“Wonderful! I like sweets too” Cirice smiled, “I saw a very nice looking confectionary near the bakery that I meant to try later. Lets go there and get some cookies and tarts and then we can get you some nice new clothes in the market, Hylly!”

She hums happily as she walks down the steps of the temple and down the bustling streets of Sol CIty, wondering how such a small little fella like Hylltywyll would manage walking around without getting stepped on or squished by carts. His little feet look so fragile, like a birds, and it gives her flashbacks of the taloned bird feet of the harpies from her first adventure. But he doesn’t have wings and isn’t big like the harpies, he’s cute and small and fuzzy. She wonders at what kind of creature he might be, marveling that there were so many outside of her home that she’d never seen before. There’s just something about the bright button-like eyes and toothy underbite of Hyl’s that makes her want to cuddle and protect him.His little nose is the perfect size for booping too. She wonders if he’s some kind of pet. She’s seen people with all kinds of strange pets before, like Astrid’s little metal guy, Charles, and Hyl is much cuter than him. If he isn’t maybe she’d just ask him to be hers, but not a pet, a partner. A little fuzzy sidekick.

As she steps into the confectionary the smell of fresh-baked treats fills their noses with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. Rows and rows of delicious looking pastries and cakes fill a long glass display counter and a kindly old woman smiles at them from the other side.

“Hello dears, how may I help you?”

“What would you like, Hylly? I’m a fan of mooncakes myself, and creamhorns. Whats your favorite?”

Hylltywyll's eyes scanned across the display case, looking at each of the different desserts inside for one that caught his eye. He had never seen most of the confections on display now, so had no idea what a majority of them might taste like. He recognized some tarts and pastries that he had stolen from the buffet tables at the black harvest ball, and a couple of cakes he had snatched as they were being delivered to Bellighul's table, but a majority of them were a mystery. It seemed more fun to pick something he hadn't already tried before though, so he did.

"That one!" he said, pointing to a gooey looking chocolate brownie with crushed peanuts embedded in it.

“You’re not allergic to chocolate or nuts, are you? If something happened to you I’d cry.” Cirice says, looking at him worriedly. She nods to the shopkeeper and orders two of the brownies and some powdered sugar donuts as well as some creamhorns. With bag in hand she heads outside and sits on a curb, taking out a brownie and handing it to Hyl before munching on a horn. A little of the cream squishes out as she takes a bite and lands on his robe.

“Sorry! My bad…”

Hylltywyll didn't care at all as the cream added yet another stain to the stolen bathrobe. He had already irrevocably ruined the luxurious robe to the point it might even be unrecognizable in front of its former owner, Bellighul. Hylltywyll was not very good at taking care of his belongings. And it wasn't even actually his belonging.

He couldn't believe he was still being held by Cirice right now. Was she never going to put him down? At least she was sitting down now, so he was in her lap instead of dangling from her arms. But, she had placed him lying across her lap like some newborn baby! He definitely needed to escape from this crazy lady. The idea of simply asking to be put down never crossed the little gremlin's mind.

But that could wait. Right now he was eating a very yummy brownie.

“Oh try one of these too!” Gives him a brownie covered in powdered sugar once he’s finished the brownie, gently brushing the crumbs from his face with a loving motion. “What are you Hylly? I’ve never seen anyone like you. You're so small and fragile and adorable. Your fur is the color of the evening sky and your eyes like little black marbles.... Promise you’ll be my friend? I’ll take care of you and you’ll never get hurt or want for anything ever again.”

Hylltywyll took the offered brownie and started eating it, swatting Cirice's hand away and growling when she tried to wipe his face. He looked up at her in confusion as she tossed a strange mix of what seemed like they were supposed to be compliments from her tone, but a couple were a bit insulting to the little Fairy. They swallowed their mouthful of brownie and responded simply. "No." And they went back to munching on the chocolatey dessert.

“Why?” Cirice pouts. “Do you not want someone to care for you? To pamper you and love you and heal you when you’re sick or hurt? Or… Do you already have someone who does all that for you?”

Her eyes meet his and there’s genuine concern and sadness there. She wants to be friends, and if he doesn’t that will crush her feelings. She’s never met a person she couldn’t befriend. The runes on her arms flare into soft lilac light and the compulsion to be kind and gentle washes over Hyltywll¹. “You and I are friends,” her words are laced with magic², truth dripping from her words with honey. “I’ll take care of you. Just let me.”

As she holds him the magic softly washes over him again, washing away just the memory of the spell she cast upon him³.

---

1 Be Jolly- By touching your target, you place a curse on them, forcing them to be kind and gentle. This curse will last for two post and can not be removed. While cursed, if the target cast an offensive spell (one meant to deal damage or negatively effect someone) the curse will end and they will take a large amount of mental damage. If they take the damage, they can not cast any spell for the next post.

2 Smooth Talking- Your lies can no longer be discerned, allowing you to say whatever you want, no matter how wrong it is, to be taken as truth. This skill is useful for getting away with things you normally would not be able to. Friend, family and foe will think you are always telling the truth, no matter what.

3 Fade from memory the memory of her cursing him

Hylltywyll just looked back up at Cirice with confusion. Pamper and love him and heal him? Why would she want to do that for him? It seemed like a trick, but his spell kept telling him she was being honest. Why? It just didn't make any sense.

But, Hylltywyll suddenly felt... happier. It was like their mind was hazy, but it was a warm, enjoyable haze. They felt themself slipping under. Was this a spell? But, he didn't remember anyone casting a spell on him... Was there something in those brownies? He could hear Cirice speaking, but her voice was distorted slightly as if she was speaking to him underwater.

"Yeah.... friends...." he muttered in response slowly. "Okay..."

He reached up and hugged around her neck and pulled himself up into her arms affectionately. He didn't know why he felt so affectionate, but he just was. He smiled, his eyes droopy. He just wanted to let her take care of him, just like she wanted to. He didn't even realize he was fully under the effects of her curse.

Squealing with delight Cirice returns the hug gently, careful not to squish him as he asked. She gently scratches his head and hops to her feet. “Right! Now let’s get you some cute clothes!"

Her friendship goal achieved, Cirice is fired up with excitement and also sugar. She doesn’t skip to the clothing district of Sol City because it would jostle the little fairy in her arms, but she does have quite the spring to her step. Making friends is her favorite thing to do! Mother Moon said to surround herself with people she cares about and she’s doing just that. Well Mother Moon had said capable and powerful people, but everyone has their own strengths and things to bring to the table. Hyl’s friendship alone enriches her life already, bringing her such immense joy.

As they enter the shopping district she heads into a children’s clothing store, rationalizing that he’s about the size of a small child so their clothes would likely work for him. A montage of myriad materials and garments later she had a few options to replace the ratty bathrobe, her favorites being a fine black silk bowtie and a soft light blue poncho-like jacket with a hood that would keep his little ears safe and warm. None of the pants really worked with his reverse articulated knees so she gave up on that, offering him kilts and skirts if he so desired, but the hoodie itself is rather long on him, made for a larger child and hags well past his waist, giving him a cozy, comfy look. All this Cirice did with a joyful smile, happy to treat her new friend with all the love and care Zarius showed her when he found her.

“You look absolutely incredible! The most handsome little guy ever!”

Hylltywyll liked the new outfit that Cirice had picked out for him. Why would he not? It had been picked out just for him by his friend and caretaker. There was no way he could not like it. He looked at himself in the mirror, his eyes glazed over and half closed. The little bowtie was hard to immediately see against his dark fur, but the black was still at least distinguishable from the dark purple on closer inspection. The light blue poncho stood out far more than he probably would have liked if it hadn't been chosen for him by Cirice.

He did a little spin to show off his new poncho, with their arms out wide and a dazed smile on his face. He stumbled slightly as he finished his rotation, and walked back to Cirice With his arms up for her to lift him back into her arms. He didn't care at all as his stolen bathrobe was left behind, all of his snacks still in the pockets. Cirice had called those snacks gross anyways, so he didn't need them. She would give him food anyways. She would take care of him.

Cirice picks him up in her arms with a delighted smile, a fresh wave of magic^{1 & 2} washing over him like a warm blanket. She kisses the top of his head lovingly, happy as a clam.



“I love you so much Hylly. I forgot my basket back in the temple, let’s go get that and then maybe we can go get a nice room in an inn and maybe a bath! I’ll brush you and tuck you in!”



She’s careful not to squish him as she carries him in her arms lovingly heading back to the temple of the sun.

---

1 Be Jolly redux
2 Fade from memory - the cursening

Ulrich's travels had landed him in Sol City. It was always nice to visit this place. Maybe when he had time he would visit Gwendolynn and catch up on what she's been up to in his absence. For now, he looked up the steps that lead to a certain place of worship in Sol City. At the top of these steps stood the Temple of the Sun. He'd been here once before with Gwendolynn years ago, and now, he found himself here again.

As soon as he'd stepped foot onto the docks after making port, a certain breeze blew through, and he felt the need to follow it, which lead him here of all places.

The Temple of the Sun. A place of worship... What are you trying to tell me, Avasha?

He began his ascent up the steps as he pondered upon the meaning why he found himself here. Normally, he would visit Gwendolynn first thing as he arrived. There had to be something that he needed to do here, right?

Just as he was lost in thought wandering up to the temple, a breeze blew past him and he froze. He snapped out of his trance like pondering and turned to see a familiar figure waltzing up to the steps. She was holding something in her arms like a newborn child. Except it wasn't a human child, it was... something he'd never come across before. Well, at first glance, that's what it seemed. Maybe he had come across something like it before?

"Cirice, is that you?" He called to her. A warm smile of familiarity washing over his face.

Hylltywyll's eyes were glazed over as he was enchanted from her mind altering magic a second time. He hugged Cirice a little tighter as he was magically compelled to be more friendly, more happy, more easily controlled. He nodded as she listed off the plans for the rest of the day. He was happy to go along with them. Always happy.

He looked around from his place in Cirice's arms as he heard someone calling out to her. Who could that be? Another friend of Cirice's? Well, a friend of his friend was a friend of his. And he would always be friends with Cirice. Forever.

Cirice was humming Hyl an elvish lullaby from her village when she hears a familiar voice call her name. She turns, her face lighting up with joy and her heart thumping loudly in her chest as she recognizes the handsome human at the top of the stairs.

“Ulrich! Goddess knows its been months since I last saw you! How are you? How is Alvis? Where is he??” She looks around for the pirate hunter-turned enchanted dagger animatedly, hiding the soft flush to her purple cheeks. She shifts Hylltywyll in her arms, so he can see and be seen, still holding him protectively to her chest. She sees Ulrich’s eyes look to the strange fuzzy creature before he answers and she hurries to introduce the two of them. “Oh! And may I introduce you to my new friend and beloved companion. Ulrich this is Hylltywyll! Isn’t he the absolute cutest???" She nuzzles her cheek against the soft fur on his head lovingly. "I found him sneaking around here at the temple dressed in an oversized ratty bathrobe eating rotten, moldy pastries and stealing fresh food so he wouldn't go hungry. He's so small and delicate I was worried for him in this big, dangerous city all alone. So now I’ve adopted him and I’m going to make sure he’s well taken care of¹!”

---

1 Smooth Talking because she believes this is the truth wholeheartedly 

The dagger at Ulrich's side floats out of it's scabbard, shaking enthusiastically in greeting the woman in front of Ulrich.

"Cirice, Darling! It has been quite some time since we've last seen each other! I am quite well, in fact!"

Ulrich smiles warmly as Alvis makes his appearance. He was glad that people actually took kindly to his traveling companion. Not many people were comfortable with the fact that Ulrich carried around a dagger that could float and talk. Well, it's not every day that you see something like that when you're a normal citizen, anyway.

"Well, there you have it. He answered all that for you." Ulrich says shifting his attentions again to the being in Cirice's arms. "Ah, so Hylltywyll is his name? Very interesting. Yes, I've never seen anything like him." He said bringing his hand up to his chin.

So she found him in a bathrobe stealing food so that he wouldn't starve, eh? It would only make sense. You have to do something to survive.

But the fact that he was wearing a bathrobe was something that kept plaguing his mind. Maybe he was overthinking on it? Should he even ask her about the bathrobe? Well, maybe he'd ask her later. It is just a bathrobe, after all.

"Do you know how he got here in the first place, Darling?" Alvis speaks up breaking Ulrich's line of thought.

"Oh yes, I was just thinking about that as well. Did he mention how he got here at all? Does he have anybody that would be looking for him here in the city?"