*91-93 years after the genocide of the Air Nomads.*
Over these two years, Kyoshi Island has beco my second ho. Even Unagi, the sea serpent, has grown accustod to my frequent visits, no longer fearing to surface when I'm on the island.
Shizuka and Suyuki eagerly awaited my arrival more than anyone. For the younger one, I've beco sothing like a father figure—soone who could both spoil and scold her. The elder, Shizuka, no longer saw anyone else as her partner. Only with did she reveal her softer side, shedding her usual mask of sternness, which had repelled other suitors. My threats likely played a role too. Shizuka is a young and beautiful woman, and despite having a child, many rchants from the Earth Kingdom still seek her hand.
Shizuka's dearest dream was to see the world, but even a week-long absence of the settlent's strongest warrior could be fatal. Knowing her wish, it wasn't hard to plan dates that would stay in her mory forever.
But, as they say, the first pancake always turns out lumpy. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to choose Chin the Conqueror's Village as our first destination. Who could've known we'd arrive right on "Avatar Day," when the villagers burn straw statues of past Avatars? I had to restrain Shizuka from causing a scene.
"Calm down, calm down. They're just used to this holiday. They can't do anything else, so they vent their anger on the mannequins," I soothed her, trying to calm her down.
"Let go! I'll show them how to burn a statue of the revered Kyoshi!" Shizuka couldn't calm down. Great date, Yuki! You're always on top of things...
The village was founded by forr soldiers of Chin's army, who passed their hatred down to their children, who in turn repeated their fathers' words. Wan Shi Tong told how it really happened. Avatar Kyoshi and Chin the Conqueror clashed in a battle that no one could have witnessed up close. Many kiloters beca the battlefield. I'll say even more: the previous Avatar managed to force Kyoshi into the Avatar State, which ultimately ended the confrontation.
But the cause of death is accurate—they were both exhausted by the intense battle. Toward the end, Kyoshi managed to push Chin away, using her last strength in the Avatar State to separate her island from the continent.
She never wished him death. Why wish death on soone who was doing her job? He united scattered provinces, eradicated corruption, hunted down the Dao Fei. Maybe he did it too brutally, but effectively. And ordinary people began to feel much safer.
After separating her territory from the continent, she had no strength left to save Chin, who had fallen into a chasm due to a landslide. His luck that day was definitely in the negative. It was this mont that his warriors captured.
Essentially, the people here are quite reasonable—if you ignore this holiday and their judicial system. In the evening, we could witness the theater of the absurd. Here, they're used to resolving every minor quarrel or conflict through a trial. For now, it's best to take the outraged Shizuka away from the town center. There are plenty of beautiful spots near the village where we can pass the ti.
*Evening. The amphitheater near the temple and Chin's statue.*
The beginning was harmless enough. Each party presented their version of events: the prosecutor—the mayor himself, the defendant—a visitor who had spoken ill of the holiday. The funniest part is that the mayor himself makes the final decision. I think it's clear which side always wins...
"This... is brutal," was all I could say, watching the chaos unfolding before my eyes. The villagers had just lost their title of being reasonable. In the show, this episode didn't seem so cruel and inhuman. Of course, I knew that the era of Avatar Kyoshi was very bloody and harsh, but punishing people not just with death, but with, for example, being torn apart by a bear, burned alive, or fed to sharks—and that's not even the most elaborate from the entire list. Of course, such punishnts are only applied to particularly severe cris, which are also determined by the mayor. In his view, criticizing the holiday falls into this category.
What's especially terrifying is that the defendant themselves spins the "Wheel of Torture," on which the types of torture are drawn. By the way, if you can survive the punishnt, you're free—a little addendum. So far, no one has survived their punishnt.
"The punishnt is decided! Prepare a cauldron of boiling oil!" shouted the mayor, almost dancing, clearly enjoying the suffering. I've been to this city before, but in Roku's form, and back then the residents seed quite happy and kind. So they were either pretending or forced to act that way so I wouldn't see their other side. I'll have to be more vigilant in the future.
"Yuki," Shizuka whispered, "This can't go on! We need to stop them! Look at the rows over there—they've even brought children," she nodded discreetly toward the distant rows.
Indeed, mothers were seen tightly holding their children, but they dared not block their view of what was happening. Parents who tried to cover their child's eyes were imdiately reprimanded. What is the mayor trying to achieve by forcing even children to watch the torture? Though understanding a psychopath is beyond a normal person's grasp.
"There are no waterbenders here," I whispered back, "What should we do? Attack now? I don't see any serious warriors either."
"I want to punish them myself!" Shizuka said, already pulling out her fans. Where did she even hide them? I thought they weren't there before...
Female weapons outside of the norm—is it from the sa series as bottomless handbags?
"Then let's go. I'll seal off the area," I said. The entire town is gathered here; we can root out all the scum at once. Good thing the ocean is nearby. I began slowly moving water from the ocean closer to the amphitheater, evenly distributing it in a circle, so that at the right mont, I could quickly erect an ice wall. anwhile, Shizuka started descending, rescuing the boy who had been sentenced to punishnt.
"The punishnt is about to begin! Sit down imdiately!" the mayor shrieked in his shrill voice, his appearance more resembling a rat. So much for believing in physiognomy.
"Guards, arrest her! There will be another trial today!" he continued, his cheeks flushing, his pupils darting feverishly. Truly a sick man.
The crowd began whispering quietly, then suddenly fell silent. Shizuka had knocked out five warriors and was moving closer to the main instigator.
"What are you standing there for!? Grab her, you idiots!" the rat-man scread hysterically. Every attacker Shizuka faced was knocked out with a single precise strike. And so, the combat-ready part of the population—at least those supporting the mayor—was silently defeated.
"This is for Kyoshi! For all the atrocities committed! For the innocent! For your rat face!" Shizuka began unleashing her pent-up anger, striking the squealing mayor.
So residents tried to quietly leave, sensing trouble, but...
"Where do you think you're going?" I asked, creating ice walls around the theater.
"Sir, ma'am, they forced us all to do this! We're not to bla!" they fell to their knees, imdiately spinning tales.
"Don't believe them! They were all in on it! There is justice in the world!" emboldened people began shouting in unison.
Only by evening could we return to our assigned cottage. Shizuka wanted to punish all those involved, which led to hours of discussions with people who knew the culprits well.
Sitting under the moonlight, we soothed our spoiled moods with local pastries—or maybe just , as Shizuka eagerly and vividly described other places she'd like to see. Noticing my lack of response, she fell silent, giving ti to gather my thoughts.
"Sorry," I said, breaking the silence, seeing Shizuka's questioning look. I had to explain, "I didn't want the date to be like this. I thought I'd make it pleasant for you, but it turned out, well, not so great."
"Hey, what's wrong?" she leaned closer, "I liked it all. Of course, there were so unpleasant monts, but we did a good deed. Didn't you see how the villagers looked at us? They promised to stop celebrating that stupid holiday!" It's as if you were determined to get it canceled, "I hope this little mishap won't stop you from taking with you sotis?" she looked into my eyes, and it turns out even grown won can make Shrek cat eyes.
Instead of answering, I pulled the beauty into a passionate kiss.
"Does that an yes?" Shizuka asked playfully, lying on , her finger tracing my chest. Sohow, during the kiss, we ended up on the bed.
"It couldn't have been any other way," I replied, holding her tighter.
"I thought you'd want to go beyond simple kisses," Shizuka said after a minute.
"Your body itself whispered to that it's still too early," I replied, as I had felt it myself.
"Hmm, so you felt it?" I don't like those tones, "How much experience does it take to determine that right away?" she continued, offended, turning her body away. I said it without any ulterior motive! Okay, charming mode activated.
"Only one," I hugged Shizuka, who was weakly resisting, "only one beloved, who unlocks mystical feelings in , allowing to guess the desires of your body."
"Alright, alright, Mr. Smooth Talker, you win this ti," Shizuka turned back, smiling. After chatting a bit more, we prepared for sleep.
Already in a state of half-sleep, half-wakefulness, I heard Shizuka muttering.
"Next ti, let's discuss the place beforehand."
"So you didn't like it after all?" I asked Shizuka, making her freeze like a rabbit before a python. She thought I was already asleep...
"*Super unnatural snoring sounds*" You're serious? Even kids wouldn't fall for that.
"Okay, we'll plan where we're going beforehand. Good night," as I finished the sentence, Shizuka quickly kissed my cheek, wishing sweet dreams.
Watching soone else already in their second or third dream while you can't sleep due to that person's unconscious actions—it's quite the pasti.
When I'm set on sleeping comfortably, I make it as convenient as possible: no light sources, minimal sounds, and plenty of space. Shizuka managed to disrupt two of these! Talking in her sleep—one.
"Yuki, Yukhi, Suyuki is asking for a sister," this is great, and we'll do it soday! But she's sleeping with her head on my neck. Feel the distance? Yes, my ear is very close.
You know how uncomfortable it is to sleep cuddled up? It only seems like it's so great. It's romantic, no argunt there, but it's terribly uncomfortable. The points of contact between bodies start heating up, you get hot—which ans it's uncomfortable, and falling asleep becos harder.
Alright, carefully, just a little more, done. I managed to gently move Shizuka to her side of the bed. It was so easy to sleep with Kaya. The most she does in her sleep is throw her leg over .
When the situation demands it, I can sleep even on stones, as often happens during travels. By the way, that's why I value a full night's sleep in bed so much.
"Oh," I groaned softly. Shizuka had wrapped herself around like an octopus again. I'll have to sacrifice the pillow and blanket, making the most impenetrable wall out of them. Now you won't get through! What am I doing in the middle of the night?
"Oh, co on, just co here," I hugged Shizuka, who managed to overco the improvised defense in a re five minutes. I partially take back my words—there's sothing special about falling asleep in the arms of your loved one.
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