Spirit Island

On a forgotten archipelago called Aerilon, washed by faraway seas, lives a people at peace with the spirits. In every breeze, tree, and stream, the spirits reside, and nourish the land with their bounty. Fruits fall from trees, waves provide fresh sea-fare, feasts rise from the soil, water bubbles from natural springs. Shelter is plentiful, the breeze balmy and warm, and the broad ocean vistas are beyond compare.

Each morning, Gobos, the spirit-talker, arrives at the beach to listen to the voices in the wind. The wind-spirits tell Gobos where on the islands his people can find life’s necessities to sustain them that day: food, water, shelter, and beauty. Next, they warn Gobos where to avoid falling rocks, strong winds, large waves and strange creatures.

Gobos’ apprentice, Toru, gazes on, learning the ways of spirit-talking, then follows Gobos back to their community to impart the knowledge of the spirits. Toru, still a boy, stands before his people and recounts what trees are ripe with fruit, which bay is teeming with fish and edible sea-weed, which palm orchard is raining down leaves to be woven into thatch, and so on. As he looks fondly upon the people with whom he has spent his whole life, he is grateful for the peaceful life he lives on the islands. Life on Aerilon passes in harmony, and the people are round and happy. Until…

Bhadu, a wizard grown restless, is determined to be free of the distant and mysterious spirits, no matter how benevolent they may seem. Overconfident in his own abilities, he craves independence. He closes himself in his hut, kneeling over his magic cauldron filled with dead flowers, fish scales, bat wings and lobster shells, striving to produce his own food and elixir to sustain him. Smoke fills the air and strange smelling clouds settle over the islands, but nothing wholesome is made. He goes to the beach and works his magic on the waters, striving to bring edibles to the surface, but instead the seaweed begins to die and dead fish appear, bloated and covered in wounds.

Bhadu is undaunted. Tired of depending on the spirits for protection, he cuts down every tree in a nearby forest and builds himself a giant fortress. In all directions, the land becomes scarred and naked. His walls grow thicker and taller against the strong winds and strange creatures, and he enslaves the most fearsome among them to be his sentries.

But the spirits make their homes in the trees, breezes and waves, and with the forest thinning rapidly and the air and ocean growing poisoned, the spirits begin to die. Desperate, they retreat from Aerilon across the sea to faraway Spirit Island, their original home. Before long, strange things begin to happen on the islands. A coconut falls and lands on a villager’s head, knocking him unconscious. Always warned against such things from the benevolent spirits, the villagers become frightened. No new fruit grows on the remaining trees, and no fish or edible sea plants visit the bays. The winds become unpredictable, and strange creatures are hungry and roaming.

It becomes clear that Bhadu must be stopped, and the spirits found and begged to return. After much debate, Toru is chosen to undertake a perilous journey to defeat Bhadu and find the spirits. He packs what food he can find and sets sail on a boat made of bamboo. Toru journeys far and long. Though frightened and alone, he is determined to complete his quest and restore harmony to his beloved Aerilon.

Visiting each island of the archipelago, he encounters many strange and mysterious creatures. After many trials, he eventually arrives at Badhu’s fortress. With much luck, determination and cleverness, he defeats Bhadu, but it takes all his energy and willpower. Afterwards, he lays on the beach, out of breath and hungry, wondering if he will survive and save his beloved Aerilon. Suddenly, he hears a familiar yet faraway voice on the wind. A spirit-voice. He embarks, one final time, not knowing if he will ever see land again.

As he journeys towards the spirit-voice, dolphins play in the waves around him, sunfish lounge nearby and a giant squid encircles the boat in a flood of ink. Fresh water falls from the sky and Toru revives. He knows he is growing close when the voice becomes strong.

At last he lands on Spirit Island. A voice whispers welcome, but what she tells Toru changes everything. “My name is Ideya. I am the only remaining spirit, young Toru. The others have gone, their lives extinguished on Aerilon or the journey here.” She tells him that not all is lost. Aerilon and its people can still be saved and spirit-wisdom can return to the archipelago. But Toru must make a great sacrifice. He must give up his island life forever and become a spirit.

Toru closes his eyes and bows his head. For his people and for Aerilon, he will make the sacrifice.

Together Toru (the spirit) and Ideya return to Aerilon, traveling on the wind. Together, they instruct the islanders how to cleanse and heal the islands. Slowly, as time passes, Aerilon returns to life, and new spirits are born into the trees, waves, rivers and springs. And the people grow round and happy.

The End