Seventeen years is like a blink of an eye. Yet that day when she arrived felt just like yesterday.
Sure, they have a few additional wooden lodges in the village, but nothing major has happened that have impacted the people's lives.
As the sun dawns on the island, fishermen would sail their boats out to sea. Elders sitting around, engaging in trivial gossips as expected of people with advanced age. Overall, life is slow.
Yet, villagers can always hear distant sounds of weapons clashing. Some are awake before the light of the day even touches their wooden huts.
The defenders of the village would mostly seclude themselves within a dojo outside the main settlement, refining their skills as elite fighters. Those golden glinting fans are always recognizable. With faces covered up with pale makeup, accompanied by the crimson red near the eyebrows. Whenever they gather, the trainees would also be equipped with a simple headband to distinguish themselves as mere novices.
Despite their lack of accomplishments, even the weakest amongst them is a very competent fighter. Due to the island's circumstances, these women can train their skills from the moment they can hold a pair of metal fans. With a lifetime of discipline, many would master the most basic form of fighting. In other parts of the world, even the novice members would be considered as elites. It is a privilege that their order's founding is deeply tied to the island's culture, which is also a legacy of that Avatar.
As this group of mere teenagers sparred with metal fans and curved blades, a slightly older woman supervises the entire process. All trainings inside the dojo must be kept under control. After all, the weapons they are using are not wooden toys. One wrong accident and someone might lose an arm. Although she is wearing the same armored outfit as the rest, a distinctive golden headdress with a cross embed into a small cube separates her rank from the others. It is attached to a larger triangular plate, together forming the unique symbol of her family. Each Kyoshi Warrior must earn their own headwear, wearing it with pride and dignity as it represents their family and the status of a fully accomplished warrior. To receive their individual headdress is also considered a rite of passage.
"Kazuki, you are doing it wrong. Watch the others." The young woman called out.
Serving as an instructor underneath the dojo's roof is a great responsibility, as it involves cultivating the youngest members into even more proficient fighters. But on a more personal front, everyone here grew up together. It is not enough to become a great warrior alone since fighting as one cohesive unit is perhaps even more paramount. One of the reasons why she even got this role is perhaps due to age, which isn't that different from the second oldest person in this training hall. Many trainees would occasionally call the instructor older sister, an informal way of addressing someone without threatening their childhood bonds.
She sighed. Amongst all the trainees, one of them is missing.
"As usual, my own sibling isn't even here," the instructor said with crossed arms. Setting a bad example for the rest is obviously not good. How can a dojo instructor be trusted if she can't even instill discipline in her own sister?
"I see that she has overslept again," another Kyoshi Warrior with long dark hair stated. She stood nearby, also wearing her own golden headdress instead of a trainee's headband. "Why didn't you just wake her up?"
"Orihime, if a Kyoshi Warrior cannot learn how to get up before the birds are chirping on our roof, how can she even call herself a guardian of the people?" The instructor retorted. She aims to demonstrate fairness, not allowing any room for favoritism regardless of blood ties. Although some might perceive this treatment as rather harsh, the previous instructor is even more strict. Danger can strike anytime, and complacency is a luxury they simply cannot afford. Just because the instructor's own sister isn't demonstrating proper conduct, it doesn't mean that special treatment would be allowed.
On this island, all devotees to Avatar Kyoshi are sisters.
...
A swift figure traversed through the village street, speeding pass fishermen who just returned from the morning round of trawling.
A large burly man wearing a cape made of straw called out at the impatient individual, thinking there is time for pleasantries.
"Oi! I got some freshly caught salmon, want to buy some-"
The person rushed pass him without greeting, apologizing at the same time. She almost crushed into a barrel of newly caught fish. Luckily the fisherman lifts it away before an accident could happen.
"Sorry Ebisu! I need to get to training!"
She has no time to waste. The consequences of oversleeping and being late would be quite the embarrassment. Some villagers would move to the side of the street to allow passage. Luckily as a Kyoshi Warrior, agility is never a problem. But the timely arrival at the dojo is also not the most ideal situation.
Storming into the building, the nearby trainees quickly halted their sparring matches. The stumbling Kyoshi Warrior failed to control her own pace, tripping over a tatami mat and crushing into a surprised Kazuki.
"Whoa!" They all cried cohesively.
The newcomer fell over, landing on another trainee unwillingly.
"My spine!" Kazuki yelped.
"Sorry!"
They gradually stood up again. Luckily, the lacquered plate worn by Kazuki is more than enough to protect against a clumsy mistake. As for the careless girl who just arrived, even the greatest armor cannot save her from the instructor's ire.
"You are late, Satchiko," the older woman warned, unimpressed with this display of sluggishness. Her gaze emits a tiny hinge of fear inside the younger sister.
The dawdling Kyoshi Warrior apologized for the third time of this day. Thankfully, none of them held any bad ill. After all, their sisterhood is a tightly connected community. Some of them even laughed at this rather comedic display.
"Ow! My back!" Kazuki complained as she was the one being directly impacted. "You almost broke it."
"Well at least you are still standing up!" Satchiko joked "I'm not that heavy, am I?"
Although others also reacted in a lighthearted manner, the somewhat stern instructor reigned the conversation back to a more serious attitude.
"Sorry big sis," Satchiko said. "Mayumi, surely I haven't been too late?"
"The sun is almost hitting noon, no more questions, back to training, just don't take too long next time." The instructor immediately reorganized the sparring sessions.
After resolving this small inconvenience, Satchiko joined the others for the rest of the training. Despite being part of the younger generation, her skills have proven to be rather exceptional despite certain inadequate qualities. Naturally, having a mother acting as a mentor is a good advantage, especially since the same mother also bears a very prestigious title amongst her people. Although they are treated fairly by everyone in the village, there is of course a slightly different expectation from the regular folks. Being daughters to a prominent figure meant upholding the image of strong warriors in their own rights. And they have both proven that their status did not hinder practicality.
Mayumi made everyone watch as two Kyoshi Warriors are selected one at a time for a single sparring match. They all sat in a giant circle. The instructor allows each duelist to pick their own weapon of choice within personal assortments of swords, spears and somewhere in-between.
Being late to class naturally meant Satchiko is punished to be picked first, pitting against Kazuki.
Despite this predicament, the younger sister did not felt pressure. On the contrary, she is rather confident in the upcoming fight.
"Begin!" Mayumi yelled.
Satchiko's personal pair of metal fans are placed into good use. The speed and agility of each swipe is too much for Kazuki to just parry them all. While the latter is struggling to keep up, the instructor's sister is rather enjoying the thrill of fighting. With a final decisive blow, she knocked Kazuki's sword to the floor, ending this brief little match.
The result is exactly the same as the last hundred times. Despite both of them possessing a similar degree of skill, one of them treated this more as a form of entertainment.
The training ended as all the participants filed out of the building. As usual, Mayumi stayed behind to ensure that all the mats are rolled up, of course being assisted with Satchiko. As instructor of the dojo, it is essential to provide oversight to the younger members. Additionally, she is also tasked with cleaning the weapons and paintings on the wall, which are all relics of past generations. This role is indeed a rather honorable one.
With the conclusion of today's session, they both make their way home, intending to pass the village square along the way. This simple stroll also serves as an informal way of patrolling the settlement, ensuring that the safety within the village is maintained. Although this island is small, there are in fact other villagers located inland, all guarded by their own group of fighters. The younger sister has never been to the other ones, but arrogantly believe her own village is the most peaceful of them all. This sentiment is supported by local fishermen who claimed that unruly traders sometimes stir up trouble on the other side of the island, which is usually resolved as the guardians intervened.
Both of them entered the village through the palisade gates, being greeted with two rolls of wooden houses. As they walked pass fellow villagers and some traders from outside, the duo arrived at the foot of a very important figure.
On top of a thick log is a wooden statue. A woman painted in bright colors, holding a pair of fans and wearing long green robe. She is a very tall person, yet her face paint is the exact same ones worn today. When a local villager sees this sculpture, they would stand in reverence, paying respect to the Avatar that founded this island.
She not just an important person in history. More importantly, she is a deity, a status few can ever enjoy after they departed from this world. Since the creation of Kyoshi Island, not a day has passed without her seeing the sun rise and fall, symbolizing the continuous protection to the inhabitants even after death.
The two of them bowed in respect. As her devotees, performing basic rituals is the least they can do.
Mayumi, noticing a small group of pebbles nearby, decided to build a balanced stack. Satchiko volunteered herself to collect them by hand, until she was reminded that there is no need to physically touch those rocks.
"Sister, you are an Earthbender, remember?" Mayumi's words quickly corrected Satchiko's unnecessary action.
Despite being born with the natural ability to manipulate the earth, the younger sister is consistently forgetful. The last time this island has an Earthbender felt like eons ago. Although living alongside one for more than seventeen years, Mayumi never saw Satchiko bend anything larger than a pebble.
"Here you go, big sis!" Satchiko unceremoniously dropped a cluster of rocks near the base of the statue.
Mayumi sighed, gently picking them up. Starting with the largest one, the Kyoshi Warrior used it as a foundation to pile up. Remaining focused and precise, a stack is slowly constructed.
"Perfectly balanced," she remarked upon completion. The act of stacking pebbles is rather soothing. Although simple, building a small tower without falling is quite hard without knowing the center of gravity. It is also believed that it has some spiritual purposes, especially since each warrior is a devotee to the Avatar. "Sister, do not behave so impulsive, we are in the presence of Avatar Kyoshi."
Those words did not resonate as much as she would have wanted. Although Satchiko respects the founder of their island, she is known to be less interested in the spirituality behind their way of life. Even the act of offering incense sticks or food tribute to the spirits seem trivial in the youngster's eyes.
"Big sis, it's just a wooden statue, no need to be too pedantic with the minor details," Satchiko bend two pebbles in both palms, demonstrating what she believes to be an impressive trick. The rocks spun in circles, her attempt to reduce Mayumi's more serious attitude failed miserably.
Obviously, the elder would place a heavier emphasis on their village's traditions. She does not doubt her sibling's respect towards Kyoshi despite the latter's more unclenched personality. But there is something else that worries Mayumi more.
"Let's walk around the market one more time before we head home," suggested the older sister.
They headed to the other side of the village, a short walk that didn't even took up a minute. Unlike the giant cities on the mainland, Kyoshi Island does not have any sophisticated structures beyond simple wooden huts. Even the layout of their home is easy to understand with minimal decorations. Locals would use the porch of their homes to set up stalls, selling whatever trade they could come by. As a fishing village, goods such as fruit and vegetables are difficult to access. Traders from the Earth Kingdom mainland would sail here to bring rice and other food that the island cannot produce themselves. It's a simple life. Although there is no such thing as luxury on this backwater place, there is a beauty in undisturbed honest work that many would find rather idyllic.
Satchiko stood nearby as Mayumi spoke with the fisherman named Ebisu, the middle-aged family friend who has known their father for more than twenty years. With few pieces of shell currency, she tried to buy a newly caught fish known as the Chum salmon. But the friendly man refuses to take any money, offering it for free instead.
"You seriously think I would accept money? How shallow do you think I am? HAHAHAHAHA!" The burly Ebisu laughed in a thunderous manner, which drew the ire of the blacksmith just across the street.
After Mayumi thank the fisherman's generosity, the two sisters left as Ebisu flawlessly entered a shouting match with his neighbor. Usually, commotions such as this would be intervened. The chief of the village would utilize his soft-spoken eloquence to reasonably defuse any tension or disagreements. There are still exceptions where it is more practical to let the parties fight it out before heading home for dinner.
Everyone in the village knows about the petty rivalry between those two, even accepting it as a natural part of their everyday life to the point of repetitiveness.
"Shut up you stinky fishmonger!" The sister heard the blacksmith berated as they walk to inspect the local huts. "I can smell your rotting trawl from the other side of the village, don't you ever wash up!"
After insulting the burly man with a massive beard, a fish was thrown at the blacksmith's face with a loud slap. All of this is followed by a round of fistfights with some bored locals watching, betting on the winner just like last time.
Of course, no actual weapons are involved. The two men used fish to engage in glorious melee combat on an epic scale. Only then can their legendary rivalry be remembered in the annuls of Earth Kingdom history!
To this day, no one actually knows why they started this pointless ordeal in the first place.
Mayumi waved at a group of children playing tag. As she and Satchiko stepped onto a wooden crescent bridge just outside the village, they spent some time to discuss private matters. It is not enough to be just a powerful warrior. Martial might cannot survive alone. The mind itself must also be accord with wisdom.
"Sister, while I respect your skills as a warrior, I cannot help but be cautious about one glaring drawback," Mayumi's concern isn't taken seriously at first. "While you have shown to be consistently proficient in duels against fellow trainees, I cannot stand idle as your overconfidence exceeds the perils of this world."
Satchiko looked at their reflections in the running river, distracted by the colorful koi fish swimming in cold water.
It is easy to elevate oneself above others, especially since they live on a confined island. A skillful fighter can boast about how peerless they are after winning sparring matches. But just like what their mother said, such audacity does not produce reliable warriors that can defend the village. Satchiko is strong, but is she experienced enough? A youth who has little understanding of the world outside the island have much to learn. How high are the skies and how deep is the earth? Does this young tireless warrior understand even the slightest of them all?
"Big sis, you are worrying too much as usual," Satchiko's laid-back attitude has no room for Mayumi's prudence. Nonetheless, she tried to reassure her more responsible sister by arraying her own logic with questionable degree of persuasiveness. "Mayumi, I know sometimes I overslept, but even you can see that I always train seriously. I am dedicated."
Mayumi riposted. "I do not doubt your conviction as a Kyoshi Warrior, but sacrificing other aspects of life to be a fighter is not the best outcome. Remember the days when you were younger, and you escaped class just to watch the older warriors train in the woods?"
"Let's not talk about that," Satchiko grimaced with an awkward expression.
To this day, she still has great difficulty in the ways of literacy. Although an excellent fighter amongst her peers, even the most basic levels of reading must be assisted by the more educated Mayumi. The older sister cannot ignore this rather avoidable outcome. Additionally, there is another issue that must be addressed.
"Reading and writing is not the only skills you neglected, my dear sister," Mayumi tried to offer critique without sounding too harsh. "What about your Earthbending?"
"My Earthbending?" Satchiko appeared slightly defensive. She retorted, claiming that her skills as a Kyoshi Warrior alone is enough. In all fairness, this logic isn't too unreasonable. Each warrior is trained since the day they can hold a weapon, some even began their journey as earlier at the age of eight. Despite mastering an art used by non-benders, their order has proven to be a very effective fighting force, carving their own places in history. With the privilege of refining their skills for a lifetime, even the most dangerous benders would fear their unparalleled swordsmanship.
But for Satchiko, it's not the same. Although the youngster is content with just being a local guardian, their mother has always been a bit conscious about one daughter being born with Earthbending.
Why should a bird be content with the ground when it can fly all across the world?
As the older sister, Mayumi understands what might motivate Satchiko. "I don't know, but it certainly wouldn't be so pleasant if the founder finds out that one of her warriors can't even earth bend normally."
"Hey!" Satchiko grimaced indignantly. "I can bend earth properly, I just prefer normal weapons, that's all!"
But in hindsight, she has never used her Earthbending in an offensive manner. Satchiko already mastered the signature metals fans while Mayumi is trying to perfect her swordsmanship. Who needs to throw rocks when you can use something stronger?
"Besides, it's not like I'm neglecting it, I mean check this out!" She quickly controlled two nearby peddles, spinning them in her hands perfectly while giving Mayumi a large wide grin.
Mayumi is not amused.
"You need to take some responsibility, sister," Mayumi sighed, mush to the younger sister's dismay. "You are not a child anymore, you are seventeen."
It is also a reminder to tone down certain childishness. As they reached the porch of their own little hut, Mayumi stopped. She reminisced that exact day when she and aunt Ayuma arrived home to welcome the newest member of their family. The humble wooden lodge they share has not changed the slightest. Yet, they all grew up, heads almost reaching the entrance ceiling. It is unfortunate that they cannot remain irresponsible children forever, carefree and ignorant about the woes of this unforgiving world.
"Start with the choirs, I will cook as usual tonight." Mayumi placed the salmon on a metal pot that hangs from the ceiling, an interior arrangement that is common here. Unlike the giant towns and cities on other parts of the world, living on Kyoshi Island is a humble existence. All houses are simple wooden lodges with straw roof, not even wooden doors are used as part of construction. The 'kitchen' is usually just a cauldron with a hole in the ceiling that allows the steam to escape. A family would eat their meals in the same room, sitting on the floor.
"No Elephant-koi?" Satchiko's hope dashed.
"Just the usual ohaw," Mayumi stated as she begins to remove the hard scale off the fish.
The ohaw soup is made using fish bone, some kelp is used as flavoring. As local inhabitants, seafood is a major staple of their life, which is why preparing meals using limited ingredients has become a valuable skill amongst everyone. Satchiko head out to retrieve a bucket of water from the village well. Although all fish is delicious, regular salmon is not this Kyoshi Warrior's favorite food.
Satchiko's infatuation with Elephant-koi meat is not a unique phenomenon. Despite the island's remoteness, there is one commodity that is prized by other folks across the sea. The famed Elephant-koi is enjoyed by the affluent as a rare delicacy. In simple terms, it is even more delicious.
Mayumi effortlessly prepared the ingredients as Satchiko tried to start a fire. After a round of failures, the older sister simply took over the entire operation. There is still too much for Satchiko to learn beyond her duty as a warrior. Additionally, sea salt extracted from the ocean is used to control the taste.
"Soup is ready," Mayumi said after stirring the boiling pot.
Satchiko marveled at the dinner. Her gleaming eyes beamed the stew with hunger.
Mayumi used a small spoon to test the flavoring. After being satisfied with the amount of saltness, she allowed Satchiko to try it.
"No cook is better than my sister!" Satchiko claimed enthusiastically.
"Would you say the same thing if mother is present?"
Mayumi smirked a bit, easily pierced through her sister's feasible attempt at flattery. Just as their lips are about to enjoy warm bowls of ohaw, a loud sound from a conch shell horn immediately stopped their action.
In an instant, both dropped their bowls and sprung up from the ground, grabbing their respective weapons and charged out of the hut.
A battle awaits them.
End of chapter note:
-The diet present here is based on real life Ainu people.