The Pawn |Katara

ELEVEN

Not all people always spoke the truth. In his rather short life, Akira had met plenty of people who were truthful when it came to their abilities, but he had met even more that liked to lie and boast so that their feats would seem magnanimous, amazing, even impossible. But Azula had never been one of those people. Her deeds had always been impressive to hear but he knew they were true. She didn't need to boast to have people be mesmerized by her power. For a moment, though, as he saw her sitting in front of him, taking care of paperwork as if it was any other day and she had told him a common sentence and not the most grounding words of his life, he debated on whether to believe her or not. The truth was, she did lie. Not about such things, though. Not to him.

"Fire Lord Azula," he breathed, his eyes wide and he couldn't take his eyes off of her, as if he was seeing her for the first time. He lowered his head in a short bow and then looked her way once more. Despite everything, he knew his expression showed wonder. His lips parted but he had no words to say. He swallowed. Tried again. "You...You must be the youngest Fire Lord in the history of the Fire Nation."

"Indeed," she agreed, "no Fire Lord ever rose to power this young. Quite fitting, don't you think? I always knew this title was meant for me. No matter that I was born second, that Zuko is the firstborn. My father became Fire Lord instead of his brother, after all, and I could never think of a better leader. Do you not agree?"

"Of course, I do," he muttered at once. "When is your coronation?"

"Tomorrow, when the comet is upon us."

"In only a few hours, before noon, then," he realised and Azula nodded once, the self-satisfied smirk having never left her lips. He swallowed. "What would you have me do to help your smooth rising to the throne?"

"There's nothing you can do," she waved him off, "I have notified my servants. All I need for my coronation is to have the fire sages present. You could as well never show up and nothing would change."

"I'm going to be there," he insisted. "It's going to be an important day."

"Fine." She turned back at her papers. "Then I'll see you tomorrow. Now go, I have business to attend to."

"As you wish," he conceded, bowed his head once more as he slowly started leaving the room. "Should you change your mind and require assistance, I will be nearby."

"Goodnight, Akira."

He returned the sentiment with a small murmur and then left the room. He didn't realise when he reached the entrance of the palace. He didn't register walking down the familiar streets that led to his family's estate, his thoughts tangled. Azula was set to become Fire Lord in only a few short hours. Ozai had already set his plan into motion. The lives of countless innocent people were set to change forever. And there was nothing he could do about it. 

The moment he stepped home, they were expecting him.

"Well?" his mother asked him, impatient as always. She left her seat on the armchair located near the front door and walked over. Akira looked back, noticed his father wasn't too far back, Akemi or any other servant nowhere to be seen. He didn't have the chance to face his mother once more or even make a sound before she was asking him again. "What happened? What did the Princess want?"

"She told me of the plan that has been set into motion." He looked at his mother, then trailed his gaze to his father who had come to a stop behind her. "She is to become Fire Lord tomorrow."

His parents didn't seem surprised. They only exchanged a look before his father nodded. "Of course, our Lord has taken care of the ruling of the Fire Nation. He will be much too busy to be personally overseeing the situation here. Our Phoenix King needs a successor."