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Black Sapphire Cookie was left on the streets when both of his parents died in an accident. His dough was still moldable; nine years old. Though, he lived in the domain ruled by the Fount of Knowledge. In the Fount’s domain, it wasn’t hard to get back on your feet, but nobody had use for a nine year old boy.
That was, until, the Fount himself was striding through his kingdom amongst his subjects. He was swamped by grateful cookies and young ones in awe. One of them happened to be Black Sapphire Cookie, and Black Sapphire couldn’t keep his eyes off of him.
The Fount! It is truly the Fount of Knowledge! Black Sapphire knew that the Fount liked to stroll through his kingdom and take pride in his people but this was the first time he had seen him himself. What a wondrous sight! What a wondrous cookie!
Today must’ve been his lucky day because the Fount locked eyes with him.
“My, my. And who might you be?” The Fount of Knowledge turned to Black Sapphire cookie and knelt down to him. At first, Black Sapphire didn’t think the Fount was talking to him. Why would he? He was just a peasant boy. But when the Fount gestured to Black Sapphire and urged him to respond, he muttered and stumbled over his words.
“Oh!—uhm…Black Sapphire Cookie…Sir! Sir…” Black Sapphire hastily added “Sir” to the end of his sentence. Imagine if he was impolite to the Fount on his first impression! How rude!
The Fount’s hard gaze burned into him and Black Sapphire fought every urge not to turn away and run. “Mmm…Black Sapphire Cookie? What a lovely name! I don’t think I’ve seen you around before. How old are you?”
“Nine…Ten nnext winter.” He chewed his lip and fidgeted with his hands. The Fount smiled.
“Are you here alone Black Sapphire?” Almost every child had a parent accompanying them, or another friend.
Someone answered for him before he could. “His parents were in an accident. He’s been alone for months.” Black Sapphire didn’t recognize this cookie. There were murmurs of validations throughout the crowd.
“And nobody thought to tell me?” Anger flashed across the Fount’s face at the crowd before turning back to Black Sapphire, anger gone “Well, you look like a brilliant young man. How would you feel about attending the Academy?”
More murmurs came from the crowd. Cookies were shocked that the Fount of Knowledge would offer something so grand to just a boy.
Black Sapphire would’ve been stupid to decline.
Instead of being put with the classes for cookies his age, he was immediately put in the most advanced class the Fount of Knowledge taught “I can tell you’re a brilliant young man, Black Sapphire Cookie,” the Fount had said “You’ll have no trouble catching up with the rest of my students.” And the Fount was right. Black Sapphire caught up fairly quickly to the other few select students, with the help of the Fount himself, of course. Since Black Sapphire was the youngest pupil in the Academy who didn’t have housing, the Fount gave him a private room in the Academy, away from dorms that other students would stay in. The Fount of Knowledge deemed them too “adult” for a cookie whose dough still needed baking. Black Sapphire Cookie wanted to argue otherwise, but he listened. He was the Virtue of knowledge afterall; he’d know best.
Despite the class being the most advanced, it all came to Black Sapphire with ease. It wasn’t hard maths, but more a class about pursuing knowledge. Pursuing the truth.
Sometimes, though, he’d have to stay up late in the Academy’s library, flipping through pages and pages of books with words he could barely understand. He’d have to reread the same sentence over and over again before he finally understood, being forced to go back a page because he didn’t register what had happened in the past few paragraphs.
It was one of those nights. Black Sapphire’s eyes hurt from straining them as he read from just candlelight. His mother would’ve scolded him for such carelessness, but she wasn’t here, was she? He was fine to strain his eyes as much as he liked; even if a tinge of sadness poked at his heart.
He heard the doors of the library open and he didn’t glance. The doors should’ve been locked but he wasn’t worried about it. The Fount had given him a key for certain nights when he needed to catch up on work or just needed a refresher.
Stifling a yawn, Black Sapphire Cookie turned a page. He realized his candle was burning low, and when he looked up he saw the Fount of Knowledge standing across the table.
“I knew you’d be here,” the Fount of Knowledge said. Of course he knew. He always knew.
“I was revisiting the theories of the self,” Black Sapphire Cookie explained. He tried to fight that fear of seeing the Fount, it was impractical.
“Well, it’s too dark out now. You should go to bed, young man.”
Black Sapphire wanted to argue. He knew that he should be asleep, and he knew that the Fount would suggest it, but he didn’t want to. He was deep in his research. He still had more books he wanted to riffle through for an expansion on these theories, and he’d already read three.
“I will…go to bed after this segment,” he offered.
The Fount raised an eyebrow incredulously after a quick glance at the page he was at “I’ve read that book hundreds of times, young man. I know that segment of the book is almost neverending. At that rate, you’ll be up with the sun.” He placed a hand on the boy's back “They’ll be here tomorrow,” he added with a soft voice.
The Fount had a point. The books would be there tomorrow. They always have been, except for the time someone checked out a riveting novel Black Sapphire Cookie was reading a few months ago, and he was upset about it for days until when he walked in one the day the librarian handed it to him wordlessly.
Hesitantly, Black Sapphire Cookie memorized what page he was on—427—and shut the book.
The Fount of Knowledge smiled at him “Good. Come now, we will put these away for later and I will walk you to your room.”
And so, they put the books away in their respective spots, organized by name and genre, and the Fount walked Black Sapphire to his room. Black Sapphire Cookie flopped onto his bed and didn’t remember much after that, as he fell asleep immediately out of exhaustion.
That was four years ago, when he was thirteen. He still has those moments where he’s staying up late, cramming for an exam the next morning about “The meaning of life” or rushing to finish an essay about all he’s learned about knowledge and the truth, but they were far and few between. He always stayed at the top of his class, and he earned it, though his fellow peers said that the only reason he was actually doing so well in that class was because he was so close with the Fount of Knowledge, which was only half true. He was getting extra help when he was younger because everyone else in that class was a few decades older than him. That was all.
Speaking of the Fount, the Fount of knowledge had called for Black Sapphire Cookie to be sent to his office. Black Sapphire always got anxious about these, but rationally he knew it was just wellness checks, or a favor.
He held a fist up to the door, prepared to knock but the Fount said “Come in” before he had a chance to. And so, he cracked the door open before letting himself in.
The Fount of Knowledge sat at his desk. It was a simple wooden desk but the engravings on it were done masterfully. Black Sapphire couldn’t help but gaze at it in awe, even if it was just a piece of fancy wood. The light from the large and elaborate circular window made the wood shine too, only making it look better. Papers were stacked not only on the desk but also on the floor. He wondered if whenever the Fount opened the window, they flew away if there was a strong breeze.
An ornate door to a balcony was closed.
The Fount had this awful habit of not speaking first, even if he was the one who sent for Black Sapphire. Black Sapphire took a deep breath before speaking “You called me into your office, sir?”
“Yes, Black Sapphire Cookie. Have a seat.” The Fount gestured to one of the two chairs in front of his desk that matched the desk. Black Sapphire obeyed and sat in one of them.
The Fount of Knowledge let Black Sapphire fidget nervously in his seat for a few moments before speaking. “You, young man, are my brightest pupil in this Academy. You’ve taken your studies seriously and it’s noticeable. I applaud you.”
“Thank you, sir.” Would the Fount call Black Sapphire to his office just to commemorate his studies at the Academy? Surely there was more to it.
“You’ve been faithful to the Academy for nine years. That’s not as long as most other patrons and yet you are my sharpest student. You turn eighteen soon, yes? That’s a feat. I’d like to reward your loyalty.”
Ah, there was more to it.
“Sir?”
“How would you like to be my assistant? My ‘right-hand man’ if you will. You’d be working closest to me and accompanying me. Don’t worry; you’d still be able to continue your studies if you so wished, but it’d be a more personal experience.”
What?
Working directly under the Fount of Knowledge? Working directly next to the Fount of Knowledge? There were plenty of other pupils for the Fount to choose from! Other students who would die for this opportunity! Why would the Fount choose him? He’s only known him for nine years, back when Black Sapphire was an orphan on the streets, and now the Fount wanted Black Sapphire to be the closest person to him?
Again, Black Sapphire would’ve been stupid to decline.
Black Sapphire Cookie became the “Star Child” of the Academy. He was the Fount of Knowledge’s pride. Street child becomes the equivalent of the prince, a classic.
Lately, the Fount of Knowledge had confided in Black Sapphire that he thought he was getting close to the core of knowledge. He thought he was incredibly close to figuring everything out. Black Sapphire noticed that the Fount was getting more and more…erratic.
Black Sapphire found himself sorting and organizing the stacks of papers on the Fount’s desk, if only to keep himself busy. He stood, not wanting to sit in the Fount’s chair. The Fount had been gone for a while now, and he had to remind himself that He’ll be back when he comes back. The Fount is researching something very important. He needs his time.
Black Sapphire had noticed that the land of Beast–Yeast was growing to be more hostile to one another. Travelling merchants from the Ivory Pagoda had been attacked by bandits from the Spicelands. Political disputes from civilians had been occurring all over Beast–Yeast over territory, power, and petty problems. Black Sapphire Cookie found all of it stupid. Stupid, stupid.
A knock on the door. Black Sapphire’s head shot up to look at the door.
“Come in,” Black Sapphire called after a short silence.
Rhubarb Cookie, a servant to the Fount of Knowledge for many years, cracked the door open, seeing who was inside before opening it fully, though Black Sapphire knew she already had an idea of who was in the office. She had this useful trick of knowing where everyone was and when. He didn’t doubt that this was the first place she checked for him. “The Fount of Knowledge has just arrived within the gates. He’s sent me ahead to tell you.”
“Thank you for informing me, Rhubarb Cookie. Where is he right now?”
“He’s making his way here from the entrance.”
“I see. Thank you. You may go now.”
Rhubarb Cookie bowed her head and shut the door behind her as she left.
Black Sapphire continued organizing papers for a few minutes until the door opened again a few minutes later, and the Fount of Knowledge walked through and he sat in his chair. Black Sapphire Cookie set the papers down and walked to the other side of the desk, so he was facing the Fount.
In a moment unfamiliar to Black Sapphire, the Fount spoke first “Black Sapphire Cookie…”
“Yes, sir?”
“Sit down. Please,” he added.
Black Sapphire Cookie sat down in one of the plush seats.
“Black Sapphire, you’ve always stayed by my side,” the Fount said again.
“I suppose I have, sir.”
“Forget the formalities for now.”
Black Sapphire nodded understanding but he didn't loosen up until the Fount gave him a harsh glare and he slouched a little from where he stood with his back straight.
“How would you feel about eternal life?”
“What do you mean? Eternal life? That isn't possible.”
“Oh, but it is, boy. It is.” The Fount of Knowledge stood from his desk and turned away from Black Sapphire. He walked over to his window and looked out of it, down at the rest of the Academy, down at his subjects.
“I’m immortal. The other virtues are too. How long do you think we’ve been alive for?”
Black Sapphire Cookie hadn't thought about that before. How long has the Fount of Knowledge truly been alive? Apparently, an extremely long time.
“I’ll let you in on something, Black Sapphire Cookie. The other virtues and I were created by the witches to rule the land of Beast–Yeast and teach cookies about the ways of life. Volition, solidarity, happiness, change, knowledge, all that jazz. Cookiekind may tend to forget all that, and so we must stay and help them remember. Forever.
“Black Sapphire Cookie, I would like to tie our souls together. You are a brilliant young man and I would like to have you with me forever. You’re useful. I want you to have eternal life too.”
Black Sapphire Cookie…wasn’t sure what to say to that. He found the idea of eternal life enticing, but every single philosopher—including the Fount—had said that immortality was a lonely thing. Nothing and nobody in your life would be permanent. You’d watch everything pass and change and rebuild itself. It would all be a boring cycle that you’d be forced to watch happen over and over again.
Is this what the Herald of Change felt at times? He’d hate for the other virtues to experience that too.
But the Fount seemed to be combating that loneliness by inviting him to have eternal life with him.
For the third time in Black Sapphire’s life, he would’ve been stupid to decline.
An enticing offer, with the benefit of being with the Fount for eternity? He looked up to him greatly and appreciated everything he had done for cookiekind, for the land of Beast–Yeast, and for himself.
Black Sapphire Cookie didn't know how the Fount of Knowledge had done it, but he woke up one morning with his chest feeling lighter, as if his soul was in the hands of someone else. It was a calming feeling but it also left him on edge. What if the Fount wasn't careful? If the Fount died would he die too? No, the Fount can’t die, and he was always careful! Black Sapphire needed to put more trust in him. The Fount of Knowledge saw him in one of his toughest times and brought him back. He would know better than to be careless with his disciple.
The Fount was getting more crazed, Black Sapphire Cookie had noticed. He would lock himself in his office for hours at a time, sometimes days, and wouldn't come out even to eat. When he did come out, it was only to grab a book from the expansive library in the Academy, one he had no doubt read before or knew the contents of, and go back into his office. He wouldn't let Black Sapphire into his office.
Black Sapphire Cookie glanced out the window of his bedroom. He had been able to get residence somewhere else in the Academy, closer to the Fount of Knowledge. He no longer shared a dorm with someone else and instead could sleep soundly. Except right now he couldn't.
There was a large crowd forming at the gates of the Academy. A loud and upset one, at that. Cookies were yelling, and while Black Sapphire couldn't make out the words, he had an idea about what it was about. “The Fount is being too harsh with his words!” they’d tell Black Sapphire Cookie, “Why does he not spread any good?” which was a lie! The Fount always spread good; cookiekind just didn't see it. The Fount of Knowledge was an honest cookie, not a liar. If he wanted his subjects to have their eyes clouded with lies and their souls comforted with the untruth, that’s what the Fount would've been doing.
The Fount of Knowledge was busy. It was Black Sapphire Cookie’s job to see to the crowd.
He made his way down all the spiraling steps in the Academy, through all the winding corridors that Black Sapphire had been forced to remember, and met the hoard at the gates.
“What is the issue here?” he said, his voice drowning out all the other cookies. It was almost silent for a few moments until the cookies started yelling again with complaints, even louder this time.
“My son is sick—” “The Fount is being dishonest!” “Where is he?” “He said my son would die—” “Show us the Fount!” “Tell us the truth!” “My son—”
Why didn't they understand? The Fount was being truthful. The Fount was always honest, and he never lied. That’s what Black Sapphire liked about him. That’s why he stayed. Is the truth truly so unpleasant? The Fount of Knowledge truly just wanted the best for his cookies. That’s why he took Black Sapphire in.
Honestly, he was just as confused as the cookies in front of him.
“The Fount of Knowledge is an honest cookie. He is generous enough to share his wealth of knowledge with cookiekind, and yet you blame him for what he’s already predicted? This is shameful behavior.”
A few cookies thought it over but the banging against the gates started again. The sudden sound made him flinch and he backed away. It was moments like this where he wished there was some sort of guard or law enforcement in the Fount’s domain. It’s not like the Fount didn’t punish lawbreakers, but he placed so much trust in the cookies. He trusted them not to steal or harm or commit treason or—witches forbid—kill. But there were no guards of any sort, nothing like the knights of Kala Namak, though Black Sapphire has met a few of those peculiar cookies. He must admit, they’re kind and are disciplined well. He respected that.
Black Sapphire cleared his throat and spoke again “Cookies! Cookies, a moment of silence, please?” The noise went down just enough for him to be heard. He appreciates the fact that they’re willing to listen to him speak, but why aren’t they placing the same respect upon the Fount?
“Have you not noticed? The Fount of Knowledge places so much trust in you! Why do you not reciprocate that? Why do you no longer trust the Fount with every inch in your dough? He has never forsaken you.”
This crowd was making his head hurt. He wanted to go back to sleep.
Black Sapphire cookie is admittedly surprised when he sees some cookies leave. He is upset when he sees some cookies dragging their children with them, away from the ruckus. Why expose them to such distrust so early?
“Who told you the Fount of Knowledge was no longer a friend you could trust? Whoever it was, whatever it was, they’re lying. Lies seem so much better than the truth, don’t they? So much easier to digest.”
Eventually, he had convinced the hoard that this was a useless cause, for now. It took some time arguing back and forth, and a small bribe. It made him sick. He was disappointed to see that they had no “leader” to follow; no cookie to tell them who would say what and when. He’d hoped that they wouldn’t come back next time, and when they did—because this is a recent occurrence lately—that they’d be a little more organized and prepared. Maybe with some actual weapons instead of their hands and shouts, though Black Sapphire has learned that those too are just as useful when used correctly.
Normally, Black Sapphire Cookie would've told the Fount of Knowledge what had transpired down by the gates of the Academy but he had been holed up in his office and it was best not to disturb him, but when he reached his room he was surprised to see the Fount standing outside his door.
“Black Sapphire Cookie,” the Fount of Knowledge spoke before Black Sapphire could, a rare occurrence.
“Yes, sir?”
“Rhubarb Cookie informed me of what transpired by the gates.” So his closest disciple wasn't allowed to contact him but a simple servant is? “I apologize for not handling myself. Thank you for doing that.”
“You’re welcome, sir. It was truly nothing.”
“Mmm. Of course. Nothing a cookie like you couldn't deal with.”
The Fount reached forward and ruffled Black Sapphire Cookie’s hair “Get some sleep, boy. I know you’ve been as restless as me.”
Black Sapphire Cookie was not able to get any rest that night, like he knew what would happen the following day.
One of the virtues has fallen.
The Flour of Volition has fallen to apathy.
Black Sapphire Cookie had never met her or seen her, but he knew from the Fount that she was stern and she held her will.
She must’ve been pushed to her breaking point.
Black Sapphire learned this when the Fount of Knowledge called him into his office the following morning. He sat down, and the Fount said it to him straight-on. He wasn’t sure whether to be sad, or afraid, angry, or indifferent.
Life would move on. It was certainly a conundrum and Black Sapphire was very interested in what could've caused this. His main suspect is pressure. Didn’t she grant wishes? Maybe cookies got too greedy with their wishes.
Oh well. It’s just one virtue.
—
Black Sapphire crouched in his room, squeezing his eyes shut and covering his ears.
Another virtue. Another virtue; it was the Herald of Change. He had destroyed many of the great cities he ruled over with glee. Only a few cookies were able to flee, and even then when they reached other domains, fellow cookies shunned them, killing them out of fear.
What was happening? What was going on in Beast-Yeast?
The Fount of Knowledge was acting more desperate, more desperate for the trust of his cookies. Was the Fount next? Was the Fount going to corrupt next? No, no, it couldn't happen to the Fount. The Fount was all-knowing, all-powerful. He couldn't become corrupt. It would be the very last thing that would ever happen to him, and even then he knew the Fount would rather go through the oven and back.
Even then…
The banging against his door died down but the screams outside didn’t. Cookies of the Fount’s domain were swarming the Academy, killing every single cookie they saw and wreaking havoc. They were nearing so closely to the Academy; one glance out his window would tell him that. Houses were on fire; windows were broken; businesses had “CLOSED” signs hanging on their doors, but they were futile. The streets were littered with dead cookies and jam.
It was a disaster. This perfect kingdom the Fount of Knowledge had created and built was crumbling. It was crumbling before their very eyes.
Black Sapphire knew that he should do something, but he was scared. It was loud and there were running footsteps outside his door and there were fires outside and inside and his eyecings hurt from where he had been scratching at them and—
“Black Sapphire Cookie?” a soft voice—The Fount—called from the other side of his door.
Hesitantly, he stood up. His legs trembled as he made his way across his room, stumbled to his doorway and collapsed against the door, his hand reaching for the handle.
“Fount of Knowledge?” he replied. He didn't realize how scratchy his voice had become.
“I just want to make sure you’re alright, boy,” the Fount said.
Black Sapphire pushed down on the handle and creaked the door open. The Fount stood there in his simple robes, looking weary and tired. His hands were clasped together over his stomach and he glanced behind him nervously.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Black Sapphire said. He wiped at his eyecings—when had he started crying?—and opened the door wider so the Fount could enter his room.
The Fount of Knowledge accepted the invitation. He made small steps into Black Sapphire’s room, hunching in on himself.
After a long pause, Black Sapphire Cookie started “Fount?” he said.
The Fount looked at him, no longer looking as exhausted but his eyes radiated sadness. A longing for things to return to the way they once were.
“Are you alright?”
An even longer pause. Black Sapphire wasn't stupid, he knew what the answer would be. The Fount was watching his whole world collapse around him, and with only half of the virtues left there was only so much he could’ve done to save it. Truly, truly a terrible fate, and the Fount of Knowledge knew that.
“No, son—” son “—I’m not,” the Fount of Knowledge said.
Black Sapphire chose to brush over what the Fount had called him, but he let it warm his rapidly cooling heart for a moment. “…You’re not going to corrupt too, are you?”
The Fount of Knowledge, of truth, looked at Black Sapphire Cookie again, this time with a warm smile that made him feel safe “Of course not.”
—
Black Sapphire Cookie watched as the Fount of Knowledge—no—Shadow Milk Cookie wreaked havoc on his own people. When his subjects turned on him, he turned on them rightback and lied, lied, lied.
Would the Fount of Knowledge do this? Absolutely not. He’d rather die by the hands of his subjects than do this, but Shadow Milk Cookie definitely would do this, and he definitely is.
It all happened so quickly. The Fount of Knowledge asked for a favor, to use Black Sapphire’s clever broadcasting tricks to try and persuade the cookies into understanding. It didn't work, and pushed to tell lies, the Fount did.
The Fount of Knowledge was an honest cookie, but that honesty left him in a hole too deep for him to climb out of. Cookies turned on him for not sugarcoating the truth, for not changing words into what they wanted to hear. Honestly, the whole situation disgusted Black Sapphire. Cookies, turning on their savior? The one who has led them safely to where they ought to be, and after that they leave him in his own jam because they don’t like what they hear?
The Fount’s research had been to find out the truth about knowledge, but not only learning that true knowledge was built upon lies and the insistence from his own cookies that the truth was too harsh without a little lie sprinkled on top, it was too much for just one cookie to handle.
When either Shadow Milk Cookie or the Fount of Knowledge, he owed him his future. The Fount had been kind enough to take him into the Academy free of charge, and then teach him and care for Black Sapphire as if he were his own child. So, that is why he will stay. He’ll stay with Shadow Milk Cookie, aiding him and helping and doing whatever Shadow Milk so wished of him.
Truthfully, Black Sapphire was worried Shadow Milk wouldn’t recognize him, that he’d be the first victim in his corruption, but luckily he hadn’t lost it all, and Shadow Milk extended a hand.
“Black Sapphire Cookie, my dearest cookie, I understand that I am no longer the cookie I once was, but you’ve been forever loyal; I see. Please, continue serving as my disciple?”
It shocked Black Sapphire. At first impression, Shadow Milk Cookie didn’t strike Black Sapphire as the type to offer humility at the first glance, but he accepted. Black Sapphire Cookie would continue serving as Shadow Milk’s disciple, on his own will. It was his choice.
Black Sapphire sighed and leaned against the railing of the balcony he stood on. It was the tallest one, connected to the Fount’s office. He’d been on it before, when the view was candy green hills and cookies greeting each other as the days were busy. Now, the view was very, very, different. The fires burned brighter and it wasn’t hard to miss the flying blue cookie, laughing at their plight and rolling around midair.
The flying blue cookie came over and dropped something into Black Sapphire’s arms.
“What’s this?” he looked up at his master and back to the thing in his arms. It was a bundle of dough. Fresh.
“I dunno. That…thing suddenly appeared. I said something to a cookie, a lie to be precise, and that just popped out of nowhere.” Shadow Milk Cookie crossed his arms and lowered himself to look at it closer. Even while spreading deceit, curiosity was still prominent. It made Black Sapphire Cookie a bit sad.
“Your first lie,” Black Sapphire realized “It’s the embodiment of your first lie.”
Shadow Milk Cookie paused for a moment before snorting “Gross,” he said.
“What do we do with it?” Black Sapphire asked.
“Raise it? It’s a cookie. That’s your job now.”
The doughling may be Shadow Milk’s first lie, but it was still a cookie. It started crying and Shadow Milk cringed in disgust and flew away, leaving Black Sapphire with the dough.
He decided to name her Candy Apple Cookie.
—
Next it was the Sugar of Happiness, and Black Sapphire got to see the Kala Namak knights dissolve into chaos within themselves. He sowed his own seeds of deceit, and it was wondrous. Apparently all the Beast’s disciples and Beasts themselves played their parts in finally getting the last virtue, the Salt of Solidarity, to corrupt. Truthfully, Black Sapphire Cookie admired the Salt of Solidarity and his resolve, but he should’ve known it couldn’t last forever. How foolish.
Black Sapphire was unsure of how to care for a doughling. It wasn’t something they had frequently covered in his old classes, so he was sort of at a loss. Candy Apple Cookie was needy, as a lie should be. You have to constantly feed a lie for it to grow.
Black Sapphire had approached Shadow Milk Cookie about tying his soul with Candy Apple’s too, so she’d have eternal life as well. It took some convincing but the next morning Candy Apple definitely wasn’t crying as much. Maybe she felt the weight lifted off of her too.
—
The virtues have been sealed into the Silver Tree by the witches.
One moment, Shadow Milk Cookie had been there. And the next moment he wasn’t.
Black Sapphire couldn’t help but admit that he was worried the effects of the tie between their souls would sever because of this. A fear that he would suddenly collapse on the spot, but luckily he didn’t. He was devastated to find out the fate of his master though.
He would continue to spread deceit. It is what Shadow Milk Cookie wanted, and therefore the Fount of Knowledge.
—
Black Sapphire Cookie had waited a millenia. A millenia for Shadow Milk Cookie to break out of the tree.
When he had returned to the spire with news that he had not only—obviously—freed himself from the Silver Tree but also killed that damned fool king in the process, Black Sapphire couldn’t help but grin.
Candy Apple Cookie had grown over that time, and Black Sapphire told her about master Shadow Milk Cookie, and how she was born from his first lie told. She very quickly started to idolize Shadow Milk. He couldn’t blame her.
While Shadow Milk Cookie no longer had an office, he had twisting and winding corridors that Black Sapphire had time to learn and memorize over a millenia. Shadow Milk Cookie, cringing at every sight of Candy Apple Cookie, called for Black Sapphire to follow him deep into one of the hallways.
“My dear other half may be finding his way here sometime in the near future. When that happens, will you take part in making his visit unpleasant with me?” Shadow Milk Cookie asked him.
Looking up at Shadow Milk Cookie, he has the same face as the Fount. The same smirk, the same way he looked around a room thoughtfully before dominating conversation. Those two cookies were one and the same, yet they couldn’t be more different. The Fount would’ve been shocked at who he had become, yet it had happened, and Shadow Milk didn’t seem to mind too much.
An invitation to commit more trickery and spread more deceit? A long time ago, Black Sapphire Cookie would’ve found the idea incredulous. He was a cookie of honesty, following the cookie of knowledge. He never would’ve imagined himself lying intentionally. But he went wherever the Fount of Knowledge went, and the Fount of Knowledge was here, and so was Black Sapphire Cookie.
Black Sapphire would’ve been stupid to decline.