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(Word Count: 3,094)
“Hey Callan?” Katara asked. The Gaang and I were back at their guest house that night. Sokka was back from his time with Princess Yue and they were all now interested in learning more about me.
“Yeah?” I asked back.
“The Moon Spirit called you ‘otherworlder,’ what did that mean?” She asked.
“It means that I'm not originally from this world. My world is going through a rapid change. Before, there was no Chi or any sort of mystical energy. There were no Spirits that governed natural laws either like the Moon and Ocean spirits. Now though, my world is gaining a lot of these mystical energies all at once, which will cause a huge wave of monsters and malicious spirits that risk overwhelming my people. Some of the Gods that watch over my world picked a handful of us to send out to other worlds to train and gain power to help humanity to survive. I ended up here, learning about Chi and Bending. Unfortunately, that means my time here in this world will come to an end, and I will move on to another world.” I didn’t really see the issue with telling people to be honest. What are they going to do about it anyway?
“So you're like an alien!” Sokka exclaimed, pointing his finger at me dramatically.
“Kinda, yeah,” I laughed.
“Whoa, so there's other worlds out there?” Katara said in wonder.
“So you're on a mission to save your world too!” Aang said.
“What's your world like? If you don't have bending, what do you have? I bet it must be so peaceful there, with no Fire Nation causing a 100 year long war!” Katara said.
I coughed awkwardly, “not… exactly. There's around 190-ish different countries. So there’s always some fighting going on between someone. There was even what we called the ‘100 year war’ between two countries called England and France. We even had 2 World Wars that involved literally the entire world. It's not exactly the best place.”
The kids all blanched white. “Even without bending?” Sokka asked.
“Wars don't start because of bending, but human greed and pride.”
They all sat back in silence to soak in the heavy statement, before getting somewhat uncomfortable with the tone of the conversation. Katara decided to change the subject.
“So if your world doesn't have any bending in it, then how are you an earthbender?” she asked.
“That was rather difficult. As you have guessed, I wasn't originally a bender.”
Sokka's eyes bugged out. “What! You can gain bending? How!”
I launched into the story of events that happened while I was here. “Well, at first, I knew that this world had an energy called ‘Chi’, everyone has it including non-benders. Bender's are somehow able to use this Chi to fuel their bending, it doesn't matter which bending they use, it all uses Chi. But I couldn't figure out how to sense and use this energy so I sought help. I ended up at the Eastern Air Temple. There, I met Guru Pathik. He taught me how to meditate and manipulate this Chi. I still couldn't bend any of the elements, but I could now use this Chi to strengthen myself and my senses. Guru Pathik also helped me in clearing my 7 chakras, which helped me connect with my spiritual self, and connect more with the world around me. Through this connection, I was able to sense the last of the Lion Turtles. I left the Air Temple to go find it. When I did, I explained my situation and what I wanted to do, return to my world to protect my people, and the Lion Turtle blessed me with earthbending. I met you all a week later! It's funny, I've already learned the forms of airbending, firebending, and now I'm learning the waterbending forms. I'm an earthbender that's learned every other bending style besides his own! I'll need to find my own earthbending master like you, Aang!”
“So that's why you said you couldn't teach me. Wait, Lion Turtles can give bending to people?” Aang asked.
“Yes, it's from the Lion Turtles that the first benders gained their bending abilities,” I answered.
“Wait, even non benders like me can use Chi?” Sokka asked.
“Yup! If you want, I can teach you. In fact, Katara and Aang, both of you can learn this too, but since you're still mastering waterbending, you should focus on that. Maybe once you're done taking lessons from Pakku, Sokka can teach the two of you?” I said.
They all got confused. “What do you mean, won't you be coming with us?” They all asked.
I smiled wryly. I could go with them… but I really wanted to go learn from Wan Shi Tong’s library. There just had to be lost earthbending techniques and maybe I could find something on energy bending. If I go with them, I would never have that chance. But being included did feel really nice.
“I'm sorry kids. I'll stay and train alongside you guys, but once we're all done here, I have somewhere that I need to go find,” I explained.
“But don't you need to find an earthbending master as well? We could learn together!” Aang said,
“Well, once I'm done here, I'm going to go search for an ancient library in the Si Wong desert. I'll probably spend a month or two there if I can find it. Meanwhile you need to find that earthbending teacher. But don't you worry, we'll definitely cross paths later on,” I said trying to comfort them.
“But how soon until you have to leave this world? Then we'll never see you again!” Katara said.
“I can stay here for a year or two. So we'll have plenty of time to meet up afterwards. But hey, we've got plenty of time now while we're all here at the Northern Water Tribe!”
~ CatAR ~
The next day, we all went to the celebration feasts. In the Palace, there was a ceremony of recognition for the warriors that survived. There weren't any medals or anything, but names were read. Aang, Katara, Sokka, and even my name was called out. As the names were read, they went up to get some face paint. When my name was called, they marked my forehead with a circle over a wavy line, representing the full moon over the ocean.
“We mark you with the Mark of the Moon, to show that you are now one of us. You will always be welcomed here in the Northern Water Tribe!” Chief Arnook declared.
After all the recognitions were read out we began eating.
As we were eating, I noticed Pakku waiving me over. He was sitting next to an elderly woman with the same braided loops in her hair as Katara.
“Callan, I'd like to introduce you to the head of our healers. This is Yagoda. She'll be personally teaching you our healing ways.”
I bowed. “It's an honor to be able to learn from you, Yagoda.”
The old woman smiled sweetly. “It's nice to meet you, Callan. I don't usually teach men in healing, and I don't know what you'll be getting out of this since you're an earthbender, but I'm sure it will be an interesting experience nonetheless.”
“Thank you for putting up with my request. I'm able to see Chi, so I'm wondering how exactly the waterbender’s water healing interacts with the patient's body. I hope to someday achieve it through earthbending.” Or maybe through manipulating my Chi directly to at least heal myself.
Yagoda's eyes shot up. “Interesting. The other nations have tried for centuries to find a way to heal, but none have succeeded. You have a very ambitious goal, young man.”
I wasn’t really focused on making earthbending heal, but using my Chi directly. At least for myself. If I wanted to heal someone else, I may have to use earth as a medium though. “That's the plan.”
“We have our classes at the same time, so we've decided to have you switch between us every other day,” Pakku said. “Tomorrow you will be joining me. From 5 o'clock to lunch, in the plaza in front of the palace. Don't be late.”
I was never really a morning person, but with my increased endurance it was at least bearable. “I'll be there.”
Yagoda spoke, “My classes start a little later, from 8 o'clock to 12. Many of my students are young, and can't wake that early by themselves. I hope you don't mind learning alongside children.”
~ CatAR ~
The next morning, I met up with Aang and Katara and we made our way through the quiet morning streets to the plaza. We arrived to see Pakku already there, and other waterbender students sluggishly arriving from different directions. To my surprise, Princess Yue was there as well.
“Callan, Princess Yue, you two come here. Everyone else, pair off and spar,” Pakku immediately started giving orders.
I made my way over to him, sharing a glance with Princess Yue. It looked like she was just starting to learn waterbending as well. Everyone else partnered up and started sending water whips at each other. Surprisingly, Aang and Katara partnered with someone else.
“Now, since you are both beginners to waterbending, let us begin by examining the fundamental principles of our bending style.”
Pakku then crouched into a ready stance. He gestured for me to do the same. “Do as I do.” He slowly began moving through some of the forms. I watched and copied his actions.
Pakku's voice came soothingly, almost like a guided meditation. “The forms of waterbending are less about strength and more about balance in your body and mind. Align your body's structure and breathe with proper visualization of the push and pull of the motions. Just as the waves come and go, there are no sharp stops. Each movement should flow into the next. Water does not stop, and neither should you. When it does stop, it becomes stale and foul. It is the same with our own energy.”
As the morning progressed, Pakku had me repeat several different forms as he talked about the nature of Tui and La, push and pull, Yin and Yang. The dual nature of the universe, how everything has its opposite.
[Tai Chi LVL 1/100]
This martial art forms the basis of Waterbending. Focuses on flowing motions and balance. Helps balance one's own inner energy.
Increases control over Chi by 0.2%/LVL.
Increases Chi recovery rate by 1%/LVL.
What I noticed while learning Tao Chi, are the similarities to airbending forms. Both had more flowy movements to them, but where baguazhang would swirl around and past an incoming attack, Tai Chi would redirect it. It also seemed to switch between pushing attacks and retreating. It was almost like a midpoint between Northern Shaolin and Baguazhang.
~ CatAR ~
The next morning, I went with Katara to learn healing from Yagoda. Turns out that even with her fighting to be accepted as a student under Pakku, she did still learn how to heal. We were following the same schedule.
From what I've seen, healers use the water as a medium for healing. So I prepared a little by bringing a handful of the soil from the spirit oasis. I wanted to see if I can mimic what they do with earth instead. If it doesn't work, I'll just need to focus on trying to heal myself directly without earth.
When we got to the small classroom, Yagoda was there, along with two other women to help teach. None of the kids had shown up yet, so it was just the 5 of us. In the front of the class, there was a mannequin lying on the ground with a bunch of lines and dots throughout the body. Perhaps it represents pressure points? No wait, I vaguely remember an acupuncture diagram that looked like this.
“Good morning, Master Yagoda,” I greeted as we walked in.
“Good morning!” Katara chimed in after me.
“Good morning, Callan, Katara. Welcome,” Yagoda said. “Callan, these two are Annoda and Kyoke. They're also master healers and help me teach the older students. Annoda, Kyoke, this is Callan Stone. He's the earthbender that saved the Moon Spirit. He'll be joining us to learn our healing practice.”
Kyoke looked confused. “But if he's an earthbender, why would he want to learn waterbending healing techniques? It would be useless to him.”
Yagoda opened her mouth to answer, but I spoke up. “While it has been attempted before, it's my hope that I can at least gain some insights into how Chi works. Who knows? I might just succeed.”
Kyoke hummed thoughtfully, before shrugging. “Well, if it keeps your boat afloat.”
A few minutes passed and a bunch more little girls and women showed up. Many of them were surprised to see a man here to learn healing, as it was traditionally a woman's occupation.
The older girls split off with Annoda and Kyoke, while the young girls stayed with Yagoda.
“Alright, class, this is Callan Stone. He'll be joining us from now on.” Yagoda introduced me.
As the class progressed, I watched Yagoda intently as she used the mannequin to demonstrate healing in different parts of the body. Interestingly enough, it seemed that healing had to do with the energy pathways and acupuncture points in the body. Chi ran through these pathways and points. This was something that I've noticed before when I first felt my Chi. It flows like a vibrating river of water, if that makes sense. These pathways are like the bed the river runs through.
The water Yagoda is using seeps into these pathways and serves as a medium for the healer’s Chi to stimulate the patient’s body to heal itself. As Yagoda demonstrated her healing on the mannequin, the pathways nearby her water would glow.
As Yagoda demonstrated it several more times, explaining different points along the body and how they affect the body, I carefully studied every detail of what she was doing. This was my key to Chi healing after all. By the end of the class, I still wasn't able to replicate it, but I did get a new skill out of it.
[Singular Attention LVL 1/100]
You tune out distractions to focus your mind on a single objective.
+1%/LVL learning comprehension to what you're paying attention to.
+1%/LVL effectiveness or quality of what you're trying to do/make.
-1%/LVL attention to other things while skill is active.
Well, that would help while studying or crafting, but I won't be able to use this while in combat. I wondered why I’ve never gotten a similar skill like this before. It wasn’t like I never focused on anything before. Was it because of my Monk class or something? Do classes affect what skills I can learn? The only other mental skill I had gotten was Situational Awareness… my class was Street Rat at the time, which seems perfect for it.
Now that I thought about it, my Intelligence is only 15, which was 5 points higher than the Tier 0 cap, but it was still much lower than my other stats. Yeah, that might play a role too. Thinking about this, I went outside in the snow to try to unlock other mental skills. A classic one is always Parallel Thinking, being about to have two trains of thought going simultaneously.
Really, I should have gotten this while practicing earthbending different rocks in different patterns to level my Earthbending skill. That was definitely splitting my attention. But no use complaining about it now.
I squat down and try drawing a circle with my left hand, and a square with my right.
Several tries later, I got another skill.
[Divided Attention LVL 1/100]
You’ve learned to split your focus on two different things at once.
+1%/LVL effectiveness of splitting your attention between two different things.
“YES!” I jumped back up to my feet in victory. This synergized greatly with my Situational Awareness skill. Speaking of, I noticed the weird looks I was getting from the people passing me on the street. This probably wasn’t the best place to try drawing in the snow.
As the days go by, I stick to this same schedule. In the mornings, I would either go to Pakku or Yagoda, and in the afternoon I would train Sokka in the sword and help him meditate to sense his own Chi. I wasn't really a sword master myself, and I was using a much larger two-handed Hsu Jian that was much different from Sokka's one handed jian, so I mostly focused on passing along the basic principles of the sword.
Luckily for me, I taught well enough to get another skill!
[Teaching LVL 1/100]
You were the student, now you’re the teacher.
+1%/LVL ability to understand your student’s needs to help them understand.
If you have a skill related to the topic you’re teaching, +1%/LVL student’s learning speed.
Sokka seemed to be struggling over something, but he wouldn't tell me what it was. He seemed to be feeling inadequate when compared to Aang and Katara, who were quickly mastering waterbending. I tried to encourage him by helping him realize the astounding progress he was already making in his Swordsmanship, but he was getting more and more frustrated over his lack of progress in sensing his own Chi.
~ CatAR ~
Piandao and Fat entered his main chamber, where a fire nation soldier was waiting for him. As soon as he did, the soldier straightened up then bowed low. “Master Piandao! I regret to inform you of the death of your student, Jin Lee.”
That made him pause. Callan had died? “I see. How did he die?”
“He was killed for his unique blade by a man named Callan Stone! The scum even paraded the blade around as a trophy, killing the morale of everyone who saw it. Unfortunately, we were unable to recover Jin Lee's body because of the Avatar's attack that wiped out the fleet. Don't worry though, the Fire Lord has already issued a bounty of 5 gold pieces for his head. We'll get him, sir, and return Jin Lee's blade to you.”
Piandao was amused. It seems like Callan's plan had worked out, and no suspicion was placed back on him. “Thank you, soldier. You may leave now. I must take some time to mourn the loss of my student.”
When the soldier was gone, Piandao laughed.
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