The Marks

The Trollings of Benders

The rest of my day consist of being stuck in school. A few of my friends asked about the leather bracelet, but by then I had made up the tale of the bracelet being a traditional pass down.
By the time school ended, my patience was almost completely depleted. I am regularly a patient person, but my classmates were practically driving my sanity against the wall.
I opened the door to my house, the thought of what I was going to do with my new bed dilemma passed through my mind. I groaned quietly to myself.
I dropped my book bag off by the doorway and went into the kitchen, hoping to eat away my anxiety.
Noni was seated at dining table, reading the newspaper. She glanced up and smiled.
"Hello, Noni." I said tiredly.
"Hello, Leilani, how was your day at school?" She asked. I shot her a look and she chuckled, "I see. Well, just before you came in here, I was reminiscing about when I first discovered my powers."
My attention was peaked as I sat down next to her, "How did you discover you powers?" I asked.
"It was when I was seventeen like you. I had just got in a fight with my parents.. I don't remember exactly what the fight was about, but I remember storming to my room. Once I was inside I got so angry that Fire sputtered out of my fingertips. I suppose, I was lucky I didn't start a fire." She told me, smiling.
I blinked, "Your powers were awoken... by anger?"
"Indeed, they were. Oh, dear, I almost forgot to tell you about the old legends of the Benders." Noni said suddenly.
I have always loved legends. "Let's hear it."
"Well, back when Witch-Hunting was a big thing, many Benders were accused of being witches. But, they had to find a different technique for killing them because of the Fire Benders. When they would be tied to a stake and Fire was thrown to their feet, instead of burning, they would absorb the Fire ever so quickly to make it look like a gust of wind. It puzzled and terrified the people that the Witches wouldn't be burned away. I suppose, the best way to describe a Bender during that era would be to describe them as a Troll. They intentionally made the regular people feel stupid for their failed attempt at killing the Benders." Noni said, smiling mischievously.
I laughed, "They Trolled the rest of the settlers! That's amazing."
Noni nodded.
It was silent between us until I asked Noni if she had seen my bed. We got up together, and I showed her the remains of my chard bed. Noni let out a loud laugh, but I wasn't amused.
"I'm sorry, Little Flower, let's go to the store before your mother gets home." Noni said, as she rubbed my back sympathetically.
I nodded.
We left our house, riding in my car to the supermarket. I just needed another set of sheets, so I knew we were going to beat Mom home. She's a Nurse that works in the local hospital. As for my siblings, my brother is working at the surf shop and my little sister is out with her boyfriend.
I parked in one of the parking spots and Noni and I got out. We made a beeline for the isle with sheets on them. As we shuffled through the different sheets, I noticed Noni was distracted. I could hear her muttering, "This is cute.." and, "I like this color." I only turned to look at her when she addressed me, "Little Flower, I think this is the one."
I turned at her and sighed dryly. She held up a pack of sheets that were dark orange with yellow and red flames. Despite that being quite obvious of my new unlocked powers, I liked it.
"Sure, now let's get going."
I gently took the sheets from her and we went to the front of the market to pay for it. We made it home quickly and had just enough time before my Grandfather made it home. He came in, carrying a beer before he sat down on the couch. Noni sat down next to him and a small conversation blossomed between them. I quickly made my bed before joining them out on the couch.
"Hello, Papi." I said.
"Hello, buddy. So, I heard you got your Mark. You know, you've come from a long line of Fire Benders." Papi said, grinning casually.
I almost glared at Noni, who smacked Papi for saying that, as I made are my mouth wasn't gaping open.
"Noni, you told him?" I asked, shocked that she had already told someone something I had just recently discovered.
Noni put her palms facing me, signaling her sign of defeat. "I did, I'm sorry. He's a Fire Bender, too. He had a suspicion this morning just before you left for school. He came to me asking about it, so I told him. And, I intent to tell your mother, too—", Noni began talking quickly because my face changed to angry, "—Only because now that you've discovered your powers, it's time to go searching for your soulmate."
Now, for this type of thing, people go searching for their soulmates when their eighteen, or whenever their country considers them to be full adults. The only way for a person to find there true soulmate is by their necklaces: these necklaces beat quicker the closer the wearer is to their soulmate. These necklaces are specifically unique of the couple so when they meet, their necklaces click together perfectly.
I felt the air leave my lungs, "The Soulmate Necklaces." I whispered.