My relationship with the princess has been improving.
Being saved from death, the support I gave during the fight, the very personal conversation in the dark of the secret corridors—all these actions played a key role in changing my relationship with Azula. At the same time, it's not like our previous interactions led to nothing. Step by step, I was building a rapport with the princess. I know very well that the mind changes throughout a person's life from any factor, be it a conversation, specific life situations, or a new acquaintance.
I could see this effect while observing the girl throughout our acquaintance—how we went from open enemies to "allies," then forced partners, and now almost friends or just good acquaintances. At least, I hope so.
Meeting me has already been slowly changing Azula for a while. It was inevitable—I was too big of a factor for her to ignore. Even at the moment of my supposed death, the princess longed for me and regretted her action. I wasn't the best conversationalist, but I was at least someone, as she couldn't simply talk to anyone because of her status and other foolish things. And upon gaining all her memories, I came to understand the girl much better, which also played a role in our relationship.
Then came the failed assassination attempt on her life—the storm, the monster, the injury. This incident made her reflect and feel that she wasn't the biggest fish in the pond. Proximity to death always changes people. Afterward, we had a long conversation. While inside her mind during our partial fusion, we almost calmly discussed our goals and concluded that together it would be much easier to achieve them than separately. Though Azula didn't have any grand goals then, other than serving her father, which had recently been shaken, and a thirst for power. The second one played a big role in her choice. With me, she became significantly stronger than she was before. And that's not even mentioning the healing of her rather severe wounds.
Also, besides that, I told her about a big problem for her nation, in the form of a certain bald monk.
The information about Aang served as a kind of deterrent. I had to reveal it so that Zula wouldn't even try to get rid of me again. Despite everything she said, all her promises, everything she stated, she could have acted completely differently. Taking precautions was vitally necessary, and I did it by revealing the future appearance of the Avatar and the big problems for the Fire Nation. By lying a little here and there, I got what I wanted, and Zula decided to become even stronger by the time the number one enemy of her nation appeared. With this, I gave her another goal, cementing her desire to become even stronger.
There wasn't, and won't be, full trust between us anytime soon, despite any words or promises. Each of us pursued our own goals and tried to gain the other's trust to get a greater benefit. I needed her position, energy, and freedom of action; she needed my knowledge and power. Of course, she didn't believe me at my word right away, but now I'm no worse at persuasion than Azula herself. The skills I acquired from her have taken root so well in me that I have to restrain them. The desire to act for benefit rather than conscience arises too often.
And so it continued until this day. When her ideals and faith were shattered by her father's lightning, which almost killed her. This incident changed a lot in Azula's worldview—too much. That same evening, I realized how much the girl had changed from her own father's failed murder attempt, and how important he was to her. The personal conversation in the secret corridors was just the beginning. The whole day passed routinely—the princess trained, ate, bathed, and talked to me about various things, but in the evening, an even more interesting conversation took place between us...
— Hot springs, one of the best pleasures in the world—I noted once again, leaving the girl's body. Now, after a good bath, we were in her chambers.
— I suppose I'll agree with you—Zula replied to me, continuing to lie relaxed on the bed in a starfish pose.
— Oh, you're actually admitting that our opinions coincide? How sweet…—I taunted my princess in a teasing voice.
— Stop acting like an idiot—Zula did not appreciate my efforts.
— So that's how I'm acting...—I replied in a feigned hurt tone, but she didn't appreciate my acting, and I wasn't even trying.
— Yoaru, I wanted to show you something—Azula began calmly, getting up from the bed. After bathing in the hot springs, we were alone in her chambers. The girl's locks were especially beautiful, slightly wet, and with her hair down, she looked even more beautiful and feminine.
Such activities were, of course, joint ones. As if I would miss an opportunity to enjoy the hot springs in pleasant company with a beautiful girl. Without a body, I was content with little. Azula did not object and yielded to me in such a trifle. Besides, I wasn't just swapping places with her, as it was before. Now we were training in this way in a state of resonance—that very mode when our energies, thoughts, and feelings merge—it was thanks to it and the sai dagger that I managed to save her life. It wasn't for nothing that these daggers were forged; they had already saved the princess from death twice.
— Yes? And what do you want to show?—I asked the girl, as usual, drifting in the air near her.
— Even before leaving for Piandao, I ordered hawks to be sent to all fire temples so that they would send me all the information about spirits at the palace. Almost as soon as I arrived, the servants reported the arrival of the necessary scrolls. Because of the treatment and the upcoming test, I didn't have time for this. If you're interested, I can order the maids to bring them—the girl continued to explain, not batting an eyelid.
— Interesting—I played along easily, seeing the second layer of the dialogue.
Of course, due to a number of factors, she couldn't start studying the spiritual literature, or rather, fully study it. But, I think, if not for the improvement in our relationship, she wouldn't even think about sharing such information. After all, there could very well have been something there that would help her get rid of me.
This fact pleasantly surprised me.
Although I knew about such literature, hidden in the palace by Azula's own order, as I had been peeking into the girl's memory, she was indeed studying it secretly from me in a very cunning way. Suspecting that I was looking at her memory, she ordered her most trusted maid to familiarize herself with this literature, explaining to her what the princess needed to find. In this not-so-clever way, she hoped to find an advantage against me, thus turning our relationship into a familiar dynamic for her: that of a boss and a subordinate, where Azula, of course, would be on top. And it could have worked.
After all, I don't spend all my time with her; sometimes I want to be alone with my thoughts, do my own things, get some fresh air, watch cute young maids enjoying the hot springs... However, her admission... it was a revelation of an advantage—an advantage that could possibly be used against me in the future. This was direct proof of the improvement in our relationship. Although I wasn't fooling myself—if she didn't know, she at least suspected that I might know all her plans. Everything is so complicated with this schemer, but it's all the more interesting.
Soon, at the princess's command, servants brought dozens of scrolls and several full books. That evening, we studied this literature late into the night. Of course, there was very little useful information in them. In the scrolls and books, there wasn't a word about how to harm spiritual entities in any way. Probably. After all, I didn't want to test some of the folk methods on myself. However, besides all the rubbish, there was also something interesting—some mentions of spirits, some known types of spirits that were unfamiliar to us, meditations, spiritual practices, and, most interestingly, healing practices of firebending.
— Healing… with fire?—Azula thoughtfully tried the words on her tongue, then glanced at me.
— Don't look at me, I'm surprised myself!—and this was really true; despite knowing the canon and Azula's memory, this world was full of secrets and mysteries unknown to me.
— Should we slightly change our future route?—the girl suggested, clearly interested in the unknown firebending method.
— Only if it doesn't take too long. I'm also interested in this fire temple. But I'm much more interested in the stories about the Great Mother of Faces.
— Do you think, since she can change appearances, she'll create a body for you too?—the princess quickly guessed my assumptions.
— It's possible. The abilities of spirits are far more powerful and extensive than any human capabilities. She grants wishes once a season. If we plan the route wisely, we'll make it everywhere in time. There's still time.
— Let's leave that for the morning. We won't count our chickens before they hatch. We've already spent too much time reading today—after saying this, Azula placed the scroll on the table and got comfortable on the bed.
— But the reading was very interesting—I decided to have the last word.
— There's so little time left to sleep; it will be impossible to get a good night's rest—Azula replied with a small hint, getting under the blanket.
Helping her with this was not difficult for me. Although the fact that she doesn't speak directly, but tries to manipulate me, is disappointing, that's just how she was raised. I have a lot of work ahead of me to heal all this child's childhood traumas. For now, she really needs to sleep.
— Don't worry about it, you'll get enough sleep.
The princess extinguished the candle, and the room was plunged into darkness.
— Good night, Yoaru, and thank you.
— Good night, Zula…
***
For Fire Lord Ozai, it was an almost ordinary day.
A message delivered by a hawk almost a week ago spoke of his daughter's ship being caught in a storm, followed by an attack by a sea serpent. In the battle, the princess received serious injuries. However, such news did not at all shake the ruler. He was young—forty-six years is not so much. Especially considering that his father and grandfather easily lived over a hundred years. The man believed that he was still capable of both conceiving a new heir and raising him properly. He had enough time. Even if his country had lost its princess in that storm, he would not have been too worried about the loss of a daughter. That's just the kind of person he was.
Perhaps Ozai would even have been glad to hear of his daughter's death. Lately, Azula had been acting very strangely and suspiciously. As her father, he knew all the subtleties of his daughter's behavior very well. For the last month and almost a week, she has been acting somewhat... unusual. There were no changes in her behavior, he had made sure of that both during the meeting and throughout the conversation. However, her actions spoke volumes. Azula was his own daughter, the result of his strict upbringing, a worthy heiress, and a tool in his hands.
Lately, she had been showing too much independence—a craving for literature, knowledge of other military disciplines that he considered useless for a firebender. And the various rumors that his people learned during the interrogation of Azula's crew made him wonder what was happening to his daughter. The wounds she had healed in a matter of days, while a doctor had claimed the treatment would take half a year.
Of course, rumors among the people were the least of the ruler's worries, and her speedy recovery could be explained by the consequences of the firebending ritual. Ozai was much more afraid of his daughter's independence.
From his own experience, Ozai knew what the independence of an overly young and action-hungry heir could lead to. Of course, few would be happy to see the first female Fire Lord. However, Azula had every chance of becoming one. She was quite capable of handling all the problems; that's how he raised her. For her, all these problems would be a nuisance rather than a real obstacle on the path to power. Only her feelings for him were an obstacle for the princess, and to some extent, her youth and his life.
On this day, he learned that she already had enough strength and mastery in firebending to take his place. From this, Ozai felt mixed feelings—pride for his heiress and fear of her. He got so carried away by the fight that he couldn't resist and almost killed his own daughter. However, that would have been an even better outcome, and he would have taken care of the witnesses. The subsequent conversation made him believe that his daughter was still partially loyal to him. However, her request... only strengthened his fears.
While signing papers, talking with ministers, reading military reports, and sending orders to the troops, he was also thinking. How would it be best to proceed? Should he eliminate the questionable figure on the political chessboard? It would be a shame. No, it wasn't his conscience or paternal feelings. He regretted the time and money spent on raising and training a worthy heiress and his personal tool as Fire Lord. How to deal with his daughter... this was the most difficult question in Ozai's life.
After spending the whole day reflecting and performing the routine duties of a ruler, the Fire Lord came to the conclusion that there was no need to rush.
Even though Azula was acting strangely, it could very well be teenage foolishness or rebellion. The best option would be to let her go on a free journey while continuing to monitor all the princess's actions with the help of servants. As long as she showed no hint of betrayal or treason, and it would be profitable for her to have her father in power for a few more years. He would wisely use his daughter's talents and find a worthy use for them. This would be the most profitable solution, both for the country and for him personally.