Chapter 26: Not What They Used To Be - 97AG

In a finely adorned chamber within the abbey, Sozim occupied a seat opposite two men: Hakoda, the leader of the Southern Water Tribe fleet currently convalescing here, and Bato. The room held only the trio; the rest of their group lingered outside, some exuding joy over Bato's son's 'return,' while others harbored skepticism.

While Hakoda retained a veneer of serenity, Bato, already suffering from grave wounds incurred in a prior battle, displayed an anxious countenance. As for Sozim, his visage betrayed no emotion, save for a trace of sadness. Silence hung heavy in the room, but the two older men continued to fixate on the young boy, their gazes imploring answers.

"I'm... not him," Sozim murmured, his eyes focused on the pelts and rugs that adorned the room, meeting no reaction from Hakoda, while Bato appeared distinctly disappointed. "As I mentioned earlier, he's dead."

"But... you look just like him," Hakoda remarked calmly. "You're paler, admittedly, but your facial resemblance is uncanny."

"It's a long story."

"Then share it," Bato interjected hastily, his condition causing him to cough a couple of times. Hakoda gently placed a hand on Bato's shoulder, signaling him to compose himself. "Tell me... if you're not my son, who are you? Explain this 'long story' you speak of."

Sozim sighed wearily. "You may find it difficult to believe."

"I will believe what I choose to believe," the man asserted. "Speak."

The boy just shook his head, sighing.

"Your son, Kavir, now resides in the spirit world," Sozim divulged. "He is no longer human; he has passed on and lingers in that realm as a spirit."

"What?" Bato stammered. "What nonsense—"

"When he fled during the raid, he journeyed deep into the wilderness, into the South Pole wasteland," Sozim interjected, continuing. The mention of 'raid' caused the two older men to furrow their brows, as guilt, sorrow, and painful memories inundated their minds. "After hours of running, he informed me that he encountered a spirit."

"A... spirit?" Hakoda muttered.

"Yes," Sozim confirmed. "The spirit proposed a deal, offering to aid him against the soldiers pursuing him at the time. In his desperation, he agreed to do 'anything' to..."

"Eliminate those scoundrels," Bato clenched his fists, gazing into the fire before him. "And then what?"

"I don't know about your knowledge regarding spirits, but they are like us—some benevolent, others not," Sozim murmured. "Your son... encountered the latter."

Bato closed his eyes, shaking his head, both confused and apprehensive about where this narrative was heading. "What does that mean?"

"The spirit upheld its end of the bargain, killing every soldier as promised," Sozim stated plainly. "In return... the spirit claimed his body, and your son became a spirit, as dictated by the inherent terms of their agreement. But—"

"Wait... if my son traded his body to become a spirit, then... you are the—!" Bato's deep frown transformed into full-blown rage. In his injured state, he swiftly retrieved a club nearby and rushed toward the still Sozim, intent on striking him mercilessly. But before he could act, Hakoda stood and prevented Bato from carrying out his assault.

"Stop, Bato. Stop," he urged in a whisper. "You can't jump to conclusions."

"Jump to conclusions?! He admitted it himself!" Bato shouted angrily, brandishing his club in the air.

"It doesn't appear to be that straightforward, Bato; calm yourself!" Hakoda argued.

"You don't understand; you didn't lose a son!" Bato spat. "And the perpetrator stands before me right now! I have the opportunity to—"

"I lost a wife, Bato! And I'm powerless to change it!" Hakoda instinctively pushed Bato against the wall, eliciting a deep groan and exacerbating his injuries, causing the bandages to once again soak with blood, initiating another bleed. With heavy breaths and a tinge of remorse, Hakoda approached Bato once more, now somewhat more composed. "So, please, listen further. I sense he has more to disclose."

Hakoda turned to Sozim, who simply nodded in response. Standing up, he moved toward Bato and knelt in front of him. Extending his palms, he gingerly touched the bleeding wounds beneath the bandages, expertly facilitating clotting to stem the bleeding, much to the surprise of the two older men. "The spirit failed to claim your son's body, at least after a couple of moments. And after that, the cycle of reincarnation continues."

"What?" Bato flinched, still somewhat taken aback by the blood clotting and Sozim's words. "The cycle of reincarnation continues? And how did the spirit fail to possess my son's body?"

Sozim shook his head. "I do not know," he admitted, rising and returning his gaze to Bato. "That's what I'm attempting to find out. When I woke up in this body, I was adrift at sea near a Fire Nation island. A few kind individuals aided me, and one thing led to another. I uncovered some truths thanks to their help. Then, I encountered your son in the spirit world, and he requested that I deliver his clothing to—"

"You..." Bato cut Sozim off, clutching his clothing suddenly. "You met my son?"

Sozim merely nodded. "As I said, he's now a spirit."

"Can I..." Bato stammered. "Can I meet him?"

"Honestly, I don't know," Sozim admitted with a nervous chuckle. "Maybe, if you can meditate and access the spirit world, I might—"

"Then teach me," Bato implored. "I— I want to convey a few words to him. Face-to-face."

Sozim hesitated for a moment, doubting whether it would be feasible. "It's not easy. Even a bender attuned to their spirituality can struggle, let alone someone like you, a non-bender."

"Bato, he's right," Hakoda interjected. "It's... a challenging task. Only a select few can achieve it."

"Nevertheless, I..." Bato then abruptly coughed up blood, prompting a sigh from Hakoda at the sight. Hakoda turned to Sozim and offered a thin smile. "Leave us for a moment."

Sozim nodded and turned away from the two men, exiting the room.

—

Leaning against a wall and perched above the concrete fence, Sozim sat patiently in a corner of the abbey, savoring the winter breeze as the evening sun descended in the western horizon. His attention shifted to the water tribe warriors nearby, noting the mixed looks they cast his way – some marked by curiosity, others tinged with skepticism, and a few adorned with fleeting smiles.

Such treatment could only elicit a sigh from Sozim as he redirected his gaze toward the sea, where the sun gradually dipped below the sky's embrace. In this tranquil moment, he pondered the choices he'd made: revealing his true identity, divulging the full tale, and, most significantly, confessing the truth. He wondered if he should have taken a different path, perhaps masquerading as the genuine Kavir, playing the role of the prodigal son returned after years of absence.

However, this latter option did not sit right with him. Not with himself, nor with Bato, nor with the real Kavir. Sozim felt that he had essentially deprived a boy of his life, and he had no desire to inflict further pain on his family.

As he rested his head against the chilly wall behind him, he let out another sigh, briefly closing his eyes. Suddenly, he sensed someone approaching and turned his gaze.

It was Hakoda, looking somewhat weary.

"Do you have any food, young man?" Hakoda inquired with a reserved smile. "If not, we have some available if you'd like."

"I already have some, thanks," Sozim replied, appreciative of the offer.

"That's good," Hakoda sighed in relief. "Regarding Bato... you should consider forgiving him. As you can imagine, seeing a long-lost son after all these years, only to learn that someone else has inhabited his son's body—it's not an easy herb to swallow."

"I understand," Sozim acknowledged. "Honestly, I expected a much worse reaction."

"Yeah," Hakoda nodded. "But... I'm still finding it difficult to believe everything you've told us. If you can provide any proof that you are not the malevolent spirit you described and that you are truly yourself, it might help."

Sozim shook his head. "I don't even know myself. These years have been a constant struggle to determine who I truly am. I acquired the spirit's abilities, the power to bend blood, and I've been slowly consumed by it... by the bloodlust. It's complicated. Sometimes, I don't even know if I'm truly myself or just a shadow of the spirit that made the pact with Kavir."

Hakoda frowned briefly but then it faded. "I see," he murmured. "But... at least I sense your sincerity when you shared your story with Bato and me."

Sozim smiled in response. "Thank you."

Hakoda chuckled as he patted Sozim's shoulder. "While we don't have an extra tent available right now, you can stay nearby. When Bato is ready to talk to you again, you'll know."

Sozim nodded. "Alright."

"Rest well, young man," Hakoda said, turning away and leaving Sozim to his thoughts.

—

In the midst of the night, Sozim lay asleep, his senses honed by years of wilderness living. A stirring in the air roused him from slumber, and he emerged from his tent to discover a flickering campfire casting its glow. A pot simmered above it, the contents resembling soup. Beside the fire sat Bato, still swathed in bandages, his eyes marked by weariness.

Upon spotting Sozim, the man offered a feeble smile. "Ah, you're awake. I had intended to wake you up briefly. My apologies."

"It's... fine," Sozim replied with a nod.

"Come, have a seat," Bato invited. "I haven't eaten yet. I was... too out of it. Would you like some?"

"Um... sure," Sozim replied, settling down by the fire. Bato fetched a wooden bowl and ladled some soup into it, offering it to Sozim before preparing a second bowl for himself.

"Do you recognize this dish?" Bato inquired. Sozim inspected the soup, spotting hints of seaweed.

"No," the boy shook his head. "I don't have his memories."

"I see," Bato sighed in disappointment. "It's Kavir's favorite, five-flavor soup. Give it a try."

Sozim obliged, tasting the essence of the sea in the broth. It was surprisingly delicious.

"It's good, isn't it?" Bato chuckled, sipping his own bowl. "My wife's recipe."

"Your wife?" Sozim asked.

"Yes," Bato affirmed. "She... passed away while giving birth to Kavir."

"I'm sorry to hear that," 

"It's alright," Bato smiled weakly. His gaze turned watery, and he wiped away a tear. "It's just... seeing my son's face in another... it's strange."

Sozim felt a twinge of guilt but redirected his attention to the fire, sipping the soup.

"After the raid... we searched for him," Bato began to recount. "For weeks on end. We found only the lifeless bodies of Fire Nation soldiers, but no sign of Kavir. I was consumed by despair, and my heart filled with hatred. I couldn't forgive those Fire Nation scum. Sailing with this fleet, I tried to eliminate everyone I encountered, and as you can see," Bato gestured to his bandages, self-deprecatingly chuckling. "It didn't go exactly as planned."

Sozim nodded, contentedly absorbing the warmth of the fire and the soup. "Hatred isn't a healthy fuel for the heart. I've learned that over the years."

Bato turned to him. "Is that so? What did you do?"

"I've... used the abilities left by the spirit in this body," Sozim mused. "Sometimes, harnessing hatred makes those abilities stronger, but it corrodes my mind, as if the spirit is trying to take over."

"So, the spirit still resides within you?" Bato frowned.

Sozim nodded. "When I met your son in the spirit world, he asked two things of me: to deliver his clothing to you, to inform you of his passing, and to end my life if the spirit ever sought to possess me again."

"He... said that to you?" Bato clenched his fist. "He must have been desperate to say that. Do you know how to rid yourself of the spirit?"

"While I don't have a clear plan, I have a few places to explore and seek answers," Sozim replied.

"That's reassuring," Bato sighed. "I apologize for my actions last night. It was unwarranted."

"It's understandable," Sozim reassured him with a smile. "And regarding your journey to the spirit world..."

"Yes, can you guide me there?"

"I cannot take you there; you must find your own way," Sozim clarified. "Moreover, the spirit world is dangerous."

"I've faced battles," Bato chuckled. "I can handle more challenges."

"Maybe," Sozim hummed. "But given your injuries, it's best for you to rest for a few years or so and prepare to visit specific places for a safer passage. With you in that condition at this moment, it's not suited for travel."

Bato sighed. "This wound is troublesome. In that case, when you next encounter my son, please deliver my message. Tell him I'm sorry, that I failed as a father, and that I hope that—"

"Stop," Sozim interjected. "You are not the worst father in the world. Don't convince yourself otherwise."

Bato gazed at the crackling fire. "Still… please…."

Sozim nodded. "Alright. I will."