| By King Bumis Heir | Genre | Rating | Reviews | Updates |
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Overview[]
Rong Yan starts airbending training today.
Chapter 16: The Airbending Master[]
Book 1: Air
Chapter 16: The Airbending Master
The sun was rising on the east side as always, the skies were of a lavender, pink, and orange hues. The clouds were large and looked as fluffy as a sheep koala's wool, while the skies were typically clear of rain clouds the winds had picked up and the current was stronger than the weeks before they had reached the Jongmu Air Temple. It might have been less windy on the ground level but because the temple sat on the peak of a mountain they were in a higher elevation where the air was cleaner than the air on the ground level.
Less pollution had filled the air, the trees were being blown to the west the last remaining leaves had finally detached themselves from the stems of the branches they belonged to. Being carried by the currents today was a good day for the Avatar to learn airbending. It was the two hours past dawn there had already been monks walking the temple grounds going to do their daily chores.
The sun had risen to a specific angle that it had reached the floor in which Rong Yan, Senge and Jampo lived in. It was shining through their aperture in the wall, the light was hitting Rong Yan's eyelids. He had felt the sudden heat and radiating light while he slept scrunching his eyes and face hoping to protect his eyes. Turning to his left side to face the wall the Sun was now hitting his neck.
A knock had been heard on their wooden door, no answer from the boys and few more knocks and Senge had begun to wake up he had yawned loudly and slurred his words, "I'm coming..." Still, in his drawls, he walked over to the door and had answered it. There stood Yong Ten a little annoyed because he had been knocking for a few minutes Jampo and Rong Yan were still sound asleep like sky bison calves.
He used his fingers on one hand to control the air currents on his other open hand's palm creating small twisters that had rapidly spun to his left and right toward Rong Yan and Jampo's cots sneaking underneath their sheets and disturbing their sleep. Jampo had defeated the twister by releasing a loud stinky fart. Senge and Yong Ten were a little grossed out but then had a small chuckle. While Rong Yan was awakened by the twister it lifted him a few inches off the bed to be spun around in his sleeping position. He had abruptly woken up and fallen off the cot, a breath of fire had released from his mouth as he hit the floor he had been startled.
"I'm up!" he shouted, jerking his head in different directions looking around to see Jampo still sleeping, Senge standing there with Yong Ten they both had their arms crossed.
"You're late to the class, Rong Yan. I came to personally escort you to the courtyard where we'll be training," commented Yong Ten as he nudges Senge to wake up Jampo they had chores to do before heading to airbending training.
Senge shouted in Jampo's ear to wake him up, "JAMPO! WAKE UP!"
Jampo had shrieked in terror and had farted again slamming him into the ceiling and grunting he fell back down onto the cot breaking it in two. Senge had facepalmed again and began to assist Jampo up from the broken cot.
"Aww man, I broke the cot again," Jampo choked, feeling down and disappointed.
"You don't wake up under any normal circumstance if we left you to sleep you would've woken up midday or maybe even two or three hours before midday," Senge stated, he had helped Jampo form the shape of his cot again while Jampo used the ropes to tie his cot back together. The cot was poorly repaired and bent out of shape.
They had all dressed up and were out of their room with Yong Ten, all four were talking as they walked down the stairs to the bridges where they had gone their separate ways. Senge and Jampo had taken the right stone bridge that leads down another path while Yong Ten and Rong Yan had taken the left stone bridge and had gone only a short distance arriving at the western courtyard. Several yards over yonder was where the airball court stood empty and down below there was some kind of obstacle course used to train the children and beginner airbenders.
In the middle of the western courtyard there stood an old wooden airbender contraption with wooden revolving doors or walls all around it. Each of the revolving doors had an airbending symbol painted on them. Rong Yan stood still idly waiting for Yong Ten to prepare the contraption or even explain it because he had no idea what it did.
The spinning gates are known as the first level of airbending.
"Airbending is a highly defensive discipline, it is essential to build up the instinct to avoid and evade conflict, as well as to follow the path with least resistance." Yong Ten began, he pointed at the wooden contraption that existed in front of Rong Yan.
Yong Ten adds, "To master this basic technique of airbending you will be allowed to dodge things like an airbender would, we use these airbending gates to teach the youngins."
"The goal of this exercise is to weave your way through the gates without touching them," Yong Ten stated bending down to grab a leaf from the pile of leaves nearby the tree he was standing idly by.
Yong Ten had conjured a small spinning orb of air and threw it at the revolving air gates, the gates began to spin rapidly in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. He had released a puff of air directing the leaf toward the gates, the leaf had swiftly floated through the breeze that carried it and avoided each door that spun around it. Swerving and curving in opposite directions of what direction the revolving doors spun. The leaf still being carried by the small breeze had to exit through the other way of the revolver doors.
"You must learn to switch directions at a moment's notice to get to the other side," Yong Ten said.
Yong Ten catching the leaf into his hand and bending it towards the gates.
"This should be easy!" Rong Yan declaimed, Yong Ten had used both hands this time to blast air at the doors making them spin faster than when he used the leaf to demonstrate the exercise. Rong Yan had ran up to the doors and leaped into the contraption he had suddenly been smashed into different revolving doors crying out in pain as the doors chewed him up and spat him out. He had been flung from the doors and landed on his butt. Groaning in pain as he slowly rose to his feet.
"You just can't force your way through the panels that will result in them hitting you while you attempt to traverse it!" piped Yong Ten as he scolded Rong Yan for his mistake.
"Try again, but this time be the leaf," Yong Ten reminded Rong Yan, giving him a nod agreeing to the advice given by his airbending master.
He slowly paces up to the wooden revolver panels and stares at them Yong Ten again blasts air at the doors and they begin spinning quickly. Rong Yan takes a deep breath getting past the first one he fails to make a counter-clockwise turn on the second one. The second slams into his back and he just ends up being slapped around by the other panels. Yong Ten winces a bit remembering the pain of the doors when they collide with you. Rong flies out the other end, crawling back to Yong Ten.
Yong Ten blasts the wooden gates again, Rong Yan focuses on the gates but this time too much and again fails. Yong Ten shakes his head at Rong Yan, he gives additional advice to Rong Yan, "Look at the way each one of the wooden gates is going, either clockwise or counterclockwise. Then concentrate and go in smoothly, quick but not too quick or you'll end up in the same spot you were thrown to the last three times," informed Yong Ten.
He gives another air blast to the gates and they spin again Rong Yan stands before the gates staring at them studying their movements as they spin in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. He quickly paces in only to mess up again and gets flung out of the revolving gates. He takes in a deep breath once more and evaluates his last attempt and tries to change it up this time. He stood in a Xun Gua stance which is a defensive airbending stance, both legs wide apart one foot forward and the other foot back, both open palms out in front and at chest level. One is extended out and the other is close to the chest.
This time Rong Yan has confidence in himself that he'll get through the gates successfully with an ample bounce to his step he slides in and twirls around the gates easily, swerving around another gate before spinning in a full circle of the gates. He throws his arms into the air in a cheer, Yong Ten shouts, "Again!" as he blasts the gates a few more times until he felt that Rong Yan was ready to move on to the next lesson.
They continue to the next exercise this one was just as important as the first exercise, it was time for Rong Yan to learn how to bend air. Yong Ten plops down in the nomad sitting style gesturing Rong Yan to do the same. Rong Yan sits down nomad style right next to Yong Ten.
"Air is the element of freedom, and as such, it is necessary to learn how to get into this mindset," Yong Ten said.
"Meditation is meant to help the pupil allow his or her spirit to wander, like the air. Close your eyes and try to imagine yourself like the leaf that was used on the first level of airbending," Yong Ten explained he closed his eyes and began to direct Rong Yan through the meditation exercise would allow his chakras to open up to the element of air.
Rong Yan meditating, and trying to imagine himself as the leaf.
"If you cannot let your spirit be free, you cannot bend air," Yong Ten finished.
"It is supposed to be simple, with no chance of doing anything wrong. Just keep in mind about letting your spirit be free, Rong Yan," Yong Ten reminded him.
Rong Yan had began to clear his mind of everything and pretend that he was a leaf floating the air being carried by the air currents. He took a deep breath and continued to meditate on the thought of being the leaf for half an hour. That's when Yong Ten quickly rose to his feet and twirled around extending both arms up into the sky at an angle and produced air from both palms shooting up. Rong Yan had examined Yong Ten's form and copied everything in the form in his breath control, he performed an open palm strike making a small puff of air that lightly shot out of his right palm.
Rong Yan excitedly began to dance around and beamed at Yong Ten, "Did you see that?! Airbending!"
Yong Ten had done a short applause and smiled at Rong Yan, "Yes, now try to concentrate and make the air blasts bigger," Yong Ten responded. Rong Yan had then open palm strike with his left hand a swish of air came out this time. Which was better than the puff of air that was produced from his right palm.
"The key to airbending is flexibility and finding and following the path of least resistance," Yong Ten said.
"Airbending is notable for being almost purely defensive, as well as the most dynamic of the four bending arts. Airbenders can overwhelm many opponents at once with large and powerful attacks that could prove fatal; however, due to our pacifist nature, such attacks are rarely used," Yong Ten described.
"Now drill the air punches, do ten of them." Yong Ten had ordered Rong Yan, although he could only conjure puffs of air the exercise would help the size of the bent air increase the range would go farther.
Rong Yan had face toward the open sky where there was no one on the airball court he had shifted into the dragon stance which was the first stance that Yong Ten had taught him known as, zhen gua in Air Nomad dialect. He had focused and began to punch ten times. Allowing himself to be the leaf and continuing to produce air out of his palms. He had finished his set of ten air punches.
"Again, This time I want you to punch ten times with each arm and then open palm strike with each arm, repeat this process four times!" Yong Ten shouted Rong Yan began the exercise Yong Ten had closed his eyes and paced in one spot inhaling deeply and exhaling. While Rong Yan was halfway through his exercise Yong Ten decided to join in and drill it with him. Smoothing out Rong Yan's stance before allowing him to continue.
"Drill air kicks, similar to the air punch ten times each leg during the first drill exercise, go!" Yong Ten shouted Rong Yan shifted into the bear stance or the gen gua stance.
One foot forward, one back and place horizontally, while pivoting the upper body to face at an angle. His back open palm faced the opponent and his head looked in the direction of the back open palm while the front open palm remained at eye level in front of him.
He tried to jump kicks similar to firebending and it had made kicking air easily, he swung one leg out and twirled his body to bring his left leg around at a face speed while leaping into the air and conjuring a slice of air from his left. He continued to repeat the process a few more times. Rong Yan took five-second breaks every ten kicks on both his right and left leg. Placing his hands on his knees, Rong Yan had been panting from being tired after the drills.
"Drill those again, and we'll move on!" Yong Ten shouted, taking a deep breath Rong Yan air punches and then air kicks fifty times with each limb, taking breaks in between them all. Scrambling on his rear he pulls his knees up to his chest and rests his head on top of his arms.
Yong Ten then looks at the airbending gates then back at Rong Yan, pointing to the gates and stretching out his arm, so that he could pull Rong Yan to his feet because his drills weren't entirely over yet.
Yong Ten pulls Rong Yan up to his feet, then says, "We're almost done for the day, now's the test."
Yong Ten forms a small ball of air and throws it at the wooden revolver gates, the gates spin swiftly. Rong Yan walks up to the panels and then sidesteps in twirling clockwise and then counter-clockwise repeating different twirls until he makes it to the other side.
Yong Ten shouts to him, "Combo the punches, palm strikes, and kicks, go!"
He shifted between the zhen gua stance and the xun gua stance punching with his left then his right and switching to xun gua to kick with his right leg and spin kick with his left before returning to the zhen gua stance again to palm strike with his hands and hooking with his right.
Yong Ten had clapped at how quick Rong Yan had mastered the first two or three levels of airbending. Rong Yan continued for another minute or two until Yong Ten had raised his hand slightly to signal Rong Yan to stop.
"Well done, my boy. You learn very quickly you have passed the tests for today. Come let us go each dinner," he suggested.
Rong Yan bowed to Yong Ten with respect and followed Yong Ten to the northern tower to eat in the mess hall. He had been hungry all day and needed to eat and rest. This is where everyone in the temple ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Novices, monks, and oblates were in line grabbing food there was plenty to go around. The oblates ran the kitchen and did all the cooking.
Rong Yan has spoken too loud that everyone had heard his comment, "I wish there was some meat around here." Everyone stopped eating and stared at him some with disdain in their eyes and others disappointed.
He felt everyone's gaze on him like they were staring right through his soul, "What? What did I say?" he exclaimed.
Yong Ten had huddled closer across the table as Jampo and Senge had just sat down near Yong Ten he had whispered in Rong Yan's ear, "We Air Nomads believe all life is sacred. That is why we refrain ourselves from eating animals of any sort. Even the tiniest firefly is important to this world like you and I are."
The men and children in the mess hall had continued to stare at him in disgust, he then shouts to everyone, "Our sense of humor is rubbing off on him every one, the Avatar is a funny guy."
Some had returned to their wooden plates to continue eating their grains and steamed vegetables while others laughed at the lie that Yong Ten gave them taking it as a joke. Senge looked at Rong Yan's plate noticing he only got a ton of rice and had offered to give him his extra banana, "You can have my extra banana if you'd like," Senge offered.
The mess hall at the Southern Air Temple.
"Do you guys not have ash bananas here?" questioned Rong Yan now feeling a little homesick.
Yong Ten replied, "Ash bananas are regular bananas everywhere outside the Fire Nation."
He murmured to himself, "This place is weird."
He had gotten up from the table to grab some more fruits since he had refused to grab some the first time around. He had to at least try and make the best of it while he remained in the Jongmu Air Temple. Back in line, he grabbed some sliced mangos and some strange soft white block he stared at it for a bit while the other nomads cut in line while he spoke to the cook.
"What is this?" he asked the cook.
The cook looks down at what Rong Yan had been pointing at and identified the white spongey block to be tofu, he responded to Rong Yan's question, "That's tofu, Avatar Rong Yan, it's essentially, bean curd, which is a food prepared by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into solid white blocks of varying softness. I urge you to try one," the cook had smiled. Rong Yan places the block of tofu on his plate and moves along back to the table with his full plate of sliced mangos and one block of tofu.
He bit into the tofu and realized he had a newfound love he licked his lips and continued to eat it. Senge chuckled and Jampo smiled. Senge then asked him, "So Rong Yan, how was your first airbending training session?"
"The whole first level of airbending where I had to learn to be the leaf, it was hard and painful I can tell you that much," Rong Yan replied.
"How many times did he fail before he successfully did his first run, Novice-Master?" Senge asked.
"I'd say about four or five times, give or take. Then he got the hang of it he mastered the evasive movements." Yong Ten answered Senge's question glancing at Rong Yan who cringed at the thought of having to go through that again.
"Wait so then if you're teaching me and you're supposed to be teaching the younger airbenders and then Senge's class, who's filling in for you?" Rong Yan asked Yong Ten.
"Subprior Shaohao has offered to teach the class until you advance further into the other higher levels of airbending," Yong Ten responded, the children love Shaohao and the older boys respect him. They're just glad it wasn't Prior Ji, he's sort of a grump sometimes.
"Before Ku Tei had passed he along with Fire Lord Yeh Lu, Hegumen Geetsan and Great Sage Xiao, had approved my request to teach you airbending. They were going to send you to the Baiyan Air Temple but I intervened and offered my services, I believe that friendships transcend lifetimes. When I was a boy around your age and your past life Ku Tei had arrived here to train we became life long friends," Yong Ten replied.
"Ku Tei had arranged teachers for you, his friends will be teaching you to master the elements, Rong Yan. He felt it was important to prepare you for your Avatar training, he wanted you to succeed," Yong Ten reminded him, he had remembered what Yeh Lu had told him when he first met him.
That idea of what Ku Tei had done for him had stuck with him and he thought about his next life maybe he should do the same thing and arrange teachers the Air Nomad Avatar that would be born after his time comes to an end.
"So what level of airbending is Senge currently in?" inquired Rong Yan looking at Senge but asking Yong Ten.
"Novice Senge is on the nineteenth level of his airbending training if you're quick to master the levels you might just surpass Senge and Jampo. No doubt the time will come when you train alongside Senge," Yong Ten replied.
"What about Jampo?" asked Rong Yan.
"Jampo isn't my student but I am aware that he is currently on the twenty-first level of his airbending training. Which by the way, Jampo I also heard rumors that you failed the 21st level twice. Didn't we talk about this?" Yong Ten replied to Rong Yan's question, and at the same time reminded Jampo about the talk.
"You need to continue training on it, work harder and study and you will pass. How about your evaluation scores?" Yong Ten had asked Jampo, Jampo had smiled nervously scratching the back of his head and tried his best to lie to Yong Ten.
"Oh you know they're good..," he lied.
Yong Ten had squinted his eyes at Jampo and passively threatened him, "Really? I wonder if the Council will say the same," he threatened Jampo who gulped nervously trying not to break a sweat.
"What about you Senge, how are your evaluation scores?" Yong Ten questioned Senge, who answered, "They're great as always, Novice-Master." Yong Ten nodded at Senge in approval.
They all had finally finished their meals it had been two hours before sundown Rong Yan turned his attention to Yong Ten and suggested, "There is enough light to finish the other three levels of airbending for today from what it looks like."
"You sure? You look rather tired, Rong Yan. I believe you should return to your quarters and rest for the rest of the evening. We can continue tomorrow for sure," responded Yong Ten he liked the eagerness that Rong Yan had for mastering airbending.
Rong Yan grabbed his plate and taken it to the compost outside of the mess hall where all the airbenders dumped their leftovers to decompose. They had used this stuff to fertilize the soil to continue to grow grains, fruits, and vegetables. Definitely something from beyond their time, Air Nomads were innovators and always sought ways to create things that wouldn't harm the earth and would instead benefit the planet. Rong Yan was truly impressed by their intelligence and their improvising.
He returned the wooden plate to a pile of plates where the oblates would clean the plates for the next morning. The cook comes by and uses his airbending to suction the first stack of plates up into the air without even carrying them they floated beside him in a pocket of air as he took them into the kitchen. Rong Yan had been amazed at the sight of the airbending trick used by the airbender behind the counter of the mess hall.
Rong Yan leaves and heads back to the western tower crossing the bridge and up the spiral of stairs leading to the doorway that leads him inside the temple. After several minutes of climbing up all the stairs and reaching the fifth floor of the tower where his sleeping quarters were, he continued nipping on down the hall and opened the eighth door on the left. Opening the door he had seen that Senge and Jampo were already in bed, Jampo's misshapen bed was rickety but he had already fallen asleep. Senge was still up reading a poetry book filled with poems from the great Guru Laghima he who let go of his earthly tethers and entered the void allowing him to fly without airbending.
Senge was reading a poetry book written by Guru Laghima.
"What are you reading?" asked Rong Yan, Senge lounging on his bed flipped through the pages and answered, "This book is a collection of Guru Laghima's poems."
"Who's that?" he inquired, fascinated about the book and wanting to learn more about Air Nomad literature.
"Guru Laghima was a poet and philosopher about a millennia ago, according to legend, he was able to fly without the use of airbending. He believed that if you let go of your earthly tethers and entered the void would you unlock the ability to fly, or so the legend says," Senge explained.
"Here's my favorite one, whenever ego suffers from fear of death and your practice turns to see impermanence, ego settles down," Senge recites his favorite poem Rong Yan nodding and then Senge offers a further explanation to the small poem.
"If you are born into a good family, or a good life you are given many things handed to you. You choose not to take the offers and then say that your life is terrible and that no one loves you. It isn't you speaking but your hollow ego, it's like a hungry ghost who's hunger will never be satisfied. You need to realize that your life isn't as bad and that it's a better life than others might have, plenty of people outside of the temples are troubled and believe they've been dealt with the shorter stick in life but their ego hides the truth from them," Senge explained.
Rong Yan nodded again and then added, "So the greedy materialistic people who feel their life is nothing but negative and feel like they're stuck in a hole need to stop themselves and rethink how they perceive every aspect of their current life?"
"Precisely," Senge agreed, with a smile Rong Yan had turned to sleep and said, "Goodnight, Senge see you in the morning."
Senge had replied, "Goodnight, Rong Yan," before returning to continue reading the poems of Laghima.
Rong Yan had woken the next day a small chill breeze entering the aperture had awakened him, he had looked at the aperture to see that the sun was peeping out of the eastern horizon. He had quickly put on his clothing and headed out the door and down the stairs leading toward the bridge. He had crossed the bridge and had grabbed water from the natural fountain that was in the temple grounds cupping his hands he grabbed some water and splashed on his face to freshen his eyes from the drowsiness that affected him.
He had lumbered over to the western courtyard where Yong Ten patiently waited for Rong Yan to continue teaching him airbending. Today the wind pushed around through the courtyard but it was stronger today than yesterday. The revolving panels were slowly spinning at the speed of the winds.
Yong Ten pointed directly at the wooden gates as he blasted air at them, they spun rapidly and immediately slowed in speed to a more moderate level. Rong Yan walked in and began to spin and twirl in the opposite directions of the gates, emerging from the other side, Yong Ten cheered Rong Yan, "Outstanding Rong Yan, today is level three of your training today's lesson is the air suction," he added.
"Air suction?" asked Rong Yan, he had remembered about the airbender in the kitchen last night when he had used some sort of suction to pull the plates up and focused on keeping them floating while he returned into the back of the kitchen without touching them.
"I remember one of the helpers in the kitchen last night didn't even grab a stack of plates he suctioned them up in a small pocket of air and concentrated on trying to keep them from dropping," Rong Yan recalled.
Yong Ten nodded as giving the gesture that Rong Yan's answer was correct, "That is correct, a technique used to bring people or things toward the airbender," Yong Ten responded.
Yong Ten pointed at a wooden crate and began to bend the air around it and form like some sort of rope-like air current to pull the crate towards him. It quickly slid toward him and then he stopped the crate with his foot glancing back at Rong Yan making sure he was paying attention. Yong Ten had given the crate a light air blast to push the crate toward its previous spot so that Rong Yan could give it a go.
"Now you try," Yong Ten said to Rong Yan, Rong Yan takes a zhen gua stance, takes a deep breath and bends the air currents around the crate pulling it toward himself. The crate had slowly but surely been sliding to him but he had to make light tugs and concentrated too much on it to even make it budge the second time.
He attempts to do it again a third time, it pulls a little faster jerking his hands back, the air suction pulls the crate too fast-hitting Rong Yan directly in the stomach. Knocking himself down with the box almost like it had five times the weight it had now. Throwing the box off of him Rong Yan wheezes for air the increased weight of the box knocked all the air out of him.
In frustration, Rong Yan kicks the box and jumps jolting in pain grabbing his foot and hopping on the other foot. His next attempt he tried to jerk at the box again to get to move quickly now that he was a little more annoyed. The box flies in his direction and he twirls to the left counter-clockwise to evade the flying crate, it smashes into the stone walls of the temple instead. Yong Ten goes into another room and grabs another empty crate and places it down, on the far end of the courtyard they stood in.
Back in his position, he begins to make the motion of pulling a rope and the air currents had curved around the crate tightly around it tugging it lightly repeatedly the box returned to him without even attacking him.
"Stop jerking the currents, if you jerk the air suction the box will attack you. If you lightly tug at it and pretend you are pulling a rope around something toward you, you will have a better time," Yong Ten advised Rong Yan, pointing at the box giving him an indication to give it another go.
Rong Yan had copied Yong Ten's movements and form and successfully suctioned the box toward as it slid toward him he put on top of the box to stop it from going further. Yong Ten nodded and waved his hand to continue training on the move.
"What are we doing now?" Rong Yan asked, smirking he gently wraps the air around Yong Ten has he had been walking away and slides him toward Rong Yan. Rong Yan had chuckled, "A job well done but next time don't do that without my permission. Only do it without the consent of a bad guy," Yong Ten commented.
"Now let's head to the northern tower there is a balcony on the second floor with stone ovens. That's where you'll continue to learn another method of the air suction," Yong Ten stated. He led Rong Yan to the northern tower where the mess hall sat at the bottom of the tower. They had reached the mess hall and headed into the back to gather the ingredients for the next lesson.
A sack of flour, a small sack of flax seeds, a jug full of water, powdered sugar cane and powdered dried fruits. They had walked up the stairs with the ingredients to the balcony where the stone ovens sat. The coals in the oven were fresh, coals were founded by Earth Kingdom miners and donated to the Jongmu Air Temple as an alternative to feed a fire inside of using wood. Yong Ten had looked around the area for the spark rocks but couldn't find any he looked to his pupil and said, "Now Rong Yan I can't find my spark rocks do us a favor and start the oven." Rong Yan had shot sparks at the coals in the ovens allowing them to preheat before sliding in the cakes to bake.
Yong Ten using the ability air suction to pull the jelly of the pie outward.
"Well now is the fourth level of airbending. Learning to use the air suction for various things, especially cooking. I'm going to teach you how to make fruit pies," Yong Ten said with a smile.
"Mmm, they sure sound good," said Rong Yan imagining how one would taste his mouth had begun to water.
"First, we need to put this much flour on the wood palette, then pour a bit of water to get the flour wet and allow it soak the water so that you can turn it into dough. Once you rolled yourself up a ball of dough, you will form it into shape of a funnel make sure it has a bottom we don't want the contents falling out," Yong Ten explained as he demonstrated the recipe to Rong Yan step by step he followed exactly what Yong Ten had done, he opened the sack of flour and poured flour onto the wooden palette grabbing the jug of water he poured a measured amount of the water on the floor, and threw in an amount of powdered cane sugar that he felt was a right amount into the wet flour and began mixing it, in a wooden bowl he pour a measured amount of flax seeds and pour water on them allowing them to soak up the water and throwing the flaxseed and water mixture in with the newly made dough. Moving it around and allowing it to soak up the water it had formed into a ball of dough with flax seed eggs.
Rong Yan continued to follow Yong Ten's instructions forming the ball of dough into a funnel shape. He had opened the sack of powder dried fruits this flavor had been banana while the flavor that Yong Ten had was strawberry and they poured an estimated amount into the hole of the funnel cake pouring the rest of the calculated amount of water into the powder to make it into a paste they grabbed the palette by the handle and placed the cake into the stone ovens to allow them to cook for a good solid hour.
"While we wait for our pies to finish baking how about I give you a brief lesson in history?" Yong Ten suggested. Rong Yan simply nodded in agreement to learning more about the airbender culture.
"According to tradition, all Air Nomads must pass all thirty-seven levels of airbending to acquire their airbender tattoos to be identified as a master airbender. If they have passed a sufficient amount of tiers and have created their airbending move is another way an airbender could receive their tattoos. Our arrow tattoos are tattooed on the top of our chi paths and we are given five arrows: one extending from the base of the spine to the forehead, one for each arm pointing to the hands, and similarly for the legs. This design emulates the markings of the sky bison, who were the original airbenders. Gavala blessed the first airbending master with the tattoos similar to the markings of the sky bison," Yong Ten explained.
"Wait, so you're saying that when I master airbending, I will receive permanent airbending tattoos?" Rong Yan questioned Yong Ten, he was not too fond of receiving tattoos.
"No, these tattoos are sacred to my people, and as such only we carry them. Even though an Avatar native to one of the other nations who also has mastered airbending, will not receive the markings that we earn," Yong Ten replied.
An hour later, the pie had been cooked and they pulled the palettes out of the oven and onto the balcony walls. Yong Ten had pulled the paste out with the suction into a swirl, Rong Yan hovered his palm over the pie and uses the air suction technique to pull the banana jelly out of the fruit pie in the shape of swirl.
"Woot! I did it!" marveled Rong Yan in amusement at not messing up the fruit pie.
"Good job, my young pupil!" Yong Ten clapped excitedly cheering him on.
Yong Ten turns his head over to Rong Yan before they continue further with the pies and allowing them to cool down. He asks Rong Yan, "Do you know how Kwan Chun is? Have you tried to reach him?"
"No, who's Kwan Chun?" he answered to Yong Ten with an echo question and then guessed, "Wait is he another one of my past lives?" Yong Ten nodded slightly answering yes.
"How many of your past lives do you know about?" Yong Ten asked Rong Yan, he wanted to know if he was exploring his abilities further than just what others were teaching him.
"I know about Avatar Ku Tei the Earth Kingdom general before me, Avatar Ilah of the Fire Nation, and Avatar Xi Tong the founder of Xi Tong village, which by the way, is the 37th Earth King for your information," Rong Yan stated.
Avatar Ku Tei, was one of the two past lives Rong Yan knew about.
"He is one of the Avatars we revere and honor here in the Jongmu Air Temple, this is his birthplace, the statue in the eastern courtyard belongs to Kwan Chun, another Avatar revered by all airbenders is Avatar Mun Jin, he who studied all forms of bending," Yong Ten responded bringing up two past lives of Rong Yan.
"What do you mean he studied all forms of bending? There are only four elements," inquired Rong Yan.
"Mun Jin lived through a peaceful era, the previous life before him ended a world war. Mun Jin had dedicated his life to discovering all possible forms of bending known to man. Legend has it he mastered how to bend lightning, sound, sand, even plants, it mentions he mastered a lot of sub-skills of the four elements. He is known as one of the most powerful Avatars in history," claimed Yong Ten.
"That sounds like a load of hooey either he came up with, or someone he knew made it up," Rong Yan dismissed the idea of bending more than just the standard elements that most of his past lives knew. He waved his hand down at Yong Ten signifying that what his master told him was simply a tall tale or theory.
"You are young you do not understand the intricacies of the bending arts, did you learn nothing from Avatar Xi Tong?" Yong Ten had questioned him.
"Avatar Xi mentioned to me that he met with a lion turtle and the lion turtle had given him the gift to bend the energies inside himself and others, he took the bending from Regent Lord Baojun and threw him in prison," recalled Rong Yan from his lesson.
"But that's the only form of bending I know of, energybending was used back before the time of the First Avatar according to my past life," added Rong Yan.
"We have scrolls here in the southern tower that say otherwise, before the era of the Avatar, our ancestors lived on a lion turtle named Nam. Nam is a deity we worship today, he was the lion turtle of air. He gifted my ancestors with the power of air so they could defend themselves in the wilds while gathering food," Yong Ten said remembering about it from the time when he was younger and learning from his history teacher at the time.
"Bending is an extension of ourselves, remember that. A bender who does not use it as an extension of themselves is weak," Yong Ten stated.
"As far as I know to my knowledge the Avatars I've met did not know any subskills of bending only Xi Tong knew a rare bending art," Rong Yan repeated to Yong Ten.
"Well, Kw-" Yong Ten had been interrupted by Rong Yan who mentioned, "You said something about a Kwan Chun though."
"I was getting to that, Kwan Chun is revered amongst the monks here in the Jongmu Air Temple because he freed our nation from war during his time. He gave himself to free us from the evil clutches of Earth King Yao. His son Earth King Wang, Ta Po's father reinstated the treaty that allows us to disaffiliate ourselves from the Earth Kingdom, the temples are Air Nomad territory," Yong Ten explained to Rong Yan.
Avatar Kwan Chun, prevented the war against the Air Nomads.
"The Jongmu Air Temple is the only one that's been built on Earth Kingdom soil, but the Jongmu Air Temple was constructed before the Earth Kingdom was an established monarchy. In the days of old, the Earth Kingdom were three warring states, my ancestors settled here and on islands near the Earth Kingdom that Yao saw fit to annex into to Ba Sing Se territory," Yong Ten disclosed not many know this but we know the truth.
The Air Nomads were the first to record history before the other nations followed suit. It was known however that the tribes at the poles drew paintings with their fingers on the walls of caves.
"'Air Nomads' is a collective term for our nation of people who practice the discipline of airbending. We're one of the four major nations, we Air Nomads were wanderers by definition, but have four air temples, one at each corner of the globe, hidden away atop mountain ranges in the northern Earth Kingdom and on three remote islands," Yong Ten said.
"Unlike the other nations, my people, without any seen exception are all benders due to our high level of spirituality," Yong Ten added.
"So, if the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, and Fire Nation were all in the same level of spirituality as the Air Nomads, there would be no such thing as non-benders? We'd all be benders?" Rong Yan asked.
"That is correct, but non-benders like us benders are not much different. They just don't carry the gift of bending like you and I do. But they're human beings they can feel love, anger, happiness, they can experience the same lives as benders can experience. There should always be equality amongst all, you as the Avatar must stick to defend the non-benders you're their Avatar too," Yong Ten replied.
"We Air Nomads live in harmony with nature, we also are fun-loving and have a strong sense of humor," Yong Ten commented smiling at Rong Yan, he tapped his pie and noticed it was now warm and no longer burning hot.
"The pies are ready," Yong Ten spoke.
"Great I'm starving," Rong Yan smiled licking his lips Yong Ten had put his hand on Rong Yan's chest to stop him. He stooped and eyed the Council of Elders down below eating their lunch in silence.
"You thought we were going to eat the pies? No, we're going to launch them at the council, silly," Yong Ten smirked.
"Ready?" Yong Ten asked, Rong Yan had given him a nod in agreement they shifted to a xun gua stance and readied himself at the count of Yong Ten who was counting down from ten, in silence Yong Ten with his fingers counts down 3....2.....1.... when he made his hand into a fist, Rong Yan and Yong Ten both used airbending to flip the fruit pies off the ledge.
"Novice-Master Yong Ten is teaching the Fire Avatar very well," Ji said to Shaohao.
"So I've heard I've been told by one of the monks that the Avatar is going to be on the fif-" Shaohao was cut off as the pies came down upon the heads of Prior Ji and Subprior Shaohao, the pies had splattered on their heads frosting on Shaohao's head.
"-th...level..." Shaohao snapped in annoyance, Ji poked Shaohao and put the jelly in his mouth . "Mmm strawberry flavor.." he chattered, they both looked up to the balcony Rong Yan and Yong Ten had already disappeared laughing down the steps before getting serious as they passed by Ji and Shaohao on a different platform.
Both council members had used airbending clean themselves of the wasted pies. Shaohao was annoyed while Ji found it funny, "I told those novices to stop messing with the ovens they could burn themselves," he blew a small wind in anger as he rose to his feet. He stomped away in irritated with his meal, Ji waited until Shaohao was out of earshot and boisterously guffawed.
They had left and Yong Ten dismissed Rong Yan, "That's it?" he wondered Rong Yan.
"For today, tomorrow you will meet with Novice-Master Chuandan, you need all your energy for your lessons with him which you will show up two hours before sunrise at the eastern courtyard don't be late, Chuandan hates truants," he told Rong Yan revealing a secret that not many others know until they're late with Chuandan, he takes his teaching seriously. If an airbender gets seriously hurt while gliding he'll take the responsibility that comes with the blame.
Rong Yan had strolled back to the western tower for the night after a good dinner to rest when he had opened the door Senge and Jampo sat across from each other nomad style and a pai sho board sat in between them. They looked back to see Rong Yan enter the room they were both laughing and shouting at each other for whatever move the other one made next.
Pai Sho was a large circular board with four quarters of colored tiles there were different ways of playing the game amongst the four nations and some people even had their own set of rules. But there is a traditional form of playing the game, each color of the board represents the four nations each is color is blue, green, red and yellow like the cycle of the Avatar. It's normally played up to two to four players, the opponents have to make moves to bounce over the other player's tiles and take all their tiles to win or eliminate an opponent if there are more than two players. There are tournaments held around the world for the most skilled players of Pai Sho.
Jampo gasped after a tile had been moved when he looked back at Rong Yan, "Senge you're cheating how dare you!"
"I'm not cheating this is a legal move, you're just not as skilled as you thought you were," Senge replied defending his illegal move.
Senge moved an air tile from the southern corner of the board over two of Jampo's tiles taking them out. Jampo had looked at Rong Yan again quickly turning his head back at board to catch Senge moving another tile after his turn was over.
"AHA! I knew it, you were cheating!" shouted Jampo, Senge laughed and raised his hands, "Fine you caught me red-handed," he confessed.
"Rong Yan would you like to play Pai Sho with us?" asked Senge, looking up from the board as Rong Yan sat down on his cot.
"No thanks guys, Yong Ten advised me to get an early rest. Tomorrow I'm going to be learning from Novice-Master Chuandan," he answered laying his head down and turning to the side facing the wall.
"Oh well, then maybe tomorrow morning?" Jampo asked.
"Not tomorrow morning Jampo, we have training tomorrow!" Senge reminded, lightly nudging him.
"Oh that's right," recalled Jampo, they had started a new game but this time remained to whispers and their inside voices since their roommate had attempted to go to sleep. The morning came and Senge and Jampo stooped over Rong Yan sleeping in his cot.
Senge showing Jampo that his move was legal.
Senge had poked him and whispered to him, "Rong Yan.." he continued to poke him but Rong Yan did not wake up.
Jampo had shouted in Rong Yan's ear, "WAKE UP!" Rong Yan had screamed sprang up from his bed still screaming punching a fireball at Jampo, who quickly bent himself backward his back resting on the floor of their room, ducking as the fireball hit the stone wall behind him leaving scorch marks on the wall.
Senge facepalming again and lecturing Jampo, "I told you not to do that, he's a firebender what would happen if he shot you in the face with that fireball? You'd be dead!" he cautioned Jampo.
Jampo hid in his the collar of his shirt and whispered, "Sorry. Note to self, next time do NOT scream in a firebender's ear. Or you could die." The big guy was now frowning, slouching and drooping his head down in disappointment at his mistake he walked out the door.
"Senge, where's Novice-Master Chuandan?" Rong Yan asked.
"Oh he's on the eastern courtyard today, I'm heading in that direction as well I need to practice my gliding skills more," Senge replied.
"Great we get to do something together, you can give me tips," commented Rong Yan to Senge who led him toward the eastern courtyard where Novice-Master Chuandan waited for the class of gliders to assemble.
It sun had been rising now the skies were transitioning to a light blue color and they had to make it on time before the sun rose above the temple. They had finally caught up to Jampo who had gone up ahead because his roommates were angry at him. He paced in between them Senge to left and Rong Yan to his right. He put his arms around their necks and before walking up to the courtyard they had stopped he pressed their heads together to his cheek to cheek exchanging looks at them he then said with a smile, "The three master airbenders.."
"Yeah!" Rong Yan agreed, Senge smiling imagining when the graduation ceremony happens for him and he's awarded airbender tattoos.
They had walked up to the eastern courtyard where a middle-aged monk stood with arrow tattoos and a brown goatee, he was holding a flat slab of smooth and sanded wood with a piece of parchment on it held down by tack.
On the board, the list contained all the names of all the students who are in his gliding class and any new additions. He had begun mentally marking names off roll calling all the boys in the line who either shouted "Here!" or lifted their hand.
The eastern courtyard was huge on the walls behind the line of airbenders were racks full of wooden staves. Each airbender would use one staff to open it up into a glider used for flying. There had been a line of monk children of different shapes, sizes, and ages. As they were being called they walked to the wall and grabbed a glider.
By the time he had gotten to the bottom of the list which had Senge, Jampo and Rong Yan's name scribbled on the parchment all the airbenders were standing in a single file line with a staff in their grasp. They stood waiting on the grassy area of the courtyard, at the end of the grass was a cobblestone floor and then a ledge where the monks would run off with an open glider and leap into the air to glide around. Four racks of the ten racks had the staves removed already but the class was small enough to have enough staves for the three who just entered the courtyard to join the class.
Novice-Master Chuandan had turned his gaze upon the novices that were walking in, staring at Jampo he shouted, "Novice Jampo!" Jampo had squealed like a girl and had ran to the wall to grab a staff scurried to the back of the line, standing tall and in line formation so that Chuandan wouldn't penalize him.
He had seen Senge and someone he was not familiar with, "You three are late and you know how I feel about people who are late, Senge," Chuandan reminded him, Senge bowed to Chuandan in respect and minced toward the wall to grab a staff and stand in the line. Rong Yan stood before the wrath of Chuandan, Yong Ten had warned him about being late to Master Chuandan's class.
He questioned the stranger, "Who are you?"
Rong Yan bowed to Chuandan in respect and introduced himself, "I am Avatar Rong Yan, Novice-Master."
"I make no exceptions, Avatar. What would happen if the world is getting destroyed by some madman and you happen to be late? People will suffer and die because you decided to sleep in," Chuandan had scolded Rong Yan and didn't bother to give him an excuse.
"Grab any one of the staves on the racks here on the back wall, then stand in line next to Novice Senge," Chuandan ordered Rong Yan stepped behind Chuandan and had examined the racks all the wall with all the staves that haven't been taken. He grabbed the staff that he felt had called to him like it was his staff. He walked over to the line and stood tall next to Senge.
Rong Yan had glanced to his left to see the long line of airbenders ready for flight, Chuandan had passed by the entire line of monks. Jampo began slouching a little Chuandan on his way back catches Jampo slouching he decided to make an example with Jampo and quizzed all his pupils.
"Boys, what happens when we slouch on our gliders?" Chuandan questioned the novices with a chiding tone.
"We lose balance and plummet to our death," they repeated in unison twice, grabbing his staff he straightened Jampo's back as he broke a sweat.
"Jampo you're the oldest novice here you should know this by now, a slouched back is a quick death," Chuandan criticized Jampo for his mistake.
"Does a flying lemur glide with a slouched back? If so, then I suppose I've been gliding wrong all these years. Slouching causes bad posture," he continued as he paced down the line to inspect the novices to see if they were all standing straight.
Altogether they all shouted, "No."
"It is also important to remember that while you glide you must also close your mouth at all times, you might swallow a bug," Chuandan shouted. Chuandan had padded to the front-facing the boys and continued to instruct them.
"It is also more important to control the air currents around yourself and the glider at all times, to continue to glide in the air. Or you will plummet to the ground, and most likely die. Reason I am, saying death is the consequence because many of you probably do not know how to use the ability we call the air cushion yet," Chuandan shouted.
He had pushed the button on his staff allowing the wings of the glider to expand the winds were of orange-colored cloth designed by an airbender two centuries ago. They still carried the old staves where you had to tap them on the ground to open the wings of the glider.
"Any questions?" Chuandan yelled, looking down the line everyone stood in formation and had seen no heads turning side to side or up and down.
"No? Okay, let us begin." Chuandan shouted he ran toward the ledge jumping off grabbing on the glider and plummets down, using airbending he flies up into the air gliding.
Rong Yan gulps, as one of the guys in the back yells, "Hey quit, holding up the line!!"
Rong Yan pushes the button on the staff allowing it extend into the glider he kept his back straight as best he could, with both hands he held onto the staff's handles. He sprinted off the ledge and had dived down before he focused on the airlifting him up, Jampo had jumped off after him soon after Senge dived from the ledge to save Rong Yan from plummeting to his death. Jampo and Senge are yelling, "HOLD ON RONG YAN!! WE'RE COMING FOR YOU BUDDY!!!" as they had fallen.
He gained control of the air currents and steered the glider up into the air soaring sky high to the level Novice-Master Chuandan was gliding at. Rong Yan had leaned left and had done a side flip all by accident he shrieked a bit until he was back to normal and careening on both sides to remain in balance. He glanced back to see a line of airbenders dropping off the ledge to dive and glide into the air after about a minute all the airbender students were in the air and off the courtyard the kids cheered on that they successfully were gliding for their first time.
"I'M FLYING!! I'M FLYING!!! THIS IS THE BEST TIME OF MY LIFE!!!" Rong Yan yelled.
Senge and Rong Yan gliding.
He had finally got the hang of gliding that he gained the confidence to begin twirling in the air and performing backflips. One of the advanced monks in the back twirls towards Rong Yan, and continues to fly on, almost hitting him, he yells, "Sorry!!!"
"That's it guys, come on keep on glidi-" Chuandan choked and began spitting and coughing while gliding around the sky.
"BUG..bug.." Chuandan shouted.
The advanced novice who almost crashed into Rong Yan had shouted back at Chuandan, "Master maybe you should practice what you preach!"
"You need to keep your eyes in front and not everyone else, Yeshe," advised Novice-Master Chuandan to the second oldest novice.
Everyone who was in earshot of the glider master and Yeshe began to laugh hard. Staying in the air for half an hour Chuandan and several others had returned to the courtyard landing on the grass.
Rong Yan, Jampo and Senge, were still in the sky doing tricks they had enough though because Chuandan flagged them to land and Rong Yan did another twirl on the way down although he had twirled at an accelerated speed. He had collided with Jampo and Jampo into Senge, all three screamed their lungs out.
The novices had jerked their heads to the screaming and screamed as a reactionary chain affected all of them. They were running so that the three idiots didn't crash into them. The novices began to run away some were sprinting but to no avail most fell when Rong Yan, Senge and Jampo had collided with the group of novices. They were all in pain, groaning was heard here and there the few who escaped had returned to help the others up to their feet.
Senge and Rong Yan again, after recovering from the crash. Jampo's shirt is visible.
Some rubbing their heads in discomfort while others were massaging their lower backs while limped, gimped and hobble onto the stone courtyard and on to their next class. Jampo, Rong Yan, and Senge looked at each other laughing and thanking Rati that they're still alive and not so hurt. A monk had arrived bowing to Chuandan handing him a scroll he untied the string that held it together and opened the scroll. Rong Yan being pulled up by Jampo was lifted to his feet and he and Senge began walking out.
Before reading the scroll he announced to the novices, "Class dismissed, I'll see you tomorrow, boys."
The scroll read the following: "Send Avatar Rong Yan, to our meeting room where we will need to give him an assessment on the first five levels of airbending. Novice-Master Chuandan, we will also need your review on his gliding evaluation.
- The Council of Elders"
"Avatar come we must meet with the Council of Elders they request that you attend a meeting with them at once," said Chuandan closing the scroll and turning his attention to Rong Yan.
"Did they say why?" he asked Chuandan, the Novice-Master had nodded and responded, "Yes, they would like to test you on what you have learned."
Novice-Master Chuandan had gestured Rong Yan to follow him to the northern tower. Rong Yan had placed his staff back on the racks on the wall and they both peregrinated to the other side of the air temple. They had remained silent on the way there he didn't want to say anything that would anger Chuandan now that he realizes the reputation Chuandan's attitude has given him.
When they had reached the curtain, Chuandan had opened the curtain for Rong Yan who walked in first and saw Yong Ten sitting down in front of the Council, all five-plus Yong Ten drinking ginseng tea. Geetsan had looked up to see Rong Yan and Chuandan walking in, placing his teacup and saucer on the edge of his platform, bowing his head to greet the Avatar. Chuandan and Rong Yan had bowed before the Council of Elders as well, following the bow of the other four abbots.
The Southern Council of Elders.
"Master Yong Ten, what can you say about the boy's evaluation?" Geetsan questioned Yong Ten while looking straight at Rong Yan before turning his head at Yong Ten.
"The Avatar has taken many attempts to pass the first level but failed due to cockiness a few hits from the revolving doors have taught him a lesson. He used his wit and quick learning to cross the panels from one end to the other end. As far as airbending goes he's been doing well along with the four levels. Didn't take him too long to understand how airbending works, almost like a true natural, hegumen," reported Yong Ten.
"Avatar Rong Yan, I will stand on the opposite end while I punch puffs of air at you, will you please demonstrate the first level of airbending?" asked Prior Ji.
Rong Yan nodded and exhaled he shifted to a zhen gua stance while Prior stood up and walked over to the other side of the room. Ji shifted to the qian gua stance, he stood on his right leg and had raised his left leg he stood perfectly balanced, he had one arm up and the other one lower forming the mouth of an armadillo lion.
Ji pivoted and then threw the first blow at Rong Yan who twirled counter-clockwise and slid to the left, Ji continued to combo airstrikes and kicks at Rong Yan, coming back around and twirling clockwise and side-stepping right before twirling counter-clockwise again, cartwheeling to the left he twirled counter-clockwise again before sliding right. He continued a random number of movements as Ji continued to do the same allowing Rong Yan to show his skill in evasive movements.
"Well done, Avatar you passed the first test," Prior Ji congratulated Rong Yan bowing to him with respect.
"Please drill ten air punches and ten air kicks in a combination," requested Prior Li Shen, Rong Yan took another deep breath then initiated the assessment with three punches followed by a kick, another three punches, then two kicks, followed by one punch, three kicks, two punches, three kicks, a punch, and finally the last kick. All five of the elders clapped at him for completing the test.
"Congratulations, you passed the second test." Subprior Shaohao said, Shang Xi stood from his pillow and hopped off the platform saying, "This seat that I rest upon, should be pulled toward you with air, doing so will you complete the trial."
He understood what the subprior had said in his riddled words, Rong Yan then bending air around the box that Shang Xi sits on, and pulled the platform to himself with ease. Rong Yan had stopped pulling the platform with air suction he then used a weak blast of air to return it to him. The Council of Elders clap then Shang Xi padded in front of Rong Yan and stood there he spoke, "Use our element to tug me to you, mastering this should help you in future battles with evil."
Using the air suction once more, Rong Yan used the air currents around Shang Xi to pull him toward Rong Yan. Shang Xi slid over to Rong Yan safely with ease, the subprior bowed his head to the Avatar and Rong Yan had returned the respect. That gave him the indication to know that he completed the test. He smiled at Rong Yan and backflipped in the air and landed seated in nomad style on the box.
"You have taught the Avatar well Master Yong Ten, you always make the best airbenders. I am thankful that we have chosen you to be his airbending master," Geetsan commented to Yong Ten, they bowed their heads to each other to show respect.
"Thank you, Hegumen for the kind words," Yong Ten thanked Geetsan.
"Now Master Chuandan your review on the Avatar," Hegumen Geetsan requested for Chuandan to give his evaluation. Chuandan had risen to his feet bowing his head to the council.
"He had arrived late to my class with the other two hooligans Senge and Jampo, interrupting my class, but his gliding skills came naturally to him. Once he had gained confidence he began to perform tricks insolence quickly overcame him and he lost control and crashed into the other novice causing minor injuries," Chuandan informed the council expressing his dislike about Rong Yan and criticizing him for the crash that happened early. Rong Yan had dropped his head in shame.
"If you take your airbending training seriously, Avatar. I highly recommend you stay away from that Jampo, that young man is a clutz," he advised Rong Yan.
"You leave Novice Jampo out of this, Chuandan. The council is well aware that Jampo has mental issues. He is unaware of his actions," argued Yong Ten defending Jampo to the remarks made by Novice-Master Chuandan.
"That novice will never make it and pass all thirty-seven levels, Yong Ten and you know it!" contended Chuandan disagreeing with Yong Ten knowing all too well that Jampo would never receive his airbender tattoos.
"Silence!" interrupted Geetsan, both Chuandan and Yong Ten locking eye contact on each other in disagreement and anger.
"Chuandan please, Yong Ten is correct. We know that Jampo was born special but every airbender has the potential to graduate and become a master," affirmed Geetsan.
"You are dismissed, Master Chuandan," ordered Geestan giving Chuadan the parting hand gesture. Chuandan stood up his emotions still getting the better of him he marched out of the council room.
"I apologize for raising my voice, hegumen," apologized Yong Ten, Rong Yan sat in silence trying to process the argument and disagreement the two masters had about a novice that had nothing to do with the meeting.
"Forgiveness is given, master. We know that the novice that sharing quarters with the Avatar is, living with challenges. But he too will have his ceremony when the hour is right, all Air Nomads become masters, regardless if they're born unique or normal," agreed Shang Xi.
Shaohao spoke up, "We're are not done here you still have your historical assessment to complete, Avatar."
"Who were the original airbenders? And how did they come into being?" he inquired Rong Yan.
"The original airbenders were the sky bison, Gavala the matriarch of the sky bison created them as symbol of a bond that she holds with the airbenders," Rong Yan answered.
"That is correct, Avatar. When an Air Nomad masters the element of air, what does he receive? When an Avatar is from a foreign nation, does are they awarded this gift?" Shaohao asked.
"A master airbender after completing the 37 tiers of airbending is awarded with the arrow tattoos. No, only Air Nomads may receive the arrow tattoos. The tattoos are sacred to the Air Nomad society and only they can bear the tattoos that signify them as masters of their discipline," Rong Yan replied.
"Where did the first masters of airbending get the idea to tattoo themselves with arrows around their bodies?" Shaohao asked.
"Gavala gifted the first airbending master arrow tattoos similar to the sky bison, who naturally have the arrows pigmented on their bodies. The tradition was continued by the first master and given to only masters," Rong Yan responded.
"Who was the airbender who sacrificed himself to save our nation from war against the Earth Kingdom?" Shaohao asked.
"Avatar Mun Jin," Rong Yan replied.
"Wrong, it was Avatar Kwan Chun," Shaohao corrected Rong Yan.
"You have answered all the questions I have to offer but you missed one, I suggest you invest some needed time in the library underneath our chambers. If you need directions I recommend asking one of the monks nearby. You must learn our history and our culture, young Avatar. You still have passed my history test. Congratulations!" Subprior Shaohao suggested.
The meeting was now over they bowed their heads to Rong Yan in unison, he stood up and bowed before them thanking the council, "Thank you, elders I will not fail you. I will become the Avatar that makes you proud."
Yong Ten had bowed while Rong Yan waited on the inside by the curtain so they could walk out together. Li Shen stood from his platform and said before leaving, "I will ask the scribes to send word to the Fire Lord, he must be aware of the Avatar's progress."
Geetsan nodded in agreement, "A grand idea, Prior Li Shen."
Yong Ten and Rong Yan had walked back in silence to the center of the Jongmu Air Temple where different bridges lead to other towers. Before they departed ways Rong Yan spoke up, "Why would Chuandan speak out like that about Jampo?"
"Because he has no patience for slow learners, he's used to novices adapting quickly to his class," Yong Ten answered.
"There are people born around the world who are mentally or physically challenged, Rong Yan. Through time they learn to live with their disabilities and overcome obstacles in life just like those who were born without any physical or mental disability," added Yong Ten.
"The mother superior of the Shang Qiao Air Temple had advised us on how to take care and raise Jampo. We have done a good job so far, and we believe he's doing well. The council will not strip an airbender their birthright to master airbending and become a part of our community," Yong Ten divulged, Rong Yan nodded understanding what he had been told.
"All those things he does, he can't help himself. Now I feel bad for mistreating him, Senge is his caretaker I take it?" Rong Yan asked Yong Ten, he placed his hand on Rong Yan's left shoulder and nodded. He waved farewell to Rong Yan and walked to the eastern stone bridge to the eastern tower. Rong Yan walked back to the western tower.
The Patollan Snow-vulture that Prior Ji sent to the Fire Nation.
Prior Ji was requesting a scribe to write a scroll and send it to the Fire Lord in the Fire Nation. The scholar nods and bows, walking away to grab a quill and some ink. The scholar in the study room finishes writing the scroll he walked over to the cages of Patollan Snow Vultures.
Opening the cage to one of them he offers to allow it to perch on his arm, the vulture lowers its head and neck squawking in response allowing the scribe could slide the scroll inside of the postal pouch strapped on the animal's body. Lifting his arm to signal the bird to depart it spreads its wings open and flaps out of the aperture and flies directly in the night sky heading for the Fire Nation.
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