It has been half a year since Eve and Adam have been separated. Eve did not try to talk to Adam for the first few months, but when Sera's visit was nearing, she tried to persuade Adam to come back to their own home. However, Adam still didn't trust her to touch him. He did say he could trust the Watchers to watch over him and his children, but in those last few months alone, he came to the decision to just leave full stop.

He just didn't have the faith that Eve could change, and feared that she may weaponize the children against him by how she spoke about her role.

Instead, he wanted to wait for Sera to make her yearly visit. He didn't want to call her down too soon because Sera might simply see him being in the wrong. If they remained separated long enough, Sera might see that they genuinely had a problem that couldn't be fixed. Adam hoped that Sera would blame him, so he could be banished or even blown out of existence.

Each day, Eve became more desperate for Adam to talk to her, always coming with a basket of food to share, flower crowns for him to wear, and telling him fascinating stories about the stars and her day. But Adam only gave her passing remarks since they were still technically companions, so he couldn't be outright neglectful, or he may truly be defying God.

Samyaza, Azazel and Yeqon watched all this happen, and Azazel became fed up with it.

"This is humiliating to witness. How is it that everything Father has created has been perfect, yet humanity itself is a hot mess."

Samyaza defended, "This Eve was not created by Father, and Adam has shown to be too scrupulous to be considered a failure. I am worried about how Sera will react once she visits. As far as we are aware, she is doing her duty, but removing Uriel from her post is odd."

Azazel put it bluntly, "It's because Uriel knows the truth behind that other man we locked in a cave. Sera told us that she had created that man to be Adam's helper, but he had eaten the fruit of forbidden knowledge and led the innocent Adam astray. But by how Adam subconsciously hallucinates that person to be so sweet and encouraging, it's pretty clear that we may have been lied to."

Samyaza wanted to argue, but the truth was right before their very eyes, especially by the presence of one of Uriel's wolves. Canine had been dutifully sitting in the desert for years, patiently waiting for Adam to come out since it had no power to break in.

Yet Yeqon pointed out, "Even if we do know the truth, we are the lowest ranked angels in Heaven. Even if we act, we can easily be replaced."

Azazel asked, "But can we even be considered angels if we turn a blind eye to this? We should ask Raphael for help since Michael, Gabriel and Uriel are currently absent from Heaven."

Samyaza said, "I fear that if we ask Raphael for help, then this may turn into a court case, and we don't know if everyone will sympathize with Adam if Sera vouches for Eve instead. He trusts us. I don't want him to be harmed."

Yeqon suggested, "Then let's put the two through a test." His fellow Watcher leaders arched an eyebrow their way. "The only way to truly test the humans of Eden is through who can resist being seduced to eat the fruit of forbidden knowledge. Lilith was banished after Samael convinced her to eat it."

Azazel furrowed her brows, "You are not suggesting we invite Samael here."

"Not directly. Tamiel and Kokabel should be able to find him in the known universe without being seen, and they could subtly deliver an idea for him to visit before Sera does."

Samyaza pointed out, "I understand where you are going with this, but I fear that it may not work on Adam who has not directly met with Samael since he was given the duty to watch over Lilith while Uriel was given the duty to watch over Adam. The only impression Adam has of Samael is a distrustworthy one."

"That is true. Then we will need to find someone who is as persuasive as him for the test to be fair. Fortunately for us, there's someone in Adam's mind who is. We simply need someone to pretend to be him."

Samyaza looked to the other 17 angels who have been more focused on their hobbies than actually watching the humans. "Sathariel is able to create a small shift in reality with his words, but he might accidentally influence Adam against his will too well."

Azazel said, "I don't think any of us is suited for deceit besides Sathariel. However Amazarak has been dabbling in different types of magic, having me create different tools to do so, instead of sticking with one type in Heaven. And her twin sister, Armaros, has been dabbling in counter-magic to keep her out of trouble. So if anything happens, Armaros can help undo it."

Samyaza called out, "Tamiel! Kokabel! Amazarak! Armaros! We have a job for you."

._._._.

"You know, I think we could make clothes similar to the angels." The orange haired hallucination told him as they walked along the forest surrounded by squirrels and boars. "I mean we don't need clothes, so we can call it something else. How about clo…co…t-t…cotem? Costems? Costoo? Costumes? Costumes! Let's call them costumes, Adam!"

Adam chuckled, and for some reason, his words felt like he was repeating them, "You are brilliant. I have a knack for naming living beings, but you have a knack for naming new inventions."

"I learned from the best."

Adam warmly smiled at the compliment, hoping that his mind could continue creating this person who seemed so real.

The two continued to walk in silence until he suddenly found himself at the Tree of Forbidden Knowledge. The tree had such beautiful red apples and a fragrance that enchanted his senses. No doubt they must be absolutely delicious, but they were forbidden by God, so Adam threw away the desire.

Suddenly the tree rustled and on a branch, he found his special person sitting there, holding an apple.

Adam exclaimed, "You shouldn't be up there! This tree is forbidden by the One Above!"

The hallucination corrected, "We were only forbidden from eating the fruit, but it does not mean we cannot sit here." The hallucination hopped down and laid against the tree. "Please join me, Adam."

Adam hesitated but his hallucination wasn't wrong, so he sat down next to them. The fragrance was much stronger up close that it made his mouth salivate but he hardened his heart and reminded himself that someone much more tantalizing was beside him.

"Doesn't the tree smell amazing? The fruits must be delicious."

"It could certainly serve as a snack, but just the sight of you makes me full." Adam said sincerely with a warm gaze.

The hallucination was speechless. The twin enchanters looked to their three leaders who were also at a loss of words. Samayaza and Azazel had their faces covered while Yeqon only had their mouth covered and was the one to recover quicker and told the twins…

"But aren't you curious about the knowledge contained in these very fruits? If you were to eat them, then you could become as wise as God."

"But would it be wise to break a rule? What kind of God exists that breaks rules? If I had such a God, then I would be terrified."

"But if you were a God, then you will have the power to lay down the rules. And so it would be as if you never broke a rule to begin with."

"But it won't change the fact that I have disrespected God who is my Father. I will have children someday, and if I cannot follow the word of my Father, then how could they?"

The hallucination fell silent with a pondering face. He stood up and took an apple in his hand. "Then would you do it if I ask? Then all the blame will be on me."

Adam stood up and answered, "I could never do such a cruel thing to you."

"Even if I ask for it?"

"I would reason with you."

"What if I already ate it, and God punishes me? Will you follow me?"

"Of course. You are my dear friend."

"Is it because I am more important than God?"

"Not at all. You are my wind and sky. My sun and clouds." Adam took their hands, having the apple take a tumble to the ground. "The one who gives life to the garden in my own heart. If you have fallen into such desires, then it is only right that I fall with you so we may still be of one mind and heart and together find God again for with Them, we are not lost from what truly matters more than knowledge beyond our means."

"And what is that?"

Adam's warm gaze upon the hallucination seemed to seep through his imaginary skin. The First man softly replied, "The simple knowledge that we are worthy without it. You reminded me of that after the many times Eve had made a fool out of me. I could have all the knowledge in the universe, but none of it matters if I am weak and alone like her." Adam hugged the imaginary person. He then slipped down onto one knee and propped the hallucination onto his other knee, letting him be the one to look down upon the First Man. "Even if you are fake, all of you are more desirable than this apple."

"Adam…" The hallucination caressed his cheek.

The angels were confused since the hallucination began to act on its own. Fearing of what was to come as the faces got closer, Armaros made the hallucination disappear.

Adam was saddened by its disappearance. He sighed and stood up. He placed a hand on the tree with a bittersweet teary smile and said, "Thank you for giving me a moment of delusion." He walked away.

The angels watched him leave, and Samyaza was willing to admit, "I'm starting to believe we committed a grave mistake."

Yeqon replied, "Then we are on the right track on correcting that. If Eve eats the apple, then Sera loses any credibility here in Eden. So when we help Adam escape, it would be seen as a means to save his soul, so we won't be punished by the higher ups."

Samyaza said, "We should not use any foul play. We agreed on letting Samael and his wife and no one else convince her to eat the apple."

Just then Tamiel and Kokabel landed near Eden in a flash of lightning. Yeqon smirked, "Of course, brother. After all, no one is more convincing than the Lightbringer himself."

._._._.

Samael and Lilith secretly arrived at Eden after Lilith had the idea of returning back. The two were able to slip through the Watchers who appeared to be more fascinated with their hobbies than watching the humans. They sat at a tree branch and witnessed Eve desperately trying to get Adam's attention from across a herd of sheep and wolves. Adam paid her no mind at all, even as she began to cry.

"It has almost been a thousand years, and he has only gotten worse." Lilith commented in the form of an owl. "A vast universe beyond this garden, and they expected me to remain with this prick."

Samael in the form of a snake agreed, "I pity her. She's trying so hard to be his equal like you and me, but he only cares about himself. He even has the animals against her. We should help her discover that there's a whole world out here."

Soon enough, Eve finally left Adam alone to have lunch. She intended to head home where she weaved baskets and wrote down her research on the sky. Yet she stopped when an unusual white snake caught her eye. She followed it until she found herself at the Tree of Forbidden Knowledge.

She had crossed by this place many times before since it was in the middle of the garden. She had been curious about the mysteries hidden within such a small crop, yet, she refrained from taking a bite since she didn't want to lose Sera's support.

Although seeing where her life was heading, she might as well. It simply wasn't fair. Eve had thought that this garden would become her own heavenly kingdom just as she saw in Heaven itself. She took joy in making Adam a servant of hers, and felt pleasure in his misery by doing the simplest things. But now that idiot gained the gall to go against her?! She was perfect! He was the mistake like that Lilith! He should've been grateful that she gave him the time of day!

She became so frustrated that she took a seat on her knees by the tree to relax. She considered whether she should actually slay a few herbivores and play innocent. Lie that she wanted to try to feed the predators, but didn't realize she took too many lives since she really loved the prayer for sacrifice. If only the wolves didn't protect them, she probably would've done it by now so she could actually carry out her threats.

"Hello there."

Eve was surprised to hear a new voice. She looked over her shoulder and met the same white snake again, but looking at it closely, she recognized the heavenly aura of a high ranking angel. She used her light voice that used to have Adam wrapped around her finger, "Who are you?"

"I don't know if you have heard of me, but I am the archangel Samael and this is my wife, Lilith. We're quite infamous around these parts."

With angelic flair, he turned into his humanoid angelic form. Eve gasped in amazement at his beauty and was further shocked to see an owl turn into a beautiful woman. She was able to put two and two together, "You are the banished couple of Eden. Why are you here?"

Lilith replied, "We came to visit Eden in secret to see how my ex-husband was doing out of curiosity and whether he was given a new wife. It must have been hard for you to deal with such a close-minded oaf."

Eve held back a laugh and instead weeped, "After you left him, Sera had given me to him as a replacement, but all he does is treat me like I'm a burden. It's been so hard, but no one wants to listen to me here!"

"I understand and it'll be okay." Lilith gave her a hug, and Eve hugged her tightly, letting a few tears stray away. "Everything will be okay."

Samael approached them with an apple. "Take a bite of this and you will be given the wisdom to make your own decisions from now on. Lilith and I will be more than happy to have you come with us to explore the universe."

Lilith let her know, "After I ate the apple, I discovered what true affection was and what it meant to truly be human." She looked lovingly at Samael who returned the look.

Eve cared nothing for their affections, but still thought there must be more to this apple than that. For a moment, she worried about how Sera would be more upset if she ate this apple than how she failed at keeping Adam under control. Yet the thought only annoyed her since Eve believed Sera failed her first by not properly wiring Adam's brain to love her no matter how she treated him. Sera also failed at assigning proper Watchers to do her bidding.

With so many mistakes, Eve thought she had every right to eat the apple as compensation for her suffering. So she took the apple from Samael, but she didn't want to seem too eager so she slowly brought it to her mouth and took a big bite. She was surprised at first by how disgustingly bitter it tasted, but almost instantly, she discovered new emotions that evoked thoughts she could never have imagined by her limited surroundings. Forbidden thoughts that would give more than she was promised like Her own Kingdom.

Suddenly gray clouds covered the endless blue skies of Eden, and thunder shook the Earth! Lightning struck the walls of Eden, crumbling stone into dust! Lightning then struck down on the trees, causing a fire to erupt, forcing the animals to stampede their way out through the wall's opening!

Adam quickly ran to the Tree of Forbidden Knowledge since he couldn't imagine anything else could ignite this disaster! He was shocked to see Lilith again and who must be Samael. Yet what shocked him the most was seeing Eve still holding the half eaten apple.

"Adam!" Eve approached him with the apple extended out. Adam took a step back from the crazed look in her eyes and the juices slipping down her hands. "You must take a bite of this fruit! It has opened my eyes to the truth of the world around us! Eat it and we could become gods!"

"Gods?" Adam was bewildered and then appalled by such an idea that his brain blurted out, "His Eve would never do such a thing."

His Eve? His Eve?

Adam stared at the apple and then looked directly at Eve, but what he saw before his eyes was a memory of a snake eating its own egg.

He was horrified to learn that parents would eat their own children before they were even born. He had eaten eggs himself since some of the eggs that animals like chickens produced were not fertilized.

But without even checking if it was with young, the snake just swallowed it whole. It also made him think about how he witnessed baby snakes being eaten by their own kind and at that moment, he had to come to the realization that the snake eating them could be their mother.

The scene made Adam and his Eve consider how children were not off limits to the vicious desire to survive from their own parents. They coped by remembering the many other animals who cared for their young even as they fell to their death from starvation.

His Eve said, "It's shocking to believe that the animals in Eden could become like this if all their needs were not met. What would that mean for our children and their children if their needs are not met?"

Adam thought about it for a moment. The easy thing to say was to have faith in God, but he wanted to take more of an initiative and said, "Just as God had left me with skills to survive and learn, we must do the same for our children so they can pass it onto their children. For how far those lessons will go, we can only rely on faith."

His Eve replied as she held her stomach, "It's just so frightening to think such suffering and choices could fall upon those we love." Tears came to her eyes. She took a deep shaky breath, "I hope more than anything that they find true happiness among all this suffering and uncertainty like the two of us." She held his hand and placed it on her stomach. She couldn't get pregnant, but the dream was too sweet to let go. She sang, "I only hope they'll know that they were not made for us. Like how I learned that I am meant for you as you are meant for me because we made that choice. That they learn that they were meant to have their own voice."

Adam kissed Eve and whispered to her as if the words were too precious to share to anyone else, "I hope so too."

This memory and many others returned to his mind for God Themself had made sure that they were not only stored in the mind but deep within the soul. He looked down at his hands that began to emit steam as they turned rugged once more and the rest of his body became littered with imperfections.

Adam spoke as he came to, "You…" He took a clear look at the evil before him now, "You are not Eve."

"What? Adam? What are you talking about? I am Eve."

Adam let out a mirthful huff as the truth settled in, and then erupted in relieved laughter! He did not care for the unsettled stares at him, but he stopped when the clouds split open to allow Sera down in her full form. Adam smiled at her presence while everyone else was terrified.

"WHAT HAS HAPPENED?!" Sera sees the half eaten apple in Eve's frozen hands. "EVE?! PLEASE TELL ME THAT YOU DIDN'T EAT THE APPLE!"

Eve may have been given the wisdom of a God but she was still no God. She got on her knees and tried to save herself, "I…I was tricked by Samael and Lilith to eat it!"

Adam declared, "It doesn't change anything. You broke a rule explicitly placed by God, and will have to face the consequences. Sera, as her creator, her failures fall on you as well! You have no grounds to keep me here! I AM FREE!" He turned and ran out of the walls!

"ADAM!" Sera motioned towards him, but pockets of light appeared in the sky, revealing more heavenly beings witnessing Eve's sin. Raphael descended down, yet remained in the sky as a fellow witness.

The Watchers saw Sera freeze for a moment before she gave in to her failure. "Eve. Since you have eaten the apple just as Lilith had done before, you are hereby banished from Eden and from ever entering Heaven's gates. You-"

"Sera! PLEASE! I am your creation! I will accept my banishment but leave the rest of me intact!"

Sera paused, fighting between her duty and her hubris. In the end, she chose, "That is all."

Azazel clicked her tongue, "Talk about playing favorites."

After Sera left and the other heavenly beings looked away, she ordered the Watchers with the ability to manipulate the sky to clear the storm. Another angel came down beside the archangel Raphael, and with her power brought forth the rain.

The archangel took out a papyrus paper from his sleeve, looked down at it and began, "I can't say I agree with your methods, but there was no rule against manipulating them to eat the apple. The results do speak for themselves. Now that Sera has lost credibility on the matters of Eden, Uriel and Michael may consider returning after I had Gabriel's people send a notice to them."

The Watchers bowed their heads out of respect and Samyaza formally thanked him.

Raphael took out another papyrus paper from his sleeve and looked down at it. "You also request to continue watching over Adam in order to seek atonement for your acts against him, despite it being direct orders from Sera herself."

Samyaza answered, "Yes. I fear we have caused great harm to not only him but with his previous companion. It's only right that we seek forgiveness."

Raphael looked up at the sky for a moment and then answered, "This would usually be under Michael's jurisdiction, but knowing him, he would agree on the condition that you do not interact with Adam directly. You may only help in the background as his Watchers. I will sign off on this agreement, but I am adding the word 'temporary' so Michael may renegotiate the conditions with you once he comes back with Uriel."

"We thank you, Big Brother Raphael."

"Then that will be all. Here, Penemue." He made a copy of the signed scroll out of thin air, and gave it to the Watcher that was made of floating papyrus paper covered in beautiful paintings. Penemue accepted the scroll as a new body part. "Your literacy has vastly improved. It was both logical yet touching to the heart." He turned away and called for the angel he brought along, "Matariel, let's depart."

._._._.

Adam was able to get out of Eden before the rain poured. He remembered the path back home, and was surprised to recognize Canine's scent on an unrecognizable animal. The poor wolf had become skinny to the bone. His hair had gotten short and its color changed into a rich tan. Yet despite having transformed after years of waiting, he smiled and licked Adam's face.

Adam praised him with head pats and kisses while trying to control his pained tearful expression. Canine accepted a bit and then quickly gestured for Adam to hurry. Adam followed the wolf through a short cut that was far more dangerous than the safer paths Eve and him always chose. A few times, Adam thought he would die, but miracles seemed to keep happening around him. It never rained at night when he was without shelter. He was always able to find a fruit tree whenever it was time to eat despite the fact that finding it in places like the middle of a wasteland should've been impossible. The moon was always full and bright enough to continue traveling throughout the night. Hot surfaces cooled at his touch when he should've had his skin burned off. Most of all, when dangerous animals could attack them, they dodged them instead as if they were a dangerous force of nature.

Canine definitely knew someone was following them, which may have been why he was willing to take such dangerous short cuts. What should've been years of travels became mere weeks, so Adam wasn't bothered by the stalking.

Once they reached the ocean, Adam began construction on his sail boat. Without Eve's help, it would take him a few years to create one capable of facing the fierce tides, but when he woke up, a boat was already fully crafted and fully stocked.

"Not that I'm complaining, but I'd like to know which angel is taking care of me so I can thank them personally." He formed a circle around his mouth with his hands and cried out, "WHOEVER YOU ARE, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I NEED TO GET TO MY WIFE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND I HAVE YOU TO THANK FOR MY GREAT FORTUNE! TRULY! I AM SO GRATEFUL!"

Adam and Canine got on the boat and blessed with strong winds, they reached the island in a few days. Canine brought him to the cave where Eve had been sealed. Adam used his strength to push the boulder aside, and the ground itself shifted to let gravity help him.

The sunlight revealed a body on the ground, but this body was so inhumanly pale that he could see not only the veins but the organs that were not covered by bones. Not a strand of hair was on this body and their eyes were completely red and their pupils were heavily dilated.

"EVE!" Adam got on his knees and could still see the heart beating slowly under the ribs.

Canine whimpered at the sight of her. Adam comforted him with head pets and told him to bring a bowl of water with a rag and a goat to come so he could also get some milk. Canine did as he was told, and when he came back, he also brought a sled of supplies that should've rotted long ago, yet they remained in pristine condition. The goat milk had also been done which made Adam wonder if an angel had used their hands or their magic to do that.

Throwing away needless questions, Adam prepared two bamboo cots with stuffed cotton quilts and wool blankets. He carefully carried her onto one of the beds with both of them sitting against each other. Canine laid on the other one to keep it warm.

Next, Adam used a ceramic pot with a small spout. He filled it a little bit with the goat milk and placed the spout in Eve's mouth. Fortunately, she was able to swallow. He went about it very slowly to allow the body to properly digest. When Eve soiled herself on the quilt, Adam cleaned her with a wash cloth before setting her on the second cleaner bamboo cot, having her lie head onto Canine's body. Adam took out the soiled quilts and blankets and threw them into the wooden washing machine he and Eve had built long ago on one side of a river.

He went to their rebuilt home and found his bamboo bed with a fresh floral scent that eased his nerves. He then went to the separate bath house that he and Eve built out of wood and stone. The pool was filled since he and Eve built it on a forked stream, so water continuously came through a makeshift waterfall and left through a drain against a wall.

He went to the heating room where he started a fire. Once the bath was warm enough, he went back to the cave to find Eve still unresponsive but her heart rate had improved by the skin contact. He wrapped her in the wool blanket to protect her from the sun, but the clouds suddenly covered the sky without the smell of rain. He carried his wife with more ease to the bath house where he placed her naked on a bamboo lounge chair.

Taking a bucket of the warm water and a clean rag, he carefully cleaned her up, and found old scars on her knuckles. He weeped at the sight, whispering for forgiveness as he continued. He dried her with a towel, and then brought her to a separate room that was built like a tower so cool air could travel in. They also had the other side of the forked stream pouring down to drink. Bathing in hot water was necessary for the sore bones, yet the island's temperature wasn't helpful.

After Eve cooled down, Adam fed and cleaned her again before gently placing her on the clean bed. Her eyes that had been staring lifelessly finally slowly closed into a deep sleep. Adam got on his knees and begged for his wife's recovery to be swift and painless.

The Watchers heard his prayers, and called upon Raphael for help since he was the archangel of healing. The archangel made an appearance later that night, and with his staff, he eased the digestive issues in Eve's body.

"She will make a steady recovery now."

"Why not fully heal her to her original form before she was locked in the cave?" Azazel inquired.

"The point of healing is not to fix one's appearance but to give the body strength and the correct messages to reach true recovery. The rest depends on the person's individual will."

Samyaza thanked him for his help once again before the archangel left.

._._._.

Adam braced himself for the slap to the face that left scratch marks on his cheeks. He endured his hair being pulled off his scalp and listening to the screeching, "I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!"

Once Eve regained consciousness, she became bitter and hateful towards everything and anything. After having been locked in the cave for decades with no sunlight, food, water or company, she became an embodiment of resentment.

She rejected eating, leaving the bed or being touched. Adam was pained more by these rejections than her hits or vile words. He felt guilty when he had to restrict her with the help of the animals so he could force the food and medicine down her throat three times a day. And then numb her with their venom so she wouldn't try to vomit it out.

Adam protected Canine when she went after him, fearing she'll come to regret it once she came back to her senses. Although Canine was not the type to be hit like Adam, instead dodging her and playing clever tricks to knock her off her feet so Adam could tie her up for a bath.

Yet she didn't try to run away when Adam would bring her out of the house, sit her under the shade on a wooden lounge chair anywhere on the island, and watch him work the gardens and the animals. Instead she just sat there with a deadpan expression.

When night came, Canine kept watch of Eve while Adam slept in a little hut he built for himself. He already disturbed her so much when she was awake, he didn't want to disturb her from her peace.

Years would fly by, and the violence and verbal lashings persisted, yet Adam was glad to see color return back to Eve's complexion and the fat fill her cheeks. Her orange hair grew very slowly but being able to brush it made Adam immensely happy. The whites returned to her eyes and her pupils shrunk back to normal, revealing the gorgeous blue and green hazel he knew.

"How can you smile?" Adam was surprised to hear a familiar voice. He had been smiling down at a sleeping Eve after almost having his eyes clawed out. He turned around to see Yeqon standing there.

The two exited the house so they didn't disturb the sleeping wife.

At the beach, Yeqon pointed out, "I apologize for being upfront but the way she treats you is no different than how the other Eve treated you back in Eden."

"I understand your concern, but that's not true at all. Those two are completely different kinds of violence. The fake Eve hurt me out of some disturbed pleasure, but my Eve hurts me because she's suffering. In Eden, I at least had my animals to give me company. But Eve? She had no one. She was completely alone in that darkness. She probably can't even remember how she looked before." Adam held back the tears to not interrupt a conversation with an angel, "I don't blame her for blaming me for her misery since Sera punished her for loving me."

"Then do you blame us for being the ones who put her there?"

Adam frankly answered, "Not at all since you were only acting under orders, and I imagine it was you and your family who helped me on my travels and with taking care of Eve. So I thank you deeply from my soul for taking responsibility."

Yeqon didn't reply to that and instead asked, "You are a good man doing so much work but what if she never loves you again?"

Adam fell silent yet his face showed that he had already considered the possibility, "...Honestly, I don't know what to do if I start believing that. I want her to love me again, but that's not something you can force to happen." Adam hugged himself. "Between Eve and I, us falling in love was completely natural. Now, it's all up to when she begins to take care of herself again. I'll respect whatever decision she makes."

"Isn't that unfair? For her to end it so one-sidedly? I had the impression that your love would overcome all, but is this all human love has to show for it?"

"Well…yeah." Adam looked up at the starry sky with a streak of white as if it was a sneak peak of Heaven's light. "I know my one thousand years of living may seem like a speck compared to your existence, but I've learned that sometimes love is about giving up. Sure, it would seem grand that I fight for our love, but for us, that's not the case at all. Back at Eden, my Eve's existence was seen as lesser. Like her existence was defined by my supposed greatness because I am the First Man when that's not true. I don't want to rope her into thinking she has to hurry up and heal to make me happy. What's most important right now is for Eve to heal and be happy even if I'm not in the room anymore."

"I…don't quite understand, which must be odd hearing from an angel."

Adam chuckled, "Suffering makes a great teacher apparently."

"I supposed so. I just can't imagine being content with such a bitter ending after everything you've sacrificed. I want you to be happy, Adam."

Adam smiled for them, "I am sad but I'm happy, too. I may not get everything I want, but I am deeply grateful for what I have." He looked directly at Yeqon.

The angel was taken aback by the well-meaning stare. It was indeed appreciation, but there was something more behind that stare. Yet that didn't seem like an appropriate topic since Yeqon was already breaking a rule. So they faded back into the background and Adam returned back to the little hut.

._._._.

A/N: So if I poorly wrote this fic, the apple is more like a cheat code to understanding the way the world works, but because there is so much knowledge, what it provides the eater is the knowledge of their deepest, darkest desire fit for their character (Lilith's desire for Samael/Second Eve's desire for Godhood). But eating it is like a sheltered adult discovering adult things. They don't quite understand what to do with the information they're given but it feels really good and freeing at first, so it leads them into a life of over-indulgence led by their emotions.

Now with Adam and the real Eve, once they leave Eden, they also discover goodness and evil but it comes in small portions throughout their journey, and they face it with the logic and skills they honed in Eden, which leads to them creating their own version of Eden.

So humans always had the ability to discover the difference between good and evil, but one was done through recklessness and the other was done through mindfulness.