*97 years after the Air Nomad Genocide. Roku. Kolau Mountains.*
A vast mountain range stretches across the southwestern Earth Kingdom. Here lies the city of Omashu and the legendary Cave of Two Lovers. This province is considered the birthplace of earthbending, as it's home to the majority of all badgermoles. Moreover, the earliest historical records suggest that the people now known as the Earth Nation began their journey in this very province.
"There are some pretty mixed rumors about Bumi…" I said to Lao, who was sitting beside me, trying to steer the conversation toward the topic that interested me. "You've met him several times. Can you tell me anything about him?"
At the moment, we're sitting in a carriage, halfway to Omashu. In two days, it'll be King Bumi's birthday—he's supposedly turning one hundred and eight… or is it one hundred and seven? As Lao admitted, even he doesn't know the exact number. And Bumi himself certainly won't reveal it; he loves to joke, saying, "I've gotten a year younger again!"
Honestly, as Lao mentioned, the birthday is more of an excuse to meet with Toph. And Lao and I have serious matters to discuss with him—the day we take Ba Sing Se isn't far off.
"This is one of those cases where the rumors have a real basis," Lao said with a tired sigh.
"The townspeople say they sometimes hear laughter… very familiar, with a touch of madness." So, the King is still riding the postal system rails? "No, I'd better not delve into the rumors swirling around him." I still value my sanity…
"Yeah, but he's never boring!" Toph raised her fist in agreement.
"Once, he took Toph for a ride on the 'slides,'" Lao emphasized the last word. "I almost went gray, and I've kept it a secret from Poppy ever since. It feels like the entire postal system is just his amusement park," Lao shook his head.
"I wouldn't mind taking a ride myself," I blurted out. "No, no, purely for scientific interest," I waved my hands in denial, noticing Lao's peculiar look.
"Just don't bring Toph with you," he whispered, then even quieter, "It seems the canyon guide was right—the more gifted a person is with chi, the more eccentricities they have…"
"His words aren't without reason…" I also paused briefly on the random saying.
"I can't say anything specific—you just never know what's going on in his head," Lao continued, spreading his hands. "He might show up to an event in nothing but his underwear… Or bring one of his 'cute' pets. For a while, I helped him collect various exotic and rare animals. Some of them had never been tamed before, but… after some time, I personally saw them obeying Bumi's every command through his earthbending."
"Yeah, but Flopsy's still the best!" Toph exclaimed. "You can't do that, Bumi! It seems you've spent too much time with little Toph, who's absorbed your quirks!"
"Be careful around him, okay?" Lao said, resigned to the chaos surrounding the King. "The main thing is that Toph's never been hurt—King Bumi looks after her well."
"Don't be fooled by his words and actions," Lao warned more seriously. "People are starting to forget his true strength. He didn't earn the title of King for nothing. In Omashu, the King has always been the strongest earthbender born within its walls. In his lifetime, he's accomplished countless feats. Even I, the descendant of the man who raised him, must show him due respect."
Yes, in this world, personal strength and power remain the cornerstone of all relationships. Bumi can afford to act however he pleases, even if he becomes even more eccentric—people would turn a blind eye. Omashu hasn't faced any crises since its founding, and for good reason. The King of Omashu isn't some protest against Ba Sing Se's authority… No, it's proof that this city can stand even when the capital falls. The King of Omashu is an ephemeral, invisible shield behind which the people of the Earth Nation seek refuge.
"I wonder how Jun's doing?" She's been assigned tasks too. The Dai Li has informants she needs to find. There's a slim chance they possess some secret information. "I guess there's no need to worry—after all, they're searching for ordinary people, and she's with Lao's trusted earthbending guards."
At first, I wanted to go with her—what could be more romantic than a joint manhunt? I think nothing. But the desire to meet Bumi himself was just a bit stronger. Forgive me, my love—I traded you for a crazy old man…
After a day's journey, the city finally came into view. Built on a massive hill, it resembled a mountain more than anything. Enemy forces couldn't even surround it. The only entrance to the city is a narrow stone bridge, which can be collapsed immediately in case of attack, cutting off all access.
"But human ingenuity can change much," as happened when the Fire Nation demonstrated the power of technology, capturing the Earth Kingdom's second most populous city using retractable bridges.
Omashu is fortified by three thick, ten-meter-high walls that open only after thorough inspection of all cargo and individuals. The animated series humorously depicted Aang's entry into the city, where he disguised himself as an old man. But in reality, the guards at the entrance aren't just three earthbenders—there are many more.
The King's palace sits at the very top, fifty meters above the ten-meter-high gates… As far as I know, it has almost no ordinary doors or windows—everything opens and closes through earthbending. In an instant, guests can become prisoners, as happened to Team Avatar.
"The city somehow reminds me of the Air Nomad Temples," but my mind also jumps to Gondor's capital, Minas Tirith. "And these postal lines resemble aqueducts"—too many associations tied to this city…
The stone bridge we're now crossing slowly has only two lanes: one for entering the city and one for leaving. Inspections take time, and according to Lao, today isn't even that busy.
"Lord Lao," a guard greeted us with a bow. "Please allow us to inspect your cargo." Even Lao isn't exempt from the strict checks.
"Of course, of course," Lao calmly agreed. "Bumi trains them well," he said, and at the mention of their King's name, several soldiers seemed to pale slightly. "This is the kind of professionalism we should have in all areas of life!" Sometimes, Toph's father gets carried away.
Exchanging glances with Toph, we braced ourselves for another of Lao's lectures.
"Everything's in order. Your escort awaits you at the entrance," the guard stepped aside, gesturing to another person who opened the gates for us.
"So many people!" I whistled. It's my first time visiting Omashu, and so far, it hasn't disappointed. During my travels, I decided to save the big cities for last, so Ba Sing Se is still waiting for its turn.
"Yes, there are a lot of people," Lao nodded, seemingly recalling a similar experience. "But the higher you go, the fewer people there are." We paused briefly to greet the soldier who would escort us to the Palace.
"The lower part of the city, its first level, is the business center where all the activity happens. Shops, traders, inns—it's all right here," he gestured around the space. "Homes and various industries are located higher up. The postal system easily handles deliveries both ways. Some residents never leave their district because a postal office is nearby, where they pre-order what they need." The world's first delivery service?
A minute later, we were on a stone platform that would act like an elevator, swiftly taking us to the top.
"Guess what the city's main problem is?" Lao asked me.
"Hmm," I looked around and spotted a spiral road where other people were ascending or descending. "Most likely, our platform," I tapped it. "It's not a publicly accessible mode of transport. Most people use that winding road, spending their energy and time every day to go down to work and back up."
"Excellent observation and conclusion!" Lao smiled. "That's exactly right. Building so many lifts isn't feasible, so during construction, they decided on the spiral road."
"Not an ideal solution," I shook my head. "These postal lines could be adapted for people. Make the lines a bit wider, create a schedule, add a few more branches, and install enclosed cabins with one earthbender each. They could control the speed or slow down as needed."
"Well, I don't know," even the thought of riding at such speed and height seemed to unsettle Lao. "It's a good idea, though," he admitted. "I'd say it's fitting for this city's ruler…"
"Bumi would definitely like it," Toph nodded.
After some time, we reached the Palace level. From here, a breathtaking view of the city and the surrounding mountains unfolded.
At the entrance, a quirky-looking old man in a funny hat awaited us. King Bumi, at first—and even second—glance, seemed like a senile old man. Even the atmosphere around him reinforced that impression.
"Hello, hello! Little Toph, the stranger who looks like the famous Roku, and Lao, who always hid behind his father whenever I was around!" Bumi was exactly as I expected. Glancing at Lao, I saw his face turn red.
"Bumi!" Toph ran to him joyfully but suddenly stopped. "You look older than I imagined," she said, "But you're still awesome!"
"Who taught you such nice words?!" He burst into hearty laughter, hugging Toph. Even the age spots on his face seemed to fade, his smile so radiant at the sight of her. "So, they really restored your sight!"
"Hmm, it was all thanks to Roku!" We were ratted out instantly. "Oops! If anything, I didn't tell you!" Toph even avoided looking at Lao and me.
"You know me—I never reveal secrets!" Bumi pounded his chest. "The same Roku you wrote about?" he asked strangely, eyeing me with his mismatched eyes, as if through a rifle scope…
"It feels like I've come to my girlfriend's father to ask for her hand in marriage…" Have I experienced this in a past life?
"Alright, you must be tired from the journey. Let's eat!" He demonstrated, striding with a wide, springy step, unbefitting such an ancient man.
"Peak of the highest rank!" I hadn't expected anything less, but there was a certain "depth" to his energy, almost like that of ancient spirits. It was as if the earth beneath his feet constantly fed him its energy. "Give him another couple of centuries, and he'd become the first earthbender of ancient level…" And his life energy rivals that of the old healers in the Healing Huts.
Sitting at the table, I half-listened to Lao and Bumi's conversation. All the serious discussions would happen behind closed doors anyway.
"That rat won't give up his power so easily!" Bumi said, waving a chicken leg. "He's definitely planning something!"
"I think so too," Lao nodded.
"I'm going to see Flopsy!" Toph jumped up from the table after quickly finishing her food.
"He's missed you too," Bumi smiled. "Go ahead."
"I'm done eating too," Lao suddenly stood up. "Toph! Wait for me!"
An awkward silence fell over the table. I didn't know where to look as Bumi stared intently at me. Too bad there's no smartphone here—I could just bury myself in it and sit quietly.
"Ahem," my cough came out too loud. "Do you happen to know an earthbender named Aang?"
"Yes, I had a friend like that," he replied with an even deeper gaze. "Why do you ask?"
"Earthbender names are rarely repeated," I said. "And in some records I found, it's said that the last Avatar was a boy named Aang… Could it be your friend?"
Yes, Yeo finally found the necessary records in the Library. In this world, the last Avatar was that funny, bald kid. I needed confirmation from one of his potential acquaintances.
"Yes, that's the year he disappeared," Bumi sighed.
"There's a chance he's still alive…"
"That's possible too," what? You're not even going to ask how I reached this conclusion, or a bunch of other clarifying questions?!
"I promised myself I'd be the last to leave this life!" he said with a malicious laugh. "And since I'm still here, someone must still be out there! Alright, alright, don't make that face," he waved his hand, calming down. "I hadn't ruled it out myself. If the Fire Nation had captured him, they'd still be bragging about taking the Avatar. If he were alive, he wouldn't have survived the genocide of his people—he'd definitely start acting against the Fire Nation. So…" he trailed off mysteriously, motioning me closer.
"So, I think he's in the Spirit World!" What? Again? "Probably having fun with some hot spirits right now," he said with genuine envy.
"Lao, Toph, please come back soon," I thought. Well, the main thing is—I learned that Aang is Aang.