"How are you."

"I'm okay…You?"

"I'm okay too…a bit confused…but okay."

Bolin and Parker awkwardly looked away from each other not knowing what to do or say next. Luckily Katara took over and invited Bolin to come to her enclosed garden. The tea she had prepared was still standing there so Bolin and Parker could go sit outside together to talk.
When they took place on the rocks near the water Katara poured out the tea in two little cups and then went back inside. Azula gave a little ensuring wink to Parker and then followed Katara.

"You're not wearing your gloves or kerchief" Bolin pointed out.

"Yeah. I'm not allowed to anymore from Katara. She says it will only make it harder" Parker replied.

"Harder for what?"

"To accept myself…accept who and what I am."

"And what is it that you are?"

"Haven't you guessed yet?"

"I have an idea…but it's just to bizarre and…and kinda impossible."

"…Apparently not that impossible…"

Sigh.

"So,…you…you are a…a spiritbender?" Bolin stammered.

"Uhu" Parker nodded.

"Is that why you had special lessons with Katara?"

"Part of it…"

"What's the other part?"

"The part you already knew…I don't know which element I bend."

"Don't spiritbender bend all the four elements?"

"Yeah, but they have to start off with one and then follow the circle to learn the other elements."

"Right…So…What now?"

"I'm not sure. I'll probably stay with Katara for a while longer and maybe…I don't know…maybe I'll come back to classes later."

"Everyone's talking about it, you know…about the day you showed up at class without…"

Sigh "Yeah, I was expecting that."

"But most of it isn't bad stuff…Most of the students are just surprised and wandering how it's possible. Some still don't believe us because we're first years. Even my own brother doesn't believe me."

"I'm just scared that when I go back to classes they will start to ask me the questions that they have and I won't be able to answer any of it since I don't understand it myself yet."

"Yeah…I'm glad you wanted to talk to me…And…you're still my friend, you know."

Parker smiled softly: "Thanks. I'm glad were friends."

"Me too."


Since Parker still didn't go to classes yet, headmaster Iroh decided Parker should have a tutor so she wouldn't get behind to far from the rest of the students. Mrs. Tadako or Bolin brought over homework to Katara's cottage where Parker was still lodged. When it was Mrs. Tadako who came over, she always went over Parker's homework and talked about what they did in class. When it was Bolin bringing homework, it was a bit harder to focus because Bolin always wanted to talk about some new exciting move he learned in earthbending classes.

Azula came by every day during the morning or afternoon classes to study with Parker. Although Azula wasn't a real teacher, she was a pretty good one. Parker learned a lot in the time they spent together and sometimes they even went to the school library. Since all the student where in class, there was no one around. Only the librarian, Ms. Tong, since she worked there but she was very nice. The first time Parker was very nervous to go the library since she couldn't wear anything to cover her tattoos. Katara had come along too to support Parker. When they arrived at the library Ms. Tong came to greet them. After nodding at Katara and Azula she came to eyelevel with Parker and said: "I like your tattoos. They're very beautiful." After that Parker didn't feel so scared anymore to go to the library. She knew she wouldn't be judged by Ms. Tong either and Parker loved going through all the books, especially the old ones. The smell of them reminded Parker of the book of shadows. It had been a while since she read in the book, Parker had thought.

Also today Azula took Parker to the library after they had finished the math homework Bolin had brought over yesterday. When they arrived at the building Azula explained what they were gonna do today.

"So, Katara thought it would be a good idea to look up some stuff today about spiritbenders. What do you think?"

Parker sighed and then answered: "…Sure."

"You seem a bit nervous."

Parker nodded.

"Why is that?"

"I don't know…I guess I'm nervous of what I'm gonna find out about them."

"And about you?"

"Yeah…that too."

"That's okay. We'll start of easy. How about we both find a book about the old history."

"Yeah, that's a good idea."

They both started their search on the same row of books in the section of spiritbending. Parker was amazed of how many books and scrolls there were about them. After a couple minutes Parker moved on to another row, then another and another. She didn't look much at the books she passed but kept walking towards the fourth row. It was like she was drawn to it. Her left hand slid over the backs of the books until her hand abruptly stopped. Without thinking or even reading the title of the book Parker pulled it of the shelve. It was a pretty big book and heavy too. Too heavy to keep carrying so Parker put it down on the ground and sat herself down in front of it. She touched the book on the front cover with her whole hand and felt a jolt go through her. But she didn't pull back. Instead she let her hand glide to the side of the book and opened it, pulling some pages along too. Parker turned another few pages until she stopped on one with a big strange symbol but at the same time a kind of familiar symbol. With her forefinger pointed out to it, Parker let her hand move closer to the page. At that moment Azula turned the corner of the book row behind Parker and saw what the young girl was about to do.

"Parker! No don't do it!" Azula cried out, recognizing the symbol.

Too late. Parker's finger had already moved closer and was now touching the page right on the symbol. Not a second later the tattoos on Parker's body started to glow light blue and a strong sort of wind burst out of the spot she was sitting in so that Azula got pushed back by it. A dark purple blue like figure emerged from the book. It rose up to the ceiling of the library and made an awful noise. By now Ms. Tong had noticed something strange happening in her library too. She ran towards the noise and quickly found Azula, Parker, who was still in her trance, and the strange figure hoovering above the young girl.

"Is that…Is that a spirit?" Ms. Tong asked stuttering.

"Yeah," Azula yelled, trying to get her voice louder than the wind: "But it's angry…very angry."

The spirit seemed to have enough of the library and now flew up through the ceiling. The wind settled down. Parker stopped glowing too and fell to the ground exhausted. After a minute she awoke, still in the library, with Azula and Ms. Tong sitting next to her.

"Are you okay?" Azula aksed concerned.

"What happened?" Parker asked back.

"We're not sure but we think you released a spirit out of that book" Ms. Tong answered, nodding towards the book.

"A spirit?" Parker said confused.

"I should take her back to Katara" Azula said to Ms. Tong: "I can carry her but could you take the book?"

"Sure, no problem" Ms. Tong replied and picked up the book the laid on the floor while Azula took Parker into her arms. Together they made their way back to the Katara's cottage. During their walk Parker had fallen asleep.


When Parker finally awoke she found herself lying on her bed in Katara's cottage. She could see it was almost completely dark outside so she must have been asleep for several hours. Parker heard voices coming from the kitchen. They were definitively whispering, but why? Was it because they didn't want to awake Parker of was it because they didn't want her to hear what they were saying?

Parker walked towards the door that connected the two rooms. She heard six different voices and recognized five of them: Katara, Azula, headmaster Iroh, Jaya and monk Kiyoto. The sixed voice, Parker didn't recognized, was from a man. He spoke very official and disciplined, like he was in the army or something.

Now Parker tried to listen to what they were saying. It wasn't easy since they spoke really soft but Parker did understand some keywords. They were talking about her that was definite. Parker also heard the words: 'her parents', 'missing', 'mad spirit', 'library' and 'don't tell her yet'. Parker decide to have heard enough and wasn't going to let them hide something else from her. She grabbed the doorknob and pulled the door open. All eyes turned to her when she stood there in the door opening.

Very serious she asked: "What about my parent? Where are they?"