Chapter Six: The Sword Master

The moon sat high in the sky by this time, going to inn after inn to find some sword master.

'Is it too much to ask for someone to be more specific than this side of the city, because this place must be at least a dozen times larger than the village." Sokka thought to himself as he walked through the shadows of the capital.

"Is a sword master staying here?"

"No."

"Is some old guy who's really good with swords here?"

"No."

"Is a military official staying here?"

"Of course, this is the capital after all."

"Is he a sword master?"

"No."

As much as he amused himself with trying to ask the innkeepers the same question with different phrasing, he was growing tired of walking throughout the city. He neared another inn, one that he had not checked on yet. He walked in and walked to the concierge desk immediately.

"Hello, Welcome t-" He didn't even let her finish speaking before he simply said "Sword guy? Where?"

Although slightly appalled by his brazen interruption, she simply raised her finger to point at a corner he had not even taken notice of when walking in.

'Finally!' He thought happily to himself that he did not have to walk around the capital anymore. This happiness quickly faded away when he saw him in military attire, remembering that his people constantly tried destroying his tribe. He had a much darker complexion than most people in the fire nation, and his hair was gray, which he could only assume was due to many stressful years of serving the military.

"Who are you?" The sword master asked, while staring at him accusingly.

"Um… I have come to seek training in the art of swordsmanship?" Sokka was not sure of why he had actually been tasked with seeking out this sword master, which he had only just thought of, but tried improvising as best he could.

"And what makes you think that I would even consider you to be worthy of my training?" He asked pompously.

"I guess that would be up to your discretion." Sokka said.

"Wise boy, I will consider it if I find that you are worthy of training, however, confidence in you is clearly lacking, fix it." He said firmly.

"Yes sir." He said, obviously more confidently.

"That is more like it," he said smugly, "now follow me".

Sokka did as he was told and followed him.

They walked down the firelight street in total silence. Sokka was first to try to spark a conversation. "So what is your name?"

"It is Piandao, and what is your name?" He asked politely.

"Sokka" he answered quickly but with instant regret. Surely, he would recognize that his name was not of fire nation origin.

"You are panicking right now because you realize that I would know you are Southern Water Tribe", Piandao said when he stopped and turned around to look at Sokka. All he could do was stare fearfully at him.

"Do not fear, I have heard of your plight and owe a certain person a favor", said the sword master in a relieving tone. Sokka released the largest breathe he ever had, which he didn't even realize he was holding.

"You should however realize that this does put you on a tightrope in our society. Not everyone here is so accepting" said Piandao grimly.

Sokka walked in silence for a moment contemplating this. "But wait, how do you know him?" curiosity was getting the better of him.

"I'm afraid I cannot tell at the moment, but his unlike most everyone else here".

They stopped behind the inn, where there was a towering wall and doors. Piandao pushed open the door and just like that, Sokka was overwhelmed. The place was a spacious as could be unlike the rest of the capital. An open concrete platform rested in the middle while luscious flora stood off to the sides. The instant the doors closed, all of the noise of the capital disappeared, being absorbed by the wall and doors instead.

"This is where I will train you everyday, arrive at sunrise everyday".

"What?" Sokka became thoroughly confused.

"What was the confusing part, the sunrise part or everyday?"

"Well… sunrise?" He answered doubtfully.

"You must learn to not waste any time, plus I am busy in the afternoon".

Sigh

"Don't sound so enthusiastic!" said Piandao, sarcastically.

He paused for a moment before pondering, "Why are you busy?"

"Hey, I'm in the fire nation military and there's a war going on… what do you expect?"

I guess it wouldn't do any good to complain about the military, especially considering how kind he is being.

"Fair point", he said like he was barely paying attention.

"Then do we have a deal?" Piandao asked

"Deal!"

Then they shook hands.