LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 78: Hidden Danger
ATLA Universe, Sun Warrior Ruins
Avatar Timeline: 98 AG (After Genocide), 11 months before Aang's awakening
Universal Time: October 13th, 1988
Time until Elder Blood Teleportation is available: November 26th, 1988
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Harry knelt in front of his small travel pack, having just finished organizing it all for easy access. A few pieces of dried meat and fruit, a couple of water skins, and an extra set of Sun Warrior clothes lay neatly arranged inside. Chrysa sat on the woven mat beside him, occasionally reaching out to bat at the map spread between them.
"We'll fly straight south." Harry followed the route with his finger. "See these islands here? Perfect spots to rest if needed."
Necalli leaned against the doorway of Harry's room in the central building, arms crossed. "The winds should help carry you most of the way. This time of year brings strong currents from the north."
"Good to know." Harry rolled up the map and slipped it into his pack, and then stuffed the pack in his enchanted pouch. "What about-"
The sound of running feet thundered down the hallway. Into the room burst a young tribesman, out of breath and sweating despite the morning's cool air.
"My family..." He clutched the doorframe with trembling hands. "The spots are spreading everywhere, so quickly."
Harry jumped to his feet. "Are there more sick?"
"Ten since sunrise." The warrior's voice broke. "Even my little sister burns with fever now."
Chrysa whimpered and pressed herself against Harry's leg.
"Lead the way," Harry urged. "Necalli, find the Chief and tell him."
They ran through the village. Past the central square they went, following the road down to the healing house.
Once they were inside, Harry paused at the terrible sight. On reed mats lay children who cried softly while adults tried offering comfort, though they too showed signs of illness. Angry red welts covered every patch of visible skin, and Harry could almost see the rash continuing to spread.
Harry moved between the patients, golden flames already flickering above his palms. He started with the children, knowing their smaller bodies would be more vulnerable. The Yang Flames sank beneath skin, seeking out and destroying whatever caused the illness.
But something felt different this time. The flames needed a bit more chi to achieve the same results. Harry frowned as he finished healing a young girl whose spots had spread particularly quickly.
"I know you said you haven't seen anything like this before, but do people regularly get sick here?" He asked the healer from yesterday while moving to the next patient.
She shook her head. "No. Our people are strong - we rarely fall ill at all." She helped an elderly woman sit up as Harry approached with the healing flames. "And never something that spreads this quickly."
Harry kept working, healing each new case. But his thoughts kept circling back to an uncomfortable thought. The timing was too perfect - a strange new disease appearing right after his arrival? And these symptoms... they reminded him a little bit of Dragon Pox, the illness that killed his father's parents.
The spots were the same, but Dragon Pox caused a greenish tinge to the skin, and sparks to shoot from the nose. Could he have somehow brought a disease like that into this world? But how? He wasn't sick, and his body was completely immune to disease...
Unless...
Harry glanced at Chrysa, who watched him work with concerned golden eyes. Could she be sick somehow? But that didn't make sense either - she seemed perfectly healthy.
"There you are." Chief Huemac's voice came from the doorway. "Necalli said there were more cases?"
Harry nodded, finishing the healing on the last patient. "Ten new ones. That makes thirteen total since the first cases yesterday." He wiped sweat from his forehead. "And more people are showing early symptoms - mild fever, fatigue."
Huemac's expression darkened. "This is troubling news..."
The next three days proved exhausting. Each morning brought new cases, and by the fourth day, Harry had healed over fifty people. The pattern became clear - those who had close contact with the initially infected would show symptoms within two to three days. The red spots would appear first, followed by fever several hours later.
Despite Harry's best efforts, the disease continued spreading. He would heal a family in the morning only to find their neighbors showing symptoms by evening. The healing house remained constantly occupied, with recovered patients leaving just as new ones arrived.
"You need to rest." Chief Huemac pressed a cup of water into Harry's hands on the afternoon of the fourth day. "Even the Masters don't enlighten everyone at once."
Harry shook his head, but accepted the water. "Something about this isn't right." He drained the cup in three long gulps. "The timing, the way it spreads..."
Chrysa bumped her head against his knee with a worried rumble. Harry reached down to pat her furry head.
"I know, girl." He sighed. "I think we might be responsible for this somehow."
"What do you mean?" Huemac sat down beside him on one of the wooden benches.
Harry set the empty cup aside. "Your people rarely get sick, right? But now, just after Chrysa and I arrive..." He gestured at the room full of patients. "Twenty new cases since this morning? The timing can't be coincidence."
"But you show no signs of illness."
"No." Harry frowned. "I don't ever get sick. And Chrysa seems fine too." He turned to the lion cub. "You feel alright, don't you?"
Chrysa made an affirmative sound and stretched, showing off her healthy golden fur.
A woman's cry from outside drew their attention. More villagers approached the healing house, supporting family members covered in spreading red spots. These were from the far side of the village - people who hadn't had any direct contact with the earlier cases.
"This can't continue." Huemac stood up. "We need to gather all of the elders." He looked at the growing crowd. "After you help these new arrivals."
Harry pushed himself up from the bench, legs shaking with exhaustion. The golden flames flickered weakly above his palms as he approached the new group of patients. His chi reserves had never felt so depleted - even during his most intense training sessions with fire and lightning.
"I can only heal a few more," Harry admitted to the healers. "I don't have the chi reserves to sustain the Life Flames for much longer."
Chrysa pressed against his leg, offering silent support as Harry knelt beside a young mother and her infant. The baby's cries pierced the air while angry red spots spread across tiny arms and legs. Harry gritted his teeth and poured what remained of his chi into the healing flames.
The spots faded from the baby's skin, but black spots danced at the edges of Harry's vision. He swayed, catching himself against the wall.
"That's enough." The head healer gripped his shoulder. "You'll collapse if you continue."
"But there are still..." Harry gestured at the waiting patients, but his arm sagged to the ground mid-motion.
"No." She pulled him away from the crowd. "We can treat the fever with herbs until you recover your strength."
Huemac returned with five elderly Sun Warriors. Harry recognized Yaotl among them, but the others he'd only seen during ceremonies. They gathered in a corner of the healing house, speaking in low voices while watching the growing number of sick villagers.
"How many are infected now?" One of the elders asked.
"Forty-seven confirmed cases." The head healer answered. "And more appear every hour."
Harry leaned against the wall, grateful for its support. Chrysa whined and bumped her head against his hand.
"I know, girl." He whispered. "I pushed too hard." The room spun slightly as he turned to face the elders. "This has to be connected to us somehow. The timing is too perfect."
The eldest woman stepped forward. Her white hair was bound in thin braids, and she wore several necklaces of bone. "I am Mayahuel." Her eyes fixed on Harry. "And yes, young one. I believe you may have brought this illness to us without knowing."
Harry straightened despite his exhaustion. "But how? I'm not sick, and neither is Chrysa."
"Some illnesses can hide in a person without causing symptoms." Mayahuel moved closer, the bones around her neck clicking together. "The carrier remains healthy while spreading disease to others."
"Then..." Harry looked down at his hands. The same hands he'd used to heal people, to accept food, to shake hands with people. "I've been making everyone sick just by being here?"
Chrysa growled softly, pressing harder against his leg.
"Not intentionally." Mayahuel's voice softened. "But yes, you or your companion might carry something our people have never encountered. Your homeland is isolated from the rest of the world, yes? It might be that our bodies aren't prepared for these new diseases…"
Harry ran his fingers through Chrysa's fur, frowning deeply. "What if I use the Life Flames on myself and Chrysa? Burn away whatever we're carrying?"
The elderly healer frowned. "It should work. But..." She turned to face Chief Huemac. "The disease has spread beyond our guests now. Many of our own people could be carriers, even if they show no symptoms yet."
"And my chi is almost gone." Harry admitted. "I can barely maintain the flames right now."
Mayahuel's wrinkled hands twisted together. "There might be another way." She glanced at the other elders. "We could ask Ran for help."
The reaction was immediate. Several elders inhaled sharply while others exchanged worried looks.
"Disturb one of the Masters?" Yaotl's eyes widened. "For an illness?"
"Our young friend's Life Flames are impressive." Mayahuel gestured at Harry. "But he's new to the flames, young, and exhausted besides. Ran's flames could gradually cover the entire island, purging any trace of the disease from our people."
Harry pushed away from the wall, forcing his tired body to stand straight. "You think Ran would help?"
"The Masters protect us." Mayahuel nodded. "And this threatens everyone - even the children. But..." She hesitated. "We must be certain. If we call upon Ran without true need..."
"The disease spreads faster each hour." Huemac stepped forward. "If we wait too long, it might escalate." He looked at the room full of patients. "We should go now, while there's still daylight."
The climb to the Masters' twin mountains seemed longer than Harry remembered. Each step up the mountain drained what little energy he had left. Chrysa stayed close, ready to support him if he stumbled.
Six warriors carried burning braziers filled with sparks of the Eternal Flame, while the elders followed behind Chief Huemac. The procession moved slowly through stands of massive trees until they reached the stairs to the bridge where Harry had first met the Masters.
"Are you sure you want to continue?" Huemac asked Harry. "You look ready to fall over."
"I need to be here." Harry wiped sweat from his forehead. "This is my fault somehow."
Chrysa made a disagreeing sound and headbutted his leg.
"Well, our fault then." Harry corrected himself. "But still our responsibility."
The brazier-carriers took positions around the bridge between mountains. Mayahuel directed the other elders to specific spots, forming a half-circle before the cave entrance where Ran lived.
Deep rumbles echoed from the cave as the Sun Warriors began following the ancient ceremony. The brazier flames burned bright while smoke curled upward into the sky. Harry stood between Huemac and Mayahuel, watching carefully as the cave mouth seemed to darken.
A massive red scale gleamed in the shadows. Then another, and another, until Ran's serpentine head emerged into the sunlight. The dragon's scales burned like fresh copper. Chrysa pressed herself flat against the ground, golden fur bristling as Ran's enormous body continued to pour from the cave entrance.
Harry would have forgotten just how large the dragon was if he didn't have perfect memory. Ran's body stretched longer than three houses placed end to end, and when he unfurled his wings, they blocked out the sun entirely from their perspective. The dragon's head lowered toward the group, bringing one massive eye level with them. That eye alone was larger than Harry's head, and within it burned an alien intelligence.
"Great Master." Huemac stepped forward and bowed deeply. "We come seeking your aid."
Ran's eye fixed on Harry for a moment before returning to Huemac. A low rumble shook loose stones from the mountainside.
"A sickness spreads through our people." Mayahuel moved to stand beside Huemac. "One we have never encountered before. It moves too quickly for normal healing, and even our guest's Life Flames struggle to keep pace."
The dragon's head tilted slightly. Another rumble, softer this time.
Harry stepped forward on shaking legs. "I didn't mean to bring harm here." He bowed as low as his tired body would allow. "But I fear others might become carriers even after I heal them."
Ran's enormous eye studied him again. The dragon's head moved closer, and Harry felt warm breath wash over him. It smelled like summer meadows and mountain air. Chrysa whimpered but stayed pressed against his leg.
"We request..." Mayahuel's voice wavered slightly. "Would you consider cleansing the island with your Life Flames? To burn away this foreign sickness before it spreads further?"
The massive dragon pulled back slightly. For a long moment, only the crackling of brazier flames broke the silence. Then Ran's head dipped in what could only be a nod, and the dragon's body began to coil like a spring.
"Step back!" Huemac called out. "Give the Master room!"
Harry stumbled backward with Chrysa's help as Ran's wings spread wide. The dragon's serpentine body rippled with muscle as massive legs pushed against stone. Ran launched skyward with enough force to crack the mountain's surface.
"Look!" Mayahuel pointed upward. "The Master rises to aid us!"
Ran's massive body spiraled upward into the clear sky. The dragon's scales caught sunlight and scattered it like thousands of copper mirrors. Among the scattered clouds, Ran appeared to float weightlessly.
"Watch closely." Mayahuel gripped Harry's shoulder. "Few ever witness this."
Golden light erupted from Ran's outstretched wings and mouth. These flames surpassed Harry's Life Flames in both brilliance and purity. Like a gentle wave, the radiance spread outward before descending toward the island below.
"The flames..." Harry blinked against the brilliance. "They feel different from mine."
"The Masters understand Life and Death as naturally as we understand breathing." Huemac kept his eyes fixed on the dragon above. "What you've begun to learn, they've known since the world was young."
The golden light bathed everything below like warm summer rain. It passed through Harry without resistance, searching but finding nothing to cleanse. Chrysa trembled as the energy flowed through her fur.
Throughout the distant village, the flames spread across buildings and inhabitants. Harry could faintly hear a cheer.
For several minutes, Ran released wave after wave of Life Flames. Each pulse intensified until the island seemed to glow from within. After the final wave subsided, the dragon twisted back toward his mountain peak. Ran's massive body coiled around the summit before settling near the gathered Sun Warriors.
The dragon's head lowered until one enormous eye met Harry's gaze. A deep rumble shook the stones beneath their feet.
"The Master says the sickness has been burned away." Mayahuel translated. "From every person, every surface, even the air itself."
Harry bowed deeply. "Thank you." He straightened up, wobbling slightly. "I'm sorry for bringing trouble to your people."
Ran's eye blinked once, slowly. Another gentle rumble filled the air.
"The Master says you could not have known." Huemac placed a steady hand on Harry's shoulder. "What seems harmless in one place might cause great harm in another."
Chrysa bumped against Harry's leg and made a questioning sound.
"Yes, you're clean now too." Harry scratched behind her ears. "Ran's flames checked everyone."
The massive red dragon pulled back slightly. A final rumble echoed across the mountain.
"We should return to the village." Mayahuel gestured toward the path down. "The Master wishes to rest."
Harry watched as Ran's serpentine body unwound from the peak. The dragon slipped back into the cave entrance with surprising grace for something so enormous. Just before disappearing completely, Ran's head turned slightly to fix Harry with one last meaningful look.
"Did..." Harry glanced at Huemac. "Did Ran just tell me to be more careful?"
The chief smiled. "The Masters see much. Perhaps this was a gentle reminder that our actions can have unexpected consequences."
They made their way down the mountain path. The brazier carriers extinguished their flames while the elders discussed what had happened in low voices. Harry stumbled more than once, caught each time by Chrysa's body beside him.
"I should check on everyone." Harry mumbled as they approached the village. "Make sure they're all better."
"You can barely stand." Huemac shook his head. "Rest first. The Master's Life Flames have surely fixed everything that can be fixed."
Harry allowed himself to be guided back to his room. The exhaustion hit full force as soon as he sat down on the sleeping mat. Chrysa cuddled up next to him.
"I'll check on everyone tomorrow." Harry mumbled, eyes already closing. "When my chi recovers..."
He woke to the morning sun shining through the window. Chrysa still slept peacefully beside him, one paw twitching as she dreamed. Harry sat up slowly, relieved to feel his chi reserves nearly full again.
"Ready to face the day?" He asked Chrysa quietly.
The lion cub yawned and stretched, showing off sharp teeth before bumping her head against his arm in agreement.
They found the villagers already busy with their daily activities. Lots of people were even practicing firebending forms. No one showed any signs of the illness from yesterday.
"Young guest!" A woman called out from nearby. She carried a basket of fruit, and Harry recognized her as one of yesterday's patients. "My family wants to thank you for helping us."
"I'm just glad everyone's better." Harry smiled, but guilt gnawed at his stomach. "I'm sorry for bringing the sickness here in the first place."
"Nonsense." She shook her head firmly. "You healed as many as you could, then helped bring the Master's aid when needed. We're grateful."
The sound of footsteps drew their attention. Chief Huemac approached from the direction of the central square. "Everyone has recovered completely." He smiled at Harry. "The Master's flames burned away every trace of illness."
Harry sighed in relief. "I'll need to be more careful from now on." He looked down at Chrysa. "We'll have to cover ourselves in Yang Flames before entering any new areas. We got lucky this time - having Ran nearby to help."
At that thought, Harry froze mid-step. Chrysa bumped into his leg and made a confused sound.
"Lucky..." Harry whispered. "That's exactly what happened, isn't it?"
The timing suddenly seemed too perfect. The disease appeared the day before he planned to leave. Then more cases occurred right as he prepared for departure. If he'd left the island without knowing about this problem...
Harry shuddered. He could picture himself flying from island to island, city to city, completely unaware that he or Chrysa carried diseases from another world. How many people would have died? Entire villages might have been wiped out by illnesses they'd never encountered before.
But his Fortune had given him an opportunity. The blessing he'd received made sure the problem revealed itself while he was still in the one place that could actually handle it. An isolated island with a master of Life Flames. No matter how improbable it could possibly be…
"Are you alright?" Huemac asked. "You look pale."
"I'm fine." Harry smiled weakly. "Just realized how much worse this could have been." He stared at the happy villagers. "We're really lucky it happened here instead of somewhere else."
"Thank you." Harry whispered, but he wasn't talking to anyone present. Instead, he directed the gratitude toward his past self who had accepted that Blessing of Fortune. That one choice might have just saved countless lives.
"When do you plan to leave?" Huemac asked.
Harry straightened up. "Tomorrow morning, I think. But first..." He gathered Yang Flames in his palms. "Chrysa and I need to make absolutely sure we're clean."
The golden flames wrapped around both of them, and then Harry bended the flames further into his enchanted pouch, making sure to cover everything he owned. Harry wouldn't take chances - not with people's lives at stake.
oo0ooOoo0oo
The next morning arrived with clear skies and a steady northern wind. Harry stood at the edge of the village with his extra supplies stored away in his pouch. The Sun Warriors had gathered to see him off, with Chief Huemac and the elders at the front.
"Remember what we discussed." Mayahuel pressed a small package wrapped in leaves into his hands. "These herbs will help slightly if you need to recover your chi."
Harry tucked the package into his pouch. "Thank you." He looked at the gathered crowd. "For everything."
"The Masters chose well in sharing their knowledge with you." Huemac clasped Harry's shoulder. "Use it wisely."
Chrysa bumped against Harry's leg, making an impatient sound.
"Yes, yes." Harry smiled down at her. "Time to go." He pulled out her ball. "Ready for a long flight?"
The lion cub sat down and tilted her head, waiting. Harry tapped her nose with the Premier Ball, and red light consumed her body before pulling her inside. The ball clicked shut with a soft sound.
"What manner of artifact is that?" Yaotl stepped closer, eyes wide.
"Something from my homeland, it only works on beasts." Harry attached the ball to his belt. "It lets Chrysa travel comfortably while I fly."
The warriors glanced at one another in confusion. Before anyone could speak, Harry's transformation began. His body started to shrink while feathers began sprouting from his skin. The change happened swiftly - in the space of a few heartbeats, a large golden eagle now occupied the spot where Harry had stood.
"May the sun light your path." Huemac bowed slightly. "And may your flames bring prosperity rather than destruction."
Harry spread his wings wide, feeling the northern wind beneath them. With three powerful beats, he launched himself skyward. The gathered Sun Warriors grew smaller below as he circled once.
Then he turned south and began the long journey toward the Fire Nation. The wind carried him steadily onward while the morning sun warmed his feathers. Far below, endless blue waters continued till the horizon.
Harry maintained a steady pace, staying high enough to spot any ships that might pass beneath him. He'd need to be careful - according to the Sun Warriors, the Fire Nation had a tight grip on the nearby seas.
Four hours into his flight, Harry spotted a dark shape on the horizon. Dense vegetation blanketed what appeared to be a large island.
Something felt wrong. His instincts suddenly screamed a warning - then fell silent. The abrupt shift left him hovering in place, his wings fighting against the wind as he tried to process what had happened. Never before had his instincts warned him only to vanish without a trace. It made no sense.
Harry circled higher, sharp eagle eyes scanning the mysterious island below. The vegetation looked normal enough - thick forests covered most of the land while mountains rose toward the center. A few clearings broke up the greenery, and a river cut through from north to south.
Nothing appeared immediately threatening. No signs of habitation, no obvious traps or dangers. Just a seemingly ordinary tropical island.
But Harry's instincts had never failed him before. Not once since his first known memory at Hogwarts had they given him a false warning. The sudden burst of danger followed by complete silence felt wrong on every level.
He remembered what the Oracle had told him in Greece - that his danger-sensing was another form of Seeing. If something could hide from or fool this ability...
Harry climbed even higher, using the strong winds to maintain position while he considered his options. The island wasn't on his planned route anyway. The Sun Warriors' map showed a chain of smaller islands leading straight to Ember Island. This place lay at least fifty miles west of his intended path.
Still, the strange behavior of his instincts bothered him deeply. He'd grown to rely on that warning system. It had never failed him, warning him about everything from hidden Marble Serpents, Peter Pettigrew, and more besides.
For it to suddenly cut off mid-warning...
Harry banked in a wide circle around the island, keeping well beyond whatever range might have triggered that brief warning. The Sun Warriors had mentioned spirits several times, always with either deep respect or fear in their voices. According to them, spirits could exist everywhere - in the trees, the mountains, even the air itself.
Could a spirit hide from his instincts? It must originate from his Soul, which meant it operated on a spiritual level. The warning activated when his soul sensed danger in other souls...
But if something could mask its presence entirely...
Harry's eagle eyes widened. The Oracle at Delphi. She'd tried to possess him, to overwrite his soul with her own. His instincts hadn't warned him about her true danger.
She must've made it so others couldn't divine her soul. And here? A single spike of warning that vanished completely. As if something had noticed him noticing it, then pulled a veil over itself.
The wind carried him higher as he considered his options. He could investigate, try to figure out what was so dangerous on the island. But alone, in an unknown world, with no backup...
No. Better to mark this location in his memory and continue toward Ember Island. Whatever was on the island could wait until he understood this world better. Right now he needed to focus on learning about the Fire Nation and finding that firebending technique mentioned in his journal.
Harry adjusted his wings, catching a particularly strong gust that pushed him back toward his original course. The mysterious island grew smaller behind him while he watched for any sign of his instincts returning.
Nothing. Just silence where that brief warning had been.
The rest of the journey passed without incident. Seven hours after leaving the Sun Warriors, Harry had already flown past several small islands until he finally spotted buildings rising from a crescent-shaped beach. According to the map, this definitely had to be Ember Island.
Harry circled the island once, sharp eagle eyes taking in every detail. Most buildings clustered near the main beach, but smaller coves dotted the coastline. Perfect. He needed somewhere isolated to transform back.
A secluded stretch of black sand caught his attention. Steep cliffs rose on both sides while thick vegetation grew right up to the edge. No paths led down to this hidden beach, and the few boats he spotted stayed well away from the rocky shore.
Harry circled down, checking one last time for any observers before landing on the coarse sand. The transformation back to human form took mere seconds. He stretched his arms above his head, working out the stiffness from hours of flight.
"Alright Chrysa, coast is clear." Harry pulled the Premier Ball from his belt. Red light burst outward, forming into the golden-furred lion cub. She shook herself vigorously before sniffing at the black sand.
"We made it." Harry smiled as she sneezed, sending up a small cloud of dark grains. "But we need to be careful. The Sun Warriors lived completely cut off from the world - we don't know how accurate their information is."
Chrysa looked up at him and made a questioning sound.
"Exactly." Harry nodded. "We need to gather information first." He turned toward the cliff face. "Now we just need to find a way up without being noticed."