Avatar - Conquering the Elements-Chapter 126. The Penultimate.

*Southern Pole. Yo and Celine.*

Another day of mine unfolded on the grounds of what was once the abandoned village of the Southern Water Tribe. Thanks to Celine being here, it wasn't so boring. The fluffy white snow that falls year-round had already completely covered the houses I once built.

"One more contest?" I asked, addressing my now more grown-up daughter. She could easily pass for thirteen or fourteen now. Standing tall, she reached my chest. No matter how much I wished she'd stay little, nature takes its course. Her average skill in all three elements and her strong life energy had recently transformed her from a small, sweet dumpling into an equally charming young girl.

"I think that's enough for today," she muttered, glancing around. Wherever you looked, there were ice or snow sculptures. Everything was created without magic—pure physical strength, with a small exception for some cutting techniques made with the help of an element. After all, the ice needed something to cut it.

"Don't give me that pitying look," she said, turning her head away. "You know I don't like it when my feet can't feel the ground," she added, looking at her bare white legs. "And anyway, I have lessons with Mom soon," she continued, though she couldn't help stealing glances at her father, who still acted like a beaten puppy.

"Are you sure the Avatar will appear here?" she asked, wondering if her father was waiting in vain.

"Fifty percent sure!" I replied with a voice that sounded more like a hundred.

"..." Celine didn't even bother commenting on my words. "I'll come back at the same time tomorrow," she said, pulling out a worn-looking scroll from her bag.

"Sweetie, maybe you could put in a word for me too. Dad wants a gift from Wan Shi Tong as well," I said, eyeing the scroll she held. I'd seen it before—it was a map of the most significant places on the planet. Just point to where you want to go, channel some energy, and in a few seconds, you'd be there.

"Uncle Owl said you should develop your abilities and not be lazy," she replied, shaking her head. As much as she loved her father, there was truth in the spirit's words. She wished she could take some of the burden off his shoulders. That desire grew stronger after she witnessed his grueling chakra-opening training... The sound of cracking bones still echoed in her mind. *"I need to become much stronger too!"* she vowed to herself.

"Alright, alright, let's say goodbye then," I said, stepping closer, expecting a hug. *"How did I ever live without this green-haired beauty?"* I wondered.

"See you tomorrow," she whispered softly, melting into my arms. Breathing in her familiar scent, I forced myself to let go.

"Bye-bye," she waved before disappearing.

Sighing, I set out to uncover the settlement. My last conversation with Sokka made it clear he was serious about rebuilding the Southern Water Tribe. Few wanted to leave the Northern Tribe now—the difference between the two poles was too great. Plus, everything here would need to be rebuilt from scratch. But I figured volunteers would soon gather. The ambitions simmering in young hearts, suppressed by older generations, could find an outlet in creating a new fraternal nation with many open positions.

An hour passed, and the village looked as it had two years ago. Clearing the excess snow was easy; controlling the wind's force to avoid damaging structures was trickier.

Not knowing what to do, I paced in circles, leaving footprints in the snow. This "useful" pastime reminded me of something from my past life... I did the same while waiting for the bus in winter—pacing around the stop to keep busy and warm.

*"Something big is moving!"* Suddenly, right beneath my feet, I sensed a massive sea creature. But until now, I hadn't felt it at all! The spot had seemed like just a small, uneven hill or a strange mound.

*"Is that... him?"* From the same spot where the strange sea creature had vanished, an icy sphere began to rise. Inside, I clearly felt two life forces.

Stepping back slowly, I watched as the Avatar and his loyal flying companion emerged. The thin ice soon cracked, allowing the sphere to surface. It felt like watching the very first episode of the cartoon.

Through the faintly glowing ice, I could see the silhouette of a teenager, alongside the massive figure of a flying bison. A gust of wind created a small hole in the sphere, releasing a rush of cold air and splitting the ice in two. A towering beam of light shot into the sky, just like in the show. Standing close to the epicenter, I felt the energy intensely. Raava's energy was on par with Vaatu's, but without the same malicious intent.

Soon, I saw the character the legendary cartoon was named after. A bald boy, dressed in traditional Air Nomad attire, lay beside his friend. Any doubts I had vanished... The distinctive arrow on his head and his features were unmistakably Aang's.

While he was still unconscious, I decided to examine him. Gently placing my hand on his chest, I probed his energy. The first thing I noticed was his well-developed channels for all four elements. The airbending channels were the most refined, but the others seemed competent too. Digging deeper, I reached the sources. The air source was active, already circulating energy through Aang's body. The others were in a transitional state—not "asleep," but ready to activate once Aang seriously studied an element.

*"I guess this was to be expected..."* I found no trace of Raava's energy or anything similar. The Great Spirit's soul seemed deeper than my limited abilities could reach. But the recent energy pillar confirmed Raava's presence.

Aang soon began to stir. Blinking, he opened his eyes. His unfocused gaze passed over my face.

"I want to ask you something," he said weakly. Was he going to invite me to ride penguins like in the show?! "Please, come closer," he continued.

"I'm listening," I replied, though I already knew what he'd ask...

"Want to ride a penguin?" he asked, suddenly energetic, no longer feigning weakness.

"Uh, maybe another time," I scratched my head, watching Aang leap into the air and land on his feet.

"Where am I? This is the Southern Pole, right?" he looked around curiously. His exploration was interrupted by Appa waking up. Watching the warm reunion of the two friends, I felt a twinge of envy. I wanted a flying bison too! What kind of airbender was I without a flying creature?

*"Good memory there,"* I smacked my forehead. How could I forget the surviving bison that settled on an island where one of Aang's sons, Tenzin, would later live? There was also a herd of wild flying bison somewhere, though I hadn't seen them on the mainland. Maybe they were hiding on an island too...

"By the way, let's introduce ourselves! I'm Aang, and this is Appa, my flying bison!" I almost wanted to say, Sokka-style, "Right, and this is Katara—my flying sister." Too bad the situation didn't allow for it.

Visit ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience.

"So, you're an airbender, right?" I asked logically. His aerial maneuvers made it obvious.

"Yep," he nodded with a smile.

"You probably know the Avatar, right?" I continued, watching his reaction. I was curious what he'd say.

"Uh... I knew other monks who knew the Avatar," he began, constantly avoiding my gaze. Aang wasn't a great liar...

"Got it," I nodded calmly, deliberately not noticing his relieved sigh or him wiping nonexistent sweat from his forehead. "I'm an airbender too," I said, creating a small air sphere in my hand to prove it.

"You are?!" Aang quickly rushed over, effortlessly cutting through the air resistance... He didn't even seem to notice. No wonder he was a master. "Hmm," he rubbed his chin, studying my face and clothes. "You really look like an Air Nomad... Are you from the Northern Air Temple? Because I've never seen you at the Southern one. Trust me, I know everyone there!" he patted his chest.

"You could say that," I nodded lightly. I didn't feel like sharing the events of the past years just yet, especially the tragic fate of his loved ones. Somehow, he created an aura of kindness around himself... I couldn't quite pin down his character yet, but my first impression was that this Aang was much like the one in the show—cheerful, a bit naive, and unprepared for the Avatar's responsibilities. I guess that was to be expected; temple upbringing was gentle, almost sheltered.

"But why haven't you shaved your head?" he asked, running his hand over his smooth, shiny scalp. "And where's your flying bison? And your clothes are different," he touched my pants. "I like your style better! I'll tell Gyatso to push this idea in the council!" I could only force a smile.

"You wanted to ride penguins, right? Let's go—I know a great spot," I thought it best to distract him for now...

"Can I ride Appa?" I asked, petting his fur. Appa nearly licked me with his massive tongue.

"He likes you," Aang laughed, burying himself in Appa's fur.

"Hop on, we'll fly with the wind!" he called, gesturing upward.

We didn't exactly fly with the wind. Appa was still recovering from his century-long sleep in the ice. Technically, Aang should be in rough shape too, but let's attribute it to Raava's all-powerful energy. After all, Vaatu's dark energy had already shown its vast capabilities—what could comparable light energy do?

Aang spent a full hour exploiting the poor penguins. At least the penguins got a bellyful. Fish caught with airbending served as a sort of ticket.

"Look, buildings in the distance! Let's run there!" he dashed toward the village at full speed, leaving almost no tracks in the snow.

Aang examined the variously shaped houses with interest. He didn't enter any—after all, they were strangers' homes—but he peered through windows more than once.

"Such beautiful houses! I wonder who built them?" It was nice to hear such words.

"My good... uh... friend built all this. He's an exceptional waterbender—I'd even call him the strongest!" Oh, how I love subtly praising myself. Especially when my listeners hang on my every word.

"But why is it so deserted? We haven't seen a single person here..."

"Something forced the villagers to leave their homes," I replied, steeling myself for a difficult conversation. "Aang, you *are* the Avatar," I stated confidently, not asking.

"No, no, no!" he waved his hands, shaking his head vigorously.

"You can't lie to me," I said, shaking my head.

"Fine, I'm the Avatar," he deflated, sitting on the doorstep of one of the houses. "Go ahead, scold me. It's my fault for running away from my temple. You were probably sent to bring me back, right?"

"Aang," I continued, though it was harder than I thought. "We're the last airbenders," I said, looking at the Avatar's doubtful face. "You've been asleep in the ice for a hundred years... During that time, the Fire Nation started a war with the world. Later, the Air Nomads were genocided..."

"Why are you saying such awful things?!" Aang asked, panicked, interrupting me. "That's not funny, you know!"

"La-la-la, I can't hear you," he covered his ears and started humming.

"I'm not joking," I said. Perhaps he sensed something in my grave tone, because he suddenly fell silent, clutching his head.

"Maybe you're still joking?" Aang asked, hope in his eyes, which reflected a whirlwind of emotions. Without breaking eye contact, I silently shook my head. "Look at me—I don't look like a 112-year-old man!"

"The ice froze all the processes in your body, so you haven't aged..."

Falling silent again, Aang began pacing. His rapidly changing expression showed him going through all the stages of accepting reality.

"I don't want to believe you, but something inside tells me everything you're saying is true," he exclaimed after a few minutes. "It's all my fault! If I'd stayed with Gyatso and gone to the Eastern Air Temple, things could've been different!"

"The Fire Nation wouldn't have stopped anyway. Don't blame yourself!" I approached him, placing my palm on his smooth head. So smooth... Do they polish them in the temples?

"I want to see it all with my own eyes!" he regained his composure, grasping at the faint hope that someone close to him might still be alive. And that this was just a ploy to get him to return.

*"Poor kid,"* I didn't try to dissuade him. Maybe it would be better if he saw everything for himself. "I'm with you! At least if we get caught in another storm, we'll be frozen together—should be more fun!" Hearing the joke, Aang tried to smile, but it was clear my words had sunk in.