pseudokhristos: Chapter 1

I opened my eyes to the biting cold.

Snowflakes drifted lazily down from a clouded sky, the pale light illuminating the icy landscape. All around me, there was nothing but an endless stretch of white, punctuated by jagged peaks in the distance. The wind howled, slicing through the air like a knife, but I felt none of it. The cold had no effect on me—nor did the unfamiliarity of the land.

Where was I?

The last thing I remembered was Denji. That look in his eyes. The boy had surprised me in ways I didn’t think possible. He’d won, and yet… here I was.

My body lay sprawled in the snow, my senses dulled by the overwhelming stillness. But that was merely the surface. I was conscious, fully aware, and unafraid. I slowly sat up, brushing the snow off my long coat, and took in my surroundings. The landscape was pristine, untouched, as if the world here had never known violence.

I stood up, stretching. My mind assessed the situation as it always did—cold, calculating, never one to let emotions interfere with practicality. This wasn’t Hell. Nor was it any realm I had been familiar with in my previous life. Yet, I felt a connection to this place. Something deeper. Older. As though the elements themselves were waiting for me.

I took a step forward, and the snow beneath my boots crunched softly. I could feel something. The faint traces of life, a small group of individuals somewhere in the distance. I focused on it, feeling the warm flow of their presence amid this frozen wasteland. People.

I moved toward them, the cold wind swirling around me. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the ice. It was peaceful here, in a way. Serene. But it wouldn’t last. It never did.

*scene*

The Northern Water Tribe was a city of ice and snow, its towering walls shimmering in the low sunlight as they stretched across the horizon. Life in the tribe was one of order, tradition, and community. The people here held their customs close, like the warmth of a fire in the coldest of winters. Outsiders were rare, and when they did arrive, they were watched with wary eyes.

Chief Arnook stood at the edge of the central courtyard, his gaze turned toward the icy waters that surrounded his home. His breath hung in the air like smoke, a reminder of the harshness of the land he governed. His people thrived here, but they were ever vigilant—against the Fire Nation, and against the unpredictable forces of nature.

He had heard reports of a strange woman found, seen wandering near the outer rim of the tribe’s territory by scouts. No one knew where she had come from, and none of the scouts had recognized her. She was unlike any outsider they had ever encountered. And her appearance—her hair—her eyes was unnatural.

Red hair the colour of blood he was told. It felt like an omen. Only those touched by the spirits, like his daughter Yue, had such traits.

Arnook’s daughter, Yue, stood beside him, her gaze soft yet distant. She had felt something too, something off about this woman. There was a power about her—an unsettling presence that neither of them could quite place.

“She claims she’s from the Southern Water Tribe,” one of the scouts reported, kneeling before the chief. “But we found no ship. No tracks. It’s as if she simply… appeared.”

Arnook furrowed his brow. “And she has no bending abilities?”

“None that we saw. But her manner… it’s strange. She speaks as though she expects something from us.”

Yue placed a gentle hand on her father’s arm. “Perhaps we should meet her,” she said softly. “There’s something about her… something we need to understand.”

Arnook nodded slowly. He wasn’t sure what this woman’s intentions were, but the Northern Water Tribe could not afford to ignore anything that posed a potential threat to their people.

*scene*

I stood at the gates of the Northern Water Tribe, my eyes sweeping over the towering walls of ice and snow. I could feel the watchful gaze of the sentries above me, their suspicion clear. They had no reason to trust me, but that was of no consequence. They would, in time.

The cold bit at my face, but I didn’t mind. I walked with measured steps, each one deliberate, as I approached the gates. The guards tensed as I neared, their spears raised cautiously. Their fear was palpable, and it pleased me.

I raised my hand, gesturing for them to lower their weapons. “There’s no need for that,” I said, my voice soft yet commanding. “I come in peace.”

The guards exchanged uneasy glances. One of them, an older man with a stern expression, stepped forward. “Who are you? And why are you here?”

I smiled—a slow, deliberate smile that I knew would unsettle them. “My name is Makima,” I replied smoothly. “I was attacked and lost consciousness. I woke up in this land unknown to me just with my clothes on my back. I’ve travelled far, and I seek shelter. Nothing more.”

It wasn’t entirely true, of course. I had no ties to the Southern Water Tribe. In fact, I had no ties to this world at all. But they didn’t need to know that. Not yet. I saw their eyes soften at my words. A good looking defenceless woman no matter how queer she looked. It was expected that they would lower their guard slightly and they did.

One of the guard begin to speak. “Attacked and left to die? Who would do tha—”

“Enough,” a voice interrupted from behind the guard.

A man emerged from behind the gates, his presence commanding respect. He was older, with a broad frame and a heavy cloak of fur draped over his shoulders. His eyes held the wisdom of a leader, but also the weight of responsibility.

He looked at me for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. “I am Chief Arnook of the Northern Water Tribe,” he said, his voice steady. “You claim to have woken up in this land unknown to you just with your clothes on my back and No ships. My scouts had found no tracks for now. It seemed you're telling the truth yet it could be a lie to allow you to enter our home.”

I tilted my head slightly, meeting his gaze with calm composure. “I have traveled by unconventional means,” I said, my voice measured. “My journey was long, and I found myself here by chance.”

Arnook’s brow furrowed, but he said nothing. His daughter, Yue, stepped forward, her pale eyes studying me with quiet curiosity.

“There’s something strange about you,” she said softly, her voice almost a whisper. “Your presence… it feels different.”

I smiled again, this time with a hint of amusement. The girl felt different to my senses too. She smelled different than the others. She smelled like moonlight. I kept it to myself “I’ve been told that before.”

Arnook exchanged a glance with Yue, and for a moment, there was silence. The cold wind swept through the air, carrying with it the weight of their uncertainty. I could feel it. Their suspicion. Their fear. It was a familiar sensation, one that I had encountered many times before in different forms.

But fear was an opportunity. It was a tool I had mastered long ago.

“Very well,” Arnook said finally. “You may enter the city. But know this: we will be watching you closely. Any sign of ill intent, and you will be dealt with swiftly.”

I inclined my head in acknowledgment. “Of course, Chief Arnook. I would expect nothing less.”

The gates creaked open slowly, revealing the heart of the Northern Water Tribe. It was a beautiful city, its walls and buildings crafted from ice and snow, with canals of shimmering water running through its streets. But beneath the beauty, there was a deep-rooted fear—a fear of the unknown, of outsiders.

As I walked through the gates, I could feel the eyes of the tribe on me. Their whispered conversations, their curious glances, their unease… all of it flowed around me like a current. But I walked with confidence, knowing that in time, they would come to see me as something more.

Yue walked beside me, her presence gentle yet cautious. She didn’t speak, but I could feel her curiosity burning just beneath the surface. She looked as if she was trying to understand me. Trying to see what lay beneath the surface.

“How long will you stay?” she asked quietly, after a moment.

I glanced at her, my expression unreadable. “As long as your father allows me to Princess.”

She frowned slightly at my vague answer, but didn’t press further. She was perceptive, but she lacked the strength to challenge me. Not yet.

We walked in silence for a few more moments, the sounds of the city surrounding us. People went about their daily routines, but I could feel their attention lingering on me, their eyes darting toward me when they thought I wasn’t looking.

It was a sensation I knew well. People always noticed me, even when they didn’t want to. It was in their nature.

As we approached the main hall, Yue paused, turning to face me. “My father will want to speak with you again,” she said softly. “But for now, you should rest. The cold here can be harsh for those who aren’t accustomed to it.”

I smiled faintly. “The cold doesn’t bother me, Princess.”

She looked at me, her brow furrowing slightly in confusion. “Still… if you need anything, you can ask.”

“I appreciate your kindness,” I replied, though the words were empty.

Yue lingered for a moment, as though she wanted to say something more, but she remained silent. After a brief hesitation, she nodded and turned to leave, her white hair catching the light as she walked away.

I watched her go, my thoughts turning over the possibilities. From what I've seen so far The Northern Water Tribe was a place of strength and tradition, but it was also fragile. Its people were ruled by fear. I had smelled it. I had heard the whispers, whispers that no human work have caught. Whispers of fear, whispers of a Fire Nation. I knew fear. It was what made me, strengthened and fear was something I could use.

I had only just arrived,, I could feel the shifting undercurrent of unease. These people had survived harsh winters and wars, yet their fear was so easy to grasp. It clung to them, seeping into their bones. Fear of the Fire Nation, fear of outsiders, and most of all, fear of change. It was a familiar fear, one I had seen and manipulated countless times before. But there was a problem: I didn’t fully understand the nature of this world yet.

This place, this “Northern Water Tribe,” as they called it, was foreign to me. And though I had observed enough to appear composed, in control, there were gaps in my knowledge—gaps that needed to be filled. These people had some strange connection to water, and yet… it wasn’t as simple as control. It was something deeper, more ingrained. It didn't seem to be the work of a devil. I could be wrong but that was unlikely. I needed to know more.

As I watched Yue disappear around the corner, I turned my gaze toward the icy walls that surrounded me. The architecture of this place was unlike anything I had seen. The buildings, carved from ice and snow, reflected the harsh, unforgiving nature of this land. But what intrigued me the most was the water. It flowed through the city in carefully crafted canals, shimmering under the pale light. And I knew, instinctively, that it wasn’t just for show. There was power here.

I knelt by the nearest canal, dipping my fingers into the water. It was frigid, biting against my skin, but I welcomed the sensation. Power pulsed beneath the surface, the same kind of elemental energy I had felt from those ‘benders’ earlier, power that reminded me of the princess. Power here seemed to be tied to the elements, but I wasn’t sure how… yet.

Closing my eyes, I focused on the water. My mind reached out, seeking to understand this flow of energy.

I tried to feel minds in it, mind possible to control. I encountered instead a barrier. How interesting. How displeasing.

My fingers left as I withdrew my hand. For now, I need more information. These people revered something they called the "Avatar"—I had heard it whispered as I entered the gates. The title had weight, meaning. It made me wonder if I could take advantage of it. They spoke of this avatar as if he was a saviour, a messiah. Why couldn’t I become it?

For now, the Northern Water Tribe’s kindness was to be my foothold. These people were cautious, yes, but they were also vulnerable. They wanted to believe in saviors, in heroes. I had always found it amusing how easily people could be led when they were desperate for hope.

---

**Third Person POV – Arnook and Yue**

Yue watched from a distance as her father, Chief Arnook, stood at the edge of the hall, his gaze locked on the horizon. The weight of leadership pressed heavily on his shoulders, and though he tried to hide it, Yue could see the concern etched into the lines of his face.

"Father," she called softly, stepping up beside him.

Arnook turned slightly, offering her a small, weary smile. "Yue, my daughter," he said, his voice as gentle as the winter breeze. "What is it?"

Yue hesitated for a moment, glancing back toward the icy courtyard where the strange woman—Makima, she called herself—had stood not long ago. There was something unsettling about her, something Yue couldn’t quite place. Her presence felt like a ripple in still water, spreading out and touching everything without anyone fully realizing it.

"That woman," Yue began, her voice uncertain. "Do you trust her?"

Arnook’s expression hardened slightly, his gaze turning serious. "I don’t know yet," he admitted. "There’s something about her that we can’t ignore. Her hair… it’s unnatural. Red hair, other worldly-looking hair like yours, Yue, is only seen in those touched by the spirits. And yet, she claims no connection to the spirits, no bending, no past we can verify."

"But why would she lie?" Yue asked, her brow furrowing. "If she were dangerous, why would she come here alone?"

Arnook sighed. "I’ve lived long enough to know that danger doesn’t always come with an army. Sometimes, it comes in silence, in ways we can’t see until it’s too late."

Yue frowned, the unease in her chest growing. There was something about the way Makima carried herself, the way she spoke—calm, collected, as though she knew more than she let on. And that smile. It was a smile without warmth, without feeling.

"I’ll watch her closely," Yue promised. "If she’s hiding something, we’ll know soon enough."

Arnook placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. "Be careful, Yue. We cannot afford to take any risks. Not with the Fire Nation closing in, and certainly not with an outsider whose intentions are unclear."

Yue nodded, though the knot in her stomach didn’t loosen. She had a feeling that this Makima was not what she appeared to be.

*scene*

The room they had given me was modest, but functional. Ice walls, fur-lined bedding, a small stone hearth that crackled with a modest fire. It was a simple accommodation, but that didn’t matter. Comfort had never been my concern. What interested me more was the proximity to their leaders. Yue had led me to one of their guest quarters within the palace—a sign that they were wary, but still extending their hospitality. A calculated move.

I sat down on the edge of the bed, my eyes drifting toward the flickering flames. The warmth was comforting, but not necessary. My mind wandered back to the Fire Nation, the whispers I had overheard about their impending invasion. This world was at war. That much was clear. But it was a war I didn’t fully understand yet.

I needed to gather information. If this world had rules, I needed to learn them. The key to controlling others was always in understanding their fears, their desires. And I already knew the people of this tribe feared the Fire Nation. That was a good start. Fear of an enemy was always a useful tool.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. I turned, watching as a guard entered the room, bowing slightly before speaking.

"Chief Arnook has requested your presence," he said, his voice formal. "He wishes to speak with you privately."

I smiled, rising to my feet. "Of course," I replied smoothly. "Lead the way."

As I followed the guard through the winding halls of ice, I couldn’t help but notice the way people avoided looking at me. They kept their distance, their eyes averted, as though they were afraid that meeting my gaze would reveal something they didn’t want to see.

Good. Fear was setting in.

The guard led me to a private chamber, where Arnook stood waiting, his arms crossed over his chest. His expression was unreadable, but I could sense the tension in the air. He was suspicious of me—rightfully so.

"Makima," he began, his voice steady but laced with caution. "I’ve welcomed you into our tribe, but I need to understand more about who you are—and why you’ve come here. Your arrival is… unusual, to say the least."

I met his gaze evenly, my expression calm. "I understand your concerns, Chief Arnook," I said, my tone measured. "But I assure you, I mean no harm to your people. My journey was not planned. I found myself here by chance, and I simply seek refuge."

Arnook’s eyes narrowed slightly, and I could see the doubt in his gaze. "You claimed many things, thing that can’t be checked, and your appearance… your hair… your eyes… they're not natural."

I tilted my head slightly, considering my response carefully. "I have always been… different," I said softly. "But my intentions are genuine. I wish only to help, if I can."

Arnook studied me for a long moment, his silence heavy. I could feel his uncertainty, his hesitation. But I also knew that he was a leader bound by duty to protect his people. He couldn’t afford to ignore the possibility that I could be of use.

"Very well," he said finally. "But know this: if you are hiding something, if you pose any threat to my people, I will not hesitate to act."

The devil smiled faintly in response. "I wouldn’t expect anything less."

Hook, line and sinker.