Welcome to the Misty Palms Oasis. Last stop before hell and sunburn. The last chance to weigh your life choices and return where you came from. You will most likely end up as a land shark´s dinner. If you have accepted all these facts then come to our market where everything is ten times more expensive than anywhere else. Do not be worried. There is no chance of robbery. To those how are leaving. You are welcome to come back any time you want.

I saw a poster which had these words.

I should have bought that gravestone.

I am surrounded by six fire benders. Five of them are privates and the last one is lieutenant Zhao of the fire nation. In front of me is earth kingdom´s bottom class. No need to own a prison. Just sent them to one place freely. What could go wrong?

At least they allowed me to take my tools with me. Compass, dagger, shovel, sail, water tank, clothes, robe, fire tools, lotus tile, candle, the book, and lastly surfboard. I would like to get a sand-sailer but I doubt that they would sell one to us.

I do not think professor Zei was trying to find the library quite yet. Should I use Fung as a distraction to escape from this group? No. I should not do that. I do not want to go against white lotus. I made a mistake once. I am not going to do something similar again. This group would find me. It is only a matter of time.

(We are going to buy a camelephant for each of us. Prepare all else that is needed on your own. Do not be late. We start early morning tomorrow. You are dismissed.) Devil Zhao

I was going to find a nice place for me to sleep, but I was stopped.

(Not you. I have something to talk about with you. Come to my room in an hour. Do not be late.) Devil Zhao

Great. I am not going to sleep tonight.

In half an hour I came to Zhao´s room. He ordered me to enter a moment I knocked on the door. His room was surprisingly simple. He is not high-ranking military personnel. That would explain his current taste or he simply is a cheap person. Not complaining though. I am the same.

I chose to stay quiet and wait for him to finish his paperwork. It took another half an hour for him to put his quill down.

(I have some questions for you. I do not force you to answer but if you can then do so without the question.) Zhao

He has earned a light bit of my respect. His dedication to his work is respectable at least at the moment.

(What do you want to know?) I have some idea but I am interested in how open he is going to be.

(I want to know everything you know about the spirits of Si Wong desert.) Zhao

(All spirits which I knew to live in earth kingdom lands are living in Si Wong desert. Earth nations hardly do take any consideration to spirits. If you would ask where is the most spiritual place in earth kingdom then I would say it is here. I only know two kinds of spirits which are living here. One of them is Knowledge Seekers. They are fox-like creatures. They hardly have any combat capabilities but they can be aggressive if there is a multiple of them. They are our the best chance to find the library. They are daily bringing new knowledge to the library. That is why we should look for these spirits. Not to hunt them but follow them. That is our only hope.)

I gave a small pause to let him write all that is necessary for him. He gave me a nod so I started again.

(Next spirit is the largest problem if we find the library. Wan Shi Tong is strong and the wisest spirit out there. He is considered a kind spirit to humankind, but that comes with dangers of its own. He is willing to share knowledge between the spirits and people. He wants to see improvement to both kinds by using his collected knowledge. Under no circumstance, anyone should go against these beliefs. The only thing he hates more than war is wasted potential. No matter how it is shown. In a way, I believe he is capable of ending this war if he wants to do so above all else. There are only two spirits which I am more scared of than him. He will give access to his library if you give out nonexisting knowledge to the library. Any form of it is appropriate.)

(Do you have the next question?) Shamo

He was quiet for a while. Hopefully, he will take my surreptitious warning under consideration.

(Thank you for your sharings. I am interested to know what are our the largest danger outside the spirits.) Zhao

(Buzzard wasps and sand sharks are the most dangerous creatures out there. I am certain you know about them so I start to talk about what is next in line. Naturally, sun and night are our greatest enemies there. During the day we will suffer from skin problems, dehydration, sunburns, and starvation. Nighttime is no better. We will suffer from cold and frostbites. The only times when we can move are in the morning and evening. It will be madness to try to find the library even if we are following Knowledge Seekers. Lastly, people are also one problem. There is no proof of anything happening but more locals survive out there than those how to go there for the first time. They are risking their lives every day. They will strike to any changes they can get their hands on. They are known to not attacking other people, but they are highly capable of taking everything that they own. That naturally is the same as killing. It is just about their bride to do no direct killing no matter what.) Shamo

(I see. What are you trying to accomplice by coming here except surviving?) Zhao

(I was always planning to come here someday. There is hardly any spiritual study in the earth kingdom which is a shame. The world´s most spiritual places are the south and north poles. After them is this place. Only the avatar can get to those poles so this place is the nearest and easiest place to get by. I believe I can improve myself by gaining knowledge from spirits either from the library or from the desert. I was not planning to go to the library.) Shamo

(You know what we are. Am I correct?) Zhao

(You are from fire nation. Most likely every one of you is a firebenders. I can not believe no other outsider would come to sunny hell. You are capable of surviving during the day, but night might be even more dangerous. Fortunately for you, you can warm yourself up. You just must not get got.) Shamo

(You must have known before the cave. You managed to escape before I could have managed to force you. You still get got. You are using firebending fighting techniques. Where did you learn those?) Zhao

(That is not something, that I am willing to tell you. That is way too personal to share with anyone.) Shamo

(Shame. Your ancestors might have been firebenders. Are you interested in coming to fire nation after this exploration?) Zhao

(Sadly no. I know that I am going to be removed at a moment when my use is no longer necessary. I would not get any peace of mind even if I took your deal. I have no enormous hostility to fire nation or loyalty to earth kingdom. I am just trying to live my life by following my beliefs. To my understanding firebending´s source comes from drive. For earthbending it source is confidence. Neither of us can lose ours believes otherwise we will lose our bending. To me, earthbending is not everything I have in life. I still do not want to lose it.) Shamo

(Can I ask a question from you?) Shamo

(Sure. Go ahead.) Zhao

(Are you trying to find knowledge about war or spirits? I have a feeling you are trying to find one of those two.) Shamo

(You sure can ask the correct question. Yes. If I had to pick one then I would choose the spirits.) Zhao

(I had a feeling. Your question and interest were more aimed at them. I am sure you will use it for war but the reason behind it is different. Why are you looking for spirit powers?) Zhao

(They are the strongest power in the world no matter how much everyone says it is not. Fire nation has lost its spiritual purpose a long time ago. Even prince of fire nation Iroh has lost his purpose. He was the one how ended the great symbol of firebending the dragons. I can never forgive him for it.) Zhao

Those are big reasons. How could someone like him fall to something like killing the moon spirit? As far as I can see, he is no person to do something like that. Sure. He has a bad temper and has no discipline. Behind those is a man how wants to prove his worth to his people and return past glory. Why would someone like him smile while Zuko was burned? This also explains why they could not understand each other.

Wait! Prince Iroh! Is Lu Ten still alive?