Chapter 33: A Bigger Threat
Renji stood in the center of the temple courtyard, his gaze sharp and calculating as he observed the dozen or so young disciples in training stances before him. The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the stone courtyard, and a faint breeze rustled the leaves on the ancient trees surrounding them. Renji's voice was calm and steady as he directed them through basic airbending movements. Nothing aggressive or advanced, just simple techniques that were well within the bounds of the temple's traditional teachings. He'd chosen today to take a gentler approach, though not out of any newfound respect for the ancient ways.
"Focus on your breathing," he instructed, watching them with an expression that masked the irritation brewing beneath his composed exterior. "Balance comes first. Control, discipline—these are the core of airbending."
A few of the disciples exchanged confused glances. They were used to Renji's fiery spirit, his lessons on techniques that straddled the line between control and aggression. One of the younger disciples, a boy named Hane, whispered to his neighbor, "Didn't Master Nara warn him about using aggressive airbending? Is that why he's changed his teaching?"
Renji's sharp hearing caught the comment, and his expression hardened. He turned, fixing the disciples with a cold stare. "Since some of you seem to have so much time to gossip," he said, his voice low and edged with menace, "I have an exercise for you that will remind you of the discipline you clearly lack."
The disciples immediately quieted, nervous glances darting among them. Renji smirked, reveling in their discomfort. "As a part of your training, you'll spend the next hour practicing air control by clearing every leaf in the courtyard with your bending, without letting a single one touch the ground. The leaves will be returned to the trees afterward, one by one."
A collective groan escaped the group. This was a grueling exercise—repetitive, exhausting, and requiring intense focus. Each disciple knew that dropping even a single leaf would mean starting over, a process that would push their endurance and patience to the limits. Renji crossed his arms, watching with satisfaction as they reluctantly spread out across the courtyard, airbending to lift the scattered leaves.
As they began the exercise, Leina strode into the courtyard, her eyes landing on Renji with a slight smirk. Her dark hair was braided back, her stance poised and unruffled. She glanced around, noting the simple techniques being drilled, and made her way over to him.
"Why didn't you teach them something useful?" she asked, looking him up and down with a raised eyebrow.
Renji's gaze swept over her, his eyes sharp as he assessed her, noting her confidence, her readiness. Unlike the younger disciples, Leina was beginning to see the cracks in the temple's so-called wisdom, and he trusted her loyalty to him. "They aren't ready for anything more advanced," he replied smoothly. "If I push them too hard, too quickly, Monk Nara will see to it that I'm taken care of—permanently."
Leina's expression shifted, a hint of skepticism crossing her features. "Is Master Nara really so dangerous?"
Renji gave a mirthless chuckle, his eyes narrowing as he considered the question. "If she wanted to, she could take down this entire temple without breaking a sweat. She's unmatched here, not just in strength but in cunning." His voice lowered, a bitterness seeping through. "She'll stand in my way as long as she's here. If I want things to change… she'll have to be removed."
Leina still looked doubtful but seemed to trust her master's assessment. She asked, "Do you have a plan?"
A faint smile played on his lips, his eyes alight with an edge of determination. "I do," he said, voice low and ominous, before nodding toward the courtyard's edge. With a final look at the disciples and a cryptic smile, he gestured for Leina to follow him. Together, they walked away, and as they disappeared around the corner, two figures stepped into view from behind a nearby stone pillar.
Kezin and Kuno exchanged a dark glance as they watched Renji's retreating form. Kezin's lips curved into a knowing smirk, his eyes gleaming with calculation.
"Seems like Renji is handling his own business quite well," Kezin murmured, his tone carrying a hint of satisfaction. "His ambition will only make things easier for us. He'll stir the pot just enough to keep the attention off us."
Kuno crossed his arms, his posture calm yet focused. "We can use this to our advantage. Let Renji be the thorn in Nara's side while we advance our own plans."
As they spoke, a new figure slipped into the shadows beside them. Kaiya joined the pair, her expression serious as she nodded in agreement. She leaned in, voice low, but her tone carrying a trace of excitement beneath the seriousness. "Nara and the other elders have started discussing Renji as a threat. They're considering… dealing with him permanently if he continues on this path."
Kezin's eyes lit up with satisfaction, his smirk widening. "Perfect," he whispered, his tone filled with relish. "Things are playing out better than we could have planned."
Kaiya hesitated a moment before continuing, her gaze flicking between them. "I overheard it from Nara herself. She was speaking with Yogan about it, and they're prepared to act if Renji goes too far."
Kezin laughed softly, darkly, glancing over at Kuno. "It's all falling into place. With Renji stirring up the temple, they'll be too distracted to interfere with us. But," he said, voice dropping into a thoughtful tone, "we still have the matter of Lady Kiva's followers and the added strain on the village. How are the new earthbenders settling in?"
Kuno's face darkened, his jaw tightening slightly. "The situation is tense. The earthbenders are not blending in well with the others, and there have already been a few heated arguments. The village is still recovering from the bandit attack, and this tension is only adding to the strain. Fights are breaking out daily."
Kezin's eyes gleamed, his mind racing with the potential chaos that could be sown from this tension. He turned to Kaiya, his gaze sharp. "And what about Yoan? What has he remembered?"
Kaiya's face twisted with frustration. "Nothing, at least nothing he's told anyone. The truth of his attack is still a mystery to the temple." She paused, her voice growing darker. "But I know he has more memories than he's letting on."
Kuno grunted, his tone dismissive. "The herbs were supposed to kill him, but somehow, Nara saved him. And worse… he remembered everything. If we don't silence him soon, he'll expose everything."
Kezin held up a hand to halt Kuno. "If he knew everything, he would have gone to the elders, the council, someone. There's something holding him back, and until we know what it is, we'll bide our time. Kaiya," he said, turning to her with a calculating look, "it falls to you to keep an eye on him. Figure out what he's hiding and why. We can't let Yogan or Nara catch wind of any of this before we're ready to act."
Kaiya's eyes narrowed, her gaze hardening as she nodded in agreement. "I'll handle it," she promised, a dark glint in her eyes. The gravity of the task seemed to settle over her, and she knew what was at stake if she failed.
Kezin's smile returned, calm yet filled with anticipation. "Then let's keep moving forward. Renji can play his part in our grand scheme, and when he's outlived his usefulness… we'll be ready."
With that, the three conspirators nodded, casting a final glance at the now-empty courtyard. One by one, they turned and drifted in different directions, each lost in their own thoughts, their plans spinning into the future like dark threads in a vast, intricate web.
---***---
The soft glow of candlelight illuminated the grand Hall of Statues, casting long shadows across the faces of stone Avatars from eras long past. Tenzin's children sat wide-eyed, captivated by every word the mysterious woman spoke. Korra and the others watched in rapt attention, engrossed in the story of the Second Avatar and the ancient threats he faced. The woman's aura exuded wisdom, her beauty undeniable yet ageless, and each word she spoke carried a timeless gravitas that commanded the room.
Bolin, always quick with a question, broke the silence. "So… was Kaiya really planning to betray Yogan? I mean, that would be pretty low, even for her, right?"
The woman's gaze softened slightly, a trace of sadness passing over her features. "Kaiya's choices were shaped by the forces around her. But this time, she was swept into something much larger than herself." She paused, her eyes flickering over each face. "Yes, her actions took her down a dark path… yet, they were only a single piece of the puzzle. These events, seemingly minor, were the foundations of what would shape Yogan into the Avatar he needed to become. Everything you've heard so far was but the beginning."
Mako leaned forward, his brows knitted. "But then, what was Kezin truly after? All his manipulations… what could drive him to go against the Avatar like this?"
A small smile played at the edges of the woman's lips. "Ah, Kezin's ambitions run deep—deeper than even Yogan could have anticipated. In the years to come, Kezin will reveal the full extent of his intentions. He does not seek mere power or influence. His vision is grander, and his hatred of the Avatar far older than anyone realizes. His actions in the days that followed defined him as the greatest threat any Avatar would ever face—past, present, or future."
Korra shifted in her seat, her voice laced with curiosity and understanding. "So… was it like the way my enemies tried to push me? I mean, Unalaq, Zaheer, Kuvira… they each had a vision that clashed with the world's balance."
The mysterious woman inclined her head. "Indeed, Korra. But Kezin's darkness is unique. His ambition will shape the very future of the Avatar. He won't merely be an adversary; he will be the most dangerous enemy any Avatar has ever encountered. Soon, all will be revealed… and what he desires will shake the very core of the Avatar's purpose."
As her words echoed through the Hall of Statues, a silence fell over the group, each lost in the implications of what lay ahead for Yogan and for every Avatar after him.
[A/N: Read 15-20 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]