It seemed as if everyone important in the mansion had gathered into a single small library, and Kyoshi and Rangi were the last to arrive. Seated on chairs amongst the shelves were Jianzhu, Hei-Ran, Amak, and even Kelsang. Yun sat under the closed window on a plush-lined bench, illuminated by the light of a nearby lantern. The contained fire cast him in a soft warm glow that negated the greens of his robes and made him look, at least to Kyoshi, like a painting.

Rangi directed Kyoshi over to one of the tables and sat down by it. Kyoshi followed, resting her hands over it. For a moment, nobody spoke, as if they were waiting for one another to make the first move.

Eventually, Jianzhu stood up and walked to the center of the room, the sound of his footsteps muffled by that of the rain and fireplace. “I… assume you all know why you’re here?”

The room fell silent in response to Jianzhu’s question. He nodded and put his hands to his temple, then clasped them politely behind his back. “There are… situations that I alone cannot prepare the Avatar for. It seems that we’ve encountered the first of those situations. It’s no secret that I’m not well-versed in the spiritual, and we’ve been forced to resort to other means.” Kyoshi noticed the glance the Earth Sage sent at her father. “Which leads us to where we are now.”

“You can’t possibly be thinking of him.”Hei Ran spat, leaning forward and low. She sounded so much like Rangi did when she was angry, it was almost uncanny.

Jianzhu hesitated before responding , as if he was afraid to.“Hei-Ran, I know-”

“Who is it?” Yun turned to face both his mentors. “Who are you talking about?”

A moment passed in silence before Jianzhu answered. He took in a deep breath before saying, “Both Master Kelsang and your friend, Nun Kyoshi, suggested that we confer with one of Avatar Kuruk’s close friends, Sage Nyahitha of the Bhanti Tribe.”

“Yeah, I think I remember that.” Yun hesitated. “Alright, sounds like a good plan. We should write to him and get him to come over here.”

Jianzhu and Hei-Ran exchanged a glance, to determine who would have to respond. Hei-Ran lost. “I’m afraid it’s not that simple… he’s not been in the good graces of the Fire Nation for quite some time…”

“If he’s the best person for the job, I don’t see why we shouldn’t ask him.” Heat and anger grew in Yun’s voice, and Kyoshi could’ve sworn the room was growing steadily hotter as a reaction to his emotion, though it could’ve been because she was next to Rangi- silent but just as frustrated.

“Yun…” Jianzhu uttered, but couldn’t follow up on the statement. Here, Yun called all the cards- as the Avatar, he outranked them all. After sharing a meaningful, silent glance with his peers, he turned back to his pupil. “Alright. We can send him a letter and see if he’s interested.”

Yun nodded and sat down on his bench. Jianzhu returned to his own seat in defeat and started a hushed conversation with Hei-Ran and Amak.

Kyoshi turned to Rangi, but couldn’t muster up anything to say.

It took three weeks for the letter to get to Nyahitha, for him to reply, and finally for him to travel down to Yokoya, and it rained every day of those few weeks.

“It doesn’t usually rain this much in springtime…” Kyoshi mused as she and Rangi walked under one of the mansion’s many awnings, one that would usually be used to shield from the sun but here protected from the rain.

Rangi didn’t answer, most likely caught up in her own thoughts.

“It usually rains around fall,” Kyoshi continued, even though Rangi likely knew the same information. “At least it does at the Eastern Air Temple. Because of the monsoons.”

Instead of responding, Rangi stopped to gaze at the courtyard, her view obstructed by a curtain of rainwater. “I wonder how long the storm will last…” She mused, keeping her voice low.

“I don’t know.” Kyoshi mused. “I hope Nyahitha isn’t too bothered by the rain. Does it rain a lot in the Fire Nation?”

Rangi stiffened her posture. Apparently, Kyoshi’s comment had done what she had planned it would- remind Rangi of what they were supposed to be doing, heading down to the pier to meet with Nyahitha. The sage was arriving in only half an hour.

“We should get going.” The firebender grabbed ahold of Kyoshi’s hand and pulled her down the hallway. “We don’t want to be late.”

The piers were a ways away from the mansion, meaning Rangi and Kyoshi had to travel through the town to get to them. In her time at the mansion, Kyoshi had only ever been in town once or twice, but the stares of the villagers still stung like a wound from a whip. She ignored them, for Rangi’s sake, and kept her composure as much as she could. After all, they were probably just stares. People outside the temples tended to struggle recognizing people once they got their arrows, anyways.

At the piers, a crowd had gathered- equal parts Jianzhu’s guests and local townspeople here to see a Fire Nation ship in their harbor. The crowd parted around Kyoshi, giving her and Rangi easy access to the front of the crowd, where Yun and their mentors stood.

Someone- Kyoshi guessed the small group of house servants that had accompanied the party to the docks- had set up a large umbrella to shield the Avatar and his companions from the rain. Jianzhu, Yun and Hei-Ran stood under it, though Kelsang and Amak were both too tall to. When Rangi joined her mother next to Yun, Kyoshi followed her cue and stood next to her father.

“You’re just on time.” Kelsang gave her a smile before wiping some of the rain from his face. He pointed out onto the ocean, specifically at a Fire Nation ship approaching them. It was small, only large enough to hold a small crew and a few passengers- undeniably, who they were looking for.

“Are you… nervous?” Kyoshi prompted. She didn’t know exactly how her father felt about their visitor, given how little she knew about the man in the first place, but she figured it was a safe bet.

Kelsang didn’t respond immediately but took time to think the question over. “I’m not exactly sure…” He stalled long enough that the ship arrived before he was able to finish his thought.

The ship landed at the pier with a thud and was soon roped to it by the members of the crew. A small plank was laid out so that the singular passenger could disembark- a figure so unassuming Kyoshi had to second-guess herself at the sight of him.

The man- who she could only guess was Nyahitha- was short, but not by his own nation’s standards. He wore simple robes devoid of any embellishments or symbols or even colors outside of blood-red, and had pulled his long, graying hair into a low bun uncharacteristic of his homeland. If Kyoshi were to see him in any other circumstance, she would’ve had a difficult time believing the man was from the Fire Nation, not to mention a former Fire Sage.

Jianzhu stood up to greet his guest, giving only the appropriate bows. “Nyahitha, we meet again.”

Nyahitha paused to wipe the rain from his face and adjust his shoulder bag before he returned the greeting. “Jianzhu.” He glanced to Yun, was already approaching him. “Is this the kid?”

Jianzhu nodded and smiled through the grit in his teeth. “Yes, this is Avatar Yun. I’m sure with your proper guidance, he will-”

“Don’t patronize me.” Nyahitha cut Jianzhu off with a glare and a motion of his hand. He tok a moment to glance over Yun. “So… you’re the new Kuruk?”

Yun nodded hastily before he could understand the words fully. “Uh, yes?”

Nyahitha nodded. “Alright. We might be able to make some progress.”

Jiazhu nodded and turned around, clearing the crowd around him so that they could all safely return to the mansion. Kyoshi couldn’t be sure, but she was almost certain she saw the man sigh in worry before leaving the pier.

Upon reaching the mansion, Nyahitha was whisked away by a group of staff, likely to freshen up and get settled into his living quarters. Jianzhu, Hei-Ran and Yun all followed him, and Kyoshi was about to before Rangi grabbed her by the hand and pulled her into a side room.

“What’s wrong?” Kyoshi asked as Rangi glanced down the hallway to make sure no one was eavesdropping. The rain had affected the girl’s appearance- Rangi’s wet hair stuck to her face and the raindrops to her eyelashes, but she still looked beautiful.

Rangi jolted to attention at Kyoshi’s question. She stiffened her posture and collected herself. “I-” Rangi hovered her hand over her belt, then rested her hand on it. “You’re a mess, let me help.”

Kyoshi smiled. Her friend was simply being herself. “Aw, Rangi.” Kyoshi fixed her own hair- like Rangi’s, it was slick with rainwater. “I’ll be fine, I’ll just… airbend the water away.”

“You can do that?” Rangi raised an eyebrow.

Kyoshi shrugged. “First time to try anything, I guess. Though, it’s probably not a good idea indoors.”

A slight smile grew over Rangi’s delicate features. “Yeah, it probably wouldn’t.” She produced a clean, white handkerchief from her pocket and lifted it up to Kyoshi’s face. Kyoshi leaned down so that Rangi could more easily reach her as she cleaned some of the rain from Kyoshi’s face.

“So…” Kyoshi whispered. It would’ve been a crime to speak any louder and ruin the moment. “It was pretty rainy out, huh?”

Deep in though, Rangi had started idly tracing Kyoshi’s forehead tattoo. She stopped at the sound of Kyoshi’s voice, then almost instantly resumed after gathering herself. “Oh. Yeah. It is.” Rangi hesitated, focusing on a spot just above Kyoshi’s line of sight. “I hope it stops raining soon.”

Kyoshi nodded, but just slightly as to not interrupt Rangi’s meticulous work. She became aware of the hairpin she still kept hidden in her pocket, waiting for the right moment to be presented to Rangi. It wasn’t time yet. There was too much hanging in the air, too much hidden beneath what was a simple conversation.

“There.” Rangi declared, gently moving a stray hair into place before resting on the soles of her feet. Kyoshi assumed her full height. “You’re all cleaned up now, or at least cleaner.”

“Thank you.” Kyoshi paused. She put her hand over her cheek, as if it would hide her blushing. She decided to change the subject of conversation, for her own sake. “So… do you think this will work?”

Rangi stepped back a moment, briefly caught unguarded. “Oh! You mean with Yun and Nyahitha?”

Kyoshi nodded. She worried for her friend, and how much responsibility he carried. Being the Avatar couldn’t be easy, especially since Yun was struggling to contact his past lives.

“Oh, alright.” Rangi nodded. “I mean, we don’t really know yet. We can only guess how it goes. I believe in Yun, though.”

If there was one thing their friend excelled at, it was doing the impossible. Kyoshi nodded and gathered herself, straightening the folds of her robes. “We should get going, actually. They might be starting soon.”

Nyahitha had set up in one of the mansions parlors, and by the time Kyoshi and Rangi entered the room, it had been completely cleared out. The lounges and chairs usually spread across the center of the room had been moved to the sides of the room, making room for a large maroon rug and an array of candles. The shelves and paintings had stayed in their places, but were being covered up by large black sheets of cloth. The curtains had been drawn over the room’s singular window, even though it wouldn’t have cast any light into the room. Surprisingly, the chamber was full of people, from the housestaff scurrying around the room, to Yun’s masters standing around making quiet conversation, to the Avatar himself, sitting on one of the relocated benches. Nyahitha himself was deep into a conversation with Jianzhu, gesturing frustratedly with his hands as he spoke to the Earth Sage.

“What do you mean you don’t know what you want me to do?” Nyahitha snapped as Kyoshi and Rangi approached them, not noticing the other people in the room. “What does the boy need? Did you not consult a spiritual expert at all?”

“Nyahitha, you’re the spiritual expert we’re consulting.” Jianzhu drew his hand over his face, resting it on the bridge of his nose. “Just lead him through some spiritual exercises, I don’t know. Try to get him to connect with his past lives.”

Nyahitha cursed- muttering something about being paid well for his services, before straightening his posture and turning to the room. “Is everyone here?”

Kyoshi joined the rest of Yun’s companions in nodding and muttering affirmations. Nyahitha nodded and turned to look at each person individually before continuing. “Avatar, come over here.”

At the man’s beckoning, Yun stood up and walked towards Nyahitha. “Are we starting soon?” He swayed on his heels in anticipation.

Nyahitha nodded. “Yes.” He turned to Jianzhu. “The exercise will probably go best if it’s just the two of us. We want to clear any distractions.”

Albeit reluctantly, the Earth Sage nodded. “Alright. We’ll clear out the room.” He exchanged glances with Kelsang, Amak, Hei-Ran, and even Kyoshi and Rangi before being the first to leave. Kyoshi took ahold of Rangi’s hand and followed.

Amak, who was the last to exit the parlor-turned-meditation center shut the heavy door behind him, severing Yun and Nyahitha from the rest of the group. They all stood in the hallway, waiting.

“So…” Kyoshi swallowed her fear and was the first to speak. “We’re going to wait until they’re ready?”

Jianzhu nodded. His voice was dry and irritated as he said, “Yes. That’s the point.”

Kyoshi looked to her feet in shame.

“How long is this going to take?” Rangi snapped, only barely managing to keep her anger in check.

Hei-Ran put her hand over her daughter’s shoulder- or rather, shoulder armor. “We don’t exactly know. These things take time, and we need to be patient.”

The space of hallway they all took up fell silent, no one daring to speak up. It could’ve only been a few minutes before the silence was punctured by the sound of the door opening.

Kyoshi turned to see Nyahitha pulling the door open, fresh panic in his eyes. Kyoshi couldn’t see Yun behind the man.

Jianzhu rushed over to help him, only to yell at Nyahitha once he was close enough to do so. “What’s wrong? You- you can’t have connected that easily!”

Nyahitha shook his head, running his spare hand through his perfectly manicured bun. “No… no. We didn’t get anywhere. He’s not the one. Yun isn’t the avatar.”