As Kai and Luka's boat approached Spice Island, the sight that greeted them was far from peaceful.
The forest along the coast looked withered and bare, the trees that were once green now stood with dry branches that looked like bones.
The scent of the soil that was usually fertile was replaced by a faint stench and the smell of sulfur that stung the nose.
"Oh my, Kai..." Luka whispered choked, her eyes scanning the blackened beach.
"What happened here?"
The sky above the island was a gloomy gray, with no gaps of sunlight.
The sound of birds chirping that used to be noisy was now only the occasional anxious screech.
A tense silence enveloped the island, only broken by a low rumbling sound that grew louder and closer.
"This... this is really bad," Luka whispered with a pale face, staring at the heartbreaking sight.
Kai felt his heart sink seeing the condition of his house. The anxiety of the forest spirits that he once felt now transformed into a deafening scream of pain in his heart. He could feel the anger and sadness of nature that was spread throughout the island.
"Mother... Father... Grandma Ino..." Kai murmured softly, his breath catching.
"I must find them..."
When they landed the boat on the shore, they were greeted by the sight of a silent, abandoned village. The beach that used to be pristine white sand was now covered in a fine layer of grayish ash.
The houses were empty, their doors and windows tightly closed. There was no sign of life, as if the entire population had disappeared.
"Mother... Father... Grandma Ino..." Kai muttered anxiously, running towards his village.
Tears began to well up in his eyes. Luka followed him with careful steps, feeling the same bad feeling.
When they reached the village hall, the door creaked open with a loud creaking hinge due to the sudden strong wind.
Kai's original destination was the Spice Village temple, where the elders often gathered and stored ancient knowledge.
However, as they passed the village hall, they saw a faint hint of life inside—the silhouette of a body moving weakly behind a closed window.
"Kai, look! There... it looks like someone is inside," Luka whispered, pointing to the dimly lit window.
"You're right, Luka. It's not a temple... but there might be survivors there," Kai replied in a hopeful tone.
They cautiously approached the open door. Inside, they found several villagers slumped on the floor, their faces pale and frightened.
"Oh my... look at them," Luka whispered in concern.
"What happened? Why are they like this?" Kai asked anxiously, stepping in carefully.
Grandma Ino, who was lying weakly in the corner of the room, slowly opened her eyes.
"Who... who are you?" her voice was barely audible.
"It's me, Kai, Grandma Ino... do you remember me?" Kai replied softly, stepping in carefully.
Grandma Ino frowned, trying to focus her blurry vision.
"Kai...? Forest boy...? You're back...?" her voice was hoarse and weak.
"Yes, Grandma. I'm back. What happened here? Where are the others?" Kai asked anxiously,
kneeling beside her.
Grandma Ino was lying in the corner of the room, her breath weak and intermittent.
"Kai... you're back..." Grandma Ino whispered in a barely audible voice, her eyes
opening slightly and looking at Kai with relief.
"Thank God... you're safe."
"Grandma! What happened? Where's Mom? Where's Dad?" Kai asked frantically, kneeling beside her, tightly holding Grandma Ino's cold wrinkled hand.
Granny Ino shook her head weakly, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.
"Your father… your mother… they were so brave, Kai. When the Guardian first showed his anger, they stood on the front lines, trying to protect us all. They pleaded, trying to remind the Guardian of the peace that once existed on this island. They faced his wrath so that the others could escape… I didn't see them come back. I don't know how they are doing now…" Granny Ino's voice grew weaker, she coughed softly.
"I… I am one of the villagers who managed to survive here…"
"I don't know what happened to the others." She continued, her voice sounding weak.
Suddenly, the ground shook more strongly than before. The low rumbling sound turned into a deafening roar, making the buildings tremble.
From the direction of the sacred forest, a terrifying purplish red light shot into the sky.
"He's on a rampage again…" a villager said in despair, his voice shaking with fear.
"We're all doomed. There's no hope."
Kai stood with determination burning in his eyes, even though his heart was breaking
hearing the news of his parents.
He gripped the ancient bamboo flute,
their only remaining hope.
"No. I won't let that happen. I have to see him. I have to do this for them… for all of us."
He turned to Luka, his eyes filled with hope but also deep sadness.
"Take care of them, Luka. Protect them as much as you can. I have to go."
Luka stared at the purple-red light in the distance, then back at Kai, sharing the same sadness at Kai's loss.
"Be careful, my friend," he said worriedly, but his eyes also shone with faith in Kai.
"I hope your 'Harmony Song' can calm him down."
Without waiting for an answer, Kai ran towards the sacred forest, following the direction of the purplish red light and the roar that seemed to be calling him.
Luka could only watch Kai leave with anxiety and thin hope, praying
in his heart that his friend would succeed in saving his hometown.
When Kai entered the sacred forest, a more horrifying sight
greeted him. Giant trees were uprooted and burned, the ground cracked and
gaped, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of sulfur, making his eyes sting.
'How could... how could this happen to my home?' Kai thought with a broken heart, witnessing the destruction around him.
In the midst of the destruction, in a large open area, Kai saw it.
The Guardian.
Its form was far more extraordinary than he had imagined. A giant dragon with gleaming jet black scales, glowing red eyes that radiated ancient anger, and
black smoke billowing from its nose like the breath of hell.
It was enormous, its body wrapped around the fallen trees like a snake coiling around a branch. Its roar shook the earth and made Kai's heart beat painfully fast.
'Oh my, it's even more terrifying than the legends I've heard. Its power is unimaginable, can... I figth it?,' Kai whispered in fear.
However, as he stared deeper into those fiery red eyes, he saw something
other than anger—there was a deep sadness, a deep pain radiating from them.
The Guardian stared at Kai with a gaze filled with anger and deep sadness.
The roar that came from its mouth was not just a sound, but also an outpouring of pain for the wounds suffered by this island, a lament from a wounded nature and perhaps also anger for the same loss.
'I understand... you are hurt too,' Kai thought, feeling the strong vibrations of emotion from the creature.
He could see how the dragon's jet-black scales appeared to be cracked in places,
emitting the same purplish-red light that was visible in the sky—
like an unhealed wound.
The black smoke that came out of its nose not only smelled of sulfur, but also tasted of burning despair.
'This island… our home… look how much it suffers because of your anger,' Kai said in a voice that was soft but full of courage, looking directly into the Guardian's blazing red eyes.
The dragon's roar stopped for a moment, its head tilted slightly, as if listening.
'Maybe… could it understand?' a small hope grew in Kai's heart.
Kai stood tall before the mighty creature, even though fear seemed to
paralyze every muscle in his body.
Cold sweat soaked his palms. He took a deep breath,
steadying his heart that was now filled with determination and sadness.
'This is for Father… for Mother… for Grandmother… for all who still survive.'
Steadfastly, he raised the ancient bamboo flute to his lips.
"I'm here," Kai said in a voice that was soft but full of courage,
looking directly into the Guardian's blazing red eyes. "Great Guardian, what hurt do You feel that this anger shakes the earth? I come with respect and good intentions, hoping to ease Your burden."
This is the moment.
He must play the "Song of Harmony" with all his heart and soul, hoping that
the melody can reach the Guardian's wounded heart and restore
the lost balance, and honor the sacrifice of his parents.
'May this melody be strong enough…', Kai prayed in his heart, and he began to blow the first note.