"This is, was, my home," Arya said with a slight frown. "Elaria."

It was a small village, and a strangely quiet one at that. I opened my mouth to ask one of the many questions running through my mind, but I swallowed my tongue upon seeing Arya's expression. Her jaw tensed, and a tight, close-lipped grimace suggested that she was opening old wounds.

"The village consisted entirely of runaways and orphans, like me," she continued. "People who wouldn't be missed."

A young girl and boy ran down the hill to where the three of us were standing. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the girl was Arya — about three years younger than the Arya who stood beside me, watching her younger self with an impassive expression.

"Taj, you're crazy!" the younger Arya said through fits of uncontrolled laughter.

The boy crossed his arms and waited for her to regain her composure. "I'm serious, Arya."

I studied the boy from Arya's memory — he had warm, brown eyes with tiny gold flecks in them. His hair looked freshly shaven, exposing his round, dark-skinned, head.

"You really want to run away?" the younger Arya whispered. "And leave the gurus? Where would we even go?"

"The gurus don't care about us," the boy said, taking Arya's hands. "They can't. They're completely devoid of emotion. But you and I... we're different."

"That's not true," the younger Arya said.

"Which part?" the boy said with a smirk.

"Listen, Taj. In order to control air with precision, we need clear minds. You know this. You can't entertain these ridiculous ideas."

"Don't you think there's more to life than controlling air?" The younger Arya had no response.

"Do you really think your so-called 'abilities' are worth sacrificing a life of love and friendship?" the boy asked, his eyes pleading with her.

I looked to the present-day Arya, remembering what she told me during our training. I didn't really care about people before.

Tears were welling in her eyes. I decided now wasn't the best time to bring up the fact that she let me believe Windstorm and Arya were two separate people.