*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
˚ ₊ ♡ ❰ MIRACULUM ❱
*✧ ─── ❝ ❪ SPIRITS, IT'S BRUTAL OUT HERE❫ ❞

⋆ 🌪. CHAPTER FOURTEEN ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
˚ ₊ ♡ 112 a.a ─── book two: earth

THE SMALL EARTH KINGDOM VILLAGE WAS A WELCOME REPRISE AFTER THEIR TUBULUNT TIME in the magical swamp. Despite the peaceful surroundings and the gentle hum of village life, Uki's mind remained tangled in a web of unanswered questions—about Nyahitha, Atka, and the unsettling revelations about herself.

The village itself was charming, with its cobblestone pathways and houses adorned with lush green vines. Villagers bustled about, exchanging friendly greetings and going about their daily routines, oblivious to the turmoil simmering beneath Uki's calm exterior. The scent of fresh bread wafted through the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of their surroundings.

A library, she thought again, her eyes scanning the village for any sign of one. If she could just find a quiet corner to immerse herself in the knowledge of the past, maybe she could make sense of the tangled threads that tied her fate to these distant figures. The possibility was enough to quicken her pace, her heart lifting slightly at the thought of discovery, before her trail of thoughts was interrupted by Sokka.

"It's pricey, but I really do like it."

Her thoughts were interrupted by Sokka's voice—the Water Tribe boy had been standing, inspecting the emerald green bag for twenty minutes now.

Momo chippered from his perch on her shoulder, as if urging the boy to make a decision and hurry up.

Katara stood next to her brother, her arms crossed over her chest and a bored look on her face whilst  Aang sat on the floor, looking a moment away from falling asleep it seemed.

"Then you should get it," Katara finally encouraged, her voice carrying a note of exasperation. "You deserve something nice."

Sokka's face brightened momentarily as he considered her words. "I do, don't I?" he murmured, almost to himself, before his shoulders slumped in defeat. "But no. It's too expensive. I shouldn't."

"Then don't buy it," Uki sighed, reaching up to scratch beneath Momo's chin, eliciting a contented purr from the flying lemur. Turning away from the stall, she started toward the next shop, her thoughts already drifting back to the possibility of finding a library. Aang, roused from his near-slumber, quickly got up to follow her, with Katara trailing behind, her patience with Sokka seemingly at its limit.

Sokka trailed after them, casting a wistful glance back at the bag.

But just as they reached the next stall, Sokka reappeared, standing resolutely in front of the bag, his hands clasped as if trying to muster the courage to take the plunge. "You know what? I'm gonna get it."

Uki shook her head with a faint smile, glancing at a nearby display of Earth Kingdom knick-knacks. As she examined the trinkets, a man suddenly appeared beside her, holding a stack of papers in his hand and an enticing smile on his face.

"Psst, psst. Hey, you kids like earthbending? You like throwing rocks? Then check out Master Yu's Earthbending Academy." He whispered excitedly, almost shoving the paper in Aang's face.

The Airbender's grey eyes widened with childlike glee, almost shimmering in the afternoon sun, "Look, there's a coupon on the back. The first lesson is free." Aang showed them.

"Who knows? This Master Yu could be the earthbending teacher you've been looking for." Katara chimed in with a shrug, eyes already drifting back to a small Earth Kingdom bracelet.

"Who knows? This Master Yu could be the earthbending teacher you've been looking for," Katara chimed in with a shrug, her attention already drifting to a small Earth Kingdom bracelet that had caught her eye.

"Maybe the girl you saw is a student there?" Uki suggested, her curiosity piqued as she glanced at the flyer.

Just then, Sokka joined them, the green bag now cradled in his arms like a prized possession. "So... earthbending lessons, then?" he asked, peering over Aang's shoulder at the flyer, a grin spreading across his face.

Together they made their way through the bustling market square where vendors stood with fresh produce and other goods—Uki even noticed the cabbage vender from Omashu pulling his cart.

As they reached the center of the small town, a larger structure caught Uki's attention. The building stood tall with beautifully crafted pillars adorned with green and gold details. A large sign rimmed with golden fixtures hung above the entrance, its elegant script marking it as Master Yu's Earthbending Academy.

Aang paused in front of the round entrance, his eyes squinting as he peered nervously inside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the students—and perhaps the mysterious girl he had seen in the swamp. Uki sidled up beside him, her curiosity piqued.

"Do you see her?" Uki whispered, scanning the courtyard through the open doorway.

"No... maybe she's inside?" Aang replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Well—" Uki nudged him forward with a playful shove, "there's only one way to find out."

Aang stumbled forward, casting a worried glance back at Uki just as a jubilant man in Earth Kingdom robes approached, his voice booming with a hearty greeting. Uki watched as Aang hesitantly stepped further into the academy.

Spinning on her heels, Uki turned to face Sokka and Katara. Sokka was still cradling his newly acquired emerald green bag, holding it as if it were a rare treasure, while Katara looked on with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

"I'm off to find a library," Uki announced with a grin, pointing a thumb over her shoulder toward the less crowded side of the town.

"W-wait? What? Why?" Sokka stammered, snapping out of his reverie as he clutched the bag a little tighter.

"Because I need to look for some answers," Uki replied, her tone resolute yet teasing. Without waiting for further protest, she gave them a quick wave and set off down a side street, her steps quick and purposeful.

After a few minutes of walking, Uki found herself standing in front of a modest building, smaller than the others but no less charming. Its walls were lined with shelves of books visible through the wide windows, and a wooden sign hung above the door, engraved with the word "Library."

Uki entered quietly, the faint scent of old parchment and ink welcoming her as she stepped inside. The library was cozy, with rows of bookshelves stretching from floor to ceiling, each packed with tomes of varying sizes and ages. A single librarian sat behind a wooden desk, her nose buried in a thick book.

Uki wasted no time, making her way to the shelves that seemed to hold historical records and spiritual texts. Her fingers brushed over the spines of the books as she scanned the titles, her heart racing with the hope that she might find something—anything—about Nyahitha or Atka. Perhaps she could find more about the spiritual guides of the avatars.

Uki's eyes trailed over the many scrolls and books haphazardly stacked on the shelves, their worn edges and faded labels evidence of their age and use. The quiet rustle of parchment and the muted creak of wooden shelves added to the stillness of the library, broken only by her soft footsteps as she explored. Her gaze was drawn to a small, dimly lit section in the corner, where the shelves seemed to sag under the weight of forgotten texts.

Curiosity piqued, she made her way over, her fingers brushing against the dusty spines of old books and scrolls. She began to search through them, hoping to uncover something of value, but most of what she found was either irrelevant or too deteriorated to make out. Frustration began to settle in, but then—almost hidden behind a stack of faded manuscripts—she spotted something that caught her eye.

"Huh..." Uki murmured to herself as she gently pulled out an older scroll, its edges frayed and the parchment yellowed with age. It was simple, not much to it at first glance, but as she unrolled it, her breath caught in her throat.

The scroll displayed a timeline of Avatars, their names written in elegant, flowing script alongside brief descriptions of their nations and the notable conflicts during their lifetimes. She recognized many of the names: Roku, the Avatar before Aang; Kyoshi, the fierce and legendary warrior; and, of course, Kuruk.

As Uki studied the scroll, a sense of unease crept over her. Kuruk, in particular, had not lived long.

But then, something else caught her eye. At the bottom of the scroll, in smaller, almost faded lettering, was a section that made her heart skip a beat.

Nyahitha and Atka... The names were written right next to Avatar Kuruk's, with an almost reverent spacing that set them apart from the rest of the text. Her breath quickened as she continued reading. After Kuruk, Avatar Kyoshi's name was accompanied by another name: Lao Ge. And last, written neatly beside Roku's name, was Kaja.

Above these names, a simple heading read: Known Guides.

The words were tantalizingly brief, offering no further explanation, no details about who these guides were or what their roles had been in the lives of the Avatars.

Uki stared at the names, feeling a mixture of excitement and frustration. She had finally found something—proof that Nyahitha and Atka were indeed significant figures connected to the Avatar, yet the scroll offered no more than this tantalizing hint.

Rolling the scroll back up, Uki decided she couldn't leave it behind. It might not have told her everything she wanted to know, but it was a lead—one she couldn't afford to ignore. She approached the front desk, where an elderly woman, the shopowner, sat hunched over a pile of books, her sharp eyes peering up at Uki as she approached.

"Can I buy this?" Uki asked, holding out the scroll, her voice filled with both hope and hesitation.

The woman's gaze shifted from Uki to the scroll and back again, her expression unreadable. Uki shifted nervously under the woman's scrutinizing stare, feeling a slight unease in the silence that followed.

"Why?" the librarian finally asked, her voice flat and devoid of curiosity.

"Uhm... I like history and learning..." Uki replied, her words trailing off as she searched for the right thing to say. She paused, then decided to take a chance. "Do you know who these people are?" She unfurled the scroll slightly and pointed to the names of Atka and Nyahitha, hoping she might have some insight.

The woman leaned in, squinting at the names, her lips pursed as she considered them. After a moment, she hummed softly and shook her head. "No," she said simply, the finality in her tone dashing Uki's hopes.

"Oh," Uki said, unable to hide her disappointment.

The woman looked back at her. "Two silver pieces," she said, holding out her hand.

Uki cleared her throat, shuffling awkwardly as she checked her pouch. "I only have one," she admitted, offering a sheepish grin in hopes that it might sway the woman's decision.

The woman grumbled under her breath, but then, with a resolute sigh, she extended her hand further. Uki quickly dropped the single silver piece into her palm.

"Thank you!" Uki said, her face lighting up with a grateful smile. She carefully took the scroll, tucking it securely under her arm. "Have a nice day," she added, turning on her heel and heading back towards the library's entrance.

Walking back down the winding streets, Uki found Sokka and Katara still outside the academy leaning against the walls. After spotting Uki, Katara brightened and pushed herself off of the wall to meet her half way.

"Did you find something?" Katara wondered.

Uki hummed, showing her the scroll tucked under her arm. "It is not much, but I found their names in a scriptures of former avatars. A couple of other names too... I thought that Aang might now them, perhaps the monks told him about them? It looked like every Avatar had guide."

"I'm glad you found something—"

"He's not the one."

Both girls turned around to see Aang appear from within the academy, a defeated look on his face as he patted one side of his head, ejecting bits of rocks from his ear.

"How..." Katara began, but her words were drowned out by the excited chatter of two teenage boys exiting the Academy.

"I think The Boulder is gonna win back the belt at Earth Rumble 6!" one of the boys exclaimed, his arms raised behind his head, a grin spreading across his face.

"Yeah, but he's gonna have to fight his way through the best Earthbenders in the world just to get a shot at the champ," the other boy replied, shaking his head in disbelief.

Aang's ears perked up at the mention of a tournament, and his mood shifted from defeated to curious. He quickly approached the two students, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Excuse me, but where is this earthbending tournament exactly?" he asked, his voice eager.

One of the boys turned to Aang with a sly grin. "It's on the Island of None ya—none o' ya business!" he said, snickering. The two boys shared a glance before bursting into laughter and walking away.

Uki's eyes narrowed, a scowl tugging at her lips as she watched them leave. Sokka, however, found the whole exchange amusing and chuckled to himself. "Ha, ha! Oh, I've got to remember that one," he said, wiping a tear from his eye.

Without missing a beat, Uki delivered a light smack to the back of Sokka's head. He winced, waving his hands defensively. "Will you stop doing that?" he complained, trying to fend her off.

"Never," Uki replied, a mischievous glint in her eye. She then turned to Katara, who returned her gaze with a knowing smile.

"I'll take care of this," Katara said confidently, her hands resting on Aang's shoulders. She gave him a reassuring smile before sprinting off in the direction of the two boys.

Uki watched her go with a grin. "This should be good," she muttered to herself, already imagining how Katara would get the information they needed.

Sokka, meanwhile, seemed to have a sudden change of heart about his recent purchase. He dropped the bag he had been cradling and crossed his arms over his chest, a pout forming on his face. "What was I thinking? I don't need a new bag. Why'd you let me buy this?" he grumbled.

Momo, who had been perched on Sokka's shoulder, chittered happily and leapt down into the discarded bag. He burrowed into the soft material, settling in for a nap with a contented sigh.

Just as Sokka was contemplating his buyer's remorse, Katara came jogging back to the group, her face alight with triumph. "You ready to find an earthbending teacher?" she asked, a hint of excitement in her voice. "Because we're going to Earth Rumble 6!"

Aang's eyes widened with curiosity. "How did you get them to tell you?" he asked, genuinely impressed.

Katara simply smirked, a devious glint in her eye as she glanced at Uki. "Oh, a girl has her ways," she replied, her tone full of playful mystery.

Uki returned the smirk, raising an eyebrow as if to say, I knew you'd pull it off.

SURPISINGLY—OR PERHAPS NOT SO SUPRISLINGLY—THE EARTHBENDING TOURNEMENT WAS HELD WITHIN THE BELLY OF A LOOMING mountain on the outskirts of town, the entrance a clear sign of earthbending led them inside. The hallways were barely lit by lanterns and the occasional torch mounted to the rocky walls.

At the end, the tunnel expanded tremendously—revealing a large arena with seats scaling up to the ceiling and in the center a ring was raised.

"Hey, front-row seats! I wonder why no one else is sitting here," Sokka said, his voice tinged with excitement as they made their way to the very front.

The group had barely settled in when a massive boulder slammed into the seats to their right, sending a shower of dust and debris over them. Aang coughed, waving a hand in front of his face to clear the air while Uki shook her head to get rid of the rocks in her hair.

"I guess that's why." He muttered with wide eyes.

In the center of the arena, a man with large—and greasy hair appeared in a mighty explosion of rocks and dirt, creating a spectacular display. He rose a huge column of earth, lifting the him into the air. As it reached its peak, the column collapsed back to floor level, leaving the man standing proudly in the center.

"Welcome to Earth Rumble 6! I am your host, Xin Fu!" The man yelled, his voice echoing through the arena.

Aang, Sokka, and Momo looked around the arena with interest, while Katara boredly had already turned sideways in her seat.

Uki glanced unsurely around.

"This is just gonna be a bunch of guys chucking' rocks at each other, isn't it?" Katara asked.

"That's what I paid for." Sokka enthused, not picking up on her sister's distain.

"Of course..." Uki muttered, sharing a look with Katara.

"The rules are simple," Xin Fu's voice boomed through the arena, bringing everyone's attention back to the center. "Just knock the other guy out of the ring, and you win!"

With a dramatic flair, Xin Fu earthbended himself toward and overlooking tower and the spotlight shifted to a muscular Earthbender with a tattoo on his back.

He raised his arms in a salute to the crowd, grinning confidently.

"Round one! The Boulder versus The Big Bad Hippo!" Xin Fu announced.

The Hippo, a massive man with four hippo-like teeth protruding from his mouth, let out a thunderous roar, shaking the very ground beneath him.

"Listen up, Hippo. You may be big, but you ain't bad! The Boulder's gonna win this in a landslide." The Boulder declared surely.

The Hippo raised his arms high in the air, his face twisted in anger. "Hippo mad!" he bellowed.

With a swift motion, The Boulder earthbended a large boulder at the Hippo, who caught it with his mouth, crushed it between his teeth, and spat out the remnants.

"Whoa..."

The Hippo then began to jump up and down, his enormous bulk causing the entire arena to shake violently.

The Boulder wobbled backward, struggling to maintain his balance.

"Unbelievable, ladies and gentlemen! The Hippo is rocking The Boulder!" Xin Fu's voice rang out, filled with excitement.

The Boulder struggled, and just as he lost his balance and tipped over the edge of the ring, he managed to pull a plateau of rock out of the edge of the arena to catch himself on. The moment his finger's touched the sheet of rock, he pushed his body up and hurled it at the Hippo.

The rock struck the Hippo's back, causing him to turn around, fury in his eyes. With tremendous effort, The Boulder managed to raise the Hippo off the ground and flung him over the side of the arena.

The Boulder wins!" Xin Fu announced as the crowd erupted into cheers. The Boulder raised his arms in victory, basking in the applause.

Katara turned to Aang, her eyes thoughtful. "How about The Boulder? He's got some good moves," she suggested.

Aang shook his head, his expression contemplative. "I don't know. Bumi said I need a teacher who listens to the earth. He's just listening to his big muscles."

He glanced over at Sokka. "What do you think, Sokka?" he asked, seeking his friend's opinion.

"Ha ha! Whoo!" Sokka cheered, seemingly not even listening to Aang's question.

"There's more to earthbending than just raw power—or any bending really. You need someone who understands the flow of the earth, who can connect with it on a deeper level." Uki advised-, "—not whatever this is."

"And now, Fire Nation man!"

A man sporting a typical Fire Nation topknot, proudly waving a Fire Nation flag, strode confidently onto the stone bridge leading to the arena floor. His smile was wide, almost mocking, as he basked in the attention, seemingly unfazed by the boos that erupted from the audience. As he crossed the bridge, it crumbled into rubble behind him, a dramatic display meant to intimidate.

"Boo! Boo!" Sokka stood up, cupping his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice. His face twisted in disgust as he joined the rest of the crowd in their jeers.

Fire Nation Man ignored the hostile reception, his expression remaining smug. He planted his flag in the ground and raised his arms dramatically. "Please rise for the Fire Nation national anthem: Fire Lord, my flame burns for thee!" he sang in a pompous tone.

The crowd's boos grew louder, nearly drowning out his voice. Small stones and bits of debris were thrown at him, pelting his armor with soft clinks. Undeterred, Fire Nation Man continued to sing the first few notes of the anthem, his voice off-key and grating. The crowd only grew more restless, the noise of their disapproval echoing off the stone walls of the arena.

Sokka leaned toward Uki, shaking his head in disbelief. "Can you believe this guy?" he muttered, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the Fire Nation flag.

Uki sighed, shaking her head at the boy's crazed fanboying.

"Go back to the Fire Nation!" Sokka yelled, his frustration reaching its peak. Without thinking, he picked up a small stone from the ground and hurled it at Fire Nation Man. The rock flew true, striking the man squarely on the head.

Fire Nation Man's smug expression quickly transformed into one of shock and anger as he rubbed the sore spot on his forehead. But before he could retaliate or even utter a word, the earth beneath him rumbled.

With a swift, twisting motion, he was yanked violently downward, the ground swallowing him up until only his head and shoulders were visible above the arena floor. His eyes widened in panic as he found himself immobilized, staring up helplessly at The Boulder.

The Boulder, towering above on a massive column of earth, grinned down at his trapped opponent. The crowd roared in approval, their cheers echoing through the cavernous arena. Fire Nation Man, however, was anything but pleased.

"No, no, please!" he begged, his voice trembling as he looked up at The Boulder, who was now poised to strike.

With a triumphant yell, The Boulder leaped off his earthen pedestal, pulling his legs up in mid-air and gripping his feet with his hands. He plummeted back to the ground with a thunderous crash, landing directly in front of Fire Nation Man.

The impact sent a shockwave through the arena, and Fire Nation Man was launched high into the air, spinning uncontrollably before crashing into a boulder at the edge of the ring right next to their group.

The crowd erupted in cheers as Fire Nation Man's defeated form lay crumpled against the rock, completely unconscious.

"Yeah! Woo! The Boulder knows how to put the hurt in the dirt!" Sokka cheered, jumping up and down in excitement. His voice was almost lost in the cacophony of the crowd, but his enthusiasm was unmistakable. He was clearly reveling in the spectacle.

As the matches continued, The Boulder remained undefeated, dispatching one challenger after another with ease. Each victory was met with roaring approval from the audience, and Sokka was among the loudest of them all, cheering and whooping with every win.

Finally, the arena grew quiet as Xin Fu's voice boomed out once more, this time with an air of anticipation. "Now, the moment you've all been waiting for! The Boulder versus your champion..."

The platform in the center of the arena began to rise slowly, revealing a small figure standing confidently atop it. The crowd fell silent, their excitement palpable.

"The Blind Bandit!"

The dust cleared away to reveal—a young girl...

She had cropped black hair with a green and golden headband. The wisps of hair fell just above and over her milky white eyes and Uki's heart thudded nervously—was she truly blind?

"She can't really be blind. It's just part of her character, right?" Katara murmured.

"I think she is." Aang responds

"I think she is... going down!" Sokka yells

"Sokka!" Uki groaned.

In the arena, The Boulder squared his shoulders, his expression wavering between concern and determination. "The Boulder feels conflicted about fighting a young, blind girl," he announced, his deep voice resonating through the cavernous space.

The Blind Bandit, standing calmly in the center of the ring, tilted her head slightly as if she were smirking. "Sounds to me like you're scared, Boulder," she taunted, her voice dripping with confidence.

The Boulder stiffened, his momentary hesitation vanishing. "The Boulder's over his conflicted feelings, and now he's ready to bury you in a rock-a-lanche!" he declared, his bravado returning in full force.

"Whenever you're ready... The Pebble," she retorted, her laughter echoing through the arena.

Aang's eyes widened as recognition dawned on him. That laugh—it was the same one he had heard from the girl in the fancy dress back in the swamp. The realization sent a shiver down his spine. It was her.

"It's on!" The Boulder roared, his voice filled with resolve as he charged forward. He stomped the ground with his heel, sending shockwaves rippling through the arena floor toward the Blind Bandit.

But she didn't move. She stood perfectly still, her feet rooted to the ground as if she were a part of the earth itself. As the shockwave reached her, she subtly shifted her stance, her arms spreading out as she felt the vibrations travel up her body, telling her everything she needed to know.

The Boulder continued his advance, letting out a fierce battle cry as he prepared to strike again. But just as his foot slammed down, the Blind Bandit swung her right foot in a precise arc, striking the ground with calculated force. A shockwave of her own shot through the earth, tunneling toward The Boulder like an underground creature moving at breakneck speed.

The Boulder's next step met her shockwave head-on, and suddenly, his confident stride faltered. He dropped into an involuntary split, his legs splayed awkwardly as the ground betrayed him.

"Ooh!" Sokka winced, his expression contorting in sympathy as he imagined the pain of such a move.

The Blind Bandit, sensing her moment, made a sharp chopping motion with her hand. Three jagged stalagmites erupted from the ground around The Boulder, their force launching him out of the ring. He flew through the air and crashed into the wall beneath the stands, sliding down into the crevice between the arena and the spectators.

"Your winner, and still the champion, The Blind Bandit!" Xin Fu bellowed, raising the young girl's arm in victory as the crowd erupted into cheers.

"No!" Sokka cried out in disbelief, still reeling from how quickly The Boulder had been taken down.

Uki stared at the girl in the arena, her eyes wide with awe. "How did she do that?" she asked, her voice filled with amazement.

"She waited... and listened," Aang replied, equally impressed.

Xin Fu leaped down from the announcer's platform, landing gracefully on the arena floor. With a dramatic flourish, he held up a green bag filled with gold pieces.

"To make things a little more interesting," Xin Fu called out, his voice echoing through the cavernous space, "I'm offering this sack of gold pieces to anyone who can defeat The Blind Bandit! What? No one dares to face her?" His challenge was met with a mix of excited murmurs and wary glances from the audience.

"I will!" Aang's voice rang out clearly, cutting through the noise.

"Aang!" Uki hissed, pulling on the boy's clothes.

The crowd buzzed with approval, their excitement palpable as they shifted in their seats. Sokka's voice rang out above them, filled with fervor. "Go, Aang! Avenge The Boulder!"

"Sokka!"

The Blind Bandit, still in the center of the ring, threw her head back and laughed, a sound full of mockery. "Do people really want to see two little girls fighting out here?" she called, her voice carrying a challenging edge.

Aang raised his hands in a placating gesture, his expression earnest. "I don't really want to fight you. I just want to talk," he explained, trying to reason with her.

"Boo! No talking!" Sokka's voice cut through the air, his impatience evident.

"Don't boo at him!" Katara shot back, her voice sharp as she defended Aang.

Aang took a tentative step forward, but the Blind Bandit was already in motion. She stomped the ground with the side of her left foot, sending a shockwave rippling across the arena.

A massive rock erupted from the earth beneath Aang, propelling him into the air. He twisted gracefully in mid-air and landed softly behind her, his airbending skills keeping him light on his feet.

The Blind Bandit turned around, her face a mixture of annoyance and concentration. "Somebody's a little light on his feet. What's your fighting name, The Fancy Dancer?" she taunted, her voice tinged with frustration.

Aang flashed a confident smile and shrugged his shoulders. In response, another rock erupted from the ground, launching him high into the air once more. He executed a perfect somersault, twisting through the air with fluid grace.

"Where'd you go?" the Blind Bandit muttered, her frustration growing as she tried to track his movements.

Aang landed silently behind her, his footsteps barely making a sound. "Please, wait!" he pleaded, his voice earnest and urgent.

"There you are!" she snapped, spinning around to face him. With a swift, practiced motion, she raised a boulder and hurled it at him in a straight line, sending it hurtling through the air like a missile.

The crowd erupted into cheers as the rock sped toward Aang. But with a practiced leap, Aang soared into the air, twisting in mid-flight to airbend the rock backward. The force of his airbending sent both the boulder and the Blind Bandit flying backward, out of the arena.

As the Blind Bandit and the rock were propelled out of the ring, the arena was filled with a collective gasp, followed by an uproar of cheers from the audience. Aang landed softly, looking around in surprise as the crowd cheered for him.

A moment passed before the boy rushed toward the stairs and called out toward the retreating champion down below. "Please listen! I need an earthbending teacher, and I think it's supposed to be you." Aang calls out."

"Whoever you are, just leave me alone."

She created a passage in the wall with a stomp of her foot an disappeared from view.

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Another long one! Hope you enjoyed!!