SageRecluse Possessive Son AU.
After (very begrudgingly) making Black Sapphire stay at his mother's, Sage goes out to look for Truthless. It takes five years for him to find the hermit...
He starts thinking they just died after the first two years, which they technically did considering their place of residence: The Salt Barrens, the one place the Guide can still consider home. Where spirits wonder the land, looking for something but never remembering what.
He didn't think it would be hard to find a rare Vanillin traveling around with a blind baby girl and a deaf baby boy.
But as more time passed, the less sure he was that they were even on Beast-Yeast.
In a last ditch effort, because he did not want to admit the anxiety that squeezed his heart at every failed turn, he turned towards the Barren. His old, fellow Virtue, Guide to the Crumbled, would — at the very least — tell him if his husband and children were crumbled...
Sage did not let his feet touch the ashen ground, and when he came upon the river separating the sacred ground for the passing and the castle of the crumbled, The Guide was waiting in his gondola.
"I didn't realize you'd be here." Sage chuckled nervously. He wasn't ready for his answer.
"I always await the fallen." Guide answered softly.
Sage chuckled nervously again, "A-And what would one do if they were not crumbled, but searching for a possible crumbled...s..?"
Even with his helmet on, Sage could feel Guide lifting an eyebrow. "I will take you to Veiled Mourning Lily," He said, "She can see through the veil to find your..." he tilted his head slowly.
"Oh, don't act like I never sent you the announcement card." Sage huffed and shakily lowered himself into the boat.
"Merely surprised you married someone who might possibly crumble." Guide pushed them off the bank and Sage yelped as water lapped at the sides of the boat.
"I didn't." Sage muttered, "I married the most beautiful, rarest cookie on Earthbread."
Guide hummed, not at all interested in listening to Sage soliloquy on about his husband.
"He's a Pure Vanillian. Not any of those defectors from the Creme Republic. An actual, first generation Vanillian. And the original holder of my soul jam." He said with a hint of pride.
Guide's pushing of their boat paused for a fraction of a second.
Just long enough for Sage to notice.
"Why? Do you know him?? Have you seen him??" He whipped around to stare up at his fellow Virtue.
"You'll tip us." Guide snapped as the boat rocked from side to side.
"You DO know!" Sage pointed accusingly.
"Veiled Lily knows." Guide answered more firmly, "If you tip this boat, I will let the spirits you disturb drag you to the silty bottom." Even through the mask, Sage could feel his glare.
Sage huffed and crossed his arms and legs.
Guide pushed them to the opposite shore and dismounted the boat with ease. He offered Sage a hand out, which Sage accepted.
"Where is Veiled Lily anyways?" Sage asked.
Guide pointed with his paddle to the castle, "Likely in the cathedral, easing those stuck halfway."
Sage rolled his eyes. Why did he have to rely on the most dramatic couple in all of Earthbread for help?
He shook his head and flew inside.
The castle's main body was a cathedral filled with candles around the perimeter of the chamber. So many candles were lit, no other light was needed, but so many candles had also been snuffed out that a thick layer of smoke lingered at the top of the cathedral's high ceilings. There was another cookie, sweeping up ash and salt and soot around the perimeter, and two smaller cookies sat under hoods, shoulder to shoulder in the pews.
This place always unnerved Sage. And with the soft whispers echoing around the space, he had to repress a shudder. He turned, looking for the keeper of the candles.
Veiled Lily was at one of the closer walls, whispering gently to a candle, "You've burned so much of your wick. You've lived a long life. It is time, that's it..." she gently coaxed the flame down until it extinguished itself. She turned and looked straight at him, her wine-red eyes held no shock or surprise.
"What are you doing here, Sage?" She sighed as she turned and began to survey the candles.
"You know why I'm here." Sage grumbled, "I'm looking for my husband and children."
"The husband you didn't believe," she whispered something to a candle that was little more than a stub of wax and a wick and guided the smoke upwards as it extinguished itself, "When he told you there was a snake in your marriage?"
Sage sighed, "He accused my firstborn of something so diabolical," he shook his head, "I...what was I meant to do?"
"The children," Veiled Lily continued her walk, eyes flickering over candles, "Who suffered from your disbelief and mistrust?"
Sage frowned as Veiled Lily leaned over a tall candle with a flickering flame, "You poor thing," she whispered and the flame went out.
"Please," Sage pleaded, "Can you just tell me if you've seen them??"
Veiled Lily sighed, "Yes."
Sage's heart seized, "Th-They've..."
"But," Veiled Lily held up a finger, "They were not and have no crumbled."
