Shadow of the First Sin

The sun began to ascent over the horizon, casting a golden glow upon a sleepy village. As the world awakened, I stood on the outskirts, gazing upon the old houses and crowded streets with a mixture of anxiety and relief.

"I'm finally free," I whispered, but a wave of anxiety washed over me as soon as the words left my lips.

I had longed for this fate for so long that now, having achieved it, I felt lost. My whole life had been spent in confinement, glimpsing the world only in fragments and yearning for a life unbound from chains. But now that I was truly free, I found myself questioning what it meant. What is freedom, and how does it feel? How does one truly achieve it? Deep down, I knew I hadn't fully grasped it yet.

"Well, this is a step in the right direction," I murmured to myself, hesitantly taking a step toward the settlement.

I strolled along the dirt road, captivated by the serene surroundings. Lush meadows stretched as far as the eye could see, bathed in the golden glow of the morning sun. Villagers were already hard at work in the farm fields, and the woods echoed with the cheerful chirping of birds, creating a delightful melody only occasionally interrupted by the crowing of roosters, signaling the start of a new day for the village. There were no walls or guards at the entrance; anyone could come and go as they pleased. A wooden sign at the edge of a small bridge leading into the settlement bore the inscription in common language:

"Welcome to Emberfield!"

"Emberfield, indeed. A fitting name," I remarked, recalling the picturesque sight of the fields illuminated by the morning sun.

Crossing the bridge, I glanced down at the stream below, only to be startled by my reflection.

"What in the world!" I exclaimed in surprise.

As I caught a glimpse of my reflection, I was met with the image of a delicate child, a raven-haired boy no older than twelve. Amber eyes met mine, sending a shock through my body. I struggled to believe that the reflection was my own, but there was no denying it; it was me, transformed from a man into a child. I knew time flowed differently in Elyria; I had lived there for over half a century and was still considered young. But fifty years in the mortal realms compared to almost half a lifetime for most races. Many avians stopped counting their years altogether, knowing that eternity was forever. It would take some time to adjust to this frail body. Stripped of my powers and age, I needed to be more cautious. No longer invincible, my life could be extinguished by a mere cold. As I pondered my newfound mortal life, I stepped into Emberfield.

The streets bustled with activity as people went about their day—some heading to work, others bargaining with merchants in the markets over every copper crown they spent. It seemed the village had more inhabitants than its initial size suggested. Houses of stone lined the streets, their roofs painted in hues of red and green. While most were modest in size, a few larger homes hinted at wealthier residents, likely merchants and the like. Cobblestone pathways intricately connected the various parts of Emberfield, leading to all its major points of interest.

Navigating through the bustling marketplace, I noticed many curious glances directed my way, akin to those given to a lost child. There was little point in conversing with any of them; I had no idea what to ask. Eldoria was vast, with billions of mortal folk. Attempting to inquire about my mother would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. What were the chances of her being in this exact village?

"A man can dream," I muttered to myself, dismissing the thought for the time being.

Finally managing to navigate my way out of the bustling market, I tramped along the pathway that wound its way up a gentle hill, my breath growing heavier with each step. For the first time, I yearned for my old body and the powers I once possessed; simply walking in this frail form was a nightmare.

"I could really use my wings right about now..." I muttered, casting a longing glance at the steep incline ahead of me.

After what felt like an eternity, I conquered the hill, reaching the summit with a sense of triumph.

"Screw you! I win!" I exclaimed, shouting triumphant battle cries at the conquered hill while gasping for breath.

"It must have been quite the epic battle to warrant such victory cries," a gentle voice remarked from beside me.

Turning, I found myself face-to-face with a beautiful woman with ash-blonde hair, her expression teasing yet kind. A sudden wave of embarrassment washed over me, causing me to avert my gaze.

"I haven't seen you around here. Where are your parents?" she inquired, her voice tinged with concern.

Her treating me like a child felt strange, though I realized, in her eyes I was just that.

"Are you lost?" she pressed on.

"Yeah, you could say that..." I replied, attempting to excuse myself from the situation.

"Lost, huh? Well, how about you stay with me for a while until you find your way back? I live in that house just over there," she gestured towards a quaint wooden house surrounded by colorful flowers and a serene pond.

"Hm, no thank you," I responded firmly.

What was this woman thinking, trying to lure a lost child into her home? I needed to leave while I still had the chance; if she tried to take me by force, I doubted I could defend myself with this tiny body of mine.

"You're not having any strange thoughts, are you?" she gently flicked my forehead. "I promise I'm not some weirdo. Well, wait, that's exactly what a weirdo would say, huh... Anyway, I'm not weird, okay?" she stumbled over her words, clearly flustered.

What an odd woman. I definitely wouldn't be going with her now. As I scanned my surroundings, searching for the best escape route, an unfamiliar sound emanated from my stomach—a loud, rumbling growl.

"Aha! You're hungry! Well, if you want something to eat, you'd better come with me! Oh, wait, that sounded weird again... Stupid Seraphina..." she muttered to herself.

At the mention of the name Seraphina, a wave of emotions swept over me, causing tears to well up in my eyes. I desperately tried to hold them back.

"Oh, no, no, don't cry! I'm not weird, see?" she hugged me tightly, her presence bringing me a sense of calm and stopping the flow of tears.

Now, I was even more embarrassed than before. Could this woman be my mother? Though I knew the chances were slim, almost non-existent, I had to make sure.

"Fine, I'll come with you. So let go of me!" I declared, attempting to push her away, to no avail.

"Oh, that's wonderful news! I've got deer stew from yesterday and freshly baked bread from this morning! And if you don't like that, I can make you an omelet or whatever you fancy..." she rambled on as I followed her at a safe distance.