Capsaicin Cookie refitted his iconic smile atop his face as the figures of his classmates came into view. Before he could get a single word out, he was instantly bombarded by his ecstatic friends.
"THAT. WAS. AWESOME!" A Scovillia Student Fan yelled in excitement. "The way you smashed the ground and lava erupted EVERYWHERE was so FREAKIN' COOL!"
A Spicy Scovillia Student nodded his head vigorously in agreement. "And the FIRE! I'll never get that totally WICKED sight from my mind!"
Capsaicin Cookie smiled at the praise given to him, but confusion clouded his eyes. "But aren't you disappointed that I lost?" he asked them, looking dejectedly at the gathered crowd.
"WHO CARES! There's still two more Trials, and you were awesome out there!" A Hot Scovillia Student reassured him. "Besides, why would we EVER be disappointed in you?! You're so COOL!" several students yelled in agreement as she pumped her first in the air for the fiery Champion.
"That Parfaedia Champion sure is tricky..." the Spicy Scovillia Student muttered. "I would've also dropped everything and CARRY him to the infirmary if I was Champion, Capsaicin Cookie!" he said upliftingly.
"EXACTLY!" the Headmaster said, finally making his appearance after having corralled every student out of the colosseum. "There's still battles to be fought, so stop sulking over what's already past!" he finished gruffly as he roughly patted the blazing Champion's head. "Now let's get outta here!" he said, shredding a riff off his guitar. "It's CELEBRATION TIME!"
The group of students cheered at the prospect of celebrating with their Champion and quickly ran after their Headmaster. Capsaicin Cookie eagerly followed, but doubt still clouded his mind. "I just need to watch myself more. If I hadn't used so much power trying to stop Prune Juice Cookie, I wouldn't have thought that I hurt him..."
The Headmaster, still leading the galivanting students, whipped his head around to stare at Capsaicin Cookie. "STOP SULKING!" he shouted, startling the Champion who was indeed deep in sulking.
"HOW DOES HE DO THAT!?" Capsaicin Cookie thought to himself in exasperation at the seemingly omnipotent Headmaster.
Kouign-Amann Cookie faced her peers with pride as she strode out of the colosseum. Their stoic faces didn't seem to hold contempt for her failure, yet they also didn't show any excitement for her participation.
"Phew, that was h-" she was promptly cut off from her first sentence as Madeleine Cookie gasped in utter shock.
"KOUIGN-AMANN COOKIE, YOUR DRESS!" he cried dramatically, pointing at her singed ballgown.
"O-oh, this?" she stammered, looking down at her burned gown and trying to figure out what the big deal is. "It's nothing! Burns are bound to happen when you're in the ring with Capsaicin Cookie!" she replied brightly to the vain Cookie.
An impassive Financier Cookie broke her usual facial expression and smiled at Kouign-Amann Cookie. "You were great in the Trial, Kouign-Amann Cookie. The way you handled the enemy grabbing hold of your sword was simply genius" she praised the curly-haired Champion.
Kouign-Amann Cookie blushed modestly at the senior paladin's praise. "Thank you, Financier Cookie! Despite my sword being grand, I refuse to let it leave my hands in battle" she replied. "Even if Capsaicin Cookie made me look ridiculous in the arena, haha" she thought to herself in amusement. What she would give to have been in the stands watching all that unfold.
"No truer words have been spoken," the Preceptor began, addressing his Champion. "... You know your code well, Kouign-Amann Cookie, for if a knight's sword leaves their side during battle; the battle is already lost", he finished. Murmurs of agreement came from the paladin trainees.
A thought crossing Kouign-Amann Cookie's mind made her quickly turn to the senior paladins once more. "Financier Cookie, Madeleine Cookie, would you mind a little sparring match? I need to stay crispy for the Trial tomorrow..."
A crowd of anxious Parfaedia students surrounded Prune Juice Cookie as he exited the colosseum. 'Umm... That counts, right?" a soft-spoken Citrus Parfaedia student asked the victor as he came to a halt before them.
"Well, Gelato Trio Cookie seems to think so" a stern-talking Berry Parfaedia student replied.
Prune Juice Cookie smiled at their obvious confusion of whether to celebrate his victory or chastise him for winning in such a way. "Very few rules other than 'keep your color lit before the timer runs out!' were given, thus I believe my victory is quite authentic" he said happily to the crowd of his peers.
"Quite the wit you displayed, Prune Juice Cookie" Latte Cookie said in her silky sweet voice. "I've never seen a Trial tackled in such an unorthodox way!"
Eclair Cookie nodded his head in agreement, once again brushing his exuberant bang out from his face. "T'was an incredible feat, no less! Though that Capsaicin Cookie made an utter mess of the historic architecture of the arena...!" he muttered in despair at the absolute waste of history he had to sit through. "Hmmm... That Champion did seem rather familiar, though..." he added on an unrelated note, unrolling the scroll that was previously slung under his shoulder and burring his monocle'd face in it.
Prune Juice Cookie paid the distracted scholar no mind. A loud-mouthed Cookie such as Capsaicin Cookie is bound to be in the history books somewhere. "Now then, I must get going. Only a single day to prepare for the next trial and I've already wasted precious minutes standing around here" he declared, already turning away from his classmates and professors.
"B-but don't you want to celebrate?" the Citrus Parfaedia student stammered quietly.
Prune Juice Cookie looked at the anxious student with a bored expression. "Thanks, but no. I wasn't baked ready for anything, you know" he said matter-of-factly. "Besides, testing out new brews is all the celebration I need. Now that I've gotten a first hand look at the other Champions' strengths, I can make my potions a tad more specific..." he added to himself quietly.
"If you must, Prune Juice Cookie" Latte Cookie said sympathetically for both her and the distracted Eclair Cookie, face still buried in the ever-unrolling scroll. "We're at your beck and call if you need anything" she said supportively, closing her eyes and giving the inky Champion an encouraging smile.
"Well, now that you mention it..." Prune Juice Cookie began.
Capsaicin Cookie yawned as the previous night's sleeplessness caught up to him. All the tension from the first Trial had left himself and his body feeling exhausted beyond belief- that and the absolutely banger of a party his classmates had thrown for him the second they got back to the Quarters. But now that the sun was starting to set and the Headmaster ordered them to get some shut eye, he was still trying to stave off sleep for as long as possible. His first night still hung in his mind heavily, both the chaos he had caused and the figure met in his dream. "What's the harm in waiting a little longer?" he asked himself as he trudged through the corridor to the Headmaster's Quarters. He was the only one left up, or so he thought.
A light coming from one of the dorm rooms caught his attention in the dimly lit hallway. Curious, he slowly approached it. The muffled sounds of... Laughing? Struck his ear as he stood outside its bulk, tentatively rising a fist to the door, he knocked and waited for a reply.
"...Cr- H-hide ... t-e.. B-ze" escaped the solid door as he heard erratic shuffling from the interior.
Now invested, the fiery Champion turned the doorknob and opened the door. Inside the lit room's interior were two Cookies that he had seldom seen around Scovillia. He recognized them as students, of course (why would they be here otherwise?), but they showed up to class so little that he couldn't put names to faces.
They stared nervously at the door, but one seemed to relax a bit as they realized who had opened it. "Oh, it's just Capsaicin Cookie" the Searing Scovillia Student said, breathing a sigh of relief. A Fervid Scovillia Student fixed him a glare at his relaxing demeanor.
"Just as bad as if the Headmaster had barged through those doors! You know Capsaicin Cookie is the Headmaster's pet!" the Fervid Scovillia Student muttered angrily.
Capsaicin Cookie cocked a brow at the strange behavior of the three students, the 'insult' aimed at him completely swooshing over his head. "What are you two doing in here so late at night?" he asked quizzically as his eyes trailed the room. A strange lumpy mass underneath one of the bed's covers caught his attention.
Seeing his eyes fixed on the out-of-place mound, the Fervid Scovillia Student sighed, got up, and promptly yanked the cover off the bed. Hidden by its fluffy sheet, bottles of chili oil ale were stashed atop the mattress. "No point in hiding it now" the Fervid Scovillia Student grumbled. "So what, you 'gonna turn us in?" he asked Capsaicin Cookie.
"So... You two were 'gonna stay up..." his train of thought halted as they trailed over his next words. "All night?" wait! If these students were going to be staying up all night, they'd definitely be able to keep HIMSELF awake. That way he wouldn't accidentally fall asleep waiting, or be caught roaming the halls at night! Capsaicin Cookie grinned as his ingenious plan unfolded. "... all night drinking?"
The two hooligans caught his smile and looked at him nervously. "So, you're gonna narc on us, aren't you?" the Fervid Scovillia Student said snarkily to the fiery Champion.
Capsaicin Cookie put his arms up to signify that no, of course he's not 'gonna turn them in. He's cool, cool as an ice Cookie. "Now hold on, I can get behind two Cookies wanting to have a spicy party behind closed doors" he said while smirking. "But what I CAN'T get behind is not being INVITED to one"
Both the Fervid and Searing Scovillia Students looked at eachother as if they'd just received an A in history class. "You... You want to join us?" the Searing Scovillia Student replied in confusion.
"J-just to keep an eye on you two!" Capsaicin Cookie stammered, eyes nervously looking over the bottles of a forbidden beverage.
The Fervid Scovillia Student cracked a smile. "Alright then, welcome to the dark side, Capsaicin Cookie. Have a seat" he said slyly, beckoning the spicy Champion to step in, shut the door, and enjoy the festivities.
Before Capsaicin Cookie had even realized what was happening, he had engaged himself in a not-so-school-appropriate drinking contest with the two delinquents. The taste of habanero jellies and forbidden chili oil ale still lingered in his mouth warmly as he fought sleep tooth and nail. "Those two... Are tough...!" he thought hazily, himself still two drinks down from the Fervid Scovillia Student.
"Ughh... That's it, I think I'm done" the Searing Scovillia Student muttered out. He was splayed out on the floor on his back with an empty bottle of chili ale clutched in his hand. "I can't go oooonnn" he groaned.
Capsaicin Cookie turned his head to look out the window behind him. The sky was a deep , fathomless black with stars twinkling in its vastness. "Mmmmm," he groaned, rubbing one closed eye in an attempt to drive off sleepiness. The warm fuzziness courtesy of the drink in front of him was so NOT helping. "...One moore, if you're 'gonna -hic- go up against the spiiiicyyy Capsaicin Cookie, you 'gotta at least put up a fiiight" he slurred, grabbing another bottle of ale. His dazed state wondered how on Earthbread these students managed to sneak in so many bottles.
"Okay, ookay, I think I can -hic- hold down another" a completely wasted Fervid Scovillia Student managed to say through a horribly garbled voice. "Gi-hic-ve it here" he said while stumbling upright.
Capsaicin Cookie uncorked the bottle and poured another shotglass for his brave comrade. Half of the contents splattered onto the floor as he fought to steady his wobbly hand. He kept the half-empty bottle to serve as his shot as the Fervid Scovillia Student raised his own glass uneasily in the air. "Al-hic-right, but m-mine counts as fi-five -hic- drinkss" Capsaicin Cookie slurred.
"Reeeeeeeeeeaaaadyyy?" He garbled jovially, a large dazed grin plastered on his face as he raised his bottle.
Before lips could touch brims, the door to the room was -quite literally- kicked open.
The Fervid Scovillia Student and Capsaicin Cookie both stared dumbfoundedly as the Headmaster angrily marched into the room they were in. The Searing Scovillia Student had already passed out and was snoring loudly as the Headmaster fixed them all with a blazing glare.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU KIDS DOING!?" he boomed, snatching the bottle of ale from Capsaicin Cookie- who still kept his empty hand raised in the air- and swiping the glass from the Fervid Scovillia Student's hand. The fragrant liquid swished out of the cup from the sheer speed at which it was nabbed and splashed to the floor. The Headmaster fixed the two inebriated Cookies with a stern glare as he waited for their reply.
"Phfft-haha-whattt?" Capsaicin Cookie slurred, smiling at the obviously infuriated Headmaster. Well, that just set the burly Cookie off.
"Do you know HOW LONG I've been looking for you!?" he pointed with a gauntlet-clad arm to a plastered Capsaicin Cookie. "Only to find out you're here drinking yourself into a stupor!?" Capsaicin Cookie looked at him dumbly, the Headmaster's harsh words not seeming to sink into him.
He turned infuriated eyes to the Fervid Scovillia Student next to him. "AND YOU! Sneaking in banned beverages and getting wasted with the Champion-" he ripped his gaze back to scrutinize Capsaicin Cookie, "-who's SUPPOSED to be representing his school in the Trial tomorrow!?"
He grabbed the end of Capsaicin Cookie's cape and dragged the plastered Champion to the (busted) door. "I'd cancel Scovillia's ENTIRE participation in the tournament and ship you disappointing lot HOME, but it's not fair to punish the whole class because of your STUPIDNESS!" he bellowed angrily. Before stepping over the threshold, he turned his head to lock enraged eyes onto the smugglers of the ale. "I'll be back for you two" he said chillingly, his words penetrating through the drunk student's mind like a spear through water.
...
The Headmaster angrily dragged an inebriated Capsaicin Cookie down the hall to his room. The drunken Champion let out moans of resistance as he was 'forcibly' hauled away.
"But I don't waaaant tooo" he protested as the Headmaster dragged him along like an extra disappointing sack of potatoes. "Eugh, I don't think that's 'gonna stay down" he sputtered, holding back the contents to his stomach.
The Headmaster didn't say a word, merely continued to haul Capsaicin Cookie down the corridor.
"And I'm not -hic- tireddd" he fussed as the Headmaster twisted the doorknob of the Headmaster Quarter's forcefully and flung the door open. He lugged the Champion through the room and unceremoniously dumped him onto the bed, crossing his arms in disappointment after the fact.
"I know that you're dealing with something hard, Capsaicin Cookie," he said with sympathy in his stern voice. "... But running away from it isn't helping"
Capsaicin Cookie's dazed mind locked onto a feeling of anger at his words. Him? RUN AWAY? He's never ran away from ANYTHING in his entire life! "I'm not RUNNING AWAY! I never ran from ANYTHING!" he yelled in anger at the Headmaster.
"Getting drunk and forgetting it all is literally the definition of 'running away from your problems' Capsaicin Cookie" the Headmaster sighed, putting a hand to his shaking head at the Champion's refusal to admit it. "And you're underage, which is a bad habit to get into"
Capsaicin Cookie huffed and turned away from the Headmaster. "Just leave me ALONE!" he shouted in frustration. "Why do you always try and act like my parent!? Can't you see that I can HANDLE MYSELF!"
The Headmaster stood there and stared at the inebriated Champion for what felt like forever. After the silence became unbearable between the two, he swiftly turned around and quietly left the room, granting the angry Champion's wish. The door clicked softly as his departure sank into Capsaicin Cookie.
Capsaicin Cookie laid there in the darkness as he slowly came to his senses at what the hell he just told the Headmaster. "Why did I say those things...!?" he thought to himself furiously, his eyes becoming moist as the gravity of what he said sank in. "I hurt him. I hurt the Headmaster and now he hates me!" his self-hatred grew as he tucked himself into a ball. "What is wrong with me..." the turmoil of everything sapped at his strength and he squeezed his eyelids shut in order to escape it.
"Back here again..." Capsaicin Cookie said bleakly as his eyes once more rested upon that mound of rock jutting out from the cauldron of lava. 'Alright, where are you..." he sighed, looking around the cavern for Him.
It must hurt, burning everyone you touch. The voice called out wistfully beside him.
Turning to look at its source, Capsaicin Cookie saw Him sitting at the edge of the sea of lava, legs dangling over its ledge. His appearance didn't bother Capsaicin Cookie as much as it did the first time and he merely fixed a dull gaze over the churning lava. "..." Capsaicin Cookie didn't reply as He went on.
No matter how hard you restrain yourself. No matter how hard you suppress it. Fire will always manage to wreak havoc... He went on in a harrowing tone as Capsaicin Cookie was forced to listen.
"I'll keep trying" he said in a hardened voice, eyes narrowing as they remained transfixed on the lava below. "I know I can do it- I don't need to..." his eyes bored into the prison at the middle of the chaos. "... Go back there"
His reflection turned to look at him, a spiteful smile splitting his face at Capsaicin Cookie's words. It's not a matter of whether you need to go back... Capsaicin Cookie's eyes widened and his breathing became labored in panic as he could guess what the next words out of his reflection's mouth would be.
It's when everybody around you becomes terrified and forces you back.
Capsaicin Cookie stared at his twisted reflection in shock as the ramifications of his words sank in like chains. It's wasn't enough that he thought he was a danger, but when the others find out that he's... He's a threat! They'll lock him away. "T-the Headmaster wouldn't allow...!" he retaliated, shaking his head and squeezing his eyes shut in an attempt to block out his own past words.
You can handle yourself, remember? His reflection purred with disdain. He got up from his seat and strode over to the trembling Capsaicin Cookie, giving him a pat on the shoulder as he stopped in front of him. You've only got yourself now.
Capsaicin Cookie awoke in a cold sweat. The dream still echoed throughout his head as he looked around in a panic, remembering the last time he awoke from a terrible nightmare. To his reassurance, the room wasn't ignited in a blazing fire. Looking out the window, he could just make out the light of the dawn cresting the distant peaks and mountains. The previous night's... Shenanigans, still left his head feeling like it'd been in a rock crusher.
Despite the throbbing headache, he sighed in relief and gingerly sat up. His shackles clinked against his long-broken chains as he wiped the sweat from his brow. It was over for now, and he had something he needed to do. "I... I need to find the Headmaster" he thought to himself, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed and quietly stepping off it. He crept to the door and slowly turned his doorknob, opening the door and stepping into the pitch black hall.
No Cookie was up, as even the crack of dawn was a bit TOO early for the Scovillia students. "Wait, where even is the Headmaster? He gave me his room twice..." Capsaicin Cookie wondered as he snuck through the hall. He wouldn't be in any of students' dorms, the main hall is too bright with the fireplace... He scratched his head as he wondered where on Earthbread the Headmaster could've hunkered down for the night.
He paused for a second and turned his head back to the end of the hallway. "The Champion's Quarters?" he thought to himself as he carefully approached its door. He took a deep breath in before quietly clasping the doorknob and turning it.
The door creaked softly open as Capsaicin Cookie stuck his head into the room. The floors and walls were still charred and blackened from the incident, but the majority of the fire-damaged furniture had been removed. All save for the bed- which was much too heavy to lift, Capsaicin Cookie presumed- which still sat press up in the center against the wall.
The sound of soft snoring alerted Capsaicin Cookie that the charred bed was occupied. He began to quietly walk up to the side of it, with his unease magnifying every step closer he took. Sure enough, lying in its burnt remains was the Scovillia Headmaster. Capsaicin Cookie's heart skipped a beat as his anxiety rose. "He... Even when I said those awful things and ruined my own room, he still slept in here like this...?" he froze as he watched the Headmaster's figure rise and fall in a rhythmic fashion.
Mustering up some courage, he gingerly raised one hand to rouse the sleeping Cookie. But... His hand stopped inches away from his shoulder and trembled slightly. "What... What if he still hates me...?" he thought in distress, quickly bringing his hand back to his side. He gazed at the Headmaster in silence for a few moments before turning away from the sleeping figure and carefully retreating back to the door. Sparing one last glance into the ruined room, he sadly opened the door and shut it softly.
Outside, he leaned his back against the wall and breathed nervously. "I... I just need to take a walk. I promise I'll talk to him when he wakes up" he reasoned with himself, swiftly shaking his head and making a quiet b-line to the end of the corridor. The silence became unbearable as he quickened his pace through the main hall and finally reached the entrance out. Jiggling its knob in a panic, he practically fell out the doorway and onto the dirt pathway outside.
He breathed heavily as he laid there, face in the dirt, for a few moments. After having calmed himself down a bit, he gingerly got to his feet and started walking away from the Quarters. He had to admit, the scenery really was beautiful, the trees were green and lush- nothing like any of the 'trees' in Scovillia. The change in scenery was an unexpectedly welcoming feeling for Capsaicin Cookie as he walked along the dirt path traversing the mountains.
"Alright, game plan time" he said to himself suddenly once he was well away from the Scovillia Quarters. "So you totally flipped out on the one Cookie that ever really believed in you for being you and now he hates you forever" he said matter-of-factly to himself with a smile. "SO! WHAT CAN YOU DO TO FIX IT!?" he yelled to himself while grabbing hold of his horns roughly and shaking his head. "Think, think, think..." he muttered to himself.
A voice calling out to him shook him from his actions with a tinge of embarrassment. "Uh... Capsaicin Cookie? Were you yelling just now?" a familiar curly-haired paladin said as she appeared from the vegetation and onto the path.
"GAH! HOW DID YOU GET HERE?!" he yelled in surprise. "And maybe" he said, answering her question.
Kouign-Amann Cookie cocked an eyebrow as she looked at the nervous Champion. "I was sparring, and you...?" she asked quizzically. "Do you usually go out for walks at dawn and yell at yourself?"
Capsaicin Cookie looked at her in embarrassment. "Ah, well... How much did you hear?" he said quietly, head drooping.
Kouign-Amann Cookie looked at the troubled Cookie with sympathy. "Mainly the bulk of 'disappointing the only Cookie that really believed in you'?" she said earnestly. "And that this Cookie now 'hates you forever'"
Capsaicin Cookie sat down on the dirt path and brought his knees up so that he could rest his head on them. "So everything. Got it" he grumbled.
Kouign-Amann Cookie rested her greatsword on the ground as she gingerly sat next to him. "What happened?" she asked sweetly. Despite Capsaicin Cookie being her rival in the Trials, she wouldn't turn down a Cookie who obviously needed help.
"I... I really disappointed the Headmaster" he sighed, gaze still downcast. "And then I yelled at him saying how I hated him and never wanted to see him again"
Kouign-Amann Cookie gaped at what he had just told her. "You... You didn't really say that, did you?" she asked in shock.
Capsaicin Cookie shook his head slightly. "No... But I might as well have..." he brought up his arms to wrap around his knees as he continued to look at the ground. "And now he hates me"
Tilting her head to look at Capsaicin Cookie, Kouign-Amann Cookie patted the miserable Champion on the back. "But I saw it when I first met you; the Headmaster clearly cares about you greatly" she said compassionately, remembering the pride she saw displayed in the Scovillia Headmaster as he roughhoused with the fiery Champion on the first day of the Tournament.
"Yeah well not anymore. I've always been a problem for him" he said self-deprecatingly, sinking his face lower beneath his arms. "On the first day here I burnt my room to a crisp and now he sleeps on the charred bed so that I can use his room..."
Kouign-Amann Cookie looked at him with pity as he went on. The fiery Champion looked strange without the eternal smile that was usually plastered on his face even when he went up in flames.
"I lied constantly to him and I just KNOW he knows..." he continued, choking on his words as he did so. "... and then I got drunk with some students and yelled at him" he finished dejectedly. "And that's not even counting the stuff I mess up at home..."
"Wow" Kouign-Amann Cookie said as Capsaicin Cookie finished. Some second-hand embarrassment from his recount had left her feeling sheepish herself, but she mainly felt sympathy for the upset Champion next to her. "The fact that he hasn't kicked you from the Quarters means he still cares about you, though" she said, smiling at the depressed Cookie. "Unless...?"
"No... I kicked myself out. I was too scared to apologize to him so I just... Left to cool down" he admitted despondently. "Because what if he still hates me!?" he said in exasperation as he quickly lifted his head to the sky in frustration. "I just can't look him in the eyes knowing that I disappointed him so much!"
The heat around her became elevated, but Kouign-Amann Cookie stuck it out for a friend in need. She thought about the next words she'd say. These feelings that Capsaicin Cookie was was admitting to her... Were feelings that she fears everyday of her life. Disappointing the Cookies around her. Letting them down. Her brow furrowed and eyes grew distant as she thought about how she'd cope in his situation.
The silence between them widened, but only by a bit.
"Well..." she began, finally latching onto the answer. "The Cookies you fear disappointing the most are also the Cookies who'll be there to pick you up when you fall short. They'll understand that you're not infallible and that you tried your best for them" she said while giving Capsaicin Cookie a kindhearted look. "That's why you do your best to repay them for their trust in you, as they'll repay you for working so hard for them"
Capsaicin Cookie stared off into the distance for a few moments before looking at her with worried tangerine eyes. "But what if you can't trust yourself...?"
Kouign-Amann Cookie gave him a look. "But everyone around you trusts you! After all, they made you a Champion; a representative for all students at your Academy" she said. "Even when we lost the first Trial, they still cheered for us!" she said with pride, trying to get the dour Champion's spirits up once more.
Capsaicin Cookie looked at her, his signature smile involuntarily creeping itself across his face. "I... I guess you're right!" he said, vigor returning to his voice. He leapt to his feet and shook himself off, letting flames roll of his fiery hair as his up-beat demeanor returned. "Thanks, Kouign-Amann Cookie!" he said, closing his eyes and giving her a fiery hug.
"Oomph!" she said internally as she was squeezed by the fiery Champion. "You're always so up-beat, Capsaicin Cookie. That's why I was worried when I found you like this" she choked out while giving her hugger a smile.
He released her after giving her a thorough show of his gratitude. "Ah... I... I hide it well. Or at least I try to" he said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "I don't want the others to worry about me"
Kouign-Amann Cookie gave him a puzzled look. "But they're your friends and classmates, if you need help they'll come to your aid you no matter what!" she said as Capsaicin Cookie averted her gaze.
"I... I. I just don't want them to worry..." he repeated, still averting the ballgown-wearing Champion's eyes. "... because they'll be terrified of me if they find out... Find out how hard I try everyday to not hurt them...!" he thought to himself, a wave of anxiety washing away the previous cheeriness.
Kouign-Amann Cookie huffed and marched up to him, reaching up and grabbing the clasp of his cape to pull his head down to her level. "Then let ME worry about you!" she said with conviction as Capsaicin Cookie's eyes could no longer avert hers. "If you're so worried about what the others will think, then just tell me what's bugging you instead!" she said, her pink eyes beaming.
Capsaicin Cookie looked at her, unable to find words to speak. After a few moments, he settled on giving her a smile. "Thanks, Kouign-Amann Cookie" he said as she released the much stockier Cookie from her grasp and gave him a friendly punch to the arm.
"Youch, what was that for?!" he said playfully, holding his arm and twisting his face in pain as if GRAVELY wounded.
"For being so difficult to open up!" she said energetically while giving in a wink.
They both laughed at their antics, oblivious to the sun rising steadily in the distance.
Kouign-Amann Cookie's eyes suddenly snapped to the horizon as she saw the sun peering at her. "EEP! I should've been back an hour ago!" she yelled frantically, giving Capsaicin Cookie a quick comfort hug for good measure as she grabbed her greatsword from off the ground. "Apologize to the Headmaster- I'll see you at the Trial!" she called as she ran back through the brush from whence she came.
"Better bring your A-GAME!" he called after her happily.
"I'll make it an A+, so watch yourself!" she called out energetically, her voice already getting fainter as she left Capsaicin Cookie alone on the trail.
He stood there for a few seconds and looked at the rising sun.
"..."
"I GOTTA GET BACK, TOO!" he yelled frantically to himself, charging down the path back to the Scovillia Quarters.