── 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉.

[ 002 ] HER NEW FRIENDS
❝That's kinda depressing.❞

·𖥸·

 "SO, YOU GUYS ARE waterbenders?" Aang asks, grinning as Ruyi leads him and his friends to their temporary lodging. Nearby, Appa is taken to a farm where he's treated to piles of seaweed and proper care.

 The King of the Easterly Seas, ruler of Ch'uan and father to Prince Ming-Yue, has tasked Ruyi with escorting their guests. The Avatar and his friends will stay at a guest house before attending a grand feast at the Great Palace of Ch'uan that evening. The king is eager to meet the Avatar—the boy who vanished for a hundred years and has now returned.

 Ruyi walks ahead, her eyes fixed forward, her voice sharp as she responds without looking back, "You're not blind, are you?" The coldness in her tone lingers, even when addressing the Avatar.

 Aang and his friends exchange surprised glances. Katara looks especially offended by the blunt remark.

 Feifei steps in quickly, her tone soft and apologetic. "I'm sorry. Ruyi can be... a bit cold. But you'll warm up to her!" She laughs nervously, clasping her hands together, eager to keep the mood light. The last thing she wants is a conflict between the Avatar and her sister.

 "No, you won't," Ruyi states flatly, making Feifei flinch.

 "Sister! Show some respect to the Avatar and his friends," Feifei scolds, irritation creeping into her voice. It frustrates her to play peacemaker when Ruyi, as the general and elder sibling, should know better, for Spirit's sake!

 Katara crosses her arms and focuses on Feifei, sensing she's the more approachable one. With a smile, she addresses her, "Feifei, do you think you could teach us waterbending?" Her tone is sincere, hoping that the people of the sea can help her and Aang sharpen their skills before they reach the North Pole. "Aang needs to master waterbending, and I thought maybe you could──"

 "No, can't," Ruyi cuts in before Feifei can answer, making Katara snap.

 "Hey! If you don't want to help, just say it nicely," she exclaims angrily at the rather rude general. "Is that so hard to do?!"

 Ruyi shrugs, staying silent, which only fuels Katara's anger. Before Katara can continue, Feifei steps forward again.

 "It's not that we don't want to teach you waterbending," Feifei begins, trying to soothe the other girl's anger. "It's just that we really can't."

 "And... why is that?" Sokka asks, furrowing his brows as he looks at her.

 "Well, centuries ago, after a war ended when Suijin was the Avatar, she established her own civilization apart from the other nations, as she was seen as a traitor and corrupt," Feifei explains. "She developed waterbending techniques exclusively for her people──us, people from Ch'uan──that couldn't be replicated by other waterbenders. To help us master these techniques, she bestowed her qi upon us."

 Aang and Katara nod, beginning to understand.

 Meanwhile, Sokka mutters under his breath, clearly annoyed by Ruyi's chilly demeanor. "See, was that so difficult to explain?" he grumbles quietly.

 "Yes," Ruyi replies curtly, shooting him a glare.

 Sokka throws his hands up. "I-I didn't say anything!" he stammers, smiling nervously and glancing away.

 As they approach the house, Ruyi gestures toward the impressive structure made of sturdy marble, its grandeur evident in its size and intricate architecture. The house boasts spacious rooms and elegant furnishings, with large windows that allow natural light to flood the interior. A spacious garden stretches out in front, filled with vibrant flowers and lush greenery, adding to the beauty of the property.

 "Here we are," Ruyi says formally, leading them through the front gate. "This will be your home while you're in Ch'uan."

 Aang's eyes widen in awe as he takes in the sight of the impressive residence. "Wow, it's incredible!" he exclaims, unable to hide his excitement.

 "Yeah, I could get used to this," Sokka says with a grin.

 Katara nods, a grateful smile on her lips. "Thank you for your hospitality, General Ruyi. We really appreciate it," she says, momentarily forgetting Ruyi's earlier coldness.

 Ruyi nods curtly, her expression as stoic as ever. "You're welcome," she replies, her tone still icy. "If you need anything during your stay, ask me or my sister Feifei." She turns sharply. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to." Without another word, she strides away, leaving Aang and his friends to admire their new surroundings.

 "This is just an ordinary house in Ch'uan," Feifei says with a smile, watching as Momo, the lemur, flies through one of the windows. "You haven't seen the rest yet."

 Sokka spins around to face her. "Wait──are you saying your people live in luxury?"

 Feifei raises an eyebrow, taking a moment to answer.For her, it's normal, but judging by their reaction to this modest house, she understands why they're amazed.

 The palace is the most opulent structure on the island, constructed of pure diamond and gold. Even the homes of businessmen, nobles, and commoners boast multiple stories. Everyone here runs successful shops and thriving businesses as if they're living in the future.

 "Mm, you could say that," Feifei answers with a shrug.

 "Are you serious?" Katara gasps, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "If this is just an ordinary house, then I never want to leave this island!"

 "I'm with you on that!" Aang chimes in, creating a tiny air scooter and zooming around the expansive front yard, with Momo trailing behind him, holding an apple.

 "Me too!" Sokka agrees as he runs into the house, leaving Feifei standing at the front gate of the house.

 To Aang, Sokka, and Katara, the idea of never leaving Ch'uan seems perfectly reasonable──they've never set foot on this luxurious island before. But for Feifei, it's a different story. She's always yearned to escape this dull place. The desire to leave burns inside her, fueled by a longing to witness the war firsthand and, perhaps, even search for her father. He never returned after he and his men went to fight in the war against the Fire Nation five years ago.

 No letters. No news. It's as if he's truly... gone.

 Ruyi and their mother have stopped talking about him altogether, truly believing he's dead──a warrior died with honor in the war. While Feifei still have hope that her father is still alive out there, she is forced to remain oblivious, growing up without a father. In Ch'uan, people tend to bury their feelings deep, avoiding discussions about the war as if it doesn't exist──though it's no secret that Ch'uan is a secluded island, and some have become extremely isolationist.

 With their father never returning home, Ruyi has stepped into his shoes, taking on the responsibility of providing for their family of three. She works tirelessly, shouldering the burden that would have fallen on their absent father. Meanwhile, their mother runs a small restaurant nestled at the serene base of towering mountains. Here, fragrant jasmine tea and delicious glass noodles are served, providing comfort to weary travelers and locals alike.

 And Feifei? She's earned a reputation as Ch'uan's troublemaker, fiery and impulsive, always pushing against the island's traditions.

 Though still too young for marriage like Ruyi, Feifei dreams of a different life. She imagines becoming a scholar, continuing her studies at a prestigious university, and one day teaching history. Maybe she'll marry a nobleman who supports her ambitions and lets her pursue knowledge for the rest of her life.

 That's her dream.

·𖥸·

 BEFORE THE GRAND FEAST with the king and the people of the Sea at the Great Palace, Feifei spends time with her new friends. They're just as adventurous as she is, and she feels lucky to have met them today. She often reflects on how different things might have been if she hadn't encountered the Fire Navy that morning. They wouldn't have stepped in to assist her and the Moon Warriors, and they wouldn't have known that there were people on the island.

 Aang himself mentioned that in the past, the Island of the Cursed was reserved for banished individuals, which raises questions about Avatar Suijin's past. Why was she banished? Could it be because she was considered a traitor and deemed corrupt?

 Feifei sits cozily with her new friends in the living room, sinking into the plush cushions and soft sofas. Momo, their furry friend, snoozes contentedly on one of the seats, lost in dreams of flying through the skies.

 Turning to Aang, a spark of curiosity dances in Feifei's eyes. "Hey, mind if I try something?" she asks, her gaze fixed on him with anticipation.

 Aang nods, intrigued. "Sure, what is it?"

 "Can I feel and read your energy?" she queries.

 Aang's curiosity piques further. "Why not?" he replies, scooting closer to her.

 Feifei closes her eyes, concentrating. She feels it immediately──a powerful energy flowing from his stomach, which serves as the storehouse of his energy, radiating throughout his body with a gentle yet undeniable strength. She extends two fingers toward Aang's stomach, tracing the path of his qi as she moves upward to his arms, then to his head, and down to his lower body.

 "Wow," she murmurs after a moment, opening her eyes with a smile, and gazes into his grey orbs. "Your qi is powerful, flowing from your core and spreading throughout. It's gentle yet strong, filling the room with warmth and kindness, and it's balanced."

 Aang's smile widens, touched by her words. "That's pretty amazing," he admits, feeling a blush creep up his cheeks.

 "Most waterbenders can do it." Feifei nods, beaming.

 Sokka leans in eagerly. "What about me? Can you read my qi?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

 Without even extending her fingers, Feifei can already sense everything about him. He's a non-bender, and non-benders typically have very faint qi. But it doesn't mean they don't have any qi at all. Some non-benders have quite powerful qi, like non-benders Moon Warriors and non-bender students she trained with in the past.

 She replies, "Your qi is faint, Sokka. It's less noticeable since you're a non-bender."

 Sokka's expression falls slightly, but he quickly shrugs it off. "Figured as much."

 "But..." she continues, causing him to snap his head toward her with a wide grin that makes her think he might have whiplash. "Just because you're a non-bender, it doesn't mean you don't have any qi. You should train a lot to actually build up your qi."

 At first, Sokka thinks she's going to tell him more about her qi reading, but he's mistaken. A girl asking him to train? Yeah, no. He believes he's already a strong warrior, and he doesn't need more training just because a girl can't feel his qi. Perhaps her qi reading or whatever it is doesn't work on him──a non-bender.

 "Yeah, right..." he deadpans before turning his attention elsewhere. This is a waste of time, he thinks. Just a girl with a magical ability to sense energy.

 Feifei gives him a disapproving look. She's starting to dislike his attitude more and more. She then turns her attention to Katara, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

 "Let's see yours," she says eagerly.

 Katara hesitates for a moment before nodding. Feifei points her fingers at Katara's stomach, closing her eyes once more to focus. After a moment, she opens her eyes and smiles.

 "Your qi is fierce, Katara. It's like my older sister Ruyi's," she tells her with a wide grin. "With the right training, you could harness it and become like a formidable Moon Warrior."

 Katara furrows her brow in confusion. "What's a Moon Warrior?" she asks, intrigued by the term.

 Feifei smiles, eager to share her knowledge. "The Ch'uan soldiers are known as Moon Warriors, mostly consisting of waterbenders," she explains. "They draw their strength from the moon, which is the first waterbender. They are most powerful at night, as they learn from and receive power from the moon itself."

 "I didn't know that!" Aang admits, his eyes wide with astonishment as he gazes at Feifei.

 Feifei nods solemnly. "Yeah, I've read in old books I found in the libraries that the people of the Sea are trained to be seekers of peace, to become elite warriors called the Moon Warriors," she explains. "Avatar Suijin founded them, but they were long forgotten after the war declared by Fire Lord Sozin. Hundreds of warriors were murdered trying to aid other allies in the war, and we've since lived in isolation, fearing for our lives instead of fighting for what's right."

 She continues to tell them that the Moon Warriors are trained to aid others in times of conflict. They specialize in ambush and rescue, using their skills to protect and assist those in need. The Elite Ch'uan Academy still teaches the ways of the Moon Warriors, but they are now used solely to guard the island, rather than being sent out to aid allies in wars.

 That's what fear turns you into. It changes you from being the most fearless, to being the ones living in isolation, consumed by ignorance and selfish desires.

 "That's kinda depressing," Sokka comments after a moment, trying to digest Feifei's words and the information about the Moon Warriors founded by Avatar Suijin.

 "It is," Feifei agrees, letting out a deep sigh. "I just wish everyone still had a strong heart. Like my father used to say, 'fear is a mind killer,' and as warriors, we need to have a strong heart."

 Just as Feifei and the others are settling in, there's a series of knocks on the entrance door, interrupting their conversation. Ruyi's voice comes from the other side, informing them of the king's request.

 "The king wishes to see our honored guests, Feifei," she says with a touch of formality. "It's time for the grand feast, so prepare yourselves. I'll meet you outside."

 Excitement courses through Feifei at the mention of the grand feast. It's a momentous occasion, as such an event has never been held before. She can hardly contain her enthusiasm, eager to sample the palace's cuisine and experience the grandeur firsthand. The palace has always been off-limits to commoners, reserved only for official business. However, the king has extended an invitation to all his people for this special occasion.

 The people of the Sea are about to meet the Avatar, who has been missing for a hundred years. Feifei believes this encounter will bring hope to her people, signaling an end to the war against the Fire Nation and the return of their loved ones who went off to fight.

 Feifei's optimism is overwhelming as she anticipates the upcoming feast, yet she can't shake the feeling that something is bound to go wrong. Whenever she's too positive, disaster seems to strike.

·𖥸·

A LITTLE DEATH | ❝You must not fear.
Fear is a mind killer.❞