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Truthless recluse lies on his bed, not particularly thinking about anything.
He’d prefer it to stay that way.
Would it?
That was another question.
He hated it.
He wanted to hate this place, its owner,
Everything.
But he couldn’t bring himself to.
He wouldn’t.
Coward.
( “This is what you’ve created instead.
My soul jam…
Of deceit.”
Truthless Recluse said, the words like bile in his throat.
Bitter, with the need to be released.
Was this how things were fated to end?
“Is this what you wanted? Or is it even better?
Instead of one soul jam of knowledge, you’ll have two soul jams of deceit,
And me, forever by your side.”
Truthless recluse continued.
“You’d do that, even after what I did to your friends?” Shadow Milk asked, skeptical.
“Hah! It’s no longer important.
Now it’s as clear as day,
there's no point in denying it.”
Truthless Recluse said, laughing.
You could say that it was from the sheer absurdity of it all.
Him, the revered Hero of Truth,
Now the Hermit of Truth.
How amusing.
“You and I… we are meant to be together.” Truthless recluse finished off, still smiling.
In a sense,
They were.
Always bound.
Like two sides of the same coin.
Shadow Milk laughed, perhaps in glee.
It wasn’t new.
“Yes, Yes! Now, you are mine!”
Shadow Milk said, holding the other in his arms, as Truthless gave into it.
[ how could he not? ] )
…
Was this what he wanted?
To be alongside Shadow Milk,
Forever?
Forever.. And ever…
Without end.
Like always.
If he held onto the person that Shadow Milk made him,
At least there would be a sense of self to hold onto.
Maybe submitting to corruption wasn’t so bad after all.
Maybe,
He could do that.
The door swings open, the sound of heels clattering on the ground.
The sound only gets louder and louder, until it stops.
It was all too familiar.
“Shadow Milk?” Truthless Recluse calls out, grabbing his staff.
He didn’t need to see to be able to tell who it was.
Once Truthless grabs his staff, he turns it towards Shadow Milk, now being able to see him properly.
His staff was the only thing that remained the same about him.
It was a constant of sorts.
“Aw, if it isn’t my favourite cookie!” Shadow Milk exclaims, hugging Truthless Recluse.
The other flinches as Shadow Milk’s fingers curl on his waist.
Truthless remains silent, not saying a word.
Shadow Milk only smiles in return.
“Why are you here?” Truthless asks, his voice flat.
There was no need to ask.
He wouldn’t get an answer anyway.
“Why? Aren’t you glad you’re with me?”
Shadow Milk asks, his voice dripping with amusement.
Another deflection,
Like always.
“No, I’m not.” Truthless Recluse says, defiant.
Shadow Milk’s eyes widen in surprise,
not quite expecting that kind of answer.
And yet,
Was there really much to be surprised about?
‘‘You never needed any of those gnats anyway’’
Shadow Milk mutters to himself,
looking away from Truthless Recluse.
That doesn’t mean that the other can’t hear him.
If anything,
Only the opposite was true.
That is to be expected in this spire of lies.
Shadow Milk thinks for a moment, pausing.
He then looks at Truthless recluse, his mismatched eyes meeting Truthless Recluse
“Even so, you will be.” Shadow Milk says, his voice certain.
Shadow Milk grabs the other’s staff, before dropping it to the ground.
Truthless Recluse gasps, but doesn’t say anything.
The sound of the orchid falling on the ground muffles the recluse’s gasp.
“That thing never suited you anyway. It made you look like him.”
Shadow Milk says, annoyance seeping through his voice.
Him,
The Fount of Knowledge.
( He still remembered.
All too well.
In the end, all it brought him
Was despair. )
Shadow Milk’s hand reaches towards his neck, his claws grazing his throat.
Jam seeps out of Truthless Recluse’s neck, the crimson dripping onto his cloak.
He had to stop this.
Somehow.
“Shadow Milk,” Truthless Recluse says, his voice softer.
Even so, the glint in his eyes says everything.
“What?” The other asks.
“Your lies won’t save you.” He continues,
his voice gentle.
And yet,
There is a blade that hides within it.
Sharp, and meant for no good.
“Excuse me?” Shadow Milk asks, irritated.
“Don’t lie to me, Shadow Milk. I know what you are.” Truthless Recluse says, his face softening.
But this softness hurts,
Far too much to be true.
“I. don’t. care.” Shadow Milk says, his smile gone.
Truthless Recluse’s hand reaches up to Shadow Milk’s face, cradling it.
“Another lie.” Truthless Recluse says, smiling.
“Shut up. Shut up. SHUT UP!” Shadow Milk screams, clearly agitated.
Shadow Milk’s hands go towards Truthless Recluse, ready to attack him,
to force the existence of the man into nothing but crumbs.
“Do it.” Truthless Recluse says.
He still smiles.
Why?
What was the reason?
He knows.
He won't do it.
He can’t.
“Why? Why do you have to be like this?” Shadow Milk asks, upset.
Truthless Recluse stays silent.
He already knows.
There is no need to say anything.
Not now.
Truthless Recluse pauses for a moment, as if to think.
Truthless Recluse shifts his body towards Shadow Milk, leaning on him.
His arms wrap around the other's neck, his head beside Shadow Milk’s ear.
“Don’t worry. I’ll always be there for you.” Truthless Recluse whispers.
“Forever.” The recluse says, finishing his words.
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