Chapter 6 Moonveil Peach
Rhydian's eyes travelled to her face, lingering there for almost five seconds.
“Tell me why.”
Casian slowly began slipping away, while Seraphina's hand remained glued to her waist.
“You just let a wave of smoke surround it, and now you're telling me it's okay? You want me to believe that?”
“I expect you to try the oven first.”
Seraphina squinted her eyes at him before walking over to the oven. Just as she reached it, her eyes caught the door closing.
“Casiannn…”
The door banged twice before shutting itself completely.
“Coward,” she sneered, turning back to the oven.
She plugged it in and switched on all the switches. It sprang to life.
Seraphina smiled and turned to Rhydian. “It really worked! How did you do it?”
He turned away from the counter and made his way towards the pastry basket. “I'm off,” he murmured, picking it up before walking out of the bakery.
Seraphina watched him leave, then sneered. “Arrogant man.”
She picked up the jar of oat milk and fetched Azula's plate.
“Didn't even appreciate or say thank you for the crunch bar. Ugly man.”
Azula fixed his eyes on her and shook his head. Seraphina's eyes locked with his.
“WHAT?”
The cat paid her no attention. He watched her pour the milk, then lay down beside the plate and began lapping it up slowly.
Seraphina continued murmuring little inaudible complaints. The door swung open, and Pip's head was the first thing Seraphina saw before the rest of his round, flying body came into view.
“Seraphina! Oh, Sera! You sent me on a fruitless journey!” Pip cried.
Seraphina slowly turned from Azula's bowl.
“Please tell me you found the fruit.”
Pip stopped mid air. “That's the point!....fruitless"
Seraphina closed her eyes. “Pip.”
“Do you know what I went through? Do you know what those people did to me?”
“Pip.”
“They searched my pockets!”
“Pip!”
“And one of them called me a suspicious ball of dough!”
Azula lifted his head from his bowl and let out a short meow.
Pip spun around.
“Don't you dare laugh at me, you oversized furball!”
Azula returned to his oat milk, Seraphina folded her arms.
“Let me get this straight. I sent you to Everdawn to get one fruit, just one and you returned without it?”
“Borrowed,” Pip corrected.
“you borrowed what?”
“The fruit.”
“Where is it?”
“Back in the orchard.”
Seraphina stared at him, Pip stared back, then Seraphina slowly turned towards the ceiling.
“Grandma, I know you loved this creature, but I really think we need to discuss your decision on why he is still alive.”
“I'm a flourling, you can't unalive me!” Pip protested.
“Wonderful, then I'll make flour out of you.”
“YOU CAN'T MAKE FLOUR OUT OF FLOUR!” Pip screamed.
“Watch me!”
Pip's wings fluttered furiously as he flew towards her.
“You sent me to that kingdom without telling me the fruit had royal guards, a screaming fruit, and an entire searching army, you never do researches!”
Seraphina paused. “Wait. The fruit screamed?”
“Yes!”
“The Moonveil Peach?”
“The very same beautiful little thing," Pip spinned round, "With its majestic pale purple skin, silver leaves, also yes, it sparkles under the moonlight. I almost cried when I saw it.”
“You cried?”
“No! My eyes were appreciating its beauty!”
Azula made another sound that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. Pip pointed at him.
“You have no right to judge me Furball!”
Seraphina rubbed her forehead“Forget Azula. Tell me what happened.”
Pip's wings drooped.
“Well, I found the Orchard of Sleeping Moons. Climbed the tree, picked the fruit, and was about to make my glorious escape when the peach started screaming.”
Seraphina sighed. “Of course it did.”
“Then the guards came running. They caught me, took me to the palace, and accused me of trying to steal a royal treasure!”
“You were trying to steal a royal treasure.”
“you sent me to steal the royal treasure!”
Seraphina scratched her head nervously.
“Techinicsly, but even though, i didn't send you to steal, well, did you explain why we need it to them?”
“Obviously! I told them about the star-dragon. I explained that its family had travelled all the way from their village to seek a cure from you, and that you had sent me to get the fruit.”
Seraphina's eyebrows rose.
“And?”
“They said I needed permission from the royal orchard keeper. Then they told me the peach could only be obtained in exchange for something precious.”
“Something precious?”
“A cherished memory.”
Seraphina went quiet. Pip landed on the counter, his little feet dangling over the edge.
“I refused, obviously. I'm not giving away my memories to a bunch of people who made fruits have security guards.”
Seraphina shook her head.
“You could have just asked them for the rules before climbing the tree.”
Pip stared at her. “You told me to get the fruit, Sera. You didn't say I should go there and make friends!”
“Use your head!”
“I did! That's how I knew the fruit was on the tree!”
Azula abandoned his bowl and covered his face with one paw.
Seraphina looked ready to pull her hair out. Then a loud knock sounded at the bakery door.
All three of them froze. Another knock followed. Then another one. Seraphina slowly turned towards the door, Pip's wings went still.
“Maybe it's a customer, the door is open.”
Seraphina turned to Azula who tore her a glance, she turned to Pip, "only one family knocks like that"
“SERAPHINA!”
Seraphina's face fell. “Oh, for the love of flour, I'd recognize that voice anywhere.
Astraeus, the father of the sick young star-dragon. A tall, silver-scaled dragon, even in his human form, his skin shone silver, he had spent the last few days disturbing Seraphina and asking when his son would be cured.
The door opened before she could answer.
Astraeus entered first, followed by his wife and two elderly relatives, all of them wearing the same worried expressions.
Behind them came their son, Lyric.
The young star-dragon looked even worse than he had the previous day. His once-bright skin had faded to a dull silver, and the light beneath them flickered weakly. He walked with his head lowered, dragging his feet against the floor.
Seraphina's irritation disappeared.
“Lyric.”
The young dragon raised his head and offered her a weak smile.
“Hello, Seraphina.”
She hurried towards him, gently touching his arm.
“How are you feeling today?”
“Cold.”
His mother immediately gasped.
“He's colder than yesterday! I told Astraeus we should have brought him here earlier!”
“We brought him here yesterday,” Astraeus reminded her.
“And what did you do? You stood outside arguing with the delivery man!” The woman sneered
“He was blocking the entrance"
Seraphina looked at them, both dragon fell quiet.
Pip leaned towards Azula and whispered, “They're worse than Seraphina when someone touches her baking ingredients.”
“I heard that!” Seraphina snapped.
Pip quickly straightened.
Lyric gave a weak chuckle, but it quickly turned into a cough. His mother's eyes filled with tears.
“Please, Seraphina. You said you knew of a fruit that might help him. Did your flourling find it?”
Every pair of eyes turned towards Pip. Pip looked at Seraphina. Seraphina looked at Pip.
Pip swallowed. “Define find.”
