Getting to the Master-Hermit. Sounds simple, but in reality…
I knew the approximate direction and clearly didn't have enough money to hire anyone. What I would have done if I weren't an Airbender who can cover decent kilometers per hour while running—I don't know. With that, things were a bit easier; I can run at that pace for a very long time, about four hours straight if I don't push too hard, then a couple hours of rest and again.
To my deep regret, I hadn't the faintest idea where Piandao might live. All I knew was that he wasn't on the island where the capital is. Of course, the division into islands is a pretty conditional thing—sometimes there's literally a kilometer of water between them—but still, it was a river between two oceans, so, conditionally speaking, they were different islands.
I bought a map in the very first city I reached, along with a compass. So I knew the approximate direction. The Fire Nation islands consisted of three large ones standing close to each other in a very flattened crescent, and one a bit farther away, closer to the continent, where my future master—I hoped—was settled.
That's where I ran. I reached the ocean in a few days and, honestly, I was already pretty damn tired, so I didn't dare risk running across kilometers of water, even though I'd successfully crossed rivers on the surface. I paid for a little boat, on which I planned to reach the island I needed in a couple of calm days.
Trouble came from where I least expected it. I was worried about pirates—even though they're cautious in waters close to the islands, it's such a cliché that if someone attacked us, I thought it had to happen.
Pirates would've been better, honestly. It turned out I get seasick, and those days tossed me around pretty good. Not without breaks, but that constant rocking on the waves just killed me.
I even thought about spitting on it, jumping off the ship, and running, but I didn't dare. And the money was already paid. In the end, with grief in half, I reached the island, and I was happier to see land than ever before. The captain, by the way, said that in my case it's a matter of habit—a week of suffering and it'll pass.
A week, damn it. Yeah, easier said than done. A week. I barely lasted two days, though I admit, yes, on the second day it was a little easier, but just "a little"!
So in the port city I rested another day, while gathering rumors. Well, gathering—I went to a bar and started asking the locals: do you know where the local swordsman lives? Many twirled a finger at their temple and sent me far away, but one person did point me in the right direction. I just sat and thought, and realized that Piandao, besides being a swordsman, is also a damn good blacksmith, so I went to a weapon shop. That's where they told me to head to the city of Shu Jing.
Only unfortunately, that town wasn't on my map—it was a world map, not an island one. If you think about it, it was a really stupid purchase; why did I need a world map? Oh well, after buying a map of just this island, I quickly found the city I needed, checked the compass, and ra-a-an.
Shu Jing turned out to be a fairly large city founded on a river. It was clearly not a village; the houses were standard, some kind of development had obviously happened here. I didn't bother finding out where the master lived and decided to go the familiar route—to a weapon shop.
Though—listening to my stomach growling—I should probably eat first. I didn't have much money left, and I spent half of what remained on lunch. While eating, I carefully listened to the conversations around me.
There was a lot of unnecessary noise and chatter, and it was hard to pick out anything useful.
Over there, those girls are discussing local guys—not interesting at all. Those two guys are doing the exact opposite, discussing local girls. And those old men are talking politics as always—everything's wrong and everyone's wrong. Though a familiar name caught my ear and I pricked up my ears.
"...Yeah, you didn't hear? Prince Zuko was exiled from the palace. He had an Agni Kai with the Lord and fell to his knees, begging for forgiveness."
"Mda-a, we definitely don't need a ruler like that. So does that mean Princess Azula is now claiming the title of Fire Lord?"
"I hope not, women are like that…"
I stopped listening after that. Well, damn, the palace has been stormy lately. Zuko really screwed up, begging for forgiveness in an Agni Kai in front of a crowd of witnesses. Good thing it ended only with exile.
Alright, finishing my rice, I headed to the next point of my plan—the weapon shop.
In this city it turned out to be huge, something like a supermarket. A cashier with a seller and huge racks of various weapons and armor. Bows, nunchucks, swords of all kinds. And here, one that looked pretty simple in its scabbard, hung separately on a special stand near the cashier.
"Oh, you have good taste," said the seller when he noticed me looking, "this sword was forged personally by Master Piandao…"
"Actually, that's why I'm here. Could you tell me where he lives?"
"Hm, want to become his student?" the seller guessed correctly, "go along the main road to the end of the settlement, there you'll see the road to his residence. Maybe you'll succeed."
After those words he fell silent, continuing to polish some sword.
"Thank you," I nodded and headed the way the man pointed.
When I reached the end of the main road, spotting the Master's residence was no trouble. Except that I'd have to climb the uneven road uphill without my running, which was already a bit difficult.
I hadn't even thought about how to ask to become a student, so I'd go the simple way—tell the whole truth, except about Airbending, and whatever happens, happens.
Maybe this simple approach was the fault of the breeze that had firmly settled in my head lately from all the running, but now I seemed to have driven it out and started thinking with emotions. Came to the same conclusion.
I can't offer him anything, say that I'm a master myself and want to train under him and that it's an honor for him—good plan, if only I knew which end to hold a sword from.
I mean, of course I know how to hold a sword, but that's where my knowledge ends.
Approaching the large ornate gates, I quickly glanced at myself. I was wearing the same clothes as at home, only washed a couple times on the road. So it looked as unpresentable as possible. Alright, too late to drink Borjomi when the kidneys have failed.
I need to knock, otherwise I could stand here thinking for another hour.
Mda, if it were night, I'd think it was some horror movie. With the round ring-handle I knocked, the door vibrated loudly, and I humbly waited. I really hope this isn't a typical Chinese master and I won't have to sit here for ten hours.
It turned out not to be so scary, and after just half an hour—during which I managed to curse this swordsman—the door was opened by some pot-bellied guy with a receding hairline.
"I want to train," I said to his raised eyebrow and made the traditional fist-in-palm gesture.
"Do you know that the master isn't accepting new students?" the old man asked in an arrogant voice, extending his hand in an unambiguous gesture and continuing, "do you think he'll accept you?"
With a heavy sigh I put the rest of my money in his palm. After buying provisions, maps, and everything else, almost nothing was left anyway.
"Alright, you can talk to him," said the butler or whoever he was, turned around, and walked, clearly meaning for me to follow.
All I could do was follow. The traditional style of the building already familiarly grated on my eyes a bit, but to the master's credit, there was much more white outside than red. There were almost no ridiculous pipes anywhere, except, judging by the structure, the forge. That's probably where steam is used to the fullest… though wait, the master is far from a bender, that's a known fact. Eh, alright, we'll see.
I praised the Master too soon—inside there were the usual many shades of red. Though I'd almost gotten used to it. We climbed to the highest point of the main building, where a large window was wide open, and the master was looking out of it, turned away from the entrance.
Judging by the work table, he had been drawing something, at least earlier; now he was resting or thinking. Who knows.
"Master," I began with the legendary "sensei", though slightly localized, "my name is Akimaru and I want to train under you."
And I bowed my head with the traditional hand gesture. No need to start verbal diarrhea right away. Let him ask—I'll answer.
"Let me guess, you traveled hundreds of miles from your little village where you were the best and decided you're worthy to train under me?" he asked neutrally, still looking at the landscape outside the window.
Good thing I decided not to go with that plan. Apparently everyone who comes to him says something like that. Well then, we'll go with my main one.
"Yes, I traveled hundreds of miles, but from the Fire Nation capital. I was born into an aristocratic family, but without Firebending, so they decided to sell me as good merchandise. I ran away and decided to prove at least to myself that I'm worth something."
Even from the pathos my teeth ached a little. I wanted no excessive… pathos. Say it as it is and see what they answer. Well, what can I say? The atmosphere disposes to something like that.
"So far you're not doing a great job of recommending yourself," the master snorted, turning to me.
Ha, and the breeding shows. Clearly not from peasants, though the eye shape is too Asian to be from high society. Though who knows, worth mentioning how many bastards there are in this world?
What a good student I am—already calling the master, not even mine yet, a bastard in my head.
"I'm afraid I don't have any achievements to tell about," I looked away to the floor again, not that I'm ashamed, rather wanted to show that I'm so sad about my uselessness, "the butler said I need to prove to you that I'm worthy. But I'm not even sure of that myself. I've never even held a sword, let alone mastered one."
To that the Master only smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth and said, getting up and picking up a sword:
"Well, let's go see together if you're worthy. Follow me."
Nothing to do, off we went as a delegation down to the platform in front of the entrance. Who knows what he wants to see, but in any case, he won't kill me, right?
"Don't worry, nothing threatens you, but I want to see you in combat," said the Master when we reached the place, "take any sword."
He waved toward a rack where the local junk clearly lived. Hm, alright, let's try. Surprisingly, there were no legendary katanas on the rack. There were ordinary double-edged swords, one of which I took. Mda, pure club, and one-handed at that—what am I supposed to do with it?
When I returned to the center of the platform, the master, without turning his head, asked:
"Ready?"
"Yes," I simply answered.
If he's holding back, then he's not human. I barely managed to let a breeze from my head through my body—for more endurance and strength—and he was already charging at me with his sword.
I had to dodge. And then the situation horribly echoed déjà vu. The Master swung his sword and tried to hit me, and I simply dodged again and again. Even at the start of the movement, I roughly understood what the end would be. Just like once in childhood against Chan. From some strikes I stepped away, from others I barely managed to just lean my body, there was no beauty in my movements, but there was ease. Well, maybe that's another property of Airbenders? If so, I understand why they were wiped out. Too many perks right from the start of development.
Though on the other hand, all these perks don't help with attack at all—what I managed was to swing the iron at roughly Piandao's direction, but he parried with his sword and immediately struck, scratching my stomach, and here it was clearly letting me win—I definitely saw that if he wanted, he'd have already gutted me. Jumping back farther, I started feeling the wound, as I thought at first—nothing serious, literally a scratch.
"Stop," the master said sharply, returning the sword to its scabbard, "enough. You won't become a Master of the Sword, Akimaru."
Fuck yeah. We've arrived.
Part 2
"Stop," the master said sharply, returning the sword to its scabbard, "enough. You won't become a Master of the Sword, Akimaru."
"Why?!" it was a cry from the soul, I admit. It's very offensive to travel such a path, almost interest the master, and get that answer.
"Quiet, quiet, I didn't say I won't take you on for training. You just won't become a master of the sword in any case," as if apologizing, the master shrugged, "you dodged all the strikes very well, but for a swordsman that's not right. A Master of the Sword must go straight—every fight as if it's the last. The path of the sword is the path of attack."
"But… how?" was all I could say.
"We'll pick a weapon suitable for your style," Piandao smiled, seeing my face, "and with it you'll become a Master. And, of course, I'll teach you to fight with a sword too. Better than in the army. But it will take a lot of time. A lot. Picking a weapon for you is not a task of a week or a month, but rather several years."
"I ran away from home," I shrugged, "I want to prove to myself that I'm worth something and it doesn't matter how long it takes," and I should probably prove to Little One too that I'm worth something. Otherwise it's somehow not respectable. Eh, wonder how she is? Probably offended, but she knows that freedom of action is a matter of principle for me, "besides, I have nowhere to live anyway," I widened my lips in a smile.
"You'll work off your stay here," the Master decided to clarify, considering his amount of money, and the prices on his weapons I saw—this will rather be part of the training. Thinks I'm golden youth with all that entails, including arrogance.
"Of course, master," traditional little bow and hand gesture.
Alright, fuck it, let's go!