The legend of the child sent by God

Ethan had barely begun to grasp the enormity of the Tower of Light when the elder's voice pulled him back to the present.

"Ethan," the elder spoke, his voice weighted with a gravity that made Ethan's heart skip a beat, "there is a legend passed down through the ages. It speaks of one sent by God, born not of flesh and blood, but of light itself. One who will come into the world in an egg—an egg that will crack open to reveal a human form. Just as you did."

Ethan's breath caught in his throat. His mind reeled. An egg?

The elder's words hung in the air like a heavy fog, suffocating the clarity he had once known. The Tower of Light, towering majestically around him, suddenly felt smaller, as though it too held its breath beneath the weight of the prophecy.

"I was born from an egg…" Ethan whispered, trying to force the words into something comprehensible. But they refused to settle, slipping through his grasp like sand.

Had he truly come into the world that way? He had always believed—no, known—that the man and woman who raised him were his parents. They had taught him how to laugh, how to think, how to love. They had protected him, nurtured him, made him feel safe. They were his home.

The idea that he wasn't really theirs, that he was something else—something special—felt like a cruel betrayal of everything he had ever known.

He looked up at the elder, his chest tightening. "But… they were my real parents. They loved me. They cared for me. I never knew anything else. Are you saying none of it was real?"

The elder's gaze softened, the weight of understanding reflected in his ancient eyes. "No, Ethan. Everything they gave you—their love, their guidance, their protection—was real. They were your parents in every way that matters. Their love for you was no illusion."

Ethan's fists clenched at his sides. "Then why tell me this now?" His voice cracked under the strain of emotion. "Why burden me with this prophecy? Why tell me I was born in an egg if everything I knew was already true?"

The elder knelt before him, his presence steady and unwavering. "Because you are both, Ethan. You were born of light, just as the prophecy says. But you were also born of love. The people who raised you were chosen to guide you, to shape you into who you are today. The prophecy does not erase their love—it magnifies it. It is part of the path you must walk."

Ethan stood still, his mind caught between the truth he had always known and the truth unfolding before him. The weight of it threatened to crush him, but in the elder's voice, there was something steadying, something that quieted the storm inside him.

"You are the one who will bring peace, Ethan," the elder continued. "Not because you were born of light, but because you were born of love. Your parents gave you a gift greater than any prophecy. That love is your strength. It will guide you."

For the first time since the elder began speaking, understanding flickered within Ethan. The legend—the prophecy—did not take away his past. It simply added another layer to his existence, one he would have to embrace.

"I'm not sure I'm ready for this," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked down at his hands, as if they might hold the answers he sought. "I've never thought of myself as anything more than… just Ethan. The son of a man and a woman who loved me."

The elder placed a firm, reassuring hand on his shoulder. "And that is all you need to be. The legend will not change you. You will walk this path as yourself—as the boy who was loved. The world may not understand it now, but you will show them the way, with the love and peace you have been given."

Ethan turned toward the horizon, a quiet resolve settling within him. He still didn't have all the answers. He still didn't fully understand what this meant for him. But for the first time, he didn't feel alone. He wasn't just a boy caught in a prophecy—he was someone who had been loved, and that love would light his path.

The elder's voice broke through his thoughts. "It is time, Ethan. The creatures of the forest are waiting for you. They have always known you."

Ethan took a deep breath and nodded. As he walked alongside the elder, toward the heart of the forest, a strange peace settled over him. His journey was only beginning, and the road ahead was uncertain, but he was ready to face it with an open heart.

The forest stirred with whispers of anticipation as he approached. Creatures of every shape and size gathered, their eyes glowing with recognition and warmth. They welcomed him—not as a stranger, but as someone they had always known.

The Tower of Light loomed behind him, its golden glow casting a soft radiance against the darkening sky. He could still feel the weight of destiny pressing upon him, but for the first time, it did not feel like a burden. It felt like a purpose.

The elder smiled, his eyes filled with quiet pride. "Welcome home, Ethan. The world awaits the peace only you can bring."

Ethan swallowed hard, then lifted his chin, his resolve solidifying. This was his destiny. And with the love of his family and the support of those around him, he would rise to meet it.