Late the next evening Tetsu hailed a Kantocar using the remaining money Myla had given them. He stared down at the small card in his hand when the driver asked where he wanted to go.
"Crane street please."
Shops and lights lit up the drive. The water of Yue bay glittered under the slit eye of the moon. The driver drove east of the main center and came to a looser populated area. Farmhouses renovated into elegant summer homes. Tetsu got out and walked looking down at the card for a specific address.
Tetsu read aloud looking down at the card. "Where the biggest tree is..."
He squinted looking for the largest tree on the side of the road and walked up to the large building that was offset as many old houses and buildings tended to be. The building looked as if it had been refurbished and perhaps re-modeled. He knocked on the only door available, a side door along a path of vines arched over a trellis. Someone opened the door, and a tall girl looked back at him.
"Hello," she said, eyes adjusting to the dark, "How can I help you?"
"Ah...I'm here for Amaruq," Tetsu said.
Her brows came together. "Do you need his services?"
Tetsu shook his head. "No, not exactly—he gave me his card."
"Well," she paused looking at him, "I'll show you the way."
She opened the door wider, faint light coming from inside. He stepped in and was met by a relatively bare room. A low couch with fur pillows and throws on it inhabited a large swath of the room while a crystal sculpture sparkled in the other corner. The girl passed through the room in large strides. She turned into a hall and as they passed Tetsu noticed a plant in the middle of the hall. It was lush with dark fuchsia fruit growing from it. At the end of the hall, there was a closed door which she knocked on. The door was inlaid with both blue and white crystal. She looked back at him her high ponytail flicking in the light. A pair of goggles sat high on her head fashioned with similar crystal-like lenses. In the brighter hall, her hair shone like the coat of a faun. The door slid to the side with a small click and Amaruq stood in blue silk garments.
"What is it Shika?" he said. His eyes alighted on Tetsu and he stepped forward.
"I'm glad you accepted my invitation," he said, "Where is your brother?"
"He's Sleeping," Tetsu said.
"And I assumed you two went everywhere together," he said, "Come and sit down," he motioned behind him. A large circular desk stood on the right inlaid with bone around the edges. Across from the desk was a large couch with fur and pillows.
"So what may I help the Avatar with?" Amaruq said his blue eyes mirroring the glow of the room. Shika stood to the side. "Shika come here, you might learn something."
She moved closer sitting down on the couch alongside Tetsu.
"I want to know more about spirits," Tetsu said.
"Ah." Amaruq leaned back his silk clothing shifting in the dim purple light which emanated from large orbs.
"That's a long and tiresome process," Amaruq said, "But you will need to learn it someday, even if you aren't considered the bridge between the spiritual and mortal worlds anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"Shika, why don't you tell him?"
"For a very long time, the bridge between both planes was the Avatar and was sometimes simply referred to as the bridge. That was partly because the Avatar used to be the only person who could bend in the spirit realms, via energybending. But that is not the case anymore," she said tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, "The portals are open so in principle, anyone can freely pass through and people won't lose their bending. So the need for the avatar in that way isn't as primary."
Tetsu nodded. "That's not my concern then."
"Spirits will still likely give deference, even if you aren't the only one," she said.
"What about that spirit the other day, he didn't seem to act that way?"
"That is because he was an upset spirit," Amaruq answered.
Tetsu knitted his brows together. "He said something to us when he first saw us. That he would have our eyes for seeing him."
Amaruq tapped his chin. "He may have been hiding himself in the gardens and you unveiled him. Or you might have even awoken him."
Tetsu looked up frowning.
"Follow me if you want," Amaruq said gesturing. They entered a compact library its shelves carved into every available wall. Amaruq plucked several books from the shelves and deposited them in Tetsu's arms.
"You'll need to read these."
"I already read the books Jinora suggests," Tetsu said.
"Are you complaining?" Amaruq laughed.
"No, it's just I'll have to read more," he said, balancing the books in his arms.
Amaruq pursed his lips. "I see. Would you care to see something else?"
Tetsu thought for a moment. "I don't see why not."
Amaruq lead Tetsu down a corridor while Shika held the books carefully. They came to an entrance finished in opaque glass. Amaruq pressed something on his wrist and the door slid to the side. In the center was an abundance of unusual-looking flora.
"What are those that?"
"Plants native to the spirit wilds," Shika said.
Amaruq continued to an area and let a door slide open. Encased in a clear casing of undulating glass was the creature that had attacked Tetsu and his brother. He seemed to be sleeping in a sort of liquid. Tetsu flinched backward bumping into Shika.
"He's asleep," Amaraq said.
Tetsu inched towards the glass that rippled the features of the man.
"What is it?" he whispered, his eyes lingering on its brown tail. Instead of human ears, they were animal-like accompanied by a slim face.
"They have several names. They are usually referred to as Chaylin—or Jakaru spirits."
Tetsu stared for a moment and then snapped his eyes away from the spirit.
"What's that liquid?"
"Expensive and keeps spirits in a state of stasis," Amaruq replied eyeing Tetsu. He broke the gaze and meandered towards the plants in the center of the room rubbing one of the plants through his fingers.
"Many of these plants can be used for medicinal purposes."
Tetsu's eyes were drawn to the plants as he studied them.
"What kinds?" Tetsu said.
"Nearly most things you can think of. But some can be extremely difficult to grow even though the energies of the spirit and mortal mix and mingle and are aligned with each other more so now. At least more so than before. This is how it used to be in the very distant past. It seems we have returned to a more similar state. Who knows if this will be a mistake or a blessing."
They walked out back into the room with the desk and Amaruq looked across at a disk of water.
"Perhaps you should return," he said, and Shika handed the books back to Tetsu.
"Those books are copies but they are still expensive. I won't appreciate any stains on them," Amaruq said, "You should hurry lest your overseer awakes from her meditation."