Shadow of the First Sin

Silas stood before my family, his hands strumming the lute, weaving golden lines of magic that coalesced into shimmering musical notes dancing around the orc's head. As the orc became ensnared by the enchantment, Silas began to sing.

"Dance, dance, dance like a fool,

Shake those hips and play the fool.

Clap your hands, stomp your feet,

Dance like a monkey, to this merry beat!"

The orc obeyed every word, dancing foolishly, oblivious to what was about to unfold.

Descending swiftly from above, I seized his massive head and drove it into the cobblestone pathway. The orc crumpled, whether dead or unconscious, he posed no further threat.

"Brother!" Iris ran toward me, her tiny arms wrapping around me tightly. "Where were you? I thought those uglies got you!" she cried.

"I'm sorry, Iris. I'm here now."

"Dear! How do you have those wings? And w-why are they dark?" my mother asked, her voice trembling as my new appearance visibly shook her.

"It's a story for another time. For now, we should do something about these orcs," I replied, dodging her question for the moment.

It made sense for her to be alarmed. Not only did I regain my previous powers, which was deemed impossible, but now I possessed a pair of dark wings that were fated for an avian that would bring about the end of times upon the world.

"Wow! Look at your wings! They're so pretty!" Iris exclaimed, breaking the tension.

"Yes, they're quite magnificent, hm..." Silas joined her, closely inspecting the wings as he tried to pluck a feather.

"Ouch! What kind of feathers are these!" he screamed in pain as one of the feathers cut his hand.

"Oh, I forgot to mention! Be careful, they're sharp," I teased.

"I swear, one of these days a karma so big will slap you in that smug face of yours, you won't even see it!" the bard retorted.

"I'll worry about that later. Now, we have to defeat these orcs. The two of us will join the rest of the villagers; their numbers are growing thinner by the minute. Mother, Iris, it would be best if you headed out of the village. There is a clear path to the east as the orcs came from the west."

"No! I can't just leave my son behind! You're still too little to shoulder such great responsibilities! Come with us, this is not your battle to fight," my mother pleaded as she took hold of my hand, urging me to flee with them.

I could easily choose to flee; Emberfield wasn't the only place we could live, and I wasn't such a noble person that I would risk my life for strangers. But Emberfield was my family's home. It's where Iris grew up and met all her friends, where our mother found refuge and peace after her banishment. It's their home, and that alone makes it a place worth protecting.

"Silas, please," I said firmly, turning around and beginning walking toward the wyvern.

"Dear, please don't go!" my mother pleaded.

A gentle strum of the lute filled the air as Silas began to sing once more, charming both Mother and Iris to leave, and so they did. Looking back, I didn't move until they safely left Emberfield, escaping my view completely. It was for the best; now I would be able to fight without having to worry about them and save their home. I guess my secret would no longer be mine to keep. The tale of an avian in the little village in the east would spread like wildfire, far and wide.

"I want to thank you for protecting my family, Silas," I said, grabbing his shoulder.

"Don't mention it. They are my family as much as they are yours. Now, what do you say to killing some orc?" Silas replied, a mischievous grin forming on his lips.

"I say it may be your first great idea! You go to the west entrance and help the villagers fend off the horde. Use every magic in your arsenal, no matter how trivial they may seem, they will help. You are the only one who can use magic here. Pit them against each other, make them dance like you did with the other one, make them vulnerable so the others have a chance! I will go for the big orc on the wyvern."

"Are you crazy!? Look at that thing! It could swallow a whole cow without even chewing! What chance does a little pipsqueak like you have?"

"I will manage. I've faced even mightier foes before and lived to see another day," I said, reminiscing about the day I was banished. If I survived the beating I got from Atlas, some big lizard with wings shouldn't pose a threat.

"If you say so, I will put my trust in you. It's not like I could stop you even if I wanted to. Just promise me you will come back safe and sound. I couldn't ever face Seraphina if something happened to you."

"I promise, now go! People are in desperate need of a bard!"

"Heh, when are they not?" Silas adjusted his beret and tuned his magical lute before rushing into battle.

He was a flawed man, like any other. But what he had that many could only dream of was his senseless bravery. No matter what dangers lay in front of him, he would face them with a smile and dream of a tale he would write after his triumph. Even now, he didn't fear death, but instead embraced life. I'm sure he already had a song prepared for this day, a song that would echo through generations, portraying the brave hero Silas who single-handedly saved the people of Emberfield. I only hoped my name would be mentioned. For that to happen, I would have to outshine him.

I took to the air and headed straight toward the wyvern.