Chapter 3: Hayao

The volcanic peak stretched high into the sky. Lava could be seen pouring out of the black stone and creeping slowly into the ocean. As the hot stone and the cold ocean water collided, they generated a massive amount of steam that coalesced into a permanent fog bank that surrounded the base of the volcanic island. As the sun rose behind it, it created a very picturesque yet highly intimidating scene.

"So Hayao lives in that," Sen said incredulously.

"There are only so many ancient castles to go around," Suda said. He had been trying to make jokes a little more around the younger ones. A few light-hearted comments could go a long way to lift their spirits, and Suda was the only one in any kind of joking mood. Sen and Ada were still depressed, and Sorikami was too uptight to crack a smile.

They were in the town of Gai Zhu now, a large city located on the large Tahu Island of the Fire nation, some distance from Hayao's secluded rest. It was only due to the mountains massive size that they could see it from so far away. They still had quite a distance to travel, especially since the volcanic nature of the region meant the sea was filled with massive ridges and hidden shoals that made it impossible to sail a real boat through the water. They had acquired a small fishing vessel that could avoid the rocks, but it would be slow going. Walking and swimming the distance was also possible, thanks to the abundance of rocky islands, but it would take nearly a full day, so they would go by boat.

Sen and Suda could make their path easier with earthbending, but it would still be a long way to go, and they would have to leave much behind. Sen was having a hard time dealing with one thing in particular. Ada had taken steps to make sure their supplies and satomobile were well-kept, but there was another remainder that had to be taken care of; Gun.

The badgermole was in a panic now. Sen had successfully communicated to his animal guide that he was going somewhere that Gun couldn't follow, and was now having difficulty letting the badgermole know that he promised to be back. Gun dove in and out of the earth randomly, trying to find a way to tunnel to the island that Sen was heading towards, but the depth of the sea floor and the underground lava chambers of the volcanically active region prevented him from tunneling. The massive beast let out a confused whine quite uncharacteristic for a predator of its size.

Sen tried to calm Gun down, but it was difficult. Badgermoles communicated with a seismic sense; they could feel the hearts of the people around them, and Sen's heart was anything but calm. Gun could sense the distress of his master, and he did not want to part with Sen. Ever since his mother had died fighting the gopherlion, Gun had viewed the earthbenders around him as his family. He had already lost sight of Hanjo, and his animalistic nature made it impossible for him to understand why. Now he could feel that Suda and Sen were planning to leave him as well.

"Come on, Gun," Sen said. "This is hard for me too. You've just got to understand. I'm going to be back, I promise."

Ada was retrieving a few more supplies for their departure. Hayao's isolation made it difficult for he and his students to acquire food and other supplies, so Sorikami was having Ada gather extra supplies as a sort of donation. Sen was using all the extra time to try to get his badgermole to behave. Any progress was made in inches, not miles. Gun was a bit of a stubborn beast.

When Ada finished the preparations for the trip, Gun actually refused to let Sen go. Pressing his striped head against Sen's torso, the badgermole forcibly pushed Sen back onto the beach. Stomping his foot on the ground, Sen pointed emphatically at the ground of the coast. Gun sat down sadly, whining again. Sen looked away from his animal guide and headed for the boat. It was a small fishing boat that Sorikami had acquired from a local fisherman, barely large enough to fit the four of them. There wasn't much to say for it but the fact that it had a working motor and no leaks, but it would get them to the coastal mountain in a matter of hours rather than the day a rowboat might take.

Sen averted his eyes from the shore as their vehicle puttered away from the coastline. Suda kept an eye on Gun as they departed. The badgermole occasionally vanished into the ground only to return moments later, having tried and failed to find a way to tunnel after Sen. It was a heartbreaking sight, but it eventually faded from view. Suda turned his eyes forward to look at their destination.

The closer the volcano got, the scarier it seemed. The rivers of lava that poured down the side became more noticeable. This wasn't some minor eruption, either. According to Sorikami the area had been in a state of constant volcanic activity since Aang's lifetime. The volcano had simply started spewing lava one day and not stopped for nearly two-hundred years. Why anyone would live here, Suda couldn't understand.

A spiny ridge of glassy volcanic stone protruded from the water in front of them. Suda tapped Sen on the shoulder to get his attention, and they teamed up to take it apart. The boat was unsteady and small, which made their footwork difficult, but the two of them managed to carve a hole in the ridge of metamorphic rock with their bending. That would save them a bit of travel time. There would be more stones ahead, as they got closer to the volcano, so Suda kept his eyes open. Sorikami navigated the boat around the smaller obstacles, but the earthbenders had to step in for most of the bigger ones.

As the mountain got closer, the air around them grew thick with a salty fog. The lava boiled the ocean waves, sending water vapor into the air that coalesced into a permanent gray haze. Sorikami slowed the boat down as visibility dropped. Sen's glasses began to fog in the humidity, and he removed them. They helped him see things that were far away, but he couldn't see more than a few feet away anyway.

"I'm finding it hard to believe anyone survives out here," Sen said.

"Then your enemies won't look for you here, will they?"

Sorikami had a point. Anyone who was hunting them right now would probably not think to look at the base of a lethal volcano.

"Master Hayao's reasons for living here a mystery to me as well," Sorikami continued. "But he is wise, and has helped many find peace. I do not question his judgment."

"Did he ever help you," Suda asked. Sorikami did not answer the question. Suda didn't bother to pursue the line of questioning; he didn't really care about Sorikami all that much, and Sorikami didn't care for him. Besides his lack of interest, they had a more pressing concern. It seemed they had arrived.

Hayao's mountain was immediately distinct from the outcroppings of rock that surrounded it by its sheer height. It hadn't looked quite that massive from a distance. It was a steeply sloped mountain, with a low peak and a wide base. The caldera of an ancient eruption could be seen atop the peak, the scar of a massive volcanic event. Beneath the blasted peak, small caverns and craters marked the sites where lava flowed from the interior magma chamber.

Sorikami took the boat to ground on the rocky beach and had Suda lift it out of the water, so it would not be washed away by the waves. With the boat secured, the four of them gathered the supplies they had brought, following Sorikami across the volcanic island beach.

Ada spotted a robed figure meditating on the mountainside, but Sorikami did not acknowledge them, nor did they acknowledge the new arrivals. Ada assumed it was another person studying under Hayao.

The entrance to a cavern came into view. The stone around was smooth and heavily layered; the cavern had once been the site of a volcanic ejection, but that had been centuries ago, and the stone left behind had been heavily weathered by wind and water. Another meditating figure rested just outside, half-hidden in the fog. Sen could barely see them between the fog and the fact that he had removed his glasses, but for some reason his eyes lingered all the same. He kept an eye on the mysterious figure until Sorikami led them to the cavern chamber and the outside world vanished.

The cave was not decorated in any way, marked only by the corpses of plants long-wilted and a few fresher offerings left by pilgrims to Hayao's meditative rest. There were a few natural chambers to the cave, but it seemed untouched by architect or any kind of human contact. A few of the interior chambers showed signs of human habitation; meager bedrolls, a small number of personal items, stockpiles of food and medical supplies. Sorikami instructed them to drop off the excess supplies here; they would be used by Sen and the other residents over time. With their burdens gone, Sorikami led the way to the interior chamber. A makeshift curtain hung over an opening in the cavern wall, the only sign of human influence in the layout of the cave.

"The three of you will go in on your own," Sorikami said, gesturing to the curtain. "Sen will do the introductions; the other two of you will speak only if Hayao asks you a question."

Sen didn't like the idea of proceeding without Sorikami, but he knew he wouldn't get very far if he tried to argue it. He had hoped Sorikami's familiarity with the Master would help them.

"You can't come with us?"

Sorikami averted her eyes for a brief moment, almost as if she was ashamed, but they quickly darted back into their judgmental stare.

"Master Hayao has no need to speak to me. Only you. Go."

The room beyond the veil was just as sparse as the rest, a natural cave in every respect. Near the center of the room was a small pool of crystalline water, situated next to a circle of candles that looked like they had burned for quite some time. Near the center of the ring there were only puddles of burnt out wax, but as the ring stretched outwards you found taller and taller remnants of candles, until the outer ring where you found nearly complete candles, still lit with a small, flickering flame. In a small gap in the very center of the ancient candles, a figure rested.

Hayao sat motionlessly, cloaked in a robe that might once have been bright red, but was now stained the color of blood by age. A hood was drawn over his head, obscuring most of his face, and what was not covered by the head was covered by an ancient mask. It was pitted by age and bore what seemed to be battle-scars, but the mask was still recognizable; it was the white skull-mask worn by Fire Nation troops during the Hundred-Year war. The hollow eyes of the mask stared out at Sen and his friends, unblinking and unmoving. Hayao had not moved at all since they had entered, nor had he spoken. Sen was not quite talented enough in the seismic sense to feel heartbeats, but he could still get a general sense of people; it surprised him, therefore, that he felt absolutely nothing from Master Hayao.

"Master Hayao-"

"I am no Master," the robed figure proclaimed. His voice was deep and powerful, yet unthreatening, like the sound of a storm in the distance.

"Others claim this title of me, though I do not accept it," The rolling baritone voice continued. "But I have my measure of wisdom to share, if you come seeking it. What brings you to me?"

"They said it was called Sozin Syndrome," Sen said. He didn't really know how to explain his predicament, so he stuck to repeating things he'd heard from others.

"I despise the name, but I know of what you speak," Hayao replied. "It is not a disease to be confused or upset, young firebender."

"I just want to be able to sleep again," Sen said quietly.

He was depressed and exhausted. Every time he tried to sleep his mind drifted towards Hanjo's memory. Most of those memories were pleasant, but the shadow of his friend's untimely fate hung over every thought. They twisted into nightmares that kept Sen awake at night.

"I will give you what help I can," Hayao said. "First, allow me to read the heat within you. It will grant me a clearer picture of your ordeal."

Sen nodded. He didn't quite understand what "reading heat" entailed, but if it helped him solve his problems faster, he was all for it. For a brief moment he felt like an icy hand was on his chest, but the sensation passed as soon as it had come. It took barely a second, and Hayao had not once moved from his resting position.

"So the Avatar comes to me again," Hayao said. Sen was shocked to hear him say it. Had he really figured it out just by reading Sen's body heat?

"Your predecessor and I crossed paths once, when she guided a young boy to my care," Hayao said. He sounded like it was a fond memory. "I learned much from her. It would be my privilege to guide you in turn."

The Avatar held an intensity within that no mortal could match. The light of Raava flowed through Sen's entire body, an unmistakable mark of his power, even hidden as it was amidst the heat of confusion and guilt. Hayao had seen it only once before, but it was a feeling you never forgot.

"Tell me of your journey. Leave nothing out. I wish to understand what causes you such pain."

Sen began retelling their journey, from the first day at the orphanage up to the moment they had come to Hayao's cavern. Hayao remained still as he listened to the long and winding story of Sen and Hanjo's journey together, meeting Ada and Suda, and their eventual separation. When Sen wrapped up his story, Hayao spoke.

"I am sorry for the loss of your friend," He began. "It is a wound not easily healed, but I will do all I can."

Hayao stopped for a moment to contemplate his course. He saw two paths before him. The sure path was to guide the Avatar through his grief personally, to take every detail into his own hands. This would achieve the Avatar's intended goal quickly, and bring him a speedy relief from the guilt he felt over Hanjo's loss, but it was not only that which troubled him. Hayao could feel a conflict in Sen's heart that ran deeper than Hanjo's sacrifice. The path to heal that wound would be longer and more arduous, and involve a great deal of pain for Sen, as well as his partner on the journey.

Nothing worth doing was ever done easily. Hayao set his course.

"You will be trained in firebending by another of my pupils, Miyani. Do not tell her of your true identity; in all other ways you may deal with her as you see fit." Hayao commanded. "Your friends cannot stay with you. They must return to the mainland, and you will not be permitted to see them."

Sen and his friends were taken aback by the harsh command. Sen stepped forward to protest.

"But they're my friends! They're all I've got," Sen objected weakly. He wanted Suda and Ada to stay with him, but he felt he wouldn't get his way.

"This is what I command," Hayao said, sounding unusually harsh. "Accept my methods or find another master."

Hayao saw the surrender in Sen's eyes. The Avatar looked forlornly at his friends, and they saw it as well. Suda tried to argue it with Sen, but it was clear that he was fighting a losing battle. Hayao was the higher authority. Perhaps some other time Sen might have at least tried to argue it, but depression and exhaustion did not create stubbornness.

"Take your leave for a moment," Hayao ordered Sen. "I would have a few words with your companions. I can persuade them of my methods as well."

Sen obeyed, dragging his feet sadly as he left Hayao's chamber and vanished to the other side of the curtain. Suda was glaring angrily at the masked master; Ada seemed to be on the verge of tears. Clearly this was not a popular decision. It was exactly as Hayao intended.

"I understand your frustrations," Hayao declared. "But I do this for a reason. Sen will find it difficult to be apart from you. It is my hope that he will take action to reunite with you against my orders."

Suda's anger faded, and Ada's confusion started to override her sadness.

"You're giving him an order you expect him to break?"

"Of course. Think back on your journeys. When has Sen made demands, when has he taken charge of a situation, except when he was forced to?"

Ada thought about all the things they'd done together. For their entire journey, Sen had been allowing Hanjo or Ada to decide all their destinations and goals. The only time he had ever taken any initiative was in their encounter with Natae, when almost everyone else had been unconscious. They had hardly even noticed before. Sen had never taken charge of his own life.

"I see you understand now," Hayao observed. "His grief over Hanjo is a significant problem, and I promise you I will help him overcome it, but it is not the only challenge Sen must overcome. The real lesson Sen must learn is one of agency. Sen was raised to believe that the Avatar was a threat, something to be feared. He has not yet overcome this idea. He is afraid to take the initiative and accept his destiny."

"You think he isn't ready? He's come all this way, done so many things-"

"What he has done is irrelevant," Hayao said. "Why he has done them is what matters. His motivation has always been the expectations and desires of others, not his own will."

Ada grit her teeth. Hayao did have a point. Sen's behavior had rarely felt unique or determined. He had simply been following the path he assumed Avatar's were meant to follow.

"I understand that this will be difficult for him and for you. I ask for your patience and trust. If you are unwilling to give it, you may pursue training elsewhere. I will not stop you from leaving."

As much as Ada hated the idea of leaving Sen alone, Hayao had a point. Sen couldn't spend his whole life following other people around. Eventually he would have to take the lead. Hayao's plan was fairly well thought out. With his only friends acting as the bait, Sen was sure to take some initiative.

The fact that Hayao's plan was so carefully made brought a question to Ada's mind.

"What about Miyani," She asked suspiciously. "What's her part in this?"

She didn't believe that Hayao was passing off training the Avatar for no reason. Whoever Miyani was, she played some part in Hayao's plan for Sen. Ada wanted to know what. She waited for a few moments, but got no response. She assumed Hayao wasn't going to tell them, and turned to Suda. One look at him told Ada they were both thinking the same thing. Neither of them liked it, but it was the only plan they had at the moment. They'd been drifting aimlessly for too long. They agreed to Hayao's plan. Hopefully they wouldn't regret it as much as they regretted the last compromise they had made.

"You may say your goodbyes to Sen. I hope he will see you soon."

Ada and Suda grudgingly left the room behind, leaving Hayao to his meditation. Sen was waiting patiently alongside Master Sorikami, and he jumped to his feet when he saw them. They had no good news.

"Sorry pal, looks like you're going to have to do this one on your own." Suda put his hands on Sen's shoulders. "But you can do this easy. You're a natural bender. Just keep your glasses on and you'll do fine."

"You know, I never thanked you for that," Sen said. He took his glasses out of his pocket and put them back on. "I'd still be running around blind if you hadn't figured out I needed these."

"Ah, you would've figured it out eventually."

"Well, thanks all the same. Look after Gun for me, would you? He only likes earthbenders, so it's up to you."

Suda gave a sharp, affirmative salute, the same he'd given to Bolin when he'd first promised to look after Sen. Sen knew he could trust Suda to take care of Gun. He had a bad past but a good heart. The next person was not so easy to deal with. Sen turned to Ada.

There had been nothing but friction between the two of them since leaving Hanjo behind. They had been stepping around each other, never really talking, for weeks. Sen couldn't let that continue. For a long time he had been scared of Ada, of the way she behaved in battle, and to tell the truth he still was. Despite that, she had proven that she cared about Sen, and Sen felt he needed to return that trust.

"Ada, we've been a little bit…I don't even know," Sen mumbled. "But I don't want it to keep happening. You are my friend."

Sen had run out of ideas. Apologizing was a lot harder than he thought. He tried to think of the right things to say, and the right words to say them. Suda got impatient.

"Oh, just leave already, goodbyes are a pain in the butt," Suda said. "You're both in a bad place right now. You'll get over it. Don't try to force yourself to talk when you aren't ready for it."

Sen and Ada looked at each other. Suda was right. They shouldn't get hung up on the conflicts between them. They nodded wordlessly, and that was enough. They would talk again when they had both done a little growing up. Sorikami led Sen's friends away from the cavern, leaving Sen completely alone.