Formerly regarded as one of the most talented Chi-Blockers to have ever lived, Saekaera was born somewhere out near The Great Divide, she once claimed that she was born to two earth benders. Many rumors have surfaced, ranging from claims of her defeating a swarm of Canyon Crawlers single-handedly before she hit the age of six. Of course, it is unwise to believe such rumors. She did, however, learn Chi-Blocking at a young age. She once claimed that her master was a nomad that was far superior to her, but she claims his fate was unknown. That is a lie; she knows exactly what happened to him.
Saekaera was taught to use her fists by her master, but as she learned more about chi-blocking, she came to the conclusion that one need not use exclusively fists. She had been a hot-tempered girl, hating the world she knew, and this proved a fine outlet for her anger. Saekaera fashioned a training staff from a branch one day, and the next day her master appeared, she surprised him with the stick, almost besting him for the first time. Her moves were not as fluid as her hand-to-hand abilities, but she trained with her fists and her staff. As time wore on, she grew into a woman who had mastered the art of chi-blocking. Yet, she still fell to her master. It was his taunts that drove her forward against the aging man, and improved her skill further.
They traveled for a time, helping people along roads, and stopping benders that threatened innocents. Her skill continued to grow, and she learned to control the staff with fine precision, disabling benders with it. She used the staff to compliment her tactics, using her fists as well. And her master trained her to use both hands, for she would be more fluid that way. She became an ambidextrous force that disabled many. Her name spread across the lands, but her master’s name did not spread like hers, no, not even she was sure she had known his real name. But regardless, she respected him. And her name spread across the land like a wildfire.
One day, her master surprised her with a Naginata, and she was overjoyed. He had told her that a wise chi-blocker defended themselves and to only use her training to disable an opponent, but should she need to end a threat once and for all, to do so. She learned to defend with the stick, and to battle without the blade. She learned to use the blade against Canyon Crawlers, which she had trained against while her master was gone. She grew to almost match the master one day, and the last time they trained was a sad day.
He taunted her as he usually did, but this time he claimed he was going to use his abilities to their fullest. He had been holding back the entire time they had been training, but she had grown to match him blow for blow. He continued his taunts, eventually enraging her by accident. He hadn’t known what he had said to infuriate her so, but despite her training, she let herself go. She had unleashed a fury of strikes against her master, striking him until he was bested. And then she continued. Over and over and over and over again she struck him, until he was nothing but a pulp. Still, she persisted. She continued until she was tired. But she did not stop. She did not stop after the sun fell. She did not stop.
Realizing what she had done, she dropped her Naginata. Her fists, as well as her Naginata, were stained red with the blood of her now-dead master. He had taught her much, taught her to stay calm. But her temper overwhelmed her, despite her years of training. She looked upon the unrecognizable gore beneath her. And yet, she did not stop striking it. She realized then she would never stop striking it. Not as long as she lived. She could not allow herself death, she had to atone. How, she did not know. She honored the remains of her now former master, and refused to weep. She could not weep, for it was her fault. She could have stopped, but she did not.
Taking the Naginata, she headed to a stream to clean herself and her weapon. She spent a small while there reflecting on what she had done, still. An eternity passed before she came to the realization that it was not some terrible nightmare. She stared at the moon. How long had passed since she began striking her master? She did not know. She felt sick. And yet, she could not stop striking him. The imagery was burned inside her mind. She was guilty, and that’s when the panic attacks started. The image plays over and over in her mind, at all times. It does not stop, ever. It only grows worse when she grows angry or stressed.
She began to wander, helping travelers, acting as a vigilante of sorts. Many knew who she was, but none seemed to recognize the disappearance of her master. She felt alone, lost, but she hated herself. She deserved this. Many saw the discomfort in her eyes. But one day, she began to wear a hood, one that covered most of her face. She could not stand hearing her name uttered. But she had to atone herself. She helped the travelers, and continued to for a time. This was her only purpose, her only goal.
One day, she was cut. The bleeding did not stop, but she fought until she was certain the travelers she had been protecting were safe. When she was indeed certain, she looked down. She was still bleeding. It did not stop. And when she fainted, she thought she had finally died. In the blackness, she felt angry. She had not been atoned. Her master’s death still weighed upon her. But despite it, she hoped to forget. Maybe the blackness would consume all her memories.
That did not happen.
She reawakened in Republic City, having been healed to the best of the healer’s abilities. She had lost a lot of blood, and for a moment she felt as if she had been cursed to a life of undeath. She grew afraid at the very thought of living eternally with the guilt of her master’s death weighing upon her. As soon as she was able, she decided to set out to find her death to the Canyon Crawlers that she had trained against. But, again, that did not happen.
She was stopped when she bumped into a man wearing strange attire. She had gone to apologize when the man bowed to her; she assumed that he had known her. When she asked why he did so, he did not answer; he just smiled and continued where he was going. Angry, and afraid, she chased him down the streets until he had brought her to a humble building. Inside, there were many men just like him. None spoke, but they all seemed content.
She was wrong in assuming none of them spoke, for a man in similar attire stepped out from a room in the humble building. He told her of his order, and how they lived happily. They were monks, many of them were formerly warriors, some benders, but all of them were happy. None spoke, except this man. He was allowed to speak. His vows allowed him to.
After learning about the order, she asked to join. The man allowed it, for all were allowed. She was new, young, and eager to find her atonement. It was here, she decided, that she would. She took up their robes, and trained with them until she felt ready to join them. The last words she spoke were her vow of silence. Years passed, each of them silent, content. She helped travelers still, but she remained silent as she did so. Even her movement was silent. She never made any noise. Well, that is not entirely true. But she was still quite quiet. Only a few knew her name, and her talents, but most of them were sworn to silence as she was.
Saekaera still does not believe she has found atonement, but she feels she is along the right path. She teaches others what her master taught her, but never to the extent she had learned from her master. She could only teach so much while silent, but still, she was a good teacher. When she was asked to come forth and help the new Avatar, she nodded her approval. She hoped that she would find her atonement by helping.
Lady Selune,
Krasnaya,
ButtsnBalls,
JJ Doe
Member