From Fengmi's words, Adam pieced together events that had unfolded while he was in slumber.
The Ark had indeed come to Earth, landing in Scandinavia—the northern part of Europe. The native humans called them the "Arrivals."
But history had diverged from the biblical accounts Adam knew.
First, the location was wrong. It should have been somewhere in the Middle East, yet somehow, it became Northern Europe. Moreover, the Arrivals weren't just humans—they included hybrids of various kinds.
Eve became queen, but unlike Adam, she did not wield absolute authority. She could not completely control the situation. The Arrivals quickly fractured. The hybrids were the first to separate; compared to pure humans, Eve had almost no sway over them.
Giants kept growing taller, unwilling to provide for their bottomless appetites. Elves rejected city life, drawn to nature instead. Dwarves loved digging, and no one could tolerate their endless tunnels. Beastfolk had habits even stranger… soon, they all dispersed. The Arrivals were reduced to what was essentially the human line from Eden.
Meanwhile, the native humans launched attacks against the Arrivals over various disputes. Technology proved decisive, and the locals paid a heavy price.
Eve sought to prevent future attacks and sent her armies to unify the continent. But she had underestimated the world. The Arrivals were too few, and worse, they embraced Eve's modern indulgent lifestyle—few were willing to have children.
The unstoppable war plunged the Arrivals into endless infighting. With fewer than ten thousand people, not even Europe alone could be governed, let alone the world.
Relentless rebellions and raids exhausted them physically and mentally.
Eventually, internal factions moved to impeach Eve. She no longer had the energy to sustain meaningless wars. She withdrew from politics, and the Arrivals' forces retreated to their original territories. They no longer attacked proactively, but strictly controlled all passage in and out.
Their victory had relied entirely on technology. Without it, the Arrivals were just prey before the vast numbers of native humans.
For this reason, the Arrivals never intermarried with the locals. Assimilation never occurred. God was not regarded as the only deity, and distinct groups remained separate.
Adam tore off another piece of bread and handed it to Fengmi. He had too many questions, so the bread kept shrinking. Fengmi looked at him with mild disdain, but hunger prevailed. Lazily, she took the bread and ate while speaking:
"This is the Musa Kingdom, a theocratic state."
Adam noted how she seemed accustomed to educating him like a newborn. Oddly, she understood some of his words that ordinary locals couldn't, making her seem more like an Arrival than a native.
"What god?"
"No clue. We never cared much for the stories the locals invented, otherwise I wouldn't have run off here." She glanced at the bread and water in Adam's hands. "Give me everything, and I'll tell you everything you want to know, okay?"
Adam nodded and handed it all over. Then he asked:
"Why are you here?"
"That's a secret."
Adam glanced at her supplies. She instinctively hugged them.
"I'm not breaking the deal, but my business shouldn't concern you. Even natives have privacy, you know!" Fengmi hurried to explain.
This girl was either carefree or forgetful. Moments ago, Adam had cut her finger, yet she was already drawn to his friendliness—barely seeing him as a threat.
Shaking his head, Adam maintained his friendly smile. "Fine, I won't ask. But know this—I'm not one of the locals you mentioned either."
"You're an Arrival too?"
"Something like that. You'll understand eventually."
Adam paused, then asked a crucial question:
"What do you know about vampires?"
Fengmi hesitated. "I… don't know much about the Blood Clan. There are none left in the First City. I heard they were driven out over a thousand years ago. They're said to be an evil race, surviving and gaining strength through blood."
"And do you know where the Blood Clan came from?" Adam pressed.
Fengmi thought for a moment. "I heard… humans sold their souls to Satan to gain power."
Her words mirrored the bandits' story exactly.
Adam's smile vanished. Only heaven knew what he truly felt.
The bandits' tales could be dismissed, but now, coming from an Arrival, the account carried weight.
Adam had been cursed for siding with humans, the thirst for blood awakened. The event was long forgotten, even by the Eden lineage. History had been twisted: humans sold souls to Satan, the poor devil cast as an extra.
Compared to the curse of drinking blood, Adam's deeds seemed trivial. The people he protected ultimately rejected him, writing new history to shield themselves.
Adam wondered whether, without Uriel's arrow, he too would have been cast out. But perhaps this was God's intention. At that moment, Adam understood the lesson: only his father—Jehovah—was truly his kin. All others were fickle hypocrites.
Peace alone could erase memories of heroes. God had succeeded.
Taking a deep breath, Adam pushed aside the sorrow. Other matters were more pressing, though plans might need adjustment.
"Do you know where Uriel is? And Lilith?"
"I've never heard of them. Lilith… sounds like a girl's name. Maybe in the First City, or maybe more than one," Fengmi replied between bites. Clearly, she knew nothing.
Adam said nothing further. Dawn approached. He settled Fengmi in a room on the top floor to sleep, while he stayed in the adjacent room, drawing the curtains.
He didn't explain why this captive received special treatment, nor the castle's oddities—he merely avoided the corpse-filled halls.
When the sun reached its zenith, the bandits' camp outside the castle stirred with noise and the cries of camels.
"Visitors?" Adam quietly opened a slit in the curtains, peeking at the raucous camp.
"Perfect timing." He lowered his gaze to his own hand, extending it gradually into the blazing sunlight.