32 Chapter 31: Fear and Guilt - 98 AG

As the first light of morning filtered through the Eastern Air Temple, Sozim and Guru Pathik were already wide awake, perched on one of the temple's meditation spots. The boy and the old man had just downed that abominable concoction, a strange blend of fruits and onions that had Sozim on the brink of retching every time he sipped it. Oddly enough, it left his stomach gassy, imparting an unusual sense of lightness just when he was about to embark on his meditation journey.

"Chakras, are a series of focal points within the body where chi energy gathers," the old man began, "There are seven chakras in total, each assigned a specific purpose and connected to distinct emotions. An open chakra allows energy to flow freely, while a sealed one constrains this energy. When you open your chakras, it must follow a particular sequence, and all must be unlocked."

"Why?" Sozim inquired, curiosity etched across his face. "Why must they all be unlocked?"

"Because, if not, your emotions will fall into disarray," Guru Pathik responded. "If the second chakra remains sealed, guilt will engulf you. If the first chakra stays locked, fear will consume you. It's better to leave all chakras closed than to have some partially opened, as it maintains balance. Once you start, you must be ready to go all the way."

Sozim swallowed hard. "Alright."

"Good. Let us begin with the first chakra, located at the base of your spine," the old man continued. "It deals with survival instincts and is blocked by fear. Close your eyes and ask yourself, what is your greatest fear?"

The boy nodded, eyes sealed shut. Assuming a meditative posture, he controlled his breath, guiding it smoothly in and out of his lungs. As his mind cleared, Guru Pathik's question echoed within, 'What is my greatest fear?'

A crimson landscape unfolded in Sozim's mind, revealing the answer to his question. He found himself standing in a sprawling battlefield, a world bathed in red hues. Lifeless bodies of men from the Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and even the Avatar lay scattered, mingling in a gruesome tapestry. A river of blood began to flow around him, haunting him.

His hands, he noticed, were drenched in blood, but it wasn't just his hands; his entire body seemed to have been bathed in the blood of enemies, the blood of innocents, the blood of friends and family. It was a vision of senseless slaughter driven by bloodlust.

"Visualize your fear," the old man's voice urged, a faint echo in Sozim's mind. "Make it clearer, more vivid."

Driven by instinct, Sozim ventured further into the nightmarish battleground. He recognized the lifeless forms of those he held dear—Hakoda, Bato, Iroh, Lo, and Li—arranged in a macabre tableau that seemed to threaten him.

"Remember, it is not real," the old man's whisper reassured. "Let the fear flow through you, embrace it, and acknowledge it."

"I..." Sozim's fist clenched. "I'm afraid of becoming a mindless slaughterer, losing control over my own mind. I fear the spirit inside me taking hold of me, becoming addicted to my own power, and seeing other people as... less than human."

"Good," the old man encouraged. "Acknowledging your fear is the first step. Now, let that fear flow through you, make it your own, and embrace it."

Sozim closed his eyes, drawing a deep breath. In an instant, the vision's world trembled as if a colossal earthquake were rocking it. The sky fractured, the scattered bodies were devoured by the earth, and the entire realm crumbled, expelling Sozim from the vision.

When he reopened his eyes, he felt drenched in sweat, his hands trembling, and his vision unfocused.

"Calm down," Guru Pathik reassured, offering the dreaded juice once more. "Drink this."

As reluctant as he was, Sozim succumbed to the old man's insistence, coughing in disgust as the liquid hit his tongue.

"You did well," the old man smiled. "Now, let's move on to the next chakra."

Guru Pathik rose, heading to another part of the temple, prompting Sozim to follow suit.

---

[Meanwhile, in Makapu Village]

Three conspicuously striking girls stood before Aunt Wu's salon. The group's leader, Azula, unrolled a scroll in her hand and displayed it for the proprietor.

"Have you seen him?" Azula inquired, her patience still intact.

"Hmm," Aunt Wu narrowed her eyes. "I'm afraid I haven't encountered this young man," she replied, a blatant falsehood to those who knew better.

Azula furrowed her brows, observing the woman's body language and detecting signs of deceit. "Don't lie."

"I'm afraid I'm not being dishonest, young lady," Aunt Wu smiled. "But... perhaps I could read your fortunes. Maybe I can uncover something about the young man in your destiny."

"Our fortunes?" Ty Lee chimed, her excitement palpable. "Ooh, that sounds thrilling. Come on, guys, we should give it a try."

"I'll pass," Mai stated nonchalantly.

"Come on," Ty Lee pouted. "Azula?"

The princess displayed her displeasure at the prospect but remained intrigued by the woman's abilities and the necessity to discern any lies.

"Very well," Azula smirked. "I'll be the judge of whether you can truly read fortunes or not."

"Then come inside," Aunt Wu ushered them into her salon, guiding the three girls to sit on the floor on a set of pillows. "Now, who would like their fortune told first?"

—

It was Ty Lee's turn first, and Azula didn't have to wait long before the usually lively girl emerged from the fortune-telling room, her expression now somber and gloomy.

"What did she tell you, Ty Lee?" Azula inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"Well..." Ty Lee appeared rather nervous. "She's surprisingly accurate, but..."

"But what?" Azula raised an eyebrow.

"Never mind," Ty Lee sighed. "Go on, Azula; you'll see for yourself."

Azula's frown deepened as she stood up and entered the fortune-telling room. Once inside, Aunt Wu instructed her to sit and choose a bone from a bowl.

"Throw it into the fire, my child," Aunt Wu commanded, prompting an irked expression from Azula. Nonetheless, she cast the bone into the flames.

In an instant, the fire roared to life within the room, widening Aunt Wu's eyes.

"Yes... I see your future," she murmured. "What would you like to know?"

"Relevant matters, including where to find my target," Azula replied.

"I see..." Aunt Wu mumbled. "Your future... hinges on you. It's either utter despair or peace. There's no middle ground."

"Just get to the point," Azula pressed impatiently.

"The young man you showed me... yes, you'll encounter him again," Aunt Wu continued. "But this time... he's changed..."

"I don't care; tell me where he is," Azula urged.

"His location is in constant flux," Aunt Wu stated. "The land of fear, the land of guilt. You can't simply follow him."

"What does that even mean?" Azula furrowed her brow. "Be more explicit."

"Yes, you cannot pursue him and let destiny lead you," Aunt Wu said, her voice grave. "At that point, you'll face a crossroads that will determine your peace or your certain doom—"

Azula slammed her hand on the floor, causing the fire before her to blaze suddenly. "His. location."

"The things you need to find him are in the north, where sisters in robes gather," Aunt Wu said hesitantly. "That's all I can discern about your quest."

Finally, Azula rose and scoffed, rushing out of the salon. Before she left, Aunt Wu stopped her one last time.

"Listen to your heart, child," Aunt Wu advised. "What do you want, not what others want from you."

Azula clenched her fist and exited the establishment.

—

Now, Sozim sat in another place, a place that was surrounded by a waterfall. He is already in a meditative position, waiting for Guru Pathik to say something.

"The next chakra is located in the Sacrum of your body, and it is the water chakra, the chakra that is most important to your body's past life." said the old man. "It might be harder for you to do this, so be patient."

Sozim nodded, and he closed his eyes.

"This chakra deals with pleasure." continued the old man. "And is blocked… by guilt. Now, meditate on it, and question yourself, 'What do I blame yourself for?'."

With calm breathing, Sozim's mind was cleared once again, and he focused on a single question. 'What do I blame myself for?'

In an instant, Sozim received a vision, entering a world that was enveloped by an orange hue. There, he saw an… igloo, he could see Bato entering it, and Sozim followed the man. Inside, however, he saw… a young boy's body, lifeless on the ground, with Bato crying over it.

Seeing this, Sozim gulped, and he couldn't look at it.

"See it clearly." the old man urged. "Why do you blame yourself? Why do you have guilt over it?"

"I… This body wasn't supposed to be mine." Sozim murmured, a lump on his throat. "It belonged to another. To a child. With me here, I took his future away. I took his father's happiness away. I took his tribe's hopes away."

"Good. you recognize your guilt." the old man said. "Accept that it has happened, but do not let it cloud your mind, instead, make it to be a pillar, a pillar of your will to continue your life. And forgive yourself."

Then, Sozim closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Quickly, the world around him was starting to crumble again, and this time, Sozim watched it calmly.

But then, as the igloo around him shattered, he could see something in the distance. A bat monster rushed quickly towards him. He could see the rage in the monster's eyes, and it was a matter of seconds before Sozim could hear what the monster was saying.

"YOU!!!" The monster came quickly, but before it could reach Sozim, the world completely shattered, and he was thrown back into the real world.

He was breathing heavily, and again, his vision remained unfocused.

"H-He… he tried to—"

"Attack you?" Guru Pathik continued Sozim's words, frowning. "That's trouble. It seems from now on, the journey to opening your chakra is a bit harder."