''What's so special about those fragile creatures... Why do they all keep me at a distance like I don't belong in their world?!'
Perched high above, his vast, obsidian wings stirred the air with restless force, eclipsing the dying light as he glared down at the couple.
'Tch... What a fool! He abandons her, ignoring the gravity of his role...
hmm??'
A sly grin crept across his face as an idea took shape. From a vantage point hidden from sight, he lingered in the shadows, tracking movements, waiting. Patiently.
Hours turned into days
weeks into months.
As the sun began its descent, painting the sky in soft pink hues, the woman followed her usual path to her favorite spot—the bird-wittering field. Though she often woke with a raised brow, finding the same presence lingering at a distance, she never let it stop her from indulging in her daily ritual. The golden hour was hers alone, spent among lush trees and vibrant blossoms, where the air carried the sweet scent of wildflowers and ripened fruit.
The figure in hiding observed, his interest piqued each time her eyes brightened at the sight of hanging fruit. She reached up eagerly, plucking a peach, taking a bite. Its tangy sweetness spread across her tongue, making her close her eyes in satisfaction. One wasn't enough. Strawberries, plums, cherries—she filled her basket, even picking edible flowers to carry home.
Just as she was about to leave, a sudden gust of wind sent the delicate petals scattering.
A blinding silhouette filled the sky.
Before she could react, he descended—swift as the wind, his six wings billowing like a tempest. The sky darkened beneath his presence, his arrival marked by a dazzling glint that momentarily stole her sight.
With a voice of absolute command, he declared,
"Behold, human! For I, Lucifer Morningstar, have descended."
His introduction, carefully practiced, exuded charm, authority, and undeniable power. Yet, as he opened his eyes, expecting awe, he was met with… complete indifference.
The woman was too busy chasing after her scattered flowers.
Lucifer blinked.
"..."
For a moment, his pride floundered. Bending down, he picked up one of the fallen flowers, his fingers tightening around it before he realized what he was doing. His jaw clenched, frustration welling up.
'Wait… what am I doing? I was supposed to make her angry!'
Before he could correct his course, a soft voice interrupted.
"Th-thanks…"
She smiled, genuinely grateful for the single flower he had picked up.
Lucifer stood frozen. He barely noticed as she brushed aside strands of her fiery curls, the vibrant hue shifting with the light, neither auburn nor copper, but something in between—an illusion of warmth itself. Draped in a dress-like leaf that wrapped elegantly around her form, she looked at him expectantly.
He cleared his throat.
"Uh—yeah. Don't mention it."
—"Uhng uhng~ I'm Eve! What was your name again? Sorry, I got distracted—"
"Luthifer— ahem… ehem."
She tilted her head, puzzled.
"Lucifer Morningstar," he corrected, deepening his voice to mask his brief stumble.
Something about her presence threw him off balance. The plan he had meticulously crafted unraveled before his very eyes. And yet… he lingered.
••••••
Days blurred into countless encounters. Lucifer continued his surveillance, but more often than not, he found himself deliberately crossing paths with her, feigning nonchalance, fidgeting with stones whenever she approached. Though he dismissed it at first, a quiet realization dawned upon him—an awareness, like clear, still water.
He was drawn to her.
Yet, some truths were undeniable. No matter how much time passed, no matter how often they met, he knew—this affection could never be reciprocated.
Beneath the midnight sky, Eve lay in the open grassland, bathed in silver moonlight. Her features softened under the celestial glow, the reflection of the heavens dancing in her pale brown eyes.
Without looking, she acknowledged the presence beside her.
Lucifer settled down—not to rest, but to sit slouched beside her, his gaze locked on her delicate fingers as they reached toward the sky, tracing the shape of the moon.
"So beautiful~"
His voice was barely above a whisper.
Eve turned slightly, eyes half-lidded with sleep.
"I know."
A forbidden fruit, nurtured, ripened—ready to be plucked.
[Bzzzshheek]
The vision shattered.
A surge of energy crackled, the scene shrinking, warping—before being absorbed into my wrist, where the mark of a chalice reappeared.
I stared at my hand, the weight of the revelation settling in my mind.
"Wait… does this mean Lucifer was the father of humanity?"
Gerard exhaled.
"Without a doubt, he was the father. But Adam… Adam was the one who nurtured the beginning of men."
His voice held something between certainty and sorrow.
"When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden, the Supreme Angels placed their faith in Adam to lead. He was given a choice. Free will—the greatest gift God bestowed upon them all."
—"And Adam took responsibility."
There were pieces of the story that had never been told, layers left unexplored. The existence of another woman before Eve…
I pondered aloud.
"They say human nature is inherently good or evil. But now, that feels… more complicated."
Are we born with a moral compass? Or do we merely learn? We are given the capacity to choose between right and wrong—yet no one is exempt from darkness.
So, are we truly born good… or evil?