"So you're a living cookie, huh?" Harvard asked as Zazel held up the confection by its feet, letting it hang upside down, seeing it be nervous amidst the many gazes from the group.
"N-not just any Cookie! A-a-and if you don't put me down this very INSTANT, I'll-" Aww's would interrupt the snack's words, as Tsukiya would get closer, peering straight down to his very soul.
"Waaaaaow! I've never seen any type of magic like this! Is this why its so special?" She asked.
"Nooooo, it's because I can grant you wishes now that you caught me- OF COURSE ITS WHY WE'RE SPECIAL! YOU'VE BEEN POACHING US OUT SINCE THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND NOW YOU TAKE NOTICE!?"
Despite such harsh words from the cookie, he did raised a good point. No doubt that such fear and anxiety stemmed from such a new encounter. "Hold on, Hold on. What's your name first?" Zazel questioned, keeping a close eye on both it and Harvard in case the latter tries to sneak a bite.
"Flourence."
".....You mean-"
"I MEANT EXACTLY WHAT I MEANT!" Another swing around with its cane, trying to take aim and fire a potshot, but Harvard was immediate in swooping in and biting at the projectile, chewing it. He'd give a thumbs up as he'd blow a bubble, much to the annoyance of Flourence. "Whatever... If you're just going to kill me, be done with it. My people were already consumed by man, anyway. We're just nothing but a delicacy in your eyes..."
"He does have a point!" Tsukiya would comment, much to the cookie's horror.
"INSENSITIVE MUCH!?" Despite such a remark, Zazel would look through his new book on the Ars Goetia to see if there was a sigil capable of helping him calm down, the closest one being of Gamagin, a demon comprised of a swarm of moths, a singular eye on its center, and a mist-like pattern across their wings. He'd try to cast both it and Seir, letting such moths come and calm him down, before realizing that the sigil was casting an optical illusion, evident by the drops for eyes changing color to the same pattern. "...Am I seeing my deceased people...?" He'd question, bring a disturbance to the Demon, questioning why was Gamagin even a workable solution, though as he'd try to see if there was another demon to reverse such effects, he could see the snack slowly coming to terms with itself, a deep breath, a relief washing over its hardened dough of a body. In his eyes, he could see the people accept him, ensuring that such fears are valid, yet shouldn't misguide him. The moths surrounded the cookie, resting on his shoulder, head, and chest, the second going back and forth as if it was trying mimic a hand petting the poor creature. Zazel would be a bit surprised to see his reaction, but lets the insects do their thing, allowing him to be lowered and close to the box as needed.
"Any better?" The demon asked.
A nod of assurance from Flourence, as he'd try to gesture for the group to come over. "I made my peace. I'm calm now, and I'm sorry in advance for causing you so much trouble. As penance, follow me in the House. I believe it is best that you all deserve a break." He'd retort calmly, making his way back in the Gingerbread House. Skepticism was made to the others, most notably in Envy, measuring up the entrance to try and see why Flourence would even do such a thing. Such a measure would, however, let the House cast a small glow, letting it shrink down the very appendage, while also changing its matter to black licorice. "If you're worried about not fitting, do not worry. Our beloved Goddess, the Sugar Goddess, has ensured that any welcoming visitors are able to become one of us temporarily under Candartha."
Such a statement would make Harvard's eyes grow wide. "WAIT THERE'S A WHOLE KINGDOM OF CANDY THERE!?" He'd exclaim, shoving aside Envy as he peers over.
"So long as you don't eat anyone ALIVE. I'll admit that I have a huge risk in this, what with your voracious stare, but I was able to see you have some level of restraint. Just... please don't make me regret my decision." Harvard, upon hearing Flourence's words, immediately casted a spell to grab multiple people, arms out of the boy's body, as he'd toss everyone and himself inside, barreling straight through the door so they can see Candartha for themselves, all in the while Lupina would carry the box and close it, letting her and Adel guard the box with their lives during their trip. Their forms were immediately altered once inside, with Harvard, Zazel, and Solomon being Gingerbread Men and Women themselves, Envy as living bundles of Licorice, Stolas as an Animal Cracker of a Bird, and Tsukiya as a round Mochi, complete with tiny ears
Their eyes grew wide as they looked around to see the inside of the House, massive in its interior, almost as if it was Synoni all over again. Shelves upon shelves made for each layer of the house, acting as its own section: Soldiers, Medicinal, Banquets and Buffets, and even simple schools and houses to let them stay in. Quadrants with each name registered for the citizens, each one being of a different dessert entirely. Amidst the center, standing in the middle of the House, was an ivory statue, one depicting a fair Gingerbread woman in a nun's habit, two others by her side, acting as her personal angels that keep watch. "This... is Candartha! The safe haven for all sweets on all of our lives. And that... is our Goddess, the very person responsible for creating such a life."
"Does she have a name?" Zazel asked, prompting Flourence to shake his head.
"If she did, it is nigh-unspeakable. We only refer to her as 'Our Goddess' for that very specific fact." As the Snack continued to talk, Envy would notice something was off with the statue. Right next to the Goddess' feet was another pair, implying a statue was also next to her. Such a statue, however, was removed. He'd snap his fingers to catch the Man's attention and pointed it to such a broken piece. "Oh that? That used to be our God of this world, one that watches over the Goddess in case of any problems. Unfortunately, someone has tampered with it and ended up going missing as a result. Horrible timing, if you ask me. It was just as glorious as our beloved Goddess."
Something was not adding up here, and Envy's nod towards the children was a silent direction for them to investigate further on the matter. "Any idea where this 'Goddess' would be at?" He'd ask, his tone blunt as he'd look around such sugary walls.
"Top floor. Knock on her Door three times to signal your presence. No more, no less. We may need the Guard's permission first, however."