Yo. The Library of Van Shi Tong.
Another morning in the abode of knowledge was supposed to begin with the usual cuddles with Dria, who needs far less sleep than I do. As a result, I often wake up to her pretty face gazing at me, just as charming as ever.
The strangeness began the moment I opened my eyes. Glancing at the ceiling, I didn't see the familiar sight in my peripheral vision. I felt around the right side of the bed but couldn't find my beloved's body. Only when I sat up slightly did I notice something near the bed—a large, closed, green bud.
- "Maybe Dria created something new…" I thought, brushing it off as one of her spirit antics. I was ready to linger in bed a little longer. Rolling onto my other side, I saw Van Shi Tong perched on the ceiling.
- Good morning, Yuki, he greeted calmly.
- Morning, I replied automatically, staring at him with growing confusion. - Are you trying to mimic bats now? I wanted to ask, "What are you even doing here?" but held back. After all, it's his library, and I'm the guest. I decided not to ruin my mood at the start of a new day.
- No, I'm studying Dria's creation, he nodded toward the bud. - It seems new life is forming inside… He trailed off thoughtfully. - For precise results, I need another waterbender.
- Huh? I blinked. - You mean… pregnancy?! I practically leaped out of bed, my gaze shifting between Van Shi Tong and the unopened flower.
- Exactly, he finally swooped down. - The first-ever process of a new sentient being born from the union of a human and a spirit! He sounded almost excited.
- I'm going to be a father? I said, overwhelmed with mixed emotions. I was happy, but I couldn't shake the thought of the immense responsibility. Was I even ready for this? Wait, what am I thinking about?! There are far more pressing concerns!
- Is she okay? I whispered, afraid loud noises might harm Dria or our future child.
- Seems stable, he replied uncertainly. - I can't guarantee my writings won't affect them, he spread his wings. - So I've been relying solely on my instincts.
- "She smells like Dria…" I leaned close to the bud's large green leaves, its outer shell. Pressing my ear against it, I heard nothing. Calm down, Yo. She's not human, so she doesn't have a heartbeat.
- Gaia might know something about this! She's far more experienced than Dria. Her help would be invaluable.
- I've already sent my assistant to fetch her. They'll be here soon. Don't panic. Listen to your heart, hear what your intuition whispers, Van Shi Tong said soothingly.
- "Right! I completely forgot!" I took a deep breath, trying to "hear" my inner voice. Nothing. But that's exactly what I wanted! It meant there was likely no danger. - I think everything's fine.
- You're not even curious how this happened? he suddenly asked. He's unusually talkative today… Or is he trying to distract me from unnecessary thoughts? If so, I admit I still don't fully understand his character. Pleasantly surprised.
- Any guesses? I was genuinely curious. There's a safeguard against premature… well, you know. And my partner is a spirit. Books clearly state they don't bear children like humans do.
- It's quite simple. All your bodily fluids contain traces of your chi. During intimacy, there's an active exchange of chi between you. Sometimes, a highly concentrated cluster of your chi entered her body, and over time, it accumulated and began forming new life, he explained beautifully.
- Hmm, as far as I know, that's one way spirits are born, right? I'd read about it in Van Shi Tong's own book. - Two spirits attracted to each other can create a new spirit through chi exchange, though the process can take years, especially if they're not of the same element. That's why most spirits belong to the primary quartet.
Another way new spirits emerge is through natural formation in chi-rich places. Like the location I visited during the solstice. There, numerous volcanoes birthed identical firebenders. There was another source of new spirits, but I didn't fully grasp the principle…
- What happens to the chi left behind after conquerors die? That's what those records mentioned.
- Good question. Most of it tries to enter the Spirit World, while the rest scatters across the human world. That's the main reason for the diminishing chi saturation in the human realm. Conquerors absorb chi throughout their lives, and upon death, it should return to the human world. But the first Avatar and Raava split the world in two, creating a strange barrier that pulls this chi to the other side.
- So, in a balanced world, powerful monsters and conquerors as strong as ancient spirits should roam our lands? Honestly, that's hard to believe.
- That's how it was, he nodded. - Millennia ago, almost every human was a bender. I've watched people lose their abilities… But is that so bad? he asked, then answered himself. - After all, you wouldn't have invented so many complex mechanisms and innovations. Hmm, in a way, I'm even glad…
- "But if things were different, we could've gathered and kicked the asses of any disagreeable spirits!" a thought flashed through my mind.
- They're here, he turned toward the door. In that instant, Gaia burst into the room, with a fox's head peeking behind her. With quick hoof beats, the nature spirit approached Dria, as if listening to something. Her worried expression gradually softened into a more relaxed one.
- She's fine, Gaia didn't keep us waiting. - As I suspected, Dria will soon become a mother, she said. Was it my imagination, or did she sound envious?
- Were there signs? I asked, focusing on her words.
- Yes, during our last meeting, I began hearing a dual heartbeat from Dria, she replied, then belatedly greeted everyone.
- I sense traces of dark chi, Van Shi Tong suddenly said. - Is that why you're late? he turned to his assistant.
- Dark spirits attacked the forest just before we left, the fox confirmed. Only now did I notice a familiar "scent," similar to what I'd smelled from the Fire Sages.
- I'm afraid this isn't their last attack, Gaia sighed. - The "cursed" lands have reached our home. There'll only be more of them…
It's worth noting that spirits infected with Vaatu's chi become carriers of this "disease." In places they inhabit for long periods, the land itself begins to warp, aligning with their chi. No light spirit can be born there… It's similar to what I saw in Warcraft, where the Scourge defiled the land.
The news isn't good. Dark spirits only grow in number over the years. Plus, they constantly fight among themselves, gaining experience and allowing even stronger spirits to enter the realm.
- Gaia, I ask that you stay with Dria for now, I said seriously, looking her in the eyes. It's better to have another nature spirit by her side!
- I was planning to stay anyway, she shook her head, flashing a beautiful smile.
For the first few days, I barely left Dria's side. I frequently asked Gaia about her condition, which annoyed her greatly… I forgot that time flows differently for spirits. From her perspective, it probably seemed like I was checking in every second.
My excessive attentiveness soon waned. I realized everything seemed fine, and my behavior was only bothering others. No one could give exact timelines. So, I decided to occupy my mind with something else.
The Fire Nation had already begun forgetting about my adventures with Dria. It was time to revisit the islands. Without my nymph's abilities, it would be slightly more challenging.
Just before sleep, a thought occurred to me… Why not try plantbending myself? I'd attempted it before, but when was that? Maybe now I could actually achieve something!
That night, I didn't go to bed. Instead, I began experimenting with plantbending. I tried mixing water and earth chi in various proportions… and ended up with only mud. Or sometimes, murky, dirty water.
After exhausting all two-element combinations, I added life chi. In the end, not even mud appeared! It felt like I'd taken several steps backward. But my intuition said otherwise.
Gaia's advice wasn't helping. Their bending operates on entirely different principles. Their source already generates pure nature chi, devoid of earth, water, or life chi. I had to rely on trial and error.
After countless attempts, I finally saw progress. As often happens, it occurred spontaneously and unplanned. Gaia felt uncomfortable among a pile of rocks without a single plant. So, she asked me to find seeds from this world's plants, as hers wouldn't survive here—the chi was too weak.
After buying what was needed, I didn't even notice the new pots that appeared in my new room. Most likely, Gaia decided to "greenify" this room too. The old room was always occupied by Gaia, who watched over Dria's situation. Over time, I saw that the pots had become too small for the plants—they'd grown significantly. I would've forgotten about it if not for a conversation…
- I didn't expect them to sprout, Gaia entered my room, immediately noticing the plants. She gets bored too, so we often chat or play games.
- What's wrong with them? They look like normal plants.
- Two weeks ago, I asked you to put some extra soil and dead seeds somewhere, she said. I don't remember that, I scratched my head. - It seems those days you were busy creating some kind of mud, she added. Now I recall—I was probably lost in thought, as usual. - You never came to collect them, oops. - So I moved them to your room.
Gaia is very particular about soil and any plants, even dead ones. She couldn't bring herself to throw them into the desert sands.
- Why dead? Look how healthy they are, with such vibrant green color. - Can't you restore their life? That's strange, for a nature spirit.
- My chi is… how to say… probably too intense for them, she placed a finger on her lips. Okay, stop! Yo, at this rate, you'll start fantasizing about her too! - I didn't want to torment them. My chi would've torn them apart, she explained. - You and Dria have very different views on nature. Mine could easily destroy dozens of plants of the same species just to absorb some of their traits…
- Then I'm completely confused. Why did they grow? My thoughts were trying to catch up, but I was always faster!
- This room has a strange life chi… Gaia said thoughtfully. - It's heavy and… hmm, human? She turned toward me, sniffing the air like Dria. - This chi comes from you. It smells nice, she murmured softly, averting her gaze.
- "I'm not slow, I'm just a slow starter!" I repeated to myself as my brain processed Gaia's words. - Do you have any more seeds?
- Yes, she handed me a seed. - Just be gentle—it doesn't like being squeezed too tightly.
- … Okay…
Taking some soil from the pot, I placed the seed inside. Now, thirty percent water chi, add the same amount of earth chi. Then forty percent life chi, mix well, and channel it through my hands.
- "Something's happening!" After a minute, a small sprout appeared. Normally, plants don't grow this quickly. So, now I'm Hashirama Senju!
- Congratulations! Gaia clapped, having watched the process intently.
- Thank you! I hugged her. - Without you, I'd still be clueless!
- You're welcome, she blushed, her tail swishing like a propeller.
I still need to understand the limits of this new element, but it's clear I can't create something from nothing. I need either seeds or an existing plant.
—--------------------