— Ah! — breaking the silence with a bright moan of pleasure, Azula fully relaxed in the hot water. Throwing her head back and closing her eyes, she focused on enjoyment with tranquility. The hot springs had always been a magical place.
It was morning. The princess was bathing while the maids and cooks were busy preparing breakfast for the imperial personage. The familiar expanse of the palace's hot springs brought enjoyment and much-needed rest to her soul and body. However, a certain sense of incompleteness prevented the princess from fully relaxing. Something was definitely missing for the complete peace of her soul. Azula even suspected what it was but didn't want to think about it. The absence of the spirit in the morning had greatly offended her. Trying not to think about anything, but only to enjoy the silence, the girl languidly basked in the water, leaning on the edge of the pool.
Suddenly, she felt something cold land on her shoulders. Startled, she suppressed the urge to twist out of the clumsy grip and launch an attack, incinerating the impudent one with blue flame! But she managed to stop her reflexes in time. Such actions were useless. Only one creature could sneak up on her so closely for such foolishness. And it was already long dead. Her guess was correct, as soon as the familiar voice of Yoaru rang out.
— What an unusual reaction. Before, you would have immediately attacked, wanting to finish off whoever dared to sneak up on you from behind, — the calm voice of the ghost was filled with pleasant surprise.
— I just know it's useless against a dead person, — the girl parried in response.
— That's progress. How is it? — Yoaru began to knead her shoulders, trying to give her a massage. Azula frowned at his actions, fidgeting from the not-so-pleasant sensations.
— Cold. Your hands are like ice, and as for your massage skills, they are quite mediocre, — the girl gave her verdict, freeing herself from the grip of the already not entirely incorporeal spirit. The ghost's touch was not the most pleasant.
— Ah, what a pity. So much effort, and all in vain. I am a ghost, after all, — the interlocutor replied with slight displeasure, not insisting on continuing the massage.
— And how long have you been able to do that? — looking around, she noticed the spectral figure of her interlocutor, through which the walls and interior were visible. This clearly indicated that he was still incorporeal. However, this did not prevent him from touching her with his cold hands.
— I learned recently. You know that spirits can manifest in the material world and interact with it? Ah, yes... you don't know about that, — Yoaru recalled, stroking his chin, — in short: I learned this recently. — Azula raised an eyebrow in surprise at the spirit's explanation.
— What do you mean, recently?
— Literally the other day, to be precise, I remembered this recently, decided to try, and it worked! It turned out to be not as difficult as I imagined. Although I'm still far from a full manifestation of my entire body, — the spirit calmly satisfied the girl's curiosity, walking around her from the side. Under the girl's watchful gaze, he sat down opposite her. Right in the middle of the pool full of hot water.
He sat on the water, cross-legged, admiring the beauty of the female body, which bloomed with its special beauty. After the spirit's treatment, any scars on Azula had disappeared. Despite the still present internal injuries, she looked quite beautiful. Observing her body, one could see the well-defined strength of her personality reflected in the princess's physique. A beautiful and mesmerizing sight, worthy of being captured on canvas as a masterpiece of art and the pinnacle of female beauty. Watching the girl, Yoaru, unable to suppress a smile, enjoyed the view. He did not hide his pleasure at the sight at all; rather, he demonstrated it.
Smirking at the interlocutor's actions, Azula demonstratively relaxed, making no attempt to hide the beauty of her body. Instead, she changed her pose so that everything was clearly visible, clearly proud of her appearance. The time when she was embarrassed by such attention was long past. Now she was even pleased by it. Perceiving such attention as a compliment. Just as Yoaru once said: If people look, it means there's something to look at.
— You are as beautiful as ever. — the spirit complimented her, causing Azula's lips to twitch into a smile. But she quickly regained her composure, remaining outwardly calm.
— What are you looking at? — the woman noticed the direction of the ghost's gaze.
— Your stomach.
— Stomach?
— Uh-huh. It's beautiful, especially I like the barely visible abs, which show all their beauty when you tense up. It shows that you are used to achieving your goals, and how much you work to achieve them. Your body can tell a lot about you. I, of course, know all this already, but just observing you like this is a real treat for my eyes. It's like watching a masterpiece by a brilliant artist. You are so strong and yet feminine. Ahem, — he faltered, — it's hard to find worthy words to describe the beauty and strength you possess.
— Is this a compliment? — the girl couldn't help but raise her left eyebrow in surprise. It seemed to be the spirit's first compliment not veiled in sarcasm, irony, or a joke. And these words of his...
— Yes... I think it's a compliment. Although I'm not sure, I just said what I thought looking at you. But you can take it as a compliment.
— I see... — the girl replied briefly. Feeling that it was getting somewhat hot, and her heart was racing.
— Let's go back. Where have you been disappearing to? If it's not a secret? — Azula inquired, making an effort to remain calm and not betray her embarrassment.
Yoaru continued to look at her, his smile growing wider and wider. Under his gaze, the princess began to blush gradually. It was rare to see Azula like this. In public, she managed to maintain composure. Only with him did she experience some strange feeling. Incomprehensible, unfamiliar, unknown, and yet desired?
— I knew you'd be interested in this, — the spirit prolonged with pleasure, enjoying the girl's confusion.
— I plunged into the dirtiest filth that humans have ever invented!..
At such a strange phrase, the girl exhaled hot air along with wisps of blue flame, regaining her composure. Azula began to frown, not understanding the essence of Yoaru's answer. Noticing the bewildered look of his interlocutor, the spirit decided to explain in more detail.
— I studied the memories of ministers, military personnel, politicians, officials, and everyone else I could get my hands on overnight. I learned a lot of new and very interesting things.
— And... your father's memories? — the princess quickly guessed.
— Of course. He is just like everyone else, even if he considers himself something more. Do you want to know any of his secrets? — the spirit leaned closer, reducing the distance between them. But Azula did not like such an answer.
— I told you not to do that! — with a furious hiss, she exhaled a huge stream of flame directly into the interlocutor's face. The fire passed through him, disappearing into the air. And Yoaru continued to smile with a kind of sad smile.
— Not exactly. You ordered me not to do it, but... — he closed the distance between them to a minimum, — am I your subordinate?
The princess had no words for an appropriate answer. With his tone alone, he reminded her of a simple truth. The spirit was not her subordinate. An ally? Yes. But not a subordinate or a servant. He had to be reckoned with, just like her father, if not more so. Yoaru was partly right, but she didn't want to admit it. A feeling of resentment and fear began to fill the girl's heart.
— Why did you tell me about this? — the princess glared at her interlocutor angrily.
— I want you to know about this ability of mine. You are smart, you will find a way to use it. Besides, I now know a huge number of your dad's secrets. Just ask, and I'll gladly share them with you. I will answer any questions.
— No! I don't want to know... — the girl replied too sharply, quickly falling silent. Surprised by her own behavior, she didn't finish the sentence. Quickly regaining her composure, Azula got out of the hot water pool, starting to dry herself with a towel. Thus hiding her agitated face from Yoaru's gaze.
— Better tell me what you managed to find out about others. Those who have achieved a modicum of power, — Azula's voice came through the soft towel, as she wiped her head for a long time, gradually regaining her composure.
— As you say...
Yoaru shared what he had managed to learn that night. To the princess's surprise, the information obtained by the spirit was very interesting. Extremely personal secrets of far from the least important people at court. Although there was very little information, even the very fact that Azula could not fully read and predict the actions of certain people spoke volumes. This coincided with the reasons for the lack of information. Azula already knew, or at least suspected, most of what Yoaru had learned. After all, she was a genius and had been trained by the best masters in the country. For her age, the girl understood politics very well, and even better, intrigues.
The princess passed the time in conversation until a maid announced that breakfast was ready and the audience with the Fire Lord was approaching. While Azula was busy devouring breakfast, the spirit continued to reveal personal secrets of the powerful. After the treatment following breakfast, and after consulting with Yoaru, the girl decided to have a short training session. During it, she sadly confirmed her suspicions that she had not fully recovered yet. Her movements were not as sharp. She felt stiffness, and sometimes her joints were pierced with pain. Unfortunately, in such a state, she could not give her all.
Meanwhile, the appointed time for the Fire Lord's audience arrived, and the princess hesitantly froze before the door to his study. Gathering her strength, she knocked, and after hearing a short command to enter, opened the door.
— Lord of Fire, I have arrived at your command, — the girl knelt, glancing around her father's study. Elegance and grandeur were combined with practicality and compactness. There were many scrolls and papers on her father's desk, with which he was busy. This study was meant for work, not for receiving guests.
Time passed. Azula remained frozen, kneeling before the ruler. According to the rules of etiquette, she had to wait until the Fire Lord deigned to pay attention to her. He undoubtedly had many important matters to attend to, and their conversation could wait.
— He's showing you your place. How ugly to do such a thing to your own daughter, but at the same time, it's a very effective way to show subordinates their place, — Yoaru shared his thoughts, standing behind her father and brazenly starting to read the papers he was working on. The ruler of the strongest country and the leader of the greatest nation did not notice the spirit standing right behind his shoulder.
— Do you want to know what he's busy with? — in response, the princess slowly blinked once, demonstratively showing the spirit her refusal. This was an answer that did not attract attention and was understood only by the invisible participant in the conversation.
— What a pity. But I'll tell you anyway, it's reports from the colonies. Can you imagine? It's more important than you and your well-being. Funny, isn't it? — the girl's teeth clenched tightly at the spirit's words. Although she understood that this was also important, she knew that the reports could wait, especially since he himself had appointed the time for the meeting. Azula understood what her father was aiming for, but patiently continued to wait.
After a few minutes, Ozai finished with the parchment, setting it aside. His gaze stopped on his own daughter.
— Azula. How was your training with Master Piandao? — Ozai began coolly.
— Excellent. I would like to demonstrate my progress, but the wounds I received in battle with the sea serpent will not allow me to do so right now, — the girl replied quickly, having already imagined variations of their conversation in her mind several times. Fortunately, her father had given her enough time for such reflections.
— How much time will you need for complete recovery? — the fire lord's voice was devoid of any emotion. Despite what was said, it was clear that he was not at all interested in his own daughter's condition. He remained as cold and impartial as ever.
— Three more days, — Yoaru prompted, having moved aside, closer to the girl, continuing to observe their conversation. The ghost's face remained impassive, only occasionally allowing himself to cast a sad glance at the girl.
— Three days, — Azula replied briefly. Ozai's face still expressed no emotion.
— Good. In three days, I want to personally see your skills and progress in mastering lightning.
— Hmm, I should somehow bring up the topic of your desire to benefit the country. Add flattery. The best choice is an inspection with a personal ship and a personally selected team, — the spirit quickly inserted his word while the father and daughter were silent.
— And also, I have learned that before your departure, you took a lot of literature from the capital library about poetry, — Ozai paused, after a clear demonstration of his awareness of his daughter's every action.
These words of his seemed to carry no particular meaning, but that was only at first glance. And only to those who knew how to read between the lines was something more visible. The Fire Lord was displeased with such arbitrary actions of his heiress. Ozai wanted to hear her excuses. Because he considered poetry not to be something his heiress should be doing.
— It's eloquence training, — Azula answered quite skillfully, hinting at certain things, namely lies and intrigues.
— Is that so? — the ruler replied thoughtfully, stroking his long goatee and continuing to look at his own daughter with a cold gaze.
— He didn't like your answer, — the spirit said, as if he were a third participant in the conversation, but only Azula heard him.
— I see, I am satisfied with your answer. You may be free. Rest and recover.
— As you command, Lord of Fire.
Azula left her father's study. Walking through the majestic corridors of the palace, she reached her wing, where she ordered the servants to prepare more food, after which she retreated to her own chambers.
— It's a shame we didn't get a chance to voice our idea, to be an inspector of cities and colonies. To see, so to speak, how well your father's orders are being carried out, — the spirit expressed his opinion as soon as Azula was in her room and collapsed on the bed. The girl felt not very well. The meeting with her father was not the most pleasant.
— There was no opportunity. And he wouldn't have given his permission until I showed perfect lightning control, — the princess replied easily.
— I know, I figured it out myself, but still, it's a waste of time. And thank you for not trying to talk about the Avatar, — Yoaru thanked her, also settling on the bed, next to the girl.
— Don't take me for a fool. I need to heal as soon as possible.
— We'll start as soon as you eat, then you'll train. I think it's time to start restoring your skills. We have little time and too many plans that require immediate implementation, — Yoaru summarized, calmly sprawling on the bed with the princess.
— Agreed...
(***)
Three days passed very quickly. Azula ate a lot and trained even more, restoring her skills. Fire manipulation, lightning bending, cold steel, and hand-to-hand combat skills, everything returned to its previous level. Her body no longer ached from sharp movements. It was already ready for more strenuous loads. And a day before the fateful test day, I persuaded Azula to train together.
The essence of it was that our consciousnesses would merge, and our energy would resonate while I was inside her, controlling the body together with Zula herself. To be honest, this idea came to me when I remembered Aang's Avatar State. When his eyes and tattoos began to glow. Along with it, all the magic power increased by a hundred times or even more. As soon as I remembered this, I decided to try a similar trick with Azula.
I, of course, am not the great spirit of Raava, but I am capable of something now. And what exactly I was capable of, we decided to find out in the training hall. It didn't work the first time, not even the tenth, but somewhere around the thirtieth or fortieth try, but it was definitely worth it.
— Interesting... — the girl said with slight shock when we released a huge fireball from our hands, which should have been at least several times smaller, given our combined efforts and chi.
— Let's continue, we need to see everything we are capable of in this state, — after which we continued to perform attacking katas and other fire magic techniques known to Azula, some of which she created herself...
The very first training session demonstrated an almost fivefold increase in flame. Control increased, fire power and its quantity too, as well as other physical parameters, durability, speed, strength, agility, and even emotional control, as we practically merged into one consciousness. Very strange, but interesting sensations.
And all this with the same effort and chi expenditure for using magic. This state was possible only thanks to our and Azula's energy, which was almost identical. Other people suffer and get injured from my presence, while the princess becomes stronger. As, in fact, do I. An interesting and predictable effect.
By the way, I started to think that it was thanks to Zula that I so quickly learned to partially manifest myself in the human world, but this requires experiments and training. I won't be limited to just my hands. And for experiments, I need time, a lot of free time.
This was another significant advantage of our cooperation for the princess. Together, we were stronger than separately. Not as strong as the Avatar, but still, in this state, Azula became several times stronger than herself. And that's quite a lot, considering how strong the girl was on her own.
Of course, between training sessions and restoring her abilities, we did many other things. We talked a lot, discussed future plans, made them... we even discussed some stories from her childhood. Having the same memories, it was quite strange and unusual, but after such time spent, I felt the bonds between us strengthening. Gradually, I began to notice how much she was becoming attached to me. However, I did not let my guard down. In my memory, the moment when I trusted her for the first time, and how it ended, was still vivid.
A few hours of hellish pain are not something I want to repeat, even for another leap in strength and abilities.
Three days passed very quickly. During this time, we managed to discuss and consider a lot. The choice of a team, Azula's two friends, a bald mercenary, politics, economics, the social structure, the army, food, weather... During this time, the girl fully recovered and even became a little stronger.
The time for testing her skills was drawing closer and closer. We even began to assume what her father would prepare. After all, even half a dozen firebending masters would not be enough for a full test of her skills.
And then, as she majestically walked into the required training hall, I saw a familiar energy through the thick walls of the corridors. It was Azula's opponent. He stood in the middle of a spacious room surrounded by sand. I was immediately seized by anxious feelings. How would Zula react to something like this? Or rather, how would the girl's psyche behave under such a test?
— Zula, be ready for anything, — I decided to hint to the girl about the dangerous trial, showing my support. Fortunately, I was already inside her, and if necessary, I could cover her from fatal mistakes. After all, such a thing could quite frighten her.
— What do you mean?
— Go forward, you'll find out soon enough...