Chapter 123. Under the Nose
*The North Pole.*
A dark sphere of energy, its surface marked with strange red patterns, traveled effortlessly across thousands of kilometers. Birds in its path veered sharply, their instincts urging them to flee the dangerous object.
As a tiny fragment of true Vatu energy approached the Water Tribe's territory, the spirits Tui and La in the Spirit Oasis grew uneasy. Their abilities were too limited to sense higher-order energy, but something still made them uncomfortable. Their peaceful life among humans no longer felt safe. Yet, the inertia common to ancient spirits prevented them from acting immediately.
The dark energy cluster hid beneath the city itself, nestled within centuries-old ice. It began to restore its strength, drawing power from the negative emotions of the capital's inhabitants. Every petty argument, fight, or betrayal became its sustenance.
Though only a fragment of the true spirit of darkness and chaos, it possessed enough knowledge and experience to learn from its failures. Its previous reliance on spiritual authority and aristocrats had backfired, and the islands would now be doubly vigilant.
Listening to conversations and observing local life, it continued to analyze. After weeks, a plan began to take shape...
"The Council and Chief focus too much on the benders! It's not fair! We didn't choose who we were born as!" a young boy protested angrily. On paper, the policies seemed fair—magi were more restricted than non-benders—but life rarely worked out as planned.
"Son, don't provoke the benders. Their words will always be stronger," his father warned sternly.
In Yuki's defense, he genuinely sought to end the centuries-long superiority of the magi. But many issues never reached him, as ordinary people feared offending those who could reunite them with their ancestors with a lazy wave of a hand. Many had grown accustomed to "swallowing" their grievances.
Having gathered enough "mass," the black-red sphere initiated the first stage of its plan. Smaller energy particles, about the size of small eggs, began to detach from its body. When their number reached a few dozen and the main "body" had halved in size, it stopped. In the next moment, the main "body" was alone again, while the smaller particles sought their targets.
The peacefully sleeping inhabitants of the northernmost city, unaware of the danger looming over them, continued to dream. One particle found its target: an ambitious non-bending girl striving to equalize women's rights in their society. Soon, the Vatu energy entered her body, lying dormant.