It began like any other so my daily expectations were set for a normal day. But part way through the morning to midday, I heard a familiar voice. "Beixi?" One that I couldn't have mistaken for any other. "Is that really you, Beixi?" It had to be him. "You look so... different." I was skeptical because I didn't think I would have actually seen him again. "How did you end up this way?" I turned to look, and. I didn't believe it. It was him. Yè... "Life must have been tough out here for your blessings to continue as they did. And that jewel in your chest. What did you do to yourself?" Yè... I'm so glad to have seen your face again. "Beixi..." It was hard to say, I was overcome with so much joy. "It's been almost 30 years Beixi."

"Yè..."

I wasn't sure what to say or do... Nearly 30 years... I had lost track of so much time that it felt kind of unreal. I wanted to see them up close again, so I took my step towards him. He responded by taking a couple of steps back. I was confused by this reaction. He always came to me in the years we knew each other, in the 40 years that we knew each other and nearly 10 that we worked together, this was a very different reaction than I would have thought from him.

"I'm.. I'm sorry Beixi. Are you still.. you?"‌

"What do you mean?"‌

"Are you still the same Beixi from years ago? The one that would always work with me?"‌

"Yes."‌

"The one that would always buy us wani?"‌

"Of course." I didn't understand. I was still me, it's not like there was some other Shaji out studying the effects of Shaping and Beasts.‌

"Always talking about True Light and Dark.. Did you find it?"‌

"I've come close. Studying the effects of Shaping of-"‌

"Beixi. Have you looked at yourself?"

As a reflex, I looked at my metal blessed arm. 30 years ago there were only small metal-like jagged protrusions. But now my entire arm has become metal-like. It's still all organic, so it's not like someone with a metal preferred Shaping would be able to control my arm. But, I never noticed how much this particular blessing has advanced through the years. I never really kept up with my appearance since there was no one around. I know I had scars here and there. Washing off dirt and filth only does so much. My few clothes could only take so much before they started to deteriorate from everything that has gone on.

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"I ask again. Are you the same EnbiTerra Beixi?" Yè's breath steadied and their words grew cold. I could feel the temperature starting to drop, even though the sun was reaching its peak without a cloud. Yè's Shaping had grown much more. He was never a fighter, but 30 years can change someone. I could tell by the stance he took that he was going to go with soil. But I was stunned by his actions that I didn't get ready myself. I never would have thought that he'd raise his hand against me. I had always thought that we saw eye to eye. Even in our disagreements, we'd always yield to one another for we never held any malice to each other. We cared about each other too much too. He didn't say a word but I could read what he was saying. I'm sorry.

He pulled the dirt under my foot to the side causing me to fall to a knee with the dirt coming back in to bury my leg. I countered with raising a dirt wall in front of me and releasing my leg. I could feel his Ishu in it. Trace amounts, but I could get more of how he felt from it. This isn't what he wanted. So why? Ice crystals forming all around and falling with incredible speed. This is new, he couldn't shape Ice this well before. Shaping the wall in front of me to also cover above me. Standing to my feet to be ready what was coming next. There was a delay before holes started to be punched through in the wall. I pushed back on the wall with my Ishu, unless he's gotten incredibly stronger, he shouldn't be able to push through my Ishu. For a moment I didn't feel anything. Then I could feel a huge force against the wall. Like it was pushing me down. Then it came in pulses. The wall was starting to crack, same with my Ishu that I was putting in it. One pulse broke through on the side, a terra fist. He was using Augmentation Shaping. Before the next pulse came in, I threw the wall back, or what remained of it. With a hard thud, it fell with no resistance. I could see hands on the side of it. Yè lifted the wall and hurled it back at me. Deflecting it out of the air to the side was easy. I grew used to Shaping things in mid flight. But I saw too late that Yè was running at me in a full sprint. I didn't know what to do, I didn't want to hurt him. With his fist back and ready he landed a direct hit to my chest, pushing me away slightly, with the follow up of more punches. I tried to block or parry as many as I could, while a bit short on breath there were some still getting in. Every punch I could feel he was pulling them. I could feel in the Ishu around us that he didn't want to hurt me, this isn't what he wanted to do when he saw me, he doesn't want to kill me. So then why was he doing this to me? Yè. What happened to you to cause you to do this? He grabbed my wrist and pulled one of my legs out, throwing me to the side. Was he combat trained now? If so then he has learned a lot more than I have and must be from the military of Fenzoshu. Before I could get up, he was on top of me. Grappling each other, I didn't want to be fully pinned down, he said to me "If you are the same Beixi, then why haven't you answered me." The air around us felt wet. Yè hadn't changed that much, still wore his emotions on his sleeve. It left a bitter taste. Pushing back with all my might, I managed to get my feet under him and kick him away. Giving me a chance to get up. He landed on his back and I took this opportunity to take a quick breath, nothing damaged, just bruised.

"Of course I'm still the same Beixi, Yè. You know this." I can't discern reasoning and thoughts through Ishu, so whatever was causing Yè to act this way, was only going to be told to me. The only thing that I can find with his Ishu, that he is thankfully wearing on his arms, is the constant reinforcement of sorrow, reluctantness, and apologetic. Yè... I do forgive you. Whatever reason you're doing this, it's not in your nature and you hate that you have to do this. I don't put any blame on you for this event. I wanted to talk to him, but it wasn't the time, and it pains us both.