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Some say the Great Master of the Ivory Pagoda isolated herself recently. Before leaving the common world, she declared seeking enlightenment, and wrapped herself in a pearly cocoon.
Some think she finally snapped after mindlessly granting wishes to anyone who came by, while others think she became greedy, keeping her ability for herself. But among all those whispers, a single muffled and trembling voice mourns in the dark.
"Why, why has she left ? Was my knowledge not enough ? My advice not useful ? My presence a bother ?"
"Enlightenment". Something a Sage could not understand. In this Spire that is his life-long prison, a concept such as "belief" cannot be, as proof leaves no room for wishful thinking.
But even though they were different, both of them understood. He knew her belief lied in the values preached by the legends ; just as she knew he could only ever trust solid evidence.
The Fount of Knowledge knew. But for once, he could not accept nor understand. And yet, he would trust her decision, as he always did. She would come back eventually. In a few days, a few months, a few.. years. Or even decades. How long would he bear it ?
Recently, the Sage has been thinking. If he is trapped to spread all his knowledge over and over to cookies who crumble in the blink of an eye, why not have some fun ? Students were even starting to look at him oddly, criticism about his honesty crawling in each dark corridor, rumours about his teachings being nothing but lies.
If cookies wanted lies, he would give them lies. The most beautiful kind, until what is false and right blend, until his Deceit becomes Truth. The Sage would take off his hat, and become the Jester, master of the Stage, weaving lies and tricks, only caring about hims- No.
This kind of thinking kept happening. A fever dream of escaping his cell of wisdom, embracing incoherence and drama.
... Maybe. Just maybe. A few whispers from one ear to another wouldn't do much. He would make sure things wouldn't escalade! After all, what is truth without lies ? This might be a wonderful lesson to his students.
It was a lonely night. A terribly lonely one. No moon, no clouds. Nothing. Just the silent cries of an abandoned lover.
She could have forgotten. But he didn't. Today was special and yet again, he would be alone to remember. He missed her, craved her, simply needed to hear her name and voice.
Scientist that he was, he still prayed to whoever was out there to bring her back. Yet the one who granted his whishes was gone, wrapped away from everything, far from where his begs would reach.
He could never reach her.
...
But..
What about...
What about other people ?
What if... Mysteriously, people came and broke her isolation ?
Then surely...
Surely...
Treasure hoarders, greedy men, poor farmers. Among the flames of desire, the Pagoda was painted red. Cries rung. Screams echoed. Weapons clashed.
In the middle of all this terrible chaos was a single priest. Dazed, thinking. Her white robes had long been tainted an ugly colour.
"Why ? What is taking place..?"
Was this a troubled vision ?
......
"Is this..."
Voices cracked as lifeless bodies crashed.
"What I cared for and nourished all these years..?"
Such ugliness... Meaningless. All of it.
Her journey to enlightenment lead her here, surrounded by disfigured corpses and crumbling walls. Nothing more than an insignificant tear was shed. Nothing had value. All was meaningless. The world is but Apathy..
Among the debris of the once splendid Pagoda, a black snake slithers by, blue eyes shimmering faintly. If you looked at it closely, you could even think it's smiling.
As if knowing the place by heart, it climbed to the top, where the Maiden was left alone, forever tainted by the cinders of meaninglessness.
Not a word, not a sound was made. Only unfocused eyes grieving, as a snake hissed in contempt.
The origins of the rumour about the Cocoon turned out to be Indeed lies, but the culprit behind it was never found. Some talk about a white haired woman who sells berries near the market down the Spire, but no one matching the description had been found.
No one. Will ever know.
Not even her.
And thus, an act came to an end.