Star Starless

"Thanks for not seeing me as this pathetic kid with lung problems like everyone else does." Otto said.

Otto coughed and grabbed his chest. "Sorry." he said, and resumed smiling.

Otto shrugged. "I don't know, I just kind of let my mind wander and connect the lines and voila, fancy designs."

Otto smiled. He started drawing lines and shapes all over Cedar's arms until his arms looked like Otto's.

"Here, reach your arm through the bars, I can give you some if you want." Otto offered.

Otto shrugged. "I don't really know, just random designs." he showed Cedar the random lines and shapes on his hand.

Otto reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen, doodling on his hand.

Iris rested his head on his knees. “I just wish I knew what my past self knew. I used to be a water elementalist instead of fire, but how was I able to know how to use water and still learn fire? I’ve heard it’s near impossible to master more than one type of elemental magic. So why could I learn 2 different types. And what happened to my family? Did I have a family? Are they even still alive?” He let a tear slip down his cheek.

"That's fair."

Otto frowned. "This whole thing is so stupid. The war, I mean. Kamado is trying to help people, but he's created such a bad image for himself..." Otto stopped talking. "Nevermind, you wouldn't see it the way I do... I'm sure the image you have of Kamado being a horrible person is plastered into your mind."

Otto coughed and sighed. He sat down, leaning on the bars of Cedar's cell. "I'm sorry about this. The whole 'you being captured and hunted because you're an elementalist' thing." What am I doing!?! I can't just say that, especially now that I'm an Officer!

"Back to the Fire Kingdom as soon as we find the rest of the elementalists."

I think its on Cloud's realm now.

Iris inhaled sharply. "I... honestly can't remember. Anything I should remember before the age of 12 is gone. I have no memory of my childhood, no memory of my parents. The Fire Kingdom took all of that from me, and I'm just so angry and confused about what else I don't know."

Otto coughed again. (gm!)

"Yeah, I am just a kid I suppose, and don't worry, no offense taken." (gn!)

"Ask away."

Iris hugged Vivus back.

"I didn't really have a choice. I'm loyal to the Fire Lord, so not accepting would look suspicious."

Otto frowned. “I didn’t care or want the promotion to be honest.”

Otto looked concerned. "Are you ok? Also yeah, I don't know why Kamado chose me. I do have a photographic memory though, so maybe he saw through mu klutziness and lung problems."

Iris sighed. "Yeah, a hug would be great right about now."

Otto bolted back into Cedar's holding room and almost collided with a group of guards. Shoot, I forgot they were here. "Watch were you're going, newbie." a guard laughed and ruffled Otto's hair. "Leave, I'm here to resume the post I was assigned." The group laughed. "Too bad kiddo. This is our post now. Why don't you go sit down for your nap now?" Otto clenched his fists and let out a cough. The group laughed again. "I told you to leave, and unless you want Kamado down your back." The group laughed yet again. "And what makes you think Kamado is going to come to your defense all of a sudden? The last time I checked you were a low-ranking defense strategist?" Otto saw Cedar lying motionless in the cell. Oh no, did they knock him out?!?! Otto tried to act confident. "Well, maybe because I'm an officer now?" he pointed to the badges on his uniform and the group stopped for a minute. "Those can't be real; they have to be fake. You made them yourself, didn't you?" the group said. Otto coughed and smiled, hiding his internal fear of being beaten up by these brutes. "Officer of Military Strategy. Apparently, Officer Lang decided to retire. So, unless you want to take your accusations up with Kamado, I suggest you go back to looking for the elementalists." The group left quickly. Otto hurried over to Cedar's cell. "Cedar, are you ok? Cedar!"

Otto walked through the ship's corridors. What did I do now? He wondered. Did that general find out that I didn't obey orders and knock out Cedar? Do they think I'm loyal to him instead of Kamado? That's obviously not true... Otto knocked on the door to the bridge and was welcomed inside by a group of high-ranking army officers. Huh? "Welcome Otto, have a seat." an officer gestured to a table. This is very weird. What did I do? Otto wondered as he took a seat. "Ah, Otto, or should I call you Officer Otto?" Kamado turned around and smiled coldly at Otto. What? Otto was filled with joy and fear. "Hello, Lord Kamado." Otto said respectfully. "What do you mean by Officer?" Kamado chuckled. "We've been observing you over the past few months. You seem like you have the perfect qualities to lead our troops into battle. You may not have the muscle, but you have the brains to lead the Fire Kingdom to victory in this war." Kamado thinks I'm doing good!!! "Thank you, I will not take this leadership lightly. I will do everything in my power to lead us to victory." Otto did an awkward salute. Kamado smiled. "Good." he motioned to the other officers who pinned official looking badges on Otto's otherwise plain looking soldier's uniform. "Your new uniform is waiting back in your chambers in the Fire Kingdom." Otto saluted again and held back a cough. Not now lungs not now. "You are dismissed." Kamado waved his hand and Otto got up and left the room. Cedar, oh no... Otto walked down the halls and back to the prison cells.

Iris fought back tears. "Its fine." he lied. "Its not your fault, you can't control him or his family."