Chapter 30: Air Temple - 98 AG

As the sun painted the sky above the endless expanse of sea, Sozim found himself standing at the bow of his ship. In the distance, there lay an island like no other, a colossal mountain rising into the heavens, its peaks piercing the very clouds. It was a spectacle of such magnificence, a rarity as elusive as the people who once called it home.

Upon the mountain's towering slopes, three grand temples stood with smaller ones nestled amid the lush foliage. Sturdy bridges linked them, forging a seamless connection between the temples. Sozim marveled at the beauty of this place but couldn't help but dread the daunting ascent that lay ahead.

"What a breathtaking sight," sighed Hakoda, who stood beside him. "One can't help but admire the craftsmanship of those Air Nomads. It's a tragedy that their legacy was extinguished, a testament to the cruelty of the Fire Nation."

Sozim nodded in agreement. "You're right... but how do I reach it? Should I swim?"

Hakoda chuckled, entertained by the thought. "As entertaining as that would be, no, young one. The rest of the fleet continues to Chameleon Bay, while this vessel shall deliver you to the island."

Sozim simply nodded. Without warning, Hakoda sounded a horn, a signal for the rest of the fleet to forge ahead while the ship carrying Sozim disconnected from the formation and set its course for the island.

When Sozim's vessel finally touched the pristine beach of the Air Temple island, he disembarked and stood upon the ivory sands. Hakoda joined him, offering a reassuring pat on the shoulder before ruffling the young man's hair.

"Good luck, Sozim," Hakoda said. "May you discover what you seek on this island and return unharmed, untouched by any wayward spirits."

"I hope so," Sozim replied earnestly.

Hakoda continued, "And I hope your waterbending flourishes once more. We can't afford to let the art of our tribe fade away in our generation."

"You still have your daughter, Hakoda," Sozim reminded him.

"True," Hakoda said with a chuckle. "I hope you two cross paths one day and share your knowledge. You both are our best hope for preserving the waterbending bloodline in our tribe."

Sozim sighed. "I can't make any promises."

"I know," Hakoda replied with a solemn expression. "But we can always hope."

"You say 'hope' too much."

Hakoda shook his head at Sozim's words, and with one last reassuring pat on Sozim's shoulder, Hakoda ascended the ship, turned, and flashed a final smile. "Good luck, young Sozim. May the water spirits guide you back to us once again."

As the ship pushed off, resuming its journey to Chameleon Bay, Sozim turned his attention to the daunting mountain terrain he needed to conquer. However, a small staircase nearby caught his eye, and a smile crept across his face. While steep, it was a far better choice than a direct climb.

—

The trek had left Sozim utterly exhausted. The staircase seemed endless, each step long, steep, and leading up to the ancient temple. Evening had already descended upon his arrival, and the thin air made his breath heavy. After a brief rest, he embarked on his exploration of this monument, once a thriving place.

As his eyes roved the surroundings, he beheld stone floors and walls engulfed by creeping vines and other vegetation. Scorch marks adorned the walls, haunting reminders of a genocide that had transpired nearly a century ago. While some stones retained their pristine white, many had succumbed to decay, their colors now shades of gray and brown.

With every step within the temple's confines, destruction manifested itself—crumbling walls, shattered pillars, defaced statues, and eroded carvings. Sozim gingerly crossed a precarious bridge lacking protective rails, ascending to a slightly higher temple. Here, the same dismal tableau met his gaze.

It was a sight of broken edifices, burn scars, unchecked overgrowth, and scattered debris, repeated as he ventured deeper into the temple's heart. Finally, he reached one of the grander chambers, where an airbender statue stood.

Sozim believed it to be Avatar Yangchen, and to his relief, it remained relatively unscathed, though the encroaching vegetation threatened to shroud it. His sigh conveyed the weight of the scene, and he continued his exploration.

He traced the etchings, strolled through the vacant dormitory, ambled through the silent kitchen, and inspected the feeding trays for the flying bison, strewn about the temple. Here, time had seemingly frozen, with personal items left in place, even some books miraculously preserved. Yet, Sozim sensed something amiss in this place: the absence of the air nomads' remains.

Had a benevolent visitor given them a proper burial, or had the Fire Nation seized them for nefarious experiments? The answer eluded him, but one thing was clear—no skeletal remains lingered.

Sozim continued to traverse the three colossal temples, finding the same desolation at every turn. Eventually, he arrived at a particular spot, the highest natural formation in this spiritual haven, seemingly meant for meditation. And there, he encountered an elderly man.

This man, dark-skinned like the Water Tribes, donned a simple yellow garment and bore the appearance of malnourishment. Yet, he sat serenely atop a rocky pillar, his eyes closed in meditation.

"Ah... A visitor?" The old man's voice pierced the silence. "It's been ages since someone came here."

"Are you the one who took care of this place?" Sozim inquired with curiosity.

"Took care?" The old man raised an eyebrow, opening his eyes and descending from the pillar. He approached Sozim. The young visitor now discerned the pungent scent of onions emanating from the old man.

Sozim's gaze met the man's. "Yes, I couldn't help but notice there are no... skeletons here."

"Ah, astute observation. Yes, I undertook that task. They were my brothers and sisters; it was the least I could do." The old man smiled, now standing before Sozim. "I couldn't help but sense your urgent aura. It carries the scent of blood."

"I came here in search of spiritual enlightenment. The air nomads were known for their profound spirituality," Sozim replied. "I had hoped they might offer answers to my... predicament."

"You've come to the right place," the old man said, his smile unwavering. "Isn't it fascinating how destiny unfolds? You sought enlightenment and found me instead."

"Yes," Sozim mumbled. "Are you a... guru? Wait, I think I've heard of you, vaguely."

"Indeed, I am Guru Pathik," the old man chuckled. "Long ago, I had a vision of aiding a boy with the scent of blood. It seems today is that day."

"Vision? How do you get visions?" Sozim inquired.

The old man laughed. "You don't 'get' visions, young man. Visions find you."

Guru Pathik strode past Sozim, descending from the peak toward the temple. "Come, let's continue our conversation inside. It's growing cold and dark, don't you think?"

—

As the sky darkened, Sozim and Guru Pathik sat within the temple. Sozim reluctantly accepted a pungent-smelling juice. He had recounted his story to the guru, who listened with a calm, nodding demeanor.

"I see," Guru Pathik murmured. "Your situation is unusual, young man. Usually, spirits can absorb humans, granting them immortality at the cost of their personality. In your case, however, the process seems incomplete, resulting in possession. Typically, a possessed human adopts the spirit's characteristics. You're fortunate not to have turned into a half-human, half-bat creature. And there's the case of the Avatar, who merged with two spirits and retained their human appearance. Your case isn't the first, nor will it be the last."

"What do you mean?" Sozim furrowed his brow.

The old man laughed. "In essence, the spirit inside you, Chio, is rather... clumsy."

Sozim's confusion deepened. "I don't understand."

The old man sighed. "The spirit inside you, Chio, is the offspring of Father Glowworm, a spirit that once troubled a past Avatar. While I don't know his intentions in possessing a human body, it's a reverse situation this time—the spirit absorbing the human, rather than the other way around."

"Oh," Sozim looked down. "So, he failed and ended up possessing me?"

"No, if the previous occupant of the body is in the spirit world, then the spirit succeeded. It's just that something went wrong in between," Guru Pathik murmured. "Or perhaps fate intervened."

"What?" Sozim furrowed his brow.

Guru Pathik chuckled again. "Don't concern yourself with that. You'll come to understand the world in due time."

"Right," Sozim muttered. "So, how do I... deal with it? With the spirit?"

"Dealing with it?" The old man smiled. "It depends. Do you want to expel him, or do you want to assimilate him into your very being?"

"I can do that?"

"Of course," Guru Pathik hummed. "The false Avatar managed it, so can you."

"If I... absorb him, will I become bloodthirsty?" Sozim asked, seeking clarification.

"That depends on you," the old man shrugged.

Sozim sighed, unsatisfied with the answer. "How can I even do it?"

"To rid yourself of the spirit inside you, you must confront it by taking total control of your own body," the old man explained. "However, your chakras appear blocked, and you must unblock them before assuming control."

Sozim raised an eyebrow. "Chakras?"