Chapter Text
The Fount of Knowledge always knew what went on in his tower.
The Tower of Truth was created by the sage. A domain controlled by him and him alone. A pocket dimension of twisting stairways, winding hallways, and libraries practically every other room.
The tower never changed much. The sage never had a reason to alter the layout. Nobody ever stayed. Not for very long, at least. But he always knew what happened inside these magical walls.
It's how he knew he had a visitor.
Light shone through the many windows as he walked down the entrance of his domain. The sun coming through the glass was warm despite the storm raging outside. His footsteps echoed down the long, pristine hall, measured and intentional.
He didn't know who was visiting. He could check, of course, but there's no fun in that. It could be a traveler seeking shelter from the storm, a scholar seeking his counsel, or just a Cookie from the nearby town dropping by to check in on him.
Those Cookies were always so kind. They gave him food even though he had no need for it. They made sure he was doing well despite the fact that he's far older than any of them. He'll have to thank them properly sometime.
But right now, he needs to greet his guest.
The doors to the grand entrance hall swing open before him and it's....
Empty. The entrance hall is empty.
Strange. He could've sworn there was someone here. There's still someone here. They haven't gone deeper into the tower. He'd know if they'd gotten lost.
He tilts his head thoughtfully. If this individual entered the tower with malicious intent, he'd know. But whoever is here seems to be hiding. Why?
He scans the room and– ah! There they are, quietly tucked behind a pillar by the exit.
He approaches slowly making sure his presence is known. He'd rather not give the poor Cookie a scare!
What he sees is honestly a bit shocking.
There's a child. Quite a young one, at that. Poor thing looks like he's barely old enough to speak. And he's soaking wet.
The Fount of Knowledge clears his throat and the kid whips around to look at him, nearly falling over in the process.
"Hello there, child. Are you lost."
The kid stares at him for a long moment before shaking his head no.
"Are you hiding from the big scary storm?"
The kid nods, the almost white pastel blue of his fluffy icing hair bouncing with the action despite being weighed down by water. The sage's heart melts.
He goes closer, kneeling on the floor. His staff vanishes in a poof of sparkles and the kid stares, wide-eyed. Blueberry Milk holds out his arms.
"Come here. Let's get you all warm and dry."
After a moment of hesitation, the kid runs into his arms. Blueberry Milk wastes no time in wrapping his loose fabrics around the shivering boy, making sure he's comfortable before standing.
"Tell me. What is your name?" he inquires as he makes his way deeper into the tower.
"Wh... White..." He's patient, giving the kid time to put the words together. "Sapph... Fire. White Sapphire."
"White Sapphire," he parrots back. "what a lovely name!"
The kid, White Sapphire Cookie, just clings to his clothes harder. He looks at their surroundings with awe and wonder.
The sage chuckles. Everyone reacts the same way when they see his abode for the first time. It's something that never gets old.
White Sapphire points at the windows lining the hallway. "No storm!"
"You're right! They don't show the storm outside. Unless I want them to, of course."
"Whoa...."
Yeah this kid is going to be really hard to say bye to when his parents come looking. Speaking of....
"Where are your parents?"
The sage winces. He didn't mean to be so blunt. He really needs to work on his people skills.
The kid just rests his head on the sage's chest, though, staying quiet for a long moment. When he speaks, it isn't through tears.
"Don't have."
Ah. Well that certainly explains things.
"Well... you're safe here."
The kid hums as the sage gently pats his head. His hair is soft to the touch. He can feel the child getting sleepy. He can feel himself getting attached.
The Fount of Knowledge continues his trek through the tower, just holding the child close. The sound of his footsteps and the soft breathing from the toddler in his arms is accompanied by distant sounds of the large structure rearranging. Wood groans and snaps as it's pulled apart and put together again like dough. Stairs flow like water as they wind and twist to reach new places. Stones grind against each other as hallways stretch and rooms slide past one another. Tile clicks as it settles into place.
He ascends the final set of stairs before he reaches his destination. A part of the tower considered so private not a single other living soul has been there.
The corridor is long. Illuminated by false sun streaming in through the windows, the hall contains only two doors.
The first is an old wooden door, carved and crafted beautifully. It's the only remaining piece of the humble house this tower used to be.
He walks right past it.
The second door is much newer. He can smell the fresh roll cake wood that'd been used to make it. The door is incredibly simple and very likely to change as the sage learns more about the personality of the small child he's taken in.
He pushes it open with his shoulder. It gives easily.
Behind the door is a bedroom fit for a little kid. A small bed, a box full of toys, plenty of fun and whimsical decor. He snaps his fingers as he sits down on the small bed before using the towel that appears to remove as much water from White Sapphire's hair as he can.
The kid wakes up, flailing his arms and legs when his hair is suddenly attacked by the soft fabric.
"Hold still so I can dry your hair!!"
"NO!"
The sage sighs, hands on his hips as he admires his handiwork. The kid is finally dry, though his hair is a mess now from all the fighting. He's wearing new clothes too. The sage let the kid pick out the dark blue star pajamas himself.
White Sapphire points on his bed. The Fount of Knowledge summons a brush and sits beside him.
"Let me brush your hair, please. Then you can take a nap."
White Sapphire continues to pout.
"I'll be gentle."
"... Fine."
The sage runs his fingers through soft curls. White Sapphire looks ready to fall asleep.
He tucks the kid in, pressing a kiss to his head before he stands to leave. He doesn't get the chance to go very far before a small hand catches his robes.
"Stay..."
The Fount of Knowledge sighs. He doesn't have anything important to do at the moment. And he's been told that sleeping in unfamiliar places can be scary.
With a wave of his hand, a chair slides up behind him. He sits down as it appears.
"Okay. Would you like me to tell you a story?"
White Sapphire Cookie nods. Mentally, the sage goes through the list of children's books in his library. He has so many but he's never read any of them. More than once, anyway.
"Ah! How about this one." He snaps his fingers before holding out his hand. With an exaggerated poof, a book appears. The spine drops into his waiting hand and he easily flips it open, clearing his throat as he prepares to read.
It's a simple story about a warrior princess. In the tale, she journeys to rescue her wizard friend who'd been kidnapped by a dragon. In the end, they all become friends.
White Sapphire Cookie doesn't make it three pages into the story before he's fast asleep.
The Fount of Knowledge smiles softly. He closes the storybook as quietly as he can. He stands from his spot by White Sapphire's bed, making his way silently out of the room. He ensures the space is nice and dark as he leaves, the door closing with a soft click.
The sage didn't expect to suddenly be a father. He pulls it over as he makes his way to one of the many many libraries to find his books on parenting.
White Sapphire Cookie hasn't even been in the tower for two hours and he's already managed to worm his way into the sage's heart. It's impressive, really.
Stranger still is that, when he thinks about it, Blueberry Milk Cookie truly doesn't mind.