Inside Reia's mind she could see the Garden of Eden.

It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Trees towered into the sky, plants of all varieties covered the land in luscious colors.

The garden seemed to hum with life.

“What are you seeing?” Adam's voice chirped inside of Reia’s head. “Is it the past or the present?”

“The Garden of Eden… it's so beautiful.” she replied. “It doesn't seem like I have the power to peer into its past, so I think I'm looking at the present.”

“Okay, try to find the center of Eden, there should be a ginormous tree, more so than the rest of them.”

Reia nodded and used her mind to swim through Eden, searching for the center.

Suddenly her mind felt a tug and her vision was being pulled towards a direction without her control.

“Something is pulling me!” Reia freaked out a little, this had never happened before.

Before Adam could respond, he felt his own mind get pulled into the vision, now they were both seeing the same thing.

Reia could feel Adam’s mind inside hers and wondered how that was even possible.

Their vision was pulled and they soon found themselves looking at a tree so large, it outclassed any skyscrapers in the present day.

“Lorias’lona!” Adam shouted.

A mighty voice penetrated their heads. “I was wondering when you'd finally get here.” Lorias’lona said.

“Don't blame me you old stump, you're the one who closed Eden!”

Lorias’lona didn't mind the insult, seemingly used to it. “I had no choice but to close Eden.”

“No choice?” Adam said, confused. “Why?”

“A new enemy has appeared, or should I say an old enemy has reappeared.”

“Who's so powerful they made you close off Eden?” Adam asked.

“Ammon, the serpent.” Lorias’lona mentioned and the world seemed to hum in annoyance at the name being mentioned.

“Fuck.” Adam swore.

“Indeed” Lorias’lona agreed.

A small voice chirped in. “U-um, who's Ammon?”

“Ah, you must be Reia the fortune teller.” Lorias’lona said. “You have much to learn young diviner, you're a necessary piece in stopping Ammon.”

“Huh!? Me!?” Reia asked in confusion.

“Yes, Adam will get you caught up with information. Then you must help him stop Ammon.”

“...Adam?” Reia didn't know that name. “I don't remember reading about a hero from Eden named Adam.”

“There's a lot you don't know.” Adam said. “The world has been around a lot longer than you think.”

“We don't have time to bicker. Ammon is back and I don't know what he's planning.” Lorias’lona explained. “Unfortunately I can't afford to open Eden up in case he sneaks in again, so you won’t have any support from here.”

“I almost forgot!” Adam shouted. “Is that why you sent Avilia out of Eden when she was a baby?”

Lorias’lona sighed. “Ammon did in fact sneak into Eden and almost kidnapped Avilia and the only thing I could do to save her was send her out of Eden to you. Then I closed off Eden, kicking him out of the garden for good.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Is she safe?” The tree asked.

“Ya, she managed to find me and I took her to Eve.” Adam replied.

“Good.” Lorias’lona said. “But I'm afraid you might have to raise her instead of Eve.”

“Why?”

“Normally I could raise any of the heroes no matter their powers but now since I'm not able to, it has to be you or Eve.”

“Ya so couldn't Eve do it? I'm horrible with kids.”

“Avilia needs to be taught by a warrior as her powers are related to battle. Eve could do a good job, but we need the best, leaving you as the only one able to.”

“Shitttt… Really?” Adam said. “Then who will deal with the wandering demons?”

“The Church as well as each nation's hidden task force do plenty on their own. Don't you also have many disciples across the globe that you can call upon?”

He couldn't argue with that.

“Alright I guess I'll go back to Eve’s place and train Avilia there… if she even lets me.”

“Tell her I said that was the best course of action and she’ll probably let you, just make it up to her okay?”

“Ya ya. Now what am I supposed to do with her?” He mentally pointed at Reia.

“Well, it's up to her.” Lorias’lona said. “We can't force you to participate but you will be a very useful support for trying to stop Ammon if you do.” He directed the last part to Reia.

“Will you help?” They asked Reia.

“Um, I would like to but my life's a little complicated. My family won't let me just get up and leave from here. ”

“You're part of the Zania family right?” Lorias’lona asked.

“Yes… How do you know that?”

“I can see the branches of your family tree, young diviner.” Lorias’lona explained. ”Your family has dealt with heroes of Eden before, a long time ago. If you explain that a hero from Eden is in need of your assistance, they should let you leave.”

“And If they don't, you can show them to me through your divination like you're doing now.” They continued.

“But I don't have the power to connect to Eden myself.”

“You've already established a link to Eden, now I can let you reconnect whenever you want. it's time for you two to go. Adam, you go back to Eve, while Reia, if you want to help, convince your family and then I'll help you get to Adam.”

“Off you go!” With those words, their minds disconnected from the divination and they found themselves back in Reia’s private room.

The two sat still for a moment taking in what just happened before Adam suddenly said a brief goodbye and saw himself out.

He headed back to Eve’s place, hoping she wouldn't be too angry.

After roughly a day, he was back in the overgrown forest near Eve’s cabin a little nervous.

He knocked on the door and a familiar face opened the door once again.

“Hey Cherry.” Adam awkwardly waved at her and she rolled her eyes.

She looked more haggard than the last time he saw her. She had eye bags and looked tired and exhausted.

“It took you long enough to get back!” Cherry barked at him.

“Huh? Did something happen?” He asked,

“Duh!” Cherry said, “That girl you brought, Avilia, will not stop crying and her cries are loud as hell!”

Shit. Adam thought. He was gonna be in for a rough time since he had forgotten how to deal with children. That was Eve’s speciality, not his.

Cherry showed him inside and brought him back to Eve's room.

This time the door was already cracked open.

Cherry knocked and pushed the door open.

The first thing Adam saw was his sister sitting on the floor, her dress covered in snot and drool with an exhausted face.

Eve looked up to see Adam and her face went from exhausted, to happy, to angry, then back to happy.

“It took you long enough to get back.” Eve said and got up holding a sleeping Avilia. “Here for you.”

Adam wanted to say something, but he knew he shouldn't— well he was gonna say it anyway.

“Even the mighty Eve can't handle a single child.” Adam said and felt a powerful aura pressure him.

“She's not just a child, she's a hero with a powerful scream.” Eve growled. “And she hasn't stopped crying since you left. I've had to isolate my entire room using an arcane formation to prevent her screams from hurting everyone.”

“And even then, her scream seems to be able to pierce through my own arcane spells slightly.”

Oh fuck… the problems just got worse for Adam. But maybe she wasn't this bad, right?

As if feeling his presence, Avilia woke up and leaped out of Eve’s surprised arms, landing in Adam outstretched arms as he caught her.

“Daddy!” Avilia shouted and hugged his face.

Christ save me…