Avatar: The Last Airbender: Legend

Fully completed story on:

patreon.com/FanFictionPremium

***

After clearing out the bandit camp, Yu wanted to immerse himself. His mind was giving up under the pressure of the past few days and the child was about to shut down when Zhang Yang's attentive eyes took notice of him. Every time the boy wanted to be alone with his thoughts, the annoying pathfinder was there. After burdening the child with work, he would head off with a satisfied smirk. To all protests that he had a broken arm, Yuyanets answered: 'The enemy will not give a shit about your arm, learn to live with one, maybe in the future it will be useful'. Similar phrases were always accompanied by a disgusting cackle that echoed through the ranks of the archers.

Unlike their teachers, the cadets were quiet and peaceful. Most of them were still trying to recover from the fight at the camp. Adrenaline-pumped, they had easily stabbed their blades into the bodies of their opponents, but now they had different thoughts on their minds. The stirring memories of screams and warm blood overtook each of their classmates, but they all dealt with it in their own way. Immersing themselves in their work or withdrawing from everyone else, but one by one the kids came back to normal, moving on with their lives. Accepting killing was easy enough for them, not for nothing had Yuyang's archers been teaching them how to kill animals all this time, and now many of them thought of the brigands as rabid beasts, easier to kill than to rehabilitate.

It took another two days for the return journey. The last exam had been passed and soon their entire group would be travelling back to Lipin. The kids were excitedly discussing going home, imagining what they would do first. Good food, a bath and warm beds were at the top of the list, but the older kids had other suggestions.

-I tell you, she's a real beauty, I wish my father could get the viceroy to marry her. -Dream, dream, dream.

-Dream on, dream on, she'd rather be married to Yu than you.

The friendly laughter of his classmates and his own name caught the orphan's attention. Taking a seat beside them, he picked at the fire with a stick, listening to the conversation.

-Or her mate is a tidbit too. When she grows up, wow.

-You'll be the one shouting 'ugh' when her brother stakes you!

The Yuyang archers standing nearby broke out into loud barking laughter. The man and woman held each other by the shoulders, kicking their bellies. Echoing their mentors, the other cadets also began to mock the dreamer. Yuu's stingy smile lit up his face just as the mocked boy looked around. Noticing the smiling homeless boy, he decided to get back at his opponent, who would definitely not answer him.

-Why are you smiling?! You're a pig at best, not Mrs Wenling. I hear you peasants like to molest livestock.

The whispering classmates elbowed the agitated offender.

-What are you doing? What are you doing? You haven't taken a beating from Sun Tse in a long time, have you?

Many similar questions came from all sides. It was beginning to dawn on the offended boy that he'd done it all for nothing. As he was about to retreat and just wave goodbye, he heard an unexpected answer.

-I hope my wife will be beautiful and kind like my mother. Mrs Wenling is too good for my kind.

The attentive glances of his classmates glared at the orphan for a few minutes longer. The awkwardness that hung in the air after Yui's honest answer put them on edge. Over the many months they had spent together, they had grown to treat him much better and were now slightly embarrassed.

Crouching down beside him, Tse placed a hand on the boy's head, ruffling his hair. Silently enduring the heir's favourite torture, the child exhaled tiredly, pressing his lips together.

-Tell me better how you know Mistress Wenling. She is the daughter of a very noble family and the sister of a great general. How can a simple peasant's son know her?

-I accidentally pushed her into the water in Lipin, before they put handrails everywhere. -I don't know her.

Another revelation was met with a loud laugh. The archers and cadets who had been listening to the conversation began to move closer to hear the rest of the story.

The past evening had long remained in Guan Yu's memory. The warm atmosphere and funny stories of his confrontation with Wenling resounded through the night until Zhang Yan returned from the sortie and dispersed everyone.

The return to the city was epochal. In the dreams of the cadets. In reality, they entered the city at dusk. Yuyang's archers led them to the city boundary before disappearing into the night gloom. The guards that met them at the entrance stared at the procession. Covered with new scars, badly gaunt, and in bad clothes more suited to the 'romantics of the high road', the students of the military school walked through the empty streets of the city, wishing they were in a normal bed sooner rather than later. At the entrance to the barracks, Principal Fang was waiting for them, adjusting the intimidating glasses that always cast a glare. The man stood in front of the formation, folding his hands behind his back.

-There are 37 of you left. Way more than I feared. Great, the school year ends in a couple of days, so you can rest. I'll see you in a month.

Without waiting, Fang abruptly turned around and walked towards the building where he spent most of his time. Stunned by the news and the speed at which it was delivered, the cadets stood for a couple of seconds before exploding into a silent storm of joy. Holding back screams and shedding feigned tears, the children, tired of the Haiho forest, went home without delay.

Walking through the lit up streets of the city, Yu pondered the immediate future. Without Uncle Ping at home, there is absolutely nothing to do. There's practically no food, and it's not cleaned up there either. Wincing at the thought of a lonely life of idleness and idleness, the boy rubbed his tired eyes. His aching temples hinted that he needed a good night's sleep and a good meal. With a broken arm, he wouldn't be able to exercise properly for about two weeks, so staying home wasn't even an option.

Closing the door behind him and making sure everything was covered in a huge layer of dust, the boy grabbed a change of clothes and headed back out. This time his legs carried him much faster and more confidently. Spotting the tall school walls, Yu felt an unwelcome smile spread across his face.

-Yui, what are you doing here?

The warehouse owner who came out to meet him was noticeable from afar. Bowing respectfully, the boy happily ran closer. There was surprise and confusion on Padu's face.

-Hello, Mr Padou. I'm sorry I didn't greet you properly, my arm is broken.

-It's nothing, my young friend, but why are you here so late?

-I'm going back to school, we've only just got back today. -Yes.

-That's it. It's nice to see you,' the man looked sceptically at his bandaged arm and said with a little embarrassment, 'in good health.

-Thank you. I'm sorry I haven't visited you, training takes a lot of energy.

-I understand. The school year's coming to an end soon, come and visit. Chou will be very happy to see you, he's been overflowing with enthusiasm these past few months.

-Of course, as soon as I can

-Okay, you're welcome. -Okay, you're welcome.

Waving goodbye, the good-natured fat man walked away. Looking after the man, Yu wistfully remembered his uncle, who was now somewhere in the distant forests of the north. Picking up the rucksack that had been thrown off during the conversation, the boy slung it on one shoulder and continued on his way.

Unable to train with the halberd, the small cadet decided to pick up other skills unrelated to warfare. Studying books in the library became his main occupation for the entire holiday. Day after day he pored over complex manuscripts, learning the culture of different peoples, their life and customs.

The small library contained incredible knowledge that opened up new possibilities. Reading about the wild tribes of water mages living in the vast swamp in the centre of the Earth Kingdom, Yu cursed himself for his stubbornness and stupidity. Books held many such discoveries. About the Water Tribes, the Air Nomads, and other peoples that didn't classify themselves as elemental countries. The Shi Wong Desert was home to a tribe of Sand Conquerors, the only tribe of its kind. Many different kinds of magic opened up to him, and with it the different martial arts that are used all over the world.

He also found a textbook on the Jings. To say that Uncle Ping hadn't told him much was an understatement. There were eighty-five different Jings mentioned in the book. As he delved deeper into this complex philosophical science, the boy's mind was stalling more and more each day. Putting it aside, he picked up the next dusty talmut from the shelf - tucked away in the furthest corner, the old textbook was falling apart in his hands. Pages were falling out of his hands and the spine was crumbling before his eyes.

After struggling to put it back together, Guan Yu started reading the new heavy read. The opening pages showed that it was more of a legend than a scholarly work, so, relaxing, the child made himself comfortable and immersed himself in the reading.

The book immersed the reader in the old days when mankind was just forming elemental countries. The author said that most of the information he had to make up from rumours and scraps of ancient texts.

-What were the originals, if this is already falling apart.

Muttering to himself, Yu returned to the story. When people were still learning about this world left to them by the spirits, they often fought among themselves in small tribes. The era of warring provinces in all its glory. Whereas now there were giant states at war, in the past, everyone fought against each other. The small villages and fortress cities that were just laying their foundations now kept the Earth Kingdom from being defeated.

Every attempt at unification always ended the same way. If a successful leader emerged and subjugated his neighbours, the Avatar would appear and send the poor man off to face the spirits. Such a trend was followed for centuries, until Qin Shihuangdi was born.

Born in a small underground town, Shihuangdi was the son of a local official and a woman from the Fire Nation captured in battle. Until he was twenty years old, nothing was heard of him until a young man at the head of a small troop began to subjugate the surrounding lands. The following lines seemed fantastic to Yui. The author assured that he had translated the ancient language correctly and word for word, but even he could hardly believe it. The ancient manuscripts assured that Qin Shi Huangdi was able to command fire and earth. By commanding the two elements, he was quickly able to become the head of the largest association of those years.

Taking captive children and women into the city, he killed all the men, completely erasing any memory of his enemies. For many thirty years this tactic bore fruit, and the settlement in which the future King of the Earth was born grew by leaps and bounds. Very soon people had to leave the underground corridors, going to the surface. To secure his heritage from evil neighbours, Shihuangdi led several hundred earth mages and erected the first walls of Ba Xing Xie. Using his inimitable power, he laid a strong foundation that no earth mage could destroy. Year after year, the walls around the city grew, giving the inhabitants confidence, until the Avatar came.

The duel between the two masters of magic lasted a whole day. Using all his skills and experience in magic, Qin Shi Huangdi was slowly but inexorably losing. Even using his unusual talent for conquering the two elements, he lost, but took the guardian of harmony with him to the other world.

Shihuangdi's ambitious son did not forget his father's dreams and conquered all the nearest city-states and villages. Having conquered a large territory, he did not cut off more than he could swallow and devoted his life to the development of his lands. While exalting his father's name, he tried to preserve his exploits in history for the next generations.

Qin Shi Huangdi was remembered by his descendants as a unique magician, a great ruler and the founder of Ba Xing Xie as it exists now.

Closing the book, Guan Yu exhaled tiredly. The life story of the first Earth King was fascinating and interesting, especially the vague references to his great magic. Looking at the opened palm, Yui thoughtfully whispered aloud.

-I wonder if I could conquer fire as well?