Here's the story rewritten with **magic/fantasy terminology** replaced by **Avatar: The Last Airbender** terminology, while keeping the core story intact:
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"What's happening?!" I screamed in my mind as my "virtual" body was sucked into an incomprehensible vortex, and my consciousness slowly and inevitably faded.
Just moments ago, I was in the midst of a fierce battle with a powerful chi-blocker who controlled earthbending. Suddenly, the recreated world began to disintegrate into particles of light, and at that same moment, this whirlpool appeared beside me.
I regained consciousness with difficulty, feeling as if my body had been wrapped in a second skin. After about thirty minutes, my senses slowly returned. I lay on something hard, my limbs cold. It was time to open my eyes.
"A? Why won't my body obey me?!" I began to panic openly when I couldn't open my eyes or even move a finger.
"Calm down, it's probably some unforeseen issue, and Wan Shi Tong will fix it soon," I tried to reassure myself to avoid another breakdown. Wait! Why do I feel like this body is alive? Could I have been thrown into the real world?
Before I could develop this thought, my body began to wake up! But I wasn't asleep! At that moment, I fully felt the duality of my state. My consciousness was flooded with feelings that weren't mine—sadness, fatigue, immense love, and an unyielding determination.
Along with these emotions, I began to feel the "body" itself: aching knees that hurt even when "I" lay still, stinging palms, and of course, the cold—the kind that seeps into your bones. Am I sleeping naked in the snow?!
Before my open eyes lay a bleak scene. Even the South Pole would be better. The wooden hut was no more than ten meters long, the boards looked old, and in the middle of the room stood a crudely made stove with embers barely glowing. There was almost no decoration, except for a faded red cloth bearing the emblem of the Fire Nation.
I noticed "my" hands—darker skin and calloused palms. When I looked down, I saw I was dressed in well-made but old red clothing, soon to have more patches than original fabric.
So, this body isn't mine. I'm somewhere in the Fire Nation or one of its colonies, and I still don't understand what's happening! As I pondered, the body skillfully added coal to the stove and heated something in a pot. The man—steel—slept in simple clothes on plain boards, his face unchanged as his stomach ate itself, and goosebumps ran over his skin from the cold.
Before I could decide what to do, it seemed the decision was made for me. The man's memories flooded my consciousness—his entire life, buried under his hopes, dreams, and feelings.
Kenji had spent his conscious life in a small town on one of the Fire Nation's islands, which had sprung up near a firebending training ground. Life was without luxuries, but for twenty years, it was stable—there was housing, enough food. But life gradually became harder. The bosses demanded more effort, food ran short, and people had to buy it at exorbitant prices from Earth Kingdom traders. Despite the hardships, Kenji didn't lose hope. He found joy in small things, and his optimism and faith in the future won him the most beautiful girl in town. His partner gave him even more strength, especially the news that they would soon have a child. The last days of his life were etched in me vividly—burying his beloved, who couldn't survive childbirth, but left him with a new purpose.
At the end of the process, it felt like I had once been Kenji. Before I could explore this thought, I "fell asleep" in Kenji's body, yet continued to observe and feel.
"Has little Aila woken up yet?" I greeted my most precious treasure with great care. The tiny girl, who had barely cried or eaten the hard-won cow's milk since her birth, looked at me attentively. She was wrapped in the warmest furs, her small, pale face peeking out.
These memories almost broke me. To buy such a rare item as milk, I had to sell Kira's only valuable possession—a gift from our wedding.
"Forgive me, dear," my lips whispered as I tried to feed my daughter with a forced smile. "Come on, eat a little, please," I continued, my hands trembling slightly as I pushed away thoughts of my weak daughter not surviving this harsh winter. The town had no waterbending healers, not even a simple herbalist.
"Good girl," I smiled sincerely as she took a little. Wrapping her tighter, I prepared to leave. I had barely managed to get three days off, and today I had to go to work or risk losing pay for the month.
Opening the door, the frosty air hit me immediately. Holding Aila close, I walked quickly across town. Ten minutes later, I arrived at my destination—a small house indistinguishable from the thousand others in this town. Before I could knock, the door opened.
"Come in quickly, what are you standing there for? The little one will freeze," Aunt Lin, my mother's younger sister, hurried me inside.
"And who's this beauty? Who's so important?" she immediately took my daughter, placing her closer to the stove. "And why are you standing there? Aren't you going to work?" She was never the best with manners, but she adored children, as she could no longer have her own. These were the main problems in our remote town—early death from mine work and high infant mortality due to the island's northern location, where no decent healer or herbalist would venture.
"Good morning, Aunt," I managed to greet before being interrupted again. "Let me just say goodbye to Aila."
"Go on," she grumbled. "You know you can leave her with me overnight, why are you being stubborn?" It's embarrassing to say, but only with Aila do I not dream of Kira's last moments.
"Daddy will be back soon," I whispered, kissing her forehead.
"Go already," Aunt Lin began shooing me as I turned to look at Aila for the third time. "Wait, Kenji," she paused.
"You understand what her poor appetite means, right? And she's only getting paler…"
"Stop," I interrupted. "She'll survive, she's strong. This conversation is over, I'm leaving."
The entire way to the mines, I couldn't collect myself. My mind searched for a solution. Upon arrival, I was met with the usual atmosphere of oppression—something you stop noticing after living here for years.
"I heard the Earth Kingdom traders raised prices again," one miner complained.
"They do it every time, claiming pirates attack them! They're just making it up to squeeze every last coin out of us!" another supported, "And the capital stays silent, sending letters saying, 'Hold on, help is coming,'" he finished with a spit, showing his disdain for empty promises.
For the first half of the day, I worked with a pickaxe on autopilot, dark thoughts weighing on my mind. Only around lunchtime did I feel slightly better. Sitting and slowly spooning an unclear broth, I didn't notice someone approaching.
"Kenji, what's wrong? Aila keeping you up?" my adoptive brother slapped me on the shoulder in camaraderie.
"If only," I sighed heavily. "The little one isn't eating or crying."
"Then I know what can help her," he continued in a whisper, looking around cautiously. "Here," he slipped a pouch into my hands.
Without wasting time, I decided to peek inside. Inside were dried herbs, with a note on top.
"Vinira healing, Lashir extract, a healing formula for newborns, boosts immunity. Take strictly as directed on the back," I read the last words and looked at my friend in disbelief.
"Hao, where did you get this?! It's worth a fortune! What do I owe you for it?" I would have sold my soul for these herbs.
"You owe me by bringing Aila to my wife at least three times a week!" he said with a laugh. "I ordered them seven months ago," he continued with a sad smile, "and they only arrived yesterday…"
Three months ago, Hao's wife had a stillbirth. Holding the pouch in one hand, I hugged my friend's neck with the other, turning my head slightly. Words weren't needed.
"Hey, are you crying?" Hao broke the somber atmosphere. "Who said only girls cry in childhood?" he tried to mimic my then-breaking adolescent voice, bringing a smile to my face.
"As soon as the little one feels better, we're expecting you for a visit!" he waved.
The herbs helped… Aila grew up beyond her years, helping me around the house as much as her young age allowed. It was as if the spirits rewarded her with wisdom, taking her health at the start.
One day, a delegation of aristocratic families arrived in our town to inspect the mines. Their children, dressed in quality new clothes and holding beautifully crafted toys, completely captured the attention of our children.
It pained me to realize I couldn't provide everything for my little girl. Without noticing, I clenched my fist.
"What's wrong, Dad? You know I don't like toys," Aila distracted me, placing her small hand on my fist, always perceptive. "Buy more books instead!" she continued enthusiastically, "Um, if there's extra money," she added, embarrassed, remembering books weren't cheap.
"Soon I'll be transferred to a nearly completed factory, and then I'll buy you all the books you want!" I patted her head.
"Hmm, you promised, Dad!" she nodded seriously.
Time marched on, and years later, Aunt Lin left us. I didn't notice how coming home meant finding a ready-made dinner. It seemed Aila was talented in everything—cooking, sewing, calculations—she picked it all up quickly. I couldn't bury her talent. I had to take a large loan to send Aila to a prestigious school in the capital.
"Pa-ap, I don't want to leave!" my grown-up daughter looked at me with tears. Kira, can you see this? Our daughter is so big.
"I don't want to hear it, go to the ship quickly, it's almost time to sail," if you keep crying, I might change my mind, I'm barely holding it together.
"Who will cook normal, edible food? And can you embroider? I'm worried about you!"
"You don't respect this old man at all," I exclaimed with feigned indignation. "I, by the way, did all this myself, it's just… you do it better," I finished, embarrassed, hearing quiet laughter from acquaintances on the dock.
"Then promise to reduce your working hours! I've already talked to your department head, and told him not to give you too many hours!" How did you manage that?! "And I'll pay off the debt myself! After graduation, all students are snatched up like hotcakes, offered high positions!"
"It's my debt! And I'll pay it off myself!" My old bones ached with indignation.
"I don't want to hear it," she crossed her arms, stubborn, just like me!
"We're leaving soon, all passengers aboard!" they shouted from the ship.
"Alright, let's say goodbye," I spread my arms, immediately feeling a body collide with mine, sometimes trembling. "Come on, what's with the tears? You won't even notice how quickly you'll return, especially on holidays you can come back. Just don't sit too long over books, go outside, and dress warmly when it's cold."
"Okay, Dad," she said with tears, hugging me tightly one last time.
Days passed, turning into months, then years. I missed my daughter terribly; she filled my life with color. Every time she left after holidays, it felt like the first time—I didn't want to let her go. But she had to build her own family, her own life, especially in the capital, where a more worthy life awaited her than in a town without even a proper name.
On an ordinary day, our town was alerted by a ship's signal. Everyone was puzzled; no arrivals were scheduled for today. Those not working went to the port—at least some entertainment.
The locals were greeted by a visibly luxurious ship adorned with Fire Nation symbols.
"Only generals and aristocrats sail on such ships."
"Who do you think came here?"
"I hope the news is good for us."
The townspeople whispered, afraid to speak louder in the presence of high-ranking officials already descending the gangplank.
"Does anyone know a man named Kenji, father of Lady Aila?" one of the Fire Nation warriors called out across the dock.
"That's me," I stepped forward uncertainly, raising my hand.
"Please come with me, you'll know everything soon." The tone was friendly, even ingratiating, which confused me further.
Standing became harder; joints and bones don't get younger with age. Hearing the commotion, I turned toward the ship. There stood the spitting image of young Kira.
"Bring a chair!" she ordered one of the standing warriors, who immediately ran to comply. "Can't you see his legs are weak?" she grumbled, running to me ungracefully. "Father, I'm home!" she hugged me.
"What's happening, dear?" I asked in confusion. "Where did this mantle and ship come from? And all this?"
"You'll know everything now," she said, holding my arm. "You can announce it," she nodded to a nearby soldier.
"Attention everyone! For her services to the Fire Nation, Lady Aila has been elevated to junior aristocracy! In reward for her contributions to agronomy and metallurgy, Fire Lord Ozai grants the lands of this island, now named Kenji!"
"Father, you no longer need to work! My projects on improving iron processing and a new method of using fertile soil were approved just last month, and immediately after all official proceedings, I came here!" she spoke tenderly, but I couldn't find words. I believed in my child more than anyone, but this…
"I'm very happy, very happy," I tried to pat her head as usual, only now noticing I was shorter than my daughter. She had grown into a wonderful young woman. Kira, I hope you see all this…
I spent my old age in happiness and carefree, managing to hold my grandchildren. Thanks to her innovations, the town gained a second wind. I was glad to see my acquaintances and friends receive worthy rewards for their hard work. Soon we'll be together again, Kira.
**Island of Kenji, inner courtyard of the main estate, a tombstone:**
*To the best father, Kenji, from his little Aila.*
*Through her efforts, Lady Aila extended the lifespan of the soil, saving twenty percent of the Fire Nation's population from hunger. Her work simplified the processing of many metals, and her contribution to the economy is invaluable.*
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