Chapter 3 - Mysterious Power

It has been a week since the beginning of Sera's training, and already improvements were being made. Every day they would go to the top of Hell Hill and although she couldn't make her way up the hill quickly, she eventually made it to the top without help. Even better, when she did her forms, Kea could see some of the stones surrounding her slightly lift up off the ground, but only slightly.

"You're making progress," Kea stated matter-of-factly. Sera only nodded in acknowledgment. She could feel herself getting more in-tune with the earth, but even so, she felt more and more empty as she did so. It was a strange feeling, but she figured it was part of the training.

"What are we doing today Kea?" Sera asked, looking up at the young man who stood at least a foot taller.

"Hmm…well, we've been training pretty hard. I'd say today is time for a break," he answered lazily. He sat down and looked back at the gargantuan walls of Ba Sing Se. The honest truth was that he didn't want to do anything today, not that he ever wanted to do anything any day. But today was especially the case.

"R-really?" the young girl sounded shocked, as if hearing a godsend. Her teacher didn't reply, but just let the breeze blow his hair around. Sera looked him over, waiting for him to say anything.

"What is it?"

"W-well…you see. If we're having the day off…I thought you might want to come by my place," Sera ventured. Kea snapped his head to look at her, a questioning stare etched on his face.

"Say what?"

"My mother…she wants to meet you is all. If you don't want to, that's fine," she muttered under her breath.

Do I really want to do that? I suppose I should, even if I don't want to. Should have seen this coming.

"So you've talked about me then?"

"Yeah. I've told her about you, so she wants to meet the teacher."

"I see. Well," he grunted as he stood back up, dusting himself off lackadaisically. "Let's get this over with."

If only Kea could see the brightened look Sera showed for even a moment, he might just turn away in embarrassment.

"Great! Let's go!"

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Meanwhile, within the walls of the city, in an unnamed alley where the shadows stood tall, two men met in the center. Both of them wore dusty garbs, neither looking especially distinguished. Even still, an air of importance arose from their presence.

"Is he sure about this?" The first man asked. He had short, wavy hair that marked his youth. He was barely older than Kea, and he was as scrawny as a musician. The other man, an elder with a long beard and a bald head, didn't say anything, just held out his right hand, a brown sack clutched in his fingers.

The younger man accepted the package, opening it slightly to look inside.

"What is it?" he asked, looking back at the elder.

"It's a brand new tool to our arsenal. For some reason, our master believes in the legends from over a thousand years ago. It is said that there is a power far beyond the reach of even the avatar. This tool will allow you to find this power."

"Wow…you couldn't have been more vague, could you?" the young man replied as he looked back into the sack. What emanated from it was the scent of dirt and something else that he couldn't place. "What am I supposed to do with it?"

"Simple, carry it around with you wherever you go. Our master says that it will pull and tug towards the source of the power he is seeking. When you approach it, it will do the rest."

"And what is this…power exactly?"

The elder held his clothes tighter as he gazed up at the sky.

"I'm not sure. But if the avatar doesn't even possess it, it must be something special. Our master will know what to do when the power is found."

The younger man rubbed the back of his neck before tying the sack to his belt.

"I hope he knows what he's talking about. I've got the feeling I'll be walking around for a while. Maybe even forever."

"Not according to our master. Just carry out the task and enjoy your time here in Ba Sing Se. If you need me, I'll be around."

With that, the elderly man turned and walked off, officially breaking their meeting. The younger of the two touched the brown sack attached to his belt, wondering if he was looking at a wild goose chase.

I feel like I'm looking for a needle in a haystack.

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Sera and Kea practically marched through the streets, at least to Kea's standards. Sera set a fast pace, much to Kea's irritation. He preferred to take things nice and easy. This was not easy.

"You know, for a shorty, you've got a lot of energy," Kea reported as Sera lead the walk.

"No, you're just too slow," was the answer. They turned a left corner and headed along another one of the long streets of the great city. The two had been walking for at least twenty minutes. He was definitely far from his own house, but it didn't bother him one bit. The last thing he wanted was for his mother to see him walking around Ba Sing Se with a girl. He would never hear the last of it.

"How much further until-" Kea was cut off as Sera turned right and walked up a set of stairs to a doorway.

"Here we are," Sera said as she opened the door to her home. Kea just smirked and shook his head as they entered the abode. When he looked inside, he felt instantly at home. It was a strange sensation as he took in the whole place with a single breath. It smelled of oranges and cinnamon, the floor completely spotless and the living arrangements soft to the eye. To his right was a table with four seats surrounding it and to his left was a higher table with six seats surrounding it. In front of him was a short hall that lead to three rooms in the back.

"Mom! I'm home!" Sera called out, standing next to Kea near the doorway. It didn't take long before Kea could hear shuffling and a pair of footsteps approaching. Out of the third room, a middle-aged woman appeared, wearing the normal every-day earth kingdom's clothing. She smiled genuinely as she "inspected" Kea.

"Oh my, and who's this, your boyfriend?" she asked, laughing with a hand over her mouth.

I saw this coming from a mile away. Kea smacked his forehead with his palm.

"What? No! Mom! This is my teacher!" she outraged, pointing at Kea as if he were some random person on the road.

"Haha…I'm only teasing dear. And my, what a handsome teacher you have. It's not often we have a boy as young as yourself instructing at the academy," Sera's mother laughed some more. "My name is Elsa, Sera's mother."

"Kea," he responded as he bowed in respect.

"I know who you are," she said as she looked him up and down again. "I work with your mother."

Greeeeeeaaaaaatttt! Now I can't hide no matter what I do!

"I..I see."

Sera looked between Elsa and Kea. She didn't like where this was going.

"Mom, can we leave now?"

"Oh, why Sera? I think you and your teacher should stay for lunch." Elsa replied with a gleeful smile.

"Oh that's okay ma'am. We were just going downtown to the Jade Dragon for lunch. She's been making progress and today we're celebrating." Kea answered quickly. Sera was grateful for that, because she definitely didn't know what to do.

"Ah, okay. Well maybe some other time then. You both have fun," Elsa laughed again. She had a strange sense of humor it seemed, because everything was funny to her.

At that, they turned and walked out, Elsa waving goodbye as they stepped back into the streets. Both turned right, heading toward the center of the city where they'd go for lunch.

"Thanks for saving me back there. That was smooth," Sera grinned.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I saved myself. It was getting a bit uncomfortable," Kea chuckled. It was the first time Sera saw him find anything funny. But it was okay, because it seemed more natural that way.

"To the Jade Dragon then?"

"Mhm," was his answer. As they moved through the city, they passed a young man in brown clothes, not noticing the shocked expression he gave as he let them move on.

What the hell?

That's the end of chapter 3! Please review =D.