The princess's ship continued its journey.
After visiting three cities, Azula had not found any violations of the law or corruption during all this time. Her father's will was being perfectly executed among the people. Propaganda, the system of checks and balances built by Azulon himself, technological progress, a constant need for workers, a decent standard of living, and the inevitability of punishment. All of this made it impossible for crime to flourish or for anyone to provide political support to anyone other than Ozai.
All types of crime were quickly suppressed and punished in accordance with the crime, and inconvenient governors and military officials… it seemed they simply did not exist. In most cases, the punishment was in the form of correctional labor. Less often it was prison or even execution. After all, we live in wartime. This justification worked perfectly for the harsh enforcement of the law.
Lately, not only Azula, but I also began to understand better how life is arranged in the Fire Nation. Only two and a half weeks had passed since we left the capital. Nothing interesting happened during this time. During the inspection, all the governors behaved the same way: they fawned over and tried to curry favor with the princess, showing that everything was great with them. Zula liked this, but I didn't. There was too much hypocrisy and sycophancy in their behavior, which only fueled the princess's arrogance.
Fortunately for the officials, neither I, nor Zula, nor the princess's subordinates sent to gather rumors and information… none of us found anything significant, so we couldn't make any accusations. We could only scare these little rulers with our presence. Although this applied only to Azula, no one saw me.
There were, of course, minor crimes against the law and minor abuses of power among mid- and low-level officials and officers, but these were isolated cases not related to higher-level managers. They were punished in accordance with the letter of the law. Some were sent to the mines, some had enough with a dozen lashes, but people did not do anything particularly terrible, so they were not publicly executed. The higher officials and governors were especially pleasing. They all carefully monitored the execution of the Fire Lord's will, not wanting to lose their comfortable positions, which they earned with sweat and blood.
Yes, in this country, only the Fire Lord's throne is inherited, and even that can be taken in a sacred duel. If, of course, you have the strength for it. Of course, the golden children of high-ranking officials had many advantages, such as better education, better teachers, better opportunities, and parental influence, but people from the lower classes could also rise very high. And if an unworthy person takes a high position, he can always be thrown out through a duel or an Agni Kai. The cult of strength in the Fire Nation lived and prospered; you can be right, but if your righteousness is not supported by strength, then you and all your words will be worth little. Of course, not everything always went exactly as I imagine it here, but in most cases, that's how it all worked.
After such inspections, our ship returned to the sea again. As Mai said: sea voyages are a complete bore. And this was exactly true. We were still sailing in the waters of the Fire Nation, so nothing interesting happened at sea. Except for once we got caught in a weak storm, from which we emerged without any losses.
True, Azula was a little tense throughout the storm: she had unpleasant memories from our last conflict. After talking to the girl about it, I only got the answer that she was not angry and did not blame me for what happened. If she had gotten such power, she would have done the same thing in my place.
However, we were soon supposed to sail to an island that interested us…
— Captain—the princess attracted his attention, walking to the bow of the ship.
It was early morning; the sun was just beginning to illuminate the sea. A light wind played with the girl's hair, howling in the distance.
— Princess. We are approaching our destination—the man replied instead of a greeting.
Azula raised an eyebrow, giving her companion a menacing look.
— I see. Did you send a man to me just to inform me of our arrival at such an early hour? I assume you have a good reason for this—the girl said in a strict tone, in which promises of big problems for the captain were clearly audible. He flinched, fearing the princess's wrath.
— Ahem. There is a reason, ma'am. I found some strangeness on this island—the subordinate reported, overcoming his fear.
— Strangeness?—in the girl's voice, notes of anger were replaced by interest.
— Yes, please—the captain handed the princess binoculars—take a look at these flying creatures.
The princess took the device and looked into the distance.
In the distance, over the island, one could see several dozen white birds. I could see them perfectly even with the naked eye, but I couldn't figure out what was strange about them. They were just birds; there was nothing unusual about them.
"I don't see anything unusual; it seems the captain can't avoid punishment"—I decided to share my opinion, being next to Azula and looking in the same direction as she was. I wasn't going to defend the captain, who distracted us from our business for something непонятно at such an early hour. Zula's hair hadn't even dried after her bath.
But the princess didn't share my skepticism.
— What is that?—Azula asked in surprise, continuing to look into the distance.
— Sky bisons, ma'am.
— I see, why are they in the sky?—tearing herself away from the spyglass, she gave her companion a strict look that demanded answers.
— As far as I know, the Air Nomads had flying bisons—the man replied tensely, choosing his words carefully.
During his time sailing on the same ship with the princess, he perfectly understood that it was better not to anger her. There were several incidents with new crew members who made a few mistakes both in their uniform and in their work on the ship. No one died or was even fired; the lucky ones got away with only minor bruises and burns, and Azula only strengthened her reputation as a strict but fair commander. Not without the help of my advice, of course. I often had to restrain her, softening the princess's decisions, and in some places, she even managed herself, acting more gently than a couple of months ago.
— I know history well, Captain. And it says that the nomads were exterminated a century ago along with their animals. Is that really true? Or am I mistaken—the girl continued to pressure him, making him even more nervous.
— Without a doubt, it is, Princess, you are right—the captain replied, breaking out in a light sweat.
"Stop bullying him; it's not his fault. By the way, I'm also interested in seeing such a miracle"—I decided to speak up, intrigued by the mystery.
— In that case, what are these flying bisons doing in the territory of the Fire Nation?—Zula continued in a slightly calmer tone, having listened to my words.
— I do not know this, ma'am. Allow me to suggest: the inhabitants of the island may have all the answers to your questions.
— Hmm—thoughtfully. — Wake the crew, full combat readiness, and inform me as soon as the ship is within firing range—Azula continued in a commanding tone, having thought through the situation.
— Yes, ma'am!—the man yelled, immediately standing at attention, at the same time hitting his chest with his fist. He immediately went to carry out the command, escorted by the strict gaze of golden eyes that shone ominously in the morning sun.
Some time later, in the Fire Nation princess's chambers.
— What do you know about this?—the girl asked, sitting down on the bed, when we were alone.
— Don't look at me; I'm surprised myself—I told the girl the pure truth.
Although… if I think about it a little and recall the events of Avatar Korra, such a turn of events becomes obvious. Aang's animal could not have simply taken and restored the number of its kind alone. This means that there were other bisons in the world besides him. I doubt they would have survived at the South or North Pole. In the Earth Kingdom, they would have been killed for their fur or meat; in some places, war is accompanied by hunger. They could also have been killed just in case or as a trophy. But they were lucky that on a neighboring mountainous island of the Fire Nation, there were quite peaceful temple attendants who eventually tamed the remnants of their kind. They only needed to fly across the ocean to be safe, in this backwater. However, luck was definitely involved here.
— You have repeatedly shown amazing knowledge; I don't believe you know nothing about this—Azula said flatly.
It was nice that she was so confident in me. And at the same time, I was a little offended that she already knew me so well. Although the phrasing was a bit strange. But she was right about one thing: I know a little more than I tell her. And I have demonstrated this repeatedly; it was my fault that the girl had such an opinion of me.
— I don't know, can you believe it?—I replied to the girl with a smirk. — I can only say that it turns out that exterminated species are not completely exterminated. It's quite difficult to wipe a species off the face of the world, so it's not surprising that a few representatives survived and multiplied.
— Hmm…—Zula thoughtfully began to toy with a lock of her hair.
This pose, these gestures, this look… I know it all too well.
— Oh… how familiar. Are you up to something?—I approached the girl, catching her displeased look.
— Nothing important—she waved me off.
— Oh really?—I continued to insist.
— A stupid childhood memory. Nothing that has anything to do with the situation.
— Dragons?—I quickly figured out Azula's distant childhood dreams.
— Sometimes it's so annoying that you understand me without any words—the girl snapped, getting up from the bed and walking to the mirror.
— Well, it's quite possible that there are still dragons in the world, and you might even be able to tame one. You just need to look in the right place—I continued with a smile, watching as Zula began to pretend to tidy herself up in front of the mirror.
— Enough; that topic depresses me—the girl replied discontentedly, without even turning to me.
— Whatever you say…
It's sad that Azula's past still hurts her in the present.
The conversation didn't stick after that, and we spent the rest of the time before arrival in almost complete silence. The ship quickly reached the island, and very soon Zula set foot on land accompanied by her imperial motorcade. The girl's paranoia in all its glory, so to speak.
The city was ordinary; people behaved appropriately for their status at the sight of the princess and her numerous guards. The crowd of people on their knees was familiar and did not cause any feelings. There was no conspiracy, attack, traitors, nothing of the sort… Everything was too ordinary and even somewhat routine. The same houses, the same people, the same roads, and the same reaction as in all the other cities of the Fire Nation we had visited. Only a few flying bisons stood out from the routine picture, but for the locals, this seemed normal. Some children actively played with the animals on the ground, and the bisons themselves behaved very friendly and seemed completely tame from the outside. The people accompanying the princess watched all this with wide eyes, and the princess herself was also surprised, but the girl knew how to keep her face much better than her subordinates. Flying animals of such sizes broke the familiar picture of the world.
Azula tried to find out more about the bisons from the city's leader, but he only said that these creatures had been here for a very long time. It seemed they appeared in these parts a hundred years ago or even more. The animals were cared for by the Fire Sages from the local temple. They also had an order, signed by Sozin himself, to breed such useful animals. But Sozin died without ever finding a use for them, and Azulon and Ozai were not even aware of it. And the sages were not very successful in increasing the population of the animals. They currently have a little more than a dozen bisons in total.
Why, then, does no one in the capital know about the bisons? It's simple. This island was quite far from the main trade routes; you could say it was at the very edge of the Fire Nation. Therefore, nothing was heard about them on the mainland; it was a kind of backwater that no one knew anything about. All the right people seemed to be aware, but such a trifle was neglected by their attention. Perhaps they didn't think of the possibility of using such useful creatures, or they were afraid to show initiative; I didn't know that.
Having retired with Azula, we came to the conclusion that all the papers were authentic. Sozin could well have given such an order. But after his death, such documents could simply drown among hundreds of other orders, laws, and regulations…
However, the governor advised us to look for more accurate information about the bisons from the wisest people in the local temple.
That's where we went immediately after a short conversation with the local ruler. While part of the subordinates, as usual, were sniffing out crime and treason, Zula and I, along with her personal retinue, which for now consisted of only Mai, went to the local Fire Temple, which stood quite far from the city, in the foothills on a small hill.
And they were already waiting for us there…
— Welcome, Princess Azula. After receiving the letter, we were waiting for your arrival—an elderly woman bowed her head at the approach of a member of the imperial family.
She was in the robes of the Fire Sages, as were the young assistants standing next to her, or in this case, novices? I, meanwhile, was a little tense, staying behind Zula's back. But as usual, no one paid any attention to me, and I relaxed. Fortunately, the temple inhabitants could not see me. And this was an important point, because it was from this temple that an extreme amount of information about spirits, as well as about fire healing, was sent. It was for the study of the latter that we came here.
— In that case, you know the purpose of my visit—Azula replied coldly, looking at the group of greeters with a strict gaze and stopping at the old woman who was speaking to her.
— Call me Shu; I am the head abbess of this temple. All the necessary literature is ready and waiting for you, Your Highness—the old woman straightened up, looking into the princess's eyes.
— My time is more valuable than gold, Shu. Don't waste it in vain—Azula tried to pressure the woman with her status, as was her custom, but the old woman paid no attention to it, remaining completely calm.
— Please follow me…
After which, a group of three women led the princess and her friend into the inner rooms of the temple.
Along the way, Azula began to ask about the flying bisons. Shu confirmed our thoughts and the governor's words. The bisons, you could say, migrated here when the lands of the Air Nomads were burned a century ago. From this, it follows that the fertile land was also destroyed, and bisons eat a lot. After some time, those lands became green again, but the animals never returned. The local temple attendants took care of this species, believing that this was the last place in the world where such amazing animals could be found. The bisons got used to people, and even allowed them to fly on them. However, this was punishable by a fine. People could fall and die, so such measures were more for safety. Unfortunately, parachutes had not yet been invented at this time.
Led by curiosity, I moved a little away from the group and began to study this strange place.
At first glance, it was an ordinary temple, built in the style of the Fire Nation. The corridors, walls, as well as the statues and carvings, I had already seen all of this in the capital's Fire Temple. The differences between the two temples were extremely small. Driven by curiosity, I passed through the walls, studying the corridors and rooms, some of which were secret. I looked at the local residents of the temple. Among them were not only old women from forty and above, but also quite mature women, as well as very young girls—novices of this temple, or should I say monastery? All the inhabitants of this place were women of different ages. Absolutely all of them, without any exceptions. It was quite surprising to see such a thing in a patriarchal country, but anything can happen in the world.
I also discovered a certain natural pool that was overflowing with spiritual energy and Chi. This was surely some kind of magical place that I should ask about. I had never encountered such an anomaly; such a large amount of life energy cannot but affect people. And it was in plain sight, and they didn't even try to hide it. This was interesting, but I hurried to catch up with Azula, having decided to learn more about this place later…
Meanwhile, the princess was already led into a spacious room with books, scrolls, and large images of two human bodies—male and female. This place looked like a classroom or even an auditorium. In short, a place created for the transfer of knowledge to younger generations, just like in ordinary Fire Nation schools. Azula and Mai sat down in the front seats; besides them, there was also the old woman Shu and her two young assistants in the room.
I was just in time; I arrived right at the beginning of the lectures…