Chapter Text
Only the sound of a quill writing on paper and a grandfather clock ticking ever so slightly, could be heard. A starry haired virtue had been sitting at his desk for a few long hours now, he had be so focused and invested in his work that he completely lost track of time. The Fount of Knowledge dropped his quill onto the paper, his eyes wandering off to his hands and his office. Looking around, as if to take a 'break' that never existed.
‘ my eyes hurt so much.. ’
The Fount thought, trying to grasp hold of how long it been since he started working, three? maybe six hours? He didn't know, he was so caught up in finishing his duties and time went by so fast.
‘ maybe I need a break..? Did I ever even take one? I don't even remember.. this paperwork is driving me crazy.. ’
The blue cookie asked himself, could he even consider himself as a cookie? He was a virtue! Of course he wasn't just a regular cookie...right? He didn't know.. Maybe he could ask The Witches for an answer? Surely they'll give them one. Fount sat up from his desk, cleaning up the paperwork and putting them all in one place to make sure his office was tidy.
The virtue walked out the room, making sure to lock the door with his trusty key and then started walking down the hallway of his spire, The Spire of Knowledge. He didn't know why but the ideology of keys and locks made his eyes shine with curiosity. The way a simple item as a key could unlock something so deep, so secretive and shine a light to that darkness that was locked away. It was truly wonderful! A simple little key, could open up so many things!
Which was kind of ironic, his whole spire and his design, created by The Witches, was all based off of keys and locks. He didn't understand why exactly but it made him even more determined to figure it out. Maybe he could ask the The Witches about that too. There was nothing The Witches didn't know! Fount of Knowledge was sure that his holy creators would answer him, they always did!
The Virtue of Knowledge didn't even realize that he was already at his kitchen, he was pulled out from his thoughts by one of his servants, a bunny who had a key and starry theme, just like their master. The bunny was pulling on Fount's long black robes to gather his attention, pointing to the food on the table, that was already well cold.
“ oh! Elikus, why are you pestering me? ”
Fount then look over at the long dinner table, full of, untouched and cold food. He had forgotten he made a whole feast made for himself and his dear friends, they hadn't come over at all.. not even today. It was the fifth time this month that they didn't show up.. He always sent them invitation letters as well.. there was no possibility that they always 'lost it' or 'forgot it'.. It happened too many times to be called an accident.. it was on purpose and Fount knew.. he just didn't want to accept it.
“ I'm sure.. they are just busy.. worry not Elikus! They'll come by next time.. ”
The starry haired virtue calmly said to the bunny, his voice soft and gentle. Grabbing the bunny's head and with a kind, slightly trembling hand, patting the cute animal. The way his body shivered was an immediate sign of his exhaustion and overworking tendencies. The bunny stared at Fount, as if trying to tell the blue virtue something but.. couldn't. The bunny couldn't speak, it wasn't made like that.. or at least it couldn't speak the language that the cookies knew, it was just 'gibberish' or more so 'bunny language' is what the young cookies called it.
Elikus didn't seem pleased with its master's answer, but didn't dwell on it longer and started pushing Fount towards his chambers, trying to get the virtue his well needed, and deserved, rest. Fount didn't fight back, the aching in his bones, all over his body, was already a proof enough of his damage. He was just running on his knowledge, quite literally. He hadn't eaten, drank, slept in the past two days.. only now he had noticed how extremely tired he was.
The bunny servant, tucked in his master on the bed and slightly pat Fount's head as if to say 'now rest! You need it master'. The virtue softly smiled at the bunny's sweet gestures and nodded in response, he couldn't bring himself to speak much now. And so Elikus left and close the door as it left, and Fount was left alone.. again. He hadn't realized but.. he was pretty lonely. Sure the other virtues were there when they all gathered for a meet up or a nice hang out but.. that stopped happening years ago. Everycookie was just so busy now, it was obvious of course.. Everyone had their own people, places, land to care and attend to.. They couldn't spend their time 'fooling around' with one another and 'hanging out' or at least that's what The Witches told him, when he asked if there was a away to meet up with his dear friends once more.
The Fount of Knowledge, let out a deep sigh as he closed his eyes and rolled onto his side, his gaze finally breaking the intense eye contact he had with the ceiling while he was zoned out. He had trouble sleeping but.. he still tried at least or well when his servants forced him to rest, just like now. The virtue let himself be overtaken by sleep and finally let his mind rest. Falling unconsciously asleep in seconds.
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In the morning, it was the same routine Fount of Knowledge went trough ever since he was made into existence. Wake up, continue paperwork, teach about knowledge, answer questions, tell knowledge, finish with the young cookies, more paperwork, go to The Witches if they were there, go back, sleep or continue with work. It was all the same, The virtue didn't mind much.. those were his duties! He wouldn't dare disobey his godly creators.
Hours had passed again and Fount realized it was finally time to head over and see if The Witches were there, he had so many questions to ask about. And to figure out why he felt like..this. He walked over, his steps hurryingly so, as if he was waiting for just this moment in particular. When the blue cookie had come in contact with The Witches again, he was undoubtedly excited about it. It had been a while since he talked with them.
“ oh my dear Witch! I've got a couple questions I didn't seem to find answers to, could you please answer them? ”
The young virtue asked, his hands interlocking with one another nervously so as he awaited for The Witch's answer. The Witch, specifically the one who had made Fount of Knowledge, looked down at her creation and gave a smirk to the little cookie, before answering.
“ why of course, my dear Fount of Knowledge. What do you wish to know? ”
“ why is my whole being based off on the ideology of keys and locks? Is there maybe a specific reason or not? ”
The Witch's smirk never falters, still staying on her face, she waves her hand around while explaining. Putting more energy on her appearance on the outside rather than on there words she was saying.
“ Well you see, my dear sweet young virtue, you were simply made that way! Knowledge is supposed to be earned, not given out normally. Exactly why, you my sweet daughter, are so special to me!! As well as the other virtues. ”
Fount's whole body slightly shivered at the word 'daughter'.. it felt almost foreign to him.. Though he shook his head, trying to snap out of his thoughts and looked back at his creator. Looking for the next question to ask.
“ Is there a chance that the other virtues and I can spend time since again? If not now.. then in the future? ”
The starry haired cookie asked, his eyes displaying a some kind of hope for a good and honest answer. News that he could happily walk back to his spire with but The Witch, had a slightly trouble look on her face.
“ unfortunately.. no I don't think so. But worry not my daughter, you're duties are to finish your work like a good girl! No need to spend time with them, just listen to us and everything will be fine. ”
Fount's creator answer out to the little cookie, there was no actual sadness or pity in her voice for her creation. He needed to do his duties, not worry about meeting his 'friends'. Fount was pretty saddened by her response and so.. he looked up at her, with a downed look.
“ I don't.. like being called a girl or having the other cookies use feminine terms on me.. is that normal? ”
The Witch just stared at the little cookie, her smile faltering and turned into an annoyed hum. She answered out in a flat and cruel tone.
“ Nonsense. You are spouting utter nonsense, Fount of Knowledge. You are a girl. I designed and made you with female genitals, just like how I wanted. What makes you think that you can just reject the way I made you? The hours I put into making you? Are you saying you are defying the way I raised you? ”
Her tone was harsh, cruel, mean even. She felt attacked by what her sweet creation told her. This wasn't the way she wanted Fount to think! That was not something his thoughts were supposed to be occupied with. The Witch was mad, undoubtedly so, she just glared down at the cookie.
“ ...I..I..Understand.. ”
Fount mumbled out as he hurried back and ran back to his spire, there were tears glistening in his eyes. He couldn't keep in at all, why was it so wrong of him to think that? He didn't feel like a girl, sure he had female body parts but.. it didn't feel like him. It didn't feel like that was who he really was. He sat in his garden, confused, conflict about everything. Why was what he felt so bad? So.. wrong? For what reason? He didn't understand..
The virtue cried and sobbed his eyes out, until they were blurry, until his eyes hurt from all the tears he was letting spill. So many Milkcrown flowers appeared and started blooming, the whole garden was filled with them. It was a spot Fount found some kind of comfort in.. at least to some degree. It was a place where he could let out his emotions without anyone seeing. After a while, his sobbing dimmed down, he looked around making sure no one was there. After being certain, he sat up and walked in to his spire in a calm manner, not daring to look at any of his servants in the eye...
Fount walked over to his room, not bothering to continue his work.. for once. Laying down on his bed, wrapping the fluffy blanket over himself and burying his head into the pillow. He didn't know what to think anymore.. why was it so wrong to think like that?? He didn't feel like a girl, he didn't think like a girl, he didn't behave like a girl. So why did he feel this way? Was he.. broken? Was something wrong with him? Why did his creator react that way? What was wrong with what he thought.. what he experienced.. what he felt?
Maybe.. Fount was destined to crumble as The Witch's daughter.. That's the only thing he was.. A daughter. A virtue. A Fountain of Knowledge. Their creation, left to carry the burdens of their work, the work other cookies couldn't do. He was just.. that. Something to fulfill duties that were given to him. Nothing else. Not a cookie. Just a virtue. A thing to do work that The Witches gave him. Nothing more. Nothing less.
And so, the young virtue let himself fall asleep, once more. Letting his mind rest after such a eventful day, he'll figure out what was wrong with him tomorrow and continue his work. He didn't want to disappoint The godly creators again, he'll be obedient and do what he was told to. What he was made for.