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endlessorch3stra · 3 months ago

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In the Presence of Truth {"Sage of Truth" (SMC) x Reader} PT 3

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(Not Proof read there are some mistakes currently fixing it) DONE <3

You exhaled, staring down at your half-eaten pastry, pushing it around your lunchbox with little interest. “So, um…” You hesitated, glancing at your friends before quickly looking away. “Would you guys mind walking with me later?” Chai Latte Cookie tilted her head, stirring her drink absentmindedly. “Walk you where?” “To my tutoring session,” you muttered, barely above a whisper. Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie paused mid-bite. “The one with him?” You sighed, bracing yourself for the inevitable reactions. “Yes.” Chai Latte Cookie set her cup down with a soft clink, raising an eyebrow. “And why exactly do you need us to walk you there? Pretty sure you know the way.” You crossed your arms, fidgeting slightly. “I do know the way. That’s not the problem.” Earl Grey Cookie, ever observant, leaned forward slightly. “Ah… I see. It is not the location that unsettles you, but rather, the destination.” You hesitated before nodding. “It just” You sighed, trying to find the words. “It feels… daunting.” Hazelnut Biscotti grinned. “So you are scared of him.” You glared. “I never said that.” Chai Latte smirked. “You didn’t have to.” You groaned, rubbing your temples. “Look, I just think it’d be easier if I didn’t have to walk there alone, okay?” Hazelnut Biscotti leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “And what, you want us to hold your hand and drop you off like we’re your parents?” “…Yes.” There was a beat of silence before Chai Latte burst out laughing. “Wow, you really don’t wanna go alone, huh?” You huffed. “It’s not that, I just” You faltered, feeling heat creep up your neck. “It’s intimidating, alright? He’s the Sage of Truth. The way he looks at you, it’s like he already knows everything you’re thinking before you even say it. And I” You bit the inside of your cheek. “I don’t want to mess up.”

Earl Grey Cookie nodded solemnly. “A reasonable concern. The weight of his presence alone would make even seasoned scholars hesitate.” Chai Latte shook her head, grinning. “Man, you really are in deep. Alright, alright, we’ll walk you there. No judgment.” Hazelnut Biscotti snickered. “Plenty of judgment, actually, but yeah, we’ll go.” You exhaled, tension easing slightly. “Thanks.” Chai Latte smirked. “No problem. But we are stopping right outside the door. No way I’m getting roped into whatever terrifying intellectual nightmare you signed up for.” Hazelnut Biscotti shuddered. “Yeah, I’d like to keep some of my self-esteem intact, thanks.” Earl Grey Cookie chuckled. “Then it is settled. We shall escort you to your fate.” You groaned. “You guys are so dramatic.” Chai Latte grinned. “And you’re the one getting personally tutored by the most famous scholar in the Academy. If anyone’s dramatic, it’s you.” You let out a laugh, shaking your head. “Me? Dramatic? How am I the dramatic one here?” Chai Latte Cookie smirked, leaning forward with a teasing glint in her eye. “Oh, I don’t know… Maybe it’s the way you’re acting like you’re marching to your own execution?” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie snorted. “Or the part where you begged us to hold your hand and drop you off like a lost little first-year?” You gasped, putting a hand to your chest in mock offense. “I did not beg.” Chai Latte grinned. “You totally did.” Earl Grey Cookie chuckled, shaking his head. “Indeed. It was quite the spectacle.” You groaned, burying your face in your hands. “I hate you guys.” Chai Latte patted your back with exaggerated sympathy. “We know. But we’re still walking you there, so you’re stuck with us.” You sighed dramatically, lifting your head just enough to glare at her. “Unbelievable.” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie grinned. “Not as unbelievable as you being personally tutored by the Sage of Truth himself.” He nudged your arm. “I mean, come on. That’s insane.” Chai Latte hummed in agreement. “Yeah, out of all the scholars in this place, he’s spending his time on you?” she smirked. “What did you do to deserve that?” You groaned again. “I failed in class. That’s what I did.” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie smirked. “And now you’re his new project. Tragic.” Earl Grey Cookie chuckled. “In all fairness, it is an opportunity most would envy.” You scoffed, leaning back in your chair. “Yeah, well, they can have it.” Chai Latte Cookie shook his head. “Nope. Too late. You’re his now.” You rolled your eyes. “You guys are the worst.”

Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie grinned. “And yet, here you are, asking us to walk you to your big scary tutoring session like a lost little duckling.” You pointed a finger at him. “I take it back. You’re the dramatic one.” He gasped, placing a hand over his heart. “How dare you?” Chai Latte snorted. “Alright, alright, save the theatrics. We’ll meet up later and take you to your intellectual doom.” You sighed, but a small smile played on your lips. “Appreciate it. Even if you guys are unbearable.” Earl Grey Cookie smirked. “The feeling is mutual.” As your friends gathered their things and prepared to head off to their next lecture, you lingered behind, watching them go. “Don’t wander too far,” Chai Latte Cookie called over her shoulder. “We’re not hunting you down if you chicken out and disappear before tutoring.” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie grinned. “Actually, we might. Earl Grey’s scary when he’s determined.” Earl Grey Cookie simply adjusted his sleeves. “You agreed to tutoring. You will be going.” You sighed dramatically. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll be here. Meet me in the garden, yeah?” Satisfied, they left, disappearing into the crowd of students moving through the Academy halls. Once they were gone, you let out a breath and turned toward the garden path. You just needed some quiet. The Academy’s garden was a sanctuary tucked away behind the older halls of the school, its cobblestone paths winding through patches of deep green foliage and delicate, glowing flowers. Enchanted lanterns hung from archways, their soft, bluish light making the space feel almost dreamlike. The faint trickle of a fountain filled the air, blending with the rustling of leaves in the breeze.

You followed the path at a slow pace, letting the cool air settle your nerves. Even with your friends’ teasing, the thought of another session with the Sage of Truth still weighed on you. It wasn’t just that he was intimidating, it was that you wanted to do well. You didn’t want to sit there struggling, fumbling for answers while he waited patiently, seeing right through you. You sighed, stopping near the fountain and leaning against its stone edge. This is fine. You can do this. He’s just another scholar. Just another- You took your time wandering through the Academy’s garden, the cool air a welcome contrast to the suffocating weight of your thoughts. The cobblestone path wound through beds of enchanted flora, their petals shifting colors in response to the gentle breeze. The distant trickle of a fountain mixed with the occasional chirp of a nocturnal bird, creating a quiet, serene atmosphere…one that made it easy to pretend, just for a moment, that you weren’t completely dreading your tutoring session.

You sighed, rubbing your temple. It’s not that bad. You were being dramatic. All you had to do was show up, listen, and attempt to answer his questions without making a fool of yourself. It wasn’t as if the Sage of Truth was unkind…far from it. He was patient, impossibly so. But that patience only made it worse. It meant he expected you to improve. And what if you didn’t? You scuffed your shoe against the cobblestones, exhaling sharply. It wasn’t as if you could back out now. Professor Almond Custard Cookie had all but handed you over like an unfortunate burden, and your friends especially Earl Grey Cookie… he would not let you disappear to avoid it. After a while, you found yourself near a stone bench beneath the twisting branches of an ancient tree. Sitting down, you let your head tip back against the cool bark, staring up at the sky between the leaves. The enchanted lanterns that dotted the garden cast a soft glow, barely competing with the dim light of the setting sun. Maybe you just needed to stop overthinking it. Maybe you just needed to get through tonight. With a groan, you pushed yourself up from the bench and stretched. You had some time before your friends came to collect you for the walk to Shadow Milk Cookie’s office, and you weren’t about to give them the satisfaction of finding you still sulking when they returned. One deep breath. Then another. You can do this.

As the late afternoon sun painted the academy’s halls in warm gold, you found yourself lingering in the school’s garden, the soft rustling of leaves filling the air. You weren’t sure if it was nerves or reluctance that made you hesitate, but the thought of walking alone to the Sage of Truth’s office was enough to make your stomach twist. You traced absent patterns in the dirt with the toe of your shoe, your mind drifting back to the weight of his gaze the day before, the way his words had peeled away your uncertainty and left you grasping for understanding. Just the memory of it made you tense. “You’re not trying to hide from us, are you?” Chai Latte Cookie’s warm voice broke through your thoughts, and you turned to see her approaching with Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie and Earl Grey Cookie in tow. “There you are,” Earl Grey Cookie said, adjusting the cuffs of his uniform. His tone was calm as ever, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. “I was beginning to think we’d have to drag you out of hiding.” You let out a soft laugh, rubbing the back of your neck. “Not hiding. Just… preparing myself.” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie raised a skeptical brow. “Preparing? For what, exactly? You already had your first session.” “Yes, and it was…” You exhaled, searching for the right words. “A lot.” Chai Latte Cookie smiled knowingly. “I imagine being taught by someone like the Sage of Truth would be overwhelming.” She twirled a strand of her hair around her finger. “He’s practically a living legend.” You scoffed lightly, kicking at a stray pebble. “Yeah, no pressure or anything.” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie crossed his arms. “Is he really that intimidating?” You hesitated, thinking back to the way his voice carried with such certainty, the way he seemed to peel apart reality itself with his relentless pursuit of truth. “It’s not that he’s intimidating, exactly… It’s more that he’s” You paused, struggling to find the right words. “Larger than life. You can’t really argue with him, because he’s already ten steps ahead of you.” Earl Grey Cookie hummed thoughtfully. “Sounds about right for someone with a title like that.” Chai Latte Cookie nudged you gently. “So, do you want us to walk you there? Or are you ready to face this ‘larger-than-life’ scholar on your own?” You hesitated for only a second before nodding. “Yeah. Walk with me.”

The three of them fell into step beside you as you made your way through the academy’s halls. The further you walked, the more unfamiliar the surroundings became. This part of the academy was different, quieter, grander. The walls were lined with ancient texts and artifacts from scholars long past, their presence lingering in the very air. Your friends, usually so talkative, grew quieter as they took in the surroundings. “I’ve never been this far into the scholars’ wing before,” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie admitted, his gaze drifting across the intricate carvings in the wooden archways. “Feels like we shouldn’t even be here.” “You’re telling me,” you muttered, gripping the strap of your bag tighter. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to get used to this.” Chai Latte Cookie nudged you playfully. “One step at a time, obviously.” As you neared the door to the Sage of Truth’s office, a strange feeling settled in your chest. The door was carved with celestial symbols, a quiet testament to the wisdom that lay beyond it. The weight of history and knowledge pressed down on you, making your heartbeat quicken.

Your steps slowed. Chai Latte Cookie caught on immediately. “You okay?” You swallowed thickly. “Yeah, I just…” You glanced at the door, then back at your friends. “It still feels unreal.” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie adjusted his glasses. “You could always turn back.” “No.” You shook your head, standing a little straighter. “I can’t. I won’t.” Earl Grey Cookie nodded approvingly. “Then go on. No point in waiting any longer.” You exhaled slowly, steeling yourself. “Right.” Chai Latte Cookie smiled. “We’ll be here in spirit. You’ve got this.” You gave them a grateful look before turning toward the door. The moment your knuckles rapped against the wood, a voice steady, rich, and unmistakably belonging to the Sage of Truth’s called from within. “Enter.” And with one final glance at your friends, you stepped forward. As you stepped into the office, the heavy wooden door clicking shut behind you, you willed yourself to keep your composure. Act normal. That was the only thing you needed to do. The room was as grand as you expected towering bookshelves lined every inch of the walls, filled with tomes that hummed with the weight of knowledge far beyond your grasp. Dim candle light flickered against ancient scrolls and bound leather volumes, casting long shadows across the dark oak desk that separated you from the Sage of Truth himself.

Shadow Milk Cookie sat with his hands clasped together, heterochromatic eyes watching you with that ever-present, unreadable curiosity. There was nothing outwardly daunting about his posture he wasn’t looming over you, nor did he seem displeased by your arrival. And yet, the weight of his presence alone was enough to make your stomach twist into knots. Did he know? Had he seen you skipping class earlier? Or worse had someone told him? You had been careful, but he was the Sage of Truth. What if he could just tell? No. You had to push that thought aside. You weren’t here to dwell on what-ifs. You were here to learn. Swallowing your nerves, you forced yourself to speak first. “Um. I figured the session would be at the same time as yesterday, so… here I am.” His lips quirked slightly. Not quite a smile, but something like amusement. “Indeed. You are nothing if not observant.” You couldn’t tell if that was a compliment or not. A tense pause filled the space between you. The longer he looked at you, the more your earlier anxiety tried to creep back in. Should you say something else? Should you apologize for something, just in case? No, that’d be too suspicious. You just had to move forward like everything was fine. “So,” you started, shifting in your seat, “uh, where do we start today?” Shadow Milk Cookie leaned back slightly, steepling his fingers as he studied you. “That depends,” he said, voice smooth and composed. “Have you taken time to reflect on our last discussion?” Last discussion. You weren’t sure if he meant the lesson or… the discussion the one where he had asked you if truth itself was an illusion. The one you hadn’t been able to answer. You hesitated, trying to gauge the safest response. “I thought about it, if that’s what you’re asking.” His knowing gaze didn’t waver. “And?” You scrambled for something to say. Something that would make you sound even remotely competent. “And… I still don’t know,” you admitted, exhaling sharply. “It’s not exactly a simple question, is it?” “Few truths ever are,” he mused, tilting his head slightly. “And yet, you seek knowledge regardless.” You shifted, unsure whether that was supposed to be reassuring or not. “Well, yeah. That’s… kind of the point of all this, isn’t it?” His smile grew just a fraction. “Precisely.” Another pause. You wanted to believe this was just like yesterday’s session, that there was nothing different, no unspoken accusations, no suspicion lingering in the air. And yet, the nagging fear still gnawed at you. Hesitantly, you cleared your throat. “Um. Just to be sure… did anything, uh, happen today?” Shadow Milk Cookie raised a brow. “Many things happened today, I imagine. You’ll have to be more specific.” You immediately regretted asking. “Never mind.” He hummed, that same knowing amusement flickering in his expression. You didn’t know if that was a good thing or not. “Shall we begin, then?” he asked smoothly, gesturing toward the open tomes on his desk. You nodded quickly, eager to move on. “Yeah. Let’s start.” If you had been caught skipping class, you’d rather not find out now. The room was quiet, save for the scratching of your quill and the occasional rustle of parchment. You sat at the long wooden table, hunched over your notes, frustration simmering beneath your skin. Across from you, Shadow Milk Cookie observed you with his usual poised patience, waiting for you to arrive at the truth on your own. But that was the problem. He never told you anything outright. No easy corrections. No direct answers. Only questions, each one unraveling your assumptions and forcing you to rebuild them from the ground up.

Why do you believe that? What is the reasoning behind your conclusion? What if the opposite were true? What changes? It was exhausting. You let out a sharp sigh, tapping your quill against the table. “Can’t you just tell me if I’m wrong?” Shadow Milk Cookie smiled faintly. “Would that help you understand?” “Yes!” He tilted his head slightly. “Would it?” You clenched your jaw. “It would help me know the answer.” “And what is knowledge without understanding?” You shut your eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply. You had walked right into that one. Biting the inside of your cheek, you turned back to your parchment. You had been asked to analyze a spell, its purpose, its construction, and the reasoning behind its specific sequence. You thought you had a solid explanation, but as soon as you had presented it, Shadow Milk Cookie had poked a dozen holes in it with nothing but questions. You frowned at your notes. “I don’t even know where to start fixing it.” “Then start by questioning your own logic,” he said. “What assumption led you astray?” You hesitated. You hadn’t considered that. Glancing at your work, you retraced your thought process. “I assumed this incantation was reinforcing the spell’s foundation,” you murmured. “Mm.” He nodded. “And what happens if you challenge that assumption?”

You furrowed your brows, turning the idea over in your mind. “If I challenge it… then maybe it’s not reinforcing the foundation at all. Maybe it’s destabilizing it on purpose.” A spark of realization flickered in your mind. Your grip on your quill tightened as you looked up. “It’s not reinforcing, it’s redirecting the magic.” Shadow Milk Cookie’s eyes gleamed with approval. “Go on.” You quickly scribbled down your revised thoughts, the pieces beginning to fall into place. “The instability is intentional. It forces the spell to shift, which is why the next sequence works the way it does…because it’s not actually building off the first part. It’s reacting to it.” A soft chuckle left him. “Fascinating, isn’t it? A contradiction that serves to create harmony.” You leaned back in your chair, still a little frustrated but also, for the first time, a little excited. “…I guess your method kind of works,” you admitted begrudgingly. Shadow Milk Cookie smiled knowingly. “Truth is far more rewarding when you reach for it yourself.” You huffed, but the corner of your mouth twitched. Maybe, just maybe, there was something to this after all.

Shadow Milk Cookie tapped a neat stack of parchment beside him. “Professor Almond Custard Cookie has kindly provided me with notes from today’s lecture.” Your breath hitched. You forced yourself to sit still, nodding as if this was perfectly normal and not something that sent a jolt of panic through your chest. “Oh?” You hoped your voice sounded neutral. “That’s… helpful.” His gaze flickered over you, unreadable, but he made no comment on your tone. “Indeed. A well-structured foundation is necessary before we can build further understanding. Let us review what you have learned today.” What you should have learned today. You swallowed hard, shifting in your chair. Did he know? Had he seen you? Or was this just his usual thoroughness, covering all possible gaps in your knowledge? Either way, you couldn’t let on that you hadn’t been there. You had to act natural. Shadow Milk Cookie unfolded the notes with care, his expression as composed as ever. “The lecture focused on layered spell sequences,” he began, scanning the parchment. “Specifically, the interplay between incantations and rune stabilization. Tell me, what stood out to you most in the professor’s explanation?” Your stomach twisted. You had no idea what had been said in that classroom today. You stalled, pretending to contemplate. “Ah… well, I think the way incantations interact with stabilization is… important?” You inwardly cringed at your own weak response. Shadow Milk Cookie’s lips pressed into a thoughtful line. “Yes, but tell me how they interact.” You hesitated. His gaze didn’t waver. “I…” Your fingers curled slightly against the table. Think. Think. You had read about this before. Maybe you could piece something together. “Well, I assume stabilization ensures the spell doesn’t collapse under its own structure. So, incantations must… reinforce that stability?” His expression remained neutral, but there was an unmistakable hmm of consideration. “An understandable assumption. However” he tapped a particular line in the notes “today’s lecture addressed how some spells do not seek absolute stability, but rather a controlled imbalance to generate movement within the structure.” Controlled imbalance. You latched onto the phrase, your mind scrambling to keep up. “So… a spell needs to be a little unstable to function?” He nodded. “Precisely. A rigid spell is an inflexible one. It must be designed with room for natural shifts in energy.” You quickly wrote this down, relieved that he was explaining rather than pressing you for details you should already know. Maybe you could get through this without him realizing you had skipped

“Did the professor’s demonstration aid in your understanding?” You stiffened. “…Demonstration?” Shadow Milk Cookie raised a brow. “Yes. The professor performed a practical example, showing how slight adjustments in incantation timing could alter a spell’s balance. I assume you took notes on the variations?” Your brain screamed. You forced a nod, trying not to look as panicked as you felt. “Oh uh, yes. Of course.” You hurried to scribble something vague in your notes, praying he wouldn’t ask to see them. There was a pause. Shadow Milk Cookie studied you, his gaze lingering just a second too long. Then, as if deciding something, he simply said, “Good. Then let us test your understanding.” Your stomach dropped. “Try explaining one of the variations the professor demonstrated,” he continued, resting his chin lightly against his interlaced fingers. “In your own words.” Oh, no. You had definitely been caught. You opened your mouth, scrambling for anything that might sound plausible. Think. Think. If you just threw out some terms maybe something vague about timing and energy shifts you could get through this. “Well,” you started, “the variations were, uh… subtle? Like, um, small changes in the incantation would…” You hesitated, grasping at nothing. “They would, you know, affect the spell’s… structure?” Shadow Milk Cookie waited. You felt yourself sweat under his unwavering gaze. “And, um, depending on uh the… pronunciation?” You winced internally. “The spell either stayed balanced or became… less balanced?” Silence. You knew. He knew. You had nothing. And he wasn’t saying anything, wasn’t stopping you, just letting you struggle as if waiting for you to come to the realization yourself. Your brain scrambled, but the more you tried to fix it, the more tangled your words became, until finally, you gave up. You sighed, rubbing your temples as the silence between you stretched unbearably long. The moment you had started explaining, you knew…you knew…you weren’t making any sense. The more you spoke, the more tangled your words became, and Shadow Milk Cookie’s patient, expectant gaze only made it worse. “…I need a break,” you blurted. Shadow Milk Cookie blinked, tilting his head slightly. You nodded, trying to play it off as a totally normal request and not a desperate attempt to escape. “Yeah. A break. Just for a moment.” You forced a weak chuckle. “You know, let the knowledge settle in.” His expression remained unreadable. For a moment, you feared he would press the matter, but then he simply said, “Very well.” Instead of just simply agreeing, he rose from his seat as well. “Then I shall accompany you.” Your stomach dropped. “You? Oh. Uh, no, that’s not” You let out a nervous chuckle. “I meant, like… a solo break. Just me. Alone.” Shadow Milk Cookie arched a brow, the faintest glint of amusement in his eyes. “And why should enlightenment be a solitary pursuit?” You opened your mouth, then closed it. “I will walk with you,” he decided, already moving toward the door. “A change of environment may prove beneficial to our discussion.” Discussion? You had been hoping to escape that very thing! But what were you supposed to say? No, great Sage, please let me go be confused in peace? Reluctantly, you followed him out into the hallway, feeling more trapped than before. So much for a break.

As you stepped into the hallway, it felt like you had crossed into a realm you didn’t belong in. The Scholars’ Wing was unlike anything you had ever seen not just a part of the academy, but a world of its own. The air was different here, heavier, as if it carried the whispers of every scholar who had ever walked these halls. The towering bookshelves embedded into the walls weren’t just filled with books; they were filled with knowledge you doubted you’d ever grasp. Above, the arched ceiling stretched impossibly high, adorned with intricate constellations that shimmered faintly, shifting ever so slightly, as if mapping the movements of the stars in real time. You swallowed hard, instinctively slowing your steps. Your own presence here felt like a mistake, like you had wandered somewhere you weren’t supposed to be. This was a place for scholars, real scholars. People who understood the things written in those books, who could decipher the runes carved into the marble pillars. Not someone who had been all but forced into tutoring because they couldn’t keep up. Shadow Milk Cookie walked beside you, his presence as effortless as always, as if this space was a natural extension of himself. Of course, it was. He belonged here. Everyone in this wing probably did.

You barely heard Shadow Milk Cookie’s voice beside you something about the importance of stepping away from one’s studies to reflect. Your gaze was fixed on the domed ceiling overhead, where celestial maps were delicately etched into the stone, glowing faintly as if the sky itself had been preserved in this sacred place. “You are unusually quiet,” his voice cut through your thoughts, his tone gentle but observant. You hesitated before answering, still glancing around as if the sheer weight of the place might crush you if you weren’t careful. “It just… doesn’t feel like I should be here,” you admitted, the words leaving your mouth before you could stop them. Shadow Milk Cookie came to a stop, turning toward you with an unreadable expression. For a long moment, he simply studied you, and you felt even smaller under his gaze not because he was judging, but because he was seeing. “And what, pray tell, makes you believe you do not belong?” You gestured vaguely at the grandiosity around you. “Look at this place. It’s ancient, it’s brilliant, it’s” You exhaled sharply, shaking your head. “I’m just some student struggling to keep up. This wing is for people who know what they’re doing.” Shadow Milk Cookie’s lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile. “Then it is most fortunate you are here,” he said simply. You blinked. “What?” “To become one who ‘knows what they are doing,’ one must first find themselves where knowledge resides. You would not fault a fledgling for standing in the sky before it has learned to fly.”

You stared at him, unsure how to respond. He made it sound so simple. Like just being here meant you had already taken the first step toward belonging. Shadow Milk Cookie resumed walking, and after a moment, you forced your legs to move again, though the doubt still lingered. Maybe one day you would feel like you belonged. But today, surrounded by the vastness of knowledge you couldn’t begin to fathom, you just felt small. You sighed, trailing just a step behind Shadow Milk Cookie as you tried to put your thoughts into words. The way he spoke. So assured, so certain it made it sound like struggling was just another step forward, like it wasn’t the exhausting, frustrating thing that it was. “You make it sound so simple,” you muttered, shaking your head. “Like struggling is just… part of the process. But it’s not that easy.” Shadow Milk Cookie glanced at you, intrigued. “Is it not?” You frowned. “No, it isn’t. Struggling means failing over and over. It means feeling like you’re the only one who doesn’t get it while everyone else moves forward. It means trying your best and still coming up short. It’s frustrating, and it’s discouraging, and” You stopped, exhaling sharply before running a hand down your face. “You talk about it like it’s just another step, but when you’re the one struggling, it doesn’t feel like that. It feels like you’ll never get it.”

Shadow Milk Cookie stopped as well, turning fully toward you, his expression unreadable. His gaze wasn’t pitying, nor was it dismissive it was considering, as though he was turning your words over in his mind like a scholar studying an unfamiliar text. “Ah,” he finally said, his tone softer than before. “You perceive struggle as an obstruction rather than a passage.” You gave him a tired look. “That’s what I mean. You say it like that, and it sounds wise, but that doesn’t make it any easier.” He chuckled at that, folding his arms behind his back. “Perhaps not. Truth, after all, is not always a comfort.” You didn’t have a response to that, chewing on the inside of your cheek. After a moment, he continued. “When you fall short, do you cease to move forward entirely?” You hesitated. “No… but it feels like I do.” “And yet, you still stand before me,” he mused. “Still seeking, still questioning. That, I daresay, is proof that you have not been left behind.” You frowned, thinking over his words. Maybe you hadn’t fallen behind entirely, but you still felt stuck, still felt like you weren’t moving forward nearly as fast as you should. Shadow Milk Cookie resumed walking, his robes drifting behind him with each step. “You struggle, and so you doubt,” he continued. “That is expected. But enlighten me…if struggling feels so endless, why do you continue?” You bit your lip. You could have told him that you had no choice, that Professor Almond Custard Cookie had all but forced this arrangement upon you, but you didn’t say that. Because at the end of the day, you could have refused. You could have walked away. You could have given up. But you hadn’t. “…Because I don’t want to fail,” you admitted quietly. Shadow Milk Cookie glanced at you again, and this time, there was a warmth in his gaze not pity, not amusement, but something softer. Almost as if he did understand. “Then I would say you are already moving forward.” You swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the question pressing against your chest. You’d been trying to act normal, trying to brush past it, but the thought wouldn’t leave you alone. He knew. He had to. Otherwise, how would he have known exactly what the lecture covered? You exhaled sharply, deciding to just get it over with. “How did you know I wasn’t in lecture today?” you asked, voice carefully even. Shadow Milk Cookie didn’t stop walking, but he did glance at you, as if amused by your directness. “I make it my mission to uncover the truth,” he said smoothly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “It was not difficult.” You furrowed your brows. “That doesn’t really answer my question.”

His smile widened, a glimmer of intrigue in his gaze. “Would you like to take a guess?” You almost groaned. Of course he was going to do this. “Because Professor Almond Custard Cookie told you?” “A logical deduction,” he mused. “But incorrect.” You frowned, trying to think. Had someone told him? Had he seen you? You didn’t think you’d run into him earlier… “…Did you see me?” you asked hesitantly. “Not quite.” You exhaled sharply through your nose. “Then how?” Shadow Milk Cookie chuckled, finally stopping as he turned to face you. “You,” he said simply. You blinked. “Me?” “The way you reacted when I mentioned the lecture,” he clarified. “Your hesitation, your choice of words, the way your eyes flickered. Small tells, but tells nonetheless.” You stared at him, half-impressed, half-mortified. He really had just figured it out like that? “…So you were just guessing?” you asked, crossing your arms. “A calculated guess,” he corrected, looking far too pleased with himself. “And, as I suspected, correct.” You let out a long sigh, shaking your head. “Great. So you didn’t actually know for sure until I walked right into it.” He hummed in agreement, tilting his head. “And yet, here we are.” You groaned, dragging a hand down your face. “Fantastic.” He chuckled, clasping his hands behind his back once more. “Truth has a way of revealing itself, regardless of one’s intentions.” You shot him a flat look. “You love this, don’t you?” “Only as much as you allow me to.” You had no idea what that was supposed to mean, but you were too exasperated to ask.

You let out a small chuckle, stretching your arms over your head. “Next time, I just won’t tell you if I skipped,” you joked easily. “I’ll let you figure it out on your own.” It was a casual comment, the kind you’d toss at a friend in passing. And then silence. A weight settled in the air. You blinked, suddenly very aware of the fact that this was not just a friend. This was the Sage of Truth. The scholar so many looked up to, the one who spoke in grand truths and ancient wisdom. And you had just… Your stomach dropped. Slowly, you glanced at him, as if bracing for some kind of lecture. Shadow Milk Cookie looked down at you with a curious glint in his golden eyes. “Oh?” he mused. “You would test my ability to discern the truth?” You opened your mouth, then shut it. Oh, you’d walked right into that one. “I mean” You scratched at the back of your neck, suddenly feeling foolish. “It was just a joke…” He didn’t look offended. If anything, there was the faintest hint of amusement in his expression. “Even jest can hold a challenge,” he remarked. “Would you prefer I not know?” You frowned slightly, caught off guard by the question. “I mean… I wasn’t serious about it.” “Of course,” he said smoothly. “And yet, now you find yourself second-guessing.” You huffed, shaking your head. “I should probably be more careful with my jokes.” His lips quirked into something just shy of a full smile. “Only if you wish to avoid reflection.” You weren’t sure what to say to that, so you just exhaled sharply and kept walking, trying to ignore the way your face burned. Maybe next time, you’d think before speaking so casually to one of the Academy’s most esteemed scholars.

As you stepped back into Shadow Milk Cookie’s office, the momentary relief of your break faded, replaced by the familiar weight of study. The air inside still held the scent of old parchment and candle wax, and the quiet hum of magic lingered in the walls. “Now,” Shadow Milk Cookie began as he settled back into his seat, golden eyes watching you expectantly, “shall we continue?” You swallowed, nodding as you took your place once more. There was no escaping it, you had to put in the effort, no matter how frustrating it was. And frustrating it was. Shadow Milk Cookie didn’t simply tell you where you went wrong. Instead, he guided you with questions, each one meant to lead you toward the answer yourself. But more often than not, you struggled to grasp where he was leading you. Every time you thought you understood, he’d push just a little further, and your confidence would waver. “Consider again,” he said patiently. “You are focused on the outcome, but what of the process? Why does this approach not work?” You frowned, chewing the inside of your cheek. “Because… it contradicts the earlier theorem?” He tilted his head slightly. “Does it?” You hesitated. Did it? You weren’t sure anymore. Frustration bubbled up again, but you bit your tongue. You wanted to get this. Even if it was difficult…even if his methods made your head spin you had to keep trying. Then, in a moment of clarity, something clicked. “Oh wait. It’s because the foundation of the proof was misapplied earlier. That’s why the conclusion doesn’t work.” Shadow Milk Cookie smiled, pleased. “Precisely.” You exhaled, slumping back slightly. “You make me work too hard for these answers.” “If I simply gave them to you, would they hold the same meaning?” “…No,” you admitted, sighing. “But it’d be easier.” He chuckled softly. “Ease does not always lead to true understanding.” You rolled your eyes but couldn’t argue. The lesson continued, and by the time you finally left his office, your brain was buzzing with all the concepts he’d drilled into you. The air outside was cooler now, and waiting just outside the Scholar’s Wing were Chai Latte Cookie, Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie, and Earl Grey Cookie, gathered near the grand pillars of the entrance.

“There you are!” Chai Latte Cookie grinned as she waved. “Took you long enough.” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie smirked. “Still alive?” “Barely,” you muttered, trudging toward them. Earl Grey Cookie adjusted his glasses, eyeing you with mild amusement. “We figured you’d be trapped in there forever.” You sighed dramatically. “If I had to answer one more question, I think my brain would’ve melted.” Chai Latte Cookie chuckled, linking her arm with yours. “C’mon, let’s go get some food. You look like you need it.” You groaned. “You have no idea.” As they led you away from the imposing halls of the Scholar’s Wing, the weight of the session slowly faded. You still had a long way to go, but at least you didn’t have to think about it…for now. “We thought you got lost in there.” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie snorted. “Or got turned into a book. You do look like you just crawled out of an archive.” Earl Grey Cookie gave you a once-over, brow slightly furrowed. “Was it that bad?” You groaned, dragging a hand down your face as you approached. “You have no idea.” Chai Latte Cookie immediately looped her arm through yours as you started walking. “Come on, tell us everything. What’s he like?” Chai Latte Cookie nudged you playfully. “You never really answered earlier.” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie smirked. “Yeah, you’ve actually spoken to him. What’s the Sage of Truth like up close?” Earl Grey Cookie adjusted his glasses. “Is he as theatrical as everyone says?” You groaned. “Oh, not this again.” “Oh, yes, this again,” Chai Latte Cookie said with a grin. “Come on, spill.” You hesitated before shrugging. “I mean… yeah, he’s kind of theatrical, but not in the way I expected. He’s not dramatic dramatic. He just speaks like everything he says is important.” Earl Grey Cookie nodded. “I suppose that makes sense. He is the Sage of Truth.” You hesitated, exhaling. “He’s… a lot.” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie raised an eyebrow. “Elaborate.”

“I don’t even know where to start,” you admitted. “He’s so sure of everything, and he doesn’t just tell you when you’re wrong…he makes you figure it out yourself.” You shook your head. “It’s frustrating because he makes it sound so simple when it’s not.” Chai Latte Cookie hummed. “That sounds kind of exhausting.” “It was. And then” you groaned, tilting your head back, “he knew I wasn’t in lecture today.” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie blinked. “Wait, he noticed?” You sighed. “Not only that…he called me out on it.” Earl Grey Cookie’s expression sharpened slightly. “And what did you say?” “I tried to play along. Thought maybe I could just, I don’t know, fake it ‘til I make it? But obviously, I got everything wrong, and he just looked at me.” You gestured vaguely. “Like he was waiting for me to admit it. So I did.” Chai Latte Cookie winced sympathetically. “Oof.” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie let out a low whistle. “That’s rough.” Earl Grey Cookie hummed. “Did he seem upset?” “No, just…” You hesitated. “Like he was studying me. And then, like an idiot, I joked about just not telling him next time if I skipped.” Chai Latte Cookie’s eyes widened. “You did not.” “I did. And then I realized who I was talking to.” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie groaned. “Oh, no.” Earl Grey Cookie chuckled. “Did he say anything?” “He just looked at me for a second and then asked if I really thought he wouldn’t notice.” You sighed. “And then I wanted to melt into the floor.” Chai Latte Cookie patted your arm. “At least he wasn’t mad?” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie crossed his arms. “I’m still surprised he even noticed you weren’t there. He doesn’t seem like the type to care about normal students.” You frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie shrugged. “I mean, he’s kind of a mystery. He mostly works with scholars way above our level.” “That’s true,” Earl Grey Cookie agreed. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of him tutoring someone before.” Chai Latte Cookie tapped her chin. “Does he even teach anything?” You blinked. “…I actually have no idea.” Hazelnut Biscotti Cookie exhaled. “Figures. He probably only teaches advanced scholars.” “Which means whatever he does teach is probably terrifying,” Earl Grey Cookie added. You groaned. “Well, considering how this tutoring session went, I definitely wouldn’t survive an actual class with him.” Chai Latte Cookie giggled. “You’ll be fine. It’s only your second session, you’re still getting used to it.” You sighed, shaking your head. “Yeah… I hope so.” The four of you continued walking, the evening air cool against your skin. Despite everything, it was nice having them here. As a reminder that, outside the Sage of Truth’s endless questioning, you weren’t alone.

A/N I'm not sure how consistent I'll be with updating this week so it might be every 2-3 days for this fic since I have a busy week...fear not though I'll be getting through my requests this week (I was able to update long chapters cause it's a weekend YIPPEEE!!!) anyways please enjoy and reblog for more bangers 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

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#CHAT YOU HAVE TO READ ITS SO GOOD AGH #shadow milk cookie

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