Mastering the Fire Part 1

It has been a week since Aaron completed his first training and the advantages could be seen in how he moved swiftly across the ground. Sage Henlo seemed impressed by how Aaron was improving day by day but, the same could not be said for Aaron as he believed that he should have had improved more because he would have to fight the whole world and then he could be able to restore balance.

Aaron seemed unsatisfied with the result and he thought that he is a long way from achieving perfection also it seemed to him that his achievement was meager.

"Okay Young Avatar, I want you to shot those rock altars with your fireballs continuously," ordered Henlo while signaling to two rock altars standing on the ground at a distance.

"As you say Sage Henlo. But, what is the twist in shooting two rock altars?" questioned a confused Aaron.

"You will soon know what is the twist with it and you should get ready for it. Remember that you should only use fire bending and forget that you are originally an earth bender," warned Henlo.

"I would do as you have said, Sage Henlo. I will forget that I even know the earth bending."

Aaron immediately got ready and stretched both his arms and legs into the snake position. He snapped his palms and alive flames floated above his palms. He took a deep breath and gazed at the rock altars kept at a distance. He suddenly began firing small fireballs at the rock altars and his speed increased with every movement of his hands. Seeing this Sage Henlo kept smiling and waited for sometime before Aaron got tired of his aggressive assault.

"Do it Now, Lunatok!" cried Henlo.

Suddenly, the rock altars came towards Aaron at great speed. Aaron whose total focus was drawn to firing the fireballs didn't have the slightest idea that it could happen. Unfortunately, Aaron couldn't react on time and got hit by the two rock altars which had gotten hot due to his continuous firing of fireballs. He went flying backward and landed flat on the ground. He got badly hurt as the rock altars were not only hard but, also they were hot.

"Are you okay, Young Avatar?" asked a worried Henlo.

"Ah, Yeah... Yeah I am fine. Just a little bit hurt." said Aaron in a painful tone.

"I hadn't noticed that Lunatok wasn't even present, how lame of me. I should have taken note of everything before taking any decision," said Aaron to himself as he got up with much difficulty.

Aaron brushed off the dust particles off his clothes and again stretched his arms and legs and came into his usual fighting position. Immediately two other rock altars rose above from the ground. Aaron took a deep breath and started firing fireballs at the rock altars but, this time he maintained a constant speed so, he doesn't get tired too early. Suddenly, the rock altars came crashing at him when sage Henlo signaled with his hands.

Fortunately, Aaron was prepared for the rock altars this time and immediately leaped off in the air and kept on firing at the altars until both of them crashed with the rock wall. But, before Aaron could take a breath of relief seven sharp rock needles were directed at him. He barely dodged four of them when one of the needles stabbed his right leg. Hot red blood started oozing out of Aaron's leg and he growled in pain as he tried to remove the needle from his leg.

With much difficulty, Aaron took out the rock needle from his right leg and he saw sage Henlo watching him in pain passively. It reminded him of the world which was beautiful but, its people are ruthless and selfish. It angered him from within but, Aaron stood up and calmed his anger while getting into the position. He walked with a limp and stood on the same spot he was standing earlier. He felt physically weak from taking two attacks head-on but, he hadn't given up on his mental prowess yet.

"Bring it on! I am ready and would stand until I die." challenged Aaron.

"This Avatar, I haven't seen a kid like this. He should be unconscious until now after he took those two attacks as well as that stealth attack. I am amazed, he had left with less physical energy but, his mental energy is yet to give up." admired Henlo in his mind.

Two other rock altars immediately came out of the ground and Aaron without wasting much of his time started firing at a constant speed. He had difficulty in moving his legs as they were hurt badly but, his hands were fine enough to take on three more attacks easily. After continuously firing fireballs for a while, the rock altars again started coming at Aaron with much greater speed. As soon as the rock altars came nearer, Aaron rolled out of their way and the Altars crashed with the rock wall.

Again, a volley of rock needles was directed at him and Aaron took the rock needles head-on as he started firing fireballs at a much greater speed than before and both earth and fire element collided airborne and the rock needles fell down before touching Aaron. After this, Aaron who was deleted off his energy, fell on the ground smiling. Sage Henlo, who was watching all this ran to grab Aaron. But, Aaron raised his hands to stop Henlo and signaled that he was fine.

Soon after some time, Aaron stood up on his feet with much difficulty and got ready for another attack. He signaled to sage Henlo to start the other round. Sage Henlo signaled in Lunatok's direction and another pair of rock altars rose above the ground. Aaron who was tired again firing fireballs but, after firing twenty fireballs,  he again fell to the ground and fainted. Lunatok ran towards Aaron and took him in his arms and dragged him across the field to the small cloth tent that was temporarily made for resting.

"Avatar Aaron is forcing himself and trying to break his limits. It would either affect him positively or can affect him negatively. O Rava, the spirit of light, please take care of Aaron. He is the Avatar and the last hope of humanity to restore peace and balance." prayed Henlo while looking at the sky and went before Lunatok and Aaron.