“Kairo, your mother and I have something we need to talk to you about.” That’s how his father had started the conversation, leading him into the communal room in the center of their igloo.

Kairo nodded and hesitantly followed his father into the main room, sitting near the fire for warmth- their homeland, even to those born in it, was cold.

“Should I go get Jotah?” Kairo asked before he fully entered the room. His older brother was still outside, feeding the sled-dogs.

His father shook his head solemnly. “No, this only concerns you. Please, Kairo, come sit down."

“Oh.” Was the only reply Kairo could muster. It didn’t make much sense why his father, usually a lighthearted but extremely kind and gentle man, was being so overtly formal with him. Kairo did what he was told and sat opposite his mother across the fire, as was tradition- the eldest woman of the household always held the seat of honor. To his surprise, she beckoned for him to come closer and sit next to him. He complied, and didn’t ask any questions.

His mother put her hand over hers- thin and veiny in comparison to his, tattooed and worn from work. She seemed hesitant to say anything at first, and looked at her husband for support. Kairo’s father nodded and put his firm hand on his shoulder, as if he might fall over.

“Kairo, you know that the last Naayak- the great Solu of Kainga- died sixteen years ago, right?”

Kairo nodded. He practically grown up hearing stories of Solu- the woman who had used her divine power to unite and unify the people of her island nation. Her face and name always seemed familiar to him, but he never could place why. As silence grew around their igloo, Kairo started to connect the dots. His sixteenth birthday had passed only a few months ago, lining up almost exactly with the date of Solu’s death. “Wait, am I-”

“Kairo, you’re the next incarnation of the Naayak. You’ve been chosen to represent Illu.” His father whispered, confirming his suspicions. Kairo didn’t have time to react before both of his parents dropped into ceremonial bows, the only proper way to acknowledge the potential next incarnation of the divine Semangat Cahaya, the Spirit of Light. The Naayak was the only person, in the entire world, to be blessed by the spirits and gifted abilities unknown to the rest of man. They were said to be akin to a god in every way, immortality included- when the Naayak died, they were reincarnated into a new body to live anew.

Kairo looked at his hands, because he couldn’t do anything else. The idea that it could be him- the most important, most powerful being in the entire universe - was foreign to him. It scared him. “Wh- how did you know? Why wait until now?”

His parents exchanged a glance. His mother was the one to speak first. “When you were just a child, the Seers of each nation came to our village.”

Kairo nodded. He was familiar with the order of the Seers- the spiritual of each land, meant to protect and serve the Naayak- to protect and serve what could be him.

“They told us how they had been searching the world for Solu’s next incarnation- for you. They ran tests on all the children in the village- they presented you with objects, artifacts given from Naayaks past, and they told us you were the one.”

Kairo looked at his hands. He didn’t remember the test he had taken and presumably passed, he supposed he had been too young to.

“Afterwards, they told us to wait until you were sixteen to tell you, as per the tradition.” His father added. Kairo hadn’’t known there was a tradition; it had always just seemed like Nayaaks sprung from the earth fully grown, at least in the history books. They were described as a gift from the spirits to humanity, a protector and guardian. A god amongst their own.

“What’s going to happen to me now?” Kairo dared to whisper. His parents exchanged a wary gaze.

“We’re going to take you and your brother to Trang Chu, down in the south.” His mother said, caution lacing every tone in her voice. Trang Chu was a swampland beyond the Lautan Sea, it was warm and dense with vegetation and as far as you could get from Kairo’s tundra home. “When we’re there, you’ll participate in the naming of the Naayak ceremony. If it’s you, you’ll start your official training. If it’s not, you’ll keep travelling with whoever it is.”

“What about you all?” Kairo asked, though he was afraid of the answer he knew he would get.

His father cleared his throat. “We’ll be returning to Illu- to here- without you. I’m sorry. It’s just the way things are done.”

Kairo nodded and looked down at his hands- fists clenched against his legs. He let the crackle of the fire fill the silence he had left.

After an eternity of a voyage, they finally reached Trang Chu. It was one of the farther lands from Kairo’s home nation of Illu, and it had taken them all too long to get there. When he had initially heard the plans, he envisioned the trip taking only a breath’s worth of time to complete- a simple, transcendent moment before his real duties start, whatever they ended up being. In actuality, it took them almost two weeks.

According to Seer Quma, whom Kairo had known only since the start of the voyage, part of the Naayak’s duties included seeing life from the lens of all people. To Kairo, it seemed like a justification of why the journey took so long.

They had started- formally started- in Illu’s capital city of Nunaliit, and had picked up Quma, Illu’s guardian, Audla, and a few other noblemen, then started a procession southbound. During their travels they had picked up nobles from the temperate farming kingdom of Jia, the desert wasteland of Ghara, and even from the land of Kairo’s predecessor- the Kainga Archipelago. Within a few weeks time, their official boat was filled with nobles, dressed in tones of olive green for Ghara, sanguine red for Jia, pale cyan for Kainga and the deep blue of Kairo’s home- the only thing missing was the vibrant purple of Trang Chu’s people. The nobles he had spoken to had each been accompanied by a family, each with a child of their own, the same age as him. Behind a closed door, his father and Seer Quma had explained that each child was being told that they had the potential to be the Naayak, and that the spirits would determine who it was at the ceremony,

“But you said it was me, definitively.” Kairo had asked his father.

He didn’t respond, but Quma did. “There are ways to… preemptively determine who it might be before the ceremony, ways we use in the modern day. We know that it’s you, for certain, this is a formality, more than anything.” At the time, Kairo had ignored how the statement felt like the same lie he had been told the others were getting.

Kairo leaned over the ship’s railing as they approached the shoreline- only hours away til they arrived in Than Pho, Trang Chu’s capital city. He ignored how close he was to plummeting into a water death- they were so close to a moment he had just started preparing for. He didn’t even know what would happen.

The sound of approaching footsteps stirred Kairo’s thoughts. He turned around and stiffened his posture- the nobles from Jia and Ghara didn’t like a potential Naayat who slumped. He relaxed when he saw it w2as just his brother.

“Oh, hey, Jotah.” Kairo smiled. Even his brother only knew the same truth the others did- of it was the truth, after all. “What’s new with you?”

“Oh, not much.” Jotah shrugged. He was two years older than Kairo at eighteen and had always been the more accomplished of the two of them, making it ironic that he wasn’t the one who was potentially the most powerful being on earth. “Hey, Kairo. These three wanted to talk to you” He gestured at the people behind him, recognizing them individually as “It could be any of us.” Zahrun nodded in agreement. He turned to Kairo. “So who do you think it’s gonna be?”his ‘competition’- Junsik, Zahrun and Maya

Kairo nodded and approached the others, unsure of if they were supposed to be his friends or enemies. From what he knew, Junsik had been born into a noble family of Jia- a trait reflected in his choice of dress- and an athlete- a choice reflected in his attitude. Kairo hadn’t initially liked him when they had first met- a pretentious ass from Jia was the same as a pretentious ass anywhere else- and he hadn’t had many interactions with the boy to prove him otherwise. Zahrun, on the other hand, he liked- the Gharian candidate had come from a small, rural family like his- he was actually part of a nomadic tribe, and wore the regalia to prove it. The third ‘candidate’, as Quma had called them, was Maya of the Kainga, the granddaughter of the late Naayak Solu. She was a friendly girl, charismatic yet soft, and according to anyone he talked to, had the best chance of ‘being the One’, due to her blood relation to the last Naayak. Everyone save for Junsik, that was.

“Kairo of Illu!” Maya greeted, putting her hand on his shoulder. Of all of them, she had the most color- both in her vibrant outfit and her personality. “It’s good to see you again! We were looking for you.”

“Really?” Kairo asked, forming a circle amongst the group. It just so happened that he stood directly opposite Junsik.

“Yeah, Maya thought we should talk before all of this.” Zahrun shrugged, his movement reflected in the long cloaks he wore, allegedly protection from the desert sun.

“I actually said we all talk about it, including Huong of Trang Chu, but someone didn’t want to wait until every nation’s chosen is present.” Maya shot daggers at Junsik, who huffed in response.

“Whatever.” The Jian National replied, adjusting his crimson armbands.

Kairo gathered his courage to speak. “Uh, what did you want to talk about?”

Maya, Zahrun and Junsik all laughed about a joke he didn’t get.

“About the ceremony, dumbass.” Junsik snorted, then turned to Maya to exchange a look. “And who we think it could be.”

“It could be any of us.” Zahrun nodded in agreement. He turned to Kairo. “So who do you think it’s gonna be?”

“Junsik thinks it’s him, Zahrun think’s it’s me, and I think it’s Huong from Trang Chu, since we’re going to her nation.” Maya added. “So what do you think?”

“I’m telling you, it has to be Maya,” Zahrun crossed his arms as he spoke. “She’s literally related to the Great Solu!”

“And I’m telling you, being the Naayak isn’t hereditary!” Junsik scoffed, lightly pushing the gharian on the shoulder. The motion sent the smaller boy toppling until Kairo helped him upright.

“So, who do you think it is?” Maya smiled, her eyes wide and bright.

Kairo stuttered. He had been told exclusively not to tell the others about what he had been told- that he was, without question, the Naayak. He put his hand to the back of his neck. “Uh…”

“He thinks it’s him!” Junsik accused, pointing at Kairo threateningly, waving his hand over the blade worn at his belt.

“Dude, chill out.” Zahrun stepped between Junsik and Kairo. “It makes sense that he thinks it’s him, it’s what we’ve all been told.”

“You aren’t supposed to say that.” Junsik hissed. “Plus, you think it’s Maya.”

Zahrun didn’t respond.

“Kairo hasn’t even said anything.” Maya scoffed, then turned to Kairo. She tucked a lock of her curly hair behind her ear. “Who do you think it is?”

Kairo hesitated to answer. He only shrugged. “It could be any of us, we won’t know until the ceremony.”

Junsik frowned. “Ugh- cop-out answer. Boring.” No one could reply before Zahrun turned to the ship’s rails- the direction Kairo now had his back to, and ran towards them.

“Look!” He exclaimed, pointing out onto the ocean. “We’ve reached Trang Chu!”

Sure enough, when Kairo turned around, he was confronted with the sight of the shoreline, and the mass of violet-cladded people cheering at their arrival. The Naayak, whichever one of them it was, had returned.

The first to disembark their official craft were the noblemen- all the Chiefs and Counts and Lords from each nation that had joined their journey because they personally sponsored each child’s journey to Trang Chu, hoping that their pick was the one. They were followed by the spiritual leaders- the Seers, those who had determined which children were eligible to be part of the ceremony, then the families, one of which was responsible for raising the next Naayak. Each group was met with equal cheers and applause, but the highest honors of all were saved for the people who really mattered- the candidates themselves.

Unlike everyone else, who had marched in a procession according to nation, Kairo walked side-by-side with Zahrun, Maya and Junsik. As they reached the ground, a fifth member was added to their group- a teenage girl with a thin frame, warm tan skin, and the same jet-black straight hair as Jian. She wore a vibrant, near-pink silk robe signifying that this was her home nation.

“You must be Huong!” Maya greeted, reaching over Kairo to shake the girl’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The girl- Huong, reluctantly shook Maya’s hand. “You’re Maya of Kainga, right?”

Maya nodded. “Yes, This is Junsik of Jia, Zahrun of Ghara, and Kairo of Illu.”

Kairo followed Zahrun’s example and politely waved, ignoring the crowds watching their conversation. Junsik simply huffed and muttered something Kairo couldn’t discern.

“So, Kairo- I’ve always wondered, what’s Illu like?” Huong asked. She sounded bored.

Kairo shrugged. Of anything he had been expecting from Huong of Trang Chu, it wasn’t casual conversation. “Uh, it’s cold. Pretty cold.”

Huong nodded apathetically. “Anyone else got any fun stories?”

“Ghara’s dry.” Zahrun added. “But you probably could’ve told that from it being a desert.” He shrugged awkwardly.

As Huong and Zahrun continued to talk with one another, Kairo let his gaze wander to the crowd. It seemed like the entire world had come to see them- shades of pink and purple native to this nation made up most of the crowd, but there were small pockets of red, green, cyan, and even Illun blue. The sight of his people filled Kairo with a sense of pride and belonging. He wasn’t here to be the Naayak, or to meet new people from the other nations, or anything. He was here for them. Even if it was only for a brief moment, and if he wasn’t really going to be the Naayak anyways, he would do his best to make his country proud.

A pair of violet-clad noblemen guided Kairo and the group up to a raised platform a few feet above the ground, letting the world see them and letting them see the world.

The Seer of Trang Chu- Kairo could tell by the woman’s ornate hairstyle and fine robe’s mirroring Quma’s- walked in front of them and extended her arms around her. “Everyone, I present the Naayak!”

Kairo tensed as the crowd cheered for him. “You know, it’s a formality.” Maya whispered to him. “Since they don’t know which one of us it is, they have to call us the Naayak as a group.”

Kairo nodded, minimizing his movement so the crowd couldn’t see. “Yeah, I figured. It’s just…”

“What is it?”

“Everyone’s here, to see us.” There were more people here than there had been in his entire home village, probably twice as many.

Maya laughed. “Of course there are! They’re here to see the most important person in the world!”

Before Kairo could think of a response, a palanquin approached the platform, and all five of them were ushered into it as ceremoniously as they had been led off the boat.

Once the curtains had been drawn back around their palanquin, Huong visibly detensed. Here, they were safe from the pressures of the world outside- they didn't need to stand evenly or speak peaceably here, they could just be who they were- a group of kids, each promised that they were the chosen one.

Kairo sat on the back side of the palanquin, in between Maya and Zahrun and facing Huong and Junsik. While Maya and Huong seemed relaxed to be in privacy, Junsik looked as tense as Kairo felt. He couldn’t tell Zahrun’s emotional state from the boy’s face alone.

“So…” Huong turned to Junsik, who scoffed at the attention. She recoiled and looked at Maya. “What’s got him in a mood?”

Maya hesitated and tensed, which was strange. Kairo had only known the girl for a few weeks, but he had gotten the impression that she didn’t hide most of her thoughts.

“Wait, what’s going on?” Zahrun turned his attention to the rest of the group.

“Junsik’s acting weird.” Huong replied.

“Oh.” Zahrun turned to Maya, who obviously had an answer.

“He’s upset because at the last ceremony of the Naayak, his grandfather was the representative of Jia.” Maya replied, saying the words slowly and cautiously, as if they were a curse.

“Oh!” Huong replied, showing the most emotion she had since Kairo had met her minutes ago. “And he lost to your grandma?”

Maya hesitated. “My grandmother didn’t win, she-”

“She stole the position from my people.” Junsik barked. “The Naayak before her was Ghara, the one before that Trang Chu, the one before that Illu and the one before that another Kaingan! It was our turn!"

“Oh.” Zahrun whispered, he put his hand over Kairo’s arm. “Do you think that’s why he’s so dead-set on it being him?”

“It has to be me!” Junsik looked like he would’ve stood up if not for the cramped space in the palanquin. “It definitely can’t be either of you two rural country rats! You don’t have any family status or anything!”

“Fair point, but Ghara barely has an organized government.” Zahrun deadpanned. “Sorry we aren’t as ‘civilized’ as the mighty Jian Empire.”

Jian scoffed at the remark, then turned to Huong. “What about you, where’re you from?”

“My mom’s the Seer of Trang Chu.” Huong replied. It made sense, Kairo had thought she bore a resemblance to the woman. “So, it’s pretty natural that she thinks I’m the one.”

“Do you think it’s you?” Kairo asked.

Huong shrugged. “Don’t we all? I mean, fire-up-his ass over there certainly thinks it’s him.” Junsik shot her a nastly glare.

“I think it’s Maya.” Zahrun added.

“And I think it’s you.” Maya turned to Huong.

“Guess I have the most votes, then.” Huong put a hand to her chin. “Unless Kairo’s vote is for Junsik or something.”

“Kairo think’s it’s him, obviously.” Junsik stopped pouting for long enough to glare at Kairo. He glared back.

“I never said that. I never said anything about who I think it is.”

“I mean, you have to be reasonable about that.” Huong adjusted her hair. “It’s probably not going to be you or Zahrun, just out of logistics.”

“What do you mean?” Zahrun asked. “It’s been a while since there’s been a Naayak from Illu, Kairo has more of a chance than any of us, except for maybe Junsik.”

“That’s not how it works-” Maya started to explain before Huong cut her off.

“It’s not because of where you’re from, it’s because of who you are.” Huong spoke slowly, in a way that was almost mocking. “You really think the Naayak- the greatest, most important person in the world, is going to be a- what are you, a desert nomad? And you-” She turned to Kairo. “No offense, but you look more like a farm boy than the world’s savior.”

Kairo didn’t mention how he had been raised in a hunter’s guide, not on a farm. He doubted Huong would understand the way of life in Illu anyways.

“Being the Naayak isn’t about where you’re from, it’s about who you are.” Maya hissed, ironically repeating Huong’s own words. It was apparent to Kairo, if not anyone else, that her guess as to which of them it was had changed.

“Your grandmother was the daughter of the Chief, was she not? Supporting the theory that Naayak’s aren’t typically born as commoners.”

“My grandmother was born into poverty- she might’ve been the daughter of a chief, but only the chief of a small island.” Maya, by now, had assumed an offensive position, as if she might jump on Huong. “I don’t want to hear you talk about my family ever again.”

“Fine, damn.” Huong huffed, flippantly gesturing with one hand and checking her nail polish with the other. “Believe what you want to, I don’t care.”

Zahrun cleared his throat. “So, this might be a dumb question.”

“Go for it.” Kairo shrugged. He’d do anything to ease the wound Huong had opened.

“What’s gonna happen to the rest of us?”

Zahrun’s question was met by awkward silence.

“No matter which of us it is, there’s gonna be four of us left over. Are we just gonna go back to our homes and forget about it?”

“That sounds like it’s a problem for you guys, because it’s going to be me.” Junsik huffed, adjusting the sword at his belt. He peeked out the palanquin curtain to avoid conversation.

“I was told that the four that aren’t the Naayak will accompany whoever it is and help them with their training.” Kairo confessed with a shrug, choosing his words carefully as to not stir another fight. The small palanquin space fell into dead silence, and it was as if Kairo could read each and every person’s mind- they were all afraid.

The rest of the ride passed in dead, near-terrifyingly silenent, until it abruptly stopped. Moments later, the curtains opened, revealing them to Trang Chu’s capital- Than Pho, the city made of gold itself.

Kairo couldn’t take his eyes off the city- the golden structure gleaming in the noon sun, the temple spire jutting into the sky like a sword piercing a blue blanket, everything. Even the little details stood out to him- the flowers and plants, the life, the people cheering for him. If the crowd at the beach had been a lot, Kairo was sure every person in the world was here now. His family was somewhere among the crowd, somewhere, but he couldn’t make out which patch of blue they were. He had seen so much of the world in such little time- from the rice paddies and red pagodas of Jia to the floating towns in Kainga to the minarets of Ghara, and now this. It was like he had stepped right into a dream.

“Wow….” Kairo breathed as he waved to the crowd. Moments after formally arriving in Than Pho, they had been ushered out onto a stage to be presented to the world.

“It’s incredible, isn’t it?” Zahrun beamed, smiling at him. Kairo nodded. “It is.”

“Do they not have cities in Illu?” Huong put her hand over her mouth to laugh.

“I grew up in a snow hut.” Kairo responded matter-of-factly.

Huong eyed him up and down, as if she hadn’t known him for a couple hours now. “Weird.”

“Hey, Huong.” Maya tapped the other girl on the shoulder, stirring her attention away from Kairo and Zahrun. She pointed to the temple. “Is that where the ceremony will take place?”

Huong nodded. “Yep, underneath the moon, at midnight. It’s a full moon tonight, which is supposed to help activate the Naayak’s powers.”

Even though he hadn’t asked anything, Maya turned to Kairo and Zahrun. “My grandmother’s ceremony was in Ghara, and the next one’s going to be in Illu. It rotates.”

“Huh. Interesting.” Kairo replied. Before he could say anything else, someone took him by the arm. He turned to find out it was Seer Quma.

“Come over, Kairo.” The old man said as he led Kairo away from the others. Kairo turned just long enough to wave goodbye and see the others being led away by their own Seers- or in Huong’s case, her mother.

Quma led him away from the crowd, through the maze of streets, til they reached a heavy, dark wooden door. The architecture around it didn’t look native to Trang Chu, but more like what Kairo had seen at their homeland’s capital, Nunaliit.

He looked up at the ceiling, trying to decipher what was written on the door plate. “Where-”

“This is the Illun embassy here in Than Pho. It’s been built specially to house the potential Naayak while they stay in the city, or, when you’re announced as the one, if you ever decide to come back here.”

Kairo nodded and kept looking up at the intricate architecture. He tried not to think about how much of what Quma was saying might be lies.

“Come on.” Quma grabbed Kairo by the forearm and pulled him into the embassy. “We’ve got only twelve hours til the ceremony, and we’ve got work to do.”

After being fed, bathing, and being dressed in the finest ceremonial clothes he had that weren't too warm for Trang Chu’s warm, humid climate, Kairo was deemed ready for the ceremony and was ushered into a courtyard with the others.

“Kairo!” Zahrun smiled as he approached him. He wore what Kairo assumed to be traditional Gharian regalia- a long, olive green cloak, metallic, handcrafted, jewelry, and an ornately tied head scarf covering his hair. “You look great!”

“Thanks.” Kairo smiled. For the ceremony, he had donned a loose, light cotton version of the traditional Illu parka, beaded with all the care and patience of the normal fur kind. His hair had been painstakingly and ornately braided, blue ribbons entwined in each braid. He had even donned his fine bone piercings, the same ones his father wore. It was the most formal he had looked for any event in his entire life. “You do too! I’ve never seen Gharian dress in real life, actually, before I met you”

Zahrun did a little spin to show off his outfit, the jewelry making a bell sound as he moved. “I haven’t ever seen what Illun clothes are like!”

“Zahrun! Kairo!” Maya called out as she approached them both. She, too, was dressed in the traditional dress of her nation- a loose-fitting, brightly-colored robe and a headscarf that covered her cloud-like hair. She embraced both of them in a warm hug before stepping up to admire their individual outfits.

“You know, I always thought Illun clothing was warmer.” Maya commented as she admired Kairo’s parka.

Kairo laughed. “Yeah, they are. This one’s been modified since the weather here is so warm.”

“Ahhh, that makes sense.” Maya smiled. “You look fantastic! I love the piercings!” She tilted her head to show Kairo and Zahrun her own earrings, ornately molded from gold.

As the conversation died down, Kairo surveyed the rest of the courtyard. Junsik and Huong were talking to themselves in hushed tones, both wearing robes as fine as theirs. Junsik glared at him when he caught him staring.

“Only one more hour until we all know…” Zahrun muttered, checking the clock. The statement made Kairo tense up in anticipation- it was only one more hour til they all knew.

“Don’t worry, no matter who it is, I’ll support it.” Kairo sighed.

“Even if it’s Huong?” Maya gestured at the Trang Chu girl, who seemed offended that they were even looking at her.

Kairo hesitated to respond. “Maybe if it’s her.”

“And even if it is, we’ll still have each other, cause we’re supposed to stick around to train her.” Zahrun added. “So we can still be friends.”

Maya smiled. “That’s the spirit! We’ll still be friends, no matter what.”

“Even if it’s one of us?” Kairo asked.

Maya nodded. “Even if it’s one of us. I’m not letting something like that get in between us.”

Zahrun nodded in agreement. “Yeah, no matter which of it is, it won’t stand between us.”

Kairo nodded and smiled. It was hard to shake his nerves, the inevitability of the night shaking him to the core- they’d all be walking into the temple equal beings, but one of them would be walking out as the Naayak.

“I can’t stand this tension…” Kairo muttered to himself.

“I know!” Huong used her answer as a greeting as she and Junsik approached them. They both looked more at-ease in their formal clothes than Kairo and Zahrun combined.

“Hey, Huong, Junsik.” Zahrun glared at the two. Junsik glared back.

“So, how’s everyone feeling before the big show?” Huong asked patronizingly.

Maya tilted her head up in a show of pride and defiance. “I’m doing well, you?”

“No nerves, no worries?” Huong asked mockingly. Kairo saw through her act- she was just as afraid as any of them.

Maya stiffened. She was as scared as any of them.

“I say we should just get this whole debacle over with.” Junsik sighed. “They should just tell us who it is already, they’ve kept us waiting too long.””

“Junsik, you can’t rush tradition.” Huong chided. “That’s what my mom always says, at least.”

Kairo glanced at the clock. The ceremony was supposed to start in only half an hour. When he lowered his gaze, he saw Quma and the other Seers standing in the gate, each wearing the same ceremonial clothes as their younger, potential-Naayak counterparts.

“Welcome, everyone.” Huong’s mother stepped to the front of the crowd- a gesture made even more jarring by how tall the woman was. The folds of her luminescent sabai mirrored the dress of her daughter. “In only moments time, you will walk into the temple of the sun as equals- all sharing the same power: for now, you are all the Naayak.”

Kairo exchanged glances with Maya and Zahrun, and even with Huong and Junsik. This was the very last moment they would share as equals before their entire worlds flipped upside down at the revelation.

“But know this eternal and unyielding truth,” Huong’s mother continued. “While you may walk into the temple as equals, only one of you may walk out as the Naayak.” She cast a glance at her daughter, as if to warn her not to mess up, before lifting her hands into the sky. “Peace and prosperity be upon you all, and let the Ceremony of the Naming of the Naayak commence!”

Kairo thought he might faint when the gong sounded, signalling the ceremony’s start. This was it- the moment he had been waiting for only for the past few months. He gathered what inner strength he had and entered the temple proper, perfectly in sync with his companions.

According to traditions recounted to him time and time again by Master Quma, the Namthe Naming of the Naayak ceremony was the single handedly most important and sacred ritual any of them would ever participate in, and it had to be done right. At the sound of the midnight gong, each of the candidates would exit a specific gate unto the center of the temple, where their people and families had gathered.

The temple wasn’t like anything Kario had expected it to be. The room was a grand, almost cave-like structure that looked like it had been carved out of the mountain, with a large opening in the ceiling to reveal the moon directly above them. Closer to the walls, crowds of people gathered in sections divided by nation, but the center of the room was cleared to hold a pool of shallow water. Kairo followed his friends to the center of the room so that they all stood under the moonlight, next to Huong’s mother. She held a skin of water in both her hands and cast a loving glance to her daughter.

“People of Jia, Kainga, Ghara, Trang Chu and Illu.” The voice of Huong’s mother echoed off the walls of the cave. “I welcome you all to the Naming of the Naayak ceremony!”

The crowd erupted in cheers before she could continue. “One of these children is the next incarnation of the Naayak, and in only a few short moments they will reveal themself. Join me in welcoming Junsik, son of Hyun-Ah,”

Junsik saluted the people of Jia before extending his hands to the moon. Huong’s mother poured a small pool of water into his open palm.

Huong’s mother gestured to Maya. “Maya, daughter of Ajoke.” Maya gave a gesture to her family before following Junsik’s motion,

“Zahrun, son of Fatima,” Huong’s mother called to the boy. He glanced around for a moment before following Maya and Junsik’s example.

Huong’s mother put her hand to her chest. “Huong, daughter of Chalai.” Kairo didn’t have a moment to attribute the name to Huong’s mother, herself, before Huong copied the same motion the others had. He was the only one left.

“And Kairo, son of Atuat!” Huong turned to him and looked him in the eye. All Kairo’s instincts told him to run, but he instead extended his hands so that Chalai could pour water into them. The water was colder than he was expecting. It reminded Kairo of his home.

Kairo closed his eyes as Chalai left the center of the room, leaving only Kairo and the others. He tried to ignore the beat of his heart and the sweat on his forehead as he waited.

Earlier that day, Quma had explained to them that the ceremony ended at the sound of the second gong, and the identity of the Naayak would be discovered. Kairo asked how they would know, and Quma put his hand on his shoulder. “You’ll know.” Kairo didn’t know what the old man had meant by that. He only knew that they had to wait until the sound of the gong, then it would all be over.

At the sound of the gong, a force overtook Kairo, opening his eyes to a sight of only light. It was as if he was only light, only light and power and the energy of the world. When his vision finally cleared, he saw the eyes of the world on him. Kairo realized what had happened. It was him.