Chapter 23: Herbalist - 96 AG

In the heart of an expanse lay Sozim, enveloped by an abyss of pure darkness. All he discerned was an inky void, an enclosure that resembled a minuscule prison. His limbs were immobilized, except for the muscles of his eyes, which afforded him only a futile search within this lightless expanse. The boy felt an oppressive constriction, as if his own body was under the dominion of some force—an entity unfamiliar to him.

This surreal state persisted for several minutes, with Sozim's eyes darting anxiously through the impenetrable blackness, revealing nothing. Then, abruptly, a distant fluttering of wings reached his ears, accompanied by a sensation of something colossal alighting directly before him, causing the ground to tremor.

He could discern the creature's steps, gradually approaching him. Yet, just as suddenly as it had begun, the footsteps ceased, plunging Sozim into an eerie silence. Subsequently, the pungent scent of blood assailed his nostrils, and a voice insinuated itself into his ears—a voice that sent shivers down his spine.

"You believed you could inhabit this vessel indefinitely?" the voice hissed, its words slithering forth like a serpent's whisper. "It belongs to me!"

The creature bellowed into Sozim's face, the impact of its speech causing the boy to feel the warmth of the creature's breath and the droplets of its utterances upon his skin.

"Struggle all you wish," the voice continued. "Though I may presently be small, each time you yield to temptation, I shall grow stronger. Even the techniques you have mastered shall prove futile, and I shall once again seize control of this body."

Sozim could hear the creature's receding footsteps, resonating loudly. "Just… you… wait." the creature spat, and once more, the sound of wings in flight grew more distant.

As the creature departed, Sozim finally regained the capacity to mobilize his limbs. He had awakened, it turned out. Breathing heavily, he found himself seated against a tree in the dead of night, perspiration trickling down his face.

"A dream," he mused, yet it marked the first time he had encountered the spirit's voice, and its first overt threat. Furrowing his brow, he pondered whether this unsettling occurrence would repeat each night or remain an isolated incident. That, he could not ascertain.

Leaning his head against the tree, he gazed up at the moon above, seeking solace and tranquility within its silvery light.

—

A couple of days had elapsed since the ambush, and what remained of the soldiers and refugees pressed on, tending to the additional wounds inflicted during the attack. Sozim, as always, trailed at the rear of the refugee procession. However, the boy now stood alone within the group, journeying alongside the carriages being pulled. While most of the refugees feared him after the attack, apprehensive of his ability to manipulate blood, they tolerated his attempts to heal their scars and injuries. Nevertheless, even in the midst of treatment, Sozim could detect traces of fear in their eyes, as if they wished for a swift end to the process, yearning for him to leave them alone.

Today had been a peaceful day, devoid of attacks, disruptions, or troubles. Their destination seemed within closer reach, with the foremost refugees of the group arriving at the city and starting to unpack their belongings.

After nearly a quarter of an hour, Sozim finally reached the city itself. He observed a landscape marred by ruined buildings and houses as far as the eye could see, extending from the flat ground up into the mountains. Stairs carved into the rocky terrain stretched from the mountain's summit to its base.

In its prime, this city, known as Taku, would have been a sight to behold, teeming with life and activity. But alas, that was no longer the case. It had been one of the first cities besieged and destroyed in the war, and now it lay overrun by the unchecked growth of grass, vines, bushes, and trees.

Once, it must have been a prosperous city. Its structures were crafted from marble, its roads paved with stone, and statues of animals and spirits adorned its streets, some intact, others cracked or shattered.

In the distance, Sozim noticed something perched atop a mountain near the city—a dilapidated building. To reach it, he would likely have to ascend the lengthy and steep stairs he could see from his current position.

As the group halted, Sozim naturally came to a stop as well. He settled into a corner near one of the buildings, giving his feet a much-needed rest after the long journey. However, before he could savor the respite for long, a group of soldiers approached the wounded and conversed with the women attending to them.

"Alright, we're setting up the tent here. Someone should fetch the herbalist on top of the mountain," one of the soldiers declared, gesturing to the building atop the mountain that had piqued Sozim's curiosity earlier. He hesitated when he saw the women's fatigue, compounded by the exhaustion of the wounded. "Err... maybe we should jus—"

"I'll do it," Sozim interjected, rising to his feet.

The soldiers regarded him, doubt evident in their eyes. "Are you... sure?"

"I have nothing else to do anyway," Sozim shrugged. "Besides, I'm curious about the building on that mountain."

"A-Alright," the soldier stammered. "Thank you, ki— I mean, young man."

Sozim merely nodded, then turned away from the soldier and proceeded towards the steep stairs leading to the mountain's summit.

—

The exhausting ascent had left Sozim with quivering legs, rendering him temporarily immobile at the mountain's summit. The relentless climb up had proven more grueling than his previous journey in the mountains, as he had been with the refugees, exacerbated by his lack of rest. Finally reaching the peak, Sozim collapsed near the gate, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. His hands brushed the grass beneath him, sweat trickling down his brow.

In the midst of his recovery, something approached him, prompting him to turn his gaze. It was none other than a cat, a purebred one, a familiar sight from his previous world. The cat, adorned in thick white fur and an air of pride, meowed softly at Sozim before playfully swiping its tail across his face, causing him to sneeze.

After a brief respite, Sozim mustered the strength to stand and examined the buildings before him. The place unmistakably resembled a medical institute, with several structures of varying states of disrepair scattered across the peak. Yet, what caught Sozim's attention was a smaller building nearby, which showed signs of habitation.

"This must be where the herbalist resides," Sozim muttered to himself. He noticed the cat making its way toward the hut, prompting him to follow the feline.

Upon entering the hut, he was greeted by the sight of numerous plants strewn about, both in the soil and pots, emanating a peculiar blend of earthiness, decay, and herbal fragrances that made Sozim scrunch his nose.

The cat made its way to a table where an elderly woman was working. It settled there, instantly at ease. The woman smiled at the cat and approached, gently stroking its forehead.

"Oh, Miyuki, are you already hungry?" the woman cooed. Her attention then shifted to Sozim, who had entered the hut. "It seems you've brought a guest, Miyuki. Haven't caused any trouble, have you?"

Miyuki simply meowed in response, nuzzling the woman's hand.

"Hello," Sozim greeted the old woman. "We need help. There are refugees in the city, many of them wounded."

"Oh? Are you a soldier from the Earth Kingdom, young man?" the herbalist inquired, making her way to a corner of the room. "You seem quite young for one."

"No, I'm not," Sozim replied. "I'm just… stowaway."

"I see, I see," the old woman hummed as she retrieved a basket and began selecting leaves and herbs from her personal garden inside the hut. Her movements were slow, a result of her age. But time was of the essence, with potential infections and other complications threatening the wounded.

Sozim couldn't stand idly by. "Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked.

"Oh, don't worry. You can just sit there and keep Miyuki company. She could use some extra attention," the woman replied with a smile. "I'll gather what I need in a moment."

Sozim turned to Miyuki, who lazily meowed at him.

"Well, maybe an extra pair of hands could be of assistance," Sozim muttered. "With so many wounded out there, a basket of herbs might not be enough."

The herbalist turned to Sozim, a thin smile forming on her face. "Do you know what these herbs are for, young man? If you do, you're welcome to help me gather them. There's another basket in the corner."

"I... don't know," Sozim admitted.

"Then I suggest you stay put," the woman said, resuming her task. "Although... how many people are there?"

Sozim shrugged. "Around... fifty, give or take. Why do you ask?"

"A hundred?" The woman appeared mildly surprised. "My herb supplies may run out at this rate, but you and your companions are brave souls. Very well, I'll assist in any way I can. Young man, fetch the basket from the corner."

"But I mentioned fifty..." Sozim mumbled, confused, yet complied and retrieved the basket. He approached the woman and asked, "So, what should I gather?"

"Those," she said, pointing to a banana tree that wouldn't typically grow in the Earth Kingdom. "Collect the leaves, but leave the fruit; that's my dinner." She then gestured to a cactus. "Get the water from the cactus, but don't drink it, or you'll pass out." Her hand moved to a plant resembling a barbed tongue, likely Aloe Vera. "Take a few of those, not all, but we'll need plenty."

"Right," Sozim murmured, getting to work and swiftly picking the items she had specified, far more efficiently than the elderly herbalist.

—

The path leading down from the institute was undeniably easier, yet one couldn't help but marvel at the elderly woman's fortitude. She resided atop the mountain, and her daily trek up and down to collect herbs and food was nothing short of remarkable, at least from Sozim's perspective.

Right now, he found himself once more in the company of this elderly lady, nestled comfortably within the confines of the wounded tent, where she promptly began her work. The moment the attendants responsible for the injured spotted the herbalist, they flocked to her side, guiding her to the rear of the tent to process the herbs she had gathered.

Meanwhile, Sozim remained seated in a corner, a silent observer of the herbalist's intricate process. She diligently boiled cactus water, deftly cut aloe vera, and tore banana leaves into strips. With the assistance of the other women, the task was completed swiftly, yielding the first batch of 'medicine' for distribution. The women wasted no time, carrying their healing supplies outside to tend to the wounded.

Turning her attention to Sozim, who continued to sit quietly in the corner, the herbalist inquired, "What are you doing here, young man? Shouldn't you lend them a hand?"

"I don't think it's necessary anymore," Sozim mumbled. "They don't exactly hold me in high regard at the moment."

The herbalist sighed deeply, shaking her head. "Well, at the very least, you can't simply sit there. Do something."

"Like what?" Sozim queried.

"Help me with the next batch," she replied, turning back to her work. Sozim shrugged and approached the table. The herbalist held a knife, continuing to cut aloe vera and extract its gel, placing it into a bowl. Sozim followed suit, emulating her actions.

Glancing at Sozim's work, the herbalist remarked, "You're quite skilled with that knife."

"I used to be a hunter, cutting animals for a living," Sozim muttered.

"Aren't you a bit young for hunting?" the herbalist raised an eyebrow. "You might consider a profession like mine—herbalism."

"Maybe…" Sozim conceded.

"Do you know the uses of this plant?" the herbalist inquired, pointing to the aloe vera. "It's for treating burn wounds and general injuries."

"Er… Cool," Sozim replied awkwardly.

"And the boiled cactus juice," she continued, "when prepared correctly, can be used to numb pain."

"And the banana leaves?" Sozim asked.

"Oh, those? They're primarily for binding purposes," the herbalist explained, chuckling. She moved the bowl of aloe vera toward Sozim, indicating for him to carry it. "Take this to the nurses."

Sozim acknowledged the instruction with a hum and picked up the bowl, exiting the tent. Inside, he observed as the women administered the medicine to the wounded. Some winced in pain but bore grateful smiles, relieved to receive proper care. It was a stark contrast to the scene just a few days prior, when suffering had hung heavy in the air. Now, there was an air of normalcy, with soldiers and other refugees expressing their thanks to the female nurses, many doing so with an intoxicated cheer due to the cactus juice.

Sozim gazed down at the bowl, its contents of aloe vera gel gently quivering as he moved. "Medicine, huh..."

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by one of the nurses, who snapped him out of his reverie. "Is this the next batch? Thank you, young man," she said, taking the bowl from his hands and hurrying off.

Sozim sighed, turned, and left the area, making his way back to the herbalist's station. There, he observed the elderly woman as she continued to boil the cactus juice, its scent wafting intoxicatingly through the air.

"Cover your nose, young man," she warned, using a cloth to shield her own. Sozim followed suit, using his clothing to do so. He approached the simmering cactus juice, his gaze fixed upon it. "This numbs pain?" he asked.

"Indeed, it does. Although, if consumed raw, it can take you on quite the journey," the woman laughed. "I rather enjoy the sensation."

"A drug enthusiast..." Sozim murmured.

"What was that?" the woman narrowed her eyes.

"Nothing," Sozim hummed. "Hey, uh, Granny, would you be willing to teach me more about these herbs and plants? Like a herbalist?"

The woman turned to Sozim, raising an eyebrow. "I haven't had a student in a long time, young man. Besides, you'd have to compete with Miyuki for food if you want to stay."

"Not to stay permanently," Sozim clarified. "Maybe you have a book or a scroll on the subject?"

The woman scoffed. "My knowledge resides up here," she pointed to her head. "Nowhere else."

Sozim sighed and glanced out through the tent entrance at the sun shining above. It was the middle of summer, and he was now twelve years old. The siege of Ba Sing Se had ended just last year, and the Avatar was expected to awaken in a few years. There were many things he needed to do—finding Bato, seeking spiritual enlightenment at the air temples, and perhaps uncovering more about his waterbending block at the Northern Water Tribe.

Yet, there was an inexplicable desire within him to remain here. His path thus far had been marked by violence, and he excelled at causing harm. Now, he had the chance to learn the opposite—to heal people. It was an opportunity too intriguing to pass up.

Iroh had advised him to savor life and follow his heart in the moment. The fortune teller had suggested that some problems would resolve themselves if he just had patience. Apart from the urgency brought on by his occasional descent into bloodlust when using bloodbending, he had no leads on Bato's whereabouts, and the air temples weren't about to vanish.

Sozim shook his head with a sense of amusement. He wanted to give this a try… no, he would.

"Competing with Miyuki for food it is…"