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Ryan clenched his fists, forcing himself to endure the soreness in his body. He couldn't afford to be weak. Not here. Not when his very survival depended on his ability to adapt.
The firebenders thought they had wiped out airbending, but now, he existed—a second airbender in a world where there should have been only one.
He wasn't naive enough to believe they would let him live freely. No, if anything, they were likely deciding what to do with him at this very moment.
His mind drifted to Zuko, the exiled prince obsessed with capturing the Avatar.
'I saw imperial guards walking the corridor while I was training, which means this is Zuko's ship.'
As he sat in his cell, the rhythmic rocking of the ship made him more aware that they were moving. He had no way of knowing how long he had been here before he reincarnated.
Likely, they were moving toward the Northern Water Tribe—if he remembered the story correctly.
That meant he had *time*—not much, but enough to train.
With that thought, Ryan pushed himself up, suppressing a groan as his muscles burned in protest. He wobbled slightly but steadied himself. He couldn't afford to waste a day.
He returned to his stance, focusing on balance. He moved in slow, circular motions, mimicking what he had seen Aang do countless times in the show.
But without a proper teacher, he was working blindly. He needed to *feel* the air, understand its flow, and let it guide him instead of forcing his movements.
Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply.
"Feel the air…"
He extended his arms and shifted his weight, trying to make each movement weightless.
The first few attempts were clumsy—his foot slipped against the ground, and he nearly tripped more than once. But he kept going.
"Again."
His breathing deepened, matching the rhythm of his movements. It was like shadowboxing. Try imagine a opponent and only evide the attacks. But then, as he continued, something changed.
A faint breeze stirred around him.
Ryan froze. "It worked? "
He tried again, repeating the movements, focusing on the way his arms cut through the air and how his body swayed with the invisible currents. The air shifted again—slightly, but it was there. It responded.
His heart pounded. "Finally."
But before he could continue, a loud *clang* echoed from the door.
Ryan turned just as it swung open, revealing two guards.
"You," one of them barked. "Come here."
Ryan's body tensed.
This was different from before. They hadn't come to drop off food, and they weren't here to mock him.
He remained silent while the guards place some heavy handcuffs on his hands.
One grabbed his arm roughly and yanked him forward. Ryan stumbled but caught himself.
They led him through the metal corridors once more. The heat inside the ship was rising, making it feel like he was walking through an oven. His mind raced with possibilities.
'They are probably taking me to Zuko.'
The halls were mostly empty, except for the occasional firebender patrolling the area. Eventually, they stopped before a heavy door where two imperial guards were guarding it. One of the guards knocked twice before sliding it open.
Inside, standing behind a table with a map laid out before him, was the exiled Prince Zuko.
Ryan was shoved inside, and the door slammed shut behind him.
Zuko didn't look up immediately. He was staring intently at the map, his brows furrowed in thought.
Ryan took a cautious step forward.
Zuko's golden eyes finally met his, unreadable. "Tell me who you are."
Ryan hesitated. He didn't remember anything from this body's owner—he wasn't the Avatar, just an airbender. But clearly, Zuko wasn't satisfied with that answer.
"I... don't know who I am," Ryan said. "I don't even know how I got here."
Zuko's jaw tightened. "Airbenders were wiped out a hundred years ago. The only one left is the Avatar. So tell me why do you exist."
Ryan stayed silent. 'Plot? Luck? Anything is possible.'
Zuko exhaled sharply. "You're an airbender. That makes you a threat. My father—" He cut himself off, looking away for a brief moment before continuing. "The Fire Nation doesn't let threats live."
Ryan's stomach sank. He knew what Zuko was implying.
Ryan remained silent, watching him closely.
Zuko didn't continue immediately. His fingers curled into a fist, as if he was debating something.
Finally, he spoke. "I need to be sure of something first."
Ryan frowned. "What?"
Zuko turned away, staring out the window at the dark waters outside.
"You're not the Avatar," he muttered. "But you're still something valuable." His voice hardened. "And I need to know how valuable."
Ryan knew what his words implied. He was about to become a trap for the Avatar.
Before he could respond, Zuko gestured to the guards. "Take him back to his cell."
Ryan was grabbed once more and dragged back through the halls. His mind raced the entire way.
Zuko knew that now he founded a important piece. Who knew that he would stumble on such a valuable guy on his way to the Avatar.
As he was tossed into his cell again, Ryan made a decision.
He needed to get stronger. He needed to train, no matter how much it hurt.
Because soon, he would have to make a choice.
Escape… or die in Fire Nation hands.
And Ryan refused to die.
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