—You're asking about the legend of the Lost Avatar.
—Sonum was an Avatar? —Aang's eyes widened.
—That's right.
The old man raised his hand, and the sand beneath his feet rose like a monolith, growing and shaping itself before Aang's eyes. The grains compacted and smoothed until they formed the statue of a woman. She wore attire similar to that of the airbending masters, with a long scarf wrapped around her neck. In her hand, she held a staff—long and thin, reminiscent of a sacred Buddhist bō, adorned with engravings that seemed to gleam even in the sand.
—Sonum was the Avatar during the golden age of the airbenders —Xion explained, his voice now solemn—. Legend says she possessed a staff capable of channeling the vast energy of the spirit world, granting its wielder unlimited power.
Aang gazed at the staff in awe, his eyes tracing every detail of the statue.
—Is... is that possible?
—We will never know for certain —the old man dispersed the statue with a wave of his fan, and the sand crumbled into a golden rain—. Many Avatars have tried to communicate with her, but they have not been able to. She disappeared so completely that it was as if she had never existed. And perhaps that is for the best. Perhaps that staff was too dangerous for anyone to possess, including the Avatar.
—But... that is exactly why I need to find it —Aang's voice rose, laden with urgency—. The people who attacked me obtained a map. It must lead to that staff. Avatar Xion, please. You have to tell me where it is.
The old man looked at him for a long moment. The fan went still in his hand. His eyes, ancient as the dunes surrounding them, scrutinized Aang with an intensity that belied his earlier eccentric behavior. Then, he sighed.
—Legend says that Sonum disappeared with her staff at the summit of Mount Baihu.
—Thank you —Aang brought his fists together and bowed deeply—. Truly, thank you, Avatar Xion.
The old man nodded slowly and raised his fan in a gesture of farewell.
—Be careful, young Avatar. There is knowledge that is better left buried.
Aang vanished from the spirit space and opened his eyes atop the tower.
---
—Katara, I'm sorry to leave so suddenly, but I found out what the Renegades are after. Sonum possessed a staff of immense power. And in their hands, it could be a devastating weapon. They have the advantage of possessing the map. There's no time to lose. Take Appa and Momo and gather the rest of the team. We're going to need their help. P.S.: Let Nawaki stay somewhere safe in the city; he's still too young to drag into this.
Aang left the letter he had just written on the nightstand, then leaned over the bed where Katara slept and kissed her forehead.
Straightening up, he took his glider propped against the wall and headed to the window.
On the windowsill, three small messenger birds waited patiently, each with a similar letter tied to its back. Aang released them one by one, watching their silhouettes disappear into the dawn sky. Then, without a sound, he leaped out the window. His glider unfolded with a snap, and the wind lifted him above the rooftops of Republic City.
Noah, standing at his window, followed the monk's silhouette with his gaze until it vanished among the clouds. Then he turned and stepped back into the room without a sound.
---
The next morning, the sun bathed the streets of Republic City as Katara and Noah stepped out of the house. The city was already bustling with activity: street vendors hawked their wares from wooden stalls, animal-drawn trams wound through the crowds, and the aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with the smoke from chimneys. Katara walked beside Nawaki with a steady pace, pointing here and there.
—That is City Hall, where the council meets. Over there, in the back, is the harbor. And that thing you see to the right is the central market; if you ever need anything, it's the best place to find it.
Noah nodded in silence.
The streets were filled with people from all nations, dressed in colorful garments, and the sound of dozens of accents mingled in the air.
After walking several blocks, Katara led him to a more open area, away from the bustle of the center. The Training Fields stretched before them like a vast esplanade divided into sections by low stone walls. The sound that greeted them was a symphony of elements in action: the roar of fire, the crack of earth breaking, the murmur of flowing water. Dozens of benders practiced in groups, supervised by instructors wearing uniforms from their respective nations.
Katara stopped at the main entrance, where two guards in light armor stood watch.
As soon as they recognized her, both straightened their backs in unison. Without missing a beat, they brought their right fists to their chests in a solemn salute, bowing their heads slightly.
—Greetings, Master Katara.
—It is an honor to see you again.
Katara responded with a slight nod before pulling a small metal token from her pocket—a pass with the council emblem engraved on its surface—and handing it to Noah.
—Here. If you want to come back, just show it to the guards at the entrance, and they will let you through without any trouble.
The two guards shot a brief glance at the boy with heterochromatic eyes. They asked no questions. If Master Katara was giving him a council pass, it meant he had her trust.
Noah took the token, examined it briefly, and tucked it away.
—Thank you, Master Katara. I think I'll stay here for a while, if you don't mind.
Katara looked at him with a gentle smile.
—As you wish. I have matters to attend to. If you need anything, you know where to find me.
She gave him a couple of pats on the head and walked away down the main street, her blue figure disappearing into the crowd.
Noah entered the Training Fields. The guards gave him a quick glance and let him pass without objection. The white-haired boy walked along the gravel path that divided the different practice areas until he found an elevated stand—a wooden platform with benches from which visitors could observe the training without interfering. He sat on the highest bench, the one that offered a panoramic view of the three main sections, and rested his chin on his hand.
Before him, in the earth section, a group of earthbenders practiced their stances. Their movements were solid and grounded, each punch and kick accompanied by the crack of rock rising from the ground. In the water section, beside an artificial pond, a row of young benders moved their arms in fluid circles, and the water responded to their call, forming spirals and whips. Further on, in the fire section, students launched bursts of flames at straw dummies, and the heat from their attacks reached the stand in waves.
Noah observed their performances in absolute silence.
The Byakugan in his right eye fully activated.
The sclera had turned completely white, and around the eye, thin bluish veins bulged beneath the skin, extending from his temple to his eyelid in an unmistakable pattern.
His gaze swept every corner of the place with absolute precision. The way the earthbending master planted his feet before striking. The way the waterbending master redirected the flow instead of stopping it. The breathing rhythm of the firebending master just before releasing the flame, even the smallest variations in their gestures… nothing escaped his perception.
In his mind, every detail was recorded with absolute clarity, stored one after another with no room for forgetting.
He spent the entire day there, learning everything he could.