Side chapter - Dreams - E

It took Michael ten minutes to explain his little adventure in Omashu. During that time, he managed to remove the bandages and replace them with a stolen black glove to the elbow. Even Bumi did not notice his sleight of hand, which Michael was very proud of. While they were talking, the - real - guards of the city took the bandits and threw them into the - real - prison. Seeing that his friend was not injured and in better health, Aang relaxed and decided not to ask about the blood.

Pretty soon, the Team Avatar gathered with Appa. Oddly enough, all their things remained in Bison's saddle, so they safely continued their journey. Nobody wanted to think about difficult things, but after talking with Bumi, the Avatar was in deep thought.

Michael decided to ignore this and sleep while he had a chance. If Aang wants to talk, he can talk later.

---

Michael lay in the grass field that gently swayed with the wind. The sun hung high in the sky, illuminating the world with its rays. His eyes were protected only by the shadow of a giant tree that he leaned on, and the teenager silently thanked nature for creating such a beautiful place. There was nothing around him but an open field, it seemed that this tree appeared specifically for Michael to save him from the scorching sun.

He felt someone's hands run through his hair. Those hands were soft but strong and definitely feminine. Those hands were much smaller than his, he could only tell by feeling them in his hair. The girl who was massaging his scalp hummed an unfamiliar song under her breath.

The teenager didn't know how he ended up in the field and whose hands were in his hair, but he decided to just enjoy the moment. Michael hasn't felt this calm in a long time. He expected that after his work on those two bandits, he would not be able to sleep for even a second, but here he was. Lying on the grass and quietly dozing off.

A leaf fell from a tree branch and landed on Cordato's nose, but he didn't try to move to remove it. A woman's hand took the leaf and tucked it behind Michael's left ear as if it were the most beautiful flower in the world.

"Where I am?" He finally asked, not looking at the girl behind him.

"I can say 'you're where you're supposed to be' but I don't think you'll like that answer. For now, you don't need to know what this place is."

Michael didn't answer and started to hum the same tune the girl had been singing just a few moments before. She hummed along for a couple minutes, before starting talking again.

"I can only say that we are in a place that no longer exists. Many people tried to find it, but only one succeeded, and after that, he destroyed this place. Sometimes I remember how beautiful this land was and recreate it in my fantasies."

Michael's hum stopped.

"So, we are in your fantasy? In the world of thoughts?"

The girl laughed out loud and poked Michael in the nose.

"No, silly, these are your thoughts, I'm just a guest here. But, where you saw this place, I don't know."

Michael looked at the endless fields and shrugged.

"I don't know either. Hey, if you're a guest in my mind, then you're most likely either a deity who's interested in my life or a spirit. Which one?"

"Ho... Your mind is sharp, young man. I am a deity. One with less work than the rest."

He chuckled, but suddenly his mind filled with dread.

"Please say that you're not Zeus."

She laughed and Michael felt his soul fill with happiness from that sound. Her laugh was quiet, but soothing. He would say it felt like a mother's embrace, but he never knew what it felt like.

"No, no. The old man was banned from visiting mortals after that rain incident. How he came up with that, I'll never understand."

"Then who are you?"

The goddess covered Michael's eyes with her palms and kissed him on the forehead. He wanted to see her face, but something told him that wouldn't be right.

"I am the one whom no one knows and no one remembers. I am the one who comes in the hour of need but turns away when they offer their praise. I am the knowledge that was erased from books and the minds of people. I am forever forgotten and forever alone. I am the one who does not have a name, child."

Michael squeezed her left hand in sympathy.

"I'm sorry. You must feel pretty lonely."

He felt the woman nod, even if he didn't see her move.

"Yes. But now I've been assigned to oversee your life, my loneliness is tolerable. That spirit you saw the other day was just one of many looking over you."

He shivered at the memory. The snow surrounding him was too white to be real…

"Creepy."

"Yes, they are."

The world around him suddenly shook and caught brightened, as if someone had detonated a nuclear warhead on the horizon.

"Oh, you're waking up. I'll give you a little tip: you should visit the circus. I know I'm not a fan of places like this, but you should give it a shot. Maybe there'll be something you're interested in."

With parting words from the nameless goddess, Michael awoke.

"Sokka! You can't eat Momo; we've already discussed that!"

'Another day in the world of the Avatar.'

Michael raised his hand to his left ear and carefully took out a leaf he found there. He looked at the green leaf and put it in one of his empty books. Maybe he'll need it in the future.