Chapter 21

A few days had passed since Haru defeated the troops of the firebenders on his own. The rumours were doomed to spread like fire would. The men in Omashu and the people's mouths spread that information through the whole earth kingdom. It was inevitable that the Fire Nation would get a hand on that since their troops had been missed for days.

Currently, a group of Fire Nation soldiers were sitting by the battle location. It was easy to determine. They dug, and they found something… someone's rotten body.

"Over here." Said a man as he was done digging. "It's here."

Around ten soldiers came and started digging.

In no time, they found more bodies. They completed digging until they found a large hole. A stinky smell spread around. Dead bodies covered in maggots were found.

The fire nation soldiers clenched their fists.

The one on their lead had tears in his eyes. "Those poor guys… they had families… some people to protect and love. And now they are dead. How are we even going to deliver that information back…."

Someone patted him on the back. "Let's just give them honourable death."

"Right."

Soon, they got the bodies out. The firebenders brought jars with them, and they burned the bodies before storing the ashes.

They then sent a messaging hawk with a report to the nearest base.

It was night.

General Zhao was sitting by his office in a naval base. Currently, he was reading the report. It was unbelievable to him.

A hundred and twenty men, with two tanks, were taken down. The main suspect is a young earthbender called Haru. There are rumours that he is the new Crown Prince of Omashu.

Zhao found his hands shaking in disbelief.

One earthbender defeated a little army.

It was hard to take.

But again, this had happened due to geographical advantage. If the fire soldiers fought earthbenders in narrow paths, the earthbenders will have the advantage since the firebenders can't use their full power.

But still. Killing so many of their kind is an unforgivable crime. Zhao found it necessary that he needs to report before he starts moving.

This way, he will get more merits, and thus, a higher status.

He didn't feel bad for the soldiers. After all, this is war, and they must keep moving.

"Bring me a reporting hawk."

***

Two days later, a hawk came back, and Zhao found that he had a direct order.

<<Public Executions>>

"Acho!"

Haru sneezed. Currently, he was in the backyard of the royal palace, training.

Ever since he got the Crown Prince title, he tasked some units to go back to his village and support it.

Now, Haru was training. He thought that since he has some time, it would be good to train here and learn from the king.

He learnt a couple of skills from Bumi.

[Bending with muscles level 3]

It was a skill that used his Bending with Hands and Bending with Feet as a foundation to level up, so it was easier.

Haru was in the backyard. He waved his head to the left, and the ground shifted its shape, making a small peak raise to the left.

He nodded his head in the opposite direction, and the ground fixed itself.

'My neck…' Haru patted his neck as it felt sore.

He now sat down, opened his hands, and a small rock appeared, floating. Haru took a deep breath and used his imagination to make it hotter.

The rock glowed up and turned into lava that fell.

[Physique Shift up to level 2]

Haru learnt how to make magma.

But he didn't learn how to bend it, yet.

But that wasn't an excuse not to learn something from it, or at least, create a skill from it.

For the last days, Haru was creating rocks in the air, before heating them and making them fall.

Yesterday, he got a notification.

[Associated Skill discovered: Earth Meteor]

Since he was a newbie in this, Haru was forced to create this skill using small rock.

Haru flicked his finger, and from the ground, a small boulder floated behind him. It was as big as a box. It then glowed in red, the air around it getting hot before it was set on fire.

It didn't turn into magma but became so hot that fire was lit around it.

Haru waved his finger down, and the rock fell away from him, creating a small explosion.

[Earth Meteor up to level 2]

Haru repeated the skill, and the meteor became bigger this time.

This is an overpowered skill if he cultivated it to a high level.

Haru looked at the damaged earth. Moving his finger, the earth started bending, getting fixed in no time.

"What a skill…" Haru muttered. 'I now need to learn how to bend lava, just once I arrive at that Kyoshi island and fight that sea creature.'

"Hard-working, as usual…" Bumi came from the entrance to the backyard.

Haru turned to him and smiled. "Oh, Bumi. You came early."

"How can I not when all I'm hearing is the boom sounds."

"Sorry for the disturbance." Haru laughed slightly as he didn't sound sorry at all.

"So, you are training… how far did you advance."

"Enough." Well, since he had been focused on lava bending, bending with muscles, and Earth Transfer, he didn't advance much in the other skill.

His Earth Transfer reached level 5 by the way.

"Show me."

"Okay." Haru jumped slightly. Once he landed on the ground, he sank. Haru found it funny that he could see above the ground thanks to his earthbending. It's the ultimate technique to fight, if not for the fact that it lacks oxygen down here.

Bumi looked down. The next second, a spike appeared beneath him. Bumi dodged and yelled. "Hey, do you want me to break my back!"

"Yep." Haru appeared from the ground, behind Bumi, standing on his feet and patted him.

"Don't joke around like that…" Bumi said. "Come around, the breakfast is ready. You don't want to miss that."

"Sure," Haru said. Since he is leaving today, he needed to say goodbye to Bumi in a proper way.

They moved to the dining hall. Haru looked at the warm luxurious royal meal that was in front of him. Haru ate, knowing that this may be the last royal meal that he will have.

Over the days, he learned that his life will only get harder.

But freedom has a price.

This is war, no game.

'Which I have chosen earth to stay on. Now, I'll continue my journey, alone. And then, I'll have to go on more wars…'

Haru let a long sigh.

"Is there something bothering you, young man?" Bumi asked.

"No… nothing. I just want a vacation." Haru said.

"You can have one…." Bumi replied.

Haru looked at him. For the first time, his expression softened up.

Bumi continued. "Once you reach my age."

Haru frowned.

Bumi slammed the table with his hand and laughed. "You should have seen the look on your face!"

"Nice Joke." Haru sighed. "Anyway. I have something to tell you."

"What? Leaving already?"

"Yeah, I have to continue my journey," Haru said. "I'm not planning to fight the fire nation yet."

"Will you take the army with you?" Bumi asked.

"Not yet. I will have to complete the last phase of my training." Haru replied.

"You have my blessing, but let me warn you." Bumi sounded serious. He supported his chin with both hands.

Haru raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Don't let yourself seduced by the long legs and big boobs."

"Oh that. Don't worry about…" he said. "I've accepted my fate a long time ago… I'm just getting stronger, no girls on my path."

In Kyoshi island, one pretty blonde girl in the dojo started complaining.

"Girls! This isn't my bra! Who took mine!"

"You may have forgotten it at home." Another one replied. "Or, yours just got bigger."

"Yeah, I forgot."

"You can have mine if you wanted."

-x-X-x-

"No need to be sad Haru," Bumi said. "Look at me, hundred and twelve years. Wanna know my secret."

"Let me guess, you are single," Haru said, already knowing the answer. In India and China, monks and people who remained single were known to be the happiest and the longest living.

"Hahaha! You are right!" Bumi laughed.

"This doesn't help." Haru put his face between his hands. He took his face back and looked at his hands. "At least I have these."

"It's okay, you may have time with women after the war."

"Let's just change the topic." Haru sounded annoyed.

He put his hands on the table, and he said. "Thanks for everything Bumi, but I'll be leaving by the night."

"Wait, I have to give you something."

Bumi reached into his pocket and brought a golden tablet. He threw it to Haru and said. "This will prove your position as a crown prince here."

"Thanks…" Haru read what was written on the tablet. 'The Crown Prince'. Sounds nice. He put it in his pocket and gave Bumi a slight bow.