Cold.
That was the first thing Rin Kael felt. It crawled through his skin and settled deep inside him.
He opened his eyes to dim blue light. The air burned when he breathed. His back ached against something hard and slick. Ice.
He sat up slowly. The space around him was round and small. The walls were packed snow, curved overhead. An igloo.
Rin blinked. "What the hell…" His voice came out hoarse.
He looked down. His clothes were thick and fur-lined. Heavy boots. No sign of his own jeans or hoodie. He touched his face, then the wall again. It was real. Cold. Solid.
He pushed open the flap at the front and squinted as white light hit his eyes. Snow stretched in every direction. A few huts stood near the water, smoke rising from small fires. The wind stung his cheeks.
The place felt familiar, but he couldn't say why.
He walked forward, boots crunching through the snow. The ocean cracked against sheets of ice in the distance. Then he saw two people near the shore.
A girl in blue with hair looped around both sides of her head. A boy holding a spear, talking fast and waving his hands.
Rin froze. His stomach dropped.
Katara. Sokka.
His pulse quickened. The world tilted. "No way… No way that's real."
The air felt thinner. His thoughts ran too fast to catch. "I'm in… Avatar? That can't—"
A soft sound cut him off.
[Ding!]
A faint purple glow appeared in front of his eyes. Words formed out of light.
Welcome, Host.
You have been reborn in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Initial Skill Set:
Waterbending — Level 3
Cold Resistance — Level 8
Penguin Sledding — Level 12
Basic Combat — Level 5
He stared at it, mouth slightly open. "You've got to be kidding me."
System: "Hello, Host. Do not panic. You are safe."
Rin blinked. "You can talk?"
System: "Yes. I will help you survive. You are in the Southern Water Tribe."
He rubbed his face with his gloved hand. "Perfect. I'm in the middle of nowhere. Great start."
System: "Would you like to open your status window?"
"Not really," Rin said. "I'd rather not see something that tells me I'm underleveled for existence."
The screen pulsed softly.
System: "Understood. I will wait until you are ready."
Rin looked at the village again. The smoke, the sound of kids laughing, the crash of waves against ice. It was beautiful, but heavy with reality.
He took a slow breath. "So this is real. I'm really here."
System: "Correct. Based on the timeline, Avatar Aang has not yet been discovered."
Rin frowned. "So I got dropped in before the story starts."
System: "Yes. The main events will begin soon."
He thought for a moment. Then said quietly, "I can't mess this up. I know what happens. I can't change things that matter."
System: "Survival is your priority. Would you like to begin the tutorial?"
Rin exhaled, watching his breath fade into the air. "Yeah. Start it."
System: "Tutorial: Surviving the Water Tribe — Day 1."
A faint light appeared in the corner of his vision. It faded as fast as it came.
Rin turned back toward the shore. Katara was scolding Sokka now, hands on her hips. He smiled despite everything.
"Guess I'm really in it now."
The wind pushed against his coat, and the sea kept moving under the frozen sky