Avatar: The Last Airbender: Legend

Fully completed story on:

patreon.com/FanFictionPremium

***

Studying in a new place was a real challenge. If Yuu could afford extra training after the general class, he had no energy left. The boy could hardly keep up with the pace of the others and was at the bottom of the list of grades.

The days merged into one, where only studying and training took place. Sleep would come in a moment, forcing him to go to class again. For the first month, all the members of the squad looked at the newcomer without making any moves, only Sun Ce, the recognised leader and class commander, talked to Yu and gave him simple advice.

For the first week, he personally tested his physical ability by performing all the exercises in parallel with the subject. At the end of the seventh day, the heir of the OWLs family suggested a practice sparring session to assess the orphan's swordsmanship skills. Twenty minutes of fighting turned into an eternity. Like Petty Officer Ping who denied humanity and kindness, Tse threw his opponent onto his shoulder blades without any indulgence. After a short fight, the boy lying on the floor saw only black dots and muddy spots in front of his eyes. The meagre praise from the commander caused a moronic smile to appear on his face, to which the stern Qie squeezed out a few chuckles.

From that day onwards, it was as if Yu had crossed an invisible line. The attitude of the other cadets had become much better, and although the aristocrats were bent on having private conversations with him, they easily answered his training questions. The patronising attitude towards the penniless kid became a thread that helped the boy improve. Every day he felt he could do more, better, faster.

Training with Tse at the end of each week became a regular occurrence. The Viceroy's son showed a strange sympathy for the orphan that the other students noticed as well. He easily answered his questions and helped in learning new knowledge.

Now, Guan Yu nervously rubbed the halberd, not knowing how to start a dialogue, but Sun Ce, attentive to every detail, spoke first.

-Stop fidgeting, Yu. Speak already.

Taking a deep breath, as if before throwing himself into the water, the child rested his guan dao on the floor. The child's arms relaxed and his hunched back straightened, straightening his shoulders.

-I haven't spoken until now, but my uncle taught me my own martial art.

-So... That's good, but why all the faltering and bodily movements like a young lady?

Yu looked into the heir's eyes like a poppy blossom, intending to say something stupid. But the attentive gaze of Tie's green eyes quickly cooled down all his fervour.

-It's just that it's based on the movements of the conquerors of the earth, so I didn't know if it was worth it....

-That's all,' the young man interrupted his faltering speech and stepped closer, placing a broad palm on the child's shoulder, 'in battle, you must use everything you have. If this is your uncle's personal style, then you should use it all the more as a tribute and recognition of his services. Show me, let's see what it's all about. Let's start with a low tempo.

Standing up in a fighting stance, Tse raised his named spear. The magnificent weapon wagged predatorily from side to side, waiting for action from his opponent. The son of the Viceroy seemed to be holding a real sea serpent, the sense of danger was so strong.

Adopting Ping's signature stance, the pupil executed the first movement perfectly, defending himself from his opponent's lunge. The stiff blocks that Yu was using to take the blows were slightly squeezed under the heir's onslaught, so the latter had to be more careful in dosing his strength.

After several minutes of continuous attacks, the boy's arms were shaking from fatigue and pain, but he still successfully blocked his enemy's lunges. After a few attempts at counterattacks, Yuu realised the futility of the idea and went on the defensive.

-That's enough,' the young man leaned his spear on his shoulder and scratched his chin, mimicking his father, 'not bad, not bad at all. To tell you the truth, I was a little doubtful, but it looked impressive. It's not everyone's style, but you look confident.

-Thanks, I've only learnt the basic stances and movements so far, Uncle Ping's moves are much better than mine.

-Huh, well, that's not surprising. My father is much better with a spear, so don't worry. One day you'll be able to show some real skill too.

Bowing gratefully, Yu remembered to fold his hands in a respectful gesture. No matter how the heir treated him, there was no need to burrow, it was much easier to lose a good attitude than to earn one. The reciprocal bow from the elder to the younger was quite tiny, more like a nod than a bow, but even this action pleasantly scratched the inner pride.

-Today is over, from tomorrow we will start our outdoor training. From the fortress of Pohai came the right experts that will teach us a lot of interesting things. So go to bed early.

After listening to the last instruction, Yu didn't make a fuss and went to his room. On the way, he could feel the heaviness from his active training coming in waves, and at the end of his journey, the boy barely had the strength to undress. For the umpteenth time, the orphan wondered how Sun Ce determined the extent of his fatigue.

The next day was full of new experiences. Even the most snooty aristocrat larvae were cheerfully discussing the new activities that would take place outside of the city. Along with them went three dozen school guards, as well as a squad of the Viceroy's personal soldiers. The harsh men, steel-clad from head to toe, made a strong impression, though Yuu's mind wondered how they would dodge the stone blocks flying at them.

Outside of town, near a small forest, a whole delegation was waiting for them. Two dozen men and women in unusual clothes. Half of them had their faces covered, leaving only the stare of cold eyes open. The ones that were not completely wrapped up were wearing red designs in the form of masks on their eyes and a diamond on their foreheads. Each of the unknown men was armed with a long bow and a small dirk, the hilt of which protruded from behind his waist. They stood in a single row, watching every movement with an oppressive silence.

-Let me introduce you to the Yuyang archers. For the next six months, they will be training you in forest combat, trail stalking, and wilderness survival. I hope you'll perform at your best.

The teacher nodded to the commander of the archers and walked away, accompanied by the school guards. The Pathfinders and cadets were left alone and stared at each other for a few minutes without moving. Until the chief archer stepped forward, pointing his finger at Yui.

-I'll take the most troublesome one.

After he said that, the rest of Yuyang's men began to sort through the students like cattle. The children who resented this attitude wanted to speak up, but the archers who were actively picking them out quickly pulled them apart. Two or three at a time, the teams of cadets and their temporary teachers walked away towards the forest, disappearing into the foliage.

When the last group left, the archer commander, without removing his mask, simply waved his hand, inviting them to follow him. Their silent path took them further and further away, until the watchtowers of Lipin disappeared over the horizon. As they camped near the edge of the forest, the archer slammed down a fallen log invitingly.

-Now I'll tell you what awaits you. Unlike the others, you are too small and weak to be let alone and watched over. Your classmates will do the same in a couple of months, but you and I will be on a different programme.

Listening to the details of all the upcoming activities, Guan Yu wanted to grab his head. While he was willing to learn the basic skills of a hunter to please the strange school curriculum, the grandiose plans of an archer sent unpleasant goosebumps and shivers down his spine. The man was going to take him to the source of the Pona River, where they would live in the wilderness for the entire six months. Unlike the safe forest in the suburbs of Lipin, the source was home to some truly dangerous beasts, ranging from large packs of musk oxen and families of duck bears to moosebears, giant crocodiles, and other creatures. Listening to the list of the inhabitants of the area at the source of the Pona, Yu seriously considered escaping. It was one thing to face the enemy in open combat, but it was another to piss yourself at night in fear of being eaten by a tiger python while you slept.

Foreseeing the boy's thoughts, Commander Yuyang jabbed his finger into his chest.

-And if you think of running away, then in addition to the beasts, you will be hunted by me, do you understand?

The archer laughed nastily at his own joke and ordered him to make a bed for the night. He would generously guard and protect the boy until they arrived at the place.

-So I suggest you get a good night's sleep, you won't have that kind of joy in the future. The forest of Haiho serves as a home for more than just beasts.....

Leaving a reticence, the man forced Yui to ask him more questions, receiving frightening answers in return.

-Not only? What do you mean?

-Mountain Tiger brigands and tribes of Baru savages often camp there before raiding our lands. But even they are not the worst of it...''

Shaking his head negatively the frightened child, trembling with fear, refused to ask a new question.

-Weary, this place is full of different spirits and not all of them are friendly to people. All, go to bed, tomorrow early to get up.

Abruptly changing his snide intonation, the archer sent him off to his side in an orderly manner. Spreading out a small sleeping bag, Guan Yu stared into the night gloom with eyes wide open with fear. The stars had hidden behind the gloomy clouds, taking away the last bits of light. The nearby forest was making many different sounds, bringing unpleasant associations. It seemed that at any second something would jump out from behind the trees and drag him into the darkness.

Lying motionless, the boy stubbornly fought sleep, waiting for his warden to fall asleep. His mind was restless with thoughts, so logic and reason left the frightened orphan. Listening and holding his breath, Yu tried to hear the pathfinder's breathing, but instead a voice overflowing with irritation sounded over his ear.

-If you don't sleep right now, I'm going to knock you out. I don't need to carry you on my back, so sleep, little peasant, and if you try to escape, I'll smack you down. Think about it, no one will do anything to me for it.

Preparing to cry, Yuu easily got rid of his drowsiness. The inevitability of training in the Haiho forest and dying at the hands of beasts or brigands frightened him less than getting an arrow in the back of his head from an immoral tracker. The boy's first sob was the last, for when he felt that he had overreached, the archer knocked him out.

-I don't need to listen to you sobbing half the night.

-Then why'd you scare him like that?

A new voice came out of the darkness. Another Yuyang warrior came to the small car park and sat down next to the commander, not taking his eyes off the knocked out student. Shaking his head, the fighter looked into the wrapped face of his superior, not understanding his motives.

-So it was necessary. He's the smallest and the worst trained, I'd better scare him into leaving the squad now. And if he does, I'll harden his body and soul so that no creature can frighten him. Wrapping himself in a warm cloak, Commander Yuyang nodded his head and ordered his fighter to return to his post. There was no need for any real beast to attack.