Book 1: Energy

1. Stone in the River

   The sky was supposed to be blue and sunny, yet the cloudy sky hung over my head like a dreary canopy. The smog of Republic City was clear above the towering buildings, as if keeping its citizens hidden from the skies above.

  How depressing.

  I'd normally take the city's transit to school, but my brother, Nilak, had kept me up all night with his blasted new game system. If Global Enterprises continue to come out with these new devices, I swear to the Spirits they'll be the death of me!

  The walk wasn't bad though, as long as I had my headphones I would somewhat survive. It was better than listening to the never-ending loop of Satomobiles honking on the street during rush-hour traffic. Besides, listening to the "Painted Ladies" on repeat never killed me.

  Though school itself wasn't worth the commute. Beifong's Academy of Elite Bending Arts is one of the top private school sectors in the city, and yet the universe decided to go against me by actually making me go there. Don't get me wrong, it's a decent school for education, but the people who go there suck.

  Okay, not all of them do.

  The entire building was made of metal since it first started as an early on academy to train cadets of the police force to metalbend. Yet Lin Beifong transformed it into an actual school to train young benders of all elements from the best masters the city could offer. But it came with a hefty price. Most students' parents are wealthy business owners, political figures, or children of ambassadors from the Cabinet of International Affiliations.

  Though a few students, like myself, were lucky enough to receive full-ride scholarships for being prodigious benders of a sort. The things they consider "prodigious" ranged from earthbenders who could bend just about every sub-style of their element, to firebenders with skills in competition or lightningbending.

  I never asked for it, okay? They offered me a scholarship and my parents decided for me. On their own, they could never afford it. Instead they continue to tell me that it's a great opportunity. Though, I beg to differ.

  Going through the revolving glass doors at the entrance, one is immediately greeted by a statue of Toph Beifong made of steel. In her police uniform, she looked almost as striking as she sounds in the textbooks. I always walk by it as fast as I can because it feels like she's there to just glare judgingly at you.

  Yes I know, that's not technically possible, okay? I just hate statues, don't judge me.

The halls were dark green and silver tiling with white walls lined with lockers on both sides. Besides the steel earth insignias decorating the walls there wasn't much else besides the doors leading to classrooms. It always struck me as cold and impersonal.

Even our lockers were cold and dark. We were allowed to decorate them on the inside and outside, but of course minimally. It had to go through the approval of the school board before anything, because how could they possibly let their students have any sort of self-expression?

  My arms swung loosely at my side, and I was sure to keep my eyes and head forward as I passed by other students. Don't make eye contact, do not make eye contact, I said to myself.

  My locker combination seemed to take an eternity to open, and once I passed it, I quickly shoved my belongings into it. Just as I lowered my headphones to hang on my neck with my music still blasting, almost on cue I heard a shout right beside my ear.

  "VAHNI!"

  Instinctively, I let out a weird gasping inhale before stumbling to grab hold of my headphones that jerked off my neck from the jump I'd made. Yet with a loud clapping sound, I flinched when I watched them hit the ground.