002 - Courtyard

The sun had just sunk beyond the horizon of Eden.

Dusk descended like a harrowing, shadowy blanket. One by one, lamps lit up every nook and cranny of the city. My first night in Eden was a cloudless night.

As we walked down the stone-paved street, like an awestruck child, I gazed upon each building, though thousands of years old, standing tall like they were frozen in time. Cemented walls though aged in appearance, survived the test of time. The birds sang their humble melody that was reminiscent of a nostalgic Japanese ballad and the wind... it was perfumed with the slightest floral scent that wafted around carelessly.

"Do you like it?" the man stopped to gaze at the buildings ahead, a peaceful smile stretching across his lips.

"The fragrance? It's lavender isn't it?" Fields of the beautiful purple buds came to mind.

"Hm? Oh yes," he smiled, "I always liked lavender. A perennial herb, though flowering only once annually in the May winds, the farmers work hard to preserve its fresh aroma throughout the year, the Garden's flowers are exquisite. You should visit when you have the time."

My brows furrowed.

He paid me a quick glance, followed by a merry chuckle.

"You've got questions that need answering, don't you?"

I simply nodded. My eyes were preoccupied with taking in my surroundings.

"All of them will be answered in good time. For now, let's enjoy the breeze," he smiled.

We walked for a while. We didn't speak, rather, I ran my fingers across the brick walls that were damp after the drizzle. The fresh smell of rainwater accompanied by the lilac in the air and the ethereal hum of sparrows was like a drug that could put any mortal man to sleep.

But then he nodded his head towards the skyline, "I was actually referring to Eden itself, how do you find it?"

"It's... amazing..." my voice trailed off into the wind until it was no more.

The man heaved a relieved sigh, "I'm glad you like it. Let me tell you a tale while we walk."

As we strolled down the street, the lamps flared brightly while the men whistled and hummed. Narrowly, I avoided some children that came laughing and chasing each other my way. The air was filled with the hustle and bustle of clinking beer glasses and rambles of drunk men.

"Once, this city was under my rightful hand. Angels, seraphim, mortal men and women, everyone was welcome. My children were created from fire to enforce law and order in the city. And for just a minute, a blink in my eternal eyes, everything was perfect."

He stopped to brush the back of his hand against an unlighted oil lamp. With a single spark, it's life began. Fragile, trembling in fear. But surely, the blaze grew until it flickered away into the night. With a single finger, he caressed the glass panes separating the fire from the world, almost like he was nurturing it.

"One day, an angel fell."

Had I fluttered my eyelids close at that moment, I would have missed it. The gentle and almost calming, orange flame darkened to a black inferno with streaks of purple roaring from it like a lion's mane. Twisted, cruel, vengeful and wicked, like it would burn anything down in its path had it not been contained in the crucible.

"What... happened?" My eyes stood transfixed on the blaze.

"He refused to bow," a tone of pity in his voice, he looked away into the sky and brushed away a lonely tear. "He was exceptionally bright, you know? I named him the Morning Star after his brilliance. But in the end, I was the one who watched him fall from grace, and every second I watched him scream felt like thorns embedding themselves deeper within my chest. Try as I could, the anguish of his tears lay transfixed in my worst nightmares."

"It was like a father watching his son die in front of him," he grimaced, "Nothing could have ever prepared me for that moment."

The fire sputtered and shook. Though it burned a brilliant blaze, it was quickly consuming it's only fuel.

The fire gasped and struggled for breath. Oxygen. Sustenance. It was afraid. Terrified of death. It took the form of an arm, reaching up towards the sky for help. Anyone, anything that could provide salvation for it's broken self.

"Once you fall, there's nothing that can be done."

With a firm clench of his fist, the fire extinguished itself, leaving only cinders floating through the lamp.

"Many fell along with him; almost a third of Eden, I believe. To this day, we still aren't quite sure of why angels fall," he said sadly, "It's incredibly sorrowful when children engage their siblings in battle, only for one to vanquish the other and emerge victorious."

Not a single word nor sound escaped my lips. My tongue locked itself up in fear of sputtering any nonsense in the moment. My mind struggled to process what spectacle had just occurred in front of my eyes.

"Come, let's walk."

Without a glint of hesitation, I trailed behind the man.

"For eons, we have fought the fallen and preserved the walls of Eden," he spoke softly like talking to a newborn, "and forevermore we will fight to preserve what is dear to us."

As we stepped foot into a courtyard, I caught my breath as I stared at the sheer beauty that surrounded myself. The sudden transition of stone into deep, dark, spruce wood reminded me of a river that bent and flowed into a forest, the waters nourishing the soil, the flora and the fauna for thousands of years. The hanging lanterns glowed a fierce crimson that bathed the courtyard in a lingering presence of scarlet. The atmosphere resonated with the laughter of young children, accompanied by their parents.

In the midst of my reverential wonder, I failed to notice the child that had waddled my way. Only when her forgiving touch brushed against my leg, I looked down.

She didn't say anything, but she seemed to be hiding something behind her, and she was far too shy to look me in my eye.

"Hello," I crouched down to meet her gaze and smiled,

She produced a hand-woven flower crown from her back, twisted from the long grass in the courtyard and adorned with minuscule magenta flowers. It wasn't the best flower crown in the world, but it was certainly my favourite. Gratefully, I held my hands out and she placed the crown in them; not a second later, she turned around and ran back to her parents, wearing a proud smile on her lips.

I watched, the simple ornament grasped nimbly between my fingertips, as they walked home together down the horizon, both her hands clasped to her parent's.

"How far would you be willing to go," I asked, still squatted on the floor.

"For them?" he answered.

"Yeah,"

"Anything."