back at it again at vampire castle

The many kitchens of Askr are always busy since the formation of the Order of Heroes, considering all the stomachs there are to feed. From morning until evening, those adept in cooking prepare meals to alleviate the hunger of every hero that walks through the doors of the dining hall. Such efforts double exceptionally as the cold weather settles in for the year, leaving the kitchens only free during the late evenings.

Such circumstances are fine for Dirsteh, the Order’s eager Summoner. The fewer heroes there are around now, the better. She pulls back her hair, ties on her apron, and washes her hands, the once silent kitchen now hers to conduct for the next few hours.

On the counter she spreads out all the tools she needs: measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls and utensils, baking sheets, and most importantly, cookie ingredients. The Winter Festival is on the horizon, and after Silas purchased some homemade sweets at the market during their last visit together, the perfect gift idea comes to Dirsteh’s mind. Admittedly, it has been a while since she last baked sweets because she is so busy ensuring her heroes are well prepared for the battles that await them. As such, the late hours of the evening when the castle grows quiet seems like the perfect opportunity to practice her skills.

To begin, Dirsteh conjures a little fire magic so the ovens can preheat before rolling up her sleeves and getting to work. Upon the counters sit almost every ingredient she needs for various types of cookies. Finding it impossible to decide on just one kind, Dirsteh cuts open a bag of flour and grabs a measuring cup, deciding to start with something easy: sugar cookies. Soon the mixture of flour, egg, butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt come together in her mixing bowl to form a smooth dough without any lumps.

Dividing the mixture into two, Dirsteh generously sprinkles the counter with flour before doing the same with her rolling pin. With careful practice, she rolls the dough out to the necessary thickness, wiping her forehead with her forearm as she begins to work up a sweat. It’s tough work making cookie dough, but her muscles certainly don’t ache as much as they once used to as she recalls. Perhaps the additional training sessions she’s taken up with Silas have helped her build up her strength.

Once the dough is ready, Dirsteh must make the necessary decision of what cookie shape she’ll use for this batch. It’s a difficult choice; during her trip to the market to buy all the ingredients, she had stumbled upon a plethora of different shaped cookie cutters. Even though she was the Summoner, she had to exercise some amount of restraint when purchasing, and so settled on a person, a candy cane, a pine tree, a bell, and a few various size star cookie cutters.

Dirsteh makes her choice and picks up the candy cane, beginning to cut the dough into shapes, reforming and rerolling the dough as necessary to ensure that she wastes none. Carefully setting the cookies on a freshly greased baking sheet, the cookies find their way to the oven. Given the difference in technology, Dirsteh is uncertain how long they will need before they are done. For the first batch, she decides to play it safe, dividing her attention between the cookies and her watch, cleaning up her counter space and preemptively rolling out the second batch of dough.

Donning her oven mitts and pulling the baking sheet out from the oven, Dirsteh notes that under these conditions, sugar cookies require roughly sixteen minutes to bake to golden perfection. Diligently she works, cutting the second batch of dough into star shapes and putting them in the oven before moving the first batch onto a wire rack to cool. She sneaks one cookie—a taste test—from the first batch, sighing contently as she bites into it and enjoys the sweet and fluffy texture. Thank goodness she hasn’t lost her love of baking with all the commotion of Askr. There’s no doubt in her mind that Silas will love these cookies, especially once she decorates them with icing.

After placing the second batch of golden-brown cookies on the counter, Dirsteh looks over her remaining ingredients. She could make chocolate chip cookies next, but the gingerbread cookies are also calling to her and require more prep time so the dough can chill. As Dirsteh begins to add the spices to the wet mixture, the smell of baking overwhelms the kitchen and wafts into the hallway. Preoccupied with ensuring that the dough comes together smoothly, she misses the footsteps echoing down the corridor, and nearly drops her spatula as the voice of her beloved greets her from the doorway.

“Dirsteh! It smells amazing in here!”

“S-Silas! I thought you had perimeter patrols tonight?”

She tries to keep calm, attention divided between the cookie dough and the knight. Though it’s obvious what she’s doing, she hopes the knight cannot guess her true intentions.

“My team finished for the night! And you weren’t hanging out in any of your usual spots, so I thought I’d try and find you. What are you up to? Baking?”

Dirsteh gestures to the finished sheets of sugar cookies and then to the current mass of dough before her.

“I felt an itch to do some baking, so I thought I’d take over this kitchen while it wasn’t occupied. It’s so hard to find one free these days, so tonight seemed like a perfect opportunity.”

Silas nods, taking in all the ingredients spread out on the countertop. “Well, if they taste as good as they smell, I’m sure they’re delicious! Can I try one?” He points to the sugar cookies. Dirsteh is quick to shoo him away.

“Not yet! You can’t enjoy a good sugar cookie without any icing.”

While partially true, she also doesn’t want him spoiling his surprise. She’s relieved when he laughs, stepping away from the racks of cookies.

“So, what are your plans for the rest of the evening?” Dirsteh asks him, returning to the gingerbread on the counter and dividing it up into smaller portions. Silas watches her intently, observing how skillfully she handles the dough and flattens the portions into discs.

“I didn’t really have anything planned… Could I stay here and help you? I’ve never baked before, and I’m sure you’re probably the best teacher in all of Askr.”

Dirsteh laughs under breath, hoping the blush rising to her cheeks after his compliment isn’t entirely too obvious as she casts a chilling spell on the discs of dough and sets them off to the side. She’s caught in quite the predicament, his surprise easily spoiled if he remains in the kitchen to help her. Her heart can’t just turn him away though, especially with how sweet he is and that he is interested in a pastime she enjoys.

Mind made up, Dirsteh gestures to a drawer. “Why don’t you grab an apron and wash your hands so we can get started on some chocolate chip cookies.”

She watches as his face lights up like an excited puppy and she’s sure her heart skips a beat as he skips off to find himself an apron. He’s always so happy and helpful, and every time she’s reminded of it her stomach fills with even more butterflies. Now, however, she needs to keep her cool and not mess up in front of him.

Silas is, admittedly, quite a quick learner. Dirsteh directs from beside him as he follows her instructions. She shows him how to crack an egg without getting any shell in the bowl, to which he masters after a couple of ruined eggs. They both laugh when flour ends up all over the counter, and they each sneak a few chocolate chips behind each other’s backs.

“Can’t I just try a little bit of the dough?” The knight pleads. Dirsteh shoos his hand away with her spoon, teasing him light-heartedly.

“It’s not safe! Raw flour and eggs can make you ill, and the last thing I want to see is you sick in the infirmary because of some cookie dough.”

He pouts, and goodness, it’s adorable, thinks Dirsteh. She can’t even be mad at him when he jovially spreads a little flour across her cheek. She laughs, paying him back when he’s not looking.

They work together to roll the dough into balls, each taking a cookie sheet for maximum efficiency. Ensuring that the oven is still hot, Dirsteh carefully slides her sheet into the oven. Silas has already begun counter clean-up, taking dirty dishes and utensils to the sink so he can wash them. Dirsteh yawns and looks at the clock. She’s shocked to see that it’s nearly midnight. Perhaps the gingerbread cookies would need to wait until tomorrow.

“Tired?” He glances at her over his shoulder, washcloth in one hand and mixing bowl in the other.

“A bit. That might be the last batch I can pull off tonight.”

“Will the dough be alright if you don’t use it now?”

“Oh absolutely. You can leave it to chill overnight, and it’ll still be good to use the next day. I just hope the kitchens aren’t too busy tomorrow.”

“If they are, just come find me. I’ll think of some way to clear out the kitchen for you. It’s the least I can do after you’ve taught me so much tonight. Maybe I’ll make cookies of my own someday. You’ll try them, right?”

As her cheeks burn hot, she answers his question without hesitation. It helps that he’s not looking directly at her.

“Of course! What cookie do you think you’ll try first?”

“Hmm, well maybe…”

The pair carry on for a little longer, discussing recipes to try as they wash dishes and pull cookies from the oven. They work together to move the fresh chocolate chip cookies to the cooling racks, ensuring that the kitchen is clean before leaving for the night. In the quiet corridors of Askr Castle during the late hours of nightfall, they walk hand-in-hand with each other, Silas ensuring Dirsteh makes it to her room before returning to his. Parting with a goodnight kiss, the Summoner closes her bedroom door behind her, locking it tight before slumping against it.

Finally, Dirsteh breathes a sigh of relief. She has worried all evening that Silas would either figure out her true intentions or ruin the surprise by eating a cookie. She feels so bad, seeing how cutely he asked to try ‘just one!’, but her persistence at guarding the sweets like a dragon hoards their treasure worked out in the end.

Despite it all, she is happy. Filled with joy, she readies herself for bed, crawling under the covers after blowing out the candles. With delighted memories forever etched upon her memory, she falls asleep, both content and exhausted.

Amongst the busy days of training and planning tactics, there are rare moments where Dirsteh returns to the kitchen and practices her baking. As the days grow colder and the lights become brighter, the Winter Festival arrives on the Order’s doorstep faster than anyone anticipates. Bundled in a warm hat, mittens, and scarf, Dirsteh rushes from the castle as quickly as her feet will carry her. She nervously looks at her watch, hoping she can make it to the festival square without being too late.

The square is abuzz with cheer and merriment as she passes under the festive welcome arch marking the entrance. People gather everywhere: at stalls, around decorated pine trees, at benches. Glasses fogged from the cold night air, Dirsteh has a difficult time discerning just about anybody attending. Blurs of people dance across her frames, and while she would love to take them off and clean them, the fragility of the precious box under her arm cautions her otherwise.

Brow furrowed in frustration, she takes a step into the crowd, only to hear a very special voice call out to her from the left.

“Dirsteh! Over here!”

She turns, and between the streaks of condensation on her lenses, she barely makes out Silas beckoning to her from one of the many stalls. She smiles, relieved, and walks away from the crowd to join him.

“You made it! It’s so busy this year, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find you.”

Dressed for the weather as well, Silas wears an adorable set of blue earmuffs they found together at the market. He holds a cup of hot chocolate between his gloved hands, his cheeks flushed red from the cold air.

“It’s probably because so many more people have joined us this year in comparison to last. How’s the hot chocolate?”

“Delicious! Want to try some?” He offers the cup to her, only realizing his gaffe after the question leaves his mouth. They both look at each other in embarrassed silence for a long moment.

Peeking around to ensure no one is watching them too closely, Dirsteh nods and pulls down her scarf so she can take a sip of the hot beverage. She hums happily, letting the sweet taste of cocoa dance over her tongue. A little bit of froth touches her nose, and though she wipes it away, she’s not quick enough as Silas still sees and quietly laughs at her cuteness.

The pair walks away from the crowds, enjoying the festival at their leisure. They spend time marvelling at the decorations and browsing the wares of stalls before settling down on an isolated bench. Since arriving, his gift sits on the bench beside her, hidden in the darkness. Dirsteh hopes that the contents inside look as good as when she packed them earlier that day.

“I have something I’d like to give you,” she finally says after a lull in their conversation. His full attention is back on her, a twinkle in his eye.

“I figured that might be the case,” he replies, “And so I have a gift for you too.”

He unbuttons his coat just enough to retrieve the elegantly wrapped box from his inside pocket, a golden ribbon adorned on top. The reflective shine of the paper catches Dirsteh’s eye as it dances in the light.

“Happy Winter Festival, Dirsteh. I wanted to give you something that I know you’d use but also was special to you.”

He passes the box to her, its paper crinkling as it exchanges hands. Dirsteh smiles softly at him, holding the present close.

“Can I open it now?”

“Of course!”

Dirsteh wastes no time taking off the paper, carefully untying the bow and doing her best to save the paper as much as possible. Below the paper, she finds a box, and as she opens it, she crooks an eyebrow upwards, uncertain of what the fabric is that sits inside.

“Unfold it,” Silas encourages her. She sets the box on her lap, taking the folded fabric within her hands and unfurling it. She gasps before it’s fully unfolded, recognizing the shape and texture between her fingers.

“An apron!” she cheers, admiring the small intricate golden details embroidered on the alternating light and dark blue fabric adorned with little snowflakes. She slips the neck strap over her head, admiring how it looks on her. “It’s perfect!”

Silas smiles from ear to ear, admiring her glee. “I’m glad! With all the baking you’ve been doing, I figured you might like a personal apron to wear. I had some of the heroes who are better at sewing help me out with it. But I picked out the fabric! It reminded me of you.”

“That’s sweet,” she blushes, rubbing the material between her thumb and index finger. Dirsteh glances to the side, eyeing the box tucked along her side. “Speaking of! Here’s your present. Make sure to open it carefully!”

She places the box in his hands, and he does just that, opening the elegant box with the utmost care. First, he gasps; then, he smiles. Nestled carefully inside are an assortment of cookies, ranging from sugar cookies decorated with icing to tiny gingerbread people with various expressions.

“Did you bake these Dirsteh?”

“Yes,” she admits, watching his every reaction. “That night when you found me in the kitchen, I was actually practicing my baking skills in anticipation for your present. Imagine my surprise when you walked in!”

“Ah,” It dawns on him then, the reason why Dirsteh didn’t want him eating any of the cookies that night. “You really are amazing, Dirsteh. Can I try one right now?”

She nods. “Feel free to tell me if they don’t taste very good. I’m not an expert, but I tried my best, and I hope they’re to your liking.”

Dirsteh nervously waits as he takes a bite of a star-shaped sugar cookie. A wave of relief washes over her as he hums contently, eagerly pushing the remainder of it into his mouth.

“These are delicious!” He exclaims, crumbs at the corner of his lips. Dirsteh laughs. Silas is quick to pick up another cookie, sinking his teeth into a soft gingerbread person’s head.

“You really think so?”

“Absolutely! Please teach me how to bake more cookies in the future. But, ah, I’d also like to continue eating your baked goods.”

“I would be happy to have you assist me,” she smiles, looking fondly at her apron once again. She slides a touch closer to him on the bench, just enough so that she can rest her head on his shoulder and admire the energetic festival from a distance. “Maybe someday we can have matching aprons. I think that would be cute. Our own little matching couple’s outfits. What do you say?”

“I think that sounds wonderful,” he remarks. He too watches the festival, occasionally peeking out of the corner of his eye to admire the dear Summoner on his arm.