Chapter 108 - Fall of Ba Sing Se (2/2)
Status: Complete
Description: With the Death of the current Avatar, the balance of the world has changed. To appease this world's Gaia, start restoring the balance. Infiltrate and destroy Ba Sing Se.
Rewards: 4000 SO, 1 SP (Skill Point)]
Penalty: Forceful departure.]
The rewards were collected while Nik slowly woke each of his group members through a sprinkle of water, making them groan in frustration simultaneously.
***
”This is...”
Sokka's lips trembled as he heard of everything Nik stated truthfully. Ba Sing Se was no more.
”Hey! Get me more buns, damnit!”
Toph raised her plate and shouted smugly as she immediately created an earthen wall in front of Nina, not allowing her to leave.
”Listen here, shorty! I already served you six times! Now, get your food yourself!”
Nina frowned, but seeing her cute face while a smug smile still hung on her face, Nina couldn't help but sigh.
”Alright, last time!”
She once again brought more bread while June sat beside Toph.
”So you are saying that you actually sense and see through vibration?”
”Yeah! Pretty nifty, don't you think?”
Toph grinned before opening her mouth wide and engulfing the poor bun in one whole go.
”Oi! Get me more!”
”Aaagh! Fine, damnit!”
Nina really couldn't resist Toph.
Meanwhile, the three waterbenders also stood near Sokka and Nik with a worried expression.
”What you did was wrong, Nik.”
Sokka finally uttered as he suddenly felt a sense of loss deep within his heart. His stay with Nik allowed him to slowly realise that Nik was a kind man. A reasonable man that operated outside the usual norms. His encounter with Min in the restaurant while calmly backing off was still imprinted within his consciousness, always making Sokka think more than thrice before acting up.
But today, he was utterly devasted to find out yet another facet of the man he respected.
Heartless.
Behind the calm visage that seemed to be able to even reason with death itself was simply a heartless man who wouldn't bat an eyelid before committing actions that would affect thousands of people negatively.
”What I did was wrong? Alright, let's agree for the sake of argument.” Nik finally spoke up, while he was surprised that even after planting a core into Sokka's ethics, his will remained ineffective, making Nik realise that he still had ways to go in the truest form of manipulation.
”Then what?” Nik continued with an impassive face that betrayed neither his thoughts or his newfound respect for Sokka.
”Then what?” Sokka frowned and muttered Nik's words, his expression turned hesitant for a moment, just like the other three girls that stood witness to the confrontation.
June had no interest in the life of others, Toph wasn't a saint either while Nina was forced to be sold by her own parents, so it was safe to assume that even she did not hold the same opinion as Sokka.
But out of the trio waterbenders, surprisingly, Karna seemed to be sighing while making her way towards Nik as she gently embraced his body without any hint of passion, but endless warmth and comfort radiated out of her physique.
”I don't know if it was a hard decision for you or not...” She whispered before tightening her embrace, as if trying to convince herself.
”But, I want to believe in you, no matter what.”
She finally whispered while Nik gently wrapped his arms around her quivering body as he whispered a— thank you— in a sincere tone that echoed from the depths of his heart, making Karna feel that she might just have selected a right path for herself by giving their relationship another chance.
Although there might not be much openness between the duo, Karna was already a decisive woman held by the bonds of society. Now that she could think for herself, no matter correct or foolish, she intended to follow through her own decisions.
Yue, on the other hand, looked at Nik before looking at the city and then once again looked at Nik.
”Um... is there a chance that the city would have fallen even if you hadn't contributed?”
Yue finally questioned. She didn't know what was right anymore.
And from Nik's point of view, the confusion was the most normal reaction he observed after Sokka's blames.
”Maybe, maybe not. Did my answer satisfy you?”
Nik still smiled, even though, he couldn't help but feel a bit dejected. Even Yue's expression soured a bit after hearing his question, the tone of blame hidden in his voice was too apparent. Never had she thought that Nik would actually blame her for his own actions, but his tone also served as an awakening call.
Gazing at the empty ground for a moment, she realised, that she too, did not care. To care for people she hasn't met, even in her own vocabulary, was too stupid. Not to mention, comparing them with someone who has been taking care of her all this time.
Even after leaving her tribe, never did Yue recall any of her experience in a state of blissful nonchalance. All of this was possible due to Nik's tender affection that left little room for sadness.
”Your answer does not satisfy me...” she spoke honestly while matching Nik's gaze. Their eyes locked onto each other before she smiled gently.
”But I suppose, I could try to be on the compromising side of our relationship for once.”
She walked over to Nik before softly caressing his cheek while whispering gently and affectionately.
”Can you forgive me?”
”After a round of punishment, of course.” Nik grinned before planting a soft kiss on her forehead while patting her back gently.
”I see... let's get it sorted out then.”
Sokka sighed heavily. While there were no winner or loser in this scenario, seeing how easily other girls took Nik's side still served as a tool of dejection within him. He looked at Katara, who could be considered the most troubled within the group and sighed once again.
”Katara, what do you think of this situation?”
”I...”
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