Rokan tried meditating quietly, the cool morning breeze brushing gently against his skin. He closed his eyes, trying to cancel out the noise around him as he took slow, consistent breaths. His shoulders rose and fell in rhythm, his expression calm but strained with concentration.
Nearby, Sumi, Rin, and Jinrai sat around a small outdoor table, casually eating breakfast. Their quiet chatter blended with the soft clinking of utensils and the occasional rustling of plates.
Rokan's brows slowly tightened.
He tried to ignore them.
Tried harder.
But their voices kept slipping into his mind.
His concentration finally snapped.
"Do you guys really have to eat so close to me?" Rokan asked, frustration evident in his voice as he opened his eyes, glaring in their direction.
Rin glanced at him with a faint smirk, lazily leaning, arms on the floor supporting his back.
"A real Avatar wouldn't get distracted…" Rin implied, before turning his gaze toward Jinrai. "...Right, Jinrai?"
"Of course," Jinrai replied casually, chewing on the bone of a chicken. "...If you were doing it right, you'd not even notice an atomic bomb explosion." He spoke through a relaxed grin before gesturing toward Rokan. "C'mon, keep going."
Rokan let out an irritated sigh and pushed himself up from the ground, dusting off his trousers. His expression shifted from focused to visibly annoyed.
"C'mon, I've been doing this for over a week now. And I haven't even had breakfast today."
Jinrai dropped the bone back onto his plate and patted his stomach thoughtfully.
"I'll get you breakfast," he said, pausing for a moment before adding, "But after one more try."
"Nooo... C'mon, Jinrai," Rokan pleaded, exaggerating a fainting motion as he slumped slightly backward.
Jinrai chuckled warmly. He stepped closer, squatting slightly before grabbing Rokan by the arm and pulling him back upright. Jinrai looked at him with a wide, amused smile, while Rokan wore a pouty, reluctant expression.
Jinrai ruffled Rokan's hair playfully.
"Alright," he said with a soft laugh. "Let's go have some breakfast."
Rokan's face instantly lit up. He shot upright, raising one arm into the air.
"Yes!"
He hurried toward the table and, without warning, snatched a slice of bread from Rin's plate before darting away with a playful grin.
Rin blinked in surprise before quickly standing up.
"Hey—!"
He rushed after Rokan, abandoning his food entirely.
Meanwhile, Sumi watched the two quietly, her eyes following them as they ran around. Then, without a word, she calmly reached over… and began eating Rin's abandoned breakfast.
Her expression remained completely innocent as she took another bite, the faintest hint of amusement flickering in her eyes.
Jinrai couldn't help but laugh.
---
The fluorescent lights hummed quietly above the police station floor. Officers moved back and forth, the sound of keyboards clicking and distant phone calls filling the air. The atmosphere felt tense — heavier than usual.
Jung Gyu stood near a desk, reviewing a report with a cold, focused expression. His eyes scanned through the documents, his brows slightly furrowed.

A junior officer approached him cautiously.
"Sir… Captain Hanns wants to see you."
Jung Gyu didn't look up immediately. He finished reading the line he was on before calmly placing the document down.
"Now?"
"Yes, sir."
Jung Gyu nodded once and began walking toward the Captain's office. His footsteps were measured, steady. Officers subtly moved out of his path as he passed, some glancing at him with quiet respect — others with unease.
He stopped in front of the office door.
Knock.
"Come in."
Jung Gyu pushed the door open.
Captain Han sat behind a cluttered desk, files stacked neatly in small piles. A television mounted behind him displayed a muted news broadcast — Rokan and Sumi's faces briefly flashed across the screen before switching to another segment.
Jung Gyu's eyes flickered toward it for just a moment.
"You called for me, sir."
Captain Hanns leaned back slightly in his chair, studying Jung Gyu carefully.
"Sit."
Jung Gyu took the seat opposite him, posture straight, hands resting calmly on his thighs.
"Your pursuit last night…" Captain Hanns began, sliding a file across the desk, "...ended without capture."
"Yes, sir."
"And you're confident they're benders?"
"Yes, sir."
Captain Han sighed quietly, folding his hands together.
"Then this just got bigger than us."
Jung Gyu remained silent, his expression unchanged.
Captain Han reached into his drawer and pulled out a small card, sliding it across the desk.
"I've been instructed to pass this to you."
Jung Gyu picked up the card.
A name.
Furama.
Jung Gyu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're to meet him," Captain Hanns continued. "Tonight."
Jung Gyu looked back up.
"Who is he?"
Captain Han hesitated for a brief second.
"...Someone above our clearance level."
That caught Jung Gyu's attention.
"Why me?"
"Because you're the one closest to this case. And…" Captain Han leaned forward slightly. "...because they requested you specifically."
A brief silence filled the room.
Jung Gyu slowly stood up.
"When and where?"
Captain Han slid another piece of paper forward.
"8 p.m. Downtown. He'll find you."
Jung Gyu nodded once.
"Understood."
He turned and walked toward the door.
"Jung Gyu."
He stopped.
"Be careful," Captain Han added quietly.
Jung Gyu paused for a moment before replying.
"...I always am, sir."
He exited the office, the door closing softly behind him as the muted television behind Captain Han once again displayed Rokan's face.
The hunt was only getting bigger.
---
The city noise faded.
The distant hum of traffic…
The faint chatter of people…
Even the sound of wind between buildings…
Everything slowly dissolved as the scene shifted—
—to a quiet cliffside overlooking the outskirts of the city.
The afternoon sun hung gently in the sky. The air was calm, with only a soft breeze rolling across the tall grass. The atmosphere felt still… almost too still.
Rokan sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes closed. His hands rested on his knees, his back straight, trying to steady his breathing.
Inhale…
Exhale…
But his brows tightened.
His breathing became uneven.
The wind brushed past him again, lightly tugging at his clothes.
Inhale—
His shoulders tensed.
Exhale—
His fingers curled slightly.
Minutes passed.
Then suddenly—
Rokan opened his eyes sharply, frustration creeping into his expression.
He exhaled loudly and ran his fingers through his hair before standing up.
"This doesn't make sense…" he muttered quietly.
Jinrai stood a few feet away, arms folded, watching him calmly.
Rokan paced back and forth, clearly irritated now.
"I've been sitting there for hours… doing nothing." He stopped and looked at Jinrai. "How is this supposed to help me?"
Jinrai didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he slowly walked closer.
"Meditation is not doing nothing," Jinrai said calmly. "It is learning to listen."
Rokan frowned.
"Listen to what? There's nothing there."
Jinrai tilted his head slightly.
"That is because you are still listening to yourself."
Rokan sighed, his frustration bubbling up.
"No— I'm trying. I'm really trying, but…" he stopped himself, exhaling slowly.
For a brief moment, his frustration cracked through.
"This method is just…" he hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "...It's just not working for me."
Silence settled between them.
Rokan looked down, his expression softening slightly.
"...Sorry. I shouldn't say that."
Jinrai's calm expression didn't change.
"It is good that you spoke honestly."
Rokan looked up.
"But frustration is not your enemy," Jinrai continued. "It is just a sign that you care."
Rokan's shoulders relaxed slightly.
But doubt slowly crept into his expression.
"...What if I'm just not cut out for this?"
The wind brushed past them again.
Rokan's eyes lowered.
"I mean… an Avatar is supposed to be calm… balanced… strong." He let out a quiet breath. "I can't even sit still without getting frustrated."
Jinrai studied him quietly.
"You believe the Avatar must be perfect."
Rokan didn't answer.
Jinrai stepped beside him, looking toward the horizon.
"The Avatar is not chosen because they are perfect…" he said quietly. "They become strong because they struggle."
Rokan remained silent.
His thoughts drifted.
Sumi's gentle smile.
Rin's calm presence.
The way they looked at him… trusting him.
Rokan slowly clenched his fists.
He exhaled slowly.
"...Right."
He walked back toward the spot he was sitting before.
Jinrai watched quietly.
Rokan sat down again, crossing his legs.
He closed his eyes.
This time, his posture was more relaxed.
More grounded.
The wind brushed gently across his face.
His breathing slowed.
Jinrai folded his arms, a faint smile forming.
The frustration was still there…
But now—
So was determination.
Rokan's concentration deepened, sharper than ever before. His breathing slowed, his thoughts quieting as he sank further inward — until suddenly, something clicked.
His consciousness slipped, and he found himself drowning within his own mind.
Dark fog blanketed the surroundings, stretching endlessly across an empty, silent space. There was no ground, no sky — just an infinite void swallowed by mist.
"Hello?" Rokan called out cautiously.
His voice echoed faintly… then vanished.
No response.
The environment felt eerily familiar — similar to the dream he once had — but this time, the atmosphere felt calmer. Less threatening. Yet, the silence still pressed heavily against him.
"You seek help?"
The sudden voice sent a chill down his spine.
Rokan spun around, his eyes widening as he spotted a misty female figure slowly approaching him, her form shifting like smoke drifting through the air.
"Who are you?!" he demanded, fear clear in his voice as he stepped back. His breathing quickened with every inhale, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
His foot slipped against the empty surface beneath him, and he fell backward, landing hard. He stared up at the floating figure, his breathing gradually settling, though his face still betrayed unease and confusion.
"Calm now?" the figure asked gently.
"W-Who… who are you?" Rokan stammered, his voice trembling, barely able to form the words.
"I am you, young Avatar."
The figure moved closer and stretched out her hand toward him.
"B-But… I'm not a woman," Rokan replied awkwardly, struggling to maintain eye contact as his gaze kept drifting downward.
"I am your past life," she said softly. "I, too, was the Avatar."
Rokan's brows furrowed. "But… I thought the Avatars stopped existing over five hundred years ago."
The woman slowly pulled her hand back, turning her back toward him.
"The Anti-Bending Law was passed over four hundred years ago," she explained quietly. "It restricted bending across the world. No Avatar after that ever felt safe. We all lived in fear… powerless, despite the abilities granted to us by the universe."
"But if you had done something… maybe they would have lifted the law," Rokan suggested hesitantly.
The figure remained silent for a moment before replying.
"An Avatar tried," she said. "Avatar Juna."
She turned back toward him, her misty form glowing faintly.
"She was captured… and killed by the government."
Rokan's eyes widened slightly.
"Nobody... Likes fighting for a cause no one believed even existed"
"But none of us knew what we were truly capable of," she added.
Rokan slowly stood to his feet. The fear that once filled his chest faded, replaced by curiosity… and determination.
"So… you really think… I can do it?" he asked.
The woman stretched out her hand once more.
"I do," she answered softly. "But I ask you… do you?"
Rokan hesitated.
He stepped forward slowly, each movement careful and uncertain. His mind wavered, yet his body continued forward as if drawn by something beyond his control.
"…Rin… Sumi… Jinrai…" he whispered.
His expression hardened with resolve.
"I promise… I'll be the one who brings balance to this world."
Rokan reached forward and took her hand.
Instantly, the surroundings burst into light.
Countless mist-like figures formed around him, appearing in a massive circle. Each one glowed faintly, their eyes shining with different elemental powers.
Hundreds… then thousands… surrounded him.
In the real world, Rokan began levitating while still seated in his meditative position.
Wind roared violently around him, snapping branches and uprooting trees effortlessly. The ground trembled as cracks formed beneath him. Lava burst from the earth, glowing fiercely as molten rock spilled outward.
Boulders lifted into the air — from tiny pebbles to massive slabs of stone.
Water formed from thin air, swirling violently before freezing into shards of ice that crashed to the ground.
Rin and Sumi rushed out of the house, their eyes widening at the chaotic scene before them.
"…Rokan…" Rin whispered, shielding his face as he struggled to keep his eyes open against the intense pressure.
Jinrai gripped tightly onto a broken tree stump to avoid being blown away. The surge of power was overwhelming.
Rokan's eyes suddenly opened.
They glowed with a blinding white light.
His hair lifted, glowing faintly along with his eyes. A vertical glowing line stretched across his eyes, marking his face with an otherworldly presence.
"Ro—Kan!" Jinrai shouted over the roaring wind.
No response.
It was as if Rokan couldn't hear him — or couldn't speak. The pressure of the storm made even breathing difficult.
Then suddenly—
Everything stopped.
The floating earth crashed back to the ground.
The wind calmed.
The ice melted.
Rokan slowly descended, gently lowered by the fading breeze before collapsing toward the ground.
Rin and Sumi rushed toward him.
"W-What just happened?" Rin asked, eyes wide as he scanned the destruction around them.
Sumi caught Rokan and gently rested his head on her lap. She shook him lightly, but he remained unconscious.
Jinrai released the tree stump and hurried over. As he examined Rokan, he noticed faint glowing lines fading across his face.
"…C'mon. Let's get him inside," Jinrai said quietly.
He lifted Rokan from Sumi's lap, placing him over his back before walking toward the house, the destroyed clearing silent behind them.
---
The road was quiet.
Not the peaceful kind of quiet — the heavy kind.
Still air. No wind. No distant traffic. Just silence pressing down on the empty street.
A few pedestrians walked past occasionally, their footsteps faint, their heads lowered. No one stayed long.
Jung Gyu stepped onto the pavement, his shoes making a soft, measured sound against the concrete. His expression remained calm, unreadable, his sharp grey eyes scanning the surroundings.
He reached into his coat and pulled out a small card.
He glanced at it briefly.
"Well… this is the place."
He slid the card back into his pocket.
Moments passed.
Then—
Headlights suddenly cut through the darkness.
A car approached slowly, the beams shining directly toward him. The brightness washed over his face, forcing him to narrow his eyes. He raised a hand slightly, shielding them from the glare.
The car rolled to a stop in front of him.
The headlights stayed on for a second longer.
Then they shut off.
Darkness returned.
Jung Gyu lowered his hand.
He stared at the vehicle for a moment before calmly stepping forward. His movements were steady, cautious — but not fearful.
He approached the passenger side.
The tinted window slowly rolled down.
Inside, a man leaned slightly toward the opening.
"Good day, detective."
Furama smiled.
It was the kind of smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Calm. Polite.
And unsettling.
Jung Gyu's gaze hardened slightly.
"You're Furama."
"Straight to business," Furama replied softly. "I like that."
The inside of the car was dimly lit. Furama wore a dark coat, his fingers resting casually against the steering wheel. His posture was relaxed — too relaxed.
Jung Gyu studied him carefully.
"You asked for this meeting."
Furama tilted his head slightly.
"I did."
A faint silence settled between them.
A pedestrian passed behind Jung Gyu, their footsteps fading quickly.
Furama glanced past him briefly… then back.
"You came alone," he noted.
Jung Gyu didn't answer.
Furama's smile widened slightly.
The night didn't feel quite as still anymore.
... To be continued...