"This place is hot and awful," Sokka complained. He had his spear slung over his shoulder and looked around for potential threats. He'd noticed that some people were staring at them for too long.
He didn't care if the stares were out of curiosity because they were foreigners or if they had something against them. The warrior was determined to show those people that they weren't easy to mess with, so he didn't shy away from their gaze.
Many backed down instantly, while others, perhaps braver, held eye contact for several seconds before backing down due to the distance.
"This is an oasis, and we're in an area that could be considered a slum, even though this place isn't even the size of a city," replied Shisui. He walked confidently with his hands in his pockets, whistling casually.
"Yes, I've noticed that some people here have dagger scars, and some are missing fingers. There might be thieves, so don't let anyone get close to you. If necessary, strike first," Zuko said, holding up his right fist from which a small spark of fire emerged to emphasize his words.
"Do we really have to attack? Couldn't we just warn them?" Aang asked hesitantly, causing the prince to shake his head before placing his hands on the hilts of his swords.
"Aang, I know you have a different view of violence than we do, but dangerous criminals are dangerous no matter where or who they are. If a child approaches you in a place like this, don't trust them. Many of them are thieves," Zuko said, nodding toward a group of children who were 'playing' together. However, they were too cautious to approach.
"Societies that lack ideological standards, like the Air Nomads, are tragic, Aang. Among your people, individuals inclined toward social disruption were rare, but out here, it's never wise to trust strangers," the Sage explained as he pulled out an Earth Kingdom coin and tossed it to one of the children, who quickly caught it.
"You look smart. Tell me where Professor Zei is staying," the sage said, causing the boy to nod. He separated himself from the other boys, who were looking at him with envy. He stepped ahead of the quartet and ran off in one direction.
"I don't get it. I know you taught me about economics, Shisui, but I can't understand why there's so much inequality in the world. Not just with money, but with knowledge, food, and the ability to defend oneself or fight," Aang remarked.
Shisui glanced at him sideways before letting out a long sigh.
"That, my dear Aang, is a question many have tried to answer, and many more will try to answer in the future. They will propose ideas, philosophies, and methods of government. However, among humans, there will inevitably be inequality in one form or another," the Sage replied, brushing back the hair that covered his face.
"Imagine this: Everyone has access to every material possession possible. The same money, the same houses, the same education, the same physical training. We can be more extreme and idyllic. Everyone is a bender with an equal number of each element," Shisui began to explain. The other three and even the boy leading them paid close attention to his words.
"However, in this world where everyone has the same things, groups begin to emerge. 'Our skin is very light, different from these people's skin, so we must stick together.' 'Our skin is darker than theirs, so we must unite.' 'Our skin isn't light or dark, so clearly we must band together.'
What do you think will happen in that situation? Obviously, there's already a difference, so they'll start looking for something else. 'We're men who like women with certain characteristics.' 'We're women who like men with certain key traits.' 'Our hair is this color!' 'Our eyes are this color and shape!' 'We're taller!' 'We're shorter!'
'We learn fast!' 'We learn slowly!' Groups, subgroups, and more subgroups, down to the absurd. 'I have one more tooth than the rest. All of us with one extra tooth should unite since those with two extra teeth have already banded together.'
Do you see the pattern? Humans say they seek equality and fairness, yet they instinctively segregate themselves into separate groups. I haven't even delved into external enemies, intergroup contempt, and so on." Shisui's explanation left Aang speechless as he fully understood his friend's words.
"Your culture had some issues, but I have to say it did things right. However, certain aspects of the Air Nomads would be seen as strange and even disturbing elsewhere. For example, there is no concept of the nuclear family. It's hard to imagine that in the other nations," said the Sage as he patted Aang on the shoulder and bid the Avatar farewell.
"So, Aang, don't get hung up on those things. Balance doesn't mean everything has to be the same. That's a very crude way of looking at it. I know your mind is all over the place because of what happened in Omashu. I'm affected by it, too, but you have us to talk to." Shisui concluded before approaching the entrance to the small building and knocking loudly on the door.
"Professor Zei! We're here with some questions about the Wa Shin Tong Library. I know what's inside. I'm not a debt collector! Open the door!" the Waterbender shouted, pounding constantly on the door with a slight smile on his face. He found the situation amusing.
"You dropped a mental bombshell that had me thinking about it the whole way here, and now you're playing childish pranks. Now that's balance," joked Sokka as he stifled a laugh, causing Aang to laugh as well.
"Welcome to my reality," Zuko said with a smile, but he soon narrowed his eyes. Through his heat sense, he could see two people inside the bungalow. If he had noticed, it was clear that Shisui must have as well.
The door opened to reveal Professor Zei, who looked excited. Standing beside him was a man matching the description they'd been given of Qin.
"You're really here to ask about the library and not to collect payment from me?!" Today's my lucky day!" the professor exclaimed. Meanwhile, Shisui narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Qin.
He observed his aura but didn't reveal what he'd found. Instead, he maintained his relaxed posture and chatted with Professor Zei about their mission to find and reach the legendary library.
Arrangements were quickly made for them to join the airship's crew. Shisui felt he didn't have much in common with these men since they only talked about the library and nothing else. This bored the Sage.
Thus, under the gaze of many, the airship and Appa took off, leaving the oasis behind and venturing deep into the desert. After several course changes, false sightings, and an exasperating 'There it is!' from Professor Zei, they finally saw something other than sand in the desert.
The airship landed near a tower. Toph and Petra quickly used their seismic sense to perceive the building's true design. They discovered that something was buried beneath the sand.
They had found the legendary Library of Wa Shin Tong! Thrilled by this discovery, Shisui was one of the first to climb the tower, eager to enter it. However, he first glanced at the Fire Nation soldiers who had stayed behind to protect the airship and Appa.
"We noticed they were following us. Those people probably don't have good intentions, so kill them," the Sage ordered, taking several in the group aback with the harshness of his words.
"I-is that necessary? We mustn't defile such an important and sacred place of knowledge with barbarity!" Professor Zei retorted. Shisui ignored him, knowing the man had already served his purpose.
He wasn't used to acting that way, but ever since he saw Qin, who always had a gentle smile on his face, he'd had some suspicions, so he'd become much more ruthless.
"Sometimes I forget that this guy went to war," muttered Sokka. He wasn't all that surprised by those kinds of orders since, as a pirate, he had killed enemy sailors who resisted his attack after he asked them to surrender.
"I don't think we need to go to such extremes. Aren't they just following us? Maybe they have something important to tell us!" Aang wasn't ignorant or naïve, but he tended to look on the bright side. Clearly, however, this situation wasn't as he described it.
"It's a bit extreme, but even I know it's not good for strangers to follow you to an isolated place," Suki remarked. After saying that, she quickly climbed the tower, relying solely on her physical abilities.
"I also think it's extreme, but when you live at the South Pole, sometimes being extreme is necessary," Katara whispered to Aang. He was also upset by how things had turned out. She herself had been cruel to some enemies in the past, human or not.
Surviving at the South Pole meant more than enduring the cold and scarcity. Even Katara, who hadn't gone out to sea like her brother, had had several unpleasant encounters. She understood, though she didn't agree with the Sage's actions.
At this point, the culture clash between Aang and the others was becoming apparent. After 100 years of no interaction between the four cultures, the Air Nomads' thoughts and opinions clashed sharply with those of the other three nations.
A hundred years of conflict had changed so much. Now, Aang felt that people could clearly understand one another, but chose not to most of the time. The worst part? When he really thought about it, he knew that, even with all his power, he couldn't change anything right away.
"Shisui! Is there any way?" the Avatar asked, leaping and entering the tower, propelled by the wind. He walked toward the Sage, who, though he didn't hear exactly what Aang wanted to ask, could more or less understand his intent.
"Yes, it is and will be a slow process, but gradually, things can change and improve. For example, I prevent knowledge from being hoarded by a select few.
More schools are slowly being built in the Fire Nation, even in rural areas and colonies. The percentage of people capable of reading and performing complex arithmetic operations is slowly increasing." Shisui replied, watching everyone climb up to the tower before walking through it and descending.
"As the Avatar, you can achieve and guide things that we cannot. You can guide people and teach them to think and take action. It depends entirely on you, Aang. Even if you decide to do nothing, you are fully within your rights, as the world owes the Avatar a great deal." The Sage concluded before turning to admire the interior of the facilities.
The library had hundreds, even thousands, of bookcases crammed with books and scrolls. Shisui spotted some leather and papyrus scrolls lying around, too. Each member of the group scattered, looking for what interested them. Shisui gradually found himself alone, wandering.
"It seems there are two people interested in me. Why don't they make themselves known?" Shisui stopped in front of a bookshelf holding a series of documents that caught his attention: food recipes from all over the world, and the author was him.
"You haven't stopped suspecting me since you first saw me, Sage Shisui." Qin stepped out from behind a bookshelf, stopping ten meters away from the sage and maintaining his smile the whole time.
"How could I not notice someone as strange as you? But it's improper to speak without the host of this place making an appearance," the sage remarked. He gazed at a space beside him where a massive black figure soon materialized.
Wa Shi Tong looked like a gigantic owl, just as the tales described him. He bowed his head, bringing his face close to Shisui's. He stared at Shisui without blinking for exactly one minute before stepping back and assuming a dignified posture.
"Welcome to my library, Sage," the spirit said, bowing. He glanced sideways at Qin but, perceiving nothing of interest, turned his gaze back to Shisui.
"Or should I call you 'Setsubun no Shisui'?" Wa Shi Tong asked suddenly. Shisui smiled as he cracked his neck. He found that this nickname suited him well, fitting perfectly with his new spirit.
How pleasant Wa Shi Tong was!