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The Fount was young when it first happened, only a handful of years out the Oven.
He had been walking and talking with the Herald of Change, simply enjoying time together away from their duties. The sun was bright and warm against his skin, the grass green and soft beneath his feet. They were in the middle of a very lively and animated conversation when the Fount suddenly stopped walking.
The Founts sight was rapidly darkening, world spinning as everything started to fade away. His ears rung loudly as he felt the blood leave his face. his hands and legs felt like pins and needles, uncomfortably numb, like static.
“Are you alright, Fount…?” The Herald questioned, but Fount could barely hear him. The others voice sounding as if it was under water.
The Fount’s eyes closed before he even knew they did.
He tipped forwards and feel straight into the Heralds arms, which made the other gasp, unsure of what to do.
The Herald, shifted the other, making sure he would get hurt as he set him down on the ground. As he kneeled down he laid the Fount on his back, tapping his cheek lightly. “Uhh, Fount? Wake up please.
The Fount didn’t stir, seemingly dead to the world.
It took around 6 minutes before the founts eyes slowly fluttered open.
The first thing he saw was the Herald and the Saint of Volition talking over him.
“—No, he just passed out.”
“That’s… unusual… Was he pale? Shaky, perhaps?”
“A bit shaky, but he only turned pale when he passed out.”
The fount listened and watched as the two other virtues spoke, his mind felt slowed and sluggish, like walking through thick mud.
“Did he eat today?” The Saint asked.
“Yes, with Sugar, I believe.”
Finally, the Fount decided to speak.
“What’s going on?” He asked, voice slurred and mumbled. His tongue was heavy in his mouth, making speaking annoying.
“Fount!” The Herald yelped and looked down, hands moving to hold his face. “Are you alright? Nauseous? Sickly? Tired? Short of breath?—”
“Don’t bombard him with questions, Herald?” The Saint gently reprimanded. “He just woke up.”
The Fount looked around, attempting to push himself up with his elbows. But he was pushed back down by gentle hands. “You shouldn’t get up so soon… We haven’t ruled out why you passed out.” The Saint explained.
“Oh…”
That was the first time Shadow Milk had experienced a fainting spell. It had not been the last time either. No, it was only the start of his seemingly endless sickness.
Now, even with his new body, he was still affected by his sickness. The replica of his old body was an exact copy with not a single difference it seemed. Currently, Shadow Milk was at a ‘Beast Only’ meeting. One that Silent Salt Cookie pointedly did not attend.
They weren’t exactly doing anything important. Instead of planning a battle, Burning Spice Cookie decided to show them what his fight against his counterpart looked like.
Mystic Flour was stood near a wall, as unmoving as a statue. Eternal Sugar was floating above the room, lazily laying on a cloud as she watched Burning Spice’s demonstrations with little care. Shadow Milk was doing something similar to Eternal Sugar, floating right above the Beast of Destruction.
He watched as the destroyer swung his battle axe, he watched how the other mouth moved but he couldn’t understand him. His ears rung loudly, covering every other sound in the room as he vision started to fade out.
Eternal Sugar said something quickly that Shadow Milk couldn’t hear.
“…—Catch—….Hm—”
The last thing Shadow Milk saw before everything went black was Burning Spice’s shocked expression.
…
Burning Spice ran forwards, dropping his battle axe as he watched Shadow Milk floating spell dismiss.
He easily caught the other before he hit the ground, placing him down on the ground. He sat down on the ground with Shadow Milk. A wave of nostalgia hit him, reminding him of the countless times he’d sat down next to the other like this.
“So it’s still happening…” Eternal Sugar said, confirming her own suspicions. “He said it stopped with his new body, but that was clearly a lie as well.” Burning Spice said, sounding disappointed.
“How… Suprising for it to have been a lie.” Mystic Flour said sarcastically, uninterested.
“Do you think his minions know about this?” Burning Spice asked as he brushed his thumb over Shadow Milk forehead, uncharacteristically gentle. “I’d doubt they didn’t, it’d be hard to hide this from people you see everyday.” Eternal Sugar answered.
Shadow Milk groaned slightly but didn’t wake.
“So what are you gonna do with him? Cause I have to leave.” Eternal Sugar said lazily, unbothered as she picked at her nails.
“Probably just make sure nothing happens to him.”
“Then I’m off! Goodbye everyone!” The Beast of Sloth said with a yawn before leaving out of a window.
Burning Spice turned to look at Mystic Flour Cookie.
“Are you leaving too?”
“Yes.”
And with that, Mystic Flour left without another word.
Burning Spice let out a groan, annoyed that everyone had left.
“Urgh.. Why?—oh.” Shadow Milk mumbled as he pushed himself up on his elbows. “Are you sure you can get up so soon?”
Shadow Milk waved him off. “Yeah, yeah. Il probably be fine…” He grumbled in annoyance. His weak legs trembled violently when he stood up, making the other Beast rush to his feet.
The Beast of Destruction placed a hand on each on of Shadow Milks shoulders, effectively steadying him. Despite the other trying to shrug him off, Burning Spice held firm.
“You should go back to your Spire and rest.”
“Yeah, yeah..”
That was all Shadow Milk said before being overtaken by a puff of black smoke and disappearing, teleporting off to somewhere Burning Spice didn’t know.