Avatar: Immortality

Ten Pillars.

An unknown organization with unknown goals. No one knew such an organization existed. It was their strict rule to not let any information about them leak out, even to their close ones. Only when they had already established a stable and strong nation would they reveal themselves.

Currently, such an organization was having its every quinquennial (5 years) meeting.

Ten huge and long pillars made of pure brown rock stood, forming a large circle. Each pillar had a seat made out of rock connected to it.

The whole place was covered with mist, but each pillar could still see the others clearly. Most of them had apathetic expressions as they sat in their own unique positions.

Huan, the strategist, started to talk, "It's been a long time since we saw each other. I hope the people who had missions have achieved significant progress or even finished them. Anyways..."

She looked at a specific pillar where a person sat, smoking a long golden pipe. If she didn't know better, she would think that the mist in this place came out of that person's mouth.

"Begin." Kizer didn't even bother looking at them as he started the meeting. His mind was elsewhere while he smoked the pipe.

"As you all well know, this is the last meeting before our organization officially reveals itself. We've been planning this for many years now. We all can take over small parts of the Earth Kingdom by ourselves, but then what? Internal conflict will arise, and the new nation will be harassed on all sides by Ba Sing Se and its kingdoms. There's also a high chance that the Fire Nation will take the opportunity to join the chaos as well."

Huan paused.

"Our original plan was to surround Omashu with tiny kingdoms with large military power, which was, of course, approved by the King of Omashu."

She smirked, then looked at Bao. He was the captain of the Omashu main army and also one of the king's most trusted subordinates.

Bao's main mission was to whisper to the king and persuade him to approve the Pillars moves, such as establishing mini kingdoms, which would also act as the walls and military bases of Omashu.

It would be seen as an act of rebellion to build such large forces, but it was quickly ignored when the King of Omashu told the Earth King that it would not be under Omashu's command and would have its own ruler. It just served as protection for Omashu, the second largest kingdom of the Earth Kingdom. The king also cited the current war with the Fire Nation to make it more believable. And, of course, all the rulers put into the new thrones were mostly members of the Ten Pillars.

Over the years, the pillars who became rulers of kingdoms secretly built and developed their own kingdoms. But in recent years, they mostly focused on their military capabilities, which now formed a force that could be seen as a threat by any nation.

As their plan was in its final phase, all the kingdoms surrounding Omashu were starting to build a large wall...

Zhen's expression was complicated for a moment. "It won't be too long until the Earth King receives the message about this... It will also make the stupid king suspicious. At most, we have a few months if Bao manages to twist the king's mind."

"Why are we still not attacking yet? We already built an army with both quantity and quality. We are just weaker in terms of quantity, which could be fixed by us joining as well...?" Jin looked genuinely confused.

Huan glared at him. "Why are you so stupid? We can take over a large part of the Earth Kingdom, but then what? We won't have time to stabilize the new kingdom, and we will be surrounded on many sides by the Earth Kingdom. If the Fire Nation manages to see an opportunity as well, then we will have two massive nations attacking us on both sides!"

"The—"

As Jin was about to say something again, the surrounding air felt heavy. He looked towards the source of this unease, finding Kizer coldly looking at him.

He immediately looked down as sweat began to form quickly.

That gaze made him remember the memories of his brutal defeat, a memory he wanted to bury but couldn't.

"I-I understand."

"Now onto the last agenda of this meeting. There is a small group of rebels secretly supported by the Fire Nation far west of Ba Sing Se. They mainly ambush Earth Kingdom armies that are going to the front lines."

Huan looked to her left, specifically at Lian.

"Lian, I want you to kill the leader of that rebel group and take their place as the leader. When you take on the role, the rebels should continue their former actions. But develop them into an army. That's all, you just have to patiently wait for new orders."

Lian hummed in agreement. "I will do that. But I will need some of your elites as I will put them in executive positions. You know me, Huan, I'm not into positions that require using my brain like you. I only like fighting. So it will be tough for me to control those mindless rebels by myself."

"I see. I will send you some after you take the rebel leader's role."

With that, the quinquennial meeting concluded.

********

The sun's rays gazed through the window, birds sang while bathing in sunlight. I lay on the lap of a woman as she fed me sweet fruits. Her dark eyes looked at me with love and admiration, but for some reason, I couldn't seem to feel the urge to respond the same.

Ten years passed like nothing in front of me. It felt like I blinked, and the people around me instantly got older.

"My brother said that your plan will now be in its last part. I'm really happy that you could finally achieve your dreams." Kaya seemed happier than me.

"No, making a small nation from a small part of the Earth Kingdom wasn't my goal."

Kaya looked surprised for a moment before smiling again.

"I understand."

"If I achieve my goal, I will fulfill any of your wishes. Is there something you want?"

I knew her desire all too well, but I couldn't give her that. I had a fear, one I didn't want to face.

Perhaps because of the wall I created, I couldn't look at her the same way she looked at me.

"What I want is already in front of me."

I looked at her, directly into her eyes. Her beautiful black eyes met mine, and we held each other's gaze for a moment before I decided to close my eyes.