MERRY CHRISMAS TO ALL OF YOU WHO CELEBRATE!!
I've been working hard on the next part of the little Sage and Truthless fic set (3 chapters/ 5000 words in despite my slow writing yayyyyy)
And so for the holidays I will give you all the first chapter extra early. A small gift I hope you guys enjoy and look forward to when I have it all done to post <3
âAnd that class, is why you never bring star candies into the Scovian far north without airtight bags!â Â
Sage clapped his hands as he finished his lecture for the class, smiling out at his students as they finished writing down their notes. He was always so happy seeing how eager they were to learnâŚhowever today he was extra excited. Barely able to keep his feet on the floor.Â
The loud chime of the bells rang though the halls, signifying the end of class, and Sage waited no time to grab his notes.Â
âWith that Iâll see you all in a few days for our next class! If you have any questions do write them down for then or donât hesitate to ask me after my lectures in the square if you catch me then!âÂ
He didnât wait for anyone to reply before he was already gone. Zipping out of the hall faster than most could see.Â
âItâs so nice to see the Professor so happy again.âÂ
The young lady, a light cream coloured cookie with short whipped cream hair soft and fluffy, watched the door where Sage had left with a small smile.Â
âYeah agreed. Good thing whatever argument or situation that had him and the Recluse apart for a while seems to have been fixed. He was so depressed is was almost contagious.â The cookie next to her, a taller girl with long hair tied up in a ponytail leaned over on the other with a sappy smile. âThough I canât blame him really. Iâd be depressed too if you left me alone that long Sweet Cream, must have been even worse when he already got to spend so little time with him.âÂ
Behind them a young man didnât hesitate to use his book to smack the tall girl on the head, rolling his eyes at her overly dramatic whining.Â
âThatâs different Cranberry, you and Sweet Cream are dating.âÂ
âYeah? And do you get so excited that you literally cant stay grounded just to see your âfriendâ for a weekly meeting? Like seriously Current, are your eyes working? Thereâs no way theyâre âjust friendsââ Â
Current frowned, crossing his arms.Â
âIâd like to think our professor, the Sage of Truth would have better taste than to fall for the one cookie with Truthless in his name.âÂ
âThe heart wants what the heart wants!!!âÂ
Sensing the brewing argument (or âdebateâ as theyâd claim), Sweet Cream gently pulled Popping Cranberry back. Giving her a peck on a cheek that did wonders to calm her down and go back to snuggling her girlfriend.Â
âWe donât know anything either way so I believe it would be more rude to assume. Not just about the Recluse, since clearly he canât be that bad if Professor is so clearly fond of their time together, but about their relationship as a whole.â Current scoffed but nodded. As usual Sweet Cream made a good neutral point. She was good at that. âWhy donât we just ask him? Heâs always so open to well meaning questions, and we are just happy that heâs happy so?âÂ
âI dunno, he seems the type to shout his love from the rooftops if he was open to talk about it. I bet itâs a secret because heâs worried people will think the Recluse brainwashed him or something and it would put him in danger.âÂ
âWell then⌠why donât we put it to the test?âÂ
All three pairs of eyes turned to their friend whoâd been watching them in amusement until then. Â
âThat seemsâŚunethical Skim.âÂ
Skim Milk cookie gave White Current Cookie a concerned look.Â
âNo?? What did you think I was suggesting??? I was just thinking we get someone to ask him about the Recluse, make it seem like they were planning to try and flirt with him or something and since âyou seem close do you have any suggestions?â. If they were just friends then heâd likely be happy his friend is getting positive attention at least, if theyâre together or even if he just has romantic feelings for him he should get defensive.âÂ
At the surprised looks from the others he grinned.Â
âWeâre scholars or at least will be, so might as well treat this like an experiment and show Professor either way how well weâve taken his lessons to heart.âÂ
âThatâs a great idea!!! Oooh I volunteer to ask!!!â Cranberry eagerly shouted, getting a few odd looks from the few other students still slowly trickling out of the room. They were used to her antics though so it wasnât for long.Â
âCran, he knows weâre dating since we thanked him for his classes being how we met. He wonât believe youâre a potential âthreatâ so it likely wonât work for you.âÂ
âThatâs where youâre wrong my Sweetie! The mere idea of someone flirting with a significant other can be enough to cause protectiveness, and the fact Iâm not a real threat will give us deniability about this plot of ours.âÂ
 âOr we could just ask him?âÂ
âThen do both.â Current said. âAsk what his relationship with the Truthless Recluse is, and if he says friend or anything like that then test his reaction to potentially flirting with him.â Â
They all nodded, their plan set. Â
âNow all we need to do is wait for our next class.âÂ
~~~
The four of them took their usual seats, trying very hard to focus on the lesson and not give away their plot.  Cranberry in particular was ready to vibrate out of her seat, however at least she hid it well to those who werenât one of her closes friends. Â
It felt like an eternity waiting for the bell to rings and signify the end of class, but they managed to keep it together and even take some useful notes.Â
Thankfully it didnât seem like anyone had any questions for the Sage today, so the rest of the students quickly began to pack up and leave. Letting Cranberry with a nod to her friends set the plan in motion.Â
Sage looked up from where heâd been tidying his own papers, a bright smile on his face. He always did enjoy being called Professor over Sage by his students, it was a well known fact and why almost all of those who took his classes did so even outside of it. He said it was because of the connection it represented, as their professor it also meant they were his students. A sweet gesture. Â
âYes Popping Cranberry? Do you have any questions about todayâs lesson?â Â
âNot so much about todayâs lesson, no. Do you mind if I ask something that may be a little personal? You donât need to Iâm just a little curious about something.âÂ
Sage tilted his head at her like a curious cakehound, but his smile didnât waver.Â
âA question about me? Go right ahead then.âÂ
âWhatâs your relationship with the Truthless Recluse?â there was no point trying to phrase it in a way that would sound a little more polite. She was known to be a little blunt with her words. âYouâre seen around with him so much and always seem so happy on those days I couldnât hell but be a little curious.â Â
At the mention of the Recluse Sage seemed to almost literally brighten. Â
At the mention of the Recluse Sage seemed to almost literally brighten. His smile growing warmer and eyes crinkling in happiness just thinking about him. Â
âOh heâs my dear friend of course!! Donât let his grumpy foreboding attitude fool you heâs not a bad cookie at all, simply has different views on the truth as most of us.â Witches if his words didnât make it clear how fond of the other he was, his tone would without mistake. âSo rarely I get a cookie who can give me a run for my money in a debate and heâs always really making me think. An incredibly sharp and intelligent man whoâs a delightful company , if you can handle his even sharper tongue and attitude that is.âÂ
He seemed genuine about thinking heâs a friend⌠but⌠something about it rang off to her. Sweet Cream better be watching and listening because she was always the best of them reading emotions.Â
âReally? Seems so unfair everyone keeps their distance then⌠since you two are friends then do you perhaps know his favorite flower? Oh or treat?! Perhaps it would be nice to make him feel a little more welcome down hereâŚÂ he seems cute so would be a shame to hide away on that peak if heâs not actually that badâŚâÂ
For a brief moment it felt like death itself had settled itâs eyes in her, from the way Sageâs entire vibe shifted.  The switch from joy to emanating a feeling that could only be described as complete and utter dread at what sheâd just suggested was so quick she wasnât prepared. Â
And just as quick it was gone, shoved abruptly under a mask of a smile that was far less genuine than before.Â
âWhat a lovely idea!! Itâs about time people stop staring at him like heâs the source of all thatâs wrong with the world, and perhaps it might make it a little easier to convince him to spend time out and about. He isnât too picky with flowers though, and doesnât eat much so anything with a friendly meaning behind it would likely be nice. Just make sure Iâm there when you give them to him!! I want to see the look on his face when you do, I bet it will be priceless!âÂ
Grabbing the papers off the podium where he taught, Sage made a quick excuse to leave and quickly left after that, leaving Cranberry to drift back over to the other three awaiting her. Still a little stunned by the emotional whiplash. Â
âI stand corrected.â White Current sounded a little shaken too, it seemed it wasnât JUST her that felt the dread. âIt would seem they might be more than friends.âÂ
Skimmed milk cookie could only nod quietly behind him, still watching the door where sage left with a little fearâŚhowever Sweet CreamâŚÂ
âI donât think soâŚâÂ
Current and Skim looked at her dumbfounded. Â
âDid you NOT also feel our impending doom looming over us at the mere mention of something that could be taken as flirting with the Recluse???âÂ
âNo I did butâŚÂ I think he was telling the truth when he called him a friend. He was being genuine.âÂ
Cranberry gave her girlfriend a grin, bouncing back quickly from the primal fear at the potential plot already brewing in her mind, even as Sweet Cream says what sheâd been suspecting. Â
âI think he does like-like himâŚbut I donât think even he realizes it.âÂ
âSo you know what that means.âÂ
Both Current and Sweet looked concerned at her, knowing she was already up to something, but Skim smiled, already on board with whatever scheme was brewing. Â
âHe needs a little nudge to help him out, and I bet we could be excellent wingmen. I have an idea already, come on letâs get to my place. Planning is best done over snacks after all!âÂ
âAnd for writing our Wills for when things inevitably go wrong.âÂ