Lindon hadn't felt this alone since being whisked off to Moongrave to be trained by the Akuras for the Uncrowned King Tournament. Sure, he had Little Blue and Dross. But, in the months after freeing his family from Sacred Valley, he had gotten used to being surrounded by people. He had gotten used to sleeping next to Yerin, having Orthos around again, making breakfast for everyone every morning. It didn't help that he spent the first night sleeping in a gutter, tucked away down a dead end street.
[You're not really all that alone] Dross pointed out.
It didn't lift Lindon's spirits that he wasn't the only person stuck sleeping in the street. The Lower Ring was well past capacity, but it didn't slow the influx of people moving into the city. It was good for cover at least, Lindon was a drop of water in the ocean. There were guard patrols, but even the ones Lindon couldn't outright avoid didn't notice him. There were just too many people. Now Lindon just had to figure out how to obtain the information they needed without sticking out.
[Maybe we could go back to that school, they probably have a library] Dross offered.
"But we don't know the written language." Lindon retorted.
Dross radiated smugness [We don't know...yet. I'm already putting together a model on this language] Dross highlighted the letters on a sign hanging from a cart [See all that globally gook…] the word shifted and changed for Lindon, now it clearly read "Cabbages". [Look at that, one word down, you'll be as literate as a small child soon enough!]
That was helpful, now the school seemed more promising. Unfortunately, the school was on one of the main roads in the Middle Ring. Right now, their best cover was the mass of people filling the streets in the Lower Ring. Lindon tucked that option away for later, it was best to stay where they could lay low. Just then, a group of three passed by Lindon and he caught a few words of their conversation, he focused in on them.
"...know those two are Fire Nation, we just need evidence." Said one.
"But we came to Ba Sing Se to leave our old life behind, to change our ways" Said the smaller one.
The first tsked "I wasn't going to attack them, just turn them into the authorities once one of them firebend"
The short one pulled a sour face "It just feels like..."
Lindon didn't really pay attention to their conversation after that. The important bit was that Firebenders existed, and this group was investigating two of them. Moreso, Firebenders or Firebending seemed to be illegal here. Lindon followed the group at a respectable distance, until they stopped at the mouth of an alleyway. They were now hunched behind some crates, looking across the street into a business. The letters shifted again, now it read "Poa Family Tea House". Lindon made his decision, and went inside.
The tea house was comprised of a main seating area, and a backroom where the tea and food were prepared. It wasn't anywhere near lunchtime, but the tea house was packed anyway. Lindon was greeted by a middle aged man
"My name is Poa, welcome to my tea house."
Lindon put his fists together "My name is...Lindon"
He had considered giving a fake name, but decided against it, he wasn't that paranoid.
"A pleasure to meet you sir, are you alone today," Lindon nodded, "we have a small table at the back that's open."
The man led Lindon to a round table and Lindon sat in one of the chairs.
"I'm sure you're here to try our new tea blends, our new tea expert, Mushi, has really outdone himself today." He gestured to an old man, who was pushing out a cart full of tea pots. A teenager was quickly filling cups and running them to the tables. "I had hired them both as waiters, they're uncle and nephew. Who could have guessed how it would have ended up, not bad for a couple of refugees."
Lindon nodded along as the man explained his new success with Mushi as their tea maker. Poa finished his excited rant and excused himself to attend to other customers. Lindon opened his copper sight and examined the two workers. The nephew, like everyone else, had seven cores situated in a line in the middle of his torso. When Lindon shifted his focus to the uncle he had to stifle a gasp, Dross did gasp...in his head.
The Uncle, Mushi, had a soft light emanating from the third core from the bottom, like looking at the sun from underwater. After watching the man for a few more moments, Lindon concluded the man wasn't bending, that was just how that core must look.
[Maybe he advanced] mused Dross.
Lindon chewed on the thought, if these benders could advance, this was the first time they had come across it, and it was a tea server.
"That doesn't make sense" Lindon thought.
[None of this makes sense! Did you see the stall selling grilled bat-rabbits on the way here? They should have called them Rab-bats, this is a city of nonsense!] Dross might have continued ranting about animal names, had the teenage server not come over.
"Good Morning, my name is Lee. We have a selection of three teas as well as small plates of food, what would you like to order?"
The teen said with as much enthusiasm as a man about to be executed. Lindon noted the large scar covering one eye, definitely from a nasty burn. Lindon pointedly realized he still had no local currency, he doubted they would let him stay without purchasing something. Lee was looking at him, waiting for an answer.
After a panicked thought, Lindon blurted out "I've heard your Uncle makes the best tea in the city. I have recently acquired a rare tea blend made by a Sage…"
Mushi had been across the room, but appeared at Lindon's table in an instant.
"What a wonderful day it is, to bring such an important guest to us. Lee, bring a set of cups and a teapot of blend #3." Lee scoffed as he left to fetch the items. Mushi seated himself across from Lindon.
"My name is Mushi, I couldn't help but overhear you have some rare tea." Lindon was about to answer when Mushi put a hand up. "Before we talk about that, let us acquaint ourselves over my newest blend."
Lindon paused "Apologies, I don't have any money to pay for that." Mushi's eyes seemed to twinkle
"How could anyone possibly put a price on making a new friend."
Dross scoffed [He does know how shops work right?]
Lindon bowed his head to the man "As long as you won't get in trouble with your employer"
Mushi chuckled "Not at all, getting to know new customers is part of the job. As I said, my name is Mushi, what is yours?" Lee set a steaming pot down along with two cups. Mushi poured them both a cup.
"My name is Lindon, it's a pleasure to meet you." Lindon said before taking a sip. "This tea is very good, I can see why this tea shop is so popular."
Mushi smiled warmly "It is nice to meet you as well. As for the shop, I've never felt so fulfilled. Fate has been kind."
Lindon perked up "The owner mentioned you and your nephew were refugees, pardon if this is rude, why did you come to this city?"
Mushi's brows scrunched together and he leaned in "We were driven from our home because of the war," he said in hushed tones "people don't like to talk about it here."
Lindon nodded "I see, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm glad you were able to settle down so quickly, were you a tea maker before?"
Mushi gave a belly laugh "Tea has always been a passion of mine, but this is the first time it's been my profession." Lindon finished his cup and Mushi poured a second round.
"If only we had a Pai Sho table, then this really would be a paradise." Mushi commented.
Lindon smiled sheepishly "Forgiveness, I'm not familiar with Pai Sho, what is... " Lindon paused at the shocked expression on Mushi's face.
"You don't know Pai Sho? You poor man, to never have played such a strategic, respectable and fierce game!"
[Game? I love games! Lindon, we must play this game!]
Dross continued to babble in his head while Lindon replied. "Maybe we can play against each other in the future, but i'm not sure how long I'll be in the city."
"Oh?" Mushi questioned "Do you not live here?"
Lindon took a long sip of tea while he came up with a convincing story. "My home village was recently destroyed in a disaster, I ended up here, but I haven't had much luck in this city; I'm debating leaving to find something better"
Mushi nodded along to his story. "The future seems to always feel brighter than the present, but we shouldn't let it blind us. You may find that what you needed all along got left behind." Mushi scratched his chin and cracked a smile "Or not, what do I know? I'm just a teamaker...speaking of tea, you had mentioned a special blend earlier?" He enquired.
Lindon tucked the man's words away for later. Maybe it was the way the old man had said it, but it stood out to Lindon like it was important. Mushi was waiting expectantly to hear about Lindon's tea, so Lindon reached into his pocket and paused. The tea had been in the outer pocket of his fine robes, which was sitting in his void key.
"Ahh, the tea. Yes, it is a rare blend, the same blend that the Sage of Silver Heart drinks. It's said to...condense dream aura to assist her while she peers into fate."
Lindon wasn't 100% sure that's how it worked, Mercy never did get a chance to explain it. But that was at least a close approximation to the truth, probably. Mushi stared with comically wide eyes at Lindon.
"That...ah, sounds different. I've never heard of such a tea. I would be very interested in…"
Lindon held up a hand "Apologies, I don't have the tea on me at the moment, I have it stored with my other belongings. I will have…"
Lindon cut off as the door slammed open. One of the three teenagers Lindon had followed to the tea shop had stormed into the building.
"They're firebenders!" The teen was accusing Mushi and Lee, but the shop owner and even some of the customers were defending them. Not getting the reaction he wanted, the boy unsheathed twin hooked swords from his back.
"You'll have to defend yourself with bending!" he cried before lunging at Lee.
Lee, in turn, pulled a pair of blades out from a guard's sheath who sat at one of the tables. They met in the middle of the shop and exchanged a few blows. Knocking a few chairs and a table over in the process. Lindon stepped in between the two combatants like a man going on a leisurely stroll, grabbing a wrist in either hand. The hooked sword had been on a trajectory for Lee's shoulder.
Lee's sword, by comparison, hovered less than an inch away from the teenagers' neck. Lindon pushed Jet back while Mushi pulled Lee away. The guards sitting at the nearby table finally kicked into action, disarming Jet and holding him down. Mushi grabbed Lindon's shoulder with his free hand
"Thank you for intervening, Lee doesn't need that boy's life on his conscience." Lindon nodded to him while Dross shouted a warning in his head
"It sounds like the guards are calling for the Dai Li, if it's all the same to you, I wasn't here."
Mushi nodded, picking up on the hint "If you need a place to lay low, I have an apartment. It's four blocks to the West, I'll let you in after we get off tonight. You can go out the door in the back, it goes to the back alley."
Lindon started to walk to the back of the room…
"Wait!" Lindon turned back to Mushi "The tea! Don't forget the tea!" Lindon couldn't help but smile as he snuck out into the back of the building.