CHAPTER 50: Evolving

"Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness."

The rest of their flight to the Eastern Air Temple was just as eventful as their stops at Ember Island and Hot Spring Cove had been.

Or even less so.

Appa soared through the skies, as the wind whistled around them, carrying various faint scents of the salty ocean below, distant forests and even desert sand at some point as they swayed over the different landscapes below.

Aang sat at the reins most of the time, guiding Appa with practiced ease, while Nii and Toph sat comfortably on the sky bison's back.

Even though Nii still did not like the sensation of flying, unless she was the one at the reins, she did marvel at the wonders of the world below that they passed along the way.

However, she could not help but to think about the conversation that she and Aang had back at the hot springs, and once in a while, she stole furtive glances at Aang's back as he sat there over by Appa's head, his bald head interchangeably reflecting the rays of the sun above.

She wondered what a giant lion turtle was.

She had never heard of such a thing before.

In her quiet contemplation, Nii's mind soon buzzed with questions.

Was her ability to sense energy really that rare?

It could not be.

Several members in the tribe had practiced the art of tuning into the frequencies of chi and manipulating the energies of the chakras, although the last one beside her unfortunately died when the loyalists attacked their village.

But surely there had to be others out there with the same abilities, besides Aang of course.

He did not really count.

He was the Avatar.

Everyone could excel at it if they devoted enough time to it.

But what was she really capable of?

What if she decided to really devote herself to her practice even more?

Would it be possible to enhance her senses?

Could she become even more attuned to the different frequencies of the energies within and around her?

"Hey Toph?" Aang's voice suddenly carried over the rush of the wind. "We're gonna go by Gao Lin soon. Wanna pay your folks a visit?"

Nii opened her eyes and focused her attention outwards again as she glanced over to Toph.

The Earthbender seemed to pause for a moment, as she was leaning against the edge of Appa's saddle, her feet casually propped up.

"Nah," she then replied cheekily with a wave of her hand. "Last time I visited, my mom nearly had a heart attack when I told her my plans for the future."

"What plans?" Nii asked.

Toph curled her lips in a wide grin.

"I want to start an academy," she proclaimed proudly, causing Nii's eyebrows to shoot up in surprise.

"A metalbending academy," she specified, her voice brimming with enthusiasm while she crossed her arms confidently.

"That's amazing, Toph!" Aang exclaimed in a voice that told of how genuinely impressed he was by her ambitions.

"You bet it is!" she smirked. "Someone's gotta push the boundaries of bending, and I wanna show the world what metalbending is capable of."

During the rest of their journey to the temple, the three of them completely forgot about the loyalists as they let themselves imagine a future spent on a world evolving into something greater than had ever been before.

A world in which bending techniques was not just kept in the traditional ways of the different tribes and societies, nor reserved for the elite or used for warfare.

They imagined the creativity and diversity of bending styles that could emerge if schools and academies were established throughout the world, and how that education could promote unity and understanding among the nations.

Nii almost did not notice the landscape below them had been replaced by the distinctive mountainous terrain, but they soon marveled at the natural beauty around them as the majestic spires of the ancient temple soon peeked through the clouds, and as they descended, they took in the scenery of the Eastern Air Temple with quiet awe.

When Appa dove further toward the temple grounds, Nii heard Aang's breath get caught in his throat, and she saw him widening his eyes in astonishment, before she followed his gaze.

She herself gasped when she saw what had sparked his reaction.

Down below were tiny figures moving gracefully around - all of them dressed in robes of the same colors that Aang was wearing - in what seemed to be traditional robes of the Air Nomads.

Nii felt a rush in her stomach.

She could not believe what she was seeing.

It was mesmerizing and surreal at the same time - as if looking into the past.

"Hey, what's going on?" Toph asked, peeping up her head as she had noticed Nii and Aang's reactions. "Hey, tell me!"

Nii observed the scene with fascination, marveling at the dedication of the villagers that had sworn to do everything they could to preserve the temple and the lost culture while they were gone. And now, as she took in the sight of them in their flowing robes, moving gracefully across the courtyard, and some of them even sporting bald scalps, a sense of reverence stirred within her.

"Hello?!" Toph yelled next to her. "Indulge the blind girl, please!"

"They're…" Nii replied softly in a voice filled with awe. "They're dressed like Airbenders."

"What, really?" Toph said, before she scooted herself up in the saddle.

Nii turned her gaze to look at Aang with a blend of curiosity and empathy.

She could not help but imagine the flood of emotions that must be coursing through him. She could see the wonder in his eyes - as if a part of him was reunited with his heritage, as if in this very moment he glimpsed into a world that he had thought was lost forever.

She sensed the memories that stirred within him - the laughter of his fellow Air Nomads, the teachings of his mentors, and the sense of belonging that had once defined his life.

But alongside the nostalgia, Nii sensed an even deeper layer of emotion in Aang's demeanor.

It was not just about reliving the past.

Aang's journey as the Avatar had taken him far from home, and now, as they neared the Air acolytes, he was faced with the legacy he carried - a legacy of peace, balance and spiritual wisdom.

Nii's heart swelled with empathy, and as Aang turned to meet Nii's gaze, his eyes sparkled with a mixture of emotions - awe, joy, disbelief and a touch of wistfulness.

At that moment, Nii knew that she was witnessing something profound, something historical.

Some of the acolytes had noticed Appa, and many of them gathered quietly around them as Appa touched down gracefully in the courtyard with a low rumble.

As soon as Toph's feet touched the earth, Nii heard her mumbling to herself: "Well, isn't that something."

There were many faces that gathered around them, all of them alight with anticipation and respect. Some of them she did not recognize, and Nii soon realized that there were a lot more people here than when they left.

She sighed out in disbelief.

"Avatar Aang!" one of the acolytes exclaimed before bowing gracefully. "Welcome back to the Eastern Air Temple."

Aang seemed completely breathtaken, but he soon steadied himself and returned the bow with a warm smile.

"Thank you," he replied graciously. "It's, uh… It's good to be back."

One of the elders stepped forward, and Nii felt her heart soften when she recognized her as Kana, whose expression was filled with joy.

"Avatar Aang, your return brings hope and inspiration to our community," she said solemnly. "Thank you."

Aang nodded gratefully, as he gathered his palms against each other in front of his chest before he bowed again, his eyes shining with emotion.

Nii could tell that tears had gathered in the corners of his eyes, and it caused a lump to tighten in her throat.

If he started crying, she would not be able to-

She heard him inhaling in short, uneven bursts, his breath hitched, and then, tears began to stream down his cheeks, while his shoulders slumped a little before he tilted his face down as he could not hold his emotions back.

Kana looked at him with deep understanding in her eyes.

The old wise woman extended her hand, palm outstretched, towards Aang's chest, as if to offer a comforting touch, and this caused him to release his emotions even more, his sobs and tears flowing freely now as he reached up his hand to rest on Kana's.

Nii's heart ached with sympathy for him, causing tears to stream down her face too.

And Nii watched in amazement when other acolytes began to gather around, and they placed their hands gently on the elder acolyte's shoulders, forming a circle of shared connection and support.

One by one, the touching of shoulders spread like a ripple through the gathered people.

It was a silent but powerful display of unity and compassion, a collective expression of reverence and acknowledgement for the importance of the embodiment of the principles of his ancient culture and heritage.

As the circle of acolytes expanded around him and Appa, Nii saw Aang closing his eyes while taking a deep, steadying breath.

"Thank you," he managed to croak through his tears, his voice thick with sincere emotion. "Thank you for honoring the legacy of the Air Nomads and keeping their spirit alive."

Some of the acolytes nodded in affirmation, while others sent him a smile, their eyes glistening with sorrow and reverence and their dedication evident in every gesture.

And while the sun started setting over the temple, and all of three of them had been greeted by the acolytes with a tour of all the progress they had made while they were gone, a quiet moment of meditation in one of the meditation gardens and a dinner in silence, Nii could not help but to feel a sense of pride and gratitude for her community and for being part of this transformative moment.

This transformative movement.

A movement of love.

Of peace.