*Wan. Training Grounds of the Fire Lord's Palace.*
The clear, sunny day was hardly conducive to sitting with thick books, especially on what was almost the only day off for Azula and Zuko. I settled comfortably at a small table, shaded by the sprawling branches of a massive tree. The fragrant tea tickled my nasal nerves, stimulating my senses.
My mind wandered to an article I'd read in my previous life, one I'd stumbled upon out of boredom. It claimed that the most reliable and enduring anchor for our memories is scent. For instance, the smell of wildflowers instantly evokes memories of summer vacations in the countryside, of carefree teenage years…
Drinking tea, for me, is a remnant of my past life. I remember sipping it often, sitting at a table with people who were probably close to me. My memory is still riddled with gaps, but even without those details, the thoughts fill me with warmth and comfort…
"What does the name Zeto evoke for you?" a creaky, aged voice interrupted my thoughts. Was it Lo who asked? Or Li? Even I struggle to tell them apart, as their "fire of life" is nearly identical. It's as if one couldn't die without the other following soon after.
One day, Ozai reviewed his children's school programs and deemed them insufficient for members of the Royal Family, who must always be better, higher, and stronger than everyone else! Our training with them wasn't cut, but their free time was drastically reduced. Now, every Sunday, the twins Lo and Li join us.
They could be called freelance advisors to Lord Azulon's rule. Born and raised on Ember Island, in a family of commoners who served the upper class, they've made a remarkable career leap over the years. Rumor has it that their success stems from their youth, when they somehow met the young Prince Azulon, who wasn't averse to enjoying the company of two charming twins. Few from that era have survived, so the exact details are lost, but judging by some of their portraits, they stood out among other young women. After all, who would refuse to spend time with two beauties?
With sharp minds, they quickly realized that beauty fades with age, and with it, their influence. So, working together, they rapidly mastered various sciences, soon establishing themselves as experts in history, politics, and education. They've even authored a couple of books…
It's also worth noting that they've trained several Firebending masters from scratch. This is despite the fact that they themselves aren't naturally gifted benders—it's all achieved through theoretical knowledge. Their career peak and life's twilight have long passed, but their earned reputation still serves them well, making them frequent guests at the Fire Lord's Palace.
"The name Zeto is often associated with Avatar Zeto, who came before Avatar Yangchen of the Air Nomads," Azula immediately replied, while Zuko gazed wistfully at his swords. His fencing lessons with the master were scheduled during his free time from mandatory studies…
"Alright," the other grandmotherly figure chimed in, "What else can you tell us, Princess?" she emphasized her title, leaning over Zuko, who instantly feigned deep thought on his face.
"He was born during a time of great strife in the Fire Nation, which threatened to destroy us as a united and independent state. The country was plagued by natural disasters and disease epidemics. The situation worsened as noble clans, driven by their ambitions, each pulled the 'common blanket' toward themselves. Renouncing his privileges as the Avatar, he began his journey as a low-ranking official, gradually climbing the ladder," Azula paused briefly, glanced at me, and seeing my encouraging smile, continued with renewed vigor.
"Proving himself as an excellent diplomat, financier, and bureaucrat, he earned the title of Grand Advisor. Through his actions, he brokered peace among the warring clans. He also ended the devaluation of currency and established aid programs for various segments of the population."
"Excellent, excellent! It's wonderful that such worthy figures are still remembered by the younger generation. It means the nation will endure," Lo or Li said slowly. "I'd like to add that he meticulously recorded all his actions. These records eventually became a book, which is mandatory reading for those entering service," she concluded, pulling a book adorned in the Fire Nation style from her clothing.
"Prince Zuko, please name the programs he implemented," Zuko furrowed his brow thoughtfully, chewing on his writing utensils but remaining steadfastly silent…
By the way, he's the only Avatar whose portraits hang in the Palace, and whose memory is honored by all, regardless of their profession.
Today's lesson focused on past Avatars and their influence on the Fire Nation as a whole. I already knew most of it from my reading in the Wan Shi Tong Library, but it was fascinating to understand how the people of the Fire Nation themselves think—after all, everyone has their own perspective.
After the mental exercises, our little group—Zuko, Azula, and I, joined by Ursa—headed to the throne room. Today was another day to demonstrate our firebending progress before the eyes of the Fire Lord, our father, in that exact order.
Near the doors, we were unexpectedly halted by his personal guards.
"Lady Ursa, Lord Wan, Prince, Princess," the guard bowed four times, "Fire Lord Ozai is still occupied. Please wait for a moment," he bowed again. This is life, I thought. With such firebending abilities, you'd think you'd be burning enemies' faces, but instead, you spend your days bending your back… Of course, he might not think that way, but those would be my thoughts…
"Hmph, is there someone more important than family?" Zuko muttered, still viewing his father through rose-tinted glasses. The ruler is married to his duty, and his children are all citizens.
Curiosity urged me to eavesdrop, and I didn't resist much. The throne room has excellent soundproofing, so I had to crank up my senses to full power.
"You're asking to take the sole heir with you? And you won't abandon him, just as you won't abandon your country, in the midst of political battles?!" Ozai's usually calm voice was, for the first time, laced with emotion. "It's only because I sit on this throne, not some spirit's lapdog, that the hunt for you hasn't begun yet," he continued more calmly.
"For that, I'm immeasurably grateful," a voice just as strong replied, "And you know you can count on my help when needed."
"I hope you'll also call on your gaming club friends for assistance?"
"I will, for balance cannot be disrupted."
"At your age, believing in some balance? This world has no equilibrium—only power! Your friends' interests are well-known to me. I hope you'll continue to keep quiet," he added threateningly.
"What about my nephew, Zuko?" Ah, so that's whose voice it is! The former general, once heir to the throne, and simply a lover of jasmine tea—Iroh.
So, the interest group is the Order of the White Lotus… Well, with the Fire Nation's intelligence network, there's a chance of uncovering them, but I doubt everything is known. The Order has equally intelligent members who might deliberately leak certain information.
"You know it's still unsafe, and at least one heir should be hidden. That way, he can see the world and gain necessary experience. None of our enemies will be able to track our location," interestingly, Iroh almost outright says, 'It's dangerous here, let me take my favorite away so we'll have a ruler if you all die…'
"He has less than half a year left in school. We'll talk then," Ozai didn't refuse outright. "You're dismissed. The heirs will demonstrate their firebending now."
"With your permission, I'll watch as well," Iroh said.
Soon, the door opened, revealing Iroh's smiling face. The Fire Lord's brother's appearance was almost identical to what was shown in the animated series… His hair, now touched by gray, a developing paunch, and an overall air of serenity.
While Iroh was busy greeting his nieces and nephews, I couldn't wrap my head around how, in just a few years, a towering man, unmatched in height by Ozai, could become a grandfather, losing fifteen to twenty centimeters. Though… he was born in the thirty-fifth year after the Air Nomad genocide, so he's already in his sixty-first year. For his age, he's held up well. Still, life has tossed him around. First, the death of his beloved wife during the birth of Lu Ten, then the death of his son himself.
Now, at least, it's clear why he clings so tightly to Zuko, who, by some accounts, was very similar in character to his cousin.
"I'm finally glad to meet you," Iroh approached me first. Most likely, the Order had already briefed him about me.
"It's a great honor to see you, Lord Iroh," I bowed.
As soon as our introductions were over, Azula and Zuko began showcasing the heights of their firebending mastery. Their progress had stalled somewhat, as they now spend most of their time within the walls of their educational institution.
Zuko compensated for his shortcomings with his swordsmanship, while Azula was already executing some of the most complex firebending techniques.
"Your teaching skills are impressive," Ozai remarked, satisfied. Even Iroh looked at me more appraisingly. After all, it's one thing to hear about a strong firebending master, another to see it firsthand.
As soon as the demonstration ended, Iroh invited us to his chambers to present some gifts to his nephews and, probably, to get to know the person who plays a significant role in the heirs' lives better.
"I apologize in advance for my boldness, but could you assess my firebending skills?" I couldn't resist—I was eager to see Iroh's abilities.
"Ho-ho-ho, I'm not the same as I once was," he politely declined.
"Come on, Uncle, show us your cool techniques!" Zuko's eyes lit up, and even Azula, despite her feelings toward him, acknowledged his power.
"Alright, alright, you've convinced me," he said with a contagious, warm laugh. "There's not enough space here to fully unleash… So we'll skip the powerful, large-scale techniques."
His chambers were befitting his status, with ample space for our small sparring match. Regulating my breathing, I began circulating fiery energy through my chi paths, which, over years of activity, had only grown thicker. Soon, the day will come when I'll become a more energy-based form of existence, without losing my life force.
The stream of ordinary fire I sent was easily dispersed by the Dragon of the West. His attacks also didn't reach my body. Immediately, signs of mastery in the "Dancing Dragon" became apparent. Iroh also looked at me with surprise, evidently recognizing the style based on the Dragons themselves.
One of the main signs of mastery is taking control of a technique sent your way and returning it. So, it didn't look as epic as I'd hoped. We simply exchanged various firebending techniques, sending them back and forth.
"Be careful," I warned, as my hands began moving smoothly in a circular motion. Tiny lightning bolts immediately began coursing along them. This is something I can be proud of—my creation of lightning. It's become infinitely close to its natural manifestation.
"What execution!" Iroh exclaimed softly, adopting a more serious demeanor.
As soon as the technique was ready, it shot forward. Iroh confidently caught the lightning in his crossed palms. Soon, one hand was behind him, and the other was ready to send my attack back to me. I expected nothing less from him!
"The future belongs to the young," Iroh sighed as we finished.
If the opportunity arises, we can have a full-fledged fight, but what he's shown is enough for a rough assessment. In terms of skill and power, I'm in no way inferior to him. Only such a balance will immediately shift when I attain the highest rank in firebending.