**91 Years After the Air Nomad Genocide**
**Northern Water Tribe**
A year has passed since the Southern Water Tribe refugees arrived in the North. By now, they've seamlessly blended into the local population, indistinguishable from the natives. Everyone has adapted to their new lives, as the differences between the two regions aren't significant.
Today, there's hardly anyone in the city or nearby tribes with serious injuries. It's safe to say the Northern Water Tribe is the healthiest nation in the world. Each month, my chi allows me to heal more people—about one additional person per month. At first, feeling drained every day was unpleasant, but I quickly grew accustomed to it.
A month ago, I began seriously treating Katara and Sokka's parents and grandmother. They adore her, and Kanna returns their affection, even extending it to Yue. Now, their parents look slightly younger than their actual age, and their age-related ailments have vanished. I don't want to interfere too much yet; it's best to hear their opinions first. Such serious decisions shouldn't be made without them.
There was a time when the training grounds were the city's focal point. The male population put on elaborate displays to attract the attention of female waterbenders, who were finally allowed to begin formal training with mentors. The young men went to great lengths—some of their antics were so embarrassing I felt secondhand shame. I think it's called vicarious embarrassment, but their clowning brought smiles even to the sternest faces.
The girls quickly proved that waterbending doesn't divide people into strong and weak genders. Even before formal training, some managed to clear icy floors better than students who had trained for years. These demonstrations showed the masters that neglecting their training would be a mistake.
As a waterbending master, I took Katara, Kanna, and Yue as my students. Now, their training no longer needs to be hidden in my father's private arena. Others wanted to be my students, but I'm content with my pupils—and not because they'd distract me from flirting with Kanna.
Over the past year, I've visited the Spirit World twice more, during the summer and winter solstices. Unlike my chaotic first visit, these trips were stable and predictable. The only disappointment was Dria's unknown whereabouts. Each time, the barrier sent me to unfamiliar places. I asked every peaceful spirit I met about the girl I described, and there were clues—she'd stayed in some settlements for up to a month. But this is Dria; her restlessness still drives her unpredictably.
As I suspected, advancing from the mid-tier to the high-tier is far harder. The chi density and quantity differences are immense. During my battles with dark spirits, absorbing their energy raised my elemental levels to an average, but nearing the high-tier requires exponentially more energy. I might have to fight a high-tier spirit soon—unfortunately, that's a real possibility. Still, I'm not standing still. I'm mastering new techniques, improving my bending, and enhancing my chi quality. I won't fear high-tier spirits for long; soon, they'll be my snacks.
One encounter with an ancient spirit left my hair standing on end. It happened right after I entered the Spirit World. The barrier dumped me on a mountain of corpses from various creatures. The mound emitted grayish miasma, and the sight was revolting. I hadn't expected such a reaction, even from myself. For weeks afterward, I avoided treating open wounds. Luckily, the spirit wasn't interested in me—or perhaps it was asleep and unprepared for such audacity. Otherwise, I wouldn't have left alive.
Once a month, I return to the South Pole, ensuring I don't miss the appearance of a round ice chunk underwater. Who knows how this world's story will unfold, but I want some control over the situation. I've even dived underwater, but found no clues. Maybe the last Avatar is still floating deep in the ocean, and their body will surface near the South Pole closer to the 99th year. I can't miss that, but for now, I'll stop these active searches. I'll resume closer to the date from the cartoon.
During my second visit to the South Pole, I noticed numerous recent human tracks near the Southern Water Tribe settlement. Fire Nation barbarians had left no stone standing in the village, even though every home was built with care. I wonder what excuse they concocted. The disappearance of two ships and an entire settlement isn't ordinary.
* * *
For hours, I've been training in my personal underground arena, fully immersed in the gradual unlocking of my first chakra. I finished another set of an exercise I invented. Using earthbending, I created a staircase that must be climbed while carrying a heavy, compressed stone on my shoulders, supported by my hands—without using earthbending, of course. The first attempts were effortless, even with jumps, but after the twentieth set, my muscles stiffened, sweat blurred my vision, and each step became a struggle—exactly what I needed.
Right foot, left foot, shift my weight, the stone slips. Narrating each step in my mind and pushing past my limits, I slipped into a trance. My body continued climbing slowly while my mind fogged over. Strange voices whispered, probing my soul for secrets.
"Maybe you're afraid of being rejected by your family?" a rasping voice asked under my right ear.
"No, no, he's afraid of losing his memories! Right?! RIGHT?!" another voice shrieked from the left.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha, so close, so close," both voices cackled in unison.
"He fears death… everyone does…" a third voice intoned.
"Found it!" they screamed into my ears. "You think this isn't real, don't you? That it's all a long dream? Your entire life in your favorite show will turn out unreal when you wake up in your bed. There never were Yue, Katara, Arnuk, June, Kanna—it was all invented by your sick mind. Accept it, accept it…" With each moment, the voice grew more confident, and I wanted to agree.
"Yes, it's all… just… a dream," I weakly whispered. My body stopped on the second-to-last step, my hands dropping. But then, memories of my loved ones flashed before my eyes: June teaching a serious toddler to read; Yue saying her first words; Kanna resting beside me after a long waterbending session, then falling asleep on my lap; Katara blushing as she gifted me a hand-knit scarf. Each memory gave me strength. My body, moments ago on the brink of collapse, began to revive.
"Get out!" I roared, and the voices vanished, along with the fog in my mind.
But the chakra-opening process had just begun. My muscles seized with cramps, and my body, falling from the staircase, contorted as if in a seizure. In moments like these, my mind shows its wit—I wanted to shout, "Demons are here, call the priest!" The sensations were unpleasant, but better than gaining a new bending art. Bones cracked, shifted, joints popped, and sweat poured like a river. I was a human orchestra for fifteen minutes.
After another minute of steady breathing, I felt as if I'd never bathed in my life, and now I'd been treated to the best sauna—perfect temperature, finest birch branches, top-tier luxury. Then the moment of truth: stepping into fresh air, in a village near a forest and river. Bliss.
I didn't expect such fear, though I suppose I did, which is why I buried it. My respect for the guru grew exponentially. This process is like a second birth, especially since the physical path offers a weakened version of what the spiritual path demands.
The world gained color. If before I subconsciously denied reality, now, having faced my greatest fear, reality feels more conscious, more real—words can't capture it.
Standing up, I felt a shift in my center of gravity. My body's proportions had changed. Creating an ice mirror, I admired a fourteen-year-old with a killer look—no mustache needed for charm, guaranteed.
"Where did my body get these resources? I've aged a couple of years," I spun in front of the mirror. "Grr… *sounds of pleading for help*"
My body is protesting; it's not just hungry—it's starving. Another observation: while the euphoria of opening the first chakra lasted, I didn't notice my protruding bones or nearly invisible stomach. Mood dictates your perception, and we don't even realize it. There was no time for further debate; I rushed home. Kanna's cooking something delicious today—I hope I don't eat it all.
I burst into the kitchen and immediately attacked the defenseless dinner. One portion wasn't enough, then two, three—I had to stop, or there'd be nothing left for others. The first hunger wave passed; my body isn't satisfied but isn't thinking of eating itself yet. I forgot about the spectator.
Kanna stood there, eyes wide, first at my changed appearance, then at my actions, and now back at me. Snapping my fingers to no reaction, I decided to do something more interesting. Life is vibrant; after eating, I crave action, emotions—everything. And here stands the best generator of positive emotions.
"Kanna," I approached, placing my hands on her shoulders—no reaction. "Kanna," I called louder, and her gaze focused on me. "I've always wanted to tell you…" I whispered near her face.
Kanna looked at me with anticipation, unconsciously leaning closer. I never finished the sentence; I wanted to taste those lips. Kanna closed her eyes, her face flushing as she leaned against me with her soft yet firm chest. The next seconds froze for me. The first kiss—well, like a first kiss, unforgettable.
What are my hands doing? Grabbing her hips, I pressed her against the wall. For the next minute, my hands explored her body. The mild debauchery would've continued, but the children's voices grew closer.
"Alright, we should stop now. We'll talk more seriously tonight, but know this: I'm not letting you go that easily," I said to the breathless Kanna, squeezing her hips one last time. She seemed to expect this conversation; after all, my actions this year weren't exactly childlike.
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