Spot the Trickster
Where there's light, there's shadow. Shade and his sidekicks are the opposite of the sages: they wear disguises, teach the wrong things and try to tempt you.
Shade
A gray-black shadow with a crooked grin and a flickering fake crown — with six stars instead of seven.
He can wear any disguise, and he always comes alone, straight to a child, because his tricks never work in front of family.
Six signs of Shade
- He comes aloneWithout any of your family — straight to you.
- He asks for secrets"Don't tell anyone" or "This is our secret."
- He stops you asking grown-ups"No need to ask your mom or dad."
- He rushes you"Come now, or you'll miss it!"
- He tempts you with gifts or gamesCandy, a toy, a game or a "surprise."
- His color is fadedAnd his fake mark has six stars instead of seven.
So what do you do? Say "No!" Step away. And tell a grown-up everything, right away. Real sages always come with your family, so telling your family never upsets a real sage.
Shade's sidekicks
Each sidekick is the opposite of one sage, and carries a faded shadow of that sage's color.
Fizzle
Opposite of Zest · a wobbly ball made of chip crumbs and soda bubbles
Disguise: an ice-cream seller or a cute candy mascot
Says: "Only sweet and fried stuff — skip the veggies."
Scrolly
Opposite of Orbit · a little creature with a flickering screen for a face, surrounded by ringing notification bells
Disguise: a character in a game, or a voice on a phone
Says: "Just one more video, just one more game."
Snoozle
Opposite of Quill · a big, yawning pillow
Disguise: a comfy sofa, or a friend who always says "do it tomorrow"
Says: "Homework later — do nothing now."
Fibs
Opposite of Wren · a two-faced mask that keeps flipping over
Disguise: a clever-looking classmate
Says: "A little lie is fine — nobody will know."
Bluster
Opposite of Fern · a puffed-up, show-off rooster with a megaphone
Disguise: an older "cool" kid
Says: "Bet you won't do it! (But real courage is saying no to a dangerous dare.)"
Gimme
Opposite of Maple · a cloud of faded red smoke that swells every time you compare
Disguise: a kid showing off new toys, or a shiny advert
Says: "You have nothing — everyone has more than you."