Peirce the Icy Veil (Solo)

After Kai’s meeting up with the young swordsman Dyn, he had gone on traveling south and had only just found sight of the first signs of earthling civilization. In good time too considering that the ice user was beginning to believe the idea that the humans might have gone extinct the moment he left Yuki temple. “Well it’s about time; I was starting to worry there…” He said aloud to himself as his eyes focused on the village in the distance.

At the current point in time he looked to be in quite a drab state especially considering his spar with the swordsman. The ends of his clothes seemed tattered and frilled. Dirt and grime covered the ankle areas of his bottoms and his white socks. Realizing his worse for wear state, Kai wondered if people might turn him away because of his bad smell and looks. Heck even his snow white hair looked a tad bit dirty.
“Hmmm, hope they don’t chase me away, maybe I could find somewhere to clean up. Although I doubt it would be for free…” His expression dropped to blankness. “Of all the things Master Ozin could have possibly helped me out with, he couldn’t have given me some sort of cash?!” He sighed as he adjusted the straps of the large bag on his back. {I’m gonna have to work it off, hopefully the off-putting look I have at the moment won’t put a dampener on my success of finding a job.} He thought to himself as he trudged on wards to the village.

As he grew closer, it became easier to make out what the village was comprised of. Small wooden cabins dotted the area, many of which seemed to be a place of residence for those that lived there. A large smoke cloud continued to trail from the center of the town where a large bonfire burned to the left of the village was a large lake which despite the warmer climate in the area was frozen over. Seeing this caused Kai to tilt his head with slight confusion. It was then that the sound of a town crier’s voice echoed from the center of the village.

“Our food supplies have reached its last! The gods have forsaken us and frozen over the lake which once provided the fish to our great village thrived on. It is for the very reason that we must give up our homes and move elsewhere. Mr. White has offered to pay us for our homes-“

“You know that’s not an option! That man is a menace! He’s offering us less than what our homes are worth and you expect us to just go along with him?!” A angered man yelled from behind the gathered crowed standing before the crier.

“Either we leave and try to start over somewhere else or we risk starving out here. Without the lake we cannot survive. The crops we have got cannot feed everyone.” The crier replied.

“THIS IS BULLSHIT!” Another man yelled from the back causing many others to cheer in agreement. “Mr. White must be the cause of this!”

“And what makes you think Mr. White can freeze over our lake?”

The crowed went silent and looked about as the truth settled in. Even the man which had just caused the ruckus had fallen silent as he had no idea how to answer that nor did he have any form of evidence to back his accusations.

It was only then that Kai had stepped into the village behind the large crowed. “Wow… I didn’t expect everyone to gather and welcome me to the place” He spoke louder than he thought he would and his eyes went wide as seemingly everyone turned to face him with un-amused you slightly confused expressions.

“Ah… Hi” Kai scratched the back of his head as a blush burnt a light pink over his cheeks as wondering eyes questioned who the stranger was. Comments of his sudden appearance, his strange attire and his tattered clothing circulated the group.

Realizing the terrible first impression he was making (A trait he seemed to start earning starting with Jae) he quickly thought of his options. “Um… sorry to interrupt the meeting but I couldn’t help but overhear the problem you have… With your lake freezing over I mean. I could help.”

The crier steeped down and walked through the center of the crowed with a slight sigh. “I’m sorry young man but unless by some miracle you can stop it from freezing over you won’t be able to help. Mr. White has us dead to rights and we have to take what opportunity we have to leave now while we are still capable.” He turned and addressed the crowd. Many of the people dropped their heads in defeat. Others closed their eyes in sadness. Strangely enough however, one man frowned at the stranger’s presence ignoring the fact that they all might be out of a home soon.

Seeing the state of the people caused something to pull on Kai’s heartstrings. He felt bad and wanted to help, only natural considering the way he was raised. Master Ozin had always told him and taught him that when someone is in need of help you should try your best to help in whichever way you possibly can. With this in mind, the Ice user decided to take matters into his own hands. “I may not look like much, but perhaps I could be the voice of reason between the village and Mr. White. I could persuade him into at least paying you what your homes are worth."

While many faces lit up with hope, there were a few faces that showed showed continuous defeat. The supposed crier spoke once more with the very same defeated expression. “My name is Gram Vulpe, I have been the head elder of Gloria Village for years now, boy. No one can fix an act of nature. It is simply how the world is.” He rested a hand on Kai’s shoulder and looked into his eyes with a hint of shame. “If you think you can persuade Mr. White we won’t stop you, but it’s a futile attempt. That man is as stubborn as he is arrogant.”

Kai gave a smile of reassurance realizing a way he could easily fix all their problems. “If that is the case, Mr. Vulpe’s, I might have a solution to the lake… All I ask is for some sort of help on my venture forth… “ The crowed looked up with confused expression, unsure of how this young man could possibly stop the ice. Without a word Kai walked to the very edge of the lake. The crowed followed along with Mr.Vulpes but the one, rather out of place villager hung back and disappeared.

Kai rubbed his hands together with a smile as he dropped to his knees and softly placed his hands on the icy shore of the lake. “I am no miracle worker…but I do have a gift.” As his eyelids closed, his hands began to glow with a bright aqua aura causing the villagers to step back in fright. Suddenly the ice began to crack and with each passing second it seemed to depart. The ice returned to its natural liquid form. The frost on the banks of the lake melted away and gave sight to the green foliage beneath it. The villagers looked on in shock as the bright green foliage peaked through and light aqua waves began to lap up on the shore as it did in the past. Shocked expressions turned to smiles and cheers as Kai turned to face them with a smile, scratching his head with a slightly embarrassed face from all the attention.

Celebrations however would be cut with definite quickness. Cheers died down causing Kai to raise a brow. As he turned back to the lack, he witnessed his work undone. The lack began to freeze over just as quickly as it was thawed. “What? But how?” Kai’s head tilted as he watched from where the ice began forming.

“This lake is cursed!” One of the villager’s yelled panic echoed over them when Kai quickly silenced with help from a still shocked Mr. Vulpes.

“People, please calm down. There must be an explanation for this.”

“It’s simple Elder Vulpes, This area is cur-“

“There!” Kai yelled causing his voice to erupt over the panic and stalling the people’s frantic nature. With his finger pointed to a cave in the side of a mountain Kai spoke once more. “Does someone live near that cave or in it?” He questioned softly, causing Vulpe’s to squint his eyes in the direction which Kai pointed. “I believe Mr.White’s mansion is built right atop it. Over there, can you see?” He raised Kai’s attention to the large castle like structure built right above the cave. “No one has gone into the Cave for fear of encountering a hibernating bear. Mr.White was quite adamant that he had seen the beast on many occasions from the mouth of the cave and he made it clear that we should all make an effort to never go near it.”

Kai scratched his cheek and squinted his eyes in thought. “Elder Vulpes try to keep the rest of the villagers calm. I think I should investigate this a little further. I have a theory as to what might be the cause of this “Curse”” He point emphasis on the word to show that he found it to be untrue.