Chapter 63: Second Question : Essence of Knowledge

Ruchir, catching his breath and steadying himself, glanced over at Garret and the newcomer. "Garret, who's this with you?"

Garret straightened up, puffing out his chest. "This here is Flippy, master of transformations and a connoisseur of near-death experiences!" 

Flippy, with wide eyes and a beaming smile, added, "Hello everyone! I'm Flippy, nice to meet you!"

Ruchir nodded, trying to maintain his composure despite the absurdity of the situation. "Nice to meet you, Flippy. Now, Garret, do you realize who we're dealing with here?"

Garret, still panting from the chase, looked at the old man in white with a red-black book. His eyes widened with fear and confusion. "Uh, Ruchir, who is this creepy guy?"

Ruchir sighed, "That, Garret, is the Demonic Scholar BookWorm."

Garret's face turned pale. "Another worm?!" he blurted out. Everyone stared at Garret in disbelief. Did he really just call the powerful Demonic Scholar a worm?

The Demonic Scholar's expression remained unchanged, his gaze still fixed on his ominous book. "No creature should disturb my debate," he said coldly. With a flick of his sleeve, all the sandworms vanished, leaving only a lingering trail of dark energy.

Garret, his eyes wide with shock, muttered, "This worm is stronger..."

Everyone, including Ruchir and Senior Brother Kai, shot Garret looks that could kill. Was he out of his mind?

Flippy, oblivious to the tension, tilted his head and asked innocently, "Garret, do you think this worm can teach us magic tricks?"

Ruchir pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep his frustration in check. "Flippy, he's not a worm. He's the Demonic Scholar BookWorm, one of the most dangerous demonic cultivators around."

Flippy's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Oh, so he's a really smart worm!"

Garret facepalmed, groaning in exasperation. "Flippy, please, stop calling him a worm! He's not a worm!"

The Demonic Scholar, still expressionless, watched the exchange with mild interest. He seemed more amused than offended, though his amusement was cold and unsettling.

"You are an entertaining group," he remarked. "But entertainment alone will not save you. Answer my questions, and perhaps I will spare you."

Garret gulped, whispering to Ruchir, "This is why I hate worms. They're always so unpredictable."

Flippy nodded sagely. "And they're always popping up where you least expect them."

Ruchir couldn't help but chuckle despite the gravity of their situation. The comedic duo of Garret and Flippy had a way of lightening even the darkest moments.

He took a deep breath, focusing his mind on the task at hand. "Alright, let's hear your questions, Demonic Scholar. We'll answer them, and then we'll see who has the last laugh."

The Demonic Scholar's lips curved into a faint, cold smile. "Very well," he said. "Let the questioning begin."

The Demonic Scholar BookWorm, still exuding an aura of cold authority, finally spoke, his voice as smooth as silk. "Here is your question: What is the true essence of knowledge?"

The group fell silent, each of them grappling with the profound nature of the question. It was a question that delved deep into the core of understanding itself, a question that seemed impossible to answer.

Jack was the first to break the silence. "My brain's gonna fry," he muttered, rubbing his temples as if the act could squeeze out the answer.

Alaric, always the thoughtful one, ventured his opinion. "Knowledge is the accumulation of facts and information. It's about gathering data and learning from it."

Senior Brother Kai shook his head. "No, Alaric. Knowledge is more than just information. It's about understanding and wisdom. It's the ability to apply what you've learned to real-life situations."

Garret, with his usual flair for the dramatic, chimed in. "Knowledge is like knowing where the best pies are baked! It's the sweet taste of life's experiences."

Everyone turned to stare at Garret, their expressions a mix of incredulity and annoyance.

Flippy, ever the innocent, added, "I think knowledge is like magic! It's something you can learn, but it has to be felt in your heart."

Garret nodded sagely, agreeing with Flippy's absurd yet oddly poetic view. "Yeah, magic pies. Those are the best."

Jack threw up his hands. "I give up. My brain's already fried like an egg on a hot rock."

Ruchir frowned, pondering deeply. He was trying to piece together all the fragments of insight, no matter how bizarre they seemed.

Meanwhile, Garret continued to babble on about pies, almost oblivious to the serious nature of their predicament.

"Maybe," Garret said, "knowledge is like knowing the secret ingredient in a pie. You have to experiment, try different things, and maybe even fail a few times before you get it right."

Everyone groaned in unison. "Garret, will you stop with the pies!" Ruchir snapped, but then paused, a glimmer of realization flickering in his eyes. "Wait... secret ingredient..."

The group fell silent, watching Ruchir as he pieced it together. "The essence of knowledge... it's not just about information or facts. It's about discovery."

"It's the pursuit of understanding, the willingness to explore the unknown and learn from failures. It's like searching for that secret ingredient, the one that makes everything come together."

He turned to Garret, eyes wide with revelation. "Garret, you're a genius!"

Garret blinked, then puffed out his chest, a goofy grin spreading across his face. "Of course I am! I always knew it."

In his mind, Garret was astounded by his own brilliance. Who knew talking about pies would save the day?

Flippy, however, looked skeptical. "But Garret, I don't think you're a genius. I think you just got lucky."

Ruchir laughed, clapping Garret on the back. "Luck or not, he stumbled onto the truth. The essence of knowledge is the pursuit, the journey of discovery."

The Demonic Scholar BookWorm, who had been silent all this time, finally smiled—a cold, calculating smile. "You have answered correctly. Knowledge is indeed the pursuit, the journey of discovery. Well done."

Garret beamed, soaking up the praise. "See? I told you I was a genius!"

The group rolled their eyes, but there was relief and camaraderie in their expressions. Even in the face of danger, they had managed to find humor and hope.

Flippy tugged on Garret's sleeve. "But, Garret, does this mean we get to eat pies now?"

Garret laughed. "Maybe later, Flippy. Right now, we have more important things to deal with."

Jack, who had been silently mulling over the conversation, finally spoke up. "So, what's next? Do we get another question, or are we done here?"

The Demonic Scholar BookWorm nodded. "You will have one more question. Answer it correctly, and I will honor my word. Fail, and you will face the consequences."

Ruchir took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever came next. "We're ready. Ask your next question."

As the Demonic Scholar BookWorm prepared to pose his second question, Garret leaned over to Flippy and whispered, "You know, I really do think pies are the answer to everything."

Flippy giggled. "Maybe, Garret. Maybe."

Ruchir couldn't help but smile at their antics. Despite the gravity of their situation, the humor and lightheartedness of his friends gave him strength.

They might be facing one of the greatest challenges of their lives, but together, they could overcome anything.

Meanwhile somewhere in the forest, Alice stood over the twitching bodies of the defeated sandworms, panting heavily.

Her clothes were torn and covered in grime, her hair a wild mess, but she wore a triumphant smile.

"Not so tough now, are you?" she muttered, poking one of the massive carcasses with her sword. She couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Garret seeing her like this—he'd probably have a panic attack just at the sight.

"That was like trying to fight off a horde of angry garden hoses," she quipped to herself, wiping the sweat from her brow. Just as she sheathed her sword, ready to move on, she noticed a group of students nearby. "Hey, guys!" she called out, waving her hand enthusiastically.

But then she heard snippets of their hushed conversation, and something in their tone made her freeze.

"Is it there?" one of them whispered anxiously.

"Yes, it is," another replied, glancing around nervously.

"Will they really let us live if we bring it to them?" a third student asked, his voice trembling.

Alice's smile faded, replaced by a look of concern.

She crouched behind a bush, straining to hear more.

The students were shifting from foot to foot, looking around with wide, fearful eyes.

She decided to trail them stealthily, curiosity and a sense of duty driving her.

She moved quietly, her footsteps barely a whisper against the forest floor.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she followed the students through the underbrush.

They were so focused on their conversation that they didn't notice her shadowing them.

The students arrived at a muddy swamp, their faces pale with dread. "Are you sure about this?" one of them asked, his voice barely audible.

"We have no choice," another replied, trying to sound braver than he felt. "If we don't do this, they'll find us and kill us anyway."

Alice's eyes narrowed. Who were they talking about? What were they so afraid of? Her stomach churned with a mixture of fear and determination. She had to find out what was going on.

The students glanced around one last time before taking a deep breath and jumping nervously into the swamp. Alice felt a cold shiver run down her spine.

This was bad—really bad. She bit her lip, trying to decide what to do next. Should she follow them into the swamp? She could almost hear Garret's voice in her head, urging her to be careful. But she had to know what they were up to.

With a deep breath, she steeled herself and crept closer to the edge of the swamp. The murky water lapped at the muddy banks, and the air was thick with the smell of decay.

Alice's instincts screamed at her to turn back, but she ignored them. She had come this far, and she wasn't about to let fear stop her now.

As she watched the last student disappear into the swamp, Alice knew she had to act fast.

She took a tentative step forward, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger.

The eerie silence of the swamp seemed to press in on her, making her feel even more uneasy.

Every rustle of the leaves and splash of the water made her jump.

She crouched low, her breath shallow and her muscles tense. "Alright, Alice," she whispered to herself, "time to be the hero."

She took another step, then another, inching closer to the spot where the students had disappeared. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure it would give her away.