It had been 10 years since I awoke in my new body as Cadenza of the Southern Water Tribe in the world I believe to be the Avatar the last airbender universe, though it took me a while to piece that together as I had to learn their language first. Especially when for the first few years I was uncomfortably swaddled and babied. It was extremely strange and frustrating having an adult mind while trapped in the body of an infant.
I hadn't heard a thing from the voice I accepted as my master since I arrived here. I had actually been to this place, the so-called Small Realm I assumed. Meaning I definitely had a Master I had yet to officially meet. However no instructions were left for me nor any sign of this 'Apathy of the Enlightened' Technique that it mentioned or any other gift. So I was left to my own devices again like it promised. Did I have to prove myself or will I get those gifts in time? I didn't know. I decided to just live this new life to its fullest while I wait. As it was an opportunity for a second childhood, I try to take it easy and not worry about the future. Thus I needed to deal with my past.
I took the opportunity to grieve now I had access to my emotions again as who would suspect that a screaming crying baby actually had something to cry about.
I cried and cried for my family that I'd never see and the friends I'd never spend time with. The pain eventually started to recede over the years as I grew up again. The family I lost but not forgotten was replaced by a loving mother and small tribal family. I realised quickly that my mother didn't have a partner that I could identify as my father. A few years went by like this until I was old enough to leave what I now knew as an Igloo under my own two feet so I could get a better view of the village unimpeded by swaddling or stiff layers being led somewhere by mother. It was that time I got to properly see my own features in an icy bucket’s reflections. Curiously my eyes were a pale gold which did not match my mothers so I knew it must have come from my father. Other than that, I had the standard look of a water tribe member with tan skin and pale black hair.
The village was small and cold as you'd imagine from a water tribe village with Igloos and lean-to around helping me place where I was. I heard someone mention that we lived in Wolf Cove. While it rang a bell, I didn't know if this was indeed the same village in the first episode I remember seeing or even in the south pole for that matter. There were at least 3 times as many people from the image I remembered in my mind but it had been a long while since I last watched this series so my memory on the subject was hasty at best.
The confirmation I got that I was in the southern water tribe and not the north was that when I was older enough to be socialised, I was introduced to another young boy around my age who happened to be the chief's son, Sokka. His mother and my mother had children at the same time, we often were sent to each other's Igloo for the day when little to be watched. At first I couldn't believe it. I was seeing the same person I watched on TV in cartoon form. There was some difference as this sokka was a real life person so the cartoon look was nowhere to be seen. The resemblance was absolutely there, leaving no doubt that despite being a 2 year old, this was Sokka. Soon after, even Katara was born and introduced to the tribe just like Sokka and I no doubt were when we were born.
Once I was old enough to speak I once decided to ask who my father was only to have it brushed aside that he died in a fire nation raid when she was travelling to the other southern water tribes like so many before. Knowing that she didn't wish to talk about it, I hadn't brought it up again with her. Neither Kya or Hakoda would say anything about my father either, to say less of the rest of the Tribe, leaving me to wonder if the tribe liked him, or even knew him. As they all treated me with warmth like any other member I chalked it to maybe they didn't know him.
More time passed as Sokka and I became good friends as our families were close, we had much time to grow closer. It surprised me, he was actually quite an intelligent child as well, asking so many questions I lost count of the times even though I, with my 30 odd years worth of futuristic experience, couldn't answer the most interesting of questions this young boy asked. He was insatiable in his thirst for knowledge that when the adults left us to our own devices, I would often teach him useful knowledge that I acquired over the years in a way that I hoped didn't rouse too much suspicion from the young genius. Using the excuse that I had a thought or I did some experiments in my spare time as I often liked my solitude. I would go out on the ice alone after gaining the trust of the adults and proving myself as the responsible child of the tribe, often watching over the kids for the rest of the tribe.
The final confirmation, as if I needed further proof at this point, left no doubt that this was indeed a supernatural world I had been sent to when I was 9 years old. I had gone to knock sense into Sokka for teasing his sister Katara as I usually did, only for Katara to crack the Ice in the epicentre almost sending Sokka and I into the icy water below. Not the most spectacular bending but I had undeniably witnessed Water Bending for the first time. It still blew my mind, it was an otherworldly sight to see someone with their will to move water and ice as they please.
That event caused a massive stir in the tribe with a small few, scared that it would bring undue attention. The majority of the tribe were excited to have a waterbender after so long. Many believed, like her father, Hakoda, that Katara’s Waterbending is one of the keys to rebuilding the tribe. Hakoda in particular recognized Katara’s Waterbending abilities when she was young and encouraged her to develop them. The Chief even travelled around the South Pole, looking for a Waterbender to train her, but could not find one. We all encouraged her to practise her bending, for my part I even tried to supply advice I remembered from the first season of the show, which wasn't much as to be barely helpful at all.
The Tribe was then relatively peaceful for the last year without anything worthy of note. So I just lived my life in the tribe. Day to day life was simple, I'd help with chores in the mornings and evenings while watching over the younger kids with Sokka during the day. Playing games to pass the time with them. I enjoyed that simplicity I had in those moments reminding myself that I'm just a kid right now and don't have to take life so seriously for a while. When I got time alone I would explore the ice, letting my mask slip for a while. Keeping a facade that I was a child, albeit a more mature child that's smarter than usual, was still a difficult task 24/7.
Today was one of those rare days as it was close to my 10th birthday so they must be preparing a celebration like they did every year for Sokka and I. Setting out by myself towards the old Fire nation ship that I actually hung around much to the annoyance of the tribal elders. Had I not been the responsible child and promised that I under no circumstances was to go onto the ship, would I be allowed in the vicinity alone. Of course while I was still a kid I had no intention of going onto that ship anyway so I kept that promise.
I was sitting on a glacier that I enjoyed using to get a good view of the ship unimpeded from my vantage point when another voice, quite different in tone as this was more feminine, emotionless, monotone, and in an Irish accent spoke out of nowhere. It was a different voice but I knew it was related to my master.
[Interface Awakening...]
[Finding Host... Task completed.]
[Fusing with the Host...]
[10%...]
[37%...]
[52%...]
[89%...]
[100%...]
[Binding process complete.]
[Host: Cadenza 'Cade' Of the Southern Water Tribe]
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[Welcome Host. You have been reincarnated into the Avatar Realm (C Rank) as per your Master's wishes. And have reached the requisite age to begin cultivation. I am the second gift bestowed upon you by the Master.]
[I am The Multi-dimensional Interface Cultivation Assistant, or M.I.C.A for short, here to assist you on your journey and training under the guidance of the Master.]
The sudden voice startled me quite a bit after not hearing anything for so long I was starting to grow wary it wouldn't come for a while longer.
"Second gift? I was wondering what Master was talking about." I replied to myself as I felt my heart racing out my chest, whether in excitement or adrenalin from the scare I did not know. I tentatively looked around me despite knowing I was alone to be able to reply to the interface freely.
[Correct. You received four separate gifts from your Master after taking you as his disciple. However since your skeletal age was insufficient to handle the effects of the gifts, they have been locked until now] M.I.C.A replied, giving me a clue that I had other gifts waiting, not just the Apathy of the Enlightened. But right now I was curious about M.I.C.A's role in my cultivation path master mentioned.
“What do you do exactly?” I wanted to know the details so I could decide how best to utilise M.I.C.A.
[My main function is to act as an Interface between you and different dimensions that you'll travel to completely. I make it so your abilities can intertwine with the universal laws of said dimensions. After training you will be able to acquire some abilities if you meet the requirements to gain them. I can also assist in calculations of risk and provide data for the host to evaluate in the form of a ‘status screen’ you can customise at your convenience. The changes to the values made on the status screen will affect you and the world around you, and changes of the world will also be reflected on the status screen.] M.I.C.A compiled and gave a brief overview.
“Like a game system? Okay, that means I have levels, XP, hitpoints and such right? Do I get an inventory or something?” I asked in the hopes that I could hide things in there for emergency purposes or even help with chores. It would certainly make it easier to travel with a heavy load. I began to consider the many uses it would have.
[Correct. You also have access to a spacetime personal dimension to store things and also customise your dimension. It currently sits at 5x5x5 meters. It will grow according to your level. You will gain experience through quests generated on the interface according to real world situations or self imposed quests. As you level up, you will gain a number of talent points and gain access to the talent system. All powers and abilities as well as affinities to those abilities of anything from known universes to you will appear in the shop list. You can choose as many as you have Talent Points for but will be restricted to your level of abilities. Cultivation manuels, resources and other materials including knowledge and training resources can be obtained through the campaign point system. Campaign Points can be obtained by completing mission or quest objectives, or gaining cultivation ranks in skills and abilities.] M.I.C.A again explained how the interface worked and operated in this world. Then left me with a warning from my Master. [Caution: Master also gave me a command to remind you that this does not mean what you are experiencing is a game. This world and other worlds you go to have dangers that are very real and lethal at your current level. Just that, this is the most efficient way to distribute these.]
It was a lot of information to process, as much as M.I.C.A says it isn't a game, I am really looking forward to seeing how the interface would affect the world like it says. The quests and both the point systems are interesting too, what things will be on the list? The possibilities were endless, judging I am now in the Avatar Universe, I could end up going to many of the world's I'd read or watched in my previous life! This is the greatest gift a closeted nerd from Earth could get. Now that I knew 2 of 3 gifts, what was the next gift? Will it be as good as M.I.C.A? It was undeniably the best asset of a self proclaimed adventurer like myself. Getting to experience the joys of growing up again was great for a while, but the oversight of parents to children was sometimes too much when said child was already mentally an Adult. The past 10 years had been chaffing on my wanderers soul despite the enjoyment he had in this new life. He was ready for something more.
I then decided to spend the next few hours toying with the interface and its features. It even had a calculator function that I found quite amusing. Over that time I discovered that I was Level 1 and had a Title called, The Disciple. It was actually quite useful if the effect text did what it said. It allowed me to learn anything a Master can teach.. I didn't understand what that meant and M.I.C.A didn't want to elaborate, saying that's for me to find out. I swear it was doing that mischievously but I can't tell for now.
I found tabs with different pages, the front page being my status screen showing my level, age and other generic info about myself, next one was a skills and Abilities page that was rather empty at the moment excluding Apathy of the Enlightened and M.I.C.A. The other following thay was the Mission page also empty. The Last screen was called inventory but it was just a black screen. M.I.C.A explained that it is technically a dimensional rift behind a protective screen so I could access it safely. Beyond was my personal dimension where I could store anything I could fit, both inanimate and animate objects. I can even change the view to see individual items stored within. Finishing going over the interface, my mind turned to the third gift with curiosity.
“Then what are the other gifts? Am I qualified to unlock this gift?” I asked hopefully, wondering if it will live up to the second gift's possibilities.
[Unfortunately Host is not qualified to receive the third gift of your master, let alone the fourth. Host must complete the first trail mission.]
[Alert! New Event Mission given!]
[Event Mission: Fight fire with …?][E Rank - Village Level Threat]
[A Fire Nation Raid is coming at an unspecified time within the week. Looking for the Last Waterbender of the South Pole]
[Objective: Survive the Raid and ensure Sokka, Katara, and Hakoda remain alive. XP rewarded is proportional to how well you survive. You have one confirmed night to prepare.]
[Bonus Objective: Hidden]
[Failure: One or more die Or Katara is taken. Resulting in Hakoda and Sokka taking on a suicide Raid]
[Caution: Speaking of the event will result in you will be forced into saying something completely random]
I stared dumbly at the text screen that popped up in front of my vision. It was still surreal seeing a floating blue transparent screen appear out of nowhere at arm's length. But what I read on it made my mouth go dry and all thoughts of the gifts fled from my mind as I realised what was about to happen to the Tribe. Realising Sokka and Kataras mother was still alive, it dawned on me that this was the Raid where Kya died.
I licked my lips and asked M.I.C.A if there was any way to avoid the Raid which it supplied that I should run away, much to my annoyance. After that I asked as many questions I could think of to help my tribe survive better through this ordeal. So I started to plan for the worst.
—
Darkness had settled in as I made it back to the tribe in time to get a tongue lashing by the grownups. They were about to shut the wooden gates driven into the snow portcullis that should have been closed at most half hour before dark, to guard against the dangers of the night out on the icy tundra. They had kept it open under the orders of the Chief as I was the last person not sighted coming back from my wandering by any of the gate guards on duty.
The chief's wife, Kya, collected me from the guards having been alerted of my eventual arrival and walked with me back to my Igloo giving me her own polite dressdown about being out after dark and the dangers for one so young. It was a much nicer way than the men on guard duty who gave me the same reprimand. It wasn't long until I was at my home and going into the fur lined walls of our Igloo, with my mother who once again reprimanded me for being late while Kya laughed trying to get my mother to be softer on me. She was always kind and is half the reason I'm allowed so much responsibility for one so young.
It wasn't long before my mother had me in my finest clothes, then pushed out the door and into the centre of the tribe where everyone was waiting for my arrival. They stood around a big bonfire with roasting meat over it chatting amongst themselves. The smell and the atmosphere had a cheerful tone to it but it was overshadowed by the knowledge of the coming events. Worst yet I couldn't even warn them of the danger that was coming at an unspecified time within the week.
The revelry increased as my mother brought me into the crowd. Everyone started to congratulate me, saying words of encouragement. I made my way through with the chief leading me to a seat of honour before he gave the customary birthday speech and toasts were raised for me. After taking the first bite and declaring the celebration begun, I made my way to Sokka and Katara as they were the only people around my age in the tribe. We often would sit together at gatherings due to our families being close. Aunt Kya or my mother often watched us all during events, whether we were the centre of them or not, they were often on our case to behave. Though I thought it was more for Sokka's benefit than my own.
Enjoying the company of my two friends and extended family, I spent the night pushing the quest I received to the back of my mind. Trying to enjoy my second 10th birthday.