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Pure Vanilla Cookie sighed, closing yet another book and setting it down on the large pile in front of him.
Yet another book read, yet no mention of the Beast-Binding Ritual. He and White Lily Cookie had been scouring the library for days, trying to find even the slightest mention of it. It was their one chance of defeating the Beasts, of finally solving the growing issue of their presence. They were nothing short of terrifying, and it worried Pure Vanilla Cookie deeply that he had no clue of their plans. What would they do in this War? Would they come for Crispia? When? How? How many would die by their hands, just like cookies of ages past?
Next to him, White Lily Cookie stifled a yawn. They'd both been up for days, though Pure Vanilla Cookie had caught a few hours of rest. It was thanks to the magic in their Soul Jam that they were awake. Yet even that had its limits. Pure Vanilla Cookie felt like his vision was constantly focusing and unfocusing.
White Lily Cookie put her book down as well, a disappointed expression on her face.
“No luck either?” He asked her, wanting to make some conversation.
She shook her head, sighing. “It's so strange. This library has some of the most obscure lore I've ever seen, yet it seems it somehow doesn't have anything on the Beast-Binding Ritual. Even the Librarian Faerie couldn't help us!”
They'd asked the soft-spoken faerie, but she'd only been able to give a suggestion as to where information might be. There seemed to be nothing concrete on the spell, which Pure Vanilla Cookie understood. Such powerful magic shouldn't be so easily available to any searcher, yet it was still frustrating that there was absolutely nothing.
Pure Vanilla Cookie stood up, stretching his aching shoulders and back. Sitting in a chair, hunched over tomes, was not good for long periods of time. He gathered the pile of books in front of him and began putting them back onto their shelves. They'd gotten through nearly the entire section on magic in the Faerie Kingdom’s library, yet hadn't found anything of note. He was beginning to doubt if the spell even existed.
Pure Vanilla Cookie returned back to the table the two were sitting at, now with less books scattered across its surface. He looked at White Lily Cookie, she looked at him, then they both picked up a book and began reading once more. The Faerie's language had been interesting to learn. The idea of sheet music instead of letters was fascinating, and Pure Vanilla Cookie was amazed at the complexity and grace of their it. A beautiful language to match a beautiful kingdom.
He was finishing a page on banishment spells, which had been exciting but ultimately yielded nothing, when there was a sudden weight on his shoulder. Startled, Pure Vanilla Cookie looked over to see what had fallen onto his shoulder.
It was White Lily Cookie’s head, resting against his arm. She was curled up in her chair, book abandoned in her lap, eyes closed. Her chest rose and fell with each slow breath she took.
Pure Vanilla Cookie stared at her for a few seconds, startled. White Lily Cookie rarely fell asleep while doing something. She usually finished a task and then slept off. She must have been exhausted after multiple nights of no sleep.
He yawned, looking at the books in front of him with half-lidded eyes. Now it seemed like even turning a page would take enormous effort. Perhaps it was best to take a break, come back at it in the morning.
Pure Vanilla Cookie organized the books on the table as best as he could without jostling White Lily Cookie too much. It wouldn't do to just leave a mess on the table. With that task done, he turned to his friend. She was still fast asleep, looking so peaceful he couldn't bring himself to wake her up. Ever since she'd been brought back to life, White Lily Cookie had had a permanent cloud of gloom and dread around her. She'd always seemed like there was something nagging at her, needling her at the back of her mind, a burden she wouldn't share with anyone else. Yet in her sleep that was gone, replaced by a calmness he hadn't seen in so long.
Pure Vanilla Cookie made up his mind. He put an arm under her shoulders, an arm under her legs, and lifted her up bridal style. She shifted in her sleep, her head coming to rest right next to his Soul Jam. He wrapped her cape around her to protect her from the night's chill, and set off. Pure Vanilla Cookie waved a farewell to the librarian, who simply smiled and nodded a goodbye.
He walked through the paths of the Faerie Kingdom, lit with softly glowing blue lanterns and lined with hundreds of flowers in full bloom. It was beautiful, this kingdom. While his own kingdom had a special place in Pure Vanilla Cookie’s heart, he had to admit that the Faerie Kingdom had an aura like none he'd ever seen before. It was ethereal, almost like the inhabitants had been transported to a different world as they stepped through the protective barrier around the kingdom. The way the moonlight reflected off the silver buildings, the way the air in the kingdom was so calm even though a great evil slept just beneath the surface. All of it was just so… otherworldly.
He approached the hallway to their rooms, walking down the hall to White Lily Cookie’s door. He could've sworn he heard faint laughter, but when he turned to look, there was nobody. He carefully shifted her in his arms to reach the doorknob, then quietly twisted it and gently pushed the door open. It was dark inside, the curtains drawn and no lights visible except for the faint glow of her Soul Jam, leaning against a bed post in her staff. His own Soul Jam brightened up the room until he could see the faint outlines of the furniture, and he made his way carefully to the bed.
He gently set White Lily Cookie down on her bed. She moved around and buried her face in a pillow, relaxing into the comfort of the mattress. Pure Vanilla Cookie reached for a blanket and gently tucked it around her. For a split second he was taken back in time to their Academy days. The amount of times they'd stayed up late into the night on some experiment, then, too tired to make the trip back to the dorms, they'd simply slept in their greenhouse. He'd done this so many times, tucking in White Lily Cookie after she'd fallen deep asleep.
He turned to leave, eyelids suddenly so heavy he could barely keep them open, when a hand grabbed his wrist. He gasped in surprise, turning to see White Lily Cookie looking at him blearily.
“Stay here…” She told him simply, lightly tugging on his wrist. Heat bloomed in Pure Vanilla Cookie’s cheeks. She couldn't possibly mean that.
“White Lily Cookie, I have to go.” He tried pulling his hand free, but she held on tightly.
“Stay-y-y. You're so warm.” She let go of his hand to roll over and make space for him, the blanket slipping from her shoulders and half-falling off the bed.
Pure Vanilla Cookie stared at the empty spot, warring emotions in his mind.
He had to go.
It looked so inviting.
No, he had to go.
But she wanted him to be there.
He had to–
“Pure Vanilla Cookie.” She looked him in the eyes, suddenly more awake than she'd previously been. “Come here.”
He laid down next to her, ignoring the embarrassed voices screaming objections in his head. There was a voice in his heart that was singing as she wrapped her arms around him, and he chose to focus on that instead.
“It's so cold.” She complained, burying her head in his chest.
He smiled and chuckled lightly. “You're only half covered by the blanket, White Lily Cookie. Of course it's cold.”
He wrapped an arm around her, leaning his head closer until all he could smell was her lily scent. She'd always been conscious of it, but he found it a delightful fragrance.
“Well, if I have you, I'll never be cold again…” She said, voice muffled by the fabric of his robes. “You'll be there for me to hug.”
Pure Vanilla Cookie laughed at this, hugging her tighter. “Always, Lily. Always.”
The two slept off, wrapped in each other's arms. Their Soul Jams gently glowed, flaring for one second as two hearts, after centuries of being apart, beat as one again.