Chapter 8

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[4 months later]

My training with Pakku proved to be, difficult, he didn't accept anything but perfection, in every aspect, from hand to hand combat to basic water bending moves, he also had a disdain with my fighting style, saying that I relied a little too much on my ice bending and that at times water alone could produce if not the same result something vastly more devastating.

He was right, water pressure was if controlled able to cut through almost anything, but for me, ice was easier to form and mould to my liking, from blades to spears… even spikes, ice was a simpler concept for me to accept and utilize.

Nonetheless, Pakku was my master and I had to obey him, he knew much more than me in this ancient art.

Other than that, I have come to notice water bending is not that hard, at least perhaps for me, I don't need Pakku to explain the moves more than once, it just comes naturally, it was almost as if I had born with this power.

I was so confident in my talent that I had a feeling, I would best most soldiers within the northern water in months. Blood bending, on the other hand, I… I was having problems with it, every full moon I would try to feel it, but I just couldn't find the connection, perhaps I needed to be more in synch with the element before moving into more advance techniques.

"You never cease to amaze me," Pakku commented.

"Thanks," I bowed respectfully.

"Talent like yours is not a common thing," Pakku smiled before his face turned into a deep frown, "Don't let talent blind you, talent can only take you so far,'

"I won't," I nodded.

"Good, now… tomorrow, come early," Pakku ordered as he calmly walked towards the next bender to correct their form or movement.

Oh, yeah, Jealousy was a thing for me now, people hated me here, apparently, Pakku does not give compliments often, in fact, some of the guards say he just simply hates to give any, but… with me, every now and then, he would praise me for my hard work.

"Well, time to go home and take a bath," I muttered, as I walked out of the class, having no reason to stay, my literal shift had ended two hours ago.

As I walked home, I found myself lost in the city… somehow I had taken a wrong turn, which is weird, I haven't done that… ever.

'Push…'

'Pull'

Voices… soft voices echoed in my head, like tears falling into a well, making a pleasant sound, that guided further into the city…. I was deeply confused as to what was pulling me towards the city, it was an intoxicating feeling of euphoria, almost… primal, my body craved to know…. I wanted to know.

"This is crazy," I muttered as I continued to follow the voices, that were probably only in my head.

'Push…'

'Pull'

The more I walked, the clearer the voices became, the closer I got to the source of the sound, the more I felt like the waves of the sea were pushing me.

"The royal palace?" Why…

'Push…'

'Pull'

Once again the voices echoed, and I knew they were coming from the palace, two words, two basics and normally mundane words, and yet… right now, they were so vexing, that it hurt.

"I will definitely end up in jail…." I sighed, as I climbed the wall to the palace making sure not to make any noises, the last thing I wanted was the fucking chief of this city labelling my ass as a public enemy.

Looking over the wall, I noticed that… the guard keeping an eye was asleep, "No wonder, this city was so easy to raid in the Tv show," I muttered as I jumped to the other side, landing as silently as a cat, "And my friends thought my gymnastics classes were a waste… ha! Jokes on them!"

'Push…'

'Pull'

God damn it, I'm coming, stop… wait is this a new way of teasing… I kinda feel violated now, anyhow, I still had to keep my guard up… in case one of the patrols around the castle appeared.

And right I was to be careful, the place was infested with guards, though the majority was sleeping… seriously where is their supervisor… no... Akira… just take the luck the universe is giving you.

'Push…'

'Pull'

"I know…" I muttered, stopping mid-sentence… now I knew where I was… in the spirit oasis, "I risked my life, and freedom, for two over-glorified rolls of sushi!" I whispered.

"They are our guides…" The voice of a little girl said, with timid expression, she was wearing a very expensive dress, and her hair was white, her complexion showed she was around nine to ten years old, maybe eleven.

"Hi… please don't call your dad," I muttered with a weak smile.

"I won't…" Yue smiled, "I know you came here because you heard them... I always hear them… they are always dancing, pulling and pushing the waves of the sea, entangled in a dance of balance, isn't that beautiful?"

"I get why you can hear them… but me?" I inquired, mostly to myself.

"I don't know… maybe Pakku would know?" Yue offered.

"I very much appreciate my life, so no thank you," I chuckled, making Yue chuckled as well.

"Maybe I can arrange my father to bring you here, we are almost the same, age… he will think I want a playdate," Yue offered, and she was right it could work, I was almost fourteen, and she was probably eleven… I was still of an age, where playing was not seen as stupid.

"That would be awesome!" I smiled, nodding.

"Great, so what is your name… and where do you live?" Yue asked, trying to hide her excitement.

"I live in a hotel near the leather distribution district… and my name is Akira," I smiled, still not completely in love with my name… perhaps that would change in the future, or perhaps I would change my name, Aizen and Poseidon seemed like awesome options…. I just wish I remembered my real name, without it… all of this feels like playing pretend.

"See you soon Akira…. If you want to stay longer… get in tree, the guards never approach the spirits too much," Yue said, as she ran back to her room… happy? Poor girl must have zero friends.

'Push…'

'Pull'

"Yes, I know… you push she pulls…." I muttered as I climbed the tree, and while I sounded tire of their... repetitive routine... I was actually hypnotized by their dance... it was... unique.