Author's Note: This chapter will be from Etka's point of view. Also, I've taken some artistic liberties with how the Fire Temple on Crescent Island looks, so please forgive that
Anahi and I reached the Fire Sage's Temple at around noon. She had fallen asleep on the boat, her head buried in folded arms, and I let her. I knew she was exhausted from last night, and she deserved a break. When we docked the boat in the harbor, I gently shook her awake, and Anahi sleepily raised her head.
"We're here," I said softly, and she sat up, running her hands through her hair.
"Mmm," She murmured, blinking in the sunlight, still slightly dazed. I cracked a smile, and pointed to the temple, rising from the side of the dormant volcano. "It's beautiful."
"I think you can learn a lot from the sages," I explained, as we got off the boat and began to walk the path towards the temple. "Pay attention to what they have to tell you."
"I will, sir," She replied, and I continued.
"I need to speak privately with the chief sage," I said, and Anahi looked at me curiously. "It's nothing urgent. I need his advice on a personal matter."
"Of course," She said, and I was glad that she let the subject go. How would I explain my true intentions for traveling here today to her? I would betray her trust completely.
"Captain Song," We bowed to a cluster of sages, who had come to greet us. I looked up to see the Great Sage at the head of the group, looking solemnly at the pair of us. "It has been quite some time."
"My many thanks for allowing us to come today," I said politely, bowing again. "Anahi and I are much obliged. She has much to learn from you all."
"Come inside," The Great Sage said, extending an arm, and I entered, Anahi following close behind, into the temple. The dark red pillars and the high ceilings never failed to take my breath away, and I enjoyed the view of the temple in quiet reverence. Anahi stared around, her eyes wide as she took in the majesty of the temple for the first time. It was enchanting, seeing her wonder and awe, and I found myself watching her more than I did the magnificent ancient architecture. We reached a courtyard, and I turned to the sages.
"Anahi will undergo her second Agni Kai soon," I explained, and their expressions varied from shock to confusion. "She is a very capable bender, but she still has lots to learn. I was hoping that you might be able to show her the more traditional side of firebending."
"It would be an honor to learn from you," Anahi added, bowing courteously.
"So few young people come to us for guidance," The youngest of the wizened sages smiled warmly at her. "We shall teach you, if you are ready to learn."
"May I request a private audience with you, Great Sage?" I asked, turning away from the group and dropping my voice. He looked at me solemnly, and turned to the other sages.
"We shall be nearby. Please begin." I nodded at Anahi, and left the small party alone in the courtyard. The Great Sage and I began to walk around the courtyard, circling Anahi and the Sages higher and higher as we ascended the stairs around the perimeter. I made sure Anahi was always within my line of sight, and once we were out of earshot, the Great Sage turned to me.
"My child," He said firmly, laying a hand on my arm. "What troubles you?" I sighed, casting my eyes on Anahi below us. She was bending a thick ribbon around in the air, and the Sage who had offered to teach her was critiquing her form.
"It's her," I sighed, frustrated. "She's unlike anyone I've ever met..." I told him everything, the story of how I had found her alone on the island, and how I had taken her in and begun to teach her bending. I ended with the story of the Agni Kai, and how she had nearly died. "When Anahi stayed in the healer's home, one of the healers showed me a dagger she had been wearing around her neck. It was beautifully carved and I had no idea why she had it with her. She had told me she was raised by Waterbenders, but had recently discovered her bending ability and had to leave. I believed her, sir, but when I saw the dagger she had been hiding...I had my doubts."
"A simple dagger?"
"The dagger had the insignia of the Royal Family on the hilt," I said earnestly. "I have no idea where she would have gotten that from."
The Great Sage looked down at Anahi in the courtyard, bending fire in a rippling ring around her body. "When you both arrived, I sensed a great presence entering the temple. It's a surprise that she hadn't discovered her abilities at a younger age."
"Do you think...do you think she could be related in anyway to...to the..." I couldn't bring myself to voice my suspicions about Anahi, not to the Great Sage.
"To the Firelord?" The Great Sage's calm face fell to cold severity. I paused, alarmed that I had caused some sort of offense.
"I don't know - "
"Her ability as you have described and what I have felt is certainly strong," The Great Sage said. "And I believe that powerful blood runs in her veins. If she is somehow related to the Royal Family...I would not be surprised."
Below us, Anahi stepped forward into a lunge, pressing her wrists together and shooting forth a torrent of fire. One of the sages applauded. Gripping the railing on the balcony with my wrists, I watched her solemnly, my thoughts bouncing around in my mind. If she was related to the FireLord...I couldn't imagine it. I had been sharing my home, living with and mentoring a young woman who could very well have his blood in her veins.
I had seen the strength in which she bent, the sheer power she still had difficulty controlling that had manifested itself last night. This time, I had no doubt that she could defeat Lucan, but I my doubts about her past remained unshaken.