Chapter 89: The Quest to Find The Inheritor
Shout-out to Omni!
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*Shhhh*
*Vrssshhhhh*
Eight wooden boards surfed along multiple tides that seem to be breaking the pattern of the waves. Aside from one larger board, the remaining seven boards were occupied by a single waterbender as they surfed with excitement apparent on their faces.
"No, no, tilt a bit to the left," Nik stated, sweating thoroughly while trying to balance the larger board. Despite things said and done, Suki was his 'plus one' for the trip so he took her responsibility naturally but it was quite hard to surf with the two of them. The duo was drenched already, indicating the past failures.
"I'm doing just fine!" Suki snapped, too. The lack of sleep and constantly getting flung into the sea finally took a toll on her. Her slightly shrill tone grated against Nik's senses as his lips twitched. Of all the things he expected after a rather fruitful night, getting yelled at was the last of them.
"Oh~? Trouble getting the job done?" Katara surfed closer to the duo, chuckling at their misery as a true friend would.
"What's that?" Nik's eyes suddenly widened as he pointed behind Katara.
"Huh?"
Katara looked in the pointed direction. A mistake, she realized once she found herself already falling into the sea with ice suddenly appearing on the surface of the sea ahead of her. Suki's yelp was the only thing Katara heard on time.
*Splash*
"You're a sore loser Nik?" Katara quickly got up the board and shouted, creating a large wave to follow the couple who picked the pace.
"Hehe," Nik snickered.
"That wasn't very honorable..." Suki pouted, strangely silent and meek, "And to think Avatar Kyoshi called you an honorable warrior."
"Sweetheart," Nik blew against her ear as he continued to keep her pressed against himself with one arm around her waist. Her butt snugly rubbing against his crotch, "This isn't a fight so there's no cheating. A block of ice happened to be in front of Katara's board."
Nik's body tilted to the left and his board drifted accordingly as he dodged a giant wave of water quickly.
"Oh? Katara. Trouble getting the job done?" Nik grinned and Katara's eyes spewed flames.
"You'll pay for it!" She hissed as she dried herself while surfing.
"How?" Nik questioned.
"Just you wait!"
"I'm a patient man. Ask anyone... I take my time. Right, Suki?" Nik kissed the top of Suki's head as she looked away with a groan.
"Keep me out of it," She was clear now that she had some of Nik once more. The recent failures in surfing barely mattered to her now that she was held so gently and lovingly.
Katara merely stared at the duo. No, she silently glared at Nik the entire time. Her sneaky attacks did not manage to catch him and his response, too, was unable to get her since both of them were already aware that cheating was on the table.
*Srsshhhhhh*
The waves gently washed over the peaceful and tiny beach. The surrounding was beautiful with giant palm and coconut trees bordering the beach. Natural caves formed due to the inhabitation of different animals and crystal coral walls could be seen, too.
Nik stood in front of a patch of blue crystals developing over a giant boulder. The shape of crystals varied but they looked like sapphires.
"These look amazing," He muttered. There were many benders like him simply observing their surroundings with a sense of wonder. The early sunray of the morning reflected over the crystal corals all around the rocky surface near the shore and sparkled the surroundings.
There were only eight members and with the leader breaking out to find all the items he can, the remaining seven members broke into a team of three with how well they knew each other. Nik, Katara, and Suki were one such team while the remaining four benders were divided into two teams of two. After chatting for a few moments amongst themselves, they, too, departed for the nearest village.
The trio walked silently with Suki in the middle since Nik and Katara being in close proximity might just entice the two to complete what they left off during surfing.
"Sigh..." Katara sighed deeply.
"Sigh..." Suki sighed deeply.
*Step*
*Step*
*Step*
They continued to walk silently until Suki and Katara both took odd glances in Nik's direction. There was an eager glint in his eyes. It was evident that being cooped into the cruiser and the consequential duties alongside Hama's constant training took a toll on Nik. Most of it was relieved last night but being in the presence of fresh air instead of saline one really put him in a great mood. Refreshed, Nik continued to walk with a natural smile, looking forward to the village of the island.
Nik soon felt the looks in his direction and he turned to inquire about the situation.
"What is it? Something wrong?" His question elicited a deeper sigh from Suki and Katara.
"Nothing," Suki mumbled with her lips pushed up into a pout.
"Yeah, nothing," Katara, too, took a rather sullen look.
Nik shrugged. He isn't all-knowing. Of course, generally, he would have connected this strange situation to Suki's and Katara's bodily... functions but he knew it to be false for Suki this time around so it was something else that got them so down.
"Sigh..." Katara sighed deeply.
"Sigh..." Suki followed soon enough.
Nik finally stopped, "Alright, what is it?" He questioned. The village was nearby but the benders deliberately took a longer route to wind around the village. Of course, their arrival would cause suspicion since this was an island but the other groups had thought of their own stories.
"We haven't discussed our plan like we used to," Suki spoke up finally.
"Exactly." Katara nodded.
"Is that even necessary?" Nik questioned in return. The two blue-eyed women gazed at him intently as he matched their line of sight with a ponderous look. Clarity suddenly flashed in his eyes as his lips parted for a moment.
"I see..." Nik nodded, not putting things to words as satisfaction made way on Suki's and Katara's expressions. It was simple really. They have posed fake stories and backgrounds before to keep themselves from getting caught but now that the cat's out of the bag, the two women realized that it was quite the fun experience and since all of them were here for a good time, the duo wanted the full package.
"So? What do you have in mind?" Nik inquired, more than willing to hear their idea out. Of course, Katara and Suki might have the same approach but what they wanted from the background story was completely different.
However... the two failed to realize that it was merely a ruse!
Now that Nik knew of their desires, he only saw it fitting to have a little fun of his own. He had flipped the table when it came to his status with Suki only during the night but now it was time to make it official... at least, in this fake scenario. Of course, Nik didn't go with something too embarrassing. Katara was part of the group and it was up to him to get the full experience necessary...
This experience wasn't even his first time but he rather enjoyed this role quite a bit.
---
Waves crashed against the wooden port. There were a few boats still anchored about but the large space indicated that many other local ships were out in the sea to earn their living.
The lack of progress and colonialization prominent in many progressive villages, cities, and colonies of the Earth Kingdom allowed the benders to sigh in relief. This place was mostly untouched by the fire nation similar to other smaller islands due to a general lack of trade. Even if it is planned to industrialize this island, surely, that would be a thing of the future.
A mustached, dark-skinned man gazed into the horizon, watching the sunrise with a bored expression. Clearly, this was a phenomenon that he had viewed since he was a child and now took the beauty of this scenario for granted.
*Yawn*
Slight tears made way through the corner of his eyes as his mouth stretched wide open, revealing his molars almost eaten out to form heart-numbing cavities. Smacking his lips a few times, the individual with shaggy brown hair continued to gaze upon sunrise once again.
"You there!"
A sharp shriek almost caused the man to fall down the edge of the wooden platform and plunge straight into the ocean as his breathing turned ragged and he held his chest tightly.
"Almost... fell hah-hah!" He heaved before turning with a furious expression.
"What gives— huh?"
The man instantly fell stunned into silence as he saw three individuals standing together and gazing in his direction menacingly. Two women standing on either side of the cloaked man whose lower face was covered by the spare part of the tanned cloak itself. His violet eyes shimmering at the rays of the sunlight and gazing into the depths of his soul.
The two women didn't have their faces hidden. They were beautiful. One of them was dark-skinned with her long brown hair tied into a single ponytail, two loops fashioned from her locks curved about and gave her a sweet look if not for the hard stare she projected at this moment.
Meanwhile, the one with auburn hair who wore face paint and armored green kimono looked stunning simply because of the strange garb.
"Hmm? Hmmm!" The man with his face covered gazed in his direction.
"O-Oi! What gives?!" The man questioned again only for the warrior with a sword belted to her waist to sternly berate him, "Nonsense! How can you address Master Nik, the youngest ever warrior to master the art of Fan warfare and the sacred profession of waterbending with this tone? Do you not fear the sea?! Thus, do you not fear who commands the vast sea behind you?"
The man gulped, cold sweat building over his forehead as he saw the slightly shorter woman bring her hand closer to the hilt of her sword.
"I... I..." The man stuttered.
"Hmm."
The cloaked figure raised his hand and the two women relaxed instantly.
"What is it?" The cloaked figure inquired with a youthful voice, "Your name, that is."
"Bam!" the man exclaimed.
"Bam, is it? Hmm. What a fortuitous name. You who gaze at sunrise with such profound emotions. Will you help us find the destined one?" The cloaked figure inquired.
"Destined one?" Bam inquired, confused. But now that he was able to interact with the cloaked figure, his wariness now dropped heavily.
"Exactly. I sense the destined one present in this island and you— Bam, the viewer of Sun, are the key to find that chosen one."
---
"Exactly. I sense the destined one present in this island and you— Ronak, the sharpest butcher, are the key to find that chosen one."
---
"Exactly. I sense the destined one present in this island and you— Vera, the woman with thickest eyelashes, are the key to find that chosen one."
---
"Exactly. I sense the destined one present in this island and you—"
---
"Exactly. I sense the destined one—"
---
"Exactly..."
---
"Oi! Thickest of eyelashes my ass! My pubes are thicker!" Bam scowled at a thin, fierce-looking woman and the two broke out in a verbal argument instantly.
"Sir, can we get three pieces of roasted kebabs?" Nik inquired while gazing at the argument in distance. The stall owner nodded with a smile.
"Yo! Another visitor? Hmm, are you from the same group?" The man began to sprinkle pepper and other condiments that were local to the island over the piece of already roasted meat and looked at the three youngsters.
"Oh, there are others?" Suki tilted her head innocently, "We're on our way to the Earth Nation and needed to stop for restocking our supplies. Would you be kind enough to direct us to a few stall owners?"
The man gazed at Suki suspiciously.
"Listen here," he began slowly, "What kind of coward covers their face? With that voice, I'm not even sure if you're just a woman or a tall boy with long hair."
Suki's lips twitched, a nerve popping over her temples while Katara and Nik looked away, smile apparent on their lips.
"Here, your order. That'll be..."
After paying for the breakfast, the trio began walking and stopped at various spots of the village but by now the rumor of a chosen one being within the vicinity had spread out and everyone began to look for the mysterious master by the sly.
"See?" Nik grinned, chewing on the meat, "That was fun."
"Only for you, master of Fan warfare and waterbending!" Katara scoffed and Suki nodded, "Exactly. That's not what I had in mind at all."
"But isn't it boring to just fake a relationship?" Nik mumbled, "And we already did that. How about we also act as a group of antagonists to harm this destined one—"
"Nope!"
Suki and Katara rejected simultaneously.
Nik clicked his tongue. It was worth a try to enact an entirely stock work of fiction with a mysterious master, a destined one, and antagonists.
'Oh, well,' he dropped the idea internally.
"There you are!" Two women approached Nik, Katara, and Suki. The both of them held a giant leaf on which they ate cut up and fresh copra from the coconut grown on the island. The two of them were older than the bunch and were more prominent healers since they were trained in that skill from a young age in the Northern Water Tribe.
{A/N: Copra is the white membrane inside the coconut also called white meat.}
Their gazes intently observed Nik from top to bottom before they reluctantly looked away, "Did the three of you masquerade around as some master and disciples?"
The trio looked at each other and nodded. There wasn't anything to lie about it.
"Huff... figures. We were worried that some strange bunch might cause some trouble for us," the one on the right finished the dish and rolled up the giant leaf and held it in her fist.
"Yeah, we're trying to stay away from those we messed with since Suki's face paint would be a dead giveaway," Nik nodded.
"Again, I'm not going to remove my face paint to fool some innocent citizens," she rolled her eyes.
"Just..." the one on the left sighed, "Don't cause any more troubles, will you? Oh, and... are you bringing souvenirs for others on the ship?"
The trio blinked. They hadn't considered that at all.
"Do we need to?" Nik inquired.
"Come on... now it would feel wrong if we didn't bring anything for Hama at the very least," Katara sighed softly.
"Let's just buy fruits," Suki offered.
"Fine..."
Too much of a vacation, this turned out to be, Nik sighed.
The two groups separated and the trio quickly found someone selling a bunch of pomegranates. Buying it was harder than expected since these were sought after by many villagers daily and even with a high cost, Nik could only purchase half of the stock offered. Why did he have to pay?
Whenever it came to talking about the price, the two penniless warriors in their bunch silently stepped away fully knowing the embarrassment that they would face should it be their turn to pay for anything.
"See? Our cover story should have been the two of us being wealthy mistresses and you being our caretaker!" Katara chuckled, patting Nik's back as he replied with an impassive hum.
"Come on, Katara, you shouldn't tease the master of great arts as such." Suki berated with a grin and the duo soon broke into pleased giggles.
Nik's shoulder slumped slightly until he stopped in the middle. His gaze was attracted to a thin manual placed on display alongside a few glamorous shells. The stall, like others, seemed to sell whatever it could since many fishes were also tied on the ledge for the display alongside three blue-shelled lobsters in a baked earthen tank.
"Hey, what's this?" He inquired while picking up the manual that said— Art of Firebending; A Journey of Passion.
The owner sat behind with a slightly dazed look, "What does it look like, punk? Stop asking stupid questions!"
"Whoa... what?" Nik looked at the man strangely. He was well-aware by now that many individuals are just eccentric but seeing one directly rude to him made him curious instead of annoyed.
"I don't like ya face, now on with it." The man waved his hand.
"Is it because you're alone?" Nik inquired with greater interest and the two women stepped back, unwilling to let the heat graze them.
"What did you say?" The man stood up with a grumble, "Say that again—"
"Fire Nation!" Nik pointed behind the man and he hurriedly turned back.
Too easy!
Nik shrugged, tossing a small pouch of coins from his personal space and taking the manual before bolting away.
"Huh?"
Katara and Suki fell in a daze before the man turned back again and seeing Nik was nowhere present, he glared at the girls, "You thieves!"
"What are you saying?!" Suki frowned, "Look, he is right behind you!" she pointed again and the man looked back... again!
Not giving Katara any time, Suki held her hands and bolted in a similar manner.
---
"I feel sick..." Nik muttered, lying back on the sandy beach.
"You should, you thief," Katara blamed as she lay next to him, equally bored. Now she realized that the most fun part of the trip, aside from surfing, was eating and duping other villagers in the false quest of finding the chosen one. It was definitely wrong... but it is simply the wrong things that recently felt fun to her.
"It's not about that. I paid the man in gold," Nik replied, "It's just that... after all we've been through. I expected more from this island."
"Shouldn't we feel lucky that not every establishment is in ruins at the hand of the fire nation?" Suki lay on the other side of Nik, much closer to him, and tilted her body to rest on him.
"I guess we are..." Nik replied.
"Why did you want a manual for firebending anyway?" Suki questioned.
Nik was well-prepared and gave a reasonable answer.
"If I get to understand how Firebenders fight, they can be dealt with more easily."
"Huh, share that manual after you're done," Suki hummed in reply.
"Me, too," Katara added as the trio sunbathed while viewing the bright blue sky in its glory.
"You know, this is more fun. I'm already feeling sleepy," Katara finally smiled.
"Now that you say about it... I could use some nap myself," Suki instantly felt sleepy once Katara mentioned it.
'I guess I can try firebending in personal space.'
Nik thought internally.
He felt it yesterday and this would be the third element he truly connects with which made him question what really happened when the trio was trapped in Fog of Lost Souls and what the Freedom Paradox Source really is.
'I hope the villagers find their destined one,' Nik thought and shook his head. It was fun while it lasted but now Nik had something else to enjoy as soon, aside from Suki, Katara rolled over, too. Her hands over him while she drooled over the sand, her legs pressed over his own thighs as the sleeping waterbender curled slightly.
Freeing his arm, Nik just pulled both of them closer by their shoulders and closed his eyes, too.
This was a rest that the trio welcomed with quite a grateful heart since even if it was uneventful, it was special to them compared to their daily routine.
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