𝔸𝕖𝕪𝕖𝕟𝕟𝕒 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝔸𝕤𝕤𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟: ℤ𝕦𝕜𝕠 𝕩 𝕆𝕔

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟛: 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕆𝕟𝕖 𝕎𝕙𝕠 ℍ𝕒𝕤 𝔼𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔽𝕣𝕦𝕚𝕥 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕋𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕀𝕥𝕤 𝕄𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤

After the rainstorm and their almost-kiss, Aeyenna and Zuko found themselves in an awkward silence. Whenever Zuko tried to start a conversation, Aeyenna would respond with awkward, short answer or just a smile and a nod.

She didn't understand why she was acting this way towards him. She had always liked Zuko since they were kids, but she had never really thought of him in a romantic way. Sure, she had imagined them being together when they were younger, and she had always found him cute and stubborn. But...wait now it hit her—she had always liked Zuko, and only now was she beginning to realize it.

For the past couple of days, the trio had been wandering around villages. They had a brief encounter with the Rough Rhinos, whom Iroh claimed to be his "good friends"... yeah, right.

Eventually, they found a village near the Misty Palms Oasis at the desert's edge. As Aeyenna prepared to dismount, Zuko stepped in front of her. "Need a hand?" he offered.

Aeyenna gave him a shy smile and accepted his hand. "Thank you." As they walked into the tavern, Iroh led Sunny behind them.

The trio found a seat and began to talk amongst themselves. "No one here is going to help us," Zuko muttered, scanning the room. "These people just look like filthy wanderers."

"So do we," Iroh remarked. Aeyenna tilted her head and had a smug smirrk. He wasn't wrong.

Iroh then pointed at something behind Zuko. "Ah, this is interesting. I think I've found our friend."

Aeyenna and Zuko turned around to see where Iroh was pointing, revealing an old man sitting alone at a Pai Sho table.

"You brought us here to gamble on Pai Sho?" Zuko grumbled, crossing his arms in frustration.

"I don't think this is a gamble," Iroh said confidently as he walked over to the elderly man.

Zuko glanced at Aeyenna, who just shrugged in response. They proceeded to walk toward the Pai Sho table, following Iroh.

They approached the elderly man sitting at the Pai Sho table.

"May I have this game?" Iroh politely asked, gesturing towards the Pai Sho board.

The man gestured for Iroh to sit down. "The guest has the first move," he said. Iroh placed the lotus tile in the center of the board. "I see you favor the White Lotus Gambit. Not many still cling to the ancient ways," the man remarked, cupping his hands toward Iroh.

"Those who do can always find a friend," Iroh responded, mirroring the gesture of the old man by cupping his hands toward him.

"Then let us play."

The old man placed a tile on the board, quickly followed by a tile placed by Iroh. Without even glancing at each other's moves, the two men swiftly continued placing their tiles. Zuko and Aeyenna sat down and watched intently as the game progressed, the rhythm of the tiles hitting the board captivating their attention.

Aeyenna peered curiously at the board, her brows furrowing in puzzlement. When the game concluded, the tiles arranged themselves into the intricate shape of a lotus flower.

"Welcome, brother. The White Lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets."

"What are you old gasbags talking about?" Zuko shouted, his frustration breaking the silence.

"I've always tried to tell you that Pai Sho is more than just a game," Iroh said, rolling a tile over his knuckles before clutching it firmly.

Aeyenna turned and made eye contact with two men watching them from the corner of the room. Instinctively, she held onto Zuko's arm.