She was both relieved to be released from the continuous praises and attention of the people of Diwes and dreaded beginning the long and dangerous journey. Helian looked reluctant to leave such praise, but his eagerness to begin didn't dampen his determined mood—which helped Zelenia's worry.

They had only just met, but she couldn't believe that she had survived for so long without him. She didn't want to leave his side, and he must've felt the same by the way he never moved more than a few feet away.

The people of Diwes had given them a grand farewell and a good number of the city-folk followed them to the large docks to wish them a safe journey to Asardia and beyond.

***

Just a fishing village, Kaos couldn't dock the ferries, so they had to transfer over to a smaller vessel at Sciula. It took some time searching the docks for someone who could carry them over. The fisherman they found was from Kaos and neared disembarking to go home; they hired him. After gaping at Zelenia and Helian in disbelief that they were actually the Moon and Sun, the owner of the small boat set sail for one of the outer islands.

The small boat slowed as they came upon a cliff jutting out from the mainland. They rounded it and were at Kaos.

The fishing village wasn't much bigger than what she had been shown in the Silent Realms. Zelenia counted seven huts built over the water and about the same back on the shore. Fishermen were even untangling nets like in her vision. The water was a mesmerizing blue, sparkling beautifully in the sun. Zelenia knew she wouldn't have much trouble living in Kaos with how small, quiet, and serene it looked.

Even though Asardia belonged to the Moon, the sun still took its time in the sky—only not as bright. It was the same in Agralea. In a land of the Sun, the moon never appeared at night. Only in Caelestis did the moon always remain in the sky.

The captain pulled up to the small dock, providing mooring to other small fishing boats.

"It might be hard convincing Water to leave a place like this," Helian said, awe thick in his voice as if he had been bewitched too.

"That might not be the hardest part," she said.

"What else could be the problem?"

The owner helped her up to the dock. She thanked him, then turned to Helian when he stepped up beside her. "Convincing them they are Water."

Getting visitors attracted nearly all the children and the curiosity of the adults. The children were all tanned from living under the sun and dressed in the colorful Island attire of shorts, cropped shirts, and no shoes. As dark as the children, the women wore skirts and bikini tops with variations of color, jewelry, and tattoos.

Like children are wont to do, their hands reached for Helian's golden armor and Zelenia's long, silver hair. She squatted for them so they could run their hands through her hair. Beside her, Helian didn't approach them openly like her and after a while, he extended his arm so the kids could examine the golden brace on his arm. But he kept an eye on them.

The children asked them questions, ranging from who they were and why were they there, to why were they dressed like that and where did they come from. Even though eager to find Water, Zelenia took the time to answer each question and even did her best to elaborate on those answers that spawned confusion and more questions.

"But how can you be the Sun and Moon when they're in the sky?" The boy, asking the question, pointed at the glowing ball high in the heavens. "The sun is right there" —he turned back to Helian— "but you're in front of me saying you're the Sun."

That was the most popular question. Helian huffed in frustration—they had been asked this same question five times now. Zelenia tried to think of a simpler way to explain.

"Yes, that is the sun—physically." She gestured back to Helian. "Helian is the Sun personified. I'm sure you all know the Sun, Moon, and Elements are beings that possess powers, correct?" The children all bobbed their heads.

"Well, we represent them since they cannot come to our mortal world—only their spirits can, which Helian and I, and six others, have."

Understanding lit some eyes, but not all.

"You're how I would imagine the Moon to be," the girl combing Zelenia's hair with her fingers said. "Pretty, soft, and quiet."

She beamed at the little girl. "Thank you, and you're right, because I've met her."

"And you're here for someone who has the Water spirit?" another asked.

Zelenia nodded.

The children suggested names on who they thought it could be. Some suggestions sparked arguments on why that person couldn't be Water.

She raised her hand to calm them. "I will be the only one to know if they're Water."

Foreheads furrowed. "How?"

"We're never going to get away," Helian muttered.

He had a point. She honestly didn't know how identifying Water was going to work—just a feeling. Whatever she said was bound to produce more questions, so in order for them to accomplish their mission—and to spare Helian—Zelenia suggested for them to go ask their parents the questions she couldn't elaborate enough on. Most ran off to do as she asked, and once boredom seized the stragglers staying behind, they left to play.

Helian sighed in relief. "Thanks for that."

"That's what I'm here for." She looked at him—what they had discussed yesterday with her soothing him just happened.

He ducked his head with a chuckle.

Helian lifted his head to look around. "So, where is he?"

She looked at the longest pier and walked toward it. "I saw him over here."

They walked the wooden planks, feeling eyes following their every step, but Zelenia focused on spotting the blue haze she had seen before. She hoped that would be how she could recognize the Elementals.

A man appeared out of a hut, trident strapped to his back, and looking at the shell in his hands. Just like everyone else, he was tanned, had light-brown hair, dressed in colorful shorts and a cropped shirt showing a defined abdomen, had tattoos swirling from one shoulder across his back to flow down the other, and no shoes. The alternating light and dark blue haze flowing around him, though, made him different.

He remained preoccupied until he must've felt them staring. He looked up and surprised Zelenia at the depth of those cerulean eyes looking back at her—like gazing down into the ocean.

"Can I help you?" he asked, voice richly accented.

Zelenia blinked back to focus. "Yes. I'm Zelenia, and this is Helian." She gestured at him beside her.

The Islander nodded in greeting, but his eyes remained murky with puzzlement. "Hi."

"And you are?"

"Renuo."

She curtsied. "It is nice to finally meet you."

"Finally?"

"I was shown to come here to find you. I am the Moon, Helian is the Sun, and you are the Water Elemental."

Renuo didn't respond for a while, stunned. "I'm... what?"

"You are meant to doubt; that is expected of water. It must've doubted that it could turn into ice or mist."

After a while, he shook his head in denial. "No; I mean yes... no, that's not what I mean."

"What about your trident, Renuo?" Helian asked. "It's a weapon designed for one of the seas and reflects your changeability: it can be used defensively, thrown as a spear, or jabbed. I've seen that no one else here uses one, only you. That has to mean something."

He looked at them incredulously. "It's just a weapon I happened to choose when I needed one. You both are looking way too deep into me."

The Sun crossed his arms. "A regular fisherman doesn't 'just happen' to pick up a trident for defense. From what I've seen, a harpoon is the weapon of choice."

"So, you say that makes me Water?" He scoffed.

"That's not the only reason," she began. "But it is the easiest to say is proof."

"You expect me to believe you that I'm Water—someone who is extremely powerful—and join two kids on a mission to kill Fangril—the monster all the past Elementals have failed at destroying?" He shook his head. "Sounds like you're looking for Lorix—all that fits him. He's out for the day's catch, but he'll be back by sundown."

"No; we were led—" Zelenia began.

He threw a hand up in a desperate plea to stop her. "Please, stop! I'm not a fighter; I'm not a warrior! I'm just a fisherman! I can't be that!"

"Can't or won't?" she asked.

Renuo just stared at them. Anger didn't reflect in his eyes, just sadness—a sorrow that meant her words had struck the truth. "You've got the wrong person," he stated as he turned to walk off.

Zelenia knew convincing Water to join them would be challenging, but she hadn't expected Renuo to blatantly refuse. The thought of what their quest entailed was intimidating and scary, but someone had to do it. And the Elements had chosen them specifically.

Helian looked at her. "Want me to shoot him in the leg to stop him?"

"No. No."

He grunted in displeasure—he had seemed eager to shoot him. "So, you're just going to let him go?"

She released a heavy sigh, heartbroken. "For now." An idea came to her. "I will approach him tonight, alone, when the moon has risen and my powers are strongest. He is my Element, so he is more comfortable with me than you," she explained as Helian turned to ask.

"And I'm just to wait until you return?"

She gave him a small smile. "I'm afraid so."

He huffed, unhappy. "I hate having nothing to do."

Her lips twisted. "Maybe you should find a goat to talk with," she suggested.

"Ha ha. And I thought I was going to be the funny one?"

***

Zelenia left a disgruntled Helian in the family's home they were spending the night in to seek out Renuo. She fought against a smile as she reflected on his actions earlier in the day—irritated with the children's questions, annoyed at not being the center of attention all the time, and becoming cross with her leaving him out. He was surely proving himself to be the newest Sun.

Even as idyllic as Kelos was during the day, it was far more serene at night. Silhouettes of palm trees, the dark waters of the sea gently rushing in and out on the shoreline, the multitude of twinkling stars, and the full moon illuminating everything in a soft glow—it couldn't get any better.

She took in a deep breath. Yes, this was perfect. Peaceful. Unhurried. Calm. And oh so quiet. This is the time for reflection. If she knew the Water Elemental, he would be doing just that.

A dark image on the beach drew her attention. Knowing it was Renuo, she headed for him.

He didn't react to her stopping beside him, just kept his eyes down on the water rushing in and out over his feet.

Zelenia may not be bold like Helian, but with the moon shining upon her, she had the courage to start. "I know what brings you out here, Renuo."

"Just because I'm conflicted doesn't mean I believe you," he said.

"No, but it means you hope that what I said was true." She put her hand on his arm. "And it is."

With her touch, power swelled in her chest; the water rushed in as usual but curved around their feet, completely avoiding them. Renuo watched the nature abnormality in shock, but it didn't surprise Zelenia.

"As you know, the moon affects the tide, but the waters did nothing at my presence. They only reacted when I touched you; the only one they will listen to: the Water Elemental."

"No. You're making the water do this, not me." His refusal didn't sound steady.

What Mirora had said replayed in her head. She had been told that for a reason; that encouragement would be needed to convince him.

"Your doubts will make you confident."

Renuo's eyes shot up to hers. "Why do you say that?"

"That is what the Moon said about you. She has faith in you even when you don't."

He didn't respond, shaken by what she said. His mouth opened and closed as he struggled for words. Zelenia remained quiet, letting him come to his own conclusion.

Renuo met her eyes again. "I'll come, just to see if you're right. But I don't think you are."

She smiled. "We'll find out together."