บท 10: From Ashes to Inferno
FLASHBACK TO WHEN AZULA AND KAIYA WERE CHILDREN.
The sky was overcast, casting a muted, gray light over the Fire Nation palace garden where a somber funeral ceremony was underway. Azula, Zuko, and their mother Ursa were dressed in traditional white robes, signifying their mourning. They stood near a grand, ornate pyre adorned with Fire Nation symbols. Surrounding them were other mourners, also in white robes, heads bowed in respect. A very young Kaiya stood apart, tears swelling in her eyes, looking sad and lost.
"I know what will cheer her up. She can come play with me, Mai, and Ty Lee," Azula said, standing confidently with her hands on her hips, a sly smile on her face. She glanced at Kaiya, then at Zuko, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"No way! She needs to be kept as far away from YOU as possible!" Zuko's face was set in a scowl, his fists clenched at his sides. He stood protectively, slightly in front of Kaiya, as if shielding her from Azula.
"You're just jealous I have more friends than you. Do you even have friends? You never invite them over," Azula taunted, crossing her arms and tilting her head slightly, her expression smug.
"That's none of your business, Azula!" Zuko's face reddened with anger, his brows furrowed. He took a step closer to Azula, his posture tense and defensive.
"You two stop bickering, this is supposed to be a silent and somber ceremony," Ursa intervened, standing tall and graceful. Her face was stern yet composed as she placed a gentle, calming hand on Zuko's shoulder, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and frustration.
"Her daddy wouldn't have died if Uncle wasn't a total loser and failure," Azula said coldly, her expression turning serious as she looked directly at Ursa, defiance in her gaze.
"Not another word, Azula," Ursa's voice was firm, her expression unyielding. She stepped closer to Azula, her hand still on Zuko's shoulder, now also slightly reaching towards Azula as if to physically halt her.
Azula and Kaiya then locked eyes. Azula's gaze softened slightly, a hint of curiosity and recognition flickering in her eyes. Kaiya's tear-filled eyes widened, her expression a mix of sadness and intrigue.
* * *
THE DEMONSTRATION
The wooden dais, constructed of polished wood and adorned with intricate carvings, provided Fire Lord Ozai with a commanding vantage point over the training grounds. Beside him sat Azula, her eyes sharp and observant, a seat reserved for her to witness the demonstration.
Below, Kaiya stood at the center of the training grounds on a wooden platform, her elegant robes flowing around her. On each side of her, a few meters away, were narrow corridors filled with dummies packed shoulder to shoulder, around two dozen in each.
Ozai's voice rang out with authority. "Begin."
Kaiya spread her arms like wings, each hand pointing towards the corridors of dummies on her left and right. A charge of fire began to build from each of her fingers, excluding her thumbs.
With a swift, fluid motion, she unleashed streams of flames from each finger, creating an arc of incandescent fury. Both corridors were instantly consumed, the wooden dummies erupting into a blazing inferno, the fire's dance wild and untamed, casting a radiant glow that painted the surroundings in shades of crimson and gold.
Kaiya then crouched, bowing her head momentarily before raising her palms, commanding the flames like an orchestra conductor. The fire within the corridors intensified, rising upwards like an uncontrolled bonfire, reaching twenty meters into the sky.
Ozai's eyebrow arched in mild surprise as he looked up at the towering flames.
To conclude her demonstration, Kaiya focused intensely, drawing in a deep, measured breath. She gathered the fiery energy into a powerful fireball, its light pulsating as it hovered in mid-air, radiating heat. The fireball grew larger, an orb of molten fury cradled in her hands, with enough power to obliterate half a village. With a final, graceful movement, she launched it skyward. The fireball ascended swiftly, blazing a fiery trail against the blue sky. As it reached its peak, it burst into a shower of embers, the roar echoing across the training grounds, and the residual heat washing over Ozai and Azula.
Breathing heavily, Kaiya walked forward and knelt before Ozai on the dais, bowing deeply with her hands and knees on the ground, awaiting his words.
Ozai's voice cut through the air, resonant and authoritative. "What is your purpose?"
Kaiya, still on her hands and knees, lifted her gaze to meet his. "To burn your enemies alive, Fire Lord Ozai."
A grin spread across Ozai's face as he began to clap, the sound echoing through the training grounds. He turned to look at Azula, who sat beside him.
"Azula, you've trained her well," Ozai remarked, his approval evident.
Azula grinned, the butterflies in her stomach disappearing, replaced by a sense of pride at the flawless demonstration.
* * *
LATER THAT DAY
The throne room, ablaze with roaring flames, cast a fierce glow that filled the space with an overwhelming sense of power and intimidation.
Azula knelt on the polished wooden floor, her hands placed firmly on the ground in front of her, head bowed in deep respect and submission. The flickering flames cast a warm glow over her, illuminating her poised figure. The vastness of the room and the towering pillars made her seem even more humble before her father.
"You've bled, lost sleep, scratched, and clawed to overcome this challenge. Don't think I don't know what happens in my own palace," Ozai's voice carried the weight of authority and cold observation.
Azula's confident facade cracked slightly, revealing a flicker of nervousness. She lowered her gaze, her posture tense, the humility in her stance a stark contrast to her usual demeanor.
"But you've proven yourself. Now, I can finally entrust you with what you desire the most."
Azula's eyes widened slightly, a mix of anticipation and relief washing over her. "Yes, Father. Whatever you command."
Ozai's tone turned colder, his eyes narrowing. "Iroh is a traitor, and your brother Zuko is a failure. I have a task for you..."
Azula's eyes, sharp and intense, locked onto her father with unwavering determination. Her lips curled into a sinister grin, a look of calculated resolve. Shadows cast across her angular features gave her an almost predatory look. As she looked up at Ozai, the fierce intensity in her gaze made it clear she was ready to embrace any challenge he presented.
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