Chapter 18. The Leaf Girl [FIXED]
It took me a while to calm my raging emotions after confirming the emergence of the new element. Unable to endure it any longer, I retreated into my spiritual realm, seeking tangible proof that fire was now under my command.
For minutes, I couldn't tear my gaze away from my energy sources. At the center, the neutral source glowed like a sun, orbited by the water and fire sources. Truly, the saying that every person carries an entire universe within them holds literal truth for benders. Like with water, some channels in my body shifted to red. Though the fire source and channels weren't as impressive yet, they'd grow in time. Fire would burn brightly in my heart.
Shifting focus to the neutral source, I again wondered what secrets it held. It had clear benefits, but I sensed there was more to uncover.
Now, let's test what it means to be a firebender. Rising from the ground and steadying my breath, I began channeling fire energy through my body. The difference was stark. Water energy soothed, but fire energized, whispering, "Release us, let us burn, burn, burn!" I had to breathe deeply again to calm my restless body, as even warm air began escaping my nostrils. As in the series, firebending demands control—it's largely destructive, and a bender must master it.
"Alright, steady now," I muttered, trying again.
Breathing evenly, I guided the fire energy without letting it dominate. Now, gently releasing it... the energy drained, but no fire appeared. Fine, I'll add chi this time.
"Fire," I whispered, mesmerized by the small flame in my hand. A bender without a fireball isn't truly a bender.
Another theory confirmed. Water, air, and earthbenders draw from their surroundings, but firebenders must create a passage for their bending into the physical world, adding life energy to spark it. That spark, fueled by fire energy, becomes a full flame. Ironically, not all firebenders seem to know this. Like how we use smartphones without understanding their inner workings, firebenders merge with their element so deeply that chi addition becomes unconscious.
Alright, back to hunting dark spirits. With ten hours left, I need to absorb as many fire spirits as possible to reach mid-tier rank. It's more practical than trying to boost my water source all at once.