Chapter 225 - Give 'Em Another

Vell sat at the table, smoking a pipe, the kitchen filling with soft, curling smoke as he idly chewed the last remnants of a pastry. Across from him, Sonder had shifted from reading to simply staring at the pages, her eyes heavy with exhaustion.

The sound of soft footsteps drew their attention.

The green witch, the one who focused on the arcane, stood in the doorway, her gaze scanning the kitchen. Her eyes landed on the tray of pastries—cold now, but still inviting. She stepped forward.

"The last one," Vell remarked, noting that every other witch had already stopped by to fill their bellies.

The green witch brushed her fingers over the edge of the tray before taking the final pastry. "I didn't notice the time," she admitted. "I was focused."

Vell smirked, picking up the empty tray. "Then you definitely need more than one. I guess I'll whip up another batch… or maybe something different. Who knows?"

The witch weighed the pastry in her hand before taking a bite. The sweetness melted over her tongue, and despite herself, her shoulders relaxed.

She continued eating, but Vell studied her closely. There was something restless about the way she held herself, the way she chewed slowly, lost in thought.

"You're worried about something," he observed.

She glanced up. "No, I just…" She hesitated, then let out a small sigh. "This is… a lot."

Sonder tilted her head. "The reading?"

"The reading. The training. The time. It's strange knowing how much time has passed here versus outside… and how much more is ahead of us." She looked between them. "Do you ever feel…lost in it?"

Vell and Sonder exchanged glances.

Sonder spoke first. "Sometimes."

Vell folded his arms. "I don't think about it too much. I set a goal; I focus on it. One thing at a time." He gestured to the books stacked on the table. "With each new moment, your knowledge will grow, and stronger you'll be by the time you go. Something like that. I've never been good at poetry."

The green witch nodded, but the hesitation in her eyes didn't completely fade.

"I just hope it'll be enough," she thought.

Outside the kitchen, the others were still studying, time slipping by in ways none of them could fully grasp.

When the green witch finally left, Vell leaned back in his chair, rubbing his hands together as a thought took shape in his mind.

Nothing too important. Just something small—something that could be helpful. And sweet at the same time.

"Sonder," he said, turning toward her. "Do you remember when I gave you condensed mana in a small ball form?"

Sonder looked up at him. "I do. What about it?"

Vell's smirk deepened. "Do you think I could make sweets out of them?"