Shadow of the First Sin

Silas looked around the hall, clearly bewildered, until his eyes finally landed on me. With a burst of energy, he sprinted toward me, shouting,

"Have these pointy ears done anything to you?"

"No, Silas. The queen treated me with respect and even granted me a chance to stand trial tomorrow at dawn," I replied calmly.

"Trial? But you did nothing wrong! You single-handedly saved all of Emberfield and its people while these so-called protectors were nowhere to be found, probably off indulging in orgies and other depraved activities. Let me tell you, this place gives me the creeps! Everyone is so calm and polite; it's unsettling," Silas exclaimed.

"There are no orgies in this realm, Mr. Bard. We are a civilized society. If orgies are what you seek, try the southern realms where the elves reside. I hear they are quite open-minded and even welcome outsiders," the queen replied with a smile, visibly entertained by Silas's conspiracies.

"Well, that's even weirder! If it's not sex, then how is everyone so nice and calm here? Ah, never mind! I demand you release Valerian immediately, and let everyone go their separate ways! I'm sure the boy's mother and sister worry where their son and brother disappeared," Silas demanded.

"Silas, I killed a little boy!" I exclaimed.

"But that wasn't your fault! You can't save everyone; it's war, people die, whether by the enemy or by your own hand. You saved a thousand lives and lost one. You are a hero to those people, you are a hero to me," Silas reassured me, but his words failed to ease my burden.

"A hero to some, a villain to others. The boy's family surely won't see me in such a light. I never wanted to be a hero, Silas. I don't want other lives depending on me; I never have and never will. My life is my own, and that alone is hard enough to keep. I will stand trial tomorrow and let the rightful rulers of this land decide my fate, for I no longer know right from wrong."

Silas flinched, his eyes no longer filled with hope but with worry. Then, a soft smile spread across his lips.

"I will be there with you, kid. When fate sets you on a path, I will walk it with you. Whether that path leads to the depths of the Abyss, I will follow, or to days of laughter and joy, I will share them with you. I just want you to know that you are not alone. As long as Silas the bard lives, you will never be alone. And remember, a loving family awaits your return."

"Thank you, Silas. Truly."

A swift beat of wings echoed through the hall as the queen landed beside us.

"Walk with me, little one," she said, extending her hand to me.

As she helped me stand, her hand was both soft and firm. She walked ahead, urging me to follow closely. And so I did, with Silas walking beside me.

A towering stone gate loomed across the throne, adorned with crystals of many shades and colors embedded into its surface. Vines and leaves intertwined like a sprawling spider web, while moss clung to its edges and cracks. The stone door appeared untouched by time, merging seamlessly with nature to become one with it.

The queen uttered words in an unfamiliar tongue, her ring glowing as she spoke. In response, the crystals in the stone shimmered, and the door swung open.

Stepping out of the hall, I beheld a breathtaking expanse that stretched as far as the eye could see as if we had entered another world entirely. From our vantage point atop, the kingdom's highest peak, we gazed upon a wondrous landscape. Towering trees reached towards the sky, their emerald-green leaves dancing in the breeze over the sprawling Fey domain. Buildings rose like natural extensions of the earth, their walls adorned with branches that seemed to grow seamlessly from the ground. The air was filled with the soothing sounds of waterfalls and rivers, accompanied by the joyful chirping of birds and the calm melodies of the Fey people singing in their native tongue.

The harmonious blend of harps and delicate voices caused Silas to flinch.

"Well, no wonder Fey music tends to stay within its borders; it's quite... unique. I'm sure it would be a hit at funerals, perhaps," Silas remarked with a wry smile.

The queen paused, letting out a frustrated sigh in response to Silas's comment. Irritated by the bard's jest, she fixed him with a piercing gaze before resuming her stride.

"Ah, shiver me timbers!" Silas laughed heartily in response.

"Idiotic bard! Learn when to hold your tongue!" the queen snapped in anger, her blue brows furrowed sharply as she raised her hand and uttered a command in her native tongue.

Once more, her ring glowed, and from its crystal emerged a green snake. It slithered up Silas's leg as he attempted to shake it off but to no avail. With relentless determination, the snake made its way up his arm, around his neck, and finally to his head, where it constricted tightly around his mouth, rendering him unable to speak. Silas struggled to remove the snake, even attempting to bite it, but it remained unmoved.

"Don't bother, you'll only end up losing your teeth," the queen smirked as the snake turned to stone.

"Will you release him later?" I inquired.

"We shall see. Now, I must apologize for my unsightly behavior. For some inexplicable reason, this bard brings out the worst in me."

"Yes, he has a knack for that," I smiled, glancing at Silas throwing a tantrum behind us. "But how did he even get here? Isn't entering the Silverleaf Forest forbidden to outsiders unless they're invited by the Fey themselves? I highly doubt you sought Silas out for his musical talents."

"Well, you see, he's what we might call a stray. When our army arrived in Emberfield and we retrieved your body, your friend here snuck into one of the carriages and made his way here. Normally, he would face trial and likely be executed on sight, but I've decided to make an exception this time. It's been a while since we've had a stray wander into our realm, and upon closer inspection, I've determined he doesn't pose a threat. He must care a great deal about you to venture into our kingdom, little one," the queen explained affectionately, casting a fond gaze toward Silas as he continued to protest.

"I didn't like him at first either," I teased.

"What's this nonsense? I don't care for the little rascal!" the queen exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

As she threw a tantrum, like Silas did, we continued deeper into the kingdom.