"I think we've found the perfect spot," Ikari remarked, his eyes scanning the horizon. The area around the boat was calm, free of ice, with the current flowing gently, creating a serene and safe environment for what he had in mind. 'Yeah… this is it.' He stopped bending the air and lowered the sail, leaving the boat at the mercy of the small waves around them. "Shall we begin?" he asked, walking toward Katara.
The girl eagerly nodded, her excitement returning in full. "Let's do it!"
"Alright." Ikari sat down facing her, crossing his legs in a comfortable position. "What I'm about to explain is based on what I've read and the conclusions I've drawn from my own experiences with bending in general. I could be wrong in some parts — a true master would have much deeper and more precise knowledge to guide you. But… this will at least give you a starting direction."
Katara nodded vigorously, absorbing every word with almost tangible focus, barely blinking.
"Okay, let's start right from the beginning," Ikari continued, his voice clear and instructive. "It all starts at birth, where we may come into the world with the gift of bending or not. I'm not entirely sure if the factor that allows us to bend is inherited from our family's ancestors, or if it's just luck — considering there are far more non-benders than benders. But the element we'll be able to bend is definitely inherited."
Ikari went on, gesturing slightly to emphasize his points. "The Air Nomads bent air; the Water Tribes, like you, bend water; the Earth Kingdom bends earth; and the Fire Nation bends fire. Of course, if someone from one nation has children with someone from another, the child may be born with the element inherited from either the mother or the father. And remember, we can manipulate only one element, with only the Avatar able to bend all four."
He placed his hand on his chin, thinking for a moment before continuing. "Now, how does bending work? As I told you yesterday, each element has its own 'rules,' which are reflected in the characteristics of the movements we use to manipulate it. For example, airbending is done with circular, evasive, and fluid movements, while earthbending uses strong, firm, and grounded movements. Traditionally, we use hands and feet, but extremely skilled and powerful benders can bend with minimal movement, such as using only their head."
Katara's eyes widened. "Only the head?!" she asked, unable to imagine herself doing anything like that.
"Yes…" Ikari replied, his voice growing reflective, as if remembering something. "It's impressive to see. It's like the element becomes a complete extension of the bender."
"Have you ever met someone like that, Ikari?" Katara asked, leaning forward, her eyes shining with curiosity, eager for more details.
"I have." He smiled faintly. "Remember the King of Omashu I mentioned last night?"
"The one you're working with?" Katara frowned, trying to pull the name from memory. "What was his name again…? Bumo?"
Ikari let out a small laugh. "It's Bumi."
"That's what I said!"
"Hehehe, yeah, yeah," Ikari shook his head before getting back on topic. "Bumi can earthbend using only his face. The guy is… a monster, in the best sense."
Katara absorbed the information with a look of pure admiration, her mind painting vivid images of an incredibly powerful old man manipulating giant rocks with just a simple movement of his chin. The thought fascinated her, but also stirred an even greater curiosity about the boy in front of her. And a question that had been gnawing at her since she'd met Ikari slipped out: "Ikari… how strong are you?"
"How strong I am…?" He went silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the boat's floor, reflecting on the question with a thoughtful expression. 'I've never stopped to think about it… but considering that technique…' He came to a conclusion, lifting his gaze to Katara. "It's hard to say for sure. There are many exceptional benders out there, and I have the advantage that almost no one has experience fighting an airbender. But if I had to guess… I'd say I'm near the top."
"Really?!" Katara exclaimed, her eyes widening even more. "Near the top? Like, among the best in the world?" The thought that the easygoing, playful boy in front of her could be among the most powerful benders in the world left her stunned. 'If he's saying that, then he must be… incredibly strong!'
Ikari shrugged. "It's not a big deal, honestly. A bender, no matter how strong or experienced, can be defeated with a good strategy or by sheer numbers. There's no such thing as someone with absolute power in our world."
"You… are very humble," Katara said, a soft smile forming as she looked at him.
"Thank you, but I'd say I'm a realist," Ikari replied with a smile of his own. "Now, let's get back to what matters. We've strayed too far from the subject… huh… where was I again?"
"We were talking about the movements for bending," Katara replied quickly.
"Oh, right, that. To recap, each element has its own bending movements. It's possible to use the movements from another bending style to manipulate your own element, but I don't recommend trying that just yet. Wait until you've mastered waterbending properly. Now, let's talk about what makes all of this possible: chi, the energy within us that allows us to bend the elements."
"Chi is, in short, the vital energy that lives within us." Ikari ran his hand along his opposite arm, as if tracing a path. "It flows through the energy pathways of our body like invisible rivers, and it's what gives us strength, balance, and the ability to bend. We, benders, can extend chi from the movements of our hands and feet beyond our bodies, allowing us to bend the elements. That's why learning the correct movements of your bending style is crucial: they're what help direct and amplify chi outward."
"However, even without the technique, Katara, you can still bend water. That's why, when you started moving your arms earlier, I told you to stop. You could have accidentally bent the water around us and damaged the boat."
"Oh… sorry?"
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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, images or songs featured in this fic. Additionally, I do not claim ownership of any products or properties mentioned in this novel. This work is entirely fanfic.