"Fear is the most docile tool in the world."
Night had fallen over Gaipan with a dense, almost suffocating silence.
The villagers had already taken refuge in their homes, closing doors, windows, breathing deeply as if that would protect them from what lurked outside.
In the old earth temple—now converted into the White Lotus's temporary base—only a low lamp illuminated the faces of those gathered around Ren.
Azula, arms crossed, leaned against a column, watching him with that mix of interest and distrust that only he could arouse in her.
Suri was to her right, mute, immobile, but with her eyes lit with alertness.
Ty Lee, sitting cross-legged on the tatami, moved her fingers nervously, unable to remain completely still.
Keiko kept her back straight, in a military posture, her gaze fixed on Ren as if awaiting combat orders.
Even Mai—silent, almost invisible in the dim light—had leaned forward slightly, like a curious cat.
Ren was in the center of them all, with the reports Suri and Ty Lee had brought hours earlier.
He spread the documents on the table.
They were nothing more than handwritten bulletins, crude sketches, and smudges of dirt. But in Ren's hands… they became a psychological map of the entire village.
"Good," he said calmly, taking the blood-stained piece of kimono Suri had found. "We know the disappearances are real. Not exaggerations. Not stories. And most importantly… they have no rational explanation."*
"A wild beast?" Keiko asked.
"Too big," Suri replied without taking her eyes off the kimono. "And too smart. It hunts… but it also drags. That's not common animal behavior."*
Ren nodded, as if he had already anticipated it.
"The forest is acting as a hunting ground. Something has claimed it. And the people of Gaipan have already begun to adapt their behavior to fear. They close windows, lock themselves away before dusk, avoid the trees. The entire village breathes like a single terrified creature."
Ty Lee swallowed.
"It's more fear than I've felt in a long time, Ren. It's… sticky."
"Exactly," Ren smiled barely, a curved shadow on his face. "And that, Ty Lee, makes it a resource. When an entire village is afraid… they look for saviors. And we are the saviors."*
Azula raised an eyebrow.
"So you want to manipulate mass hysteria."
"I want to turn it into order," he corrected. "Into loyalty. Into structure. Fear by itself is chaotic. But directed… it can bind them to us indestructibly."*
He approached the lamp, letting the light outline half of his face.
"Whatever is in that forest… we will destroy it. But not immediately. First… we will let the village understand who their only protection is."
The others stared at him.
He continued:
"Tonight we will not hunt. We will not investigate further. What we will do… is control the narrative. Azula, you will speak with the village chief tomorrow. Ty Lee, you will continue gathering testimonies. Suri, you will study the forest routes. Keiko, Mai… train the villagers to defend themselves, even though we know it will be useless."
Azula smiled slowly.
"You want them to feel that without us… they are dead."
Ren looked at her with approval.
"Exactly. And when the creature attacks again… we will be there.
Not just as warriors.
As saviors."
The temple fell silent.
And then Ren added, in a low, firm voice:
"To dominate the Earth Kingdom… we must first dominate the hearts that sustain it. And Gaipan will be our first example."
"A fearful people cling to the first god that appears."
The creature attacked before dawn.
A piercing scream woke the entire village: a sound that shattered any illusion of safety. The houses trembled from the echo. Dogs began to bark frantically. Windows lit up with candles lit in panic.
And Ren was already outside.
Suri had detected the movement first; she ran out through the alley, her silhouette silhouetted against the moon. Keiko took her spear. Azula appeared from the temple door, blue fire burning between her fingers. Ty Lee came out barefoot but ready.
But it was Ren who arrived first.
In the center of the square, a mother on her knees screamed her son's name, pointing toward the forest. A huge shadow was disappearing among the trees, dragging something small in its arms.
"NO, NO, NO!" the woman sobbed, desperate.
The villagers began to come out with makeshift torches, trembling, shouting at each other.
Chaos.
Hysteria.
Pure desperation.
Ren took a deep breath.
And he acted.
With a slow movement—as if there were no rush at all—he raised both hands. A white flame, silent, pure, lit the air. It didn't burn. It didn't roar.
It just… illuminated.
And the villagers fell silent instantly.
The white fire cast his shadow on the ground, long and imposing.
The voices choked.
The torches trembled.
Ren walked toward the mother, knelt in front of her, and took her hands. His eyes—cold, deep, glowing—locked onto hers.
"I will bring him back to you," he said softly. "You will not die alone. You will not lose your son. Not while I am here."*
The woman began to cry, but this time… she cried with hope.
The people shouted:
"He will help us!"
"The White Lotus will protect us!"
"Ren will save us!"
Azula watched from behind, fascinated and annoyed at the same time.
Suri understood exactly what was happening.
Ty Lee smiled with a mix of relief and adoration.
Keiko clenched her fists, feeling something ignite in her chest.
Mai narrowed her eyes, carefully analyzing the villagers' reaction.
Ren stood up and spoke, his voice traveling to every corner of the village:
"Gaipan…
will not die.
Not while I watch over it."
There was silence.
Then, among sobs, applause, and desperate murmurs, the entire village bowed to the White Lotus.
Ren walked back toward the temple, followed by the gazes of all, while muttering to himself:
"First fear.
Then faith.
After that… control."
And Gaipan already belonged to him.