Chapter 32. Bad Luck [FIXED]
93 years after the genocide of the Air Nomads.
A small women's monastery, located near the northwestern coast of the Earth Kingdom.
"Ah, right there, mm, just a bit to the left—I've never felt anything like this before," I moaned in bliss as the skilled hands of a nun worked wonders on my back. I'm not one to hide my feelings, so all my comments were voiced aloud, causing the other nuns to blush and giggle.
"What are you doing here, you scoundrel? Seducing my girls?" boomed the stern voice of the head abbess of this small monastery.
"Just giving well-deserved compliments to the golden hands of your apprentice, abbess," I replied, in high spirits. "And why have you been hiding such a treasure? I've been coming here for spirits for a year and a half, and only today did you offer me a massage," I continued, now slightly offended that I hadn't experienced this sooner. No Thai or Qigong massage could compare.
"Only the most deserving customers get this treatment, be proud, 'just a traveling Earth Kingdom earthbender named Roku,'" she said sarcastically, emphasizing the most implausible part, making my ears turn red.
I'm just not good at coming up with names! In a few months, you can't understand how the people of this land live, their quirks, and the small details everyone knows but no one talks about. Of course, these minor differences gave me away as an outsider, but the abbess didn't press the issue. As long as I'm not causing trouble and I'm paying, it's fine.
I found this place entirely by accident while exploring the Earth Kingdom. This neutral monastery's main income comes from selling perfumes and ointments, which are in high demand across the nearby provinces. All the women in my circle were captivated by the fragrances made here, so I often return for new scents.
The provinces are like states within a state. In the early days of the unified Earth Kingdom, each province had its own ruler, its own laws, and its own order. Centuries passed, but instability on the continent remained. Wars between rulers were commonplace. This ended with the rise of Ba Sing Se, whose rulers gradually and relentlessly brought all other lands under their control. Only Omashu retains slightly more autonomy, still having its own ruler, though ultimately under the authority of the Earth King in Ba Sing Se.