The Lost Avatar

Part 1 - Chapter 11

The Masters

Early in the morning and just before sunrise, all of us got up and ready inside the cabin within a few minutes and left outside. One of the Dai Li locked the door of the cabin and the six of us left walking towards the mountain with a few tribeswomen waiting to escort us.

Only one of the Dai Li had a spirit with him but the other two surprisingly didn't. Were they non-benders? They won't tell me anything anyway. But they should be benders...right?

We reached the base of the mountain where almost the entire village was waiting with the Chief not in sight. We passed by everybody and began trekking up the mountain with the help of a few old stairs and rocks on our path. The tribeswomen left us and started walking in the opposite direction. The villagers who were gathered there left to go about their business.

After an hour or two, we reached an old temple. The same temple from which the light was visible from our cabin. Upon reaching, we found it to be quite small with a single shrine of no idol but a large fire crackling. Even though the temple was open from three sides, the fire was burning fiercely. I saw the Chief and his wife waiting for us. I stopped just before the temple steps. It wasn't me who was to enter today. Dev passed by me and entered the temple while gazing at the fire. I stopped the Dai Li and they stood behind me.

That fire captivated Dev that he didn't remember how tired he was. He stopped right in the middle of the temple and the Chief came towards him.

"This fire has been kept alive for thousands of years. It was given to us by the Masters. Welcome to the birthplace of Fire bending." He said.

Dev looked at him while listening and the Chief went towards the shrine. He then bent out a small amount of fire from the existing flames and quickly transferred it to Dev's cupped hands. It burnt normally upon touching them. Even for a firebender.

"Go all the way to the top of this mountain to meet the Masters. Keep the flame burning." Instructed Chief Un.

With the flame in his hands, Dev resumed hiking up the mountain from the temple and we all followed right behind him with the Chief and his wife next to me. It was pretty interesting to note that none of the tribe's people traveled with their own spirit. I guess, the Masters being there kept them constantly strong and connected. It feels like a fantasy. Is this how it used to be throughout the world?

"Asin? Hey!" Dev called out.

"Huh? Why are you waiting?! Keep going!" I exclaimed.

"What happens if my fire goes out?" he asked, while sweating profusely.

Uh oh. He already felt tired from cupping his hands and holding the flame.

"Don't you dare let that extinguish!" I warned.

"Asin, I can't! It'll go off any minute!" he said.

"It's not so hard! Keep going!" I said, annoyed.

He rushed up ahead at that and we continued behind him. after a few more minutes, we sat down to rest and drink water. I tried to give water directly into Dev's mouth but he refused it. He was scared to lose his flame through any distractions. I only wiped his face with my scarf at hand to avoid his dripping sweat. It garnered stares but I didn't care.

"I've never had anyone walking with me when I had to do this, okay? So, suck it up." I said.

We resumed our journey and reached the top of the mountain. From there we could look below to the other side at a flat plain with two tall towers having an opening each. The openings were connected with a flat bridge made of natural stone. We trekked down towards the first proper stairs made of stone and walked onto a rocky platform. It was circular and flat with ancient markings of the Sun Tribe. All of the tribe's people were arranged around it and were patiently waiting for the Avatar to come.