"Stop teaching about the Truth." "Why must I?"
Involved Cookies[]
Set Story[]
"Quiet, quiet! Our lecture will resume shortly! Please take your seats in a timely fashion!"
A sonorous voice filled the old, quaint square. The voice belonged to a peculiar Cookie dressed in white and gold. Surrounded by a crowd of spectators, this mysterious Cookie now stood in the center of the square. He had just finished reciting an epic poem and was now explaining a convoluted philosophical concept to a freshly-baked flock, wide-eyed with wonder.
"The Sage of Truth," they called him.
It almost seemed as if the Sage of Truth had always stood in that spot, sharing truths and teachings with anyone interested. With time, more and more Cookies came to listen to the Sage. Some said he was a professor of magic, others claimed he was an archivist, until an eager disciple decided to put an end to this dispute with a question. As always, the Sage welcomed the query with a graceful gesture.
Pointing upwards, he uttered, "I hail from a peak so tall and narrow, it pierced the firmament itself!"
His confounding reply caught everyone by surprise. Only then did the disciples realize that never once had the Sage spoken about himself. Yet, they wished for the lectures to continue and chose never to pry again.
Another day, another fascinating lecture came to a close. The sky above began to tinge with red and Cookies headed back to their homes when a stranger entered the square.
The visitor was draped in a dark cloak and donned an enormous hat that cast a shadow over his face. The Cookie stood there without saying a word and watched the Sage. The silence was broken by the Sage’s courteous greeting, his eyes having already discerned the shadow of despair hanging over the guest.
"I don't believe I've seen you here before, my friend...! Alas, today's lecture is over. Care to come back on the morrow?"
Yet, the dark visitor paid no heed to his words.
"Stop teaching about the Truth."
"Why must I?" inquired the Sage.
The guest only grinned in reply and stepped closer. For the first time, a ray of light illuminated his face, and the Sage of Truth exclaimed delightedly.
"Aaahh, if it isn't the Truthless Recluse himself. To what do I owe such a pleasure?"
His monocle glistened with genuine curiosity.
"It is said that the Truthless Recluse never descends from the Peak of Truth... How may this humble scholar be of service to you?"
The Recluse's eyes brimmed with sorrow.
"Stop pretending. You know all too well that there is nothing at the Peak of Truth."
The Sage clapped his hands.
"Eureka! At last, the answer to the age-old question is found! Why the Recluse never leaves his beloved peak vacant! Why every Cookie who neared true enlightenment was inevitably pushed back from the ascension they so craved!"
He tilted his head, expecting a confirmation. "All this time, my best hypothesis was that the Peak of Truth had been seized for good by some petty curmudgeon. Do you mean to say you sought only to protect seekers from disappointment?"
The Recluse did not bother to deny the Sage's words for he loathed the Sage for guiding Cookies right into the maw of the cruel Truth.
"I, too, once made the same mistake, and for that, faced despair upon the Peak... There was no Truth expecting me. No Truth to save us all. And I cursed myself hundreds, thousands of times over for my folly."
And all his sorrow and despair surged forth in a single question.
"Why do you persist?!"
To that, the Sage only pointed upwards and said, "Alas, the Truth is imperfect by design... and yet, one must not turn away from the light of one's own Truth."
And with a welcoming gesture, he added,
"Not unlike yourself whose Truth is to protect others from anguish."
The Recluse never answered. The Sage knew the answer anyway.
A long night passed and a new day dawned.
Yesterday's guest was long gone, and the square was as peaceful as it could be...
But the Sage could hear them. The footsteps of many seekers, stepping forth towards the Truth.
Trivia[]
- This costume set appears to depict an alternate universe where
Shadow Milk Cookie and Pure Vanilla Cookie exchange roles, with Shadow Milk Cookie spreading Truth while Pure Vanilla Cookie pushes others away from it. It is unclear if this universe is an exact reflection of the canonical one. - Players could obtain the "Diverged" title by obtaining all costumes in this Costume Set during a limited-time promotion period.
