First steps(6)

Back in the present, I was seating at the table eating cake and roasted meat while listing to my friends' talk.

"Guys, did you hear about a group called the Equalists?"

When I heard what Kai asked me I almost choked.

'Where the hell did this kid find about them.'

"No, Why? Are they a bending team or something?" Asked Nya.

"I don't think they are sister"

"Zane is right, apparently they are a group of people that fight for the equality of the non-benders, aren't they cool"

"Kai, I heard about them, and they are not people you should idolize they have no regard for the rules and the police and make their own justice, they are dangerous people."

"Come on Ethan don't be like that, they are trying to make a difference at least, what does the police do about the triads that take the money of street vendors or about the bending street tugs, nothing they, they ignore them"

'Well, he isn't wrong, after the old triad head retired I see granny every week giving her hard-earned money to those damn triads while being yelled at and the police aren't doing anything because she isn't a bender. It makes my blood boil just thinking about it.'

"I understand what you're saying and you're right about all of the things you said"

"Wait I am?"

All of them looked surprised at me, usually, I correct them about certain topics, there are a lot of misconceptions you learn when you're a kid, and the earlier you get rid of them the better or you'll be in for a rude awakening. Now don't think that I'm destroying their childhood, all I'm really showing them is that things aren't always black and white they are more like gray, how to deal with people better, how to interact with people, how to make healthy relationships, and things like this.

"Yes, they are fighting for something that desperately needs to change and I believe what they are trying to achieve is right I'm only saying that I don't like how they do it."

"I agree with you." Said Zane looking at me.

Zane was always more level-headed than the rest, he was very mature for his age. He didn't take things at face value, he always tried to look for more information, to look from different perspectives, and find different opinions about new topics. Once his mind was made up it was hard to change it and the only way to do it was to bring arguments as to why the opposite of what he's thinking is better.

Between Kai, Nya, and Zane, my influence in Zane can clearly be seen the most and I'm quite proud of it, while Nya is still childish the things I keep telling them seems to somewhat stick, well at least she uses the things I taught her when it matters and then there is Kai.

Kai is a very smart kid, very smart, it scares me, but the things I try to teach them seem to always miss him, I know he listens because he sometimes uses them when he wants something and he uses them to perfection, he can convince you to do anything if he wants, it's surprising. As long as you're willing to listen he can convince you. That alone is amazing and a good thing overall for him. What worries me is that despite being so smart he's vision is still so narrow, he can't see the things for what they and can still be easily tricked. Because he can't see the big picture, he can make rush decisions that he'll regret in the future.

'But what am I worrying he's twelve he'll learn. They say wisdom comes with age and I can only hope that this is the case.'

"All I'm saying is that you shouldn't go babbling to the wrong person about this, the police consider those guys criminals and you would be in a lot of trouble if they catch wind that you're their number one fan. Where did you hear about them anyway?"

"Well I heard father talking with some friends about them and I did some digging myself before I asked you guys and I found out that they have dojos where they teach normal people to fight bender and I taught it might be a good idea if we went as well you know it never hurts to know how to defend yourself."

"It's very dangerous and I don't think is a good idea to go there," Said Nya. "Besides what you already did was dangerous and stupid, going around asking people about a group of criminals"

"I know, I know, but if I came to talk about them with you guys without knowing more about them you wouldn't even have listened to me."

'And here I was saying he never learns'

"While I think Nya is right I agree with Kai more, learning to fight benders is a good thing, while I don't think picking up a fight with a bender is ever a good idea, it's important to know to defend yourself. But if we want to go a dojo it would be better to discuss and prepare some things firsts."

All of them looked bewildered at me.

"Ok, ok I agree with you!" Said Kai excited.

"If you put it like that then I also agree." Said Zane while sighing.

"If you guys are going then I'm going to." Said Nya as excited as Kai.