"Good job Goshiki, keep it up."

It was a pleasant summer day, the air wasn't as muggy as it had been all week and the sky was a bright blue that conveyed a sense of joy.

Goshiki was training with Semi, trying out a new move that involved creating a splash of fire from his feet to unbalance his opponent in a fight.

While the 2 were training, Shirabu and Tendou were enjoying the beautiful day, sitting in the shade of the porch on the steps that led into the fortress. Tendou admired his student with satisfaction, while Shirabu looked at him with indifference.

They had been in the colonies of the Earth Kingdom for almost 2 years now. Shirabu and Tendou, 2 of the strongest generals of the Fire Nation, had unexpectedly been given the task of training Goshiki. The boy had discovered his bending late, and the Fire Lord had ordered both of them to train him as best as possible because he was confident that he would be an essential element to win the war.

The 2 were joined by Semi, a skilled firebender but who, according to the Fire Lord, did not have the strength to become a general, giving that promotion to Shirabu, considered the best strategist of the Nation despite not having the ability to bend fire. In reality it was Semi who trained Goshiki for most of the time, while the 2 generals took care of administering the colonies of the Earth Kingdom and controlling military operations.

In just 2 years Goshiki had managed to master all the basic techniques and many advanced series and they were all very proud of him. You could say that the 4 felt like part of a family; technically they were, all part of Shiratorizawa, but they had no blood relations between them. The Shiratorizawa was one of the 2 "families" that ruled the nation and the people being part of it were chosen among many skilled children to be part of it.

Goshiki, after a couple of tries, managed to create a fiery jet of fire from his feet that almost made Semi lose his balance.

Tendou then stood up applauding happily "Wow, I'm impressed Tsutomu". Goshiki blushed, but his expression filled with pride "well it wasn't that difficult after all, of course I managed it after a few tries".

Shirabu's laughter could be heard coming from the porch "Oh my god, you really are a spoiled brat with the ugliest bowl cut in history". Goshiki's face went red "speak for yourself, you cut your bangs crooked, at least mine is straight". Shirabu stood up with a murderous look on his face, ready to make the boy pay while Goshiki got on the defensive.

At that point Tendou interrupted their 'friendly' conversation. "Come on guys, I'm sure you'll have time to argue later, now it's time to celebrate the sixteenth birthday of a certain prodigy bender".

Goshiki's face lit up again, it was true, that day Goshiki would turn sixteen and could start his military career. the boy couldn't wait to become just like his idol Ushijima Wakatoshi, the strongest firebender around.

Tendou chuckled at the sight of Goshiki's excited expression and made a gesture of understanding to a servant at the door. After a while the same servant returned to the garden carrying a large blueberry cake with 16 candles on it. Goshiki was ecstatic, he had never seen such a large cake.

When the cake was placed on the table, Tendou lit the candles with the bender and everyone turned to Goshiki. the boy then got into position and with a single flick of his wrist all the candles blew out."Haha happy birthday Tsutomu" Tendou hummed enthusiastically, while Shirabu and Semi applauded.

"sooooo, what do you want for this very important milestone of yours?~"Goshiki had been thinking all night about what to ask even though deep down he already knew, it was what he had wanted since they had arrived there. "I want to leave the outpost and explore the surroundings".

At that request Tendou's expression saddened "Tsutomu, you know we can't let you out, orders from the fire lord". Goshiki began to beg "Please, I've been locked up in here for 2 years, if I want to become a skilled general I have to interact with our colonies and see the soldiers enforce order on the citizens of the Earth Kingdom", Tendou then sighed "Tsutomu, I'm sorry but I can't do it... but today you can participate in your first war meeting, aren't you excited?" he added with the intent of dissuading the dominator. Goshiki tried to hide his disappointment "I think so...".

At that point the servant cut the cake and everyone stuffed themselves. Goshiki ate a huge amount, after all it was his cake. Shirabu chuckled "Be careful, this way you risk giving yourself a stomach ache". Goshiki turned to him with his mouth full and an irritated look, he was about to argue, but an idea came to his mind. With the excuse of being sick... he would not attend the meeting... and he could try to sneak out since everyone would be locked in the War Council room. It was an idea that could work.

After everyone had finished eating they headed towards the Council room. When they reached the door Goshiki let out his acting skills, hugged his stomach and started to stagger "hey guys, I think I'm not feeling so good". All 3 turned around and Shirabu huffed "what did I tell you?, why don't you ever listen to me Goshiki, you really are a spoiled child" and with that he entered the room.Tendou shook his head and put a hand on Goshiki's shoulder "It's okay, go rest, we'll send a servant with medicine for you". Goshiki nodded, but replied by pretending to be tired, "Thanks, but I think I just need some rest... without interruptions."Tendou looked at him undecided whether to believe those words or not but finally shrugged "ok, if you need anything, call a servant and get help, I think the meeting will last 2 hours or a little more. Goshiki nodded and waited for the 3 to enter the room, closing the doors behind them. 

At that point he pretended to walk towards his room. He had already planned ways to sneak out in the past, but he had never had the determination to disobey the orders of his masters. That day, however, it almost seemed as if fate wanted to take him out of the outpost and into the forest. The mere thought of finally being able to see a landscape other than the barren and barren one of the Fire Nation, gave Goshiki the courage to try his plan.

There were some towers at the edge of the outpost, and a tree branch had grown almost to enter them. Goshiki planned to grab onto it and then swing and jump down out of the fortress. The only obstacle was the soldier that guarded the tower, he had to find a diversion and once distracted he had to do everything quickly. When he looked out, however, he didn't see any guard. "Strange" he thought "well, better for me". Goshiki positioned himself on the edge of the tower and with a jump grabbed the branch. Luckily the boy had trained and his toned body proved it. He managed to throw himself and land with a capriole on the grass. When he got up Goshiki felt his heart leap from his chest: he was out of the outpost. 

He got up and quickly walked away before anyone could see him and bring him back inside, who knows how furious they would have been, they would have locked him in his room for life. 

A ray of sunlight that filtered through the thick branches of the trees caught the attention of the young bender who forgot all his negative thoughts in an instant and looked around. The forest was made up of tall trees with golden leaves, some on the ground that crunched under the boy's feet. The gold of the leaves went well with the sun's rays and the brown color of the earth gave the illusion of walking on a golden carpet. You could hear the birds singing and Goshiki could swear he could even hear a stream flowing in the distance.

Suddenly he felt a trembling under his feet and a noise similar to an earthquake a hundred meters away from him. Curiously but cautiously he made his way through the trees and bushes looking for the source of that noise. 

He soon found himself in a sort of square that almost looked like the gym they had at the outpost, but this one was decadent, with ruins in the background that must have belonged to a temple. 

Goshiki remained hidden in the bushes to observe the situation. Now he could feel the Earth shaking as if he were in the center of an earthquake. His gaze traveled until it landed on a tall, blond boy wearing Earth Kingdom clothes. He was moving rocks, throwing them at different points of the square. 

Goshiki was shocked, Earthbender was forbidden in the colonies... but at the same time he was amazed, he had never seen the other 3 benders. the boy was lifting rocks bigger than him with an ease that made them appear light as a feather. Goshiki couldn't explain how it was possible. "I wonder what it feels like to be able to lift rocks 10 times your weight with that ease".

His thoughts however were interrupted by a movement of air, a rock had been thrown right in his direction. Goshiki quickly moved to avoid it, but in doing so he fell backwards. From the surprise a scream escaped his lips. 

The Earthbender, worried that he had hurt someone, ran to see and when he moved the bushes, his eyes met those of a frightened Goshiki. 

The firebender couldn't move, frozen both by fear , but also from the admiration for that blond boy. Now that he had him in front of him, he could notice strange strands of black hair standing straight on his forehead, which to goshiki looked like feathers. His eyes were an ocher yellow, similar to the color of the earth that goshiki had been walking on until that moment. 

There was a worried expression on the boy's face, but just like Goshiki, the boy seemed hypnotized by the other's eyes.It took a while for goshiki to recover, realizing that he was staring at the other boy intensely, but his body didn't want to react. 

"come on goshiki, you have to attack him before he crushes you with a boulder, why don't you move, what's wrong with you?"

His thoughts were interrupted however when a hand appeared in front of him. The blond boy was holding it out to him with a smile on his face 

"sorry, did i scare you?"