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Where could he be?
The Truthless Recluse, or rather, Bitter Vanilla Cookie, was stuck wandering through the endless halls of his Spire of Deceit. He’d been searching for about an hour now for what once was the Sage of Truth, the other half of his soul jam.
He once despised the little thief, but as he spent more time with him, he found him oddly entertaining. The blue man would try to get to know him, to figure out what had lied in the past, yet it inevitably led to his corruption.
At first, Bitter Vanilla Cookie was elated. To see something be destroyed by his own hands yet still desire to be beside him; it gave him some sick sense of ecstasy. Yet now, everything felt off. He’d allowed the thief, no, his new partner to reside in the spire, to be together in deceit. However, he’d been unable to find him all morning.
Bitter Vanilla Cookie was never one to eat much, but even then, he’d still sat waiting for Blueberry Milk Cookie every day at different mealtimes. Today, he was even going to suggest a name change! Shadow Milk Cookie had a certain ring to it, and he wanted to try it out, even as a nickname. Yet he still had the gall to not show up today. Bitter Vanilla Cookie was fine with it, though. He can’t stay mad for long! Especially for the little cutie who gave up his soul jam for him. Cutie? Yes, cutie. The poor thing was like a little doll he could play with, a marionette he could make dance and sing with just a slight pull of the strings.
Bitter Vanilla Cookie opened one door abruptly and shut it just as quickly, frustration dissipating into concern. He’d always been able to find whatever he needed easily, given the spire’s tendency to cater to his every whim. And yet, he’d been walking around for hours, trying to find the one cookie he should be the most aware of. It was odd, irritating, and worrying. Their soul jams resonated! He should be able to find the other no matter the circumstance! Unless...
No.
No, he wouldn’t.
Bitter Vanilla Cookie slammed open one final door, huffing as he stared onward, gaze locking on the one he had been searching for. He felt a momentary spark of something that was almost relief, but it soon turned to dread when he took in the scene. His little Scholar of Deceit, holding the end of his staff to the middle of his chest, as if ready to pierce it through the soul jam.
Their eyes met, and Blueberry Milk Cookie’s looked almost... sad. Not his usual melancholy or madness, but... pity. Like he didn’t want Bitter Vanilla Cookie to see this.
Bitter Vanilla Cookie was barely able to process what was about to happen before he ran forward, sprinting with all his might to stop whatever was about to unfold. His cry of protest was only just able to leave his lips before the room lit up, golden light blinding him momentarily.
He had to crane his eyes open afterwards, the sheer abundance of white and gold straining what little remained of his sight. He forced his staff to face the other, and there he saw it. What was once his enemy, pet, and partner, was now... awakened. Free. Hideous.
Those eyes, what were once full of intrigue and malice, were now soft, caring. As if the hero had dared felt even a smidgen of affection for the corrupted. He hated it. He hated this new form, that pitying smile, the way he’d been betrayed so simply.
All those days spent together, all those times they’d shared in private? Were they all for nothing? Was he truly that easy to abandon? Bitter Vanilla Cookie stepped back as the realizations came crashing down upon him. He’d never wanted to be together in the first place. Those lovely words, that one beautiful phrase... It’d been a lie all along? The one cookie he thought could understand him, that would stay with him... It was all one big trick.
He had to admit it to Blueberry Milk Cookie, that was an outstanding use of Deceit. To be able to trick even the master of Deceit itself, that takes skill. Yet, it still hurt him so.
What was he saying now? The blue cookie’s voice was ringing in his ears, but he couldn’t make out any words. In the distance he could hear the pitter-patter of feet, the calling of his creations, yet he didn’t pay attention to it. He couldn’t pay attention. All his focus was spent on attempting to comprehend how this could have even happened in the first place.
He clutched his head harshly, not caring how he looked. Where had he gone wrong?! Had he been too kind? Should he have broken him further?! Could he never do anything right?
Blueberry Milk Cookie reached out, eyebrows furrowed in worry, but retracted his hand, not wanting to intrude. Pathetic. He’s too scared to help me even now.
“I,” the awakened started, dragging his gaze over to stare at the corrupted in the eye. “In that brief moment our soul jams resonated; I felt it. A minute spark of longing, of loneliness. I can help! I’ve dealt with it before; I know how it feels. I know now. Although it is true that deceit may help the mind, truth helps the soul. Truth cannot coexist without deceit. I understand your struggle, and I want to know you further. To understand you as a whole.” He extended his hand, offering for Bitter Vanilla Cookie to take it. “Please, let me help you. Please... Let me be your friend.”
“Friend?...” He sounded utterly weak. It was barely more than a murmur, but the word echoed throughout his head like a yell in an enclosed cave. A single tear formed in his eye, trailing down his cheek and shattering the last of his defenses. Friend?! After he’d just abandoned him, left him behind in his suffering, he wanted to be friends?!
Blueberry Milk Cookie’s expression turned more piteous as he watched him, reaching out to wipe the tear away from his beloved’s face. Bitter Vanilla Cookie smacked away the hand before it reached him however, snapping at the other. “Don’t touch me!” His voice rose louder than it’d ever been, strained and furious. “Curse this! I hate you! Fine! You can have the soul jam! None of it matters anymore, nothing! Friends? What a joke!”
Bitter Vanilla Cookie suddenly leaped back, raising his staff to summon several magic circles above, all crackling angrily. Just as quickly as they had appeared, beams of navy blue shot out, flying towards the awakened.
Blueberry Milk Cookie evaded the ones headed for him, yet sent no counterattack, focused instead on shielding his friends. Bitter Vanilla Cookie grit his teeth at the obvious reluctance to fight, only serving to further fuel his anger. He dares to betray him, yet doesn’t even return blows? He tries to be the saint now? Pathetic! Useless! Disgusting!
Each thought was coupled with another blow, the ground shattering under every impact. A crack started to form on Bitter Vanilla Cookie’s face from the exertion, growing bit by bit until noticeable from a distance. He didn’t care anymore. He was taking down that vomit-inducing mage and he was doing it now. He could hear the ceiling crumbling, could see the walls caving in, but none of it was registered consciously. It wasn’t until he was being hauled through a portal by his creations, fighting with a blind rage, that he’d even realized part of the roof was already in pieces.
As he was pulled away, the last thing he’d seen before the portal closed was that infuriating pair of eyes; the same ones that matched his. The same ones he’d once believed in.