After the unexpected storm, life on the princess's ship returned to normal. The guards burned the bodies of those who died in battle and paid tribute to the missing. The relatives of the deceased will receive all their due monetary payments according to military regulations. Despite the considerable losses among the crew, people continued to live. The mourning was short-lived. This was facilitated by the imperial retinue, who interrogated everyone repeatedly, trying to figure out how such a thing could have happened. In short, with each passing hour, the situation on the ship became more tense. Mourning for the dead was quickly replaced by anxiety for their own skin.
And while Azula was unable to move and fully command the ship and the investigation, the guards could only carry out all the orders of her deputy. The captain of the imperial guard, Wei Lung, continued to dig into the dirtiest laundry of everyone on the ship. He perfectly understood who the Fire Lord would question first about what happened. This motivated him to try his best to expose the traitors and understand what happened on the ship during the storm, or at least appoint scapegoats and culprits.
He was not stopped even by the princess's lack of interest in this case. She did not give orders to stop the investigation and interrogation of the crew members. It did not come to torture, but the situation was very strange. No one saw anything and no one knew anything. From the bodies of the dead, it was clear that traitors were practically everywhere. Perhaps they were even in the princess's imperial retinue. Since there were also missing people among the guard.
However, no matter how hard Wei Lung tried, he couldn't put together a coherent picture of what happened. There was critically little necessary information, and it wasn't a fact that even interrogations would help extract more. Returning again and again to the notes scattered all over the captain's cabin, he couldn't understand how such a thing had happened. He had managed to learn a lot about each crew member, whether dead or not. Personal relationships, preferences, interpersonal dynamics, marital fidelity, plans for the future that were not destined to come true due to death.
All of this was competently documented and reviewed from all angles, as were the subsequent interrogations of the entire crew and even the guards. Repeated interrogations were a necessary measure to catch a possible traitor in a lie. But it was all in vain. He found nothing, no motive, no goals, no reasons for betrayal, he could catch very few people even in a lie. And the information obtained in this way said nothing. Infidelity to wives, minor abuses of power, bribery, theft, relationships with some maids…
This was negligibly little. He could not escape punishment from the Fire Lord with such information. The picture of what happened was full of holes. The deputy princess and the new captain of the ship could not find a reasonable explanation for what was happening, no matter how hard they tried. It was as if this whole series of events was an accident, or else…
Spirits… Perhaps they simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, under the wrong moonlight and with the wrong stars aligned. This would explain a lot. Although such a thing looks somewhat far-fetched, everything fits together. If it were spirits, or a single spirit that decided to sink the ship at any cost for reasons known only to itself, then everything falls into place! An unknown spirit could very well have succeeded if not for the princess's lightning. But would the Fire Lord be satisfied with such conclusions?
Of course not.
Sighing heavily from despair at the situation, Wei Lung swept all the sheets off the table with one motion. The surge of helpless rage continued with blows to the metal wall. A blow, another blow… his fists were bloody, but the blows continued to rain down on the metal wall, which stoically absorbed all the guard captain's anger. The pain did not sober him at all.
— Captain? What happened? — one of the imperial retinue guards, who was now guarding the captain's cabin, entered the room.
— Nothing worth your attention, soldier. Return to your post.
— Yes, sir!
Life went on, and while the captain vented his anger on the walls, other crew members went about their business. Of course, the experienced storm could not go unnoticed, and it was absolutely on everyone's lips. Everyone discussed it. Its causes, its unexpected appearance, possible betrayal, which no one believed in. Along the way, people expressed their opinions among friends and acquaintances, colleagues, and comrades.
At the end of the workday, a staff of five maids gathered together to gossip.
— Oh, these constant checks. How tiresome they are, every time to get to the princess, they grope us without a pang of conscience! How I'm sick of it! — one of the young maids complained, lounging comfortably on her bed.
— It's their job, no need to get angry, especially considering the circumstances — the older maid was much calmer about it.
— Job? Is groping breasts and buttocks at every encounter a job?
— You just pleased him. That's why he's giving you attention — the third maid joked to the indignant one.
— The captain of the guard believes that what happened was the result of a large-scale conspiracy aimed at assassinating the princess. We and all the soldiers with the rest of the ship's crew are just accidental victims. Wei Lung can be understood, as he will be questioned about everything that happened, so he is raging. I'm afraid to imagine what they will do to him if he doesn't find anyone — the princess's senior maid calmly shared her opinion.
— Oh, I didn't look at the situation that way. Poor thing, maybe the princess's guard will have a new captain soon.
— That's most likely what will happen. The girl takes after her father — the other girls adopted their senior colleague's position.
The maids of the princess's retinue were lucky, unlike the new captain, Wei Lung. He took command after Bruce Lee disappeared, and he would be held more accountable than anyone else. No one would ask them anything, and they successfully avoided punishment thanks to their profession and almost complete lack of responsibility. At least, they are not responsible for the ship, nor for the safety of the princess and the crew.
— Speaking of the princess, did you feel strange after being alone with her? Like… — one of the young maids cautiously began, gesturing with her hands and trying to express her thoughts correctly.
— Memory lapses? Nausea? Dizziness? Headache? — another girl picked up on her colleague's thought. She, like all the other maids, had noticed something similar, but was afraid to speak it aloud. Suspicions accumulated, waiting for the right moment within each of them, and then one of them raised the topic, arousing everyone's interest.
— Yes… — the third replied hesitantly. — I thought it was just me.
— No, I've noticed something similar in myself too.
— Girls, the mistress has started to isolate herself with one of us more often. And the memory lapses… I'm even more scared to be alone with her now. And it all started with that damn storm! — a fourth maid joined the conversation.
— And don't remind me, when I remember, I shudder. It was so scary then! I thought we were all going to die! Wei even fainted for the entire storm — one of the girls said nervously, shuddering from the memories.
— And I don't regret it, it was too scary then.
— Bear with it. All this is temporary. Tomorrow evening we will be in the capital. We can only hope that such incidents will stop, and the ship will not get caught in another storm — the oldest and main girl found the best way out of their mysterious situation. They could not disobey the princess's orders, even if those orders meant death.
Among the princess's personal maids, a hierarchy of seniority and experience had naturally formed. Therefore, the oldest was responsible for the actions of her junior colleagues. They figured this out themselves, since Azula usually didn't care about them. At least, as long as they performed their duties almost perfectly.
— And yet, what is causing this? Perhaps some kind of curse? Is the Radiant Agni displeased with the princess?
— You're saying that, maybe you'll mention some spirits too?
— And what of it?..
The maids continued to gossip, discussing the princess and all the strangeness of recent times. Including the mysterious storm and the monster attack on the ship. As the guards who fought it under the princess's leadership said, it was a sea serpent. The most dangerous inhabitant of all oceans.
That same evening, the soldiers, who were being interrogated too often by the princess's guards, were discussing the incident and their problems in the same way. They, like everyone else, were shocked and didn't believe that there were so many traitors. And what traitors could there be among the princess's subordinates? All her servants are the best and most loyal. It is extremely difficult to believe in the betrayal of such people. At such a moment, at such an hour, in such a place, with such casualties, and among their friends and comrades. Comrades with whom they had served for more than one year. This simply could not be true.
Meeting in the mess hall, in the barracks, on the deck… simply in numerous corridors, they discussed everything that had happened. Remembering how scary it was during the storm. How the roar of the monster made their blood run cold, and their hearts stopped with every echo of lightning. Some even fainted or went into shock, unable to move. Rumor had it that there were even such people among the imperial retinue, which few believed. Instead, the soldiers discussed how bravely the guards fought under Azula's leadership. All the survivors would remember this storm for the rest of their lives.
Many did not like Wei Lung's actions, but there were also those who perfectly understood and accepted such harsh measures. All the soldiers were familiar with the regulations; they knew who the Fire Lord would hold accountable for what happened. But this did not prevent them from gossiping no worse than market women. The majority of the crew, having taken the necessary measures, endured numerous interrogations, hoping to get rid of all this and quickly arrive in the capital.
Already on land, some are planning to go on vacation, some to visit their wives and children, and some will go on a most interesting adventure to brothels. Some even seriously hoped for a medal with a promotion for fighting the monster. Of course, the latter was a dream, but all the soldiers agreed to be patient a little. The end was near, less than a day's journey to the capital remained.
— I managed to find all this out in the evening, Zula. I would have made an excellent spy! — the spirit concludes his story as the sun disappeared below the horizon, and the day gave way to night.
— Nothing useful — Azula quietly assessed what was said, as she relaxed on her bed, having finished all the humiliating tortures for the day, the last of which were the ablution procedures together with the spirit. After them, she absolutely did not want to do anything.
— What did I say about the problems of servants? If you don't know about their lives, you won't notice betrayal — the ghost reminds of his own words.
— And what did I say about the maids? At least one of them will turn you in to dad, how will you explain all this to him? — the spirit insisted, clearly having a different opinion on the information obtained with his own hands.
— No way, these are just rumors. Suspicions, without any evidence. I'll leave it as it is, it will be the best option. My staff of maids will not carelessly gossip about this to anyone else. They themselves could be considered insane. Too little evidence.
— And what if they do? The captain himself is already guessing the truth and my presence. If he gets information about memory lapses near you, he can figure out a lot himself. For example, that you are connected with spirits who caused the massacre on the ship. Or that you are possessed, or… — the spirit's emotional speech was interrupted by the princess's sharp words.
— I understood what you want to say. Enough reflections for today, I've had enough of the bath with you, I… I'm tired. Time to sleep, good night — with difficulty, the girl turned to the other side, pulling the blanket up to her neck with trembling hands.
— I understand, it was a rather difficult day for you. I can cheer you up. I assume that tomorrow you will be able to limp on your own! Without any help! — the spirit announced the joyful news.
— That would be great. Only this will cause quite a lot of suspicion — the girl replied in a tired voice, truly exhausted by the day's events. Not in terms of physical fatigue, but in terms of moral willpower. Too many shameful things had been done to her today. Things, most of which she wished to forget with all her heart.
— Yes. I think you can lie convincingly enough for everyone to believe. If, of course, they ask — Yoaru continued.
— I'm so tired…
— Good night, but we'll return to this conversation tomorrow — the spirit replied, preparing to enter the girl and begin her treatment, as he had been doing for almost the entire day and the previous night.
— As you say…
The next day, Azula did not give in to the spirit's persuasions and did not interact with her maids in any way. Instead, she discussed with the captain what he would have to say to her father when it was time for his audience. The princess had always known how to make everyone do what she wanted. This case was no exception. Rumors had already greatly embellished the girl's wounds. Everyone knew the contribution the princess had made to the victory. Human rumor spread too quickly on the cramped ship. The sight of the princess, who was somehow limping, was astonishing to the depths of the soul. The crew, the guard, the maids, the advisors… and especially the doctor. All of them were greatly surprised by her rapid recovery.
The doctor even cried tears of joy, realizing that he would definitely not be executed now. Of course, the doctor had many questions, but Azula demonstrated excellent persuasion skills here as well. Mixing threats with lies and distorted truth, she obtained his silence by saying that she was special. For everyone else, a relative recovery of their lady was enough.
In two days, from a severely ill patient who required assistance even for going to the toilet and eating, she had practically recovered, starting to walk without outside help. Even if limping, leaning on the wall, with great difficulty and slight pain throughout her body, she was walking! The time spent on regeneration amazed the doctor, but he perfectly understood the hints and the possibility of secrets in a royal family. Quickly realizing which way the wind was blowing, he stopped his questions.
Azula did not support the interrogation situation. On the contrary, at her order, they ceased. The last part of the journey the crew spent in peace, without the constant tension emanating from the imperial retinue guards. Furthermore, the lady did not take part in the ship's command. She only checked the course and quickly calculated the remaining hours of travel to the capital's harbor. Realizing that the ship would arrive by evening, she disappeared into her cabin. The girl had already done a lot, overcoming her ailments in monstrously record time; she needed simple rest.
This was the official version, while in reality, I continued to work on healing her body, returning it to its ideal state. And while I was doing my job, Azula breathed, Azula ate, Azula slept. This was all the girl did while I tirelessly continued to heal the bodily wounds she received through my own fault. Time flew by very quickly until evening, by which time she could already walk more or less without limping. However, it would take several more days to return to the ideal state of her body before the battle with the monster. I think I'll manage in a week, and she will deal with other, no less important matters in the palace in the meantime.
By sunset, the ship entered the harbor…