Timeline: 70 years after the end of the war
I was kneeling on the floor of the Great Hall of the Assassin monastery and listened to the words of Grand Master Jin, my uncle.
''Zhiyou heping he rongyu, zhenli he daode shi huanxiang! The Codex unfolds in these words! Where others are blinded by ideals and opinions, always remember...''
I completed his phrase: ''There is only peace and honor!''
''Where others are restricted by laws and rules, never forget...''
''Truth and morality are illusions!''
''We walk in the shadows to bring light into the world!''
We spoke the final phrase together: ''We are Assassins!''
My uncle said: ''Rise, Master Razo, and receive the honors of your new rank.''
I opened my eyes, rose to my feet and bowed to my uncle and the other Grand Masters.
My uncle continued: ''It is now time for you to receive the ritual tattoos. Take your seat, Master Razo.''
I sat down on the ceremonial chair at which my uncle had pointed.
Shortly afterwards an adept who carried a tray which several small instruments on it appeared. I of course knew that I would now receive the tattoos that every master received during his appointment.
The adept took my left hand and began to draw the seal of the Assassin Order onto my ring finger with a needle-like tool.
When this was done he changed sides and rolled up the right sleeve of my robe.
My uncle asked: ''What is the creed you have decided on, Master Razo? I hope you have made your choice with caution, your creed will accompany you for the rest of your life.''
I had spent enough thoughts on this matter and said with a determined voice:
''From this day on, I will live under the following creed: ''I honor the tradition of my family''
My uncle said: ''A good choice, young Master.'', while the adept began to perpetuate my words on my arm.
When he was done and had left the hall again, my uncle said:
''Now it is sealed! From this moment on you are a Master of the Order of the Assassins! Rise!''
I stood up, all the Grand Masters bowed to me, I returned the gesture.
I actually had done it, I now was a Master Assassin.
I thought of my grandfather: ''I did it! I will follow your legacy!''
Now that the ceremony was finished my uncle didn't need to comply with the traditional formalities anymore, he walked over to me, put his hand on my shoulder and said:
''Congratulations, nephew. Now you have officially continued the tradition of our family in your generation, just like your grandfather, may the Spirits rest his soul, had always wanted.''
I smiled: ''Thank you, uncle Jin, I have trained all my life for this. I'm going to follow grandfather's footsteps, I can feel it, I'm going to become as great an Assassin as he was.''
''These are some noble goals, my boy. But never forget that every individual writes their own story, you will also find and follow your very own special path through life.''
''I don't doubt that, uncle, I just ask myself what I'm going to do right now. I mean, I don't really have anything to do, except maybe help father on his ship.''
''What about Hiru? You are both young, wild and free, how about you do something together as brothers?''
My uncle grinned and lightly nudged me with his elbow.
I of course knew what he meant. My brother Hiru and I both had always been two proper girl magnets, something we always had enjoyed, but weren't able to do anymore once I had begun my Assassin training.
I of course still tried everything to stay in touch with Hiru as much as possible, he was my brother after all, we shared an unbreakable bond and were always there for each other.
I was about to leave the hall when Qishen, the leader of the Assassins, called me back.
''Wait, young Master Razo, there is one more thing we have to show you.''
A look of surprise appeared on my face as I followed my leader's words and walked back towards the Grand Masters.
Qishen clapped his hands twice and said: ''Bring us the Map of Light!
I looked at my uncle with big eyes, but he said nothing and instead only gave me a serious look in return.
Another adept now entered the hall, he carried an ancient looking scroll in his hands and eventually put it down on the table in front of the Grand Masters.
Qishen said to the adept: ''Unroll it.'', the adept did as he was told.
I took a step closer towards the table, so this was it, the legendary Map of Light that showed the birthplace of every single Avatar in history.
We already knew that the new Avatar had to be a water bender, which is why the sigil of the Water Tribe glowed in a bright white light near the South Pole.
Qishen now turned to my uncle: ''It is time.'', my uncle nodded.
''Time for what? What's going on?'', I asked completely clueless.
My uncle maintained the serious look on his face and began to speak with an equally as serious voice:
''Razo, my boy. We have waited a long time for this moment and now that you're a Master we can finally tell you.''
''Tell me what?''
''As you know, ever since the foundation of our Order, whenever a new Avatar is born, one Assassin is chosen by the Spirits to become the Avatar's Protector. Your grandfather was the Protector of Avatar Aang, the last Avatar.''
''I know the story, but what does this have to do with me?''
''Well, the Grand Masters have recently received word from the Spirits that they have chosen the Protector of the new Avatar. And they have chosen ... you!''
I was as if struck by lightning! I should be the Protector of the new Avatar? And basically follow my grandfather's legacy directly this way?
I felt a potpourri of emotions fighting for dominance in my body, but I fortunately managed to keep my composure and answered:
''Well, that is an incredible honor ... which I'm ready to carry!''
''Does this mean that you accept the position as Protector?''
''Of course! It is the will of the Spirits and one does not question their words.''
''Very good, you have truly paid attention during your training.''
''And what exactly does this mean for me now?''
''Well, you will travel to the Southern Water Tribe, find the new Avatar and start to accompany him or her. We may not be in times of war anymore but danger is existent all the time and the Avatar needs to be protected to maintain the peace in the world.''
I had understood and said: ''So be it. The Avatar is under my protection from now. I will set out as soon as possible and start to search for the Avatar.''
My uncle nodded and said: ''May you walk in the shadows, Razo.''
''As may you, uncle.'', I replied.
I bowed to the other Grand Masters one last time and then left the hall.
I went into my little room in one of the towers of the monastery, lied down my bed and stared at the ceiling.
I thought. I now held the same position my grandfather had once held which meant that I now had found my life goal.
Just like my grandfather before me I would be the Avatar's Protector from now on.
I asked myself if I maybe was going to experience the same kind of adventures of which my grandfather had always told me stories. His journeys with Avatar Aang had to have been a truly unique and exceptional experience, I tried to imagine how the new Avatar and I would go through similar situations.
This raised a question however: How exactly was I supposed to travel through the world?
My grandfather had Pagan, his dragon, but he had left us as well after the death of my grandfather, nobody knew where he was nowadays.
The only possibility that came to my mind and also seemed realistic at the same time was to emulate my father and buy a ship for myself. I would keep this thought in mind until I eventually would set out for good.
I stood up again, walked over to the window and looked outside, the sun began to slowly set at the horizon.
I sighed and looked up to the sky.
''You watch over me. I will not disappoint you! I will fulfill the same task that you had dedicated your life to!'', I said in my mind while I thought of my grandfather.
My grandfather may have been the Flame in the Dark, but now it was time for the next generation!
I now carry the honor of my family and I will carry it on to the end of my path!
I am Razo Huyan, the Legacy of the Flame!
The End
Author's Note: And that's it, the story is finished.
I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing/translating it.
About the sequel to this story: I don't know when or if I will ever translate it at all, mainly because it's not finished yet in German and this probably won't change in the foreseeable future since I have several other projects in the works already that I want to finish first. Therefore a big sorry to everybody who (eventually) was looking forward to read the sequel.
Leave a review with your opinion about this story if you want/feel like it, if you have questions or something like that, send me a PM and I will try to answer them.
As for now, I wish you a nice day and I'll see you next time, peace out.
