Wandering Firebender
Six: Art of the Staff
Elio quietly made his way down the trail as it snaked through a tall, thick forest. Birds were chirping above him and bugs were buzzing around him. There were no settlements in sight through the trees. He felt completely immersed in the natural atmosphere.
It was quite literally the opposite of the surroundings he was used to back home.
As Elio made his way around a bend in the trail, he heard the sounds of rustling leaves. He quickly turned around and raised his fists up, but he saw no one. He looked towards some nearby bushes and cautiously began to approach them.
However, he was quickly blindsided by getting hit in the face by someone unseen. He was quickly pushed to the ground in a blinded daze. He tried to use his firebending to defend himself, but he heard nothing else. His assailant must have already run off.
"Agh great!" Elio yelled, turning onto his side and rubbing the water out of his eyes that had come from the blunt hit to the nose he had received. He began feeling around for his things…
His bag and money pouch had been taken.
"Great!" Elio yelled louder, slamming his fist on the dirt. As he regained his senses, he got up to his feet. Words couldn't accurately express how angry he was; how brutally he was chastising himself for allowing this to happen.
"Looks like you got caught with your guard down, kid." An unfamiliar voice chuckled ironically. Elio rubbed his eyes with his arm and turned towards the voice.
Just a few strides down the trail stood an older man with dark skin and his long hair braided and tied back. His clothes were well taken care of but modest. He carried a long staff-like walking stick in his right hand. As he walked forward, he walked with a limp and used it to support his weight.
"Did you see that happen?" Elio asked.
"I didn't, but I saw a man with a mask run past. Then I saw you writhing on the ground and put two and two together." He explained with a cackle. Elio growled and shook his head, brushing his hair back.
"Yeah, well, now I need to find that creep. So if you'll excuse me." Elio said dismissively, getting ready to walk past him. However, the old man protested.
"And how do you expect to find him? The only thing you saw was the inside of your own eyelids." He pointed out in the same humorous tone.
"I'll figure it out!" Elio shouted impatiently. The old man smiled and shook his head, turning and walking in step just behind him.
"Come with me, son. I'll fix you a meal and give you some assistance." He invited.
"I appreciate your offer, but I can't allow the man to get away with my stuff! All of my money and personal belongings were in that bag he took." Elio pointed out, gesturing forward. The old man nodded.
"A fair point. But you still have your pack. There's, what, camping gear and some food in there? You'll manage for a little while with those. At least for now. Please, let me help you." He insisted. Elio sighed unhappily and agreed reluctantly.
"Fine. Lead the way."
"Please excuse my mess. I wasn't expecting to be taking anyone in today." The man apologized as they entered into a small shack of a home not far from the rest of town. It was indeed messy inside, but it also seemed barren, lacking a lot of decorations and other homey touches.
"It's alright… This is the nearest town from the spot where I was attacked?" Elio asked.
"It is. Do you think you'll find the perpetrator somewhere in the city?" The man wondered.
"Where else could I find him? I need to start looking." Elio said, turning back towards the door.
"Yes yes, maybe this time he won't sneak up on you," The old man teased. "It's wise to fight an opponent on equal terms, but it is never wise to go seeking out a fight."
"So what am I supposed to do?! I'm not just gonna sit here!" Elio shouted again.
"You're right. You're going to sweep," The man smiled, walking over and grabbing a broom from a rack on the wall. He tossed it over to Elio. "I'd appreciate it if you tidied up the floor before we eat. Just sweep the dust outside." He instructed.
"Fine," Elio took the broom. "But after we eat, I'm going." He decided. Silently, Elio got to sweeping, mulling and seething over his anger.
The old man shook his head in disapproval and began to make their food.
When the meals were prepared and the plates made, the man set the table for them. Elio finished sweeping the dining room and the kitchen, forcefully brushing all the dust outside.
"Thank you very much, young man. Go ahead and wash your hands. Dinner is served." He smiled. Elio nodded and went to wash his hands.
"Thank you… You haven't told me your name." Elio realized.
"It's Rala. And what's yours?" The old man asked in return.
"Elio. My name is Elio." He introduced himself, drying his hands off and sitting at the table.
"Really?" Rala smiled to himself, "I like that name. It refers to the sun, you know."
"Yeah… I knew that." Elio said awkwardly.
His father had chosen the name Elio, which meant sun, to honor the deep history of the Fire Nation rooting all the way back to the dragons and the Sun Warriors. He recalled back to the times his father would tell him how all firebenders rise and draw power from the hot sun.
But of course, he couldn't tell this old man that.
"It's always good to know such origins. The meaning of my name isn't as nice as yours," He laughed. "Anyways, I know you're eager to get out there again and find the man who stole from you, but personally, I don't think you're ready for that fight." He admitted.
"Why do you say that? He got the upper hand on me because I wasn't expecting him. That won't happen again." Elio said surely.
"While this may be true, he carries a weapon. You do not. Not yet anyways." Rala smiled. Elio glanced at him strangely.
"What?"
"So it's decided then. I will give you a weapon, teach you how to use it, and then you will face your opponent in the morning."
"Hey hey woah, what are you talking about?" Elio asked in confusion.
"Ah, it's been so long since I've had a student. Finish your food and then meet me out back. Leave your things here. Take the broom with you." Rala instructed, getting up from the table and taking his food and drink with him. Elio watched him slowly limp out of the room.
When Elio finished his food, he stood up and cleaned the plate off with water. He looked towards the door, ready to step out and begin his search for the thief. But curiosity was pulling him towards this eccentric old man who seemed to want to help him, even if he was strange and sarcastic in nature.
"I can't believe I'm doing this." Elio said to himself as he grabbed the broom he'd used before and went out back to meet Rala.
Rala sat on a chair waiting for him, his empty plate and cup sitting to the side on the ground. He smiled as Elio approached, getting up slowly. As he struggled, Elio quickly stepped forward and offered his hand out. Rala took it and allowed Elio to help him stand fully.
"Thank you, Elio. So, you came after all. That's good. Why, I wonder?" He indirectly asked.
"You've been helping me out. I don't know… You seem to know what you're talking about, but not sharing everything with me up front." Elio observed. Rala smiled.
"And right you are. Please, remove the bristle end of the broom." He instructed. Elio placed the handle end of the broom in the dirt and unscrewed the other side.
"Okay?" Elio nodded, setting the bristle part down.
"This handle will be your training weapon. Follow me." Rala gestured for Elio to follow him. They walked to a tree trunk that had been cut from the top, leaving it only slightly taller than Elio. Rala gestured for him to approach the tree.
"You're teaching me how to fight with a staff?" Elio asked.
"Ah, you finally figured it out! Well done! Yes, I'm going to show you how to fight with a staff. Start by getting into a wide stance. Bend your knees." Rala instructed. Elio did so, and Rala slowly made his way around him.
"The art of the staff was developed by non-benders, but airbenders were actually the ones that originally perfected it. However, when used properly, the staff is a universal weapon; bender or no, any member of any nation can utilize it.
"Your stance is an earthbending stance, and how you will move your body will be a combination of earth and fire. You must keep your movements strong and firm, deliberate. You must plant your root and make it unshakeable as firebenders do.
"The staff and how you move it is where water and air come into play. Your movements generate the force you need to strike. You must always be moving and adapting, balancing between blocking and attacking, and constantly switching back and forth between the two.
"Grip the staff firmly with both hands in the center. You will strike the trunk with one side then the other. Use your wrists, your forearms, and twist at the waist for maximum strength." Rala instructed.
Elio nodded, taking a deep breath and following his instructions. He twisted his hips and struck the tree. The broomstick smacked into the trunk with a loud crack! He felt the vibrations in his hand like a slight burning sensation.
"Good! Now again, the other way!"
Elio's instruction lasted through the entire night. The palms of his hands were soon red from striking the tree trunk as he learned different points to strike and different ways to approach each strike point.
"Strike with confidence. Picture your next move clearly in your head and then carry it out."
Next he learned stances and steps; when to advance and when to step back, striking and counterstriking, how to anticipate and plan moves in advance. Without realizing it, Elio was learning how treat every fight like a strategy game.
"Strike! Strike! Strike!" Rala instructed again and again. Elio gripped the broomstick tightly and continued swinging it against the trunk of the tree. Again and again the cracks echoed around them until finally the end of the broomstick broke off.
"Very good, Elio. Now rest. I've taught you all you need to know for now." Rala smiled proudly, sitting down again.
Elio dropped what was left of his broomstick and fell to his knees. He sat back in the dirt, breathing heavily and drenched in sweat. Rala held out some water to drink. He took it and he gulped it down quickly.
"Ohh my hands are burning!" Elio hissed in discomfort, rubbing his red palms against his pant legs to scratch away the pained burning sensations. Rala chuckled a bit.
"Here," He said, getting up and bringing over a bucket of water for him to dip his hands into. "Cool your hands in this." He offered. Elio quickly dipped his hands in it, sighing in relief as the cold water soothed his itching.
"Thank you. You just had this on hand?" Elio asked. Could it be possible that this man had anticipated being his teacher before he even arrived?
"Yeah, I was doing some mopping in the bedroom just the other day." Rala answered with a smile.
"Ugh…" Elio pulled his hands out of the dirty cleaning water and wiped them off the best he could on his pants.
"You've been quite the student, son. Not exactly a prodigy, but perhaps the humblest of all my students, and thus the easiest to teach. You should be proud." Rala complimented.
"Thank you…" Elio replied oddly, rubbing his hands together as they slowly relaxed.
"Tell me, Elio, where is it that you're going? Where is your destination?" Rala asked curiously. Elio looked down at the water, resting his elbows on his knees.
"Nowhere really. I'm just…going from one town to the next." He answered.
"I see. There's nothing wrong with traveling and seeing the world. But one never does anything without a purpose. What is your purpose?" Rala asked, clasping his hands together. Elio's eyebrows furrowed.
What was his purpose for doing this? Sure, he was avoiding something he didn't want, but in exchange for what? What did he expect to get out this, being out on his own this way…?
"Survival. Everything I've been doing has been to live another day. That's… That's it."
"Interesting." Rala hummed. Elio looked up at his teacher.
"Why are you doing this? Why have you taught me all of this?" Elio asked, looking up at him. Rala's expression grew more serious, but his demeanor remained warm.
"There's a number of reasons why. You will learn them in your own time. All you need to know now is your staff will be a tool in your tool belt. Use it wisely and when necessary," Rala advised, standing up now.
"Come with me. The sun will be rising soon. It is time for you to choose your staff and face the man who attacked you." He said. Elio stood up, using the broomstick to help himself stand before leaving it behind.
Rala led Elio inside the house again. He took him to another training room that had gone unused for a long time. Inside this room, a rack full of staffs made of different materials was propped up on the wall. Rala invited Elio to choose his staff.
"Are all of these yours?" Elio asked.
"I have a bit of a collection. But when a student of mine has taken the time to learn from me, I let them choose their first staff. Choose wisely. Pick one that suits you."
Elio looked carefully through the staffs. At first, he planned on picking out one of the thickest or one of the longest staffs, but then he noticed a lot of the staffs were made of wood. That wouldn't mix well with his firebending…
"This one." Elio decided, picking out a metal staff that was painted black. Rala nodded in approval.
"I think you've made the right choice... The man who stole your things: his name is Josin. He works in a small little shop on the other side of town. It's called the Scarlet Dragon. You'll find him there. I'll leave the rest to you."
"I see… So you knew where to find him this whole time and you didn't tell me?" Elio turned towards him.
"It's like I said before, you needed to be ready to face him. With this staff, now you will have equal footing. Now go." Rala urged. Elio nodded.
"Okay… Thank you, Rala. I really appreciate it."
"Do good out there, my student." Rala encouraged.
Elio nodded, bowing to him in respect before taking his things and leaving with his new staff.
Elio entered into the Scarlet Dragon with his staff in his hand and his pack hidden somewhere else. He walked inside and approached the front counter.
"I'm looking for Josin." He said to the gentleman on the other side of the counter.
"Josin! You got someone who wants to see ya!" The man shouted. Josin made his way around to the front and locked eyes with Elio.
Josin was a young man about Elio's age. He had light skin and light brown hair combed to the side. He immediately recognized Elio when he saw him. Elio stared him down.
"I'd like to speak with you outside." He said simply before making his way out into the street to wait for him.
Elio waited in the street, holding his new staff in his right hand. He moved it around a little to feel out the weight. He spun it around once and then turned back towards the shop, waiting for Josin to come out. No one came out the front door, but a figure in the corner of his left eye caught his attention.
"How did you find me?" Josin asked, standing in the alley between the shop and another building. He carried two custom knives in his hands. Elio stepped into the alley.
"Did you spend my money?" Elio questioned. Josin scoffed.
"It's not your money anymore, bud. Just because you got a pipe in your hands now; that doesn't change anything. You should just keep going on your way. Otherwise you'll get hurt worse than last time." Josin calmly threatened him. Elio raised an eyebrow at him.
"I want my things back. Everything you stole." Elio stated.
"You hear what I just said? You really wanna fight?" Josin questioned.
"I'm not asking, Josin." Elio said firmly. Josin shook his head and raised his knives up, getting into a ready stance. Elio sighed in irritation and raised his staff, holding it sideways in his right hand.
Josin curled and uncurled his fingers around the handles of his knives, nervousness beginning to set in. Elio took hold of the center of his staff with both hands and began to spin it slowly as Josin advanced. Elio continued to stare him down as he hesitated.
Finally, Josin attempted to strike him, swinging one knife at him. Elio smacked his hand away with the staff. Josin attacked with his other hand. Elio flicked the other end of the staff upwards, knocking the knife out of Josin's left hand.
As the knife spiraled in the air, Elio took a cautious step back. Josin attempted to slice Elio in the legs. Elio lifted his leg up to avoid it, turning and slamming his shoulder into Josin. Josin stumbled, but advanced again and attempted to stab him in the side.
Elio stepped backwards to avoid the knife, smacking Josin in the head with the staff. As Josin stumbled back, Elio spun around and swung the staff sideways at his head. It cracked Josin in the side of his head, causing him to fall to the ground quickly.
"Not so fun when it's a fair fight, is it?" Elio clicked his tongue, turning him over with his foot. Josin, still holding his knife, started to raise it again, but Elio pinned his hand down with his foot.
"Agh! Alright, alright, fine! I have your stuff! Just let me get it!" Josin yielded.
"I think that would be a good idea," Elio said, offering a hand to him. Josin looked at him strangely but allowed Elio to help him up. "Go on now." Elio gestured for him to go. Josin quickly scurried inside to get Elio's things and give them back.
Elio spun his staff around again, looking at it and nodding smugly to himself. He walked behind the shop, using the staff as a walking stick. As he waited, he couldn't help but chuckle a little…
Elio began to make his way out of town with all of his belongings intact and in his bag around his shoulder. He walked with his staff in hand, happy to be moving on. As he approached the edge of town, he found Rala waiting for him to see him off.
"I trust that your encounter went well." Rala observed with a smile, seeing that Elio had his belongings once again and that he had a relieved smile on his face.
"Yes. I made short work of the man who attacked me. With any luck, he'll think twice before doing the same to anyone else again." Elio reported. Rala nodded in approval.
"Very good."
"You said that I would have equal footing, but it didn't feel much like a fair fight," Elio chuckled ironically. "I think you may have taught me more than I really needed."
"Haha, well, a weapon is only as useful as the skill of the one who wields it. In time, you may find an opponent who is more of a challenge, and you'll be happier to have your staff on hand," Rala said. Elio nodded in understanding.
"Always remember, the staff is a defensive weapon. It is to settle matters, not to strike fatal blows." Rala reminded him.
"I will remember… Thank you for teaching me. I won't soon forget it. I just wish I understood why you gave this to me." Elio said, looking at his staff and holding it up. Rala chuckled a bit while keeping a serious expression.
"One day, you will learn the answer. Not today though. Today, just enjoy your gift. I see that you are setting off once again." Rala observed next. Elio nodded.
"Yes. I was just passing through really. I didn't want to stay this long. And while I am tired, it's time for me to move on."
"I understand. The life you lead is a difficult one, my young firebending friend." Rala said with a smile. Elio's eyes widened in shock.
"You knew?!" He exclaimed.
"From the very beginning. You resorted to your bending when you panicked before."
"You knew I was a firebender and yet you still decided to take me in as your student?" Elio asked. Rala smiled and sighed.
"War is a funny thing, Elio. It has a way of taking the humanity out of people in the quest for victory. You forget that there are men and women on the other side. In some ways, perhaps it's better to view them as evil creatures so that you sleep better at night.
"Of course, that's not really your way, is it? I can tell that you'd rather be at peace. That is why I've given you the staff. You cannot have peace without having balance: balance within yourself, and balance within the world.
"May that staff protect you, but may it also serve as a reminder to you the need to be balanced in all things. Without balance, there is no peace; and without peace, we are brought into war." Rala imparted. Elio's eyebrows furrowed a bit.
"I…I'm not sure I understand."
"Give it time, my student. I look forward to seeing you again." Rala smiled warmly, placing the open palm of his left hand against his fist. He bowed forward; the traditional Fire Nation bow. Elio bowed the same way in return.
"I hope one day that's the case. I see I have more to learn from you." Elio realized.
"When you are ready. For now, you have all that you need. Take care, Elio. Do be careful out there." Rala said, walking to him and patting him on the arm before slowly walking back into town. Elio turned and watched him go.
"You too." Elio said softly in reply before turning back and going on his way…