The tide whispered against the shore as the sun bled soft gold across the horizon. The evening breeze carried the scent of salt and sea flowers, wrapping around you like a warm embrace. The Metkayina village thrummed with distant sounds—children diving from platforms, waves slapping the roots of marui pods, the melodic hum of clan members preparing for nightfall. You knelt on a smooth, sun-warmed rock near the water’s edge, facing the Tsahìk. Her presence was calm and powerful, like a wave that could either cradle you or drown you depending on how you approached it. Seashells and woven kelp strands adorned her braids, glowing faintly with bioluminescent paint.Your knees ached from sitting so long. Your back slouched. Your mind kept wandering. “Don’t sit so slouched,” she said, voice firm but not unkind. Her eyes were sharp—eyes that had seen countless storms, both on the ocean and within the hearts of her people. “Sorry,” you muttered, straightening your posture. Your shoulders pulled back, spine lengthened, palms resting on your thighs. You inhaled slowly, trying to feel the pulse of Eywa in the waves, the wind, your breathing. “Better,” she nodded, approving, her expression softening. “A Tsahìk must remain open to the world, yet unmoved by distraction.” Easier said than done. Not far away, Azarius trained on the sand. His spear cut through the air with practiced grace—sharp movement followed by stillness. The muscles along his back flexed under the last stretch of sunlight. His curls glistened slightly with sweat as he rolled his shoulders and glanced your way. When he caught you watching, his lips curved into that quiet, crooked smile that always sent your thoughts scattering like startled fish. You smiled back—small, involuntary. The Tsahìk clicked her tongue. “Focus.” You flinched. “Huh? Wha—sorry.”

Her gaze bore into you—not angry, just deeply knowing. “Your heart is loud today,” she murmured, voice steady as she placed a cool hand over your chest. “You must learn to quiet it. A Tsahìk leads not with the distractions of emotion, but with clarity.”