Private Tales Magic and Baking Should Not Mix

[Bliss]

Seated in the dining hall, Bliss had been feigning her enthusiasm as her classmate was explaining his choices of ingredients.

A talent baker, particularly with pastries, Owen had decided to test potion filled custards and berry compote and make them into tarts. She had already braved the Laughing Lillies, biscuits piped with icing that depicted the flowers. Although, she had a bad batch, they all did, for Owen did not account for the mixing of fine sugar changing any effects from the potion.

"Shit... that's not a good look... Alright, how about the pumpkin tarts? I infused them with the Melody Delight potion." Owen suggested, uncovering the basket that concealed the tray.

Bliss laughed, nervously at first, but relief soon came when the laughter did not continue longer than she planned. "Remind me again, what does that potion do exactly?"

The others shared the same concern, wondering if any other sweet treat would turn sour.

 

[Elyon and Eshara]

Among those sitting in on the impromptu taste testing were the illustrious twins, Ely'Esha. Ever suckers for sweets of all sorts, the promise of free confections lured them in like moths to a flame.

Bliss, the studious girl that the twins had identified as something of a perfectionist, asked what the potion Owen had been baking with did, and the gears in the twins' minds began to turn.

"Oh! Oh! 'Mellow Deedee Lite?' That one produces minor calming effects, yes?" Eshara chimed in, raising her hand and waving it like she was answering a question in class.

"Mm, no no, 'Melody,' 'Delight,' sister. No break in the middle," Elyon pointed out helpfully.

"Oh! Then...um...ah! Melody of De-light is a song spell which gently puts out all the candles in a room!" Eshara recalled, giggling at the potential such an incantation could have with regards to practical jokes.

"No 'of,' sister, and it's a potion, not a spell!" Elyon reminded her.

"Ohhh...then it is...the lozenge elixir that makes your singing sound like you are performing in a concert hall?" Eshara came upon at last.

"Mmm, that might be it. Owen, did we get it right?" Elyon asked the confectionary caster, both twins looking from each other to the boy with bright smiles.

 

[Bliss]

Owen glanced between the two, a half smile of confusion and coherency at war. "Oh, well uh..."
"Oh..." Bliss exclaimed, her face showing her sudden realisation. "Melody Delight, otherwise known as the—"

"—Happy potion, or one of." Owen finished, clearing his throat pushing forward the trays to the students before him. "It's the one that makes you be at peace, happy, and see the delights of the world. It should last for merely an hour."

"But when infused like so...?" Bliss scrunched her nose, awaiting the lack of knowing from the baker. He smiled sheepishly, scratched the back of his neck. "I guess we truly are the guinea pigs." She picked out one pumpkin tart, inhaling the spices and the sweet cinnamon that wafted up to her. Bliss then slid the tray towards the twins. "Shall we try together?"

 

[Elyon and Eshara]

"Ooohhhh..."

The pair had been quite wrong in their assessment, but this did little to steal the wind from their sails. After all, there were pastries to be eaten. MAGIC pastries, no less.

"Pumpkin treats already make me feel happiness!" Eshara exclaimed, happy to join Bliss in their little adventure.

"Yes yes, let us try. What's the phrase? 'It's merrier when there are more?'" Elyon added, picking up a tart of his own.

"'The more the merrier,' brother," Eshara corrected him as she prepared to stuff her face with pastry.

"Yes, that one!"

Whatever magical effects were to follow as they consumed the treats surely would be worth it...right?

 

[Bliss]

She stared between the twins, slightly in awe how two siblings could be so... patient with one another.

In the Gradimir household, a mistake meant you would be ridiculed of it for the foreseeable future, and never made to forget such a moment.

"Gosh, I wish I had your trust in Owen."

"You're being fed, Gradimir. Be glad I am not experimenting with drinks today." Owen shot back.

Bliss gave him a wide eyed stared, brows furrowing at him. "Uh, you failed to disclose there would be side effects at the start to all of this, I think your taste testers have the right to complain as they help you... idiot." She grumbled the latter, to which Owen hugged at her as he stared back right at her.

"Well then, stuff your faces." He invited. Bliss pulled her face into an endearing grumpy face before viciously biting into her pumpkin tart. She could taste the swirl of caramel, for it held a different consistency to the pumpkin puree filling. Only after swallowing her first bite did Bliss start to feel giddy.

"Oh! That was really good!" She looked to Elyon and Eshara, nodding encouragingly.

 

[Elyon and Eshara]

Both twins devoured their treats with glee, and the effects that came after were quite immediate. They felt warmth and glee and energy. The two began to bounce erratically in their seats.

"Oh, oh! It was, it was!" Eshara agreed, beaming.

"Mm, mm! It was tasty, and it feels as though we've just drank a whoooole lot of black tea!" Elyon added.

The sensation was shared between them, but as both twins were experiencing it simultaneously, it felt amplified even further. The two looked like coiled springs, ready to fire off and begin ricocheting off of the walls at a moment's notice.