I sighed deeply, letting the hot air from the volcano fill my lungs as an ironic smile danced on my lips. "Hei Feng, that's my name," I uttered, aware that probably no one there would comprehend the depth of the words.
Then, amid the expectant silence, I heard a series of words that seemed to be trying to form something concrete: "Fallen. Sky. Born. Fire." It was as if they were trying to decipher the fragments of an ancestral prophecy. My keen eyes sought the source of this attempt at communication and found a young woman holding a scroll, her irises reflecting curiosity and perplexity.
I was amazed to notice that somehow, these people had managed to decipher my language. "Yes, yes, I fell from the sky. You... You can understand what I'm saying?" My determined steps echoed in the volcanic landscape as I approached the source of those words, my hands resting gently on her trembling shoulders. I saw her reaction, tears welling up in her nervous eyes as she nodded affirmatively.
I offered a sad smile, sharing the melancholy of the journey that brought me there, and asked again, slowly, "Can you understand me?" Her response was a simple but meaningful, "I. Know. Language. Of. Sky." - "Language of the sky? That means, somehow, they had access to my language, and that suggests I am not the first to fall."
A chill ran down my spine as the realization echoed in my mind. This fall, this tumultuous event, perhaps it was a recurring occurrence in paradise. The situation began to take clearer shapes, even amid the unknown. Perplexity blended with a gradual understanding, as if the pieces of an ancient puzzle were starting to fit together.
The volcano roared in the background, an infernal soundtrack to the unfolding revelation before me. I gazed at the horizon, where volcanic shadows danced with uncertain light, and realized that, somehow, I was part of a cosmic narrative much larger than I had imagined. Hei Feng, the fallen from the heavens, now stood among those who shared a language with the gods themselves, a language that transcended the barriers of human understanding. The journey, only just begun, promised deeper revelations and challenges that would echo through the eons.
I pointed towards the elder, my expression a blend of curiosity and determination, and asked the young woman slowly, "What did he just say to me?" As I awaited her response, I noticed the elder moving towards me, an enigmatic figure shrouded in ancestral wisdom, while other inhabitants of that demonic province approached, questioning the young woman who responded in her own language. Curious looks turned to me, as if I were a crucial piece in a divine puzzle.
"Elder. Say. Welcome. To. Heaven's. Gift," she said, stumbling over the words as if trying to translate celestial concepts into earthly language. I couldn't help but offer an ironic smile, contemplating the irony of being welcomed to the fallen heavens of a demonic province. Before I could express my thought, a young person approached with a large cloth. I smirked ironically once again; after all, I was naked. I donned the garment, a dark blue robe that enveloped my body, keeping my gaze firmly on the young woman guiding me through this new chapter of my existence.
"Where am I?" I said as I adjusted my robe, my eyes exploring the volcanic surroundings and the silhouettes of peculiar structures.
"Province. Demonic. Destroyed. By. God," the young woman repeated, once again slowly, as if each word carried the weight of a distant and dark history.
"Demonic Province Destroyed by God? What the hell kind of name is that?" My voice echoed among the rocky formations, a mix of disbelief and fascination. My eyes roamed every corner, absorbing the surreal sight around me as I sighed deeply, bringing my hand to my chin in a contemplative gesture, immersed in thoughts hovering between the unusual and the unknown. "I need to use these people to ascend again. Well, so be it." I formulated the words in my mind, accepting the game that destiny had laid before me.
I faced the young woman again with a determined expression. "Take me to your leader; I demand an immediate audience." My voice resonated with the crackling of magma in the background, and in that moment, I was Hei Feng, The Fallen from the Sky, a figure who, even shrouded in mysteries and contradictions, was about to shape the intertwined destinies of the Demonic Province. Destiny, like a skilled sculptor, was ready to carve its masterpiece before the attentive eyes of the Fallen.
I walked amidst a group of about 40 people, a heterogeneous assembly that seemed to be a microcosm of the Demonic Province itself. Four elders, with wrinkled faces betraying the passage of unknown eras, exchanged words among themselves in a language that echoed like the whisper of the wind through volcanic rocks. While most of the young ones moved ahead, I was at the center of attention, a mysterious figure arousing curiosity and heated discussions among them. By my side, the young woman who had taken on the role of an improvised translator stared at me with an intrigued look, her eyes seeking to understand the features of a stranger who had fallen from the sky.
I turned to her with a smile, attempting to ease the palpable tension in the air. "What's the matter?" I asked, observing her expression as she deciphered the words on a giant scroll.
"I. Like. To. Know. About. Sky," she murmured, struggling to form the sentence, and I couldn't help but release a sad smile in the face of the innocence that marked her quest for answers.
"Above the sky, resides someone very cruel. It is my duty to go back there," I declared, my eyes wandering into the celestial expanse as I echoed the words that reverberated in my mind since the fall.
"Who. Be. You?" the young woman asked, her curiosity reflected in the eyes that probed me for hidden truths.
"So, like an angel, I fell," I replied, recalling Albert Hayes's voice and the Covenant's ability that enveloped me like the wings of a mythical creature.
"Angel? You. Be. Angel?" the young woman questioned, looking at me with a mix of fascination and confusion.
"Angel? No, it's complicated. I am..." I gave up trying to explain, for sometimes words were inadequate to describe the complexity of my existence. I let her draw her own conclusions. Sometimes, ambiguity was the only possible answer.
Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!
The descent to the ground was quickly completed, and I noticed more people awaiting the group, eager to understand the reason for so much commotion. Elders continued their conversations while casting revealing glances in my direction. Soon, someone called the young woman beside me, and she ran towards the elders, carrying with her the stories that I still didn't fully comprehend.
I sighed deeply, feeling the hunger consuming me, a primal need that didn't care about the intricate cosmic plots unfolding around me. I simply distanced myself from that group, immersed in my own thoughts, aware that more pressing issues awaited resolution—basic survival needs that could not be ignored.
As I slowly distanced myself from the group, each step felt like an exploration in a world that defied all known logic. The landscape around me, mostly reddish, witnessed centuries of history and tragedy. Bending towards the ground, my hands seized a mixture of volcanic ash. "These people, this place, seem untouched by anything," I murmured to myself, observing the purity of the earth in my hands.
As I sifted through the soil between my fingers, something that had gone unnoticed occurred to me. "These people acted as if the heat of the volcano meant nothing, how strange." I turned my gaze back to the group, watching the mysterious figures that seemed to resist the scorching heat permeating the volcanic region.
It was then that one of the elders approached me, accompanied by the improvised translator. "This. Elder. Liu Xing. Introduces himself." The translator's words indicated that the elder beside her was named Liu Xing. I nodded in acknowledgment as I awaited the next actions, my growing interest in the peculiar dynamics of that unknown society.
"I want to know your name," I said as the elder spoke, his piercing gaze fixed on me. I could feel the attention of the translator and Liu Xing focused on my response.
"My. Name?" The translator answered hesitantly.
"Yes, your name." I repeated, waiting patiently.
"Shu. Yan." she responded timidly, pronouncing the words softly, as if the language itself responded to a secret code.
"Shu Yan, then," I murmured to myself, letting the name resonate in the volcanic landscape. My curiosity was not satisfied, and I continued my inquiry into the unknown. "Tell me, where can I get food?" While awaiting the response, I observed more people approaching, their distinct attire and curious looks highlighting the diversity of that peculiar community.
"Food? You. With. Hunger?" Shu Yan inquired, her words resonating amidst the volcanic landscape.
"Yes, I am. Where can I eat?" I replied, sighing deeply as the complexity of the situation unfolded before me.
"Come. With. Us," Shu Yan said once again, her words sounding like a promise and an invitation to enter the heart of this unique society. Without further questions, I simply agreed, ready to follow Shu Yan on a journey that promised to reveal not only the secrets of the Demonic Province but also the role that Hei Feng, the Fallen from the Sky, would play in this mysterious plot.
As I approached the improvised camp, a fire burned, casting dancing shadows on the strange structures that rose at the foot of the volcano. Despite maintaining a serene appearance on the outside, something inside me burned and could not be extinguished: the overwhelming feeling of hatred. Even though I had tried to let everything die, resentment persisted in the cavity of my chest, a fire that would not go out, fueled by the scars of the past. I looked at the skies, and a silent anger burned in my eyes, a flame that refused to be extinguished.
The camp unfolded as I neared, a place where time seemed to have frozen in ancient eras. A large boiling cauldron emitted the aroma of an unknown soup, and tents made of rudimentary materials contrasted with the technological advancements I once knew. I sighed deeply as my hand searched for what had once been my holodisk and found only emptiness. A part of me was lost, just like my place in New Eden.
Sadness deepened as, looking at the sky, I began to formulate questions that had lingered in my mind since the fall. I picked up a stick and began to draw on the ground the map of New Eden, recalling every detail of the landscape I once soared over. "If New Eden exists hovering above everything, why do these people exist? How can something that seems lost in time coexist?" I murmured to myself, my eyes fixed on the drawing forming on the volcanic ground.
"The vastness of it was palpable, and even Old Eden was possible. My fall should have been directed to Old Eden, but it seems... it seems like I changed... that I shifted realities?" Pain infiltrated my words, and my mind tried to comprehend the inexplicable.
"This is impossible, damn it. This feels like some kind of story that CelestialCat would read... damn, did they get caught?" I sighed and stared at the sky, seeking answers that seemed beyond reach.
"If they fell...? They need to find me. I need to use my old name, at least, alongside my new name." I sighed again as I traced my new name next to the old one, forming "Hei Feng, the Rev."
Every action, every thought of mine, was observed by dozens of curious eyes. Some tried to imitate what I was writing, and a nostalgic smile appeared on my lips at the scene. As I thought aloud, my mind continued to swirl in a tangle of questions and uncertainties.
"If this is some kind of another reality, it could explain the date, but they are different from me in every aspect. This is cultural; it seems like I've gone back hundreds of thousands of years." I sighed in sadness, observing the unfolding of the unknown before me.
"Damn, what the hell did I get myself into, Owl." The memory of Owl, the figure who made me the proposal, surfaced in my mind. However, an ironic smile formed on my lips. It wasn't her fault. It was mine. I chose to plunge into this uncertain abyss, where the present mingled with the past, and the future remained shrouded in shadows.
As a wooden plate filled with soup was handed to me, my gaze roamed over the content strangely. The mixture bore no resemblance to anything I was accustomed to, but facing the hunger that consumed me, I realized that necessity could make even the most peculiar dishes appetizing. The eyes of those around me were fixed on me, awaiting my reaction. I shrugged, bringing the plate to my mouth and pouring the hot liquid.
The first spoonful revealed a surprisingly spicy flavor that invaded my mouth, making my tongue burn. However, the palate revealed complex nuances, and I realized there was something more than just the seasoning. It was meat, real meat, a luxury I hadn't experienced in a long time.
"Do you like it?" Shu Yan asked, watching my reaction attentively. I pulled the plate away from my mouth, nodding as I spoke after swallowing a bit.
"Yes, what is it?" I inquired as I chewed on the substance that seemed to be meat.
"Meat. Animal," Shu Yan explained, starting her own meal.
"I figured." I commented, looking into the eyes fixed on me. The sense of expectation was palpable, and soon one of the elders, distinguished by his more elaborate cloak, approached. His speech, full of authority, resonated toward me as if trying to give some command. My eyebrows raised in response to the imposing tone.
In the arid and perilous setting of an improvised camp, Shu Yan, her voice trembling, uttered words laden with fear: "Elder. Zhang Jie. Wants. To. Know. How. To. Repay. Falling. Into. Our. Domain." Each syllable was like a fearful echo, reverberating on the unstable ground and vibrating in the thin air.
On the edge of a volcano, whose depths boiled with a constant threat, Elder Zhang Jie seemed to seek compensation, as if trying to extract fire from the very bowels of the earth. Even here, over this volcano, can't I escape relentless demands?
A sharp laugh, cutting like the wind through rocky crevices, escaped my lips as I rose from the makeshift meal, black hair with red streaks rippling in the heat of volcanic flames. My scar, like a visual narrative of past torments, stood out in the flickering light, revealing not only a physical mark but the promise of resilience against the flames of life.
"Shu Yan, tell Elder Zhang Jie that if the issue is money, I am willing to walk on these coals and depart." My voice, cold as the night breeze carrying the volcanic breath, echoed on the steep slope. I had been a puppet in the hands of manipulators in New Eden; however, here, within reach of the volcano's flames, I would not allow the ashes of the past to obscure my destiny.
I shed the robe with calculated indifference, letting it fall like an offering to the lava gods. A theatrical gesture amidst the volcano's roar, but a bold statement that I would not be shackled by debts on this unstable terrain. With a defiant expression, I spat out the remaining food in my mouth, the words translated by the interpreter resonating as a challenge to the smoldering depths of the volcano.
"I need nothing that comes from you." The sentence, imbued with the fury of the volcano, echoed across the volcanic landscape, creating a dark symphony that reverberated between the anger directed at the elder and the fear emanating from me. Under the scorching sky and dancing shadows, the scene unfolded like an epic where the fire of resistance met the unrelenting heat of the earth itself.