Today, the Forbidden Tree stands just as strong as it did in Heaven, but it shines brighter. The Island of Peng Lai agrees with the Forbidden Tree, and being isolated from all the other souls makes it easier for the Forbidden Tree to shine and grow as much as it wants to. The minute I was past the swirling glacier, I let myself fall, and the Forbidden Tree catches me in its leaf as it always does. I kiss its leaf then hop down to the field of grass under its shade.

“Hey Forby, you’ll never guess who tried to barge onto the island today,” I say, “the False Messiah!”

The Forbidden Tree glows slightly stronger, and the water in its trunk moves a little faster before they return to their previous glow and speed as it calms back down.

“I know! I was shocked too!” I reply enthusiastically as I clasp my hands together, “but don’t worry about it. Lilith and I kicked him out, and I got plenty for all of you.”

Light begins to shine through the gaps between my fingers as I turn all the Sunlight I absorbed above ground back into its original state. Every single cell on my body begins to radiate with pure light and warmth. Closing my eyes, I part my hands to release all the Sunlight to the surrounding so that all the plants here in the Garden of Edeliah, including the Forbidden Tree, can absorb what they need to grow happy.

I always know when I can open my eyes because this whole process feels like breathing out, and when the lights are all ‘breathed’ out of my cells, the residual light will drift off of my body like beautiful, transparent auras. Red, blue, green… every single strip of light has a different color, and they all move unanimously towards the Forbidden Tree.

The Garden of Edeliah remains just as bright as before I came down here. There is no specific source of light because the Forbidden Tree makes sure that light energy is somehow perfectly distributed across every inch of this garden. That is why the Forbidden Tree is the one that absorbs all additional Sunlight I brought here and keeps it in reserve.

Leaning against the Forbidden Tree, I chat with it as we wait for the residual light energy to drift into it. The Forbidden Tree’s root would plop up to make me a comfortable chair and its trunk would be the best backrest that is literally shaped according to the shape of my back.

“The False Messiah is so charismatic, Forby,” I tell it, “I could see how he can mislead the humans, but damn, his ego is crazy! I kid you not, he looked so confused when his charms didn’t work on me…”

I keep talking and laughing as usual until, out of nowhere, a single grape falls off of the Forbidden Tree and hit me on my head. My first instinct is to put my hand on its trunk to check its vibrations and vitals to see if it is sick… it isn’t.

“Is… is this for me?” I ask, uncertain. The Forbidden Tree has never given me a gift before, at least not like this.

A single leaf rots on the spot and slips down to me. I would have worried about it being sick again if the shape of the leaf isn’t perfectly shaped like a pouch for the Golden Grape that had just fallen onto my head. I want to ask the Forbidden Tree what is going on and why it is acting strange, but its root hurls me out of my seat and of the garden before I get to do so.

The swirling glaciers somehow move in a way that avoids cutting me which just tells me that this is a part of God’s plan for me because those glaciers have NEVER been that nice before. God must’ve sent a message to the Forbidden Tree. That is why the tree gave me the grape. I hide the grape in the rotted leaf and put it in my pocket just before I break the water surface.

Lilith is arguing with an angel when I shoot out of the pond. I whistle to get one of my gargoyles to catch me then fly me back to the island. Everyone is quiet when I get within hearing range as if I am still the four-year-old who shouldn’t hear the adults talking. Normally, I am okay with it. I understand that Lilith has a past with God and the angels, and I trust Lilith to do the right thing, or at least the best thing under the circumstances.

But this is different.

The Forbidden Tree is not as strong as Lilith, and in many ways, I am its elder sister who is tasked with protecting it. No one else could connect with the Forbidden Tree, and no one else will defend it the way I do, so when things involve the tree, it involves me.

“Guess this is why Forby kicked me out of Edeliah all of a sudden?” I ask.

“Forby?” Michael asks.

“That’s what she calls the Forbidden Tree,” Lilith answers while massaging her head.

“It’s a good name,” I defend then continue saying, “And seriously, what are you doing here?”

Michael crosses his arms and clears his throat so much that the muscles in his throat are about to as big as his strong biceps. I could hardly believe that this is the same guy who twisted my ear when I failed my cooking lesson, hung me upside down until I learned how to set up a campfire, and sucker punch me in the boxing ring every single time.

“How bad are things in Heaven?” I ask.

“It’s… it’s good,” Michael answers. His short answer, paired with his hesitation to say anything more, and his refusal to meet my eyes just make me worry more. I turn to Lilith to see her hiding her nerves unsuccessfully and giving me a calming grin.

“Listen, why don’t you…?” Lilith begins.

“No, no,” I interrupted, “I’m not a child anymore, mom, and clearly, this has something to do with me or Forby or both so I’m not leaving until one of you tell me what’s going on!”

Lilith and Michael exchange worried looks, but ultimately, Lilith nods.

“It’s… It’s time for the Final Judgement,” Michael says, “And Father thinks that even though you are not cursed by the Forbidden Fruit…” Michael drifts off like he couldn’t bear to finish that sentence.

“I am still human so I have to be judged,” I finish that sentence for Michael, “fine, I’m ready. What does Grandpop want me to do?

“Father wants you to take a pilgrimage,” Michael speaks like he is handing out my death sentence.

“Wow, okay,” I feel my heart skip a beat at that. It’s not like I’m afraid of dealing with the humans, but I definitely do not like the idea of leaving Peng Lai with no one but Lilith to take care of it. I could be gone for decades, and by the time I get back, my gargoyles and Skippy might be dead or worse, disciplined!

“You don’t have to leave if you don’t want to,” Lilith jumps into the conversation and holds my hand before turning to Michael and saying, “Michael can go back to heaven and talk to God about it.”

“No, that’s not necessary,” I intercepted, “What do I do on this pilgrimage?”

“Sweetie!” Lilith shouts.

“We all know that this is one of those things that Grandpop is too stubborn to back down,” I pause to look up at the sky, “Yep, talking about You, Grandpop.”

The sky remains blue and the clouds remain white. Not a lighting nor a single drop of rain to show me what He’s thinking about.

“Father’s… He has a letter for you. He said to deliver it to you when you’ve decided to go on this pilgrimage,” Michael says then hands me a letter sealed with an old-fashioned wax seal.

My Dearest Granddaughter,

I want you to know that in my long life, I have never had to struggle with a decision like this before, not even when I decided to cast Lucifer to Hell. I convinced myself that I let you stay in Heaven, then in Peng Lai to keep you safe, but the truth is, I was too afraid to let you go, afraid that you will discover that your Grandpop isn’t as cool as you think He is, afraid that you will choose chaos and destruction as your companions like my favorite Lucifer did.

I am sending you out now, when the world is at its crossroad, not as a test nor a punishment, but because this may be the last time, the last chance for you to get to know the other humans, truly know them, before the inevitable war between Heaven and Hell breaks out. Should our side lose this war, I want to give you at least have some idea of how great humans are, despite their flaws and weaknesses.

If, for whatever reason, you fall from grace as my dear Lucifer did, please know that I never meant for it to happen and that if I were forced to cast you to Hell, I will do so with the heaviest of hearts. Please also know that should you change your mind and decide to return to Heaven after all that is said and done, I will welcome you with open arms as I did with Lilith. I hope that this knowledge gives you the safety and freedom you need to truly venture into the world of the humans.

Always with love,

Your Grandpop

I fold the letter and put it in my pocket with the Golden Grape still weighing me down. Lilith and Michael are both staring at me.

“What are God’s orders?” Lilith asks.

“His old age must really be getting to him ‘cause He thinks He’s a ‘cool’ Grandpop,” I say as I look up at the sky. A shade of sunset orange tears through the sky, but it turns blue again soon. I grin at that reaction and shout, “There’s my Grandpop!”

“Tallitanya of Lilith, this is not the time for jokes!” Lilith yells.

“Sorry,” I say sincerely, “but also not sorry because I have to go on this pilgrimage alone, and someone has to stay behind and make sure that Forby and the others are safe.”

Lilith seems uneasy.

“It’s not even a difficult task, and I promise I’ll be safe, body and soul,” I reassure Lilith and squeeze her hand. That brings a small grin to her face.

“Have faith that she can find her own path, Lilith,” Michael chimes in.

“Shut up, Michael,” Lilith snaps at him then turns back to me, “Do you have to leave right away?”

“I can stay another day?” I say it with so much uncertainty that Lilith and Michael both look to the sky for an actual answer. The sky remains blue, and I say the next bit with more conviction, “Yeah, I can definitely stay another day.”

“Okay,” Lilith hugs me tightly and kisses my forehead, “Then I’ll pack you some food, some water, some… winter wear?”

“Nice try, mom,” I reply then roll my eyes at her, “But I’m still not telling you where I’m going.”