Even though the airship was in the sky, the heat gradually grew more intense and began to take its toll. Those who weren't accustomed to high temperatures, such as Katara, Sokka, and Suki, were particularly affected.
Those from the Fire Nation, however, didn't find it problematic. In fact, the Firebenders among them felt revitalized, causing the group to split into two camps.
What about Shisui? He hated this environment! Although he was more accustomed to the heat than those from the South Pole, his constitution made him less resistant to the climate than his friends, whose ancestors had lived in similar environments for generations.
The Sage came up with the best solution he could think of. Now, on the deck of the airship, Azula looked up at the dome of ice that reflected sunlight in the opposite direction, casting a shadow downward.
The Sage also enlisted Aang in his plan. Aang began circulating the air in this area, keeping the temperature quite low. Thus, the atmosphere was cool, making everyone's experience pleasant.
"How much energy does this consume?" The princess asked, lowering her gaze to look at Shisui, who was sitting quite relaxed in a lounge chair, wearing shorts and a white tank top.
"Not as much as it seems. I just have to replenish it every so often. Aang simply allowed the air currents to flow naturally through the ice dome's vents, so the energy consumption is quite low," the Sage replied, swirling his iced tea before drinking it.
"Are you very relaxed?" Azula climbed onto Shisui's lap, placing her hands on his partially exposed abdomen. He raised an eyebrow at her actions, but simply continued sipping his drink before answering.
"A wise master once said, 'You have to work, you have to learn, you have to eat, you have to rest...and you have to play, too. Those are the foundations of training to stay in good shape." I think I've been really busy lately. I want to relax," the Sage replied. He set half of his drink on a small table he had made out of ice, since he always carried a large supply of water.
He was very grateful for the day the idea occurred to him. Although he had to focus on maintaining those drops of compressed water, they had proven their effectiveness as they neared their goal:
The Si Wong Desert. It was a unique area in the Earth Kingdom. Dotted with oases that sustained life and the human population in the region, it was a place where ruins could sometimes be found beneath the sand. This led to a high level of archaeological activity in the area.
"Well, it's about time you relaxed a little. I've noticed you've been very tense lately." Azula leaned closer to Shisui, bringing her face just inches from his.
"How could I not be? But at least this is about to end," the sage murmured before kissing his partner quickly on the lips. He placed his hands on her waist, pulling her closer, and they both settled into the chair.
"Do you think the spirit of that library will hold it against us? You know, because of Zhao," Azula said. Shisui let out a vague snort, then chuckled.
"Maybe. Spirits have emotions, too, don't they? But if it refuses to let you in just because you're from the Fire Nation, then I'll have a long talk with that entity," Shisui replied in an authoritative tone, making the princess laugh.
"Oh~? Good! I like seeing you get bossy and wild, especially with me," Azula whispered, her hand drifting down Shisui's torso. It almost reached a certain area of his body when they heard someone cough.
"Guys, I know you love each other, but we have a 16-year-old here," Ty Lee said, popping out from behind the lounge chair. She looked at her two friends with narrowed eyes and a mischievous smile.
"I wasn't going to do anything!" Azula retorted, her face flushing slightly. To hide her embarrassment, she buried her head in Shisui's chest. He was laughing loudly at this strange and amusing situation.
"We're not rabbits in heat, Ty Lee," the sage remarked, chuckling as he felt his low spirits lift from his friend's antics.
Ty Lee watched as Shisui's aura changed, becoming brighter and taking on a color that reflected his happiness. She gave herself a thumbs-up, having accomplished her mission.
The events in Omashu had greatly affected the group's mood, and Shisui was among those most affected, besides Avatar Aang. Shisui had an excellent relationship with King Bumi and Prince Yun.
Ty Lee, who had a similar ability to Shisui's but focused on different aspects, understood her childhood friend's mood best. She came up with this crude prank, knowing it would cheer him up, even temporarily.
'I need something to cheer those two up. Shisui has Azula for a 12-hour session, and I guess he's pulling himself together. But the Avatar should have done it by now, right? Their aura when they're together is so rosy! If I make this suggestion to Katara, she'll probably go for it!' Ty Lee mused, a wicked smile spreading across her face. Luckily, Shisui and Azula couldn't see it from their angle.
It was time to get up to her old tricks!
…
The Misty Palm Oasis was a special place in the Si Wong Desert. It was the only known location of a massive iceberg with supposed spiritual properties, attracting tourists and curious onlookers who wanted to experience it for themselves.
Thus, as an aircraft bearing the Fire Nation logo approached the oasis, many people watched with varying emotions. Some were accustomed to it, while others displayed brief flashes of terror, hatred, anger, sadness, and a thirst for revenge.
Others showed joy, as this was a sign of future business. There was no better way for a merchant to brighten his life than to welcome foreign visitors! In short, the population had mixed feelings about it.
At least no one ran away in terror like in previous years. The scars of war would never be forgotten, but some of the terror associated with the Fire Nation logo was fading with time. However, it was clear that it would never be forgotten.
Among all the people reacting, making faces, or chatting about this matter, a small group began spreading the news of the aircraft's arrival to interested individuals.
Thus, the entire oasis learned of the arrival of the Fire Nation delegation and the newly emerged Avatar. Everyone could see the flying bison land next to the aircraft. Some people had wild ideas, but then they saw the Firebenders surrounding the creature in a protective stance, which brought clarity back to their eyes.
Surrounded by a crowd that didn't dare get too close, the group disembarked from the airship. Shisui was completely relaxed, wearing light clothing with a cool mist covering his body. He could withstand the heat and sun if he wanted, but he was there to relax, not test his limits.
"Let's see this so-called spiritual iceberg!" the sage declared. Receiving no response, he looked at his friends, who were staring at him in silence. Thus, a strangely uncomfortable atmosphere spread.
"Dude, is there really an iceberg in the desert? Even if there is one, why should I go see it? I'm sick of seeing icebergs!" Sokka asked, causing Shisui to slap his forehead.
What was so appealing about a chunk of ice in the desert anyway? He didn't even know if its supposed spiritual properties were real! Then, Shisui looked at the crowd, frowning slightly as he noticed certain things.
Many of the auras were negative, not only because of the people's nature but also because of their feelings while observing them. He thought it over and decided it was best to wrap things up here before heading to the real objective.
"All right, let's restock what's missing on the airship. You can stay here. I'll go find an archaeologist or scholar who knows where the Wa Shin Tong Library is," Shisui said. He had decided to undertake this journey alone, but Zuko approached him and wrapped his arm around his neck.
"Let's all go together, guys, okay?" The prince looked at Sokka and Aang, who didn't want to move. One didn't want to deal with the heat, and the other...well, Katara was holding him tight at that moment, and he didn't want to be apart from her!
"That's perfect! Let the guys hang out together while the girls stick together. Aang! Call Raava to join us!" Ty Lee suggested. She felt this was the perfect moment to carry out her magnificent plan.
After a while, the onlookers dispersed, though a few lingered. They didn't dare take any action under the watchful eyes of the Fire Nation soldiers, and no one was foolish or desperate enough to attempt an attack, regardless of the reason.
Revenge? Theft? If anyone got too close, the Firebenders warned them off. Some restless individuals wanted to cause trouble, but the soldiers subdued them non-lethally before handing them over to others who took them away.
As for the group of boys, they started asking questions. Although some people were reluctant to answer, Shisui showed them how reasonable he could be when he struck others with his chi-enhanced fists.
Thus, they managed to learn two names. One was Professor Zei, a well-known figure in the Oasis for his constant desert expeditions. He sought the legendary library, driven by his desperate desire to appreciate its knowledge.
The other was Professor Qin, a new figure who seemed to want to follow in Professor Zei's footsteps. He sought to find the library as well, and it was said that he had found a trace of it in the desert.
"Which of the two should we choose?" Asked Aang. He was staring at the strange wine that had been served to them at the bar where the group had decided to rest briefly. He was unsure whether to drink it.
"Both of them. Only the kids get to choose one, and one man takes it all," Sokka replied without hesitation, revealing some of his true thoughts in the process. This made Shisui glance at him sideways.
"I'll pass those words on to Suki," the sage blurted out suddenly. This caused Sokka to choke on his drink, spilling it on a burly man sitting at a nearby table.
"Hey! Got a problem? Want a piece of me, foreigner?" The man asked, turning around and glaring at Sokka. Instead of apologizing, Sokka simply placed his hand on his spear, which was resting beside him.
"No, but if you want trouble, I can give it to you," the warrior replied, staring fearlessly at the man. The two held eye contact for a few seconds before the man clicked his tongue.
"Watch your step, kid," he said before returning to his meal. Sokka nodded and let the matter drop. Then, the warrior saw his companions' posture shift.
"Guys, I could handle him on my own," Sokka complained under his breath. Zuko shook his head as he scanned the room, looking at everyone in the bar.
"If you'd started a fight, everyone here would've jumped on us. That's just how these places are," the prince replied. Sokka looked at Shishui and Aang for answers.
"Actually, that's true. If a stranger came into your home and caused a scene, everyone would clearly band together against them," the Sage added, while the Avatar simply shrugged.
"I saw that they were on guard, so I acted accordingly," the Avatar remarked with a gentle smile, making Sokka laugh and confirming that he could trust his companions.
What good friends they were!