"WaterBending is a Serious Study"
As Leon slowly walked to the door, the faces of his parents through the window became clearer and more visible. The only thing in his mind was their angry grimace of their faces—the same angry faces he had seen all during his childhood. Leon soon began to remember his childhood of tarnish and pain from his parents—the pain they had caused him, physically and mentally. Scared and scorned, Leon cried silently as he thought about what laid in his past. He couldn't let it continue; pain
"Come with me," said Headmaster Sekio as he went in the door before him. Leon froze there, looking at his parent's angry grimace. He headed forward and wiped the tears when he wasn't visible to others.
Sekio sat by his parents and talked to him as if he were a small child.
"Leon...," said his father bitterly as he stared into his son's vivid green eyes.
"Leon, we've given you warnings—we've told you to be serious. WaterBending is serious study, and you... are not serious at all," said Sekio, "but... getting to the subject. We had originally brought you in to suspend you for your hysterical jokes upon me, but after making a fool of Mr. Asuki... your parents have given me the idea of expelling you—expellsion from our academy."
Leon's eyes opened wide and he began to stumble as he tried to create a defense for himself, "..b..but... the Academy... it's the only training camp in the Southern WaterBending Grounds. Since the Rebuilding—"
"Yes, we know. You're a brilliant student—the best in the entire academy...but your jokes and self destroy the art of WaterBending... you use it for means of pranks!" said Sekio
"That's basically expelling me from WaterBending!"
"I'm sorry... but it's what must be done. Now... your parents are going to take you home and—"
"NO! Damnit I don't care about you... or you... or this academy. Damn this place!" said Leon, running out the door and past the training field he was at just moments ago—those moments felt like hours. His parents stayed inside, not following after their son. After just passing the pond, Mr. Asuki approached him; Mr. Asuki did not seem to have any negativity towards the young WaterBender.
"Where are you going, Leon?" he asked, putting another toothpick between his teeth.
"I don't care... just somewhere to train or somewhere to go. I'm tired of this damn academy and those people that call themselves parents.. they hate me and I hate them."
"Leon... you know they don't hate—"
"Yes they do." There was a pause where Asuki forgot about his toothpick and stared at Leon in a sort of hopeful and wondering state. "I'm going to the Northern WaterBending Grounds. I've decided. Don't try to stop me Asuki..." said Leon... also hopeful. Did he really want to leave this place he loved and had been in so long? Even though the Southern WaterBending Grounds were being rebuilt from the ruins of the last war...he loved it there.
"Stop you? I wouldn't even. Come on. I'm going with you," said Askui, grabbing the black, water-proof bag beside him.
"You!" asked Leon, laughing. "You wouldn't be any help. You said moving that creating those small waves was an advanced technique; I doubt you could make a simple water whip, let alone the waves."
"You're joking... right?" questioned Askui, hoping that he truly was, "Leon, that's just what Sekio made me teach the class; I begged him to allow me to teach more advanced techniques, but he was reluctant. We better hurry before Sekio tries to stop us. We'll get to the Northern WaterBending Grounds. I'll come with you."
Leon stared into the eyes of Askui, trying to examine his inside and motives, and realized he was truly heartfelt in asking this. "Alright," he said.
Askui gripped a gourd out of the large black bag and filled it with water in the nearby pond. He strapped it on his back and put other items from the bag within his pocket.
They both looked ahead at the barren field of ice and water which was their path for a long period of time, and it would only be part of the long journey. Askui and Leon headed forward knowing not what to expect.
Airbending Motives
The Airbending tower is a beautiful piece of land jetting out of the earth which extends up thousands of feet. The land is only 150 feet long by 150 feet wide—many times smaller than any other nation's. There are two towers—one in the northern end of the world and one in the southern, both exactly similar from outer appearance. The nation of Air was the most wealthy and prosperous in resources out of the four, being followed by Fire.
The entire Air Nation—including both the Northern and Southern temples— has a high council; they make the decisions for the nation and for the people of their country. The high council of air at this current point in time consists of four people; The Head; The Advisor; The Technique; and The Ambassador. All spots were filled by the best people for the job. Air was a nation of loyalty and dedication.
—
On the wall of the interior of the Southern Air Temple was a plaque containing the names of the High Council and the roles that they had taken grasped into their hands. The daily meeting was taking place in the uppermost level of the Northern Air Temple. The two members of the Southern temple travelled to the more nothern of the two temples by wind tunnels and now rested in the chamber where the meeting was taking place. The Council was not just a group of airbenders, but all were mastered at the art of airbending and were known for their amazing work. Part of the AirBending Council's fame was their enrollment of a nineteen year old bender within their seclusive group named Soan.
"Soan... do you agree with the Terminal Plan?" asked The Head.
"I detest it. It sickens the name of Air."
"Shut up. Forget the laws. All other members of the council agree. You're just The Technique—we don't need your acceptance."
"Air is already the strongest nation! Why ruin our name by attacking the Water Grounds? They're already rebuilding after the war—attacking them would be pointles—"
"You need to respect your elders," said Eyvio, The Head, looking upon the young man who is decades younger than he is. "Destroying the Water would end a futile race of benders, and we would gain their vast resources! Can't you see the limitless opportunities here?"
"Eyvio... all you ever see are the opportunities and the need to succeed. Look beyond that," said Soan, standing up. He walked out the door as The Head walked towards him.
"You cannot share this plan, Soan. You know the Council Secrecy—you cannot bring the ideas outside of this room. Doing so means death. Make a choice."
"I choose to leave this room," said Soan, gripping the door handle.
"You will not!" screamed Eyvio, running after Soan.
"I'm going to stop this, Eyvio!" Soan stepped forward and extended his arms, followed by a twirl of the hands. A large air bubble was formed before him. The air bubble covered the entire room, excluding Soan and a path for him to leave. The Council was trapped within The Technique's amazing shield which measured to two feet in the outer width.
Soan found a wind current jetting from the windows and followed it southern to the Southern WaterBending Grounds.