MAGISTAN

Chapter 1: The Spirit Of The Wind

If you follow the path of golden stars it will lead you to a world that most people only find in their dreams. But to Sofia Hanalei, this place of peace and tranquility was her home. She lived on a tiny island surrounded by seven seas. It was a place of both natural and wild beauty. Calm turquoise waters meshed with white sandy beaches stretched aimlessly toward the rugged black shoulders of a volcano. Soft wayward breezes glided across the vast jungle of lush fruit trees, where giant waterfalls plunged into crystal clear pools that fed the sea. Fragrant flowers filled the warm air. Shaded by palm trees, Sofia gazed out at the clear sky and dreamed of other worlds that existed somewhere beyond the blue horizon. This was one of many things Sofia often dreamed. She believed that trees could talk. She thought that turtles could walk. She believed she could soar through the sky like a butterfly. Sofia was a dreamer, whose imagination was far greater than any child who'd ever lived in this world known as, Ekipa.  

Sofia's papa, Jorah was the only tribal member who truly understood the value of this quality. He believed it to be more precious than the rainbows that captured his eye. His greatest fear was that there would come a time when Sofia's dreams would no longer carry her through the day. So he cherished each moment he found that sparkle within her eyes, which always came with the most unusual stories about get-togethers with geckos, picnics with sand crabs, or swim parties with seahorses. These were just a few of the outrageous things Sofia would dream. The only difference about today compared to any other day was the size of her dream. Today, Sofia dreamed of reaching the top of Mount Tupa, the great volcano that towered over their village.  

It was mid-afternoon when the sun finally ducked behind the clouds. Jorah held Sofia's hand as the two climbed out of the jungle. They headed toward Mount Tupa's summit. The plants thinned. The wind bellowed. The land cracked under Sofia's feet. They'd journeyed for miles in just a few days. Sofia was tired. Her toes were sore. Her legs ached. Her eyes burned as the sweat dripped down her face. Yet she was the most determined little girl. There was nothing that was going to keep her from reaching the top before nightfall. Especially not now after she'd seen of all things, a person standing at the top of Mount Tupa. At least, that's what she thought she saw. But the longer she looked, she realized it wasn't a person at all. It was a slender tree with a pink glow.  

"Would you like some?" Jorah asked as he handed her a gourd basket filled with spring water.  

Sofia took a few sips and then handed it back. "Do you see that?" she asked, eyes fixed on the summit. She pointed to the tree.  

"The silver sword?" 

"At first I thought it was a person." 

Jorah chuckled.  

"Then it must be a tree." 

"It's a plant." 

"A plant?" Sofia repeated. "But, it's so tall." 

Jorah swiftly nodded. "I think it grows that way just so it can touch the sky," he said, with a twinkle in his eye.  

"That's it!" Sofia shouted. She glanced upward and realized how close she was to doing precisely the same thing. "Watch, Papa," she yelled as she dashed up the steep slope. She didn't stop until she reached the top. She stood beside the silver sword plant and eyed the pink daisy-like blossoms, which dangled high above her head.  

"Look!" she hollered to her papa, who was now less than a few yards away. "I can touch the sky," she cried, while wildly waving her arms about.  

A moment later Jorah arrived at Sofia's side. "You sure can my little butterfly!" he said, as he picked her up and spun her around a few times. Then he put her back down.