Chapter 1 - The Beginning

It has been a year or so since that day of his great discovery. And it took him several days to come to terms with it.

'At least I can think clearly now,' he thought,

'...or somewhat.' He still got easily distracted. It was like his consciousness was dormant, as if he were on drugs every day.

Sometimes he couldn't keep up with the passage of time, or he'd find himself somewhere he wasn't supposed to be and forget things easily. He'd suddenly think, 'Why am I here?' and then forget about it. It was like he was in a trance.

Like now. He had no idea why he was here.

He was looking at a tree outside.

He was standing at the entrance, leaning against the door frame, concerned about how big the tree was. The tree was actually far away, but its size made it visible from afar. It was situated on top of a hill, and the view was nothing short of beautiful.

He still struggled to stand and crawl, needing support to stand. Every nerve in his body had to relearn how to move each muscle fiber, and it was very hard for him because of his messed-up mind. But it was still better than in the early months; his mind had been even worse back then.

He could see birds flying in the valleys of the hills, species he had never seen before. There were birds like peacocks but orange in color with some reds, and they were a little smaller than regular peacocks.

'What a weird bird,' he thought.

In front of him was a breathtaking tapestry of nature, nestled deep within a secluded mountain valley. Beyond that were several towering mountains with snow-capped peaks that shimmered under the sunlight. The valley itself was lush with vibrant greenery and dotted with ancient whispering trees.

He could also see some houses in the distance, crafted from smooth stone and rich timber, adorned with intricate carvings that told secret tales.

"Ezzie..."

There was also a waterfall that he could see in the distant hills. Crystal-clear streams wove through the landscape, their gentle babbling harmonizing with the melodies of the forest birds and the rustling leaves.

"Where are you, Ezzie?"

At the valley's edge, cascading waterfalls fed into a serene lake, its surface like glass reflecting the surrounding beauty.

"Oh, there you are!"

In the distance, he could see a stone bridge that looked like a se--

'What the--'

In the middle of his narration, he began to ascend into the sky.

'Is it time already?' he thought, then noticed two giant hands gripping him.

"What are you doing here, Ezzie?"

Now he could see two green eyes, piercing gaze looking at him as if they wanted to consume him. It was a beautiful woman with red hair and green eyes in her 20s. She wore a dark blue kirtle, a long dress worn over the chemise, made of linen with sleeves.

"Mama!" he cried out loud with excitement.

Whenever he saw his mother, he became very happy and felt protected.

'Aargh! Why am I always like this whenever she is around? It's so embarrassing.'

But he couldn't help it; he just couldn't control how he acted sometimes.

"Do you know how worried Mama was?"

Today was one of those days he tried to peek outside their house.

"Don't wander off like that again, okay?"

From the top of his mother's hand, he could see the big tree again. Noticing his wandering eyes, his mother asked,

"What are you looking at, Ezzie?"

He processed the question and smiled at his mama, saying with some enthusiasm,

Stolen story; please report.

"Tree!"

Seeing his smile, she also smiled back and said,

"Aw, is my little Ezzie looking at trees?"

Then he suddenly said,

"Big!"

"Oh! You found a big tree? Let Mama see too."

He pointed at the big tree at the top of the hill, showing it to his mama.

'I showed her the tree I found', he thought with satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.

Playing along, his mother asked with a smile,

"Is that the big tree?"

He nodded.

"Do you know what the name of that tree is?" his mother asked playfully.

'that dumb big tree has a name?' he thought,

Smiling at his confused face, she said with some exaggeration,

"It's the Gaia Tree."

With a pause, she added,

"It's named after our village."

'what a weird name' he thought,

Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she said,

"Do you know there are fairies living inside the top of the Gaia Tree?"

His eyes widened in wonder, then he asked,

"Fairies!?"

His mother's smile widened, emitting mischief, and she said,

"Yeah, fairies. They are small little ladies with butterfly wings, the size of a palm."

His curiosity peaked, but his mother continued,

"They are mischievous, and when you're not looking, they will steal all of your candy."

He paused, then his face became horrified. He couldn't believe such evil existed in the world.

'This must be it.'

He couldn't fathom there are such wretched creatures living in that majestic tree.

'This must be it..., my archenemy.., the final boss.'

Seeing his fearful and determined expression, his mother laughed. But he was not laughing. He was contemplating his future.

**********

Ezzie was being carried by his mother as they walked through the spacious courtyard of their house. The house stood tall with its sturdy timber frame made of oak beams and wooden planks, exuding a rustic charm.

The darkened, weathered wood spoke of its age, while the wattle and daub walls provided both insulation and a quaint, patchwork appearance. A steeply pitched thatched roof added to the insulation, keeping the house warm in winter and cool in summer. Small, diamond-paned leaded glass windows allowed sunlight to filter in, and simple wooden shutters offered protection from storms or prying eyes.

Upon entering the house, the scent of aged wood and the faint aroma of the hearth greeted Ezzie. The interior was dominated by a large, open hall with a central hearth for warmth and cooking. The high ceiling exposed a network of wooden beams, showcasing the craftsmanship of the builders. To one side, a modest staircase led to the upper floor where the sleeping quarters were located.

Ezzie was familiar with the house, having strolled through it several times with his mother. She would often point out objects and tell him their names, encouraging him to repeat them. Today, she pointed at a small underground door with enthusiasm.

"Ezzie, look at that," she said, smiling. "It's the Root Cellar! , Do you know what it's for?" Without waiting for a reply, she continued, "It's where we keep our roots and vegetables so they won't go bad. Do you understand?"

Ezzie nodded with the same enthusiasm, "Aww, i know my little Ezzie is so smart", his mother praised him, making him smile happily. Suddenly, she asked, "Do you want to go and check up on Zara?"

At the mention of his older sister's name, Ezzie smiled and nodded. Zara is two years older than him. She was always running around the house, climbing the stairs with alternating feet, jumping with both feet, and she can even hop on one foot for a few seconds. Ezzie admired her ability to speak in complete sentences with 3-4 words, something he was not yet capable of, due to his underdeveloped vocal cords and tendency to get distracted.

Ezzie would often forget the next word easily if he wasn't concentrating. He had to put considerable effort into focusing if he wanted to think about something without getting distracted.

As his mom carried him into the living room, they found Zara scribbling on a piece of paper. Upon closer inspection, he could see it was some sort of drawing, resembling a colorful crime scene of crayons gone rogue. The sun, a menacing ball of yellow, loomed ominously from the corner, its jagged rays resembling the teeth of a hungry beast about to devour the world.

The sky, a brutal battleground of blues and whites, looks like a smurf had a nervous breakdown and exploded. Puffy clouds, more like ominous blobs, hover above with the eerie stillness of surveillance drones

A brown tree twists in existential dread amidst a green field ravaged by a toddler rampage. Flowers scream in violent hues, while a skewed house with blank windows stands witness. there are four Stick figures, disproportionate and frantic, hold hands in desperate solidarity. Faces with uneven eyes and crooked smiles embody a manic joy.

'My sister is a prodigy.' Ezzie thought proudly,

Zara, with her fiery red hair and deep black eyes, looked like an enchanting porcelain doll. Her large, expressive eyes glistened with curiosity, and her delicate features were perfectly sculpted. Her rosy cheeks and heart-shaped mouth added to her doll-like perfection.

"Mama! Ezzie!" Zara called out excitedly upon seeing them. She showed them her drawing with pride.

"Mommy, look! Look at my drawing!" she said, pointing to it.

"Wow, sweetheart! Let me see. Oh, it’s beautiful! What did you draw?" their mother asked with a bright smile.

"It’s our house with a garden! And that’s us!" Zara pointed at the four stick figures.

"I see! There’s our house, and who’s this here?" their mother asked.

"That’s you, Mommy! This is Dad. And that’s me, and that’s Ezzie!" Zara identified everyone.

"Aww, you drew all of us together! I love how you made the garden so colorful. Is that a sun in the sky?" their mother asked.

"Yes! The sun is happy. See? It’s smiling!" Zara replied with a smile.

Despite the sinister smile of the sun and it's devouring maw making him shuddered in fright , their mother smiled and said, "I see the smile. It’s a very happy sun. And I love the flowers you drew in the garden. What color are they?"

"They’re red and yellow! And there’s a butterfly too!" Zara replied smugly.

"I see the butterfly. It’s beautiful. You did such a great job with this drawing. I’m so proud of you!" their mother praised.

Zara laughed in joy, and their mother chuckled along with her. Ezzie imitated them, feeling the warmth of his family's love.

As time passed, Ezzie knew he wasn't acting like his inner self, his intelligence having regressed. But he accepted it, understanding that his brain was still developing. Before he knew it, two years had passed.