your new body from and he freaked out." Black Sapphire tried to not meet his eyes, but that proved a difficult task when his master could open up eyes anywhere and everywhere he desired.

"Well, keep your mouth shut! He didn't need to know that part!" Shadow Milk hissed and only untensed after Black Sapphire flinched. With a sigh, he lifted himself up with another levitation spell. "Come on, you two."

Candy Apple took their master's hand and tugged him along to where Lemon Anise had gone. Black Sapphire followed, his shoulders slumped.

Lemon Anise's study was at the end of the hall, a far too long hall compared to how the house had looked from outside.

The floor was entirely dark brown sugar stone, each brick placed in such a way that there was a large circle in the center of the room. Along the outer ring of the circle were five small circles that had candles places there, the beeswax having melted enough before to adhere the sticks to the floor. There was an inner ring that was actually made up of thirteen small circles. Where the bricks then spiraled to the centermost point, there was a shining stone: a moonstone.

Lemon Anise was lighting the candles with a long matchstick when they'd entered. Each of the flames burned a different color: red, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Whether this was meant to reference the soul jams or the elements, Black Sapphire didn't know and it didn't feel the right time to ask.

"Isn't it a little dangerous to keep a magic circle masoned permanently into your floor?" Shadow Milk asked; a challenge, a test.

Lemon Anise laughed and put the match out in a tiny water bucket. "You had a circle just like this in your office. Did you forget, old man? It's dormant until we draw inside."

Shadow Milk hummed, pleased, and gently shook his hand out of Candy Apple's grasp before he floated closer. "And thus you have passed the pop quiz question, my dear student. Though I must deduct points for calling me old man instead of Professor or Headmaster, or even Mistress if you're feeling saucy."

"Aw, wait, I missed when you'd show up to lectures looking like a different cookie." They smiled fondly, though not looking up at him at all. Gently, they placed a blueberry into each of the thirteen inner circles. "Mistress Azure was one of my favorite personas of yours. Professor Blueberry had the best lectures though."

"Lady in Azure still makes some appearances from time to time." He slowly lowered himself to stand on the moonstone in the center. "But really? You preferred the old man? What? Were you into the beard?~" He teased them and delighted in the (slightly unexpected) flush that form on their cheeks. "Oh, you super were! Hah! That's so embarrassing for you.~"

Though their cheeks still burned, they looked at him flatly and pushed themself to stand. "You already knew that. You'd specifically change into either of those two on days where you wanted to pull me into your office to test something on me."

Black Sapphire and Candy Apple's eyes were stuck wide open listening to this whole conversation, one that continued as if the two of them suddenly vanished from the room. Candy Apple didn't know whether to feel envious or deeply uncomfortable at the thought of being in Lemon Anise's shoes all those eons ago, for her Master to take advantage of her in that particular way… Perhaps it was both, and that only make her inner conflict deepen. Black Sapphire however didn't know if he envied Lemon Anise or his Master, and the internal struggle that followed those thoughts made him simmer with an irrational frustration.

Lemon Anise held out a hand and in a dim flash of warm light, a staff materialized and grew put from his palm. It was a simple staff, a tall dried vanilla bean where the top had been curved into a circle and sprigs of tiny white anise flowers and silver bells were tied below the loop with black ribbon. It looked a lot more on the plain side, but he didn't want to be flashy.

"Let's begin." Lemon Anise sighed before his eyes started to glow with a warm yellow, two more of them opening up on his forehead. The inside of the loop on his staff began to glow with that same light.

They held the thermos up and tipped it, the milk flowing in a stream out of it and onto the floor. Candy Apple was about to shout, it looked like they were just wasting the ingredient, but Black Sapphire put an arm in front of her and she quietted.

The puddle of milk began to move, guided through the ridges in the masonry to "draw" the correct magic circle for the spell and spiraled in toward Shadow Milk. As the liquid connected, the moonstone began to glow. Slowly as the milk washed under them in pools, the blueberries melted as if they were made of wax before a harsh flame. The only traces left of the berries were how they stained the milk blue. The flames on the candles burned brighter, hotter.

The light had changed. The glow within Lemon Anise's eyes and staff shifted from a warm yellow to a dark blue, like it was being eclipsed. The light radiating from the moonstone shifted to a blue light in the same moment. The light itself started to creep up Shadow Milk's legs, slowly sealing up the cracks in his dough.

He completely stiffened. Was it nerves? Perhaps it was even fear, as the blueberry milk started to soak his feet and seep into his dough.

Lemon Anise's mouth was moving, like they were saying some chant, but no sound came from them at all.

As the light grew and grew and filled Shadow Milk up, his Soul Jam started reacting. The Light of Deceit grew blinding as all the essence and power was transferred into him.

"Yes! Yeeeaaaaeesss!!!" He cheered, already feeling himself revitalized. In fact, he was feeling even better than before!

There was an abrupt thud and all the light went out, candles included.

Lemon Anise collapsed to their knees, hands in an icon grip on their still upright staff. Their four eyes remained open, but it was clear they couldn't sense a single thing. They were completely checked out.

"Oh, boy…" Shadow Milk winced at the sight. They had siphoned some of their power into him along with the spell. Such care and concern… were truly misplaced. "Tsk, tsk, you should know better than to do that…"

He floated again, not even having to think about it, and leaned down to look them in the eye. He loudly clapped his hands in front of their face and… nothing.

"This moron…" He groaned in frustration. "Well, whatever! He'll be fine in like an hour maybe. We can head on out now."

"C-can we really leave them like that, Master Shadow Milk Cookie?" Candy Apple clutched her hands tightly in the fabric of her dress. Distraught was the best way to describe her expression, but even she couldn't process why she was having such a strong negative reaction. She hesitantly floated closer to get a better look for herself.

"Of course we can! They've been through waaaay worse!" Shadow Milk brushed it off. "Besides-! Definitely more than enough time has passed since we got here that our lil' interlopers have dipped. Which means~ I can start repairing my beautiful Spire!"

"But they won't even know if it worked right if we just leave!" Tears stung in the corners of her eyes. Why? "They'll wake up alone!"

Shadow Milk folded his arms and raised his eyebrow at her. To him this was like Candy Apple was just on the precipice of throwing a childish tantrum or something. He didn't care.

Black Sapphire didn't care either, definitely not about Lemon Anise, but… Candy Apple was clearly shaken by this. That he cared about. A lot.

Black Sapphire sighed deeply, not at all wanting to do what he was about to suggest. "Candy Apple Cookie…" He floated over to put a comforting hand on her back, rubbing in a small soothing circle. "How about if I… if I stayed to watch him and you went back with Master?"

"Really?" She looked back at him, eyes watery like a kicked puppy.

"Yeah, really?" Shadow Milk turned his judgemental face to his other servant now.

"You said it would only be an hour, yes?" Black Sapphire's eyebrow twitched. He really didn't want to, but he'd suck it up for now. "I can handle an hour's wait."

"Okay…" Shadow Milk straightened up and clapped his hands. Instantly his usual outfit appeared back onto his figure. They'd barely registered he was undressed during all of that. At the same time, a portal appeared in front of him. "Come on, Candy Apple Cookie."

He went through without a moment's hesitation.

"Thank you, Black Sapphire Cookie." She wiped her eyes and hugged him tight.

"Don't mention it, kiddo." He pet her head. "Now go, before Master think you're ditching too."

"I would never!" She let go of him and flew quickly through the portal. The rift disappeared immediately afterwards, like the universe pulled up a zipper on a coat pocket.

A whirlwind, huh? Well. Lemon Anise was right about one thing it seemed.

He sighed and looked at Lemon Anise closely for the first time since they entered the room. Their grip was tight on their staff, tight enough he wondered if they could snap it.

Hmm… Maybe if he used a levitation spell on them, he could float them over to their couch. Once he had them laying down, he could spend the time until they woke up snooping through every single nook and cranny of their humble abode. Maybe he'd learn something juicy? Maybe he could get some serious dirt on them? Maybe he might learn some more about what Master was like before he met him? Maybe he'd find new material for some new rumors he could spread?

Well, the last one was flimsy at best. He sincerely doubted Lemon Anise was a very social cookie, they lived in a pocket dimension hidden away in a random dense forest in the Beast Yeasts. They could probably make portals to travel places, that was one of the first spells Master taught him, so one of his actual students had to know it, right?

But did they leave often? Did they have any friends or were they a complete hermit? How long had they been secluded out here?

How had Master never mentioned a previous student of his that was just as functionally immortal as Black Sapphire was? How had Master never brought up how he failed to prevent Lemon Anise from stealing from the Spire in his Master's absence? He would have stolen it back to make up for it!

Black Sapphire stared at the spellbook, left open on a table against the wall. The ink on the pages glowed faintly as the sunset shined in through a small gap in the curtains. He moved away from Lemon Anise's still form for the moment to go look at the glittering tomb.

"Advanced Dough Repair…" He hummed, finger ghosting along the text. Most of the two-page spread was theorems and types of magic circles for it. It was as Lemon Anise said, there was no definitive spell as not all cookies were the same. With all this vague science bullshit written on these pages, Black Sapphire couldn't even begin to understand how Lemon Anise was able to pull something together and still succeed at all.

However… Black Sapphire then noticed this spellbook was sitting on top of another tome. That one was bound in thick brown leather with a buckle on it, but thankfully it was already unlocked and opened up to a page. Granted, he could and would easily pick a lock regardless.

"Magic Siphon…?" Black Sapphire gently moved the first book aside, careful not to damage the ancient text, before looking at the other book.

It was a handpenned book, though he had no way of know whether this was Lemon Anise's own handwriting or not.

"A cookie can give their magic to another with this method, but it isn't one way…" He mumbled along, admittedly needing to strain a little to read the script accurately. The words were all written so quickly it made letters blend together and there was a wavering consistency in how letters were styled, not to mention how the penmarks were smudged in places. "This forms a link that… shares the power between the caster and subject…"

Wait… Had they combined the two spells together?

"The caster can redistribute the power between themself and their subject through their connection-!" Black Sapphire's eyes widened. "He could steal Master's power through this! I have to go tell-!"

"Oh ye of little faith…"

Black Sapphire could only let out a faint gasp before he felt a presence looming behind him.

But when he spun around, Lemon Anise wasn't… They weren't raising their staff like they were going to cast anything at him. In fact they were still gripping tightly onto it, using it to keep themself upright. Their breathing was rough and ragged. Where their hands gripped the staff before had traces of jam smeared on it. He was gripping on so tight that his hands were bleeding into it.

"Hah… I needed to give him… more…" Their voice was forced out in a whine. "I didn't think the other spell would work- hah… alone."

He glared at them. It didn't actually sound like they were lying, but- "And why would I ever possibly believe that?! You just gave yourself a way to take away all of my Master's power for yourself if you wanted to!"

"It was either that or…" They wheezed before coughing into their fist. They took an incredibly shaky step forward. "Risk the first not being stable enough… What if the milk made him soggy and he fell apart? What if… What if it wasn't strong enough to return light to his Soul Jam? How-" Another cough interrupted him. "How long would that take on its own?"

Black Sapphire realized he was pressed against the desk with Lemon Anise right in front of him. What was he getting nervous about? over this pathetic sight before him?

"He was my greatest teacher. He was dear to me once." They said and the eyes on their forehead finally shut and disappeared. "I want him to recover."

"Even though you seem so scared of Dark Enchantress Cookie?" He simmered looking down at them.

"Her involvement is… concerning, yes." They grimaced. "But I'm not afraid of Shadow Milk Cookie, despite his best efforts. He can have what I'm able to give."

"Frankly it looks like you gave far more than you were able." Black Sapphire looked unimpressed and crossed his arms over his chest. "You look pathetic."

Suddenly their hand reached up and Black Sapphire flinched as they touched his cheek.

"Don't touch me!" He smacked their arm back, but he could feel drops of their jam now on his face. "Your hands are disgusting!"

"But… You're hurt too…" They deflated, but lifted their hand up to inspect. "Oh…"

He pulled a handkerchief out of his suit jacket and dabbed the lemon jam off his face with a grimace. "I can take care of myself thank you."

"Would you…" They paused until he looked back at them, though they shrank back a bit at the intensity of his glare. "You still have an hour from when Headmaster thought I'd wake up, so…"

…

"Are you asking me to stay?" He pushed himself forward to lean in their face and they stumbled back. "What makes you think I would ever want to spend time with you?"

"Because you wanna snoop." They smiled meekly. "You spread all those rumors, right? You get too much gratification out of finding new material."

He flustered a little, though it didn't reach his face. Well, they had said they heard about him before, hadn't they? It shouldn't have been a surprise they knew something so very base level on him, but still he was caught a bit aback.

"I'm not gonna hover where you look or anything, I have to clean the floor in here and patch up my hands before anything else, so…" Then their cheeks flushed a little. "Um… You can ask me anything you like."

Was he really going to not only believe them about not betraying his Master, but willingly spend another hour here learning about them? After being pissed off by them the whole hour he'd known them?!

…He really was far too curious for his own good.

"Fine, I'll stay another hour…" He leaned back again and looked away from them. He pocketed his handkerchief, now all wrinkled from holding it in his tightened fist.

"Oh yay!" Their smile widened. "I'll make tea."

"Maybe fix your hands first before you touch anything." He grumbled. "I won't take a teacup that's caked with dried jam."

"Ah. Of course." They still hummed, clearly pleased, and turned to start sluggishly leaving the room. The bells on his staff lightly chimed along with his hobbling.

Well… Black Sapphire now basically had free rein to do whatever he wanted. After all, they hadn't voiced any restrictions for where he could and couldn't look after all. He'd be stupid not to take advance of this. Lemon Anise was stupid for letting him at all.

First thing's first, he turned back around to the handwritten spellbook, if it could truly be called that. It was more of notes on spells, at best. That, and how much bias was likely shoved throughout would make it unlikely that all knowledge within would even be something he could learn without asking the writer follow up questions. He was still going to give it a flipthrough though, because it was just too tempting.

Neither the front nor back of the book said the name or initials of the writer and there weren't even any symbols to wager a guess with. He grimaced at that.

He was doing a lot of grimacing the past few days. That wasn't good for his pretty face, he had a reputation! Well… He normally didn't interact with people outside of his Master's circle without disguises… Whatever. He cared how he looked, that was the point. He should chill out and relax his face. That was easier said than done, but this was the first bit of freetime he'd had in a while, probably the first time since Master broke free. Even if it was just an hour, a break is a break. He could relax a little.

So as Black Sapphire and his dear microphone perused various books around Lemon Anise's home and bugged them for added details, he slowly let the tension built up in his shoulders droop. He didn't even register how much time was flying by, or how comfortable he found himself.

The clock in the living room chimed the top of the hour. Black Sapphire looked at it and realized he had been here not only the full hour, but almost two hours.

"Oh, dear, I guess we were talking too much." Lemon Anise laughed softly and set his teacup down on the coffee table. "Candy Apple Cookie must be wondering what's keeping you."

"I should go." Black Sapphire set the book in his hand onto the table before pushing himself to stand and dusted himself off. "I've long overstayed my welcome."

"Oh, please," Lemon Anise stood up sluggishly. "You're welcome back any time, bats."

He paused fixing his cravat to study them. His silent scrutiny slowly brought a flustered warmth to their cheeks.

"I mean, if you'd like?" They looked away, smiling dumbly. "Talking to you was nice."

It… It was rather nice, wasn't it? He silently mused. This was the calmest he'd felt in a long time. Still, he had to keep up appearances and a wholly earnest reply wasn't his style.

"Perhaps, if time ever allows in my busy schedule." He tried not to look too enthused. "I'm a very desired cookie even when Master doesn't have any current need of me."

They met his eye again and smiled wider and warmer, tail wagging. "I'll look forward to it."

He tried not to react to that, but his wings twitched. He hoped they didn't notice or read anything out of it.

"Oh! Give this back to Headmaster, will you?" They picked up a book, the same spellbook they'd used today, the tome that Master said they stole from the Spire of Knowledge centuries ago.

"Hmph…" He furrowed his brows looking at it in their offered hands.

Though it was stolen, this book being in Lemon Anise's hands was how Master knew where to find them, how he had any idea that Lemon Anise was still around in the first place. This spellbook was what they'd needed to heal Shadow Milk today and it was far more useful in Lemon Anise's hands than his… Black Sapphire could barely understand it, let alone cast such spells within.

"No." He lightly pushed the book back toward them. "I don't like it, but on the off chance something bad like this happens again… It's best you keep it."

Their smile fell, but they nodded in understanding, now holding it close to their chest. "Right… Smart."

"I really should go." He hummed and stepped back.

"Ah- wait, before you do," They fumbled setting the book back down on the table and rummaged through their pockets. Finally he pulled out a tiny yellow jelly gem and walked to Black Sapphire's side. "Take this. You can call me with it if anything's wrong, or y'know, if you want anything."

"…How?" He held out his hand for it anyway and brought it up to his face to examine after they gave it to him. It sparkled in the light.

"Just hold it and call my name. It'll glow when I answer." They procured another jelly gem from their opposite pocket. It was colorless and rainbow sparkles refracted on their hand. They brought it up to their lips. "Black Sapphire Cookie?"

Their voice echoed out of the gem in his hands, now glowing like warm yellow honey. The clear gem in their hand slowly stained purple in their hand, like amethyst rock candy.

"…Lemon Anise Cookie." He swallowed. This wasn't the weirdest thing he'd ever seen, not by a longshot, but still. Hearing his own voice echoing out of a tiny piece of candy was a little jarring.

Pleased, they smiled warmly at him and lowered the gem from their face, stuffing it into the front pocket on their overalls. The light left both stones in an instead. Black Sapphire wondered if only Lemon Anise was able to end communications or if it would cut the moment it was too far from his own face.

"If I might make a suggestion in where you keep it?" They walked further into his space and held their hand back out for it.

He raised an eyebrow, but handed it back over regardless.

They tugged lightly on his lapel to draw him even closer and before he could shout a complaint about winkles, they poked the gem… into the center of the sugar rose pinned to his collar. "There. Now no one can see it and you won't lose it. It'll stay stuck to the flower unless you actively try pulling it back out."

He didn't realize his cheeks were warm from the proximity until they looked back up at him. Forks, they were far too close for comfort. Thankfully, they also seemed to process the utter lack of distance between them and took a step back, their own face flushing. A good beat of awkward silence passed before they seemed to remember to let go of his suit jacket, pulling their hands back to fidget with the clasp on their overalls.

He really shouldn't have been affected by any of that… He shook his head to try minutely shaking off whatever feelings that moment brought on. He had to get back to work.

"I really should go." He looked away and cleared his throat into his fist.

"R-right, right, I'm sorry for keeping you so long."

He reached out his hand for his microphone, which obediently floated across the room to his side. It had been waiting for him so patiently this whole time. With a flourish, the mic's mouth opened and it's fangs tore open a portal in the empty air.

"Give my regards to the others, yeah?" Lemon Anise recovered enough to look him in the eye smile.

"Mhm." He took a step through the rift. "Until next time?"

"Hopefully under sweeter circumstance." They nodded. "Bye, bats."

"Seeya." He waved and stepped the rest of the way through, the tear sealing shut immediately behind him.

He found himself in the garden around the Spire, on the banks of the yogurt river. He backed up until his back hit the trunk of a willow tree and he slid down to the grass below.

His mic head moved to hover before his face. It looked a little concerned.

He gave it a sheepish smile and reached up to gently pat its power gem. "I think I'm in trouble, old friend."

His mic just leaned into his touch and he happily gave it the pets it desired, even though the gem would likely smudge from his bare hands.

He looked up to see Master flying around raising up large chunks of the Spire up with his staff and moving them into place. It looked like the worst game of tetris ever played. Black Sapphire grimaced at the idea of helping with manual labor.