The squad consisting of Princess Azula, the Yu Yan Archers, her friends, and two natives of the Northern Water Tribe dismounted their rhino-lizards not far from the place Misu called the entrance to the Forgetful Valley. A crooked tree and a huge stone with four rounded marks, beyond which lay the truly wild jungle.
— A creepy forest full of spirits, what a lovely place, — Mai remarked phlegmatically, looking at the overgrown grass cut moments ago, which created a kind of road through the impassable jungle.
— Mai, how is the journey in the princess's company treating you? Not boring? — Lee inquired sarcastically of her friend as she climbed off her rhino-lizard.
— It is still better than my home, even if it is many times more dangerous. New acquaintances, new places… — Mai replied with a subtle hint, glancing alternately at the surrounding jungle and the waterbender.
— Agreed. The place is indeed not the most favorable, — Azula snorted, dismounting her rhino-lizard. Mai was the last to dismount after her. — However, I am sure there will be no trouble with these two.
— Nevertheless, they are still people from the Northern Water Tribe, — Mai calmly noted, while the two people being discussed walked ahead with the archer squad and could not hear their conversation.
— Mai! How can you say that?! Misu is a good and brave woman who loves her brother with all her heart; she would not hurt a fly! — Lee defended the woman, having managed to both talk and befriend the waterbender.
— Pfft, — came the immediate reply from the phlegmatic girl.
— Mai, I am disappointed in your observation skills, or rather, the complete lack thereof, — the princess ironically addressed her friend, who was always indifferent to everything.
— Hmm? — Mai drew out in response with a slight hint of surprise.
— From the first conversation with this woman, it became clear to me that Misu does not think highly of her own people. The issue lies particularly with their culture. One could even say she hates her native Tribe because of it. Compared to those barbarians, we are extremely progressive and tolerant, — the princess explained, addressing her perpetually indifferent friend.
— And how do you come to such conclusions? — Mai glanced toward the foreigners walking ahead. The man found it difficult to walk on his own, so the woman held him by the elbow. — I see that negative feelings do not prevent them from wearing the colors and clothes of their country.
— Do you not know how great the difference is between our nations? — Azula inquired, while Ty Lee silently listened to their conversation, walking beside them. — I think you know that the Northern Tribe is quite conservative in their views. Women are not allowed to learn combat waterbending, and, naturally, their upbringing revolves exclusively around traditionally female pursuits… As for feelings, I saw her face clearly during our conversation. She did not even try to hide her emotions.
— Did she just not realize? — Mai deduced with barely noticeable surprise, casting a fresh glance at the foreigners' backs. — Although, no… she probably has no idea what a foolish thing she is doing. If she possessed the necessary knowledge, she would have changed her clothes and become a local resident long ago. And that sexism that restricts women… astonishing barbarity! Now I understand more about the aspiration of your great-grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, to bring progress to the other nations. Such a savage culture should not exist on this planet.
— Oh. That sounded a bit strange. We were told the teacher's story in the academy in a similar tone, but with more emotion, — the acrobat was surprised by her friend's emotional and patriotic reaction. Of course, Mai spoke calmly, but even a hint of a slight change in her voice could not escape the girl's close friends.
— That is about right, — Azula nodded, continuing to walk along the path carved through the wild jungle.
— Could you elaborate? I am very interested, — Ty Lee spoke up with interest. — Traveling with the circus, I have been to many places. The culture in the colonies is quite similar to the island cities, but at the same time, it has small differences.
— We have little time. I will tell you briefly: thanks to progress in science and culture, we dominate the war with the Earth Kingdom. Women, who also serve in the army, albeit mostly in the internal forces, play a significant role in this. As for the Northern Water Tribe. They are simply savages, without any significant military force. With their low level of development, it is difficult to consider the Northern Tribe warriors as opponents. My grandfather was convinced of this when he completely eradicated all the waterbenders of the Southern Water Tribe; all that remains of them is a pathetic handful of pirates. That is why we have not fought with the Northern Tribe for about eighty years; they simply are not a threat to the Fire Lord's power. During this time, they have done nothing but sit at their Pole. And they have nothing valuable, just ice and fish. And if the time comes or a reason arises, one fleet could commit genocide on the entire Tribe in a few years, — the princess recalled what she knew about the people of the North Pole.
— But I have strayed a bit. Look at Misu; she is a perfect example, — Azula nodded, looking toward the woman. — Her mindset was formed in childhood, and although she managed to accomplish a truly impressive feat, she could not develop further due to constant worries about her brother. A pitiful sight.
— Do not say that; family is important. Maybe I do not want to live near my sisters, but they are my family. I know that I can turn to them for help at any time, and they will help, — the acrobat protested, remembering her family.
— Lee… — Mai interrupted her, knowing well that the topic of family was somewhat painful for her friend.
— It is nothing, let us drop the subject, — the princess replied calmly, continuing to walk.
The squad continued to move through the jungle in silence. They did not have far to go. Having walked deep into the jungle long before midday, they stopped.
— At this point, we should split up, My Lady, — the Yu Yan Archer Captain respectfully addressed the princess, bowing his head.
— Then we split up, — Azula nodded. — Remember the plan; the reward will be appropriate.
— There is no greater reward than serving you, My Lady, — the Yu Yan Archer Captain replied in a serious tone.
— Go, — Azula commanded, feeling a certain pleasure from such fanatic devotion.
— Just remember: do not disturb the silence of those places, — Misu cautioned the men.
— Hmm? Are we not all going together? — Ty Lee was surprised, watching them leave. Azula rarely enlightened anyone about her plans. At least, completely. This trait of hers remained unchanged.
— No. The Mother of Faces only appears at one of the four lakes. We cannot risk occupying only one. I assigned two people to each lake to make a wish, so that the spirit would fulfill my wish, — Azula self-satisfiedly explained the essence of her plan.
— Wow, how clever! Did you come up with that yourself? — Ty Lee could not contain her admiration. — I definitely would not have thought of that. Do you trust them that much?
— Yes, to both questions. Let us go; we should not waste time. Misu, lead the way to the nearest lake! — after Azula's command, the diminished squad set out again.
It was early morning. Azula, Mai, Ty Lee, and Misu with her brother successfully covered a few more kilometers of jungle. Along the way, they encountered various animals and countless insects, and the entire path was accompanied by the distant sounds of birdsong. This continued until the squad passed through the jungle, emerging onto a small sandy beach.
— Wow, it is really quiet here, — Ty Lee was the first to notice the change in atmosphere.
As soon as they reached the lake beach, the birdsong and the buzzing of insects simply vanished, leaving behind only complete stillness and silence. After the lively forest, such changes caused discomfort for everyone, except for the foreigners, who were already used to the peculiarities of these places. This lake… despite its enchanting beauty, still made them feel uncomfortable; their instincts were screaming that something was wrong here.
— So, we have arrived? — Mai stated the fact phlegmatically, surveying this peaceful place with a cold gaze.
— Yes, now all that remains is to wait, — Azula said, walking closer to the lake and settling down on the sand. The others followed her example.
— Wonderful, — Mai scoffed, anticipating an extremely boring wait…
Sitting on the lake beach was indeed a very boring activity. What could be worse than waiting for a girl with Mai's personality? Nothing. Fortunately, the diverse company soon got tired of the silence, and they began to talk about neutral topics. Even though Ty Lee and Azula were the main speakers, the girl was satisfied with this. Anything to avoid this oppressive silence.
— You know, this place is quite beautiful if you ignore the oppressive silence, — Ty Lee noted, examining the surrounding beauty of the pristine nature. Warm sand, crystal-clear water, blue sky overhead—everything looked perfect!
— Yes, it brings back memories of Ember Island, — Azula, who was sitting next to her, replied.
— Oh, that sounds familiar. I have not been there myself, but several of my sisters sailed there, and they talked a lot about the place. They all said it was magical… I wonder what they meant? — Lee shifted her gaze to Azula, awaiting an answer.
— Who knows, I was there a long time ago. In childhood… — the princess answered in a thoughtful voice full of nostalgia.
— What about you, Mai? — the acrobat asked her other friend.
— I have never been to that place, — the girl replied without any emotion.
— Oh! How about we sail there when we have free time? — Ty Lee snapped her fingers, immediately voicing the idea that had come to her, looking at her friends with enthusiasm.
— I do not care.
— I will consider your offer, Lee.
Silence reigned briefly. The three friends silently enjoyed the quiet, but that was only on the surface. Both Azula and Ty Lee felt anxiety to one degree or another. Their thoughts revolved around only one topic: what if nothing works out? What will happen if the plan fails? The spirit does not appear, or refuses to fulfill the wish? What will happen to Yoaru? How will he react, how will their relationship change… and similar questions kept surfacing in the girls' heads. Azula worried less; she easily reassured herself that she would cope with all problems on her own, especially now. But Ty Lee… the active and emotional girl was much more worried about her bodiless lover. Yoaru himself was nearby, tormented by anticipation more than anyone.
— Lady Azula, allow me to ask: what brought you to the Mother of Faces? — Misu, who had been silent until now, unexpectedly spoke. The woman, like Mai, remained absolutely calm. She had come to each of the lakes many times with her brother, and each time she failed. The spirit simply did not appear. The perseverance of this woman was enviable; after so many years, she still hoped for a miracle.
— I think keeping this a secret no longer makes sense, — the princess replied after a moment of reflection. — I have an acquaintance; he… has a similar problem to your brother's, only significantly worse. If Rafa only had his face taken, Yoaru had his body taken. His entire body. Now he is an intangible spirit, who can only be seen by spiritually sensitive people.
— That is… — Misu gasped in surprise. The revelation strongly shocked the woman. She did not know that anyone in the world could have a worse situation than her brother.
— I know, it sounds very unconvincing from the outside. Yoaru, please, show yourself, — the princess directed her gaze to an empty spot. A second later, a handful of sand rose half a meter into the air, and began to fall like a stream. As if someone was pouring the sand back onto the beach from their hands.
— What a horror, please accept my condolences, — Misu showed sympathy, looking at the princess with a new perspective.
— Thank you.
— So, we no longer have to pretend he does not exist? — Ty Lee stretched out, looking at the empty spot where their friend was probably located. — Yoaru, how are you? Are you okay? Do you need anything?
— Pfft, — Mai scoffed at her friend's overly emotional reaction.
— What? — The acrobat unexpectedly got up from her seat, and walked straight toward Yoaru on her hands, beginning to examine the spot where he had poured the sand. — It really looks like a face. What a funny coincidence. No? Does that mean soon?
— Hmm? — Mai cast a questioning look at the girl. Not hearing the full conversation, she could not understand what they were talking about.
— They were talking about faces, — Azula said, after which she walked up to Ty Lee, beginning to examine the palm-sized face that had appeared on the sand. Everyone else followed the princess to look at this wonder. — Misu, you know what this means.
— The forest itself will announce the arrival of the great spirit! Patterns in the form of faces begin to appear on the leaves of trees, the wings of insects, and the backs of animals! — Misu shared her experience.
— Not long left. Everything will be decided soon. Stop worrying already, Yoaru, — Azula replied to the air next to her.
— Hehe, he is so emotional; I have never seen him like this, — Ty Lee quietly laughed into her fist.
— What does it mean that the spirit's appearance is accompanied by the appearance of faces? — Mai asked, not understanding what the connection was between coincidence and a great spirit.
— Look around. The trees are nearby. On their bark, do you not see? Or on the leaves? The clouds in the sky? Faces are literally everywhere, and when we came here, this clearly was not the case, — the princess explained to her friend, pointing to the multitude of random changes in the environment, which were not random at all.
— Indeed. Amazing magic, — Mai replied calmly, returning to her previous activity, which was gazing at the placid surface of the lake.
— It is even kind of creepy; I would not want to see something like this at night. It feels like they are staring right at me, — Ty Lee said with a small measure of feigned fear. — How long do you think we still have to wait?
— Until the faces disappear. We can only wait and hope, — Misu replied reservedly. The squad began to wait.
The waiting dragged on extremely long and excruciatingly painful, especially for the one conscious being who was devoid of a body. The realization that only seconds remained until the fateful meeting was eating Yoaru from the inside. The others took it much more calmly. Their fates did not depend on the upcoming meeting. Second after second, minute after minute, while the other members of the squad examined the faces that had appeared everywhere, Yoaru counted the seconds, not knowing what to do with himself or how to get rid of the unbearable feeling of anticipation. He looked at the sky, the ground, the water, and even the sun, but the thoughts… they did not stop counting the moments.
This continued until everyone present by the lake shore was hit by a cool breeze.
— What is that? O-owh! — Ty Lee was the first to notice the change, pointing to the glowing lake, in the waters of which various faces were floating.
And as if the world itself was waiting for this moment. The wind picked up, the light in the center of the lake instantly became like the sun, gradually rising. All witnesses to this miracle silently watched as a monumental female spirit rose from the water. It was her—the Mother of Faces. She was as she was described in books and scrolls. With a body composed entirely of algae and water, she had multiple faces on one head, each identical to the others, and all of them glowed with an otherworldly white light. Her figure was enveloped in a mist, in which various faces of humans, animals, insects, and even other spirits hovered. She towered over the people, surpassing them in size.
— I am the Mother of Faces. Through me, disunity comes into this world. One becomes many, — the spirit spoke in a calm voice, while the people gathered on the shore stared in amazement at the creature that had emerged from the lake. — Every season I walk through my forest, never straying from the path indicated to me by my wolf. I am a generous and soft-hearted spirit. Every season, I grant one human wish. A wish has been made; I am here to grant it. Azula, make your choice now, — the spirit addressed the princess in a calm voice.
— Great Spirit, there are two people among us who need your help. My wish is this: help them restore their appearance and body, — Azula answered the Great Spirit immediately, while the others gaped in shock. The girl then quietly whispered to Yoaru to be closer to Rafa, who was being supported by Misu on the other side, leading him toward the Mother of Faces.
— Is that Yoaru? — Mai whispered to Lee, with a hint of emotion. Seeing the bluish figure of the man next to Azula.
— You see him? — the acrobat was even more surprised.
— I think so, — Mai regained her composure, silently watching the two girls lead the two men toward the great spirit.
Bringing both of them as close to the lake as possible, Misu gently removed the wooden mask from her brother's face.
The great spirit examined the faceless and bodiless person and replied calmly: — Very well…
The giant hand of the spirit rested on the face of the faceless man. — I feel the energy of my son, — she spoke with surprise, and then her hand, from the forearm to the fingertips, glowed with otherworldly energy. The man himself began to make some inarticulate sounds for the first time in a long time. — Regain your former countenance! — With these words, the spirit's hand let go of the bewildered man's head.
— H… Hi, sis, — he smiled weakly, looking around in astonishment.
— Rafa!
And while the brother and sister rejoiced and hugged, the Mother of Faces turned her gaze to Yoaru. Both of her hands reached out to him, increasing in size. The spirit entwined her fingers around the entire body of the bodiless person, lifted him, and lowered him into the water. Unexpectedly, the spirit shone like the sun. The light was so bright that all present covered their eyes, unable to watch what was happening. When the light disappeared, the figure of the Mother of Faces was already submerging into the lake waters, on the shore of which stood an unfamiliar man with very long, wavy hair the color of the darkest night and eyes glowing with golden light. The stranger stood waist-deep in the water and stared at his own hands with wide-open eyes.
— Yoaru...?