Chapter 40: A Trial of Tradition
The Great Hall was filled with the quiet murmur of the elders and master airbenders, each one seated in solemn rows beneath the high, vaulted ceiling. Lanterns cast flickering light across the room, illuminating the deeply lined faces of the elder monks and the tattoos adorning the master airbenders, symbols of their hard-won experience and spiritual accomplishments. The air felt thick, heavy with anticipation and expectation.
Standing at the center of the hall, Kezin began his report, his voice calm and measured as he recounted the events. "After Yoan fell, I saw Kuno," he said, his gaze steady, "poised to strike Yogan down. His sword was raised, aimed for Yogan's neck. I knew I had only a moment to act, so I used my bending to… end Kuno's life before his blade could reach its mark."
Kezin paused, casting a carefully crafted expression of regret across his face. "I summoned ice shards—a dozen of them—strong and precise. They struck him before he could complete his swing, preventing Yogan's death."
A hush fell over the room, broken only by the murmured reactions of the gathered monks and airbenders. Several of the elders exchanged tense glances, processing this news, while some of the younger airbenders nodded quietly, impressed by Kezin's decisive action. Monk Tenzon, one of the more outspoken elders, finally broke the silence. He leaned forward, his expression resolute. "It seems Kezin did what needed to be done."
At these words, Renji leaned closer to one of the masters seated beside him, his voice low but tinged with frustration. "Our old ways are only getting us killed."
Monk Tenzon's sharp ears caught his remark, and he turned to Renji, his voice firm but not unkind. "Speak your mind, Renji."
Renji rose, straightening his posture and lifting his chin as he addressed the hall, his gaze intense. "The traditions of the temple, of the Air Nomads, are holding us back. Yogan and Yoan are lucky to be alive, but how much longer can we rely on luck? These outdated ideals are leading to the deaths of promising young airbenders—because we're taught to avoid conflict, to hesitate instead of act. Even my own brother will hesitate when faced with an enemy because of these naïve teachings."
A murmur rippled through the room, the elder monks glancing at one another with expressions of concern or contemplation. Monk Gonzu, his brows furrowed, spoke up. "These traditions were established to protect us, not to enforce our will over others."
Monk Jiro added, "Our quest for spiritual enlightenment is a pursuit of freedom, not dominance. To take another's freedom by force… that is not our way."
Renji's frustration only deepened. "But these old ideals are costing lives!" he countered, his voice impassioned. "If we don't change, we'll be forced into it by circumstances even worse than what we face now. We need to be proactive before more lives are lost. My own brother barely escaped death because he clings to teachings that have no place in today's world."
At this, Monk Kaijo, the second most powerful airbender in the temple, stood. His eyes were fixed on Renji, his gaze piercing and unwavering. "And what, exactly, are you getting at, Renji?"
Renji faltered, feeling the weight of Kaijo's gaze upon him. Though Kaijo was the temple's oldest monk, his strength and presence were undeniable. At ninety-six, Kaijo's name was etched in legend, a veteran of battles fought in the age of the legendary warrior Wan. Kaijo had stood by Wan himself, aiding him in a epic battles between two warring tribes, kingdoms and states, his bending abilities so masterful that he had single-handedly quelled entire divisions with wind alone. Even now, he looked far younger than his years, his posture upright and steady, his movements filled with the power and grace of a master.
Renji felt a chill run through him as he looked into Kaijo's eyes. It was as though he could feel the presence of Kaijo's legendary power, a reminder of the weight and wisdom behind each of the elder's words. And yet, driven by conviction, Renji held his ground.
He took a deep breath. "I am saying that the Air Nomads need a change of leadership," he declared, his voice carrying through the hall. "Our ideals must adapt, or they will lead us to ruin."
The hall fell silent. Kaijo's eyes narrowed, his mouth a thin line as he leaned on his walking stick. The very air seemed to shift, becoming denser, pressing down on everyone present. Even though the hall's great doors were tightly shut, the space felt charged, as if a storm was gathering within the very stones of the mountain.
Slowly, Kaijo straightened, using his staff to brace himself as he rose to his full height. A powerful, unyielding aura radiated from him, an aura that made even the seasoned airbenders tremble. "Renji," he said, his voice low and menacing, "I have listened to you spout nonsense for weeks now. You speak as if you know the world, as if you've seen enough to understand what it takes to lead. Yet you are young, untested."
Renji's hands clenched into fists, his heart racing as the elder continued. "Even after Monk Nara herself cautioned you against this arrogance, you continue this… rebellion. But I am done listening to your disrespect." He tapped his staff against the floor, the sound echoing through the hall. "You, Renji, who dare challenge the wisdom of those who have protected this temple for decades, shall now face the consequences of your arrogance."
The room seemed to shrink as Kaijo's presence grew, his aura pressing down on everyone in the hall. Even Kezin, standing off to the side, felt a chill of fear that ran deeper than anything he'd felt before. It was as though Kaijo alone could command the very mountain to tremble, to unleash a force that could tear the temple from its foundations if he wished.
Renji swallowed hard, his eyes darting to the other monks and masters. But their faces offered no support, only a mixture of stern resignation, as if to say, This is your doing.
Steeling himself, Renji took a step forward. "Elder, I apologize if my words seem disrespectful. I admire you… deeply," he said, his voice wavering yet defiant. "But I cannot stand idly by when I believe change is necessary."
Kaijo's expression hardened. "If you believe so strongly in this change, show me. Show me this decisive and aggressive airbending you speak of. Show me what you would teach our young airbenders."
A murmur of unease filled the hall as Kaijo issued his challenge, his tone leaving no room for argument. Renji's face grew pale, but his eyes flickered with determination. He took a stance, his hands moving with precision, calling upon his training, his entire body filled with a singular focus: he would strike down this ancient obstacle to his vision.
With a shout, Renji unleashed a powerful gust of air, his attack carrying the full force of his frustration and anger, directed straight at Kaijo. The blast roared through the hall, a whirlwind of aggressive energy tearing toward the old monk.
But Kaijo barely shifted. With a single, effortless motion, he lifted his staff, channeling a subtle twist of his wrist to divert the blast, the force dissipating around him like a breeze. Using the same momentum, Kaijo redirected his own energy, sending a massive, swirling current of air straight back at Renji.
The Impact was overwhelming. Renji was thrown backward, crashing through the great doors of the hall. Splinters flew, the heavy wood groaning as it shattered beneath the force of Kaijo's counterattack. Renji lay sprawled on the ground, his chest heaving, eyes wide with shock and defeat.
Kaijo stepped forward, his expression unchanged as he regarded Renji with a look of quiet authority. "Renji," he said, his voice resonant, "for your arrogance, for your refusal to heed the wisdom of those who have walked this path far longer than you, you will be disciplined."
He paused, his gaze unyielding. "You will be confined to the Stone Chamber, where the world's quiet will give you space to reflect. No light, no sound, only the silence that will allow you to understand the weight of your actions. Perhaps, in that solitude, you will come to understand the world is far from as simple as you believe."
The Stone Chamber was rarely spoken of, a dark, silent room deep within the mountain, its walls thick and unyielding, designed to muffle all sound. It was a place for those who needed more than guidance—for those who required isolation to grasp the full depth of their misjudgments. The punishment was severe but measured, intended not as vengeance, but as a path toward true understanding.
Kaijo's gaze softened only slightly as he regarded the young airbender before him. "Learn well in your silence, Renji," he said, his voice filled with quiet command. "And perhaps you will return a wiser man."
With that, the hall fell silent once more, the finality of Kaijo's words settling heavily over everyone present. The air in the hall, once charged with hostility, now seemed calmer, subdued, as though Kaijo's decisive authority had quelled any lingering unrest.
Renji lay motionless, his spirit crushed more deeply than his body had been by the blow. The full weight of his punishment pressed upon him, and he could already feel the creeping isolation of the Stone Chamber waiting to swallow him in its silence.
Kaijo turned to the other monks and nodded, signaling that the matter was settled. The elder monks bowed respectfully as Kaijo returned to his place, his face calm but firm, his authority unchallenged. Kezin, who had watched the entire scene unfold, felt a ripple of tension in his chest, a reminder of Kaijo's power and the unyielding strength of the airbending elders.
As the hall emptied, the echoes of Kaijo's words lingered, a reminder that tradition and wisdom were not to be underestimated. And, as Renji was led toward the Stone Chamber by two airbenders, he realized that change, for all his ideals, would not come easily to the Air Nomads.
[A/N: Read 15-20 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]