Beginnings (Rise of an Empire) {Avatar/LoK: Avatar Wan}

Chapter Three: The Lady of Fortune

The second day of festivities kicked off with an enormous dinner held by the Earth King himself. This time his intention wasn't that generous as his speech he held the day before. Instead of 'providing' the poor with food he now kept most of it for himself and a couple of important people as councillors and scholars.

Wan wandered around on the streets until he reached a remote and dark place of the lion turtle city as he saw several people sitting down against a wall.

"The king is one big lie", one of them shouted.

The man looked famished and fragile as he ate his last piece of bread.

"Just wait until the Lady of Fortune arrives", another man said happily.

"Lady of what?", Wan interrupted.

"The Earth King doesn't care about his poor citizens. He lets them rather die than keeping them alive. But the Lady of Fortune gives us hope for a better future".

Wan raised an eyebrow until the place turned foggy.

"That's her", one of the men whispered.

A tall lady appeared out of the fog. She was wearing a sky blue kimono and her long black hair was waving in the wind. The most mysterious thing was her white mask.

The Lady of Fortune provided the men of food and was about to leave again.

"Hey! Wait!", Wan said as he followed her.
The lady looked around and noticed the young man following her. She made sure she fled as soon as she appeared. But Wan didn't give up that easy. As he made an airscooter he quickly caught up with her.

As he tried to reach out his arm he accidentally threw off the lady's mask.

"Wait a minute"-

Her eyes widened.

"P-Princess Insaya?"

•••

Some minutes later the two sat down on a bench. "You're the complete opposide of your father", he said in awe. Insaya smiled and Wan raised an eyebrow. "Wait- What about that agile girl I've seen yesterday. She looked just like you".

"Maybe because I am", she giggled.
"No way", Wan was flabbergasted.

The two were silent for a moment.

"I don't know why I'm telling you all of this, but I have a positive feeling that I can trust you", she said.

Wan listened but couldn't hold back a smile.

"I don't want to be the next Earth Queen, I'd rather be someone of the streets like the men you've seen before. Imagine all the freedom. I had to sneak out io that prison-palace and I'm still not sure if I'll make it back without being noticed".

"I can help you escape", Wan offered.

A terrified expression appeared on the princess' face.

"My father would kill me if I'd even think about escaping", she said.

"It will be okay", Wan soothed.

"I have to leave now before the guards come after me", she mentoined and Wan sighed.

"I'll see you soon". Wan blinked two times and she was gone.

Together with Mula he went to his little cottage just outside the city. There was something special about Insaya despite of her switch of different personalities. It was obvious that she wanted to escape, and Wan was going to help her.

That night he was preparing another plan until he peacefully fell asleep...