Ren woke up and turned to his side. Across the room, Tetsu was paging through a book.
"Why are there dark circles under your eyes?" Ren said.
Tetsu cleared his throat and looked up. "I have a lot to read."
"Do you want to have breakfast?"
Tetsu's hand hovered over the edge of the page. He got up book in hand and placed a silk bookmark against the parchment. They peeled off their nightshirts in exchange for rough linen shirts and padded into the sitting room. Tetsu paged through the book as he chewed.
Ren looked over at him. "Don't you get tired of it?" Ren said pointing to the open book.
"I do," Tetsu said.
"So?" Ren said taking a few gulps of steaming soup.
"They won't read themselves," Tetsu said.
Ren smiled shaking his head. "Wouldn't Professor Tomo be proud."
A knock boomed from the outer door and they stood sliding open one of the doors from the sitting room to the gate with a soft thunk. At the gate, a wrapped parcel was left on the ground leaning against the gate. Tetsu plucked it from the ground dusting it off. It had a small gold seal on the corner. Ren leaned over his shoulder grabbing it.
"What?" Tetsu said evenly.
"It's mine," Ren said.
"How do you know?" Tetsu turned and frowned.
Ren pointed to the seal.
"Oh, Shigo. You decoded her seal faster than me," Tetsu said, "I think she mentioned things for both of us," he said calmly following his brother back to their room. Ren deposited it under his folded clothes.
"Let's finish up. I'm still hungry," Ren said, walking back to the sitting room where they savored marinated vegetables and steamed buns.
"Is Jinora out again?" Ren asked placing his chopsticks back on his plate.
Tetsu nodded flipping a page.
"Alright, I'm off to practice then," Ren said.
Over the next several days Tetsu maintained dark circles while Ren spent his time practicing. On a particularly chilly day, Jinora came into the sitting room where the brothers were finishing lunch.
"We'll be leaving tomorrow so start packing what you'd like to take."
They rooted around in their rooms preparing the few changes of clothes Ikiaq had suited them with. Tetsu sorted through the tower of books leaning beside his bed separating them into two stacks one significantly taller than the other. He tied the significant stack and set it on a table near the door.
"We won't be here to read her reply," Ren said, hoisting something up onto his bed.
Tetsu exhaled and rubbed his eyes. "I know. What is that?" Tetsu asked his eyes flitting to something on Ren's bed.
"Oh," Ren said pointing, "a flute."
"You like music now?" Tetsu asked incredulously.
Ren sighed. "Sort of."
Tetsu shrugged and continued packing. Once they finished they went out into the yard. They leaned against a willow behind the house looking up at the navy sky.
"The north star," Tetsu pointed.
"The fish hook," Ren indicated.
"The teapot."
"The..." Ren turned his head, "rubyy," he said in a stuffy voice.
Tetsu laughed and Ren looked over smiling. "What is it?"
Tetsu shook his head in the dim light. "I'm glad we weren't called to our duties earlier."
The morning was misted over with clouds hanging across the bay and city like a gossamer shawl clipped up onto a clothesline. The family had woken up to send them off. Myla handed them a potted plant.
"What is this for?"
Myla pushed her glasses up. "It's associated with good luck in many different areas. It grows wild in the northern air islands."
Hira's mouth was tight and she hopped on her feet. "Bye," she said to both of them holding a hand up.
Pram was wrapped in a fitted coat and held Tashi. Beside him, a woman stood with dark brown hair and a gray throw. Nita's mouth sat in a neat line as she stayed silent.
Kiran looked longingly out at the water. "Good luck," he waved and smiled.
"Go where the wind takes you!" Ikki said.
Tetsu and Ren bowed. Jinora stood placidly by a Kantocar hands folded in front of her. "Time to go."
"Where to?" Ren asked.
"The airship dock," Jinora replied as they got in.
"We aren't traveling by boat?" Tetsu frowned.
She shook her head. "There's an unpredictable water current between Yue Bay and Doku."
They arrived at the dock several ships sitting like alert birds on the polished platform.
Ren walked under the shadow of one the faint dawn brushing the metal into a pale burnt bronze. "Woah."
Tetsu craned his neck upwards.
These particular models were thin, the air bullet on top sleek. Their bodies were purely aerodynamic with a few areas that jutted out in thin filaments.
A tall man came up to them wearing thick gloves and a helmet that curved just under his ears and ended in a point on his forehead. He bowed. "Jun Lin at your service from the airhawks. I'll be your pilot."
The Door to the ship opened downward and they climbed upward. Jun proceeded to the control room and Jinora pushed the boys along to the small rooms in the wings.
"It will take at least a few days. So make yourselves comfortable."
Tetsu and Ren nodded. As soon as stowed their bags in their rooms they entered the main hall of the ship where several swivel chairs and plush couches were built into the sides of the ship. As they made it to the room vibrations buzzed through the floor and the ship hummed with life like a mechanical beating heart. Both of them grabbed onto the railing. They looked at each other with wide eyes. The ship lifted off the pressure pushing down sending a small shudder through the ship. Ren laughed as they became airborne and Tetsu's mouth curved upwards.
"This is new," Tetsu said still holding onto the rail as Ren stood in the center of the room bending his knees slightly with his hands out.
"Come on," Ren smiled, his eyes sparking as he reached his hand out to Tetsu.
For a moment he hesitated then grabbed onto Ren's hand as they stood in the middle of the floor swaying back and forth. Just as Tetsu regained his balance Ren pulled them toward the mouth of the ship stumbling into one another. They ran down the hall and nearly careened straight into a large pipe as the ship steered to the right. They jerked away from the pipe and instead rolled into a heap on the floor.
"Uhh," Tetsu groaned as Ren laughed with mirth.
"It's like trying to ride an ostrich-horse," Tetsu said.
"Exactly," Ren smiled pulling up his brother with him.
The ship had steadied and they followed the hall to the front. Jinora stood in a wide stance her arms out on either side pulling and pushing, a moment later she relaxed her arms to her sides.
"The ship had a good ascent," she said turning her head with her back still to them.
Tetsu and Ren looked out the lotus-shaped window taking in the city below them. The city seemed to grow naturally from a central area set back from the water. Further inland central roads had been designated and built out from the original central point. The city became a dark mass fluttering and pulsing with shape and movement.
"It's amazing how things change," Jinora said coming up next to them.
They turned toward her.
"What do you mean?" Ren said.
"It used to be a small village and was said to be protected by a spirit long ago. Hundreds and hundreds of years ago," she looked out at the water. "The spirit was lost and the area which was said to have become a city was abandoned and the land was reconquered by trees and animals. Even though it may not seem like it there have been millions of people here before us. That is why it's good to remember we are just like them. Even if there is nothing left of them you can see."