Chapter 32: Big and Scary

Gaoling was nothing less than a city with perfect natural defenses. It was surrounded on all sides by treacherous cliffs, and the only path leading to it wound through a dense forest rich with massive rock formations. Naturally, while it was no Omashu and the benders here weren't of the same caliber as those in Shen Guan, its inaccessibility and lack of strategic importance had kept the city intact. All those wealthy families, the powerful elite, and the soldiers still lived there simply because nobody had a reason to bother them. Nevertheless, there was still a guard.

The entrance to the sprawling city was guarded by a platoon of soldiers equipped with earthen throwing discs for combat, a concept I had borrowed in a recent skirmish. Now, as I approached the gates, I felt a lingering sense of certainty that some kind of trouble was brewing. I had never managed to pass a security post without incident; fate always seemed to give me a kick in the backside, and I still hadn't figured out what I needed to solve problems of this nature peacefully. But now… things were a bit different.

"Greetings," the soldiers said, snapping to attention in a strange display of formality at the sight of me. My clothes were the same, rags, mostly, and the gourd was still strapped to my back, though I had removed my mask. "You... you're the Sandbender, aren't you?"

For the first time, I was actually recognized. The soldiers, who were supposed to be vigilant and questioning, crowded in front of the gate and stared at the gourd on my back like wide-eyed children. When I summoned a bit of hovering sand just to satisfy their obvious curiosity, a thrill of excitement, and a visible shudder, passed through the bodies of these rugged, muscular men.

"You may pass. We’ve heard of your achievements and your victories on the battlefield," they said. Honestly, I was pretty stunned myself. Was this the first time my reputation had actually worked in my favor instead of being a thorn in my side? The warriors looked at me as if I were a true veteran of a brutal slaughter, with fear and awe. This place instantly earned a special spot in my heart.

"Hey, maybe I should ask him to teach my daughter bending?"

"Hush, are you crazy?" my sharp ears caught as I passed through the gates. "Haven't you heard? If he touches someone with his bare hands, they instantly lose all the moisture in their body. It's his curse, he can never truly interact with people, let alone have students."

"Really? Phew, I almost shook his hand."

"Well, I heard he saved a squad of miners in Omashu."

I had long since grown accustomed to the thick, stinking layer of lies that shrouded my public image. I was just glad that, occasionally, good news flickered alongside my alias and that I wasn't being confused with someone else. It gave me something to work with in shaping my eventual reputation. I ventured deeper into the city, which was built entirely of stone brick, and began to observe the content citizens and the merchants setting out fresh vegetables. I ducked into a couple of clothing shops. My rags were worn out, caked in dirt and blood, and reeked of medicinal salves; it was no wonder a "filthy" reputation followed me.

"Is this cloak high quality?" I asked, pinning the shopkeeper of a beautiful store made of polished marble with my gaze as I felt the leather.

"Forgive me! In our humble shop, there is unlikely to be anything that meets your requirements!" Her small body shook like a leaf, and she didn't dare look above the floor. She watched me through my reflection in the polished marble.

"I can already see it’s good. And those trousers over there will work for traveling."

"As you say! Then it is good. Everything is good!" Yes, perhaps the more I "grew," attaining a look that could intimidate even hardened soldiers, the harder it became to talk to ordinary people. Realizing I must look just like Cruist to them, I decided not to strain people with my voice. I simply picked out a new outfit and a higher-quality bag. The money earned from the mines was more than enough; I still had plenty left to find everything I needed.

As I walked down a scenic street, my gaze caught a pole covered in posters advertising an Earthbending academy run by Master Yu. Tearing off a flyer, I watched as Afka poked her snout out of my new bag to sniff the paper. I let out a disappointed sigh.

"Teacher of the best benders, sought after by the wealthiest families, load of bunk," I muttered. Of course, I couldn't judge the quality of a school by a description alone, nor did I remember the name of the "worst master" from the canon, but I just knew that the first flyer I found would lead me to the most incompetent master possible. I knew my luck and played it well. Besides, looking for a teacher here didn't make much sense.

I had come to this beautiful, quiet town, where the inhabitants knew nothing of war, for one thing: brutal fights and fun.

"Hm... but is it worth it? Won't my reputation hit rock bottom?"

[Choose:]

[1 — Profit Above All: Put money on your own victory and have fun. Enter the arena as the "Crystal Knight." You will become a symbol of honor, courage, and purity. You will learn to seize the best advantage during combat.]

[2 — The Blind Bandit (Mole): An Earthbending tournament is for Earthbenders. You can fight using your least developed discipline, but you will gain the opportunity to earn experience. Listen to the earth and achieve the development of Seismic Sense.]

[3 — Fear and Respect: There is only one way – win as the Sandbender. Rumors of you will spread across the land. From now on, your image will always work for you; you will evoke only two feelings in people: fear or respect. You will learn the true thrill of battle.]

I was beginning to notice a trend. If a choice involved developing basic Earthbending, I tended to avoid it. I kept putting it off, choosing things aimed at a more well-rounded improvement of my life. This time was no different. I could finally gain a positive reputation or become a knight in shining armor who would literally capture the hearts of the public. But a game of Pai Sho, along with the recent attack, had taught me something: I needed to cover my rear and my weak spots. Otherwise, I would be a Goliath with feet of clay.

******

"And here we are at another Earth Rumble tournament! I am your host, Xin Fu! This is the place where there's no room for rules or crybabies, and the prize is a massive reward, fame, and the Championship Belt!"

Inside a large amphitheater carved into the heart of a mountain stood a stone stage with an energized announcer. The gathered crowd watched the upcoming show with hushed excitement; every seat was filled, except for the first four rows. For some reason, no one had bought tickets for those.

"I’m pleased to announce that we have several newcomers participating today! And as you know, it’s our tradition to give them a brutal welcome!" The hall erupted in noise that echoed through the mountain, a forest of hands rising in the air. A tall, shirtless brute with a coarse gaze stepped into the ring.

"The Boulder is ready to bury these pebbles!" He slammed his feet into the ground, making the stage tremble. The spectators didn't care about the brutality; they welcomed it. The promoters knew this well, which is why they put up one of their strongest fighters to break the newcomers. The Boulder was exactly that kind of bone-crusher.

Huge, powerful, he was loved and respected.

But as he raised his arms to flex his muscles, he didn't notice someone else entering the ring. Silently, without showboating, the newcomer stopped with his arms crossed, waiting for The Boulder to meet his eyes. At that moment, the veteran bender’s shoulders slumped slightly. Against the backdrop of this newcomer, his muscles didn't look nearly as impressive.

In general, there were no clothing restrictions at the tournament; you could even show up in Fire Nation attire. There was only one rule: you had to use Earthbending. But to maintain full proximity to the earth, I had discarded the rags I usually wore. Shirtless, I revealed the dozens, even hundreds of scars covering my body, marks usually hidden by clothes. Ugly, terrifying scars that made people tremble at a single glance.

"What are you showing off there, kid? Your muscles?" I scratched my back and cracked my neck, making my opponent take a step back. "Because to me, they look a little small."