The baby sparrows on a tree chirped loudly as Satchiko and Hudie walked down the campus path. They are walking back to their dorms, the girl with brown hair released a heavy groan, frustrated with her progress. So far, she haven't been getting the results she wanted. Despite all the help she received from her friend, the lessons taught in class are still difficult to grasp. She is always chasing, trailing, playing catch ups. While others are internalizing entire chapters, she couldn't understand a line of words or their meanings. The history of the Earth Kingdom is too vast for her to comprehend properly. Without prior knowledge, it felt like the all the content are being crammed into her head. Skimming the page didn't help either, as she will just become more confused about the details, such as about which historical figure exist in which imperial dynasty. For example, she often mistook the name of a poet to be a military strategist. Or another, how she completely forgotten the entire reason of why the settled people fought a war against cavalry centered nomads. And this is just surface level knowledge. Other heavy topics that must be memorized for the exams are; Earth Avatars, the Warring state era of Spring and Winter, the Hundred Year War as well as all the other famous contributions by poets, leaders and pioneers. While the section about Kyoshi's exploits are easy to comprehend, the others not so much.

"How is any of the stuff we learn have to do with Earthbending?" Satchiko stopped in her path to contemplate. Hudie also halted her steps.

"What do you mean?" Hudie asked in concern.

Satchiko lowered her head to look at both her palms. Without her full equipment, her ungloved hands are displayed in the natural form. According to the instructor, the person's body doesn't affect bending potency. It's the mastery that truly matters. There was a famous account long time ago that there was a blind little girl from Gaoling who managed to defeat opponents far larger. Even without the sight, legends said she later became a renown Earthbender and opened her own school.

While this story is supposed to inspire those who have yet to master Earthbending, the opposite also runs true. Whenever Satchiko compared herself to others, it made her realize just how far behind she is. Hudie for example, easily exhaust when running. Unlike Satchiko, who trained to scale over buildings and possesses a great agility, Hudie is a normal person. Despite being physically weaker, the Miao girl is much more intoned with Earthbending, able to levitate larger boulders at throw them at ease.

"I'm very afraid to fail the examination. If I do, I might have to stay here longer and no being able to see my parents." Satchiko frowned deeply, feeling trapped in this situation. She is adamant tp tell Hudie about what happened in the town of Shang, on how much regret she felt by not learning bending before. But telling Hudie about blood, battles and cruelty would definitely scar someone who has never been exposed to such things before. If a person who have been trained in the ways of fans their whole lives couldn't find peace in their heart, how will a mere village girl from Eastern Earth Kingdom remain sane?

She is proud of who she is, a Kyoshi warrior. But sometimes, even she can't help but feel confronted with the reality that strong benders have a natural advantage over non-benders. To move the very elements that inhabits this world, a bender imposes their will on the powerless, either socially or in a fight. Even petty arguments can result in fatality like the fight between the Siaw Jong and Jian Sin students. But she knew not everyone is like that.

"Hey."

Satchiko looked behind her, three other girls stood there on the path. They are in the same classroom as them, carrying scrolls of parchment and ink brushes. "You did very well," the one at the front said.

"Oh, thank you, I didn't very-"

"For a good for nothing country pumpkin!" She instantly interrupted the Kyoshi warrior. Satchiko tried not to gasp, but her face did show. An expression of being insulted can either range from anger or sorrow. Usually, she would tackle the opponent, but this time it's her pitiful look that fueled their laughter.

Before Hudie can intervene, Satchiko prevented it by simply waving at her. It's pointless. Despite how much Satchiko wanted to show how much pain chi-blocking can inflict, doing so would be unwise. She hate being here, but being expelled is the wrong way to exit. She suppressed her reckless tendency, enduring the mockery of her classmates.

"Such simple earthbending forms, yet you still fail." It's a student whom she recognized as someone who have laughed at her on day one. "Whenever I feel useless, I just need to remind myself that you exist!"

"But I-" Satchiko stuttered. It's pointless to argue. They all marched pass where she is standing, clueless that the Kyoshi warrior restrained herself. Satchiko felt their ever lingering laugher makes her blood boil, forcing her to tighten up her hands into a fist. Without warning, the Kyoshi warrior punched a nearby tree to vent the anger, but all that did was made her hiss in pain.

"Woah, calm down!" Hudie hurried over, checking the bruising hand. But to Satchiko, the pain is not enough to make her forget about the problems. She wish she could have been less nugatory. If she have mastered bending beforehand, she wouldn't find herself in this predicament, straying far from home and failing her duty as a warrior.

While the tree trunk was unfazed by the futile punch, the baby birds in the nest squeaked distressfully as they can feel the faint impact. Satchiko noticed, realizing what she has done in a fit of rage. She quelled her wrath, making sure none of them dropped to the ground.

"Don't worry, I'm sure none of the-" Hudie stopped as they noticed something behind the tree dropped over. It fell to the ground. Both of them walked to him, realizing this person must be sleeping underneath shade, resting his back against the wood. "Wait a second, I have seen this person on our first day here. Isn't he-"

"Kong Ming," Satchiko sighed and crossed her arms. She has met the sleeper in the university library, when Mayumi uttered his name. It's pathetic to see a grown man being so lazy, but then again, he already accomplished more as a scholar than she ever did. "And he is still snoring." After nudging his shoulder for two whole minutes, she gave up, failing to awake this slumbering man. "Sigh, what his role in the university anyway?" Satchiko muttered as she reinstalled Kong Ming's body to rest the tree trunk. "I never seen this person opened his eyes, surely he can't be sleeping all day right?"

Hudie examined the scroll on the ground besides them. Written parchment about airships that look like regular junk ships commonly spotted on the Earth Kingdom. Compared to the ones developed by Cabbage Corp, these look much more aligned with traditional ship designs.

"Let's leave him," Satchiko advised.

They both walked for while, passing through a stone bridge and the Kim observatory where professor Shi Shen resides. No matter where they walk, news of the Keju exam are ever present. Everywhere they went, there are wooden signs planted into the ground. Names of those who became a graduate are installed, more points meant the higher a person's name is positioned.

Folks surrounded them like children, just to take a glance at who have made it. It's all too bothersome for her. She came from a background of a simple fishing village, exams was never something she expect to be facing. Like most children of Kyoshi island, they prefer to play on the beach and worry less about the world of grown ups. But she understands this academic pressure, and acknowledges the immense amount of preparation that must be done to achieve good results. But it's still hard to imagine that just a few short months ago, she is fighting pirates who are trying to rob her home. Now, she is a student of a prodigious learning institution, which she never even earned to be in.

She should feel grateful, content by the opportunity given. But poor performance and failing at her grades is an insult to those who couldn't never even have the chance to be educated.

The two came up behind a small crowd of students. The names on the wooden sign, Satchiko can't understand. The characters are too complex, something her limited vocabulary cannot handle. It is apparent that the Keju have always been on the minds of everyone. Its graduation ceremony is considered important enough that exchange students like her are expected to attend it tomorrow, taking time off the classes. It is possible that Xuan Zang is trying to use the ceremony in order to foster ties between various fractured states, with the exchange students somehow functioning as de-facto representatives. Not very feasible, but who is she to question an enlightened air monk?

"I heard that the ceremony would be held inside the royal palace, that place is difficult to enter. They said that all the big brass of society is going to be there, including us!" Hudie remarked, trying to induce some enthusiasm into the boredom stricken Kyoshi warrior, which to no avail. These past few days they received a few visits from Nguyen, that friendly tour guide with a bamboo hat. The woman informed them that the royal palace is actually also a museum, containing the Earth Kingdom's most pristine artifacts before the killing of the last Earth Queen. The palace have been restricted to most, and only recently opened to the public. Tremendous efforts to recover stolen items and treasures have been undergoing for years. Occasionally they can see ostrichhorse carriages with crates guarded by the Chengguan lawmen.

"Sigh, the only thing I need to worry about is passing my own examination. I have no time to be worried about this!" Satchiko said as they went pass the Kim observatory. Satchiko hoped that they can at least pass through the Koi fish pond to see some Elephant Koi jumping out of the waters. At least she can enjoy watching them before she herself engages in some fruitless studying. She still needed to make a trip, garnering some food for the baby turtleduck. The animal have been less aggressive lately, getting accustomed around humans.

"W-Wait!" Hudie cried. "Don't you want to find out who passed?"

"Uh, not very." Satchiko pondered, but realized something. "Hold on, can you tell me if the name Te Gaogui is on the board?" She watched as Hudie scanned the leaderboard.

"Yes, she is." Her friend replied. "Huh, second place, that's very good."

Satchiko glanced at the name on second place. She can't recognize the word characters, but do know there is three of them. People's names are shorter here when compared to back home. As for the case of Te Gaogui becoming Satchiko's tutor, she isn't too enthusiastic. To her, this noble lady Mayumi met is an absolute stranger. While skeptical, the girl understands that she desperately needed help with Earthbending.

...

"You did your very best, you gave it your all." The housekeeper comforted lady Te Gaogui while combing the carefully maintained hair. They are inside an upper ring estate, where the noble lady resides along with a team of retainers. They are doing preparations for the Keju ceremony, testing which accessories or dress Te should use. "I am sure Master Te would be joyful when he heard that you have gotten second place in the Keju exam. While you didn't get the title of Zhuangyuan as you have desired, it doesn't matter. What truly shines is that you have reached your greatest accomplishment. It is a great honor for the Te clan, its daughter have earned a high score in the civil servant examination."

Lady Te sighed, disappointed. The usually calm and calculated woman felt dejected despite her housekeeper's soothing words. "Aunt Ayi, you do not understand, that is precisely the problem. I cannot surpass him. I did my very best, and I still can't get what I wanted!" She tried not to cry to the housekeeper, hastily wiping away a tiny tear droplet. To her, this older woman is the only person she is not afraid to share secrets and problems with. This woman before her is the head staff of the Te household, working for her parents before Te Gaogui was even born, starting from a lowly scullery maid until being promoted to the highest position of her field. Ayi is the closest thing Te Gaogui has to a mother figure, which is why this conversation is much more personal comparing to other servants. "The Te clan do not need more humiliation. The title of Jinshi Zhuangyuan is the only thing that can help our family, to safeguard its future. Father would not tolerate my failure."

Ayi remained calm, trying to attach the beautiful Liangbatou headdress to Te Gaogui's hair. She then pulled out a pink lotus flower, clipping it in the center of the hairpiece. "You are just like your mother, never satisfied with your accomplishments, always blaming yourself for the things out of your control. The Te clan may be in a difficult situation, but you shouldn't break the tree trunk just because a single branch is teared off. Being a simple civil official in the city of Ba Sing Se is a great honor! And living a calm and prosperous life without trouble is a miracle by itself. You should be celebrating this next chapter of your life!"

Te Gaogui shook her head. She knew Ayi is simply trying to heal the wound of a broken pride. The title of the principal social science graduate, Zhuangyuan, is a highly esteemed one. Those who have it also earned the increased likelihood of obtaining high official position. Having someone working at the very top of Ba Sing Se's administrative ladder would be a great asset for the Te family. With the Earth Kingdom broken apart by Wu, the Te clan would benefit politically by having one of its own working for Ba Sing Se's leadership.

Ayi, looking unsure what to do, only reassured Te. As a servant, she of course knew little about the intricate and confusing world of politics. "Are you content with what you have?"

Te Gaogui looked at her confidant, almost offended. Didn't she spent the first few minutes explaining how disappointing the result is? She calmed herself, not jumping to any conclusions. "Of course not. I am will not concede to someone who has robbed it all from me. If it wasn't for that ambitious scholar, the title of Zhuangyuan would have been mine!" Even though she didn't underestimate her competitor, it's still not enough, for each person can only have one chance at the Keju exam. She can complain, dispute or even threaten the exam reviewers. But one thing that she can't change is the fact that the scholar who surpassed her did it all with his own skills. While most commoners couldn't be happier in achieving second place on the world's hardest civil service exam, for Te Gaogui it wasn't enough. Only the title of first place holder Zhuangyuan have the greater influence in administration, everyone else is simply there to do their bidding, governing smaller projects and civil services. Her score on the leaderboard would not be enough to help the Te clan in any significant way, let alone be a valuable asset to her father.

She placed her hands on the table, looking herself in the mirror. She very wanted to serve the Te clan and her own people, but she knew her current Keju score would not be sufficient. Which is why she still have one last option, a very old fashion one. But it is nonetheless still practiced. "Even though I have failed to obtain the title of Zhuangyuan. Even I may not be able to have what that man has, but I can at least have the second best thing. Him."

Ayi's eye widened in shock. "My girl, what are you saying?" She placed a hand of Te's shoulders, trying to dismiss such folly notion. "The great question is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with failure. You are the flower of the Te family, the one who will inherit its leadership and shoulder its future. How can you simply give up yourself to a mere commoner just because he did well on this exam?"

Te Gaogui lamented. "What choice do I have? As someone who is born into this position, what else do I have which I can offer? Naturally my family and my people comes first. We need Ba Sing Se and the Te clan to foster at least some kind of ties. My father would have wanted this." There is nothing else, no other option. She needed Ba Sing Se to be an ally to the Te clan so that her people can at least have someone to ask for help. In times of uncertainty, especially from wars and daofei uprisings, allies are rare. If sacrificing her own happiness can help the people in Zigan, then it truly is a small price to pay.

Ayi wiped a tiny drop of tears from the side of her eyes, and fitted Te Gaogui into a beautiful silk jade gown sown by a renown tailor. It is crafted just for the Keju ceremony, with the sole purpose of elevating the Te clan's prestige in the presence of other households and Ba Sing Se's officials. "You know, when I was exactly your age, your mother said the same thing. She married into the Te clan just so that your grandparents can be better off, and I followed her into the land of Zigan, and now following you. You think doing something like this is a bearable fate? I don't want to watch it all unfold a second time, seeing the daughter of my friend repeating history." There is of course tremendous sadness in Ayi, who do not wish to see Te Gaogui walk the same painful road a woman is forced to take. But most of time, individuals cannot chose their own fate. In the past, there are countless records of princesses being married off to far away lands to safeguard the lives of her people. They called it Heqin. In ancient times, the people of ancient Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation fought amongst each other despite sharing the same element. Marriage alliances are not only common, but necessary to appease, forge alliance or as a tribute to a more powerful state or entity. To simply put this, survival, interest and political gain is much more valuable than some expendable blood relative.

A Northern Water Tribe chieftain would use arrange marriage to give his princess daughter to some arrogant boisterous brat, just because he is a supposed to be a semi-competent soldier.

Chief of small Fire Nation villages would give beautiful women to the infamous warlord, Toz the Cruel, as part of his annul tribute. And those women would also be one reason why Toz have the word 'cruel' next to his name.

Before Earth Kingdom's settled people won the war against the hostile steppe nomads, Heqin was the only way to appease and hopefully 'civilize' the enemy. But this path is a treacherous one. The woman sent on this one way mission will relinquish all their freedoms, as if back then they have any in the first place.

Thankfully the Air Nomads do not adhere to such sorrowful practices. Their devotion of celibacy essentially made Heqin not even possible. Their peaceful way of life and pacifism meant no brutal conflict will ever arise within their ranks of monks and nuns. At least any conflict that did arose was not as wide spread or widely known...

Heqin is a controversial process that not always work, and that is exactly what Te Gaogui is planning to do.

Ayi continued to perfect Te Gaogui's clothing, dressing the noble lady into the elegant dress and testing out some jewelry accessories. As a member of the elite, Te Gaogui have access to what commoners can only dream of, a comfortable life. But is the idea of a comfortable life even fulfilling? Is it a life without regret? She may be wearing a magnificent silk gown that is worth more than a person's life, but she is just like a bird stuck inside a cage.

Perhaps such difficult question is hard to answer. The people in the lower ring are envious of the upper ring's lifestyle. Yet ironically some people at the top are infatuated with the romanticized and unrealistic version of simple living poverty. Some younger children thought that giving up some bits of wealthy comforts can exchange for the idealized freedom only a commoner can indulge in. But the truth is, Te Gaogui can only imagine. She would occasionally theorize herself living in a poor run down area without all the glittery disguises and flowery words the elites are ever so fond of. Where life is both insignificant and free of major responsibilities, but she is also aware the pain and suffering that exist in the world. The duality of it all is balance. You are satisfied with one aspect of life and become absolutely disappointed with another. At the end, you can't have everything you wanted.

...

"Oh my! It's so good!" Satchiko emitted a childlike squall, complimenting the flavor of Mayumi's egg fried rice. She took another spoonful and shove into her mouth, devouring it without any sense of table manners. The color and taste of the rice is heavily induced by the yolk of the egg, making it even better than the prized white rice the Yokayans are so fond of. She even licked the few specks on the side of her mouth, using her tongue instead of a handkerchief. If her mother was here, a lecture on manners would begin immediately, going all night as the female tiger force Satchiko to stay awake. "What egg is this?" she asked.

They are currently residing inside Mayumi's apartment, doing some preparation for the upcoming Keju ceremony. Mayumi sat next to Satchiko, resting at a spot inside the tightly crammed space. "I think this egg is from a pigchicken... or pighen, I'm not sure, the lady who sold me this never specify the animal's name. But I must say, they do provide a lot of nutrient."

The moment Satchiko entered this place and found out her sister is experimenting again, she instantly noticed a large cracked eggshell on the cooking station. Back on Kyoshi island, land meat is very rare. The best you could find are wild birds or small critters that are hunted for meat and fur. But occasionally, children would scale tall trees, stealing tiny bird eggs from nests and bring some to their mothers. She vividly remembered how she tried to do the same when she was still much younger, afraid to climb down as Mayumi is screaming for help. She fell off a tall branch, but thankfully was caught by her father just barely. It reminded her that she still need to give the White Dragon bush to the tea enthusiast called Hakaru.

After Mayumi finished her own portion, she went over to the closet and pulled out a string and needle. Once she removed her green kimono and examined some damaged areas as a result of kitchen hazards, she begin to patch up the holes with some square shaped fabric.

Satchiko stared at this. Usually it's her village's seamstress, Inari, who fixes all their clothes. A good tailor sometimes is just like a blacksmith, restoring a Kyoshi warrior's equipment back to a better state. But Mayumi don't have that luxury here, and a makeshift piece of wool patching the holes would have to do for now. Setting aside her bowl of food, she reached forward, offering a hand. But it was kindly declined by the older sister, citing how sowing can be tricky for someone new. Even without speaking, Satchiko already noticed some red dots on Mayumi's fingers, an indication of pass accidental pricks.

"This is what you are going be wearing at the event?" Satchiko grimaced at the tattered state of Mayumi's green kimono, almost incredulous at her sister's decision. "Just an apron over the kimono?" While she knew Mayumi will just be working as a simple caterer, providing food and drinks to those gathered at the social event, it still felt unacceptable to wearing something so damaged. The the square patches Mayumi used to fill the torn and tattered areas as well as the makeshift repairs made her look more like a beggar in a place filled with high societal citizens. "We need to buy you another piece of clothing. A better looking one with silk, decorations, jewelry, flowers and-"

"That won't be necessary." Mayumi said. She thrusted a needle through her kimono, closing a torn gap in her damaged dress. "Money don't grow on trees remember? Don't forget, I intend to speak with Lady Te privately on the party, so that I can minimize my presence in front of the other gatherers."

"R-Right," Satchiko lowered her head. Perhaps she was a bit too quick with her words. While Mayumi have been earning coins by working under Grandma Jin, spending all those hard earned resources on a dress is not prudent at all. There is a reason why Mayumi was delegated more responsibility by their parents, who knew the older of the two would make wiser and more calculated acts. Accountability and finance management is definitely one of them.

When Mayumi is finally done, she put on her kimono again. It made Satchiko's heart sank that she is wearing a dress looking so makeshift. "Remember, I am not there to have fun. So long as Te Gaogui is willing to talk, my appearance does not matter." For some reason, Mayumi held Te Gaogui at a high regard. At this moment, Mayumi is still oblivious to the fact that Te Gaogui didn't earned the title of Zhuangyuan. Some other scholar got it.

"But what if she isn't an Earth bender? Even if she is, I doubt she is good enough to teach me." Satchiko raised this serious question. Mayumi started to play with her own hair, a sign that she too is worried about this. While there is no doubt that Te Gaogui would be have great insight in subjects like literature, art and history. Bending might be a different story.

"It's worth a try," Mayumi sighed. "If she isn't a bender or she can't tutor you, I will just find someone else."

That's easier said than done. Unlike Te Gaogui, whom Mayumi have acquainted on friendly terms, other scholar like figures may not be receptive about accepting a student. But there isn't much option left. If Satchiko is unable to learn Earthbending, then the whole point of this journey would be rendered pointless.

"But this is an embarrassment. You, my own sister, wearing a poorly done dress to the party. You are the most beautiful girl in our village!" Satchiko frowned her eyebrows, so afraid of what might happen at the event. "I don't think this is ok. Remember that Yi governor, and how he mistreats those below him? I don't want you to be mistreated by those lazy wealthy idiots because of their rules and customs. I know they will judge you. Especially the other girls in their fine looking dresses, I know they will laugh!" Perhaps it was what happened earlier today that explains her anxiety. While she can endure others mocking her own bending, the thought of Mayumi being ridiculed makes her blood boil even more.

"Then let them judge all they want. You think just because they have better clothes will make me be afraid of them? Have you forgotten who we are? Why should proud people like us feel inferior to others?" Mayumi's word did brought some confidence back. They are both warriors, swift and deadly. Trained their whole lives, fended off pirates from the ocean. They made it all the way from one side of the continent to the other, why should they cower in front of those richer men and women who never worked a day of labor? They know nothing about planting crops or catching fish, yet they dare look down on those who provided the food. To Satchiko, people like the Yi governor are only strong because of their official power, otherwise, they would be weak foes in an actual fight.

Satchiko gently grasped Mayumi's hands, remorseful that her sister is doing so much just because of her own failures. "Mayumi, I..."

They heard a single branch breaking from the tree outside. Mayumi's head instantly beamed at the window. She forcefully threw Satchiko's hands to the side, hurting it in the process.

"Ah!" Satchiko recoiled.

Mayumi dashed to where her armor is, pulling out her katana from where the sheath is placed. She pointed the blade at the only small window of the apartment, everything on her face shows that she is ready to fight. "Who goes there, show yourself!" The Kyoshi warrior stood still, snarling at a potential ear dropper.

"Mayumi!" Satchiko climbed back up, pressing her hand to suppress the pain. "You are worrying me, what's going on? It's probably just some animal climbing on the tree. Like...a cat. Goodness, I don't like cats." She doesn't very know what creatures roam the nightly streets of Ba Sing Se, but she does know that cats is one of them. In her village, some folks or widows own cute and fluffy cats as pets. Business owners believe owning one can fish in more fortunes, pleasing the Kamuy and bless them with more wealth. At night, people would let them out to go wherever they want and return when the sun rises. It's not unusual for these felines to climb onto their wooden lodges, annoying anyone who is trying to get a full night rest. She dislike these creatures, they always scratch your kimono and demand you to give them Elephant Koi meat using their natural deception. What is worst than a cat you may ask? To Satchiko, it would be a ferocious crococat. They are much rarer, possessing the size of a normal housecat but have the appetite of a crocodile. She never saw one in flesh. But according to the fisherman Ebisu, who have traveled to another one of the three village of their island, claimed that someone there owns a crococat. It almost killed him. The often fearless and strong willed man stated how he would rather face the giant Unagi eel just so that he would stay away from the crococat. The owner of the crococat must be an even more terrifying individual...

"Meow."

They heard the sound, soft and gentle. It felt genuine, like the supposedly cat is apologizing for its own trespassing. It knew it would be unwise to linger around more, unless it wishes to be caught by the alerted Kyoshi warrior, who will make sure the intruder be punished for insolence. With one good leap, it used a tree branch to jump onto the apartment's roof. Both girls can hear the heavy steps through the ceiling. When it's gone, they assumed that it has hopped to another building.

"Well, that was a bothersome cat." Mayumi dropped her seriousness and put her katana back into the sheath. "Good thing we were..." Her eyes opened wider, noticing how Satchiko is holding one of her hand, it's a bit red, possibly painful. She quickly came up to Satchiko, rubbing her wrist. "Sorry sister, I overreacted."

"You are scaring me Mayumi, you are acting a bit strange recently." Satchiko said to Mayumi, for she can no longer ignore this strange behavior. When they first entered Ba Sing Se university, she picked up how Mayumi looks at various directions, wary of something. It's like paranoia have took hold of the older girl.

"Don't worry, it's nothing. If there is anything on my mind, I will tell you."

Satchiko looked straight into Mayumi's eyes. Both of them stared at each other. Back on the island, they almost think alike, but now Satchiko cannot help but felt a corner of Mayumi's brain is concealing something. But even if that is the case, she knew her sister only have good intentions. "Very well then. I trust you." But the truth is, she only said that to not cause any tension. Mayumi have done so much for her, and she also believe that her older sister can resolve any trouble that may arise.

Mayumi pulled out the mattress and laid it on the floor. They are sleeping early for tomorrow is when the grand Keju graduation ceremony will be held. Mayumi must travel early in the morning with Grandma Jin's whole kitchen staff, and Satchiko have to return back to her dorm.

"I promise you, we will get through this." Mayumi dropped flat on the mattress, pressing her back on the hard cushioned sheet. "This whole journey to the city is difficult, nearly impossible, but didn't we made it here just as we have intended?" Obviously she is doing her best to provide some confidence back to a worried Satchiko, who is constantly stressed about her examination. "Don't forget, how can you fail when you got a sister like me?" She smiled brightly, and Satchiko rolled her eyes before smiling back. Her sister is not the best at humor, unfortunately.

"Fine, I will try to stop worrying about my bending!" She rested next to Mayumi after extinguishing the room's fire lamp. She placed her head on her two palms, staring at the ceiling. "But it's still hard. I don't know why, but for some reason I can't bend normally like the others. No matter what I do larger rocks just don't move. Do you think maybe I was just born like this? Or maybe the Kamuy did something to me and make my bending all weak and useless?" She turned her face to Mayumi. In her little mind, this is plausible. If people in this world are either born bender or non-bender, a rare case like her might not be impossible. To her knowledge, she is the only Earth bender that is born on Kyoshi island in recent history. Their houses are plain simple wooden lodges, built with logs and hay as roof. Their defenses are just palisades with wooden stakes. While the towns and cities on the mainland have an abundant amount of stonework, a testament that Kyoshi island have no Earth benders that can make construction work easy.

"Oh cease your nonsense you little Maiko," Mayumi said, smoothing her hands on Satchiko's hair. Knowing the frustration, she decided to do the only thing she is capable of at this moment. She held up a fist, positioning it near her sister. "You know, even if this entire journey is a waste of time, or even if you can't master Earthbending. One fact still remains. You will always be my favorite sister. And I will always protect you."

"Um Mayumi," Satchiko said. "I'm your only sister."

"I know I know! But, you understand what I meant. You are special. I mean who else is going to challenge your title as my confidant?"

"What about Orihime, Kazuki, Sakurai or..." There is a long list of people that is close to Mayumi. Any one of them is trustworthy enough to rely secrets and not disclose them to strangers.

"Sister, that is enough."

"R-Right, sorry." Satchiko hushed, correcting herself and knowing her place. She almost saw a bit of Akahana inside Mayumi's voice. The younger often obeys the older one, this rule is as old as time, universal in almost every living being. Even the tiniest essence of their mother's temper is enough to scare away an army.

She raised her fist, facing Mayumi's knuckle. It reminded her that even though she is facing an uphill challenge, she knew Mayumi is always there for her. She has know this woman for her whole life, and they went through almost everything together. Eat together, train together and fight enemies together. She doesn't care what foolish words that Xiao Qing is dispensing, she have no doubt that Mayumi will always be that dependable person.

"Ok. Let's do this Satchiko. Just like how those who came before us did it. Sisters..." Mayumi smirked, waiting for Satchiko to finish the iconic phrase all Kyoshi warriors said to their fellow warriors.

"Forever!" Satchiko cheered. They fist bumped, creating a clapping sound.

"Alright, now we go to sleep." Mayumi quickly covered herself with the blanket, and shut her eyes. All it took was a few seconds and she began to slumber deeply. Satchiko watched as her already tired sibling rested peacefully. Perhaps working in Grandma Jin's restaurant have taken a toll. This moment only made her longing for home even more fiercely.

...

As the rain dripples over her head, and the lighting flashing constantly, Huo stood still in front of two dirt mounds. She is surprised how she can still have the strength to bury both of them. She almost faint at the sight of the charred body, and got fatigue from dragging the other one back from a deep ditch. They were family to her, and she lost them in one day. Although she cannot delay her important mission by the master, she felt she at least need to do one final thing before reaching Ba Sing Se.

Huo used her firebending, carving the names of both Tu and Shui on some smooth stones. "I am sorry, I failed you in everyway possible. If only I was more careful." She was met with silence, of course she is. The sound of the rain and the grumbling thunderstorm is the only one keeping her company. Part of her felt the weather is a way for her friends to voice their anger. "I-I hope you can forgive me." Silence ensured again. "But this time, I will do everything I can to see the master's goal fulfilled. I will also find Feng, so don't worry."

And that was it, for now at least. There are many ways she wished that the last fight could have played out differently. If she waited have longer, and for the Kyoshi warriors to separate with that meddling Kheshig brat, than perhaps they would have captured the filthy spawns of Akahana already. Or alternatively, she would have fully adhered to neutral Jing, waiting inside the state of Yi until someone around the Earth Kingdom brings the daughters to the Yi governor, that would have been an option too. Whatever the case is, she can't have any of that. Tu and Shui are gone, and she must deal with the consequences. She must continue to advance the Eternal Balance.

It took her long time, perhaps just a few short months? The path to Ba Sing Se was a long and treacherous one. With civil wars ravaging across the lands, she must keep a low presence, avoiding war stricken areas. She cannot allow the unenlightened, especially the non-bending untouchables to know her identity. She would keep an acceptable distance. Physically touching non-benders are considered a great taboo, as they are people who have committed great wrongs in their past lives. The man named Gwai, she only shook his hands because she must.

But once she laid her eyes on the gigantic walls that surround Ba Sing Se, she cannot help but quiver. The grand bastion made of entirely out of stone is tall. She heard no massive armies have ever forced their way into the city. But she does know that it can be defeated from within. Knowing this, she will try to sneak pass the tight security. No one can stop her from carrying out the master's will, to bring the Great Eternal Balance to the whole world and save bending itself. She will sacrifice everything, including her own life just to see him succeed!

Author notes:

-I forgot to mention a few things in the last chapter. Chapter 47 have been rewritten, changed some details about how Mayumi interact with the person.

-The Acolytes of Vaatu, have been changed to the Acolytes of San Bao. After serious consideration, I have decided to wipe away the word Vaatu down the memory hole. I consider the entire concept of it to be uninteresting and unnuanced.

-The name Chengguan is what I give to those regular lawmen with swords that you see in episodes featuring Ba Sing Se. This word came from a law enforcement bureau that mostly operates in highly urbanized areas. They are not police, and their task is to handle smaller disturbances like for example: petty arguments or minor offense. Imagine this, some cabbage merchant is trying to enter Ba Sing Se, but the cranky lady that hired you found out there are slugs inside this poor fellow's veggies. Now, as an exemplary member of Ba Sing Se's Chengguan, what would you do?

a)Reasonably destroy the slug and cabbages to ensure Ba Sing Se's ecosystem is protected, while also trying to calm down the poor merchant.

b)Use excessive force(I don't know, like using a tamed platypus bear something) to destroy the cabbages while unnecessarily wreck his wooden cart. Therefore inflicting emotional, economical and morale damage to him.

If you chose option b, well done.

-About Zhuangyuan: I might have misspelled the word in past chapter, will work on that. In real life historically, this prestigious title is awarded to scholars who have achieved the highest score on the highest level on the Keju civil service exam of China. There is only one woman who have attained the title of Jinshi Zhuangyuan.

-Ayi literally means aunt in Chinese. So by translation, Aunt Ayi means Aunt Aunt, hmm, that feels weird. It reminds of the character Master Sifu(this word also means master).

Happy new years!