It took some time for the child to take that first step forward, but once she did, she was quick on her feet. She pattered up to the dragon, retrieved a fruit from his claw, and took a hearty bite.
<It’s yummy,> the child said, and even she was surprised by what she’d just said. The little girl had suddenly become able to speak the True Language.
The fruit she had taken a bite of could be compared to the apples or pears familiar to humans. But it was much more than a simple fruit.
<You have tasted the fruit of knowledge. It grants wisdom and intelligence to those who consume it.>
Thanks to the intellect granted by the fruit, and the universality of the True Language, the child had become able to communicate without any difficulty.
The child covered her small mouth with both hands.
<Oh no! I heard in an old story that it’s a sin for humans to eat the fruit of knowledge…>
<Ha-ha, not quite. It is not a sin to eat the fruit of knowledge. The sin lies in using the knowledge granted by the fruit for treachery, such as deceiving and tricking another. You may eat without fear.>
Relieved to hear that, the child brought the rest of the fruit to her mouth. Watching this charming sight, the dragon warned the child, <Through the fruit of knowledge, you will now be more sensitive than others to the subtleties of the human heart. You must not use this gift to deceive others. Remember, God is watching you.>
The child nodded as she continued to eat.
After devouring the fruit, the child said, <Thank you.>
Her unnaturally yellowish and dry skin regained its vibrancy. Even in terms of nutritional value, the fruit of knowledge was clearly different from the fruit of the lands of men.
<Why did you save me?>
<It was not I who saved you, but God. God saved your life.>
<God?>
<You survived, even after being bathed in my blood. I have interpreted that as the will of God—that you are not to die yet.>
<Does God really exist?>
<He does. This island has actually been blessed by God.>
The fruit of knowledge grew here, as did the tree of life, and nectar flowed along its streams. This island was just such a place.
<Where am I?> asked the girl.
<A remote island in the middle of the ocean. I’ve heard humans call it the Island of Silver, but the name God gave it was Eden.>
Then the dragon asked, <You came here without knowing what this place is?>
The little child nodded. <I was taken away by some scary people, and before I knew it, I was here.>
Taken away.
Making note of the child’s otherwise ornate dress, the silver dragon thought for a moment.
The dragon was not at all versed in worldly affairs, but he did understand that the clothes she wore were those of an aristocrat. It was said that some despicable humans would pillage and kidnap—so this child had to be a victim.
<I will take you to the lands of men,> the dragon proposed.
But the child said, <I don’t want to go,> hanging her head.
<Don’t you have a family waiting for you?>
The silver dragon had killed many humans. They had all been after his blood or the island’s treasure—or else posed some other threat. But that did not change the fact that he had taken many lives.
He had primarily slain adult men. On the verge of death, even the burliest men would cry for their mothers more often than not. They would wail their throats raw. They would cry for figures who could do little to affect the outcome, even if they had been present.
Thus, the child’s remarks were unexpected.
<You do have parents, don’t you?>
<I do, but…I don’t know their faces.>
The child was expressionless.
<A home tutor cared for me. She said my parents were nobles, so I had to become a proper lady. It was like that for all my elder siblings, too. My brother might have gotten some attention from my father, though. But to me, it was like not having parents at all.>
The child looked at the dragon with her big eyes.
<What about you?> she asked. <Are you all alone here, too?>
<No,> the dragon said. <Lend me your ear. Now that you can speak the True Language, you should be able to understand…the meanings of the cries of the forest animals, and the insects’ buzzing, and the birds’ chirping.>
The True Language enabled communication with all living creatures.
Now the child understood the animals that lived in peace in the forest, and she understood that they were sincerely happy.
<That’s so nice…> In a yearning tone, the child said, <I’d like to stay here, too.>
<If that is what you wish, then you should.>
The child opened her round eyes wide and looked at the dragon. <Really? It’s really okay?>
<Of course. However, if you’re going to live here in Eden, then you must folllow God’s teachings.>
<God’s teachings?>
<No creature here in Eden may fight. You must not harbor hate, resentment, or loathing in your heart. Here, we are all family. We have love and affection for one another. If you can promise that, then you can stay here, too.>
<That’s easy. If that’s the rule here, then the creatures of Eden won’t bully me, right? I’d never hate or loathe them. I’ll keep that promise.>
<All right. Then that makes you and me family.>
The child smiled innocently. <Hey, what should I call you? My name is—>
<That won’t be necessary. Since this is not the lands of men, I will call you you. And you will also call me you. As long as we have love for each other, names will not be necessary.>
<Okay?>
<And no more of that girlish lilt. Overt differences in the sexes can give rise to discrimination. You should speak in a plain manner.>
<A plain manner? …What do you mean?> The child added, <Oh, maybe I should just, um, imitate you,> changing her manner of speech.