Kurt and Blaine aren’t completely left to their own devices. No, they are traveling in a carriage with a couple of soldiers. The carriage is very plain and the soldiers are also dressed as ranchers and farmer to avoid suspicion.

They’re going east, through the woods. That’s where Kurt was found. Kurt spoke about an evil liar and they want to find it. There may be some clues here. There are no other leads that they can follow.

Blaine says goodbye to his parents and sends some birds to his friends, telling them that is out of Castle Town for an unforeseeable time.

The trip starts very uneventful. Kurt and Blaine are sat next together in the carriage and wait. Maybe Blaine should’ve brought something to read after all.

It’s Kurt who speaks first.

“Tell me about yourself,” Kurt says.

Blaine raises an eyebrow.

“Didn’t you already read all about me in your books?” he asks, although admitting that that’s a possibility makes Blaine uneasy. But if The Cooper Chronicles are real, then Kurt should know about Blaine. He knows the Pink Dagger’s name, after all, so Blaine’s existence shouldn’t be as shocking.

“You were born between the first two books,” Kurt says back, “After the king remarried. You were seven when the series ended and you were barely in it because you were at home at the Castle. Let’s just say that B.D. Dalton didn’t spend too much time on you.”

That stings a bit. Blaine knows he’s fine with being in Cooper’s shadow, but Kurt calling him almost insignificant is rude.

“My name is Blaine, as you know. I am twenty years old. I like alchemy and reading and watching Zooms with my friends. Uh. I don’t know what else there is to say.”

When Blaine puts it plainly like that, he does sound boring and insignificant.

Oh God, is Blaine insignificant because he was written that way? He’s never done anything interesting in his life. He just exists, doing mundane things! Is this all he’s ever meant to be?

Blaine pushes that thought away. He still as no reason to believe he was created by some man for a fictional book series.

But now this is gnawing at him.

“What is your Passion?” Kurt asks, “Everyone in Daltonia has one.”

“I am still figuring that out,” Blaine says earnestly. Then he has an idea. “What would your Passion be, if you were a Daltonian?”

“Tailoring,” Kurt answers immediately, “Like Silva.”

“How- Never mind.”

Blaine wants to ask how Kurt knows Silva’s name, since many do not know the royal tailor’s name, but Kurt would answer with The Cooper Chronicles.

“Are you a tailor in your world?” Blaine asks.

“Sort of. I am a fashion student at NYU,” Kurt answers and it once again means nothing to Blaine.

Kurt must’ve realised, so he starts explaining how education works in the kingdom of New York. (Or New kingdom of York? Blaine’s not sure.)

They chat about small things, both hovering around what is really going on, but it is also nice to talk to Kurt about stuff like his degree, his roommates, Blaine’s potions, Blaine’s friends, and what not.

Their little moment definitely get interrupted when the carriage starts shaking. It’s a challenge to hold on to anything and they can hear screaming from the outside. Blaine’s soldiers are in danger.

Blaine forces the door open, but it immediately gets slammed shut.

“Stay inside!” one of the soldiers order.

Kurt and Blaine hold on to each other as they hear a battle commence. Soldiers cry out, horses are neighing. The carriage is going full speed with Kurt and Blaine inside.

Until it comes to an abrupt halt.

Kurt and Blaine are sitting in silence. Blaine can feel his heart beating uncontrollably.

They wait for more orders, or any other sign, but it doesn’t come.

“I… I think… we need to go out,” Kurt suggests, although he sounds unsure.

Blaine nods.

Slowly they get out of the carriage and to their absolute shock, they’re alone. No soldiers. No horses. Kurt jumps out of the carriage to inspect.

“There’s… food. All our stuff is still here.”

“What happened?” Blaine asks, looking around for his men. He’s heard cries. They’re in pain, and Blaine has healing potions, but there’s no one in sight.

“I don’t know,” Kurt sounds stumped, “But we can continue our journey.”

“You want to continue?” Blaine asks, aghast. Blaine wants to go home immediately and see if everyone’s safe.

“Blaine. I have a bad feeling.”

“Same. Which is why we must go home.”

Kurt shakes his head.

“No. I mean. Isn’t it strange that we are unscathed, and our stuff is intact. It’s as if someone’s trying to separate us from your staff.”

“Which is not good!”

“I know,” Kurt holds up his hands. He sees that Blaine is stressed. “But I think that if we return, they will try to separate us again and again. Someone needs us.”

“You just want to go home!” Blaine argues, “But I need to check on my people! I am a Royal!”

“Okay,” Kurt relents, “But I will go on.”

And that renders Blaine speechless. He cannot let Kurt go on his own.

So he gives in. He helps Kurt pack their supplies and together they make their way deeper into the woods.

“Blaine! Look!”

Kurt’s pointing at something in the distance. They’ve been walking aimlessly throughout the woods, but it may have paid off.

“I think that’s the liar where they kept me.”

It does look like a stereotypically evil liar. It also looks extremely deserted.

Blaine has no combat training. He only has his Royal magic. He needs to be cautious, but Kurt immediately runs in.

“What in the world…” Blaine mutters. Kurt really is going into everything head-first.

They scope out the liar and it is indeed empty. Kurt is uneasy.

“This. This is it. This is definitely where they…”

“Hurt you?”

Kurt nods and he looks pained.

“You mentioned experiments, right?”

But Kurt walks away to explore more, without answering. Blaine gets it. Kurt must’ve experienced something that is difficult to think about, and the thought of that alone already makes Blaine shudder.

Blaine follows Kurt to the dungeons, where the cells are.

“Something is not right.”

“No kidding,” Blaine answers. A stereotypically evil looking liar in the woods? No one knew about this!

“No, I mean… Look!”

Kurt points towards the locks. They’re heavy.

“What is it?”

“I told you a guard left the door unlocked. But this place is so creepy, and vast. I… think they let me out by choice.”

“A good guard?” Blaine wonders.

But Kurt shakes his head.

“What if they wanted me to leave? What if they needed to see something.”

The two walk silently across the room. All cells are empty.

Except one.

On the floor lies a book with a colourful cover. A painting of a young, smiling boy, and three other kids is printed on it. The words ‘The Cooper Chronicles: The Seed of Time’ are written on above the picture, in a big, golden font.

“It’s the first book of The Cooper Chronicles,” Kurt says.

Oh, what did Blaine get himself into?