Milton stood before the Aurelians, his presence causing the skies to shimmer with light. They gathered in awe, their glowing eyes fixed upon him.
"My children," Milton began, his voice carrying through the air like a soft breeze. "I have given you life and knowledge, a world free from pain and suffering. But there is more to existence than peace and harmony."
The Aurelians listened intently, their faces calm but curious.
"You lack something vital. You lack the power to choose. Without choice, there can be no growth, no true freedom. I have given you all the knowledge I could, but I have kept from you the greatest of all gifts—free will."
Milton hesitated. He remembered the rebellion of Lucifer, the fall of mankind. Free will had led to chaos before. But without it, his creation was lifeless in a different way.
With a wave of his hand, a small golden tree sprouted from the ground. Its fruit glowed, pulsing with a faint light.
"This is the Tree of Will," Milton declared. "If you choose to eat from it, you will gain true freedom—the ability to choose your path, to create, and to destroy. But with that freedom comes responsibility. Your choices will have consequences, for good or ill."
The Aurelians gazed upon the tree, their expressions serene. They did not yet understand the weight of the decision before them. But Milton knew that, in time, they would.
"I leave you now," Milton said, stepping back. "The choice is yours."
And with that, he disappeared into the winds, watching from afar as the Aurelians stood before the tree, contemplating their next move.