It hurts Mystic Flour Cookie dearly, that all cookies turn out to be this way. Nothing more than those who demand more and more. It was her duty to bring all the wishes to light. Yet some part of her mind wandered, to the time before the cookies all fled. The time before she snapped at all cookies in the Ivory Pagoda. A mere mortal, a doctor who would not live very long. Someone so insignificant to a creation by the godly creators. Yet, Mystic Flour Cookie always found herself being drawn to the strange doctor. It was useless to think of the "what-ifs", no worth would come out of it if Mystic Flour Cookie allowed her mind to wander...

--

How Cookies act, their selfish desires, their want for something more than what they need. It’s all so clear now. Every cookie would become selfish, angered at not getting what they think they deserved. The only way out is to feel nothing, to feel empty...and yet, there are some innocents. Innocents who did not deserve to get caught in a crossfire...innocents who did what they wanted to do and not ask more than what they needed.

--

"Jasmine Rice Cookie, may I ask you something?"

The other cookie looked surprised when they saw the Ivory Pagoda's Master approaching them but could not refuse her presence. Jasmine Rice Cookie was merely collecting some herbs around the outside of the Ivory Pagoda, not expecting the Master of the Ivory Pagoda to approach them. The way the doctor slowly nodded made Mystic Flour Cookie smile. There's something about this doctor that makes Mystic Flour Cookie feel... safe? It's hard to describe the feeling. However, the doctor did not look like they opposed it.

"You have truly left a mark in this Ivory Pagoda, whether you’re aware of it or not. I…want to ask..."

Mystic Flour Cookie was having a hard time describing what she wanted. She wanted to ask Jasmine Rice Cookie if they would continue to stick around no matter what. She wanted to ask Jasmine Rice Cookie if there was something between them since they seemed more than aware of what they had together. Yet, Mystic Flour Cookie could not even speak it into words, which Jasmine Rice Cookie had caught on.

"Hm? Great Virtue, is there something bothering you? You seem quite hesitant to say what you’re thinking at this moment,"

The way the doctor spoke to her in a calm and respectful tone. The tone Mystic Flour Cookie likes to hear from Jasmine Rice Cookie more than anyone else. The smile they gave as they finished collecting the herbs. They seem to be focusing on their job, as usual. Mystic Flour Cookie then realised that was why Jasmine Rice Cookie caught her attention in the first place. Someone who has wishes and yet never asked anything from Mystic Flour. Someone who helped others but yet knew when to stand down.

"Are you sure you do not need any help? Cloud Haetae has been getting bored and wanting to go outside–"

"I know that’s not what you wanted to ask me, Great Virtue. You can tell me, you consider me a friend, do you not?"

The word friend, it hurts Mystic Flour Cookie when it comes out of Jasmine Rice Cookie’s mouth. However, it reminded her of one of Blueberry Milk Cookie's screenplays. One where two cookies love each other dearly and yet could not tell one another until one is finally gone. The feeling Mystic Flour Cookie has, it must be...

"Great Virtue? You've been staring into space for a while. I'll be heading back to the Temple," Before Mystic Flour Cookie knew it, Jasmine Rice Cookie finished collecting the herbs and motioned Mystic Flour Cookie to follow her.

"Jasmine Rice Cookie...what relationship do you truly think we have...? What are your actual feelings towards me?"

Jasmine Rice Cookie was surprised that Mystic Flour Cookie asked them that. They are aware that Mystic Flour Cookie was interested in a friendship between them. They know how their heart desires more, but the differences are too great. Jasmine Rice Cookie thought it is better not to say anything, and yet the Virtue was asking them directly.

"I..l..lo…"

--

Mystic Flour Cookie felt herself becoming confused. She was merely going to meditate and practise the powers to feel nothing. To become empty, leaving all desires behind. Instead of that, she thought of the time too long ago. That doctor was crumbled aeons ago. That doctor is nothing more than a speck of the past. Nothing more than a fool who's been gone. The fool who stood by her until the end.

That Jasmine Rice Cookie was a mere speck compared to the likes of her, Mystic Flour Cookie, the master of the Ivory Pagoda. The one who granted wishes to so many, the one who knows true enlightenment, the one baked with the power of Ancient Magic. Yet at times, that pest keeps coming back to her mind. That daydream has some part of her memories there...

"Pitiful memories…"

And an old cutscene art I did