The Prologue – Radicibus I

image [https://i.ibb.co/ByswJ0s/Pr-logo.jpg]

This is a story that goes back to the beginnings of mankind, a time when nothing existed.

Nothing, except three young goldfinches who waited anxiously for the moment to spread their wings and discover themselves.

This is the tale of how fate brought them together and incredibly changed each one of their lives.

image [https://i.ibb.co/YZPMMn4/70-DAB782-D74-BF20-D57-A0-DD44-CDAC7-A4-FF526-CA35-F8-B18010-F4-pimgpsh-fullsize-distr.png]

A soft breeze fluttered the red leaves of the “Tree of Science”, one of two special trees created by God in the Garden of Eden – a place located in the center of the world.

Beneath the titanic tree, around one hundred fifteen meters, 12-year-old Adam took a nap leaning against its trunk, surrounded by a far-flung, outstanding landscape. A beautiful garden. At his side Eve picked some amaranths that grew in the area.

“Watch out, Adam!”

The girl instantly perceived an evil intent in the bushes. The predator swooped the prey, trying to end the victim’s life with just a poisonous bite of its teeth.

“I caught you, talking snake!”

“Ssss, always depending on others!”

image [https://i.ibb.co/Np7GF84/Ad-o-vs-Nachash.png]

The snake escaped and slid down Adam’s arm until landing on the ground.

“Eh, I’m ready. Come at me!”

Adam put his right foot on the soil. Eve watched, worried. The snake turned its back.

“What’s up? Are you running away...? What a coward, huh!”

The Talking Serpent stuck its tongue out.

“Hm, don’t let your guard down, because when you least expect it, I’ll be there to take your idiotic life… you fool!”

“W-WHAT?! Ok, now you have done it!”

Adam roared out as Eve took hold of his arms.

“COME BACK HERE! Time for our second round!”

“Calm down, she already left.”

Eve sighed, lifted her head and looked into the distance. No further signs of the snake.

“We’ve been like this for the past five days... I wonder what she’s up to. It couldn’t be…?”

…

Since then, the Talking Serpent never ceased to appear before them, daily aiming for Adam’s life, and thus five more days passed.

Neither prey or predator gave in, and the time to decide which one will be standing at the end would come.

…

The 10th day.

“Eh, you’re so annoying.”

Adam smiled. Blood gushed from his lower lips, the face full of scars, which showed how fierce the quarrels between were.

“…Ridiculous!”

“What?!”

“Let's sort things out. Tomorrow afternoon, our last quarrel.”

The statement astonished both kids. Adam wasn’t hoping this challenge so soon.

«No, perhaps this is the right time.»

“Alright. Let’s end this.”

Shortly after, Eva approached Adam, somehow bothered.

“What’s wrong, Eve?”

Adam's expression was quite normal bearing in mind that the boy had just accepted a battle to the death.

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“I know... the real reason why she’s doing all this.”

The kid smirked, not taking her seriously.

“What are you saying, Eve...? She’s just a goddamn…”

“Think for a sec! What she really wants isn’t to argue with you and spur fights. Probably does that because she doesn’t know another way. Yes... all this time, she tried to get close to us; tried to get close to you!”

This last revelation shocked Adam, who felt his body tremble hearing Eve’s words.

“I can understand. I was lucky to meet you, Adam, but if I hadn’t met you, I’d probably feel that way too... lonely. I mean, at the end of the day… we’re completely alone... in this world!”

Eve was unable to contain the emotions coming up. Adam was stunned. During this whole time, he never realized. Though it was so obvious… Eve’s feelings touched the boy’s heart. No more mistakes from now on.

“Thanks, Eve. I’ll definitely ‘end this’. It’s a promise!”

…

The sun beat down, the mild weather of the afternoon. Adam and Eve were the first to arrive. Adam kept the strong-willed look of yesterday.

A few minutes later, a third person popped up. However, to the children’s surprise, it wasn’t the Talking Serpent. A boy about their age, slightly taller than Adam.

“Hum... are you lost...?” Adam asked.

Eva was certain it’s not the first time they see each other.

«Yes... those eyes...!»

“Are you...?”

“This is my human form — my true form. Got any problem with that?”

“A BOY?!” Adam was gobsmacked.

“That’s why you’re surprised?!” Eve yelled at her friend.

“C’mon… let’s end this” the Talking Serpent said.

“Yeah” Adam nodded firmly.

The Talking Serpent advanced to the “Tree of Science”, stood his feet steadily on the ground and took a huge leap upwards. He rose at an unbelievable speed in a few seconds.

“Amazing... what a jump...!” Eve thought.

Adam merely followed him. The two reached the top of the tree.

“Before anything else, I need to ask. Why me?”

The lad bit his lips slightly.

“Cuz’ of your annoying behavior. You’re... too resigned. And I cannot stand that!”

The Talking Serpent filled Adam with a wide variety of blows. Adam could at first withstand his attacks. Nevertheless, there’s a certain difference in skill, therefore becoming an unequal fight. He’s way stronger than before…

“Even though you don’t know who you really are…”

A punch in Adam’s face.

“Even though you don’t know where you really are…”

A second punch in the face.

“Even though you don’t know why you exist in the first place…”

A punch in the gut.

“Even though you know NOTHING…!”

Another knee in the abdomen…

The desperate snake gave up on holding back its emotions… A short break. The Talking Serpent panted, Adam had some blood. Adam was willing to physically receive all the anger, sadness, pain and envy.

«Envy?»

Yes, the snake’s envy of that naive child, always cheerful despite the circumstances.

“Even so... even so... HOW...? How can you live it so carelessly? This life without purpose or reason?!”

The Talking Serpent attacked Adam once again. Either the snake’s moves were getting worse or Adam was slowly getting better. Adam dodged. Something had started to change. However, in such an unreliable space where the only way to get around was to move from branch to branch, a misstep could mean their demise…

A slip-up. After successfully dodging the snake's blow, Adam didn’t notice a gap and eventually misled the Talking Serpent into an error of judgement. An one hundred fifteen meters fall awaited them now.

The air masses compressed, leading to an increase in the atmospheric pressure. As they fell towards the ground, breathing got harder.

80 meters.

The exchange of successive blows continued…

60 meters.

The Talking Serpent began to lose control of the duel…

50 meters.

In order to get back the tide of the fight, the snake caught Adam unaware with constriction — a method that some snakes use to kill their prey. Adam tried to get out at all costs.

“I might not know who I am... I might not know where I am... I might not know why I exist... That said, I believe that a purpose to live isn’t something given... You must seek it with your own strength... while you live your life to the fullest!”

The Talking Serpent’s heart shuddered hearing his words…

40 meters.

“That’s just... FOOLISH TALK!”

“WRONG!”

30 meters.

“Look around you! This bright sun...”

The sun setting in the distance, the red and orange hue reverberating in their eyes.

“This huge sea...”

The clean waters suffered the light’s refraction.

“All this world...”

The sun, the sea and the vegetation formed the most beautiful view.

“I was blessed… with this life! That’s why I made an oath to myself. I swore to make the most of every day like it was the last and find my own purpose in the meantime… so I won’t regret later!”

20 meters.

At that moment, the snake felt deeply pierced by the power of his words…

“End this...”

image [https://i.ibb.co/sCkSgMK/Ad-o-e-Nachash.png]

“Yeah, I’ll end... THIS LONELINESS INSIDE YOU!”

The emptiness in his chest had been briefly filled by the positive energy… The cross Adam carried around his neck responded to the feelings of its owner. A mystic aura surrounded him, the white eyes.

That’s when the Talking Serpent realized the power Adam had and which he lacked… The power... to believe.

Perhaps the work of fate or just a coincidence that played an important role, the lower branches of the tree delayed the fall and diminished its impact, saving their lives. Eve ran towards them.

“Everything okay?” she asked the green-eyed boy first.

He denied the gaze, wrecked inside…

“Hey... what’s your name?”

“I don’t have one…”

“Then I may have the perfect name for you.”

“Eh...?”

The lad rolled his eyes and finally stared at her.

“Nachash.”

“’Nachash’...?”

“’The bright’.”

Nachash blushed. Meanwhile, Adam cleaned the trousers and held out his hand.

“I won. Just come with us, you idiot!”

Nachash complied, letting himself be lifted. The Talking Serpent couldn’t resist the happiness and displayed a dashing smile.

“’Nachash’...” he repeated to himself.

Mysterious tears poured from his eyes, but the young quickly shook them off.

The goldfinch flapped its wings, flying to where it belongs. And so Nachash set off... with his new friends.

Their tale isn’t over…

[End of the First Part]