The room was empty save for Jael and the government official. Toku had not yet arrived.

What was this feeling?

Jael's head was swimming; so disoriented that he had to lean against the wall for balance. He tried to steady himself, but he could still feel his hands shaking. A few trails of sweat ran down his neck; remnants of the race that he'd just ran, but could've happened a thousand years ago for how much had changed since then. His eyes darted around the room, before finally settling on the cause of this unease; the official.

He'd said Toku was The Avatar. The Avatar! Jael's first response had been disbelief. Sure, Toku was a decent firebender and all, but seriously? They thought that the Avatar was a guy who stole for and sometimes pawed through the garbage for his dinner? The guy who'd sooner cause disorder than keep the peace. And forget balance.

Jael figured it was a joke, and he told the man as much. "Very funny, you have me in tears, now seriously: what is this about?" But the official looking man maintained that his story was true. They even pulled an official looking document from their coat, branded with the seal of the Fire Sages. That was when Jael felt like the rug had been pulled up from under him.

As the reality of the situation began to sink in, Jael tried to cling to the reality that he used to know. Toku was his friend. One of his best friends, even. And even if Toku would never amounted to much, Jael was fine with him the way he was. Even in the future, once Jael was a government official and Toku was a lowly street sweeper, he'd still try to visit his friend from time to time...

Until this happened. Now everything he knew was in shambles. His friend being the Avatar; what even were the odds? This was like being struck by lightning. This was like being struck by lightning twice in a row. This was like-

While Jael was still considering the improbability of it all, Toku walked into The Loft.

"So, I'm guessing you're pretty happy with yourself?" Toku said to Jael. He couldn't respond to that. Toku had no idea what he was feeling right now. All Jael could do was keep staring at the official.

Toku soon noticed the man himself. "Uhm...who is this, buddy? One of your dad's friends or something? He sure looks stiff enough."

Jael still said nothing. He felt words form in his mouth, but he couldn't think of how to coherently put them together. What could be said?

"I have come bearing a message from the Fire Sages," the official said. Toku's eyes widened.

"Why?" Jael heard Toku say.

Jael saw the official open his mouth, and suddenly decided that he himself would be the one to tell Toku the news. It was better to hear it from a friend's mouth.

"Because Toku, You're the Avatar."