Evalieh slumped over shaking his head, his mind was overrun with overwhelming thoughts. His body tingled, desiring to know more about this mysterious land, but he couldn’t help but feel guilty about leaving everything behind. He felt his mother’s broach resting in his pocket. “I don’t think I’m cut out for this,” he said. Blurry eyed, he looked up at Mishavlo. “It—it’s different, but I don’t think I’m your hero.”

“Sun child, have no fear, you are in the land of the sun, a blessed land of love and guidance. We will help you gather the sun tears and help you return home, once all is well.”

“Yes, but why do you need my help? Couldn’t you do it yourself?”

“No, sun child, we cannot. Only the divine hero is allowed to touch the sun tears or else they will break.”

“Of course, they will…”

“With their combined power, you can banish the evils of this island and stop the Shaman Clan.”

“What of this Shaman Clan? If they’re so evil, why don’t you get rid of them?” Evalieh said. He drew a fist and slung it around. “Boom! Pow! Bam! Gone!”

“We can’t!” said a bean fellow. He waved his feathers around and pointed towards the island. The starry sky began to fade away as sunlight highlight the horizon. “We have to keep the island in balance or else we’ll all die.”

Mishavlo said, “The gods of old bound us natives to the island, forever. So, we share our lives with outlanders, by granting them our magics and in return, the island is satisfied when they join a clan. Before the legends of our hero, the crystal bloom was enough to correct any wrong on the island. Now, we need you and other outlanders to make sure our lives stay in balance.”

Evalieh paused and stared up at Mishavlo, making sure he could see every word that came out of her mouth. “Did you say, there are others here?” Mishavlo gave a nod and Evalieh leapt with joy. “Awesome, maybe I can leave with them!”

All the others sulked and bowed their heads.

“Sun child, the path between here and the mainland is closed and won’t open for another year,” Mishavlo said.

Evalieh rolled his eyes and then, ruffled his hair into a mess. While looking at the others, he took a deep breath and smooshed his face between his hands. “As if it wasn’t bad enough! I need to get out of here!” he said. In a mad dash, he fled from the group and tore through the bushes. Filled with dread, he carried on until his lungs began to burn, forcing him to rest along a tree and catch his breath. Trying to avoid Mishavlo and her gang, he saw a clearing up ahead.

Filled with excitement, Evalieh dove through the bushes, and the ground beneath him gave way, tossing him down a slope. He cried out as jagged rocks pelted his body and tore his suit. Before he could come to a stop, Evalieh slammed into a tree, knocking himself unconscious.

Later, when the sky was bright and the air was filled with a warm scent of coconut, Evalieh awoke. He yawned and rubbed his eyes, feeling a mist splash across his sore body. Then, his eyes grew wide when waves of water brushed along his feet with every rise and fall. He was flying over a sparkling ocean, on a giant white peacock with Mishavlo guiding the reigns. Quickly, he felt his breast pocket, hoping his mother’s broach was still there.

“Oh, you’re awake!” said someone.

The voice came from behind and startled Evalieh, causing him to flinch and cling onto Mishavlo. He tightened his grip around the woman and slowly turned his head to find a young man sitting behind them. Evalieh’s eyes grew wide and inhaled a deep squealing breath. Where do these people come from? They’re always popping up, he thought. Blonde slick backed hair tussled in the wind as it framed the young man’s tan face. His hazel eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and he gave a wide friendly smile behind a turquoise veil. Like the rest of the Sun Clan, he sported similar gold ornaments and flowing pants. “Wh-who are you?” Evalieh asked.

“Hanali, at your service!” Hanali’s smile stretched even wider and filled with more cheer.

Evalieh stared blankly at the boy, unsure what to say, he looked down at the water and watched the waves. His body felt stiff and hollow as he tried to figure out what to do next.

Mishavlo laughed, startling Evalieh. “How you holding up?” she asked.

“Wh-where are you taking me?”

“Home!” Hanali said.

Evalieh’s face lit up with a smile and he turned to Hanali. He paused, expecting some sort of catch. “Are we really going home?”

Mishavlo leaned back, nearly squishing Evalieh with her heavy body. “See that beach up ahead—behind that wall of trees and sparkly bubbles is our village,” she said.

Evalieh thought, ugh—what a pain, that’s not my home. He flopped against Hanali, feeling defeated.

“Come now—don’t look so glum! Mother has told me all about you,” Hanali said.

“I guess you think I’m a hero too, huh?”

“Of course, but don’t worry, we’ll be good friends!”

“I don’t need any friends—I need to get home!”

“Then, we’ll get you home! It’s a promise!” Hanali said.

Evalieh rolled his eyes and shrugged.

“That’s my son, always looking out for others,” Mishavlo said.

Hanali nudged Evalieh. “First, we’ll have to get you into a clan. Can’t have anything bad happening to you!”

Evalieh whirled around at Hanali, feeling his stomach boil with anger. “Listen, I never said I was joining. Why do you all keep pushing this on me—haven’t I heard enough?”

Mishavlo tugged at the reins and slowed the peacock. Their ride grew smoother, and she cleared her throat. “Listen, sun child, I apologize—my clan and I lost ourselves in the moment. It isn’t every day we get to meet our hero. I will explain what’s happening…”

Not another story, Evalieh thought. He looked back and Hanali nodded, urging him to listen. Evalieh gave a long sigh and shrugged. Doesn’t look like I can get out of this, he thought. He clenched onto the saddle and looked down at the water. He felt glum because he couldn’t swim his way out of this.

Mishavlo said, “Once a year, the clans try to contact the mainland, through a golden bottle, a clam, a snowflake, or whatever we see fit to represent our clan. We try to entice others to join and partake in our games and challenges. I do not know why the gods designed us this way, but we never questioned it.” She tugged on the reigns when the peacock bucked and wiggled. “Overtime, the Shaman Clan became poisoned by knowledge and dark magic. Causing our yearly challenges to become a war for the right to rule the island. If the Shamans usurp my rule and reject tradition, the island will die and take us with it.”

Evalieh looked out into ocean, thinking things over.

“I promise, with a new crystal bloom, we can put an end to the Shaman Clan’s dark ways and begin anew. If we fail, then I’m afraid we’ll never get you home,” she said.

Evalieh pressed his face in Mishavlo’s wrap. “Why? Why would others come here knowing they put their lives at risk? The more I hear, the more I feel like I have no choice but to help,” he asked.

Hanali pulled Evalieh back and removed his veil, uncovering the gold paint around his lips. “Honestly, they don’t know, but it’s not like we lie.” Hanali looked away, leaving Evalieh disgusted with a frown on his face. Hanali said, “People have said they chose to come here because it was an escape from their problems. How can we ruin that for them?”

“Ha! Then, why did you have to go and tell me?”

Mishavlo said, “Because you’re the hero…”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it—the Shamans are bad—enemy of the sun—must beat them.”

Hanali said, “Don’t worry, I’ll help you, and together we’ll find the tears.”

These people have a one-track mind, Evalieh thought.

“Hanali!” Mishavlo said. She yanked on the reigns, bringing the bird to a halt. They sank into the water and the waves carried them towards the shore. “You just turned eighteen, you’re not ready to leave the clan!”

Hanali sank his fingers into Evalieh’s shoulders and leaned towards his mother. “You know I’ve been preparing for this! If it wasn’t for Evalieh, one of us was going to have to try and gather the tears. You know you can’t leave your post, so I must!” he said.

Mishavlo turned away and tugged on the reigns, making the bird abruptly dip into the water and leap into flight. “You better be ready to jump!” she said.

When the three swooped towards the beach, Hanali grabbed Evalieh by the arm. “Let’s go,” Hanali said. With one pull, they fell into the shallow waters.

Mishavlo said, “I’ll see you at the ceremony!”

Drenched, Evalieh rose from the water, fuming. He spat the salty water out and stomped onto the beach. “I think I swallowed a fish.”

“Wasn’t that fun?” Hanali asked. He bounced and splashed through the water.

Evalieh scowled and stepped back, feeling uneasy. “I can see why there’s no ocean back home. ADAM said it’s useless to our existence.”

“What’s wrong with the ocean?” Hanali looked perplexed as he kept up with Evalieh.

“It’s just water, what can it do for us that can’t be put into a pill? Water keeps us from expanding our reach.” An iridescent bubble passed by Evalieh and popped, stinging his eyes. “What good are these things?” He swatted the bubbles away and rubbed his eyes, causing them to turn red.

“Well, I think they’re rather pretty.”

“Is that all you think they’re good for? What use do they have? What is their value?”

Hanali titled his head, looking perplexed. “Do they need a reason?”

Evalieh looked along the beach and found men, women, and children adorned in golden clothes and jewels all having a wonderful time. He couldn’t tell who was a native or a mainlander. There wasn’t a person who seemed to be spying on another, spurning an argument, or worried for any reason. Instead, everyone was relaxing, playing ball, fishing, or swimming. Evalieh snarled, thinking they were wasting time. Seeing their smiling faces and welcoming gestures, he slumped over. “I’m stuck here, aren’t I?”

“Yep! But only for a year, as long we gather the sun tears,” Hanali said. He then lifted Evalieh’s chin, startling him. With a wide smile, he pointed towards the ocean “See that, the mainland is on the horizon. It’s not too far.”

Evalieh’s eyes widened.

“Have faith, the gods are with you. Let them guide your path back home.”

“Yes, yes, faith and all that. ADAM deemed the gods and their elements unnecessary because it limits humanity’s potential.”

Hanali cocked his head and pouted. “Do you really think that? I think we were left with as much freedom as we could handle. Had the gods intervened, don’t you think we’d become too dependent on them?”

Evalieh remained silent.

“I like to think that it’s up to humanity to take care of ourselves and the world we live in. If we lose our love and compassion, what are we?”

Evalieh stood up, feeling smug. “For a tribal person, you’re awfully well educated and aware.” Suddenly, his body began to feel clammy and cold. Then, a rush of heat tingled his body, setting it ablaze, bringing him to his knees. He scratched at his suit, trying to pull it off. “I’m burning up!” A sharp pain shot through his heart, knocking him into the gritty sand.

“What’s going on?”

A sharp prickly pain worked its way into Evalieh’s chest, making him gasp for air. His vision grew cloudy, and his body grew stiff.

“I—I think the island is rejecting you!” Hanali took charge and called for the other clan members. “This is a bad omen—we must get you to the ceremony. You must bind with a clan’s flame,” he said.