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The Truthless Recluse, a mysterious and enigmatic cookie that resides on the Peak of Truth. Ironic, really, considering he was known to shove any cookie out of his tower if they were searching for the truth.
At least, that's what the rumors say.
So it was very much of a surprise when the Sage of Truth, a beacon of knowledge, truth, and wisdom sees a black cloaked figure off in the distance again, sticking out like a sore thumb in the back of the crowd late in the afternoon.
This wasn't their first meeting nor the second either, he has constantly been sending letters up to the peak in hopes of reaching out. Even if he never received a reply back, the Sage felt it and knew deep down that the recluse was watching in the shadows of every lecture he gave out. Although this is one of the few times he made a physical appearance.
He shook his head, his hat now became unbalanced on the top of his hair as he wiped away the current thought.
"My apologies! I must say it's getting quite late, any questions before our time here is up?" The Sage floats slightly down, taking his eyes off the figure and drifting over to the eager crowd in front of him. Quiet murmurs were emitted before the crowd slowly dispersed as they went back to whatever they were doing previously, leaving the town square in a peaceful silence.
The sound of soft ripples of water went through the scholar's ears as he took a deep breath before glancing around, only to be sadly disappointed.
It seemed as though the recluse had left as well, maybe he could possibly find him? He floats for a moment in contemplation as he adjusts his hat correctly back in place before floating off in a random direction. It hadn't been that long so maybe he was around here somewhere.
Dark black robes drifted in the wind as Truthless Recluse gripped onto his staff, quiet taps of his staff was the only thing that could be heard as he walked, taking in the stores around with disinterest. Nothing that he wanted was here so he simply had no interest in stopping as he quickened his pace.
He was ready to head back to the peak until a familiar figure appeared in his vision right above him.
"Eureka! My dear Recluse! It's great to see you at the lecture, pray tell what did you think?"
"You know my answer" The Sage sighed flipping himself mid air so he floated in front of the cloaked figure, his light blue galaxy like hair glimmered in the evening light.
"Yes, I'm quite aware... Stop teaching about the truth" he paused for a moment staring into the dull heterochromia eyes "Truth could mean many things, knowledge, enlightenment, and many others, it could also be used to see through someone's true feelings..."
The more the blue cookie spoke the closer he got to the other cookie keeping his voice hushed, closing the distance between them as they were directly in front of each other's face. Truthless stared in slight discomfort before moving his head slightly back to keep a good distance away.
"Clearly truth isn't helping you if you don't understand personal space"
"Ah! My apologies I got quite sidetracked, as I was saying befor-"
"I do not care for what you have to say, if you so wish to continue your preaching then so be it" walking past the scholar "Do not force truth to cookies who do not seek it. it is not my problem if something happens to you"
Walking off into the distance he could feel a pair of eyes staring at the back of his head as he left, most likely from the Sage staring in disbelief.
This cycle repeated, he would appear to watch the Sage lectures before quickly shuffling away back into the darkness once it ended, although at times the Sage would catch him before he left to engage in a small conversation or debate.
It was stupidly annoying, the constant appearance of the Sage made his jam boil with irritation that his peace was ruined, although the company the scholar had brought was... Interesting to say the least. He usually wouldn't be close to anyone enough that he's now currently sitting at a cafe as passerby cookies whispered as they stared at the duo.
They were completely polar opposites... How did their relationship get to this point...
It started from trying to get the Sage to stop spreading bitter truths, to him now getting invited by said Sage to a cafe for a drink.
"What did you want from me now?"
"Ah yes, straight to the point I see... Let's order something to drink before I explain" Truthless sighed, the Sage was clearly trying to milk the interaction as much as possible until someone walks up to the two.
"Hello! Sage of Truth! I wasn't expecting to see you with a guest, what would you two like to order?" Glancing at the scholar before over to the mysterious cookie as they handed them both a menu to look through.
"Hm, I'll take a room temperature green tea. Not warm or cold." Truthless Recluse slowly lowered the menu and stared in disgust at what he just heard.
"You... drink... room temperature tea..."
"It's a guilty pleasure, pay no attention to it. What about you my dear?"
"Don't ever call me that..." The disgust on his face shifted to one of disappointment before he handed the menu back to the server. " I'll have a HOT vanilla velvet black tea"
The cookie took notice of the massive side eye he gave to the Sage and chuckled nodding, as they swiftly wrote it down for a moment before hurriedly leaving to fulfill their order.
"That's quite specific, are you a fan of tea perchance?" Sage turns to him, raising an eyebrow while batting his eyes at him, having not expected the Recluse to know any types.
Truthless only shrugs at the comment as he looks away, attempting to ignore the fact about Sage's drink preference. He couldn't bear to look at the Sage the same after this meeting. It was quite frankly revolting to hear he drinks his tea like that.
"Right... Not much of a talker... Oh well! guess we'll just get to the point, I wanted to let you know that my next lecture would take place in a different place and time" The blue dough like hand rested against his cheek as he leaned against it, with his elbow on the table. "you know that old clock tower near town square? It has an area at the very top that has the best open view at night"
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Oh don't be ridiculous! Don't act like you don't come to every lecture I host, I can practically feel you watching in the shadows" pulling his hand away, his finger wagged in front of Truthless. Clearly teasing him as Truthless just glared at him. Having realized he wasn't going to get a reaction, Sage sighed placing his hand down onto the table before speaking again. "it's for a special occasion... The moon is beautiful isn't it?"
Sage of Truth's eyes softened, taking off his monocle to wipe it down with a handkerchief he pulled out of somewhere as the blond haired cookie stared at him. It really made him wonder why he persisted in trying to be his friend, there was no point if the Sage was going to be rejected and let down each time, but... At the same time it was quite alluring how he kept his pursuit.
Mentally shaking his head he brushed that thought away, it was frankly impossible the other felt the same way. Once he rejects him enough time. He'll just end up giving up, leaving him alone so he could go back to his isolation at the peak.
"Here's your drinks! sorry it took a while, one of our staff blew up the bathrooms so we had to clean that up..." His thoughts get interrupted by the waiter as he raises an eyebrow at them. While the person in front of him looked confused.
"I... No worries, Thank you?" They were both confused as they thanked the cookie hostess, seeing them swiftly scramble off to other customers.
Wanting to drink his tea in peace, it was sadly not possible when Sage turned to him clearly looking like he had more to say.
"It's tomorrow, I wanted to let you know, you'll probably enjoy it more since its at night where you can be in the shadows."
.
.
.
They sat in silence until tan fingers wrapped around the white porcelain cup holding it gently to his chest, his dough sucking up the warmth of the cup as he takes a whiff of the rich vanilla and flora scent. The dark amber of the drink reflected his face seeing his disheveled look as he blew on it, causing the liquid to ripple.
"I make no promises" Lifting the cup up to his lips, he takes a long sip. The cup covered his view of the cookie in front of him so he couldn't see his reaction.
What he doesn't see was the Sage now grinning at the Recluse before picking up his own drink to take a sip having realized he already won by that response itself.
The two drank in silence, surprisingly they were enjoying the silent company they had with each other. One of the few times Truthless Recluse enjoyed meeting with the Sage, he was not about to ruin it and have another long yapping session.
But alas once they finished their teas they later realized it had gotten really late, the professor paid for both of their drinks and the cloaked hermit faded into the darkness to begin his journey back to the peak of truth.
The day went by relatively quickly and nightfall appeared. Truthless Recluse took his time to get there by the time he had arrived. The Sage of Truth had already begun his lecture at the old clock tower as town folks gathered around, some were interested at the different meeting place while the rest listened with curious minds.
Standing at the back, once again. He could see blue and yellow slitted pupils glance over at him for a moment before smiling with glee with the acknowledgement that he came relatively on time as he continues on with his lecture.
"Now as I was saying, it may seem like you're by yourself, having no one to support you through whatever hardships you're going through. Although just like a super nova, in due time even if it takes years. You'll find a star that you'll unexpectedly collide wit-" His speech was interrupted as one loud boo from the middle of the crowd gains his attention as he turns his head to look at the cookie who made the commotion.
"Boooo!! That's corny as hell!!" Truthless Recluse glances to the middle seeing a male cookie looking visibly annoyed as Sage chuckled at the comment before responding.
"It may seem so, although, it's always the ridiculous things that make a small meaning mean so much more" They scoffed at the rebuttal, crossing their arms before muttering something to either himself or the town folks around.
"Mindless prophet..." Sage hums clearly having heard it but simply not caring enough as he ignores the remark.
Truthless kept a close eye on the cookie, it was a rare chance of seeing someone openly disagree with the Sage's statement and his views itself. Not many or at least some he's seen had the confidence to reject the truth.
The Sage of Truth turns around, facing the night sky as he lifts his staff up into the air, casting magic around making the stars and galaxy clearer. The bright colors captured everyone's attention as the soothing voice continued talking. The galaxy-like hair of the scholar glimmered with lush colors as it bounced off of him.
With everyone distracted by the light show besides the Recluse he watches as the unknown cookie begins pushing past others attempting to get to the front, he raises an eyebrow as he stepped closer to the side of the crowd to see what they were doing.
That was until he saw the cookie right behind Sage lifting their hands up like he was ready to push him off the clock tower, making him immediately sprint to the front ready to pull the unexpected blue cookie out of the way as his staff guided him.
He didn't care if he gets seen, his main priority was to get the idiot out of danger. Although sadly he knew he wasn't going to make it in time, having to result in shoving him away.
Thankfully he managed to get him out of the way in time but ... He was the one that got pushed off, having forgotten about the other cookie he dropped his staff on accident as he plummeted off the ledge.
Sage shook his head having landed on his back as his monocle laid broken on the floor, he knew he was about to get pushed and he allowed it. Although he probably should give a lecture to whoever failed, on how to push people correctly since he landed to the side instead.
"My, if you were planning on shoving me off the ledge, I'll have you know I can fly-" Opening his eyes, he paused locking his eyes onto the black flower staff on the floor and the cookie standing next to him looking genuinely horrified down below.
As he stared down he could see a black figure falling causing him to immediately jump down, letting both gravity and his ability to fly to pick up his speed to try and save him.
Truthless sees him in the distance, he may not be able to see clearly due to his poor vision but the white and gold stood out like the sun in the dark. As sage got closer he reached his hand out in a state of panic causing the Sage to do so as well.
"TRUTHLESS!!!" His voice was filled with horror as he cried out to the other.
The blond turns his head to look at the ground before looking back up again, his usual sharp gaze relaxing before quickly digging through his cloak.
"Sage! Catch!!" Throwing something up to the Sage distracts him long enough as Sage catches it in his hands, surprise was written on his face as he realized what the other threw at him.
The other half of the soul jam of knowledge...
A loud pop was heard as he glanced up.
The cloaked cookie had hit the floor. Sage slowed down his flying until he just simply floats there slightly above the floor, staring at the body, the soul jam in his hand now forgotten as it clatters onto the concrete floor.
He could feel the violent thumps of his heart, he's not sure if it was coming from his soul jam or him specifically. He's never felt any of this before, his vision began to blur. There's no way he could've just died like this, they were immortal. They aren't normal cookies.
Clearly in denial he floats down, his black heeled shoes touching the ground now as he crouches down to the Recluse.
"No... No, no no no" attempting to lift the other up gently he could see no movement whatsoever, making all the more that this was the reality he wanted to avoid. Although a quiet voice grumbles out slowly in pain.
"You foolish sage... This wouldn't have happened... if you didn't keep preaching about the truth..."
"i knew it was going to happen! You know I can fly, why did you push me out of the way!?!" Shouting out that last part he became scared as he looked at the other closer. "no... Your bleeding out... I need to heal you!"
He noticed how Truthless Recluse wasn't attempting to heal himself, it might be because he's out of magic. Which only rooted a sense of nervousness as he now realized he never actually learned proper healing magic besides the bare minimum to heal simple wounds.
How could he, The fount of knowledge, Sage of Truth, and a teacher at the blueberry academy not learn about everything especially not asking the recluse for healing lessons no less because he's just that good.
Pulling his hand out from under the mess of his cape he places his right hand over the others chest letting healing magic to flow through smoothly to keep him stable. Although after a while, the tan hand reaches up and grips the hand forcing him to stop.
"Enough... You are only prolonging my suffering by doing this" Sage glances over to Truthless wide eyed with sadness.
"You'll survive! I-i just need more time..." Stuttering he falters trying to heal once again but his hand gets batted away
"Accept the bitter truth... Hypocrite..." Coughing up a red liquid, most likely jam. He spoke tiredly.
"Stop saying that like you're going to die! I'll-" Slapping a hand over the blue mouth he interrupts him having heard enough and not wanting to hear more.
"If this is the truth you cannot accept, then what purpose do you serve if you don't believe the harsh reality!" Sage was silent for the first time having not sure what to say. It seemed they were always pushing each other through their doubts, yet here Truthless was. Dying on the floor in his hands, as he slowly watches his life fade from his eyes.
"That was what I liked about you... But it seems I was wrong..." The previous energy he had was completely drained as he stared up at the other lovingly, taking in the blueberry smell the other had. "you meant everything to me, even if I don't understand it fully... Goodbye Sage of Truth... Until... we meet again..."
Closing his eyes he could feel him going limp as the Sage's eyes began to start watering.
"NO! TRUTHLESS!" He shakes him attempting to get him to open his eyes once more until he stops realizing there was no point.
"I-i... I'm so sorry... I love you so much... My Recluse..." Choking on his words, No reply came back, he knew his words would go down the drain the moment the other shut their eyes. He weeped, clutching the figure close to his chest as tears slid down his face as he snapped his eyes shut.
He didn't know what to feel, the fleeting image he saw of Truthless was the panic he saw in his eyes reaching out to him until accepting that his fate was inevitable, yet he was too slow to reach him.
The soul jam left forgotten on the floor dimmed as it's now realizing the user was gone. Leaving an aching pain to the other holder who's currently sobbing.
The cookies up top stared down in horror at what they witnessed as quiet sobs down below were the only thing that could be heard.
