Avatar: Awakened Gamer

Chapter 106 - Hopes of Light



***
Lao Beifong, a man of many talents. He had to be so, to not only have his family keep the same wealth his father had built, but also increase it.

Going back three generations, his family was nothing too special. But now it has become the most respected and powerful family within the Earth Kingdom. Of course, this had all started with their ancestor teaching Avatar Roku Earthbending. That was when the family started becoming powerful.


While the Beifong Family had been around during the time of Avatar Kiyoshi too, back then, the head of the family at the time didn't make good decisions which led to their decline.


As the crisp morning wind blew about the trees, Lao took a deep breath, the cold air bringing a chill to his lungs. But this only made him feel more awake. "I mustn't make the same mistakes as my predecessors. Whether the Avatar wins or loses, the Beifong Family must come out on top."


Lao wished he could meet the Avatar or one of his companions, confident that he would be able to build a good relationship between them. The Beifong Family name would be left to Toph in the far future, who was just a weak, young, blind girl. Lao felt his heart crumble at the thought of that, his poor blind daughter fighting against the treacherous people of this world. 


"No! I won't let it happen! By the time my life comes to an end, the Beifong Family must be so strong that even a blind girl would be able to safely manage it," even though he said those words out loud, deep down, Lao knew that he was only trying to convince himself. "How ridiculous, being part of the most powerful family in the Earth Kingdom, and yet feeling so weak against the inevitable."


"Lord Beifong," suddenly one of the guards came toward him. He bowed in respect and announced. "You have a visitor. He says that he is Sokka, the young man from the Flying Pig, he wants to discuss something with you."


Remembering the young man from back then, a smile came to Lao's face, this world already had so many bad people in it. A couple more good ones would do it justice. "Take him to the meeting room. I am interested in what he wants to talk about. Also, tell the cooks to prepare a hefty breakfast."


'Is he here to ask for funding? Or maybe a backing from the Beifong Family name?' - Lao wondered, a little excited at the prospect of what Sokka might ask of him. It wasn't every day one got to meet such a genuine young man.



…
When he arrived at the meeting room, Lao was greeted by a smiling Sokka. The young man always seemed without a worry in the world, it made the head of the Beifong family a little envious, wishing that he too could be at least half as carefree as Sokka seemed to be.


"Lord Beifong," he clasped his hands in respect. "I am glad that you decided to meet me. I have something to tell you."



"Oh? Is that so?" Lao Beifong, acting like the harmonious, and wiser man in the room, sat down on the other side of the table. "Tell me about it then. I hope it's something interesting."


"You know I am a waterbender right?" Asked Sokka, manipulating the tea in his cup to move about like a water snake, before it went back where it belonged. Into the teacup. "Well, we waterbenders have another ability."


Sokka took out a small knife. Lao panicked for a split second, but then remembered that with one yell, the earthbenders situated outside of this room would barge in and destroy the young man in front of him if he tried anything. 


Sokka cut the palm of his hand, and blood started flowing out of it. But with his other hand, he gathered some water from the water pouch he had on him, and the water glowed as it healed the cut in his palm. "Though it is a lesser-known usage of waterbending. Waterbenders can heal too. Normally small cuts can be healed immediately and large wounds can become better."


"Oh! That's quite amazing!" Exclaimed Lao, truly surprised by such an ability as he hadn't known waterbenders could do such things. This lack of knowledge was due to the isolation of the Northern Water Tribe, and the Southern Water Tribe not having any waterbenders for decades now. At least until the current Avatar's companion came around. "What a truly fascinating ability. I know some of my wealthy friends who would likely pay a huge price for your services."




Sokka shook his head. "I am not here for your wealthy friends," he then took out a small capsule of water. "I remembered that your daughter was blind. This liquid in my hand is called Spirit Water, the same water that the spirits of the Moon and Ocean swim in. Its healing properties are said to be so amazing that it can heal even permanent scars."



Lao immediately understood what Sokka meant by that. He didn't even bother to think whether it might be a scam or not, and instead. "Any price," he offered. "Name any price, and I will buy your services, and the Spirit Water."


Even if Sokka asked for everything the Beifong Family had. As long as it could heal his daughter's eyes, Lao would be willing to give it all away. Wealth could be built back up again, but health didn't have a price tag. This wasn't a deal that Lao even needed to think about for even a split second longer. 


Sokka's eyes widened for a split second. As if he hadn't expected such a swift answer. But the polite smile on his face was back within an instant and he scratched the back of his head nervously. "No, no, there's no need for that. When you offered the backing of your Beifong family back then. I knew that you were a kind man. That's why I decided to use this on your daughter for free. I don't know whether it can cure her blindness, I can only promise you that I will give it my all to help her."



***
Toph, who was currently in her room, heard the conversation between her father and Sokka. Her frown deepened, the more she heard, the deeper her frown became.


'What is he thinking? Lying to father like that? When he discovers that it doesn't work, he will be heartbroken. That isn't something I can forgive easily, even if it helps with my happy departure.'


Suddenly, the door to her room opened and Sokka, with her happy father, came in.

"Toph," her father called out. "Let me introduce you to Sokka. He is the man we met at the Flying Pig. He is a kind young man that knows a certain procedure that can help you gain your eyesight. Don't be too excited though, as it might not work."


As her father was saying that, Toph could sense from the vibrations in the ground that his heart was beating crazily, affecting his blood flow. This showed that even if he said all that, for Toph to not be too excited. Lao Beifong was in fact, the one who was even more excited.


"Oh! That's amazing!" She acted out her part as a naive young girl who believed in these things. This was the least she could do for her parents that had sacrificed so much for her.


Sokka smiled shamelessly and mentioned toward her bed. "Yes, I will try my best. Now please lay down there." 

Toph smiled, showing the gentle side, as her parents were there. She also kept her proper manners and laid down on the bed with perfect postured manners.


'Jeez, father is too excited. He didn't even do a check on Sokka or what his intentions might be. He immediately brought him here for the procedure.' - While Toph was not a believer in ever gaining her eyesight again, but… she too couldn't help the trace of nervous hope taking place in her heart.


Even with her eyes open, she didn't see anything but darkness. But suddenly, she felt a warm stream of water touch her eyes.