After completing all my planned tasks, I decided to focus on returning to the North Pole. I was starting to miss my parents and little sister.
That night, I approached the spot where I had first appeared and began to enter the mysterious space between worlds. Once there, I tried to sense echoes of other places connected to the human realm. After so ti, I found two such sources. One was almost identical to the energy of the South Pole, dominated by waterbending—likely the territory of my tribe. The other was much weaker, resembling sothing created by soone forcing their way through the barrier from both sides.
Clearly, this was the Valley of Forgetfulness, a place often visited by the Mother of Faces. She helps fulfill the requests of those who wander there, allowing them to change their faces. Sotis, at their request, she even takes their mories. I think she created this breach in the protection; an ancient spirit like her is certainly capable of it. It's best not to go there unless absolutely necessary. Who knows how she differs from her portrayal in the series? There, she never hard anyone, but here, I've already noticed differences from what was shown on screen.
I have an idea to reach my destination without effort, but there's no need to do it now. Tomorrow, after properly saying goodbye to the tribe, I'll try to make my way ho.
The next day, every mber of the tribe ca to see off. Many of the children had tears in their eyes, none of them wanting to leave. As soon as I inford Kai's family of my departure, Katara clung to from early morning. I had to carry her in my arms; otherwise, she threatened to latch onto my leg and walk that way. Over the next few hours, I heard Katara's tearful pleas for to stay, her bargaining offers to be very obedient, and even threats of ignoring . Honestly, while all this was happening, I often caught myself thinking, "Just stay a little longer," but I had to muster imnse willpower to push those thoughts away. If I stayed a little longer now, it could drag on indefinitely. Each tantrum had to be soothed, and each ti, I solemnly promised her I'd return soon.
Kai seed even more beautiful and youthful during these days. When there's a man—well, a boy—who provides a sense of security, and when the children are fed, clothed, and happy, she feels content with life. During our ti together, I was able to assess her character. She was a calm and wise young woman with a sense of tact. When I couldn't answer so of her questions truthfully, she gracefully dropped the uncomfortable topic. She was also very attentive, often sitting with the children for so long that we'd forget to eat. That's when she'd show her foresight, setting the table with ready-made food.
"Maybe you'll stay a few more days?" Kai asked after our morning tea, while the children were still asleep.
"I'd love to, but I can't. My family is waiting for there," I said with a heavy sigh. "You know, there's a good chance I'll return soon. If I can figure out the chanism of travel, I'll be able to co here whenever I want."
"Yes, but it's hard to believe you can travel from one point in the world to another," she said, her logic strange. "You live with bending, mysterious animals, and spirits, yet so things still seem impossible to people here. Katara will miss you terribly. I don't think she'll let you go today," she added with a smile. "Since you woke up, she's spent all her ti with you, even forgetting about ," she said with a hint of jealousy.
"I didn't an to," I said awkwardly. "You've probably guessed that Katara is a potential waterbender, right?" I finished in a serious tone.
"Yes," she replied, visibly unhappy. In this tribe, being born a waterbender is not a gift but a curse. "Sotis I'm plagued by nightmares of firebenders attacking the village to take my girl," she said, her body trembling. I moved closer and wrapped my arm around her, trying to offer so comfort. "It seems like since you arrived, those bad dreams haven't bothered anymore," she whispered, leaning closer instead of pulling away. "Promise you'll return soon," she said, looking into my eyes.
How could I not return when she looks at so touchingly? Seeing her so vulnerable, I could only nod.
We sat in comfortable silence for another half hour until we were interrupted by the sleepy faces of Sokka and Katara.
I'll have to study healing, waterbending, and chi with doubled effort. I don't really want to leave Kai. From the mont I first saw her, I liked her—honestly, at first, it was because of her stunning figure and beautiful face. But as I got to know her better, simple attraction turned into sothing more complex. In the near future, I want to beco soone she can rely on.
That evening, at the spot where I had first appeared, I said goodbye to the now-living people who had learned to cherish every mont of their lives. It was incredibly rewarding to be part of such a transformation. After all, a person should not only destroy but also create.
After wiping Katara's tears one last ti and handing her to her mother, who also tried to hide her sadness from , I entered that sa space with a small polar rodent.
Why do I need it? I want to test if I can transport living beings this way. For now, a small creature that likes to eat the tribe's supplies will do.
Once there, I began to implent my plan. It seems there's no concept of distance in this place; it's more like the Library of Wan Shi Tong, where you must recreate your path with your thoughts and chi.
Moving in one direction, I started to focus on the energy of the material plane, emphasizing the heightened presence of water chi. As I moved, my chi began to drain at an alarming rate. I had to use it to shield the rodent, which started to wither as soon as we began walking in this space. It seed that without enough chi of my own, this journey was draining its life force, which it also lacked. After what I estimated to be several hundred ters, I began to feel my approach to the desired location. Catching my breath, I started to erge from this place.
As soon as I opened my eyes after the transition, I saw the Spirit Oasis. Noticing my empty hands, I realized the forr rodent had turned into a mummy-like form and crumbled to dust in my hands.
It's a good thing I didn't bring a person with right away. The sa thing could have happened to if I didn't have a large reserve of chi. It seems that when I first tried to enter the Spirit World, I walked a razor's edge. If I hadn't had two sources of chi, I would have appeared at the Southern Water Tribe as dust. Ugh, just thinking about it makes shudder.
Well, mistakes should be noted but not lived by.
After greeting the spirits of the Moon and Ocean, who didn't even acknowledge , I quickly walked toward the Chief's Palace. As I approached, the people I passed continued to stare at in disbelief. Sensing trouble, I quickened my pace, almost breaking into a light jog.
Entering our living room, I was t with a heavy atmosphere—the kind you could cut with a knife. The grim faces of Arnuk and June only added to the already unpleasant scene for . But Yui, with tears in her eyes, ruined the mood they had created by throwing herself into my arms. Seeing that the atmosphere had vanished, my parents just shook their heads and joined in the embrace.
After such a warm welco, a serious conversation began.
"Son, your mother and I know you're very responsible and mature beyond your years, but everything has its limits," my father began, with my mother nodding in agreent. "I hope you realize how much you've worried us?"
"Yes, I understand," I replied. Even if I were the strongest waterbender in the world, parents will always try to protect you for as long as possible. And I created this situation myself.
"Good. I hope now you're ready to share at least so of your secrets with us? We've long suspected you were hiding sothing from us, but we hoped you'd share so of your secrets with us in ti," he continued. It's awkward. I thought my parents had enough of their own ideas and wouldn't bring up these questions again.
I should tell them about the portals connecting the two poles. If I want to continue disappearing for periods of ti without hindrance, they need to know where and what I'm doing. It's so complicated. I need to co up with a sowhat plausible story about my knowledge of the portals, spirits, and everything else that ties it all together.
"Even as a child, knowledge of certain things would suddenly appear in my mind—places in our world that really exist, waterbending techniques, even so historical events," I began with a sigh. "That's how I learned about portals to the Spirit World, where practicing your bending for just one day yields the sa results as weeks of training—of course, by absorbing residual spirit energy. So, I beca determined to reach such a place. From the sa knowledge, I learned about portals to the Spirit World. Another of my abilities is understanding spirits. That day, I actually spoke with Tui and La, who also helped master waterbending. By the way, they asked not to be disturbed too much," I added, hoping to change the subject.
"Son, we thought you were much more sensible. Seeing so many risks, you still decided to go who knows where," my father said, looking very displeased, if not angry, at my recklessness. As for my revelations about spirits and knowledge, their reaction wasn't as intense; they had already suspected sothing similar.
Next, I told them in more detail about what hadn't worked out and how I ended up at the Southern Water Tribe.
When I ntioned the current state of the Southern Water Tribe, my parents looked genuinely furious. My father still rembered how his father and his advisors had to make the difficult decision not to intervene in the Southern Tribe's war with the Fire Nation. Spreading their already small forces across two different ends of the world would jeopardize the existence of the entire Water Nation.
Upon learning that I could travel back and forth without issue, my father imdiately approved my trips to our southern brothers and sisters. He only asked to be careful and to leave imdiately if the situation beca critical. He wasn't ready to lose his son at the other end of the earth.
We finished talking late at night. Little Yui had fallen asleep in my arms within an hour of my arrival. My parents said she had been restless, even searching the entire city for . I really made her worry, after all, I'd never left her for so long before. I need to think of a way to make it up to her, but all that can wait until tomorrow. Right now, I just want to go to bed.
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