The Black Pearl approached Noah and the young ones and said:

“You are people of good intention.”
Then he pointed toward the mountain’s peak.

“It will erupt very soon! I am certain there are people out there in the outside world. Tell them about this island so that they may take heed. I do not know what, if anything, will remain of this land once the eruption comes! But I am sure there are people beyond these shores—let them not fall into the same mistakes we did.”

Noah wondered how the Black Pearl knew he and Seth came from beyond the island, even though he had never mentioned it.

“How can you be so sure? Perhaps there is no one else out there!”

The Black Pearl lifted the papyri in his hands and showed them.

“The writings say that our ancestors, who came to this island to escape cruel men, severed all connection between this island and the outside world in order to protect themselves once again from the oppression of the wicked.”
Then he began to recount how their ancestors had first set foot on the island—approximately seventeen centuries ago:

“Contrary to what had been foretold, the ship of the oppressed, led by Younus and Yesra, was struck by a great storm. The waves rose as high as mountains; the ship lurched from side to side like a drunkard. In fear, the oppressed lifted their hands in prayer, crying:

‘O Lord! At this moment, when darkness, the storm, and the sea stand against us, only You—whose power encompasses all things—can bring us safely to shore. We beg You, deliver us as You delivered Prophet Yunus!’

Their prayer, in a wondrous way, was accepted.

Call it a fish, a dolphin, or a monster—I cannot say—but an enormous creature opened its mouth and swallowed them together with the ship. The last thing the terrified passengers saw was the creature’s gigantic, man-sized teeth. Afterwards came hours of darkness and the sound of water rushing past.

When they finally managed to speak to one another, they realized that all of them were alive, able to breathe, and unharmed. None could guess where the great creature was taking them or what it intended to do.

After a long silence, they suddenly saw daylight—and with the dissipating storm, they found themselves before an island.

Then something like the sneeze of a whale occurred. All were safe, healthy, and they gave thanks to God. Cautiously, they stepped onto the Outer Isle. As they explored further, they saw no humans living there, and realized that its abundant vegetation and drinkable water made it a place suitable for life.

But somehow, as time passed, the drinkable water began to diminish, and the once rich vegetation faded. They were intrigued by the lake they discovered inland. And when they saw two islands within the lake, their astonishment only grew.

To ensure their safety, they wanted to leave no corner of the land unexplored. So they dismantled the ship they had arrived in, carried the pieces to the lake, and reached the two islands in its center.”

Abraham interrupted:

“I think it would have been better if they had carried the ship without dismantling it.”

Mark mocked him playfully:

“Oh, of course—because the island had a nice paved road ready for them to drag the ship along, right?”

Noah was about to say something, but the Black Pearl continued:

“When they reached both islands, they saw that each was suitable for settlement. At first, they thought the two islands were identical. But after some time, they realized that your island had three different water sources. The two alchemists who had arrived with them noticed that the three waters differed in taste and color. Through experiments on animals, they discovered that one of the sources was poisonous, while the other two—although different in taste—were drinkable.”

Abraham grinned and whispered to Odessa:

“See? I figured out what they couldn’t. I was the first to notice that the water from one of the wells stained teeth yellow and brown.”

Odessa, unwilling as ever to let him take the last word, responded swiftly:

“Not true! My father, Ilius, realized it long before you did. But he knew people wouldn’t believe him—and worse, that they might think he had poisoned the water and harm him—so he kept silent.”

“They realized they needed to stay away from the lake because there were no fish in its waters and no plants growing near it. They traveled between the two islands by boat—Younus governed yours, and Yesra governed ours. They built their homes and began cultivating their fields. Together, they worked the lands of the Twin Island and claimed it as their new homeland. But then their old fears resurfaced.”

“You mean they feared the tyrant king would find them?”

“No. Being far from their former land, they had no worries about him. But he was hardly the only tyrant in the world. They feared that other cruel men might disturb them. So they took precautions. They chose not to settle on the Outer Isle. Instead, they decided to block the openings between the natural ridges high in the mountain range—which begins a few hundred meters inland from the sea—and they did so by filling those gaps with stones. Then they did something more to frighten any ship that might reach the island despite storms and dark clouds. The animal trainer among the oppressed had brought several lion cubs aboard the ship. They raised them, bred them, and once their numbers grew, they released the lions to the far side of the stone barriers, ensuring that no one would dare set foot on the island.”

Noah remembered the moment he first arrived on the island and had been chased by lions, fleeing back toward the sea. That day he had thought to himself:

“What are lions doing here? Our island adventure began with lions—may Allah grant us a good end!”

Abraham and Mark also now understood how the barrier they had once seen was built, and that the sound they had heard earlier had come from some kind of beast. Abraham asked:

“What is a lion? Does it eat people?”

Noah explained briefly:

“It has powerful, sharp claws and pointed teeth. It is somewhat larger than a dog, but in form it resembles a very large cat.”

When Abraham learned its color was yellow, he said to Mark:

“That must be the creature we saw on the Outer Isle—the one that leapt toward us and nearly caught us!”

The Black Pearl continued:

“By the way,” he said,
“Only those two alchemists I mentioned were permitted to go to the Outer Isle. Even though the newcomers were oppressed people, certain prejudices toward the alchemists may have led to such a decision.”

He then spread his hands to both sides, his face tightening in a way that showed he was about to recount something sorrowful:

“Though everything had been going well, a certain dark feeling arose—one so destructive that it threw everything into chaos. A feeling dangerous enough to lead a human being to spill the first blood on earth.”

Understanding that the dark-skinned guide was referring to the first murder, Abraham’s mind immediately went to Qabil killing Abel, and he answered:

“Envy.”

The guide nodded.
“Yes,” he said, and continued:

“Unfortunately, the children of Younus and Yesra—who had once been loyal friends—began to see one another as rivals: ‘Whose father was greater, yours or mine?’ Thus began a meaningless competition. Like a tiny spark falling into a forest and turning towering trees—grown with patience over many years—into ash within hours, the feeling of envy consumed two heirs who looked at each other with poisoned hearts. And the island, which had become a paradise through years of labor, was ravaged by their corrupt ambitions.

Inevitably, envy was followed by lies, slander, deceit, and every other destructive vice. Partisanship became more valuable than honesty. Though the sensible warned, ‘Do not do this, stop,’ matters spiraled beyond control. They say the hardest wound to heal is the wound caused by the tongue—and indeed it proved true. What do you think happened next?”

Mark answered,
“Probably fighting, violence, perhaps a war.”

The Black Pearl shook his head.

“Worse… People fight, grow tired, and eventually make peace. But psychological warfare is far more destructive. Imagine— the children of those oppressed people who once stood in the front lines against a tyrant king, began accusing one another of being Qabil!

Do you now understand why, for centuries, the people on your island called us ‘the Island of Qabil’ and why ours called you the same? A small spark of envy led to centuries of unrest, fueling fires of corruption that never died.”

Noah paused to reflect:

“In the outside world, wars may appear to erupt over land or wealth, yet their true cause has always been envy. Because of envy—envy over money, power, or both material and spiritual matters—religions are corrupted, villages and cities are plundered, innocent children are slain, and families are torn apart.”

Odessa had heard that such things—wars, murders, discord, and corruption—occurred beyond the island. With anxious eyes, she asked:

“Then what is it? What is the source of such envy that fills people with so much rage?”

“Nothing at all. Perhaps someone cast a sidelong glance, perhaps they felt disrespected, perhaps it was land… or water. In short, as the great island shrank under the weight of envy, they must have imagined themselves so grand that they no longer fit within it.”

Hearing the guide’s final words, Noah began to wonder if the man before him was a black-skinned angel.

“Nothing on this island is normal—why should this man be? Every kind of character exists here, as though each were a seed from the outside world. After such wise counsel, if he sprouted wings and flew away, I would not be surprised. And as Seth said: ‘If he is Qabil, then what are we? If we are human, then what is this black man?’”

“For this reason,” Noah continued, “a generation is not obliged to inherit every burden from its ancestors. Especially in matters of faith, they must reject the legacy of envy—and with it, the centuries-old habit of calling others the children of Qabil.”

When the dark-skinned guide withdrew to his room to rest, Mark asked hesitantly:

“What was the reason for the envy between Abel and Qabil?”

Abraham teased him:

“You should have asked—I would have told you.”

Noah said,
“Let me briefly recount the story first.”

“In ancient times, the children of Prophet Adam were born as male–female twins. Qabil and his sister were the first pair, while Abel and his sister were the second. Later more twins were born, and the population eventually reached five thousand. Prophet Adam commanded his children to marry someone other than their own twin. But Qabil, seeing his own twin as more beautiful than Abel’s, insisted on marrying her instead. Qabil accused his father, Prophet Adam, saying that this rule was not a command from God but merely his personal opinion.

To resolve the dispute, Prophet Adam instructed both of them to offer a sacrifice to God. Abel, being a herdsman, offered his best animal, while Qabil brought the most worthless of his crops. When Qabil learned that his brother’s offering had been accepted while his own had been rejected, he sought to kill Abel out of envy. Abel said to him, ‘What sin have I committed that you seek to kill me?’ And Qabil replied, ‘Shall your children boast over mine hereafter?’”

Mark, after listening silently, said:

“Hmm, now I understand the answer, and I’ve drawn other lessons as well. From the way Qabil blamed his father, we can say that envy is a seed that opens the door to many other sins. The seed of envy can bear the fruit of countless wrongs.”

Abraham asked permission to speak and added:

“In the continuation of the story, Abel says to Qabil: ‘I will never raise my hand to kill you.’ From this we learn that good people may defend themselves in self-protection, but even then they should not seek to take a life. What I truly understand is this: a righteous person, like Abel, should never justify killing by saying, ‘If I do not kill him, he will kill me or lay a trap for me.’ And unless there is an actual physical attack, one must not harm others based on suspicion. More plainly, the innocent must always preserve their righteousness and uphold their ideals—even if it means dying for their values rather than living by taking a life.”

Noah looked at the young ones one by one and asked:

“Do you not find a contradiction? If Qabil desired so strongly to marry his own twin, why then did he offer the most worthless of his crops as a sacrifice?”

After waiting briefly for the young ones to think, Noah began answering his own question:

“This situation shows that Qabil was not sincere—neither in his faith in Allah nor in his supposed love for his twin. Allah knew what lay within his heart, yet as we understand from the divine teachings, Allah does not punish destructive thoughts or desires that remain locked within the heart and never manifest in word or action. Thus, the test of offering a sacrifice was presented so that what was hidden might be revealed. And indeed, we see from Qabil giving the most worthless of his crops, while Abel offered his very best, that what Allah already knew of their hearts came to light.

One who truly loves will give anything for the one they love. If Qabil had been sincere in his affection for his twin, he would not have chosen the poorest of his produce. His heart was not filled with love, but caught instead in the net of base desire. This teaches us that a portion of the legacy of the ‘Qabil mindset’ is the preference of lust over love. Love may move a person, but it does not strip them of reason. Lust destroys both the intellect and the heart.”

Abraham noticed Mark giving him a mischievous look, as if reminding him of Melisa. He was about to whisper a reply, but chose silence in case Odessa misunderstood.

Noah then asked:

“How can we understand Qabil’s words: ‘Shall your children boast over mine hereafter? I will not allow it!’?”

Odessa answered:

“The message is clear. Envy is not only about wealth, possessions, or spiritual rank; it can arise from important values such as family. Qabil, in his own twisted logic, claims he committed this murder—and insisted on marrying his own twin—so that his children would not be inferior to Abel’s. And yet, he leaves his children the greatest misfortune of all: the legacy of being the descendants of the one who committed the first murder.”

Noah nodded to show he agreed with Odessa, then continued in a whisper:

“As we planned, once you leave this island and begin to meet people in the outside world, you will see it for yourselves. Out of envy—Why is she happy while I am not?—you will encounter those who try to tear apart happy families with lies, slander, and even sorcery. And you will see parents who, claiming to act for their children, fall into poverty, crime, fraud, and the selling of poison. Their children, burdened with the dark spiritual legacy and reputation inherited from their parents, must struggle greatly to free themselves from that mire.”

At that moment the Black Pearl hurried toward them, bringing an end to their gentle conversation.

“My friends, forgive me—those young people saw you when you arrived. They are asking for you.”

“What is wrong with that? Let us meet them,” Noah said.

The Black Pearl blushed and replied:

“It is not the sort of meeting you imagine. Nearly all those young ones you saw were women… How shall I put this? They have rather savage passions. I fear they might try to force something upon you.”

Noah understood exactly what he meant from the way the Black Pearl flushed. Seeing the others’ reddened cheeks—everyone except Seth—he realized they understood too. He was relieved he would not have to explain further.

Seth, for a brief moment, thought,
“It wouldn’t bother me at all.”

But as the girl he had loved back in his home city flashed through his mind, he corrected himself:

“Forget it. They’re like the Amazon women of legend—they’d tear me apart,” he thought, then turned back to the group.

“So… where are we going?”

The Black Pearl said:

“I have a suggestion. Near the northern reeds of the island, beside a large rock, there is a small boat. We kept it hidden for emergencies—seems it was destined for you. Since you will not be returning to your own island, you may cross to the Outer Isle. You can stay there for a time.”

After explaining this, he pointed toward the mountain peak:

“It will erupt very soon. You must leave this island completely. Otherwise…”

The group already understood the danger. Whatever they encountered on the Outer Isle, they would adjust their plans accordingly. Although one reason they had come here was to escape the cruel Lord, their other purpose was to learn the truth behind the long-told legend of the Island of Qabil. And now, having traveled countless miles for the sake of humanity, both Noah and Seth nurtured the hope of a new discovery. Though their individual purposes differed, they were bound by the promise they had made together.

Noah narrowed his eyes as if misunderstanding, and said:

“What do you mean by that? You and your companions can come with us. Perhaps, one way or another, we can all leave this place together.”

Noah considered adding, “A ship from outside will come to rescue us,” but when he caught Seth’s stern gaze, he abandoned the idea.

“No,” said the Black Pearl, “we are not coming. As an island, we deserve to remain beneath the lava. Though I tried—at least to some degree—to warn them, I do not believe I responded firmly enough. I wish to bear the consequence of that failure here. Perhaps if I had foreseen in time the danger that comes with arrogance born of knowledge, things would never have reached this point.

I know there are people in the outside world. Tell them what became of us. Tell them that neither oppressing others in the name of religion nor waging war against God under the pretext of science or freedom is right. In both cases, before the punishment of God arrives, their own people will suffer unbearable psychological torment.”

When the Black Pearl warned that the effects of the sleeping draught he had given the youth were about to wear off, they knew they had to hurry. With tears in their eyes, they bid him farewell. The dwarf accompanied them and guided their way. The group of the righteous left the lake island they had long called the Island of Qabil with the same number they had arrived.

Just as their boat pulled away from the shore, they realized how narrowly they had escaped danger. The women—hair wild, eyes frenzied—were not merely watching from the coastline; they were attempting to enter the lake, fully aware they would drown. Only then did the young men understand how terrifying those girls must have been when sober.

Abraham and Mark explained that they had been to the Outer Isle before and that no grave danger awaited them there, so with caution but also relief, they set foot upon the island.