Avatar: Macai's Journey

Chapter 44: The Fateful Letter

One sunny day, Macai, Rosh, Kanna, Sonna, and Dade are having a discussion inside of Rosh's room. The Prompt Adjudicator is still docked within the Fire Nation harbor. Kanna: "I don't see how one big assault will change anything. Our enemies will just rise up again, with petty uprisings."

Macai replies, "I hear this time, Ozai is going to personally lead the charge. The attack will be so bold, brutal, and glorious that it will certainly break the spirit of our foes."

Rosh: "I don't know, some of the people we fought had a spirit that wouldn't fold for anything but death."

Sonna asks, "Do you think he is going to wipe them all out?"

Macai shakes his head, "No, I don't think that. That's too much, even for Ozai. Maybe he'll just wipe out several of the rebel hideouts and kill many key leaders."

Dade: "Do you think he'll get Kett?"

Macai puts his hand on his chin, "I hope not, I'd rather personally kill that traitor."

Sonna sighs, "Macai, he was one of your best friends. Now you are so dead set on getting him killed, maybe he was just indoctrinated."

Macai nods his head, "Perhaps, but I-I fear he is beyond redemption. To be honest, I was never trained for a situation like this and how to deal with it. But my father always told me, 'When you have a traitor, you need to just kill that person. Otherwise, he may corrupt you.'" Kanna looks down at the table.

Dade notices and pats Kanna on the back. Kanna doesn't react. Rosh: "We must trust in the Heavenly Creator's judgment. That all will be fairly settled by his infinite understanding."

Dade interrupts, "Oh hush with that nonsense."

Macai: "I believe all that is meant to happen will happen within the universe, but the spiritual forces seem to favor our nation."

Asad interrupts and opens the door, "I hear a bit of religious dogma, so let me chime in."

Rosh retorts, "No."

Asad: "The universe bends before the will of the people. Whatever we want, will come to us. As long as we work for it. The more we work, think about, and fight for our victories; the better our results will be. The universe favors the determined and we have been winning this war because we put in more effort than the other nations."

Kanna interrupts, "It's all about effort? What about when both sides try equally hard?"

Asad: "Then it comes down to personal talent. That's why good and bad people win at times. Because it comes down to who wants victory more."

Rosh asks, "Then why do ruthless yet powerful factions constantly falter over time?"

Asad: "Because they start to lose their edge over time. They become complacent in victory. Stagnation and apathy are death."

Macai: "It's all about will and passion? What about when a more skilled opponent keeps beating someone who is giving his all?"

Asad: "It's not just about the short-term victory, it's more about the long-term cause and movement. Sometimes you have to lose the battle in order to win the war."

Macai comments, "That makes a little more sense, but sometimes causes win that shouldn't be winning. I doubt it's all about will because I swear there can be two equally willing sides with one clear victor."

Asad: "When there are two equally willing sides, the conflict ends in a stalemate. The overall will of a cause can change at any moment. People may lose heart and collapse over time."

Rosh responds, "Even if you are right, when a cause of fraction continually engages in dishonorable acts the will of many members to commit to that faction will eventually decline until it collapses."