Chapter 15: A New Name

The young warrior went to the nearest river to the Kelutral of her clan. Her greatest fear.

She still remembered her fall when she was young. Of the cold sensation invading her skin, the air missing from her lungs and the darkness darkening her vision.

Since that day, she lived with the haunting memory and could not put one foot in the water. The young chief looked at the water with a certain fear and made an attempt to reach this threatening expanse. No sooner did she put a toe to the water than she immediately moved back, closing her eyes. The unpleasant sensations of her drowning came back to her mind vividly. Lutsey took an inspiration to give herself courage before facing the element again.Lutsey: I am an olo'eyktan! I have to face my fears and she put one foot down and immediately turned back. That terrible memory came back. She was missing the air, the darkness darkening her vision.

Voice: We've got a big problem I see, olo'eyktan.

She turned around and saw the human arriving, with his youthful, arrogant face.

Lutsey: That's not your problem!

Ben: That's right. But what I do know is that you need help.

Lutsey: I don't need you.

Ben, smile, look up: I do.... I believe you.

Lutsey: So what? You'd be the last person I'd ask.

Ben: And you asked my opinion when you brought me into your clan?

Lutsey gritted his teeth in rage. How dare he speak to her like that? That demon...

Tsylan: Listen... you're my teacher. I'm offering to be yours.

Lutsey laughed.

Lutsey: To teach me what?

Ben: To fight your fear. Miss is a great warrior but to be a fish, there's no one left. She turned her head, looking very angry.

Lutsey: An olo'eyktan must be able to solve his problems alone.

Tsylan: Everyone needs help at some point in their lives. The key is to accept it when it comes.

Lutsey: I...

He pushed her into the water before she had time to react. The contact with the water made her feel an uncontrollable fright. And she started to panic and wiggle her hands all over the place. As for Ben, he raised his eyes to the skies before speaking.

Ben: You can walk, you know?

Lutsey stopped wiggling and noticed, indeed, that her feet were touching the ground below the water. She felt ridiculous. Lutsey: It's not funny! Tsylan continued until she had tears in her eyes, turning her face bright red with anger and shame. Finally, he stopped and calmed down.

Ben: Okay, I'll teach you the basics. At least I'll try.

Lutsey One. No more.

Ben: Miss is going to put her pride aside! You don't learn to swim in one session!

Lutsey: I'm...

Ben by getting closer: Olo'eyktan, I know. But right now, you are my student.

Lutsey: I never said....

Ben in a bossy tone: Stop being such a child! Now look what I'm doing.

The young chief was surprised by this tone of voice used by her apprentice and kept silent, looking at the apprentice. As for his apprentice, he lay down on the water and wiggled his feet, provoking a small wave wetting his tutor.

Lutsey: Hey!

Well, as he got up. Now it's your turn.

Lutsey: I...!

Tsylan sighed and pushed her again. The olo'eyktan came into contact with the cold element and was no longer standing. Panic began to win her over and she became agitated in all directions.

Ben scratching his head: There's work to be done

He grabbed his tutor's right hand and pulled hard. So much so that she found herself glued to him. Lutsey unintentionally blushed as he touched her firm chest and soft skin.

Ben: It's okay,

His voice was a voice of concern. It was the first time she'd ever heard that tone. Finally, she pulled herself together.

Lutsey, stepping aside: No!! Did you want to kill me? He sighed.

Ben: I'm trying to help you Lutsey! Do you understand? H E L P .

Lutsey: I....

The human lifted up on her legs and she retreated into his arms. Lutsey: Put me down! He didn't listen to her and walked for a while until he was in the water. Panic went to his head

Lutsey: Put me down! Put me down now!

Faced with her lack of reaction, she shouted.

Lutsey: SUBMIT ME!!!!

Ben : Okay

With these words, he let her go and the chief was in the water again. In panic, she moved her arms and legs, looking for a floor to put her foot on.

Lutsey : Help !

The human finally took her back. With her heart beating in a frantic rhythm, she huddled in his arms as much as possible, looking for comfort. Naked, she felt ashamed.

Ben: Ready for classes?

Lutsey slapped him violently in the face, which didn't make him back down, she looked away before whispering a "yes".

Ben, despite the red right cheek: Good. We'll start slowly with a first swim. Now listen to me carefully.

He told her what to do. Glue her feet... Fold...Unfold...What is this swim?

Tsylan: Not like that!

With these words, he showed her again before guiding her. His touch with her wet skin gave her a strange feeling, like a vibration running through her body. As for her heart, its rhythm accelerated.

She will never admit it, but it also gave her the opportunity to contemplate him, without him being able to know it, while he was teaching her.

Several days later,

Ben went to the link room, as usual, to connect his avatar. He was in a good mood today. His relationship with Lutsey has improved greatly since he was teaching him how to swim. Of course, he himself has been making efforts for the lessons with her to respect her learning progress, especially in the archery. In fact, he was beginning to appreciate the weapon more and more, even though it is no substitute for a good sniper rifle.

In addition, he made friends with several members of the clan including the Vylia group. One of the musicians even offered to give him music lessons. Seized by curiosity, he accepted with pleasure.

He looked around and was surprised not to see Grace, Jake or Norm. Although Norm was still angry with Jake for being accepted into the omatikayas, it was a bit of a let-down. As for Grace, her relationship with the scientist has improved since she learned of her progress in the orange-eyed clan, which is reputedly difficult.

Not seeing them, he decided to ask Max, who supervised the groups in charge of monitoring the pilots. With other scientists, he was in the center of the room, in a semicircular control panel, surrounded by holographic screens displaying the state of the avatars, for the moment.

Ben: Hello, Max.

He looked up from the screen and greeted him with a smile.

Max: Hello, Ben. Sleep well?

Ben with a smile: Yes, thank you. I wanted to ask you a question before we start the connection.

Max: I'm listening, but don't take too long.

Ben: Do you know where Grace, Jake and Norm are? They're usually here at the same time as I am.

To this question, Max's face seemed to darken for a moment.

Ben: A problem?

Max: No...Nothing serious. They went to a unit in the Hallejujahs.

The former soldier was inrigued by this response. Although Grace was more comfortable in her na'vi than human body, he didn't think she would isolate herself. Especially with Jake and Norm. Why would this happen?

Ben: What are the reasons? It is not Grace's habit to take such steps. Unless she sensed a threat on the base.

Max with a sigh: Your reasoning is right. I caught Jake delivering information to Selfridge and Quaritch about the Omatikaya House Tree.

Ben: That's worrisome.

Hiding the existence of the Menariyas tunti, except from Grace, seemed to have been a good decision after all.

Ben with a sigh: I know this kind of scenario from having lived it.

Max: And let me guess, it doesn't end well?

At this reply, the pilot lowered his eyes for a moment, as if to answer him.

Ben: I have to go.

Max with a sigh: Yes, don't keep them waiting too long. Especially Lutsey.

Lutsey watched his apprentice following Siltsan's apprenticeship on the hufwey,,a rather peculiar instrument similar to a flute. The latter's curiosity never ceased to amaze him. Moreover, he was progressing day by day and would soon be able to join the group for ceremonies and celebrations.

Joltsyn,,carrying her twins who looked aroundd withh a curious air,, watched her sister who seemedd to be smiling. The feeling she felt about her confirmed her impressions.

Joltsyn: You seem to like him.

Lutsey interrupted his observation and looked at Joltsyn with a calm, soothed look.

Lutsey: Yes.

Joltsyn: He seems to fit well in this role of musician.

Lutsey: He looks happy, indeed.

Joltsyn: You know they've found a name for him.

The young chief lifted her ears, interested.

Lutsey: Is that so? I confess that I hadn't thought about it.

Joltsyn: With your resentment and learning, you didn't have time to think about it.

Lutsey: Indeed.

Now, she could notice that the human was getting closer to Vylia, bringing back that negative feeling that she had been able to control until then. Suddenly she felt a familiar, soothing hand on her right shoulder that managed to calm her down.

Joltsyn: Calm down, sister. You're imagining things.

Lutsey: How can you be so sure?

Joltsyn: I can't tell you for sure, but there's no indication that you're confronting your fears.

Lutsey: You're right, so what's that name?

Joltsyn: Tsylan. I think it suits him pretty well.

The young chief mumbled the name several times before smiling.

Lutsey: You're right. It's an excellent name for him.