SOLUTION: This clue, "False Guide," points to the North Star Industrial Park Water Tower at Highway 82 & 389 in Starkville. The title "False Guide" and lines like "holds no bearing," "mistaken for direction," and "watches, but never leads" refer to something that resembles a navigational aid but doesn't actually provide guidance. The crucial link is the name "North Star," which is historically the primary star used for navigation (a true guide). However, as a water tower, this structure's purpose is utilitarian (water storage for the industrial park), not directional. Its height ("It rises like a promise," "Find the height") is characteristic of a water tower, but despite its suggestive name, it offers "no flame, no motion, no pull" for navigation, making it indeed a "false guide."
