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The spirit world was vast and mysterious, but it was also beautiful and melancholic. Having stopped near a lonely oak tree, she gazed upon the horizon that was filled in more colors than the ordinary sky had.
She knew her way around Republic City, she knew every nook and every corner of the streets. How many times had she drifted through the neighborhoods with her motorcycle just to enjoy the breeze of freedom blowing through her hair? Granted, she hadn’t done it in a while but whenever her hair is caught by the wind, it carries a breeze of nostalgia. Nostalgia of a time that was different. A time that seemed a lot easier and calmer than today did.
Though being here now did too– feel very calm. Was it because she was not at home? Was it because she did not have to juggle the responsibility of being an entrepreneur on her own? Or was it this distinct feeling of loneliness she felt when looking at the spirit plains ahead of her?
Probably, it was a combination of all three.
The spirit world was something bizarre and unusual. It wasn’t part of her world – and she wasn’t part of this world, yet there was something about it that kept dragging her in. Like a pillow fort built in her bedroom, the spirit world felt like an escape. Like a retreat for her to just take in.
She hadn’t built pillow forts in a while. If she had, a couple of people would have judged her, probably. But coming here? This was the spirit world. Only a few people would traverse it, usually civilians were kept away from it. Safety regulations. As a close friend of the Avatar’s Asami had no problem traversing it. She often did, as today, claiming she would look for spirit anomalies, maybe to find a “better late than never” cure to the overgrown part of Republic City. Most of the time, however, she did not come for research. She came for…
…she didn’t know exactly what was so important for her. But it was. And she came here for it.
“A lonely tree on top a mountain where nothing but grass grows looking upon a valley of nothing and an orange glimmer resembling the setting sun of our world.” Distracting herself from her thoughts, Asami suddenly heard a voice – the voice it belonged to Iroh. She didn’t take long to recognize it. She turned around, looking for him. The spirit world was mystical. She couldn’t tell right away from where the voice had come – but she quickly spotted him anyway.
She crossed her arms and tilted her head, “General Iroh.” She breathed, “Don’t tell me they sent you to escort me back?”
“No, Miss.” He said, lifting his hands to show his innocence. “Believe me, it is a mere coincidence that we stumble over each other today.” He stopped a few steps away from her. “I don’t usually run into people on lonely plains like these. What brings you to the worlds of the spirits?” He wondered.
“What makes you think I’m here for a reason?” She raised an eyebrow. “Maybe I’m just here to enjoy the unnatural view.”
“Most civilians come here looking for something,” he said directly, but also calmly. There was no indication in his voice that he meant to judge or attack her. “In fact. We do too. To look for anomalies or inadequacies.”
He stretched his arm out towards the open fields and plains; he opened his palm, pointing at the orange dot that resembled the light of a setting sun with his open palm, “This place is mystical, strange–” “Beautiful,” she quickly interrupted him. He coughed, slightly nodded and continued, “and limitless as it seems. In our minds it has become a normality – a necessity that it exists but we don’t know how it will affect our world.” He lowered his arm.
“Would it ethically be responsible to keep the spirit portal untouched? Will it cause harm? Will it destabilize the very structure of our world?” He shook his head, “Questions that scientists and spiritualists have asked since it emerged. But we honestly cannot answer them.”
As he was talking, Asami was looking back at the plains. Now, she turned to him again, she tilted her head and asked calmly: “Is that why you are here? To investigate the future?”
Iroh stiffened at the question he had been asked. His lips twitched a little before letting out a sigh; allowing his body to ease up a little. Maybe Asami wasn’t the only one who got into the spirit world based on a lie that day. “I am indeed looking for something,” he responded sincerely. “I see.” Asami breathed, leaving her observations about Iroh’s reactions to herself. Whether he came here on a lie did not concern her. Nor did she plan on ratting him out.
“What about you, though? I’ve noticed you were looking into the far distance. Are you looking for something?” he wondered, getting somewhat closer to her. Asami’s eyes widened a little and she turned her head towards the orange spirit sky once more. The distance was uncertain and welcoming. She has been looking it for a while. She… “Or maybe. Are you looking for someone?” A second question was pronounced just as she began feeling an uncertain warmth inside her chest.
She opened her mouth as to say something but didn’t. She closed her eyes and slowly shook her head. “I can’t…” she responded, even though she couldn’t get herself to finish that thought. Was she looking for something? For someone? Was it this possibility of finding something. Someone. That caused her to come here so often?
“I see.” Iroh breathed. “Well, if it puts your mind at some ease: I am looking for someone.” He admitted. “Someone that I know is here, but I haven’t found yet.” Asami looked up. The orange glow mirrored in her eyes. Iroh nodded with a tiny but kind and understanding smile.
“Maybe it is also that I do not want to find him.” He then said, “Because in the end? What if I find him and don’t like what I’ll find? Or don’t know what to say?” He shook his head. “And once I’ve found him, the search will be over. What will happen after that? Sometimes, I wonder if it is really as important to find what you are looking for or if you really only need the journey leading towards it. For inner peace, I mean.”
Anyhow, I sincerely hope you find what you are looking for.
“So, what if I don’t know what I’m looking for?” Asami wondered almost absentmindedly.
“Then, you’ll know when you find it. Or something like that.” Iroh snickered in response. Maybe he thought sounding ‘wise’ and all didn’t fit him. And he would have been right. It wasn’t. But it still was a nice thing to say. “Well.” He suddenly coughed and corrected his posture. “It was a nice coincidence walking into you today. But I have to get back before they get suspicious of my absence.” Without further delay, he gave her a wave as goodbye and turned around ready to leave.
“Sure. Make sure to not get reprimanded for sneaking away from duty.” She joked with a little grin on her lips, which quickly disappeared as soon as he was out of her sight. For a second or two, she gazed in the direction where he had left. Then, she turned back at the plains ahead. She let herself fall back against the tree and slid down. Her fingers touched the grass underneath. Was she looking for something?