Adam's decision to descend to the Earth below was not an easy one. He first had to face the wisdom of the elder, Ibrahim, and the folly of Jaber, the two most eccentric figures in Cloud Haven.
Ibrahim was an old man with a long white beard that reached his chest and piercing blue eyes that held the wisdom of a thousand years.
It was said that he was the oldest inhabitant of the village, and that he knew secrets that no one else knew.
Adam went to Ibrahim's hut, which was located at the highest point of the village, as if watching the world from above.
"Ibrahim, I need your advice," Adam said, his voice trembling.
Ibrahim looked at him calmly, his eyes piercing his soul.
"I know why you have come, Adam," Ibrahim said in a voice as quiet as a whisper of the wind. "You want to descend to the Earth below."
Adam nodded, surprised by the old man's ability to read his mind.
"It is a dangerous journey, Adam," Ibrahim continued. "The Earth below is full of dangers you do not know."
"But the Cloud Tree is dying," Adam protested. "I must do something to save our village."
Ibrahim sighed deeply, then said, "There is an ancient legend that speaks of a magical plant called the 'Mistflower.' It is said to grow in the deepest point of the Earth below, and that it has the power to heal any other plant."
Adam's face lit up with hope.
"So there is hope!"
Ibrahim shook his head sadly.
"Do not rejoice too much, Adam. Few are those who have descended to the Earth below and returned alive. And even fewer are those who have found the 'Mistflower.'"
"But I will try," Adam insisted.
Ibrahim smiled faintly.
"I know you will. Therefore, I will give you
this."
Ibrahim handed Adam a small necklace with a shiny blue stone hanging from it.
"This will help you on your journey. It carries the power of the Cloud Tree and will protect you from the darkness."
Adam thanked the old man for his advice and gift, then left his hut with a heart filled with hope and fear at the same time.
But before he could leave the village, he had to face Jaber, the village fool.
Jaber was a tall, thin man with messy red hair and green eyes that sparkled with madness. He wandered around the village, muttering words that no one understood.
"Jaber, I want to ask you something," Adam said.
Jaber looked at him thoughtfully, then burst out laughing.
"You want to descend to the Earth below! What folly!"
"Why do you say that?" Adam asked, annoyed.
"Because the Earth below is inhabited by monsters, my friend! And you will become their dinner!"
"I don't believe that," Adam said stubbornly.
"Then you are a fool like me!" Jaber shouted joyfully.
"But I will give you a prophecy, my friend. Beware of the darkness! For in the darkness lies evil! And in evil… lies death!"
Then Jaber burst out laughing again, leaving Adam alone with his tangled thoughts.
Adam felt conflicted. On the one hand,
Ibrahim's wisdom gave him hope.
On the other hand, Jaber's prophecy stirred fear in his heart.
But he had made his decision.
He would descend to the Earth below.
And he would face his destiny.