Lalani is a compassionate twelve-year-old girl living on the harsh island of Sanlagita. The village males constantly belittle her because she is small and lacks physical brawn, leading her to question her own worth. When her mother contracts a fatal infection, Lalani resolves to travel across a treacherous sea to the legendary island of Isa in search of a miraculous cure.

Ellseth is a blind hermit who resides on Mount Kahna. He features the distinctive horns of the mindoren people from Isa, though his former community banished him to Sanlagita for continuous thievery. He offers to grant Lalani's wishes using a stolen magical object, but he harbors a sinister desire to harvest the eyes of anyone he encounters.

Fei Diwata is the mythical guardian spirit of Mount Isa. Though she assumes the form of a tiny girl wearing leaves and vines, she holds immense power over the natural balance of the islands. She grew resentful toward humans after a thief stole her magical arrowhead, known as an udyo.

Ditasa-Ulod is the eel-woman assigned to guard the treacherous Veiled Sea. She possesses the shimmering body of an enormous eel and the beautiful face of a woman. Unable to discern human motives, she actively sinks ships to keep mortals away from Isa.

Drum is Lalani's violently domineering stepfather and uncle. He wholly embraces Sanlagita's culture of physical intimidation, openly dismissing women and girls as worthless. He uses his large stature to bully the villagers and actively seeks higher political office to exert more control over the island.

The Menyoro serves as the dictatorial headman of Sanlagita. He controls food rations and dictates professions. He also falsely claims to possess healing powers. He maintains absolute authority by punishing dissenters and fostering a culture that worships brute force.

Usoa is a teenage mindoren girl living on the enchanted island of Isa. Unlike her naturally peaceful community, she has dedicated her youth to building physical stamina for a singular, violent purpose. She intends to track down and kill the giant raptor that murdered her mother.

Bai-Vinca is a massive bird of prey that stands nine feet tall. Following the tragic death of her sister from a blighted nut, Bai-Vinca abandoned her flock to live in isolation. She fixates entirely on finding the thief who mutilated her dying sibling.

Veyda is a beautiful twelve-year-old girl and Lalani's closest confidante. She demonstrates a natural talent for medicine, secretly gathering local herbs to brew remedies for sick villagers. She must hide her considerable skills because the village leadership does not tolerate girls displaying knowledge or authority.

Hetsbi is Veyda's timid younger brother. He struggles constantly against Sanlagita's cultural expectation that boys must be tough and physically skilled. He repeatedly fails at traditional male trades like sailing and shipbuilding, leading him to doubt his own courage.

Mrs. Sarita is Lalani's mild-tempered mother. Following the death of her first husband at sea, the village leadership forced her to marry her brutish brother-in-law, Drum. She earns her family's rations by working as a mender. An accidental needle prick infects her with the fatal mender's disease, prompting Lalani's urgent quest.

Kul is Drum's large and oafish son. He closely copies his father's bullying tactics to establish dominance over the smaller children in Sanlagita. He takes particular pleasure in terrifying his peers with local ghost stories.

Cade is a twelve-year-old boy generally considered the most handsome youth in Sanlagita. Following the loss of his brother to the sea, he grows cynical about the village's traditions. Unlike his peers, he treats Lalani with respect and actively attempts to shield her from Drum's abuse.

Maddux is a Sanlagitan villager desperate to find a cure for his severely ill infant, Toppi. He stands out from the aggressive men in the village by openly showing gratitude to the young girls who try to help his family.

Ziva is the ghost of a Sanlagitan girl who attempted to escape her bleak life by stowing away on a ship bound for Isa. After the sailors discovered her, they threw her into the Veiled Sea to drown. Although local legends brand her as an evil spirit, she holds a sympathetic connection to Lalani.

Mother Nalupai is a benevolent creator spirit dwelling above the mortal realm. She shaped the islands of Sanlagita and Isa, as well as the Veiled Sea that separates them. She established the fundamental rule that compassion stands as the supreme virtue in the world.

Taiting is the mild-mannered schoolmaster of Sanlagita. The village headman forced him into the teaching profession solely because he failed at physical trades. He provides a rare supportive presence for boys who do not fit the violent mold of the island.

Bio Pasa is a cruel schoolmate of Hetsbi. He and his family members delight in playing nasty practical jokes and torturing animals. He actively seeks to scapegoat vulnerable people to protect himself from the village leadership.

Toppi is an infant living in Sanlagita who suffers from a severe illness exacerbated by the island's drought. His deteriorating condition highlights the urgent need for medical knowledge in the village.

Beintai is Lalani's deceased father. He participated in a previous Sailing Day expedition searching for Isa but vanished in the Veiled Sea. His absence forces his wife into an unwanted marriage with his brother.