Book 2: Jovita Island

Chapter 1: Sunny Shores

The girl's feet sank into ground that was warm and soft and orange. The sun on her face was hot, yet gentle and welcoming. Instead of waves crashing against rocky shores, the sound of sea water slowly rolling onto sandy beaches filled the air. Not too far off echoed the joyful laughter of people that sounded like children running and playing with each other. Under an azure, cloudless sky danced small clumps of gleaming palm trees, swaying in the soft breeze.

I didn't expect this, Ora Ember thought to herself, after emerging from the cold Mirror Gate.

It had been exactly eight seconds since she had left Gemaris Island, and she was already overwhelmed by the strange, new environment. But Ora was also utterly confused and one could say, lost. What surprised her was not only her shockingly tropical surroundings, but the fact that there were no knights guarding the Mirror Gate. This island didn't even have a fortress or castle of some sort surrounding the gate, unlike Gemaris Island.

"Where are the knights?" Ora asked out loud.

She took a step forward, realizing her foot was sinking into the sandy ground, and her suitcase was extremely hard to roll behind her.

"Typical," Ora muttered to herself, glaring at her clumsy luggage. "How do people walk around on this island?"

"WE DON'T!"

Ora actually screamed, as she jumped backwards and tumbled onto the sand, away from the person who had just yelled at her.

It was just a dark-haired boy with not shirt on, but instead a giant smile spreading across his face. He was even missing some teeth. He immediately began cracking up, holding his sides in pain as he laughed at the fallen Ora.

"Scared you!" he pointed, teasing her in a rather annoying voice.

Ora didn't deny it. It was true.

"What do you mean people don't walk around on the Second Island?" Ora asked, finally processing the answer that the boy had shouted at her.

"We don't!" the young boy grinned, showing the gaps in his teeth.

Before Ora could repeat her question, the boy began sprinting across the beach, away from Ora.

"WE RUN!"

His voice soared through the salty air as he jogged across the sand, sending grains flying everywhere, especially on Ora.

Sighing, the girl stood up and brushed the sand off her red dress. She realized that her boots were no longer fit for the beach, so she put them in her suitcase and even took off her stockings. When her bare feet became buried by the cushy orange sand, Ora found the scalding heat unpleasant at first.

"No wonder they run on this island," she murmured, trying to get used to the hot temperature of the ground. "You can't stand in the same place for too long."

The boy had disappeared around a bend. Ora thought about the hyper child and his silly, little joke, and his small figure running down the beach like a lively bunny rabbit being chased by a wolf. Now that Ora replayed the scene in her head, she chuckled to herself.

"I suppose walking isn't the same as running," the girl giggled.

Ora picked up her suitcase and began stomping down the beach in the direction the boy had gone. There was not much surrounding her except palm trees, sand and a wide, open ocean that seemed too happy and friendly to have any sea monsters living in it. Realizing how sweaty she already was, Ora tucked away in her suitcase the scarf that Sir Grenton had bought for her. She was even tempted to pull off the top part of her dress so that she was only wearing her white undergarment gown.

No way, she thought, blushing. I'd rather sweat.

So, with long sleeves and two layers of clothing on her, Ora set off down the beach, dragging her bothersome bag behind her.

I really thought the palace guards would monitor the Mirror Gates more closely, Ora thought, puzzled. Cosmos said that it would be difficult for anyone to get through, and yet, anyone from the Second Island can easily get to the First Island without dealing with any strict knights.

Although, Ora realized that as soon as one stepped back onto Gemaris, they would have to face the knights in Gemaris Palace. Perhaps it made sense to have only one half of the Mirror Gate guarded. More men in one place was more secure.

"Wait a minute! Cosmos! He's here on this island" Ora gasped.

She couldn't decide whether to be afraid or relieved. Cosmos Preyer was a rebel like her. He hated the king like she did. He should have been considered an ally. But the famous musician and actor was also upset with Diamond the Willow Wanderer for standing up to the crazy king, as if no one secretly wanted to do that. Of course, so many people were dying to call out the obvious insanity of the new king. Diamond was just the bravest of the crowd. She was the one to speak her mind instead of staying silent.

"The honest person is the hottest person," Ora said thoughtfully.

But hearing herself say that ridiculous saying out loud, Ora herself began cracking up.

"I didn't just say that," she snickered, covering her mouth. "Although, this island definitely is the hottest, and that is me being honest."

Ora wiped her forehead, soaking her arm with sweat.

"Wait a minute..." Ora raised her head and spotted the sun directly above her. Not in the west or the east, but right in the middle of the vibrant blue sky.

"Isn't it supposed to be night?" she asked in disbelief.

It had just been the middle of the night on Gemaris Island. So, unless it took twelve hours to pass through a Mirror Gate, the sun above one of the islands was in the wrong place.

Taking a deep, nervous breath, Ora turned the corner on the shoreline and found something hidden behind a small bunch of short palm trees.

It was a grand carriage, abandoned by its horses and passengers.

The carriage was scarlet and gold, studded with gems. Atop its roof were little decorative crowns, like turrets on a castle.

"This is the king's carriage," Ora whispered in shock.

Her thoughts were quickly interrupted by the little boy, who was back again.

"Isn't it cool? I found it here and I haven't told anyone about it yet!" he quickly rambled, bobbing up and down excitedly.

"When did you find it?" Ora asked, curiously.

"Just now! Right before I found you! I saw you come out of the Mirror Gate and decided to scare you! Are you from the First Island? I've heard that island isn't as fun as ours! Is it fun? Is our island more exciting? Are you going to stay? Are you going to go back home? Do you think the king is here if his carriage is here? Do-"

"Stop," Ora said sternly, holding up a finger. "It's obvious that the carriage couldn't get through the sand. Whoever was in it took the horses and took off."

"Do you think it was the king?" the boy gasped, eagerly smiling.

"Of course it was the king," Ora said, rolling her eyes.

"You're not in a very good mood, are you?" the boy suddenly said, holding back laughter.

As a matter of fact, Ora had probably been awake for almost twenty-four hours now. She really needed to go to bed. But where was the dark night sky now to put her to sleep?

"Excuse me. What time is it now?" Ora asked, curiously.

"I don't know!" the boy shrugged. "Almost time to eat, probably. I'm hungry."

"Isn't it supposed to be nighttime?" Ora wondered, squinting at the sun.

The boy spat out a laugh. "HA! You're definitely from the First Island! Everyone here knows that on the Second Island, the sun shines every hour of the day. There is no nighttime!"

Ora's tired eyes were wide open now.

"What?" she gasped. "How? Why?"

"The 'why' is because our advisor, Advisor Beatra loves the sun, hates the dark night, and always wants it to be daytime on the Second Island."

"Why?"

"Why not?!" the boy exclaimed, throwing his arms out. "Everyone on the Second Island loves the sun! So extra daytime means more time to have fun and run in the sun!"

The boy started running in circles, spraying sand all over Ora again.

"STOP!" this time she shouted. "When do people sleep?"

"Whenever they want," the boy said, stopping in front of her. "They take long naps in the shade whenever they're tired of having fun."

"Alright..." Ora rubbed her head, wondering if she was going to pass out from the heat. "So how exactly does the sun always shine just on this island?"

"Nobody knows," the boy whispered, trying to make his answer sound so mysterious. "Some say that Advisor Beatra is a Gift Wielder! Some say that she hired a sorcerer to cast a spell on the Second Island! Some say that everyone on this island is trapped in a dream! A wonderful dream where the day never ends! If this really is a dream, nobody wants to leave!"

I'd love to actually, Ora thought, pressing her fingers against her forehead.

"How can it be daytime here but not on any of the other islands?" Ora sighed, closing her eyes.

"I don't know. Magic?" the boy suggested. "You should come get some food and water on the beach over here!"

Ora looked up to see the boy pointing at the stretch of sand before them. People were scattered across the beach, either lounging or running around. There were colorful umbrellas and straw tents with soft benched under them for people to sleep on. A few shacks at the far end of the beach had happy vendors serving food and drinks to everyone who came by.

It was all rather exhausting to look at. Ora could feel herself falling asleep in the hot, supposedly fake sun. That's when she eyed the soft red seat inside the shady king's carriage. She was right next to it. All she had to do was open the door and then she could collapse onto the velvet cushions.

"My name's El, by the way!" the boy suddenly shouted, making Ora jerk up. "Short for Elvin!"

"Elvin?" Ora muttered, blinking her eyes to try and stay awake. "Where'd you get a name like that?"

"I don't know. My dad, I think. He always found elves fascinating and even wanted to travel to the Fifth Island to marry one. But that was before the Mirror Gates existed, so he ended up marrying my mom who's not exactly a pleasant woman," the boy shrugged, looking embarrassed.

"There are elves on the Fifth Island?" Ora asked, turning to him.

"Have you only ever been on the First Island?" Elvin asked, mockingly.

"It's hard to explain," Ora muttered, realizing she couldn't stay awake for another second.

She opened the door to the king's carriage and collapsed onto the seat, falling asleep instantly.

"Hey! Don't you want to see the king?" El asked, poking her. "He's going to be making an announcement in town! My mom told me! Don't you want to see him? Don't you want to know what he's going to say?"

Seeing that the girl really was passed out, Elvin sighed and scurried away from the carriage.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"I might as well make the announcement myself since I'm here," King Reignald mumbled, with the sourest look on his face.

His day had been horrible so far. There was no sign of the Willow Wanderer, the king's beautiful carriage had to be abandoned in the sand, the Second Island was overwhelming and hot, and now he was stuck in what was once the island's palace. Now, it was a resort for Advisor Beatra, complete with an indoor swimming pool, a spa and many unnecessary beauty salons. King Reignald had just arrived on horseback and was exhausted. He couldn't sleep though, since every wall in the resort had an open window, letting in the bright sunlight and the scorching heat. So the king just slouched in a straw chair, waiting for the day to be over. The worst part about the king's day, though, was that it would never end. Days don't end on the Second Island.

"Who's idea was it to have the sun shine every hour of the day on this island?" the king exclaimed in frustration, rubbing his forehead.

"MINE!" a cheerful, boisterous voice rang through the air as the doors to the sunlit room burst open.

In strolled Advisor Beatra in all her glory. Her bright yellow hair fluttered just above the ground as she walked. It was decorated with seashells, orange topazes, purple flowers and tiny palm branches. Her vermillion skirt danced behind her like a happy wave on the sea. A huge necklace of orange and yellow flowers hung around her neck. Beatra's whole outfit reflected the golden sun, but her skin was tan like brown sugar. Despite being almost sixty years old, the woman's face was smooth, void of the wrinkles it had once bore.

"It was my idea to do away with the night on Jovita!" she chirped, pointing to herself as she approached the king.

"Jovita?" the king repeated, looking disgusted.

"Joy of life!" Beatra explained, raising a hand in the air. "Because my island is filled with the joy of life!"

"YOUR ISLAND?!" King Reignald rose from his seat, gripping the shaky armrests on his rickety chair. "You are the advisor of this island, not ruler! I am the King of the Twelve Islands, Beatra! And I am the one who is to name this island, not you!"

"Of course, Your Majesty," Beatra bowed so low, her mane of hair tumbled down in front of her, before getting whipped back as she stood straight up again. "What would you like to name this island, my king?"

King Reignald froze. He had never visited the Second Island, due to his cowering on the Twelfth Island. So far, the only impression he had received from the tropical isle when he rode through the city just now, was that it was indeed joyful and lively. Even though the knights had ordered the streets to be cleared to make way for the king, the city did not seem empty as he was escorted through it. Everything on the Second Island seemed to be alive, even the round-roofed stone houses in the city. It was joy. It was life. It was the joy of life.

"Name it Jovita," he snapped at her. "But I get to make the announcement! I shall officially approve of the name Jovita for the Second Island, even though it should be named after the everlasting, unforgiving sun!"

He seemed to scream out the window at the bright orb in the sky, smirking down at him.

"Oh, but Your Majesty!" Advisor Beatra said in a soft and encouraging voice. "The darkness of the night is the unforgiving one. The moon is cold and gives us very little light. But the sun is always warm and gentle, giving life to all plants and creatures on Jovita."

"Well, it's killing me at the moment!" King Reignald grumbled, removing his royal red vest to cool off. "I've been here for how long? An hour? And I'm already sick of this place!"

"Your Majesty..." Beatra sighed in a seemingly sad voice, though her frown seemed fake. "It pains me to hear this."

"Yes, well, if there were at least a few hours of night around here, I'd be a lot happier!" King Reignald shouted at her.

For once, Beatra didn't reply right away, but thought quietly to herself, her bare feet standing on top of each other.

"Well, Your Majesty," she finally said in a calm, airy voice, "Jovita's main goal is to make everyone as happy as possible."

The king waited for her to continue.

"I will have something arranged," Beatra suddenly said before quickly walking out of the room with light feet.

King Reignald didn't have time to stop her, but finally gave up, realizing how tired the sun was making him.

He called one of his knights into the room and asked if there was any sign of Lindo Que.

"No, Your Majesty. He should be here soon with the report," the knight assured him, stiffly.

"I told him to meet me here," the king said to himself, worrying. "Gracious, this place is a mess. I mean, Beatra didn't even have knights guarding either of the Mirror Gates! I thought I told Lindo to make sure knights were at every Mirror Gate! What happened?"

"I believe you might have ordered for only one knight to guard each Mirror Gate, Your Majesty," the knight replied.

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT I SAID OR DIDN'T SAY!" the king exploded, clenching his fists.

The knight bit his lip and noticed how red the king's eyes were.

"You should get some rest, Your Majesty," he told the king.

"How can I rest when it's the middle of the day?" King Reignald hissed, motioning to the sun outside the window.

But finally, the angry king collapsed onto a window seat and found his eyelids too heavy to keep open. He heard some wind chimes singing in the breeze outside the resort, and for the first time in a long time, the king slept.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ora awoke to that unpleasant feeling of having cold water splashed on her face. Only, the feeling was rather refreshing on the hot island. Still, she was startled enough to leap off her seat and let out a yelp.

Seeing Elvin in front of her, with a metal bucket that was still filled with water, Ora began fuming.

"What was that for?" she screamed.

"I went to get a bucket of water to wake you up. It worked!" he smiled, showing her the bucket. "But I also got it for you to drink. Don't worry. It's not salt water."

Ora furrowed her brow at El before taking the bucket and gulping down some water.

"Why did you wake me up? I'm tired!" Ora complained, although she was wide awake after the stunt he had pulled.

"Don't you want to see the king?" he asked, this time looking serious as he stared up at her.

"What?" she blurted.

After looking around and finding that she was indeed in the king's carriage, Ora felt her heart begin to race with worry as she stumbled out of the carriage and onto the sandy beach.

"NO!" she shouted, grabbing her suitcase and trotting away from the carriage.

"No?" the boy exclaimed, chasing after her. "Why not? He's the king?"

She couldn't face him. Ora couldn't face him. Not yet. Not alone. Not on this wretched island where the sun didn't set. Not without Amien. Not without Cosmos.

Cosmos! Where is he? Ora wondered, knowing that he couldn't have gone far.

Either way, the girl was desperate to get away from the king's carriage, knowing that he was going to come back for it eventually.

"Hey! Why don't you like the king?" Elvin whined, tugging on her arm rather aggressively.

Without thinking, Ora shot back, "Because he's a fool! And he's crazy! Why do you like the king, Elvin?"

Elvin's dark eyes were wide enough for Ora to see the orange speckles in his irises.

"Because he's nice..." Elvin answered, his constant smile drooping into a startled frown.

What? Really? Ora thought to herself. This boy has been brainwashed. Does everyone on this island like the king? But why? How?

It dawned on her that maybe, her theory about the common hatred for the king was utterly wrong. Maybe the citizens of the Twelve Islands didn't mind the king, and maybe they even loved him. But why? What was so likeable about him?

Troubled, Ora turned away from Elvin, closed her eyes, and thought back to the day of the theater contest. There stood Reignald on the stage, in his little vest and glasses, all eager and smiley with his chocolate brown eyes. After being crowned, he was so grateful, so thankful. Most of what he said had not even bothered Ora that much. It was how Reignald acted. It was the look in his eyes. And it was the fact that a common peasant was not mentally ready to be thrown onto the throne with so much power suddenly at his fingertips. What was Lindo Que thinking? How could he have been so ignorant?

Although Lindo has been corrupted by power, too, Ora thought.

It seemed as if the only person who was ever in power and not corrupt, was the old king. Why did he have to die so suddenly? He would have crowned someone responsible if he hadn't suddenly fallen ill and died. But instead, Lindo made a foolish decision in an attempt to seem generous and wise.

Surely, he sees the giant mistake he has made, Ora wondered. He can't be blind to what's right in front of him.

"Well...if you don't want to see the king, I'll just go by myself then," Elvin said sadly as he sulked away.

"Wait, Elvin!"

Ora struggled to hurry after him.

"I want to see him! I didn't mean what I said before! I just..."

She just what? Lied?

"You just didn't want to come with me?" Elvin pouted.

"No! Of course I want to come with you!" Ora said, reassuringly.

Elvin rolled his big eyes and started trudging down the beach.

"Come on then," he beckoned. "I heard it won't be long before the king makes his appearance in the city."

"That reminds me," Ora said, quietly. "How do you tell time on this island?"

"We don't!" the boy exclaimed, throwing his hands out as if to say "Isn't that great?"

Ora asked him why this was the case.

"Because Advisor Beatra tells us to always live in the moment! Time is our enemy, and the future is nothing to worry about! Have fun in the present! Don't worry about the sun setting! It doesn't set on our island!"

The boy seemed so happy, yet also seemed to be reciting his lines like an actor on stage. Ora did think that he was being genuine and not staging his happy emotions, but she felt as if the boy had been taught over and over again to say these troubling things.

"Don't worry about the future?" Ora repeated in fright. "You think the future's just going to take care of itself, Elvin?"

"The future doesn't exist," he suddenly whispered, holding up a finger. "Look at the sun! It never moves!"

Ora did notice that the sun was still at its midday position. But if the sun never moved, did that really mean that time had stopped on the Second Island?

"Elvin. How old are you?" Ora suddenly asked.

"I don't know," he shrugged.

This horrified Ora. How long had he been young? He had to have grown to this age at some point! Right? But was he growing now?

"So how do you know when the king is going to appear in the city?" she asked, trying to trick him into admitting that time was not an illusion, but a reality.

"I just heard from my friends that he would appear soon. Right after I found the carriage, they told me," Elvin said, casually strolling down the beach.

The two were in the midst of the chaos now. Children and young adults were bounding across the beach, throwing balls and sand at each other, racing with one another, and chugging down colorful drinks and foods. The elderly rested in the shade. Some dogs trotted eagerly after their owners, barking and wagging their tails.

Either was laughing, chatting or shouting. Ora had never been so overwhelmed. Were they not all sweating to death in the everlasting sun? A few people were splashing in the shallow waters, keeping close to the beach. Were they not at all worried about the sea monsters?

"Elvin. Has King Reignald ever visited your island?" Ora murmured to him.

"WHAT?" he shouted, unable to hear her over the din of joyful shouts.

"HAS KING REIGNALD EVER VISITED YOUR ISLAND?" she yelled, still not as loudly as some of the boys scurrying around the beach.

"OH! NO!" Elvin shouted back at her. "Not even the old king visited us! He died before he got the chance!"

Did that mean the king was completely unaware of what his crazy advisor was doing to the Second Island? Beatra was possibly crazier than King Reignald! Ora knew that the old king did his best to rule over the Twelve Islands before the Mirror Gates existed, but perhaps his advisors were not completely honest about what was happening on their islands. And after the Mirror Gates were invented, the frail king must have tried his best to visit all the islands, but died of an unexpected cold.

And now almost all the Mirror Gates were gone.

Suddenly, two young teenagers were chasing each other, crashed into Ora and sent her tumbling to the ground, causing her to make the official decision that she hated this island.

"Sorry!" a girl with maroon hair, laughed, helping Ora up. "But Hank here won't leave me alone!"

"You were hitting me, Glo!" the tall boy next to her shot back. "I was just getting revenge!"

Ora decided not to say anything as she tried to get past them.

"You're not going to introduce yourself?" the girl named Glo asked with the saddest expression on her tan face.

It was a wonder to Ora how easily offended these islanders were. But the couple, as well as Elvin, waited eagerly to hear Ora's name. After hesitating, she decided not to give them her real name. Not Diamond the Willow Wanderer, but Ora Ember. After all, nobody was looking for her, and if Sir Grenton somehow found out that the girl he let through the Mirror Gate was not Ora Ember, but Eleanor Bricks, he would probably become suspicious.

"Ora Ember," the girl stated stiffly, holding out a hand to Glo.

"Nice to meet you, Ora!" the skinny girl shouted, throwing her arms around Ora, who was now extremely uncomfortable.

"I'm Glo. This is Hank. And I see you've met Elvin!" the round-faced girl smiled, showing her dimples.

"You know Elvin?" Ora asked, curiously.

"Everyone on the Second Island knows each other!"

All three of the islanders said this at the same time, as if they had rehearsed. Ora wanted to be angrier than she was, but it was hard to be angry at such happy people. With their bright smiles, welcoming body language and twinkling eyes, they really did seem genuinely joyful.

"That's great!" Ora said, trying to fake a grin.

After Glo and Hank started giggling and subtly hitting each other again, Ora turned to Elvin and politely asked him where she could get something to eat. The little boy swiftly escorted Ora to one of the shacks at the end of the beach. One shack had a handsome vendor serving fruits to whomever passed by. He also showered them with bright flowers whenever they took a fruit from him. Ora decided to get some fruit, since it looked refreshing and healthy.

She pulled out a small bag from her suitcase and started dumping coins into her hand.

"What are you doing?" Elvin asked, pulling a face at Ora.

"Don't I have to pay?" she asked.

Or did the Second Island citizens not have a money system?

"Nope!" Elvin exclaimed. "Everything on the Second Island is free! Advisor Beatra says money makes people worry and so, there's no need for it!"

Ora pursed her lips together in frustration. And suddenly, her mind wandered back to Gemaris. Back to the people who were naive, innocent, and ignorant. They never left Gemaris. They stayed where it was safe, praising innocence every day at Gemaris Cathedral, or at the Unicorn Statue. Both Ora and Amien were troubled by every citizen on the First Island. But she and Amien had touched their hearts with one theater story.

He was such a good actor, Ora suddenly thought, her spirits falling like a bird that had suddenly died in the sky.

"What's wrong?" Elvin asked her, worriedly.

"Nothing," Ora waved it away, trying to laugh at herself. "It's laughable, really."

Despite her lingering sorrow, the girl tried to ignore her regretful decision to deceive Amien. Or was her real regret telling him that she was Diamond the Willow Wanderer?

"Having no money is laughable?" Elvin said, tilting his head.

"No! I mean, yes, actually. Having no money is laughable," Ora nodded.

"I think that having money is laughable," Elvin said, proudly.

"Why?" Ora challenged him.

"Because it's unnecessary!"

"Why?"

It was her turn to ask questions to the curious boy.

"Because without money, nobody has to worry about being poor!"

"Being without money is the very definition of being poor, Elvin!" Ora slapped her hand to her forehead.

"Not if everyone else is without money," he told her, folding his hands behind his back as he showed his broken smile of few teeth.

"So people can just have as many fruits as they want?" Ora asked, grabbing a piece of watermelon from the vendor. "Where do they get these fruits? Where did you get these fruits?"

She pointed at the man with a watermelon in her hand.

The man just shrugged.

"Why does nobody know anything on this island?!" Ora suddenly exploded, throwing her watermelon on the ground.

"Ora, calm down," Elvin said in a soothing voice. "There's no need to be troubled or worried on our island! We can all get along no matter what! Nothing can make us upset!"

"THEN HOW COME I'M UPSET?!" Ora screamed at him, making him shrink into himself, and stumble backward.

Elvin even fell over onto the sand as his lips began to tremble. Ora widened her eyes sadly, realizing how badly she had frightened a boy who was so small and helpless. Even though she hadn't meant to scream at him, she had also wanted to make a point. People got upset, and not even Advisor Beatra could control that. Maybe the sun, maybe the money system, but not other people's emotions.

"I didn't think it'd be this easy to find you," an amused voice spoke out from a crowd of people who were now gaping at the girl who had just lost her temper.

Ora turned her head to meet a pair of golden eyes.

It was Cosmos Preyer.