After we finished filling our stomachs, especially Korra, who looked a few months pregnant, the four of us then headed to Jathr. When we arrived, Fan-shu was nowhere to be seen, and it was only Jathr; as the doors closed behind us, she slowly began to open her eyes, causing the numerous floors in the room to bloom.
"Avatars… How may I help you?" As Jathr's soft, soothing voice filled the room, Roku and I glanced at Kyoshi, who stepped forward. "We already know what we must do to protect our worlds and the ones we don't know of, but how do we find Father Glowworm?" There was a brief moment of silence once Kyoshi finished speaking as we all looked at Jathr, awaiting her response.
"I must apologize… I merely wished for you four to protect Jathr while dealing with Father Glowworm; I've dispatched many of us in search of Father Glowworm, something we hadn't been able to do before you arrived." "Father Glowworm, he resides within this world?" As Roku's question cut through the room, Jathr shifted her gaze and nodded, causing me to faintly frown.
"If so, how come we didn't know of the attack?" "Yeah, we only knew because Aang and I just happened to be at the right place at the right time." The implication of what Jathr said next caused the room to drop by a few degrees. "They all died. Corrupted by Father Glowworm." Instantly, Kyoshi, Roku, and I narrowed our eyes, understanding the weight of her words. Korra took a bit longer, but she wasn't stupid.
"Haa, oh boy, this isn't good. So we have to both protect Jathr and search for Father Glowworm." Sighing, Roku stroked his beard with a troubled expression while I frowned, realizing we were in quite the predicament. "We should get looking… Any clue to where he may be hiding, Jathr?" "Yes…" I couldn't help but narrow my eyes as I honestly wasn't expecting such a positive response.
"... However, only when Father Glowworm attacks with the summoned spirits from different worlds. That is the only time I can find traces of his position." Instantly, whatever slight happiness I was feeling was crushed; despair didn't set in, but it wasn't far from it. "S-Summon spirits from different worlds? D-Didn't you say there was an infinite number of worlds?" With a pale expression, Korra fearfully gazed at Jathr, who slowly nodded.
"At least we don't have to worry about spiritual corruption." Roku's optimism must have done little in this incredibly solemn atmosphere. "I-I think I need to rest." Seeing Korra turn around while holding her head, the three of us followed suit. Now that we knew this wasn't a war we could win, but one to survive, we had a lot to discuss amongst ourselves.
Clasping my hands, I slightly bowed to Jathr before turning around, leaving the room, Kyoshi and Roku soon following after; the three of us silently followed Korra from a distance as we walked back to our lodging. "I'll scout." Just as Korra entered her room, I broke the silence, causing Kyoshi and Roku to look at me. "By yourself? That's dangerous, you heard Jathr, the spirits she sent were all killed."
"I am the perfect person for the job, Roku." Whatever words Roku was going to say were caught in his throat as he knew I was correct. "I agree." "So easily, Kyoshi?" "I trust in Aang's abilities." "I don't doubt Aang's abilities… Haa, I suppose I'm just used to burdening everything as the Avatar." Faintly smiling, I gently patted Roku's shoulder, easing his concerns. "As we all are."
Wryly chuckling, Roku muttered something under his breath while slightly smiling before we retreated into our rooms, where we finally rested.
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Standing at one of the tips of the endless branches of Jathr, I held my staff in one hand and looked out into the distance, where nothing but unexplored land resided. I had been given clues to which direction Father Glowworm may be, West, and that was where I'd be heading to.
According to Jathr, he attacks in one-week intervals. Of course, the reason why is unknown, but she's linked it to the amount of time required to gather such a staggering number of spirits.
As I overlooked the unexplored lands in the distance, I waited until the sun peeked above the horizon, illuminating me in its soft light, before I prepared to take to the skies. However, just as I was about to leap off the branch, I heard footsteps from behind, prompting me to turn around, only to see Korra running towards me, causing me to curiously raise an eyebrow.
"W-Wait, A-Aang. Ugh, l-let me catch my breath." Once she arrived near me, she propped her hands on her knees. "Did you need something, Korra?" "I-I came to join you." I furrowed my brows in confusion. "Join me? How did you even know I was leaving?" "I listened to you talk about it to Kyoshi and Roku." I could feel my eye twitch at her words, though I promptly shook my head.
"The gesture is appreciated, Korra, but you don't need to come." "Ha, I know. I want to come." Now that caused me to be a bit surprised; I could already imagine how those unexplored lands were probably riddled with corrupted spirits that would attack us at. Even I didn't want to go out there, so Korra's words took me aback, though she must've seen my surprised expression as she quickly explained herself.
"Well, I only want to go because you're going. You're still training me, and although I doubt you'd need help, two people are always better than one." While she wasn't wrong about the last part, I had glossed over it and just stared blankly at her. 'Does she really think I'll be able to teach her out there?' "And, um, honestly, I don't feel that comfortable around Roku and Kyoshi. It's not them, it's me. They talk about a lot of stuff I just don't know about because I'm young, so I can't really talk with them; they probably know how to waterbend better than I, so it's not like I discuss that topic."
As I listened to Korra, I couldn't help but smile as I started to see her less like a warrior and more like a young, inexperienced woman. "Basically, you find it more comfortable to be with me because of our close age?" "Yeah, pretty much." Not knowing whether to chuckle or sigh, I motioned for her to approach me before wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
"I hope your injury doesn't slow us down." Glancing down at Korra, I walked us off the tree branch, causing us to fall. "Heh, my injury is basically gone. I'll be in tip-top shape by tomorrow!" Smirking, Korra flexed her bicep, showcasing her health, which made me chuckle softly as I pressed a button on my staff, transforming it into a glider. I then commanded the air to hit against the wings, lifting us through the skies.
"Man, I can't wait to be able to do this." With one of her arms wrapped around my waist for added support, we left Jathr behind, swiftly soaring through the sky and passing the hills that had surrounded us. After a while, I began to lower us somewhat, allowing us to better observe these unexplored lands, though what we saw caused our expressions to worsen.
Dead. It didn't matter where we looked or seemingly how far we flew; everything was dead. The ground was dry and cracked like a desert, with no water in sight. We came across what appeared to be a river, but it was bone-dry, with not even a drop of water; it was merely a remnant of previously flowing water. The mountains in the distance looked to be the same, just a massive protruding mass of rock and stone, not a hint of life anywhere to be found.
However, if that wasn't bad enough, just as I had imagined, spirits littered these forsaken lands, and it wasn't the weak, easy-to-deal-with spirits that attacked Jathr either. Of course, those types of spirits were present, but I also spotted stronger spirits, ones that caused more to frown at how dangerous they were; worst of all, they were all corrupted.
'Is that General Old Iron? Father Glowworm can corrupt such powerful spirits.' Glancing down at a large, humanoid spirit donned in armor, he was a powerful spirit, one that was capable of matching Yangchen. 'Theoretically speaking, since there are infinite worlds, Father Glowworm could corrupt an infinite number of General Old Iron.'
Such a thought was more than just terrifying, but quickly, I shook my head; if Father Glowworm could, Jathr would've long since been destroyed. "T-That's a lot of spirits." Nodding in agreement with Korra, we continued further west, leaving the deserted area behind as we flew for several hours; however, everything remained the same, as if we were flying in circles.
Eventually, we found a cliff somewhat isolated away from any corrupted spirits, prompting me to take a short break.