Kon, now five years old, bounced on his toes. Today was special—his first official lesson with Chief Iroh, the start of his fire-bending training.
Kon kicked a pebble, watching it skitter across the ground, his mind buzzing with excitement. 'Fire-bending! I'm gonna shoot flames and burn everything. Muhahaha,' he thought, imagining himself blasting fire across the seas below.
Iroh sat on a stone bench, he gestured for Kon to sit. "Before I teach you fire-bending, let me tell you more about us, our people," he said, his voice steady, like a captain addressing his crew. "Tell me, Kon, what is your full name?"
Kon plopped onto the grass, crossing his legs. "Kon D. Ryūkami!" he chirped, puffing out his chest.
Iroh nodded, his smile warm but serious. "Ryūkami is not only our last name but also our race. It defines who we are, where we come from."
Kon tilted his head, curious. "Race? What other races are there?"
Iroh chuckled, his eyes glinting with memories of the seas. "Too many to name, but I'll tell you a few I met during my journey below. Humans are the most common, scattered across every island. Then there are giants, big as hills, with voices that shake the ground. Fishmen, who live beneath the waves, strong and proud. Minks, a mix of animal and human, fierce but loyal. Lunarians, Skypieans, dwarves—each unique."
Kon's eyes sparkled. "Woah! I'm gonna meet everyone when I go down!"
'Giants? Fishmen? I wanna see them all and make them my friends!' he thought, bouncing in place.
Iroh's expression grew solemn. "Our origins, Kon, are ancient. The Ryūkami are believed to be descendants of dragons—mighty creatures who commanded the elements millions of years ago. Our name means 'Dragon Gods.' 'Ryū' means dragon, 'Kami' means god or spirit. We carry their legacy in our blood."
Kon's jaw dropped. "Dragons? That's so cool!"
'I'm a dragon kid? No wonder I can fly!' he thought, imagining himself soaring with giant wings, breathing fire. "So we're super special, right?"
Iroh nodded. "Skyloft, our home, is a floating island, a sanctuary in the clouds. Long ago, we lived below, among the seas and islands. But eight hundred years ago, our ancestors chose to rise here to escape the chaos of the world below. They foresaw a time when the seas would drown in tyranny, so they sought safety in the skies."
Kon frowned, trying to picture it. "Why'd they leave? Was it scary down there?"
"It was," Iroh said, his voice heavy. "The world below was fracturing, ruled by greed and power. Skyloft became our haven thanks to a man named Jax D. Ryūkami. He was an air-bender, like you, and the last Avatar. He gave his life to lift this island into the clouds, saving our people. You are also an Avatar."
Kon's eyes widened. "An Avatar? What's that?"
'Sounds like something awesome,' he thought, leaning closer.
Iroh's voice grew passionate, his words like a poem carried by the wind. "An Avatar, Kon, is more than a title. Most see it as someone who can wield all four elements—air, fire, earth, and water. But it's deeper than that. An Avatar is a bridge between worlds, not just the physical and spirit realms, but between people—between pain and peace, war and harmony, fear and hope. You were born not to rule, but to heal. You carry the weight of four elements."
" Every tear you shed, a past Avatar has wept too. Every joy you feel, they have felt. But you are not them—you are you. The Avatar is not perfect, not without fear."
"But the Avatar rises, even when the world crumbles. You will fall. You will doubt. But you will stand again, with generations of wisdom behind you and the future of the world before you."
"So, what is an Avatar? A light that never goes out. A promise that peace is worth fighting for."
Kon stared, his brow furrowed. 'What's he talking about?'he thought, scratching his head.
"I didn't understand anything, Old Man Chief Iroh." He grinned suddenly,"But you're saying I can learn all four elements 'cause I'm an Avatar? That's so cool!"
Iroh facepalmed, letting out a sigh. 'This boy's heart is bigger than his head,' he thought, chuckling. "Yes, Kon, you can learn all four elements. But it won't be easy. An Avatar is born with the gift of air-bending—yours is strong, stronger than any I've seen. But mastering fire, earth and water bending takes talent, training, and hard work."
Kon puffed out his chest, grinning. "I'm super talented! I can pick my nose while flying upside down. Can you do that, Old Man?" He giggled, flipping onto his hands and letting a gust of wind lift him so his feet dangled above his head. He wiggled his nose dramatically, sticking out his tongue.
Iroh laughed, shaking his head. 'The kid's not wrong,' he thought. 'He's been air-bending since he was two, flying since three—an advanced skill even for an Avatar. The air treats him like its own, bending to his every whim.'
"No, Kon, I can't say I've tried that trick," he said, his tone fond. "But your skill with air is rare. It's as if the wind sees you as part of itself."
Kon flipped back to his feet, landing with a bounce. "So when do we start fire-bending? I wanna shoot flames!"
Iroh held up a hand. "Patience, little dragon. Your training will include more than fire-bending. We'll have lessons on the world below, its dangers and its wonders. You'll learn about our people, our history. There'll be physical training to strengthen your body, and weapon training to sharpen your skills. Only when you've mastered fire-bending to my satisfaction will I send you to your father for earth-bending. Then, he'll send you to your mother for water-bending. We've already discussed it."
Kon nodded eagerly, barely listening to the details. "Got it! I'll learn everything super fast!"
Iroh's expression grew stern. "One more thing, Kon. If you fail to make progress in any bending form for a whole year, you'll move to the next. You must stay focused. The world below is no game—it's a place of beauty, but also of danger, especially for an Avatar."