Chapter Text
The tredge to the heart of the forest resting near the peak of truth was...exhausting, to say the least.
"By...the oven...this forest is TOO LARGE!!!" The sage shouted to no one. Well, aside from the wild life watching him from the shadows.
His outfit must have looked positively filthy by now. The mud in the forest was far too deep and thick, and it took an embarrassing amount of time to free himself.
He collapsed on the grass when he finally escaped, and just let out a resigned sigh.
"Ugh...someboedy kill me......nevermind. I've come this far, I can't give up now!!" Gaining a sudden burst of energy, he hopped up from the ground and held his staff out in front of him. "Alright, I just need to recite the spell in my head, not too hard"
He shut his eyes, putting all his concentration on the healing spell. He didn't really know how this would catch the attention of the Recluse's minion, but everything revolving around the Recluse seemed odd anyway.
When he squinted one eye open, he saw as light blue runes formed on the ground, surrounding him in a brilliant blue light. He was caught off guard when the light flickered, fading to a dark blue as he finished the spell.
The light engulfed him without even a moment for him to let out a yelp.
He gasped as he grapsed the edge of an unfamiliar...floating island. Wasn't that a healing spell? Perhaps he used the wrong one?? He struggled to pull himself on the harsh grass and released a sigh of relief when he was no longer in immediate danger of falling.
"Where...am I?" The sage asked to himself, the colours blurring as his eyes adjusted to the new surroundings.
"You...actually did it?" A gentle voice rang through the cold air, sending a horrid chill up the sage's spine. His eyes, finally getting used to the different area, scanned his surroundings, but he is left unable to find the owner of the voice.
"We must hurry to the castle! The Recluse's patience runs thin!" The voice spoke again, this time showing themselves to the sage. It was a young girl, a dark red hoodie covering her face and a large, crumbling lolipop held tightly in her hands.
Not even being given a moment to respond, the cookie pulled him to his feet, took his hand, and led him through the dark city.
"Wait! At least tell me who you are?!" The sage exclaimed as he readjusted his monocle, forgetting about his staff laying in the dark grass.
"I am Strawberry Cookie, Master Recluse's humble...uh, servant. I think" "You think?" She doesn't offer him any more words, opting to tug on his hand tighter and increasing her pace.
Looking around, the city looks almost out of a nightmare. And yet, it still looks...cozy, he supposed. And there were a large amount of cookies roaming around, reasonably happy and calm. Until their sight landed on the sage, though. They all quietened down and began moving around quicker.
"Excuse me....!.......please step aside....!.......I have a very important cookie with me.....!......This is the Recluse's guest....!...." And more was mumbled by the ever small and strong Strawberry Cookie as they pushed through the crowded streets. The sage too let out apologies as he accidentally bumped into the inhabitants of the city, who simply gave him an oddly...understanding? Look.
Not noticing Strawberry had stopped, the sage had rather unpleasantly walked into a large, closed gate. "Ow..."
"Who are you?" A harsh voice asked from above.
The sage looked up, only to meet the sharp glare of young woman. She sat atop one of the pillars near the gate, wrapped in dark clothing and bandages. Her black hair was tied into a ponytail and one eye was covered.
Nestled in her neck sat a crow, peering down at him judgementally.
"Ah, I am Blueberry Milk Cookie, otherwise known as Sage of Truth. You can just call me sage!" Blueberry Milk introduced himself kindly, not failing to notice the grip on his hand tightening.
"State your business at the castle. Or I will cut you down where you stand!" If the saying 'if looks could kill' were true, than the sage woukd be lying on the sugar brick ground, jam spilling from his body, and-
"Black Raisin Cookie! Please stand down, this is the Recluse's guest!" Strawberry pleaded next to him.
Black Raisin as she was called, visably calmed down and her gaze soften upon landing on Strawberry. Her crow then burried itself further in her neck and dozed off.
"Is that so? It must be if you are with him. Alright, patience please"
Black Raisin flipped off the pillar, landing on the opposite side of the gate. She pulled down on the golden lever on the wall, cursing under her breath as the damned thing refused to budge.
"Come on you hunk of junk!" She said in a hushed tone.
Finally the gate opened and she let out a heavy sigh of relief. "Right, go on through"
Strawberry Cookie wasted no time in dragging Bluberry Milk through the golden gates, paying her gratitude Black Raisin Cookie along the way.
In front of them, stood a large, pristine white and gold castle. This was where the Recluse resided? It looked, magnificent!
Bkuberry Milk yelped when he felt something crawl up his leg, kicking the air to try and get it off. It was some sort of goopy tendril with something on it-
"Ew, ew EW!! An eye! AN EYE!!" The sage shrieked as he tried to pry it off himself.
"Oi! Knock it off! That's the master's guest I'll have you know!" Initially, the sage thought she was yelling at him, but it appeared that was not the case. The eye widened as the tendril quickly released him and sunk back into the castle, which now noticed was covered in this gunk at the bottom.
"What...the hell...WAS THAT?!" The sage exclaimed he wiped the goop off his leg. "Recluse made those to keep us safe if we ever needed to go inside the castle, but he also gave them sentience. It thought you were an intruder" "Oh..."
This piqued Blueberry Milk's curiousity. What a fascinating spell! Oh how the Recluse simply trapped his mind in the desperate need to learn about him!
"...What?" Strawberry murmed. Oops. It seems he said that out loud. "Okay than...bit obsessive?" "No, no! Not at all! My mistake" The sage nervously apologused to the two as he was led inside the castle.
It was, significantly darker and larger on the inside. Amazing!
"Welcome to the Recluse's home! The Castle of Dishonesty and Denial!" An unknown voice bellowed.
Strawberry Cookie promptly released his hand and ran off into the shadows. "If you want knowledge, you will have to earn it!"
"What- GAH!"
He was falling through the floor. Eye stared mockingly at him, laughing echoing in his head.
"Let your test, begin" A figure sat on a throne, a magic window showuing the sage's struggle. A cruel smile playing their lips.
"I await to see how you go, my dear sage"