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"Wow."
Teaks looked up at the towering confectionary masterpiece which Garl had spent the entirety of two days creating, day and night. With help from B'st, too, for lifting and frosting. This cake was going to be taken out to Mesa Island at sunset, along with everyone else, for a big get-together to celebrate the birthday of a mysterious Thierry Boulanger.
The cake itself had four tiers, and its height could give Seraï a run for her money. The bottom tier was chocolate-and-raspberry, frosted in white and glazed with amber honey that dripped down the sides. The next after that was plain, rich vanilla, studded on the sides with fresh fruit and drizzled with compotes. The second-to-highest tier was.. well, Teaks didn't know, but she suspected it was something to do with mint, because of the fresh scent that the cake exuded, though that could have been from the little flowers which decorated it.
And the very last tier was made with Celestial Willow Jam, of course, an ethereal flavor that only Garl could bring to life. At the very top of it were several candles lit in Romaya's green flames (getting them from her was terrifying as ever, but she seemed to lighten up at the mention of this "Thierry" person).
"So.." Teaks said, edging closer to Garl, who was currently tweaking some of the flowers on the cake's third tier. "..Who's this.. Thierry Boulanger that we're celebrating today?"
Garl's motions seemed to falter for a moment. He then got off his stepping block (which Teaks yelped in surprise at to learn was actually B'st) and turned to her.
"It's.." He knitted his brows in concentration. "..It's a long story, actually. The whole thing came to me in a vision. I think Resh'an might have sent it to me."
The historian's eyes widened.
"Oh! Oh, that was why you were inside when the solar eclipse happened four days ago, wasn't it?"
Garl grinned and nodded. "Exactly!"
"And, well.. I saw someone. I saw lots of people, actually, some we haven't met, some we won't meet, and some.. who.. are in our future. But.. well, out of all of them, I just seemed to know him."
"Thierry?"
"Yeah! It was.. it was like seeing an old friend, y'know? Or.. or a mentor. I got this feeling of connection, as though.. he'd done something really amazing! And then I just seemed to know that today was his birthday, so.. here we are!" The young man grinned, pointing to his cake with both arms.
As he did so, Teaks felt a familiar jolt of energy from her book. She pulled out her Grimoire, seeing how it was glowing and quivering, quill desperately trying to write something even though the ancient tome was still closed.
"Garl! I think.. I think it's your cake!"
"Woah.." Garl peered at his cake, which seemed to glow a little of its own accord. "Maybe it's the magic from the Willow sap!"
"Um.. is it okay if I..?" Teaks's fingers curled around her Grimoire. "If you're okay with it, of course!"
"Yeah, go ahead!" Garl's eye shone with excitement.
Teaks held out her book, letting the pages flip back and forth until they settled to a good spot. Her quill rose in the air and began to write. The Grimoire itself rose a few centimeters into the air too, and Teaks held her hands under it so it wouldn't fall.
When it was over and the Grimoire had stopped glowing, resting safely in Teaks's hands, there was one more story. It had been at least a few years since the Grimoire had seen an artifact worthy of writing one, which filled Teaks with joy.
"What is it called?" B'st walked over with a soft clinking noise. Garl approached, too, as Teaks sat down on a nearby chair to read it.
"The Boy In The Well, huh?"
"Oh!" Garl rushed for the door. "Wait a bit, will you? I'll go get Zale and Val, Seraï too.."
So B'st and Teaks sat down and arranged the room for the others while Garl was gone. The recent Solar Eclipse was a big one, and the huge surge of energy it provided had allowed for Zale and Valere to return to Mooncradle for their day here - and the lingering magic in the air let them stay for a while!
They'd have to go back, eventually, but Teaks wanted to just enjoy her time here, seeing Zale, spending time with Valere.. here they came now, laughing with Garl and Seraï in tow. Teaks stood right away, throwing her arms around Valere in a hug.
"I missed you." Valere said, burying her face in Teaks's shoulder. Teaks nodded, a silent me too.
"So.. we got a new story, huh?" Teaks and Valere disentangled, and Teaks gave Zale a curt, friendly little hug.
"Sure do, Sunboy!" Teaks grinned. "Are you sure you want me to tell you now?"
"Well, yeah! Perfect time for a story." Zale motioned to outside. "Soon it'll be night out there, and we'll have to sail out to the party on Mesa Island."
"Yeah.." Valere brushed her glowing hair out of her eyes. "..And.. it feels like old times with just us in here, by the fireplace."
"I agree." Seraï chimed in, peering up at down at the cake. "Garl, did you make th-"
"I did, but don't tell anyone until we get to the party!" Garl looked over at his cake monument. "Resh'an's gonna help me portal it there.. it's a big surprise!"
Seraï would usually have stiffened at the alchemist's name, or likely asked why she wasn't the one doing the portaling.. but this time she just laughed, smiling.
"I'm glad to hear it, Garl!"
The little group settled in Garl's main room, around the fireplace. It was April, and while Springtime was here - the weather had a chill in the evenings. Teaks was comfortable, curled in Garl's big chair with her book in her lap. Seraï was perched on a table. Garl was on the floor with Zale and Valere on either side of him (Valere was sitting closer to Teaks). And B'st had taken the form of what looked like a cat, sitting gracefully on the floor even though he was the size of a tiger and made of glass.
"Everyone ready?" Teaks's cue were the nods and sounds of approval from all around the room.
"All right." She flipped a page back, then forward to the start of the story.
"There was once a little boy stuck in a well.."