Chapter 90: Chapter 90
Things went faster from there. First, I brought this skill under free control. Later, while I was practicing the technique, I was able to channel negative emotions the other way. Potentially, this would help siphon off negative energy from the spirits. But that's not the point. Having finally brought the technique to a safe level, I began to explore it. What's responsible for what? Why does it work one way and not another? Anyway, I had a lot of work to do.
Gradually, Azula caught up with me and also learned how to mentally control the energy. I wanted to go further. I was already able to control the flow of energy magic quite freely. Now I wanted to learn how to control it without dividing it. If divided energy was like water, then ordinary energy was like jelly. Non-flowing and very dense. And no matter how much I tried to manipulate it, nothing worked.
At most, I could tear off small pieces of it and control them, but I couldn't change them. In general, something was missing, and I could not understand what it was.
A lot of time went by during the training. Ten years. Of course, all that time I was busy not only with the training, but also with the administration of the island. And I've been to the Fire Nation library many times.
Zuko didn't mind, but he couldn't stand us because we lived in his palace, not in a separate house like everywhere else. And all this because his palace is in a volcano and he has no high rocks nearby and he will not allow us to build a new one. So he's angry because he can't sleep. He can't stand it for more than a week and kicks us out.
But still, I learned a lot. For example, to learn how to control energy magic, you need to know some basic moves. They are different for each element, but in the Fire Nation library, Azula and I found the right ones. Azula was beyond excited and we started practicing. Things were a little different here.
While water magic was about changing spirits, fire magic was about destroying them. After that, we visited the land of Earth. It was a long search. It took us two years, but we found the right thing in a temple. The energy for earth magicians allows people to capture and seal spirits. It's a very useful ability.
But the biggest problem was the Airmen's library. Surprisingly, it wasn't destroyed, but Tenzin, Aang's son, didn't want us to have access to it. Still, he didn't like me very much. After all, I had defeated his father, his role model. So he took revenge on me like that. So I freaked out.
I left, and that night I went straight to the library and started reading. Not that it was a mess, but it took me a year to sort and read. A whole fucking year. But after all that, I could proudly proclaim that I could train any airbender to the rank of master. Not much of an accomplishment, but there it was. But I had found knowledge of energy magic. Airbenders could banish spirits.
At first glance, it was a little useless. But on second glance, it was a different story. The power required was minuscule. It was a very economical teaching, and once I understood its principle, I was able to reduce costs in other areas significantly. And although I could not use this energy because I needed air, the benefits were enormous.
I returned home with a sense of accomplishment. And although I was tired, I was satisfied.
***
«You don't understand, your training must be completed», the old man said in a new circle. I sighed heavily, slowly boiling over. Azula yawned.
«What do I care?» I said calmly.
« She wants you to accept her test!» he exclaimed emotionally. Eh «She refuses to give the test to anyone but you.»
«You know very well that's not my problem», I replied, boiling over more and more, «Didn't you whip her or something? Give her a belt!»
«That's an unacceptable attitude for an Avatar!» he began to sputter. I grimaced.
«Step outside for a minute», Azula said calmly.
«That doesn't sound like you», I wondered. I mean, she was calm. More like sad, «Do you miss her?»
«Yes, Niya is a good girl», she smiled a little. I got up from the table and walked over to the couch and sat down next to her and hugged her, «Yeah, and I haven't seen your mom in a while.»
«What about the Avatar?» I asked, snuggling into the hug, «They won't let me have any fun.»
«I don't think a few hours will make a difference», she shrugged gently, «Yeah, and I'll go with you to see her.»
«Okay», I nodded, «When do we go?» I looked out the window. The sun was setting.
«How about now?» she asked with interest.
«Will we have time?» I figured out the amount of stuff.
«You'll have to ask to hold the ship for a while», she said with a smile.
«Heh, okay», I kissed her cheek, «Go pack.»
Azula scurried off to pack her bags, and I had one more thing to do.