The Library Of Forbidden Snacks
The Library of Forbidden Snacks was exactly what it sounded like: a labyrinth of towering shelves filled with ancient pastries, cursed candies, and sentient desserts that whispered sweet nothings as the trio walked by. The air smelled like sugar and danger, and the floor was sticky with what Alden hoped was caramel.
"This place is a dream," Alden said, eyeing a floating éclair. "If I die here, bury me in a cake."
Kael swatted a jellybean that tried to bite his hand. "Focus. The eighth shard is here. And so are… whatever these things are."
Elara poked a cupcake with a face. It giggled. "I think they're guardians. Or maybe just aggressive desserts."
Alden snatched a donut from a shelf. "Guardians. This is the best day of my life."
The donut screamed.
---
The library's rules were simple: don't touch the snacks. Unfortunately, Alden had the self-control of a raccoon in a candy store.
"Alden, no," Elara hissed as he reached for a croissant.
"Alden, yes," he said, taking a bite.
The croissant shrieked, and the shelves began to tremble.
"What did you do?" Kael demanded.
"I was hungry!"
The croissant's scream summoned a swarm of angry macarons, their pastel shells glowing with menace.
"Run!" Elara yelled, dragging Alden by the collar.
---
They ducked into a section labeled Ancient Breads and Cursed Crusts, where a sourdough loaf the size of a boulder blocked their path.
"This is the worst bakery ever," Alden muttered.
Kael summoned his silver light, but the bread absorbed it, growing larger.
"Stop feeding it!" Elara said, pulling out a vial of herbs. "We need to outsmart it."
Alden grinned. "I've got this."
He pulled a bag of salt from his pack and tossed it at the bread. The loaf hissed and shriveled, leaving a clear path.
"How did you know that would work?" Elara asked.
"Lucky guess."
---
As they caught their breath, Elara turned to Alden. "So… Veyra. What's the deal with you two?"
Alden froze, a cookie halfway to his mouth. "What about her?"
"You have history. And not the fun kind."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "I'm curious too. What did you do to make her hate you so much?"
Alden sighed, dropping the cookie. "It's a long story."
"We've got time," Elara said, gesturing to the calm (for now) library.
---
"Veyra and I grew up in the same village. She was… different. Strong, fearless, always pushing me to be better. We were partners—in crime, in adventure, in everything. But then I messed up—big time.
There was a raid on our village. Shadow creatures attacked, and I… I froze. Veyra fought them off, but not before they destroyed half the village. She blamed me for not helping. She called me a coward. And she wasn't wrong."
"I ran," he admitted. "Left her to clean up the mess. She's hated me ever since."
Kael crossed his arms. "And now?"
"Now I'm trying to make up for it. But some things… you can't fix."
---
The moment was interrupted by a booming voice. "THIEVES! YOU DARE STEAL FROM THE LIBRARY?"
A towering figure emerged from the shelves—a baker goddess wielding a rolling pin the size of a tree trunk. Her apron was stained with frosting, and her eyes burned with righteous fury.
"Uh-oh," Alden said.
"You think?" Kael snapped.
Elara stepped forward. "We're not thieves! We're here for the shard."
"THE SHARD IS MINE," the goddess roared. "AND SO IS YOUR PUNISHMENT!"
---
The battle was chaos. The goddess hurled pies that exploded on impact, while Alden retaliated with a bag of flour that blinded her temporarily. Kael used his silver light to shield them, but the constant barrage of pastries was wearing him down.
"We need a plan!" Elara shouted, dodging a flying baguette.
"I've got one!" Alden said, pulling a jar of honey from his pack.
"How is honey going to help?"
"Just trust me!"
He lobbed the jar at the goddess's feet, creating a sticky puddle. She slipped, landing face-first in a pile of whipped cream.
"Now!" Alden yelled.
Kael and Elara charged, disarming the goddess and grabbing the shard from her apron pocket.
---
As they fled the library, the goddess's screams echoed behind them.
"That was… surprisingly effective," Kael admitted.
Alden grinned. "Told you I had a plan."
Elara shook her head, smiling. "You're impossible."
---
That night, camped under the stars, Alden "accidentally" spilled honey on Kael's cloak.
"Oops," he said, snapping a sketch of Kael's annoyed face.
Elara laughed, leaning against Kael's shoulder. "You're stuck with us, you know."
Kael sighed, but there was a hint of a smile. "Unfortunately."
---