Jeong Jeong reached outward in the same way the master had shown him, to bring forward his entire being and will and enfold all within his domain. Fire was power and determination, life and drive. It was the underlying truth of existence and a burden of madness to any who wielded it. But fire was only a force of nature, and it was the mind that colored it good or evil. His eyes had been pried open to the truth staring him in the face for so long. He was just so blind to his bitterness that he couldn't see the sun through the clouds.
He took hold of the fragile filth in front of him—and snuffed his inner flame.
The noble that dared keep her was already a cold corpse long before he hit the ground—he just didn't know it yet. Courtesans fell to their knees around him asking what was wrong while guards barked orders, calling for healers. One of the women called for a fire. Another called for blankets. And still another wrapped herself around him, skin to skin.
But it was all of no use.
Mansions in the Earth Kingdom favored such high ceilings as testaments of wealth. Only with master craftsmen skilled in both their bending and knowledge of Earth itself could such grand structures be made. The higher and darker the ceiling, the closer it looked to the many caves made by the badgermoles while glowing green crystals lined the walls. Phosphorites mined from the catacombs of Ba Sing Se, the only place in the world where they were found.
Even now it amazed him how so few people looked up.
The Order had gotten wind of something they had all been waiting for with bated breath. It started with a rumor of dead slavers struck down by the wind, then of a woman calling forth storms within the sand sea, and finally, to a noble that had found a great prize. The same one that had just died with his eyes still open.
She was just a young thing, well-clothed and cared for but much too thin. The girl sat in a corner with both her legs in chains. Silent. She didn't care for what was happening to her captor. And she was alone. Was she the only air bender so far? Or could she be the Avatar themself? The prince would surely wish to meet her, but he wasn't sure whether it was for the best or not.
Balance was such a fickle thing. It was a candle in the wind, a drop of water on a leaf. The slightest mishap brought it all crashing down. His Order would better care for her while he sorted out the mess this news would bring. His people were still rooting out the dissidents back in the main land and keeping the prince away from the goings on in the Earth. He knew couldn't he hide her forever.
But the time wasn't right yet.
Jeong Jeong waited for the commotion to go down, for people to realize their lord was long dead. Time passed in slow breaths and whispered sobs. A well-dressed woman walked in with a just as well-dressed young child. Both knelt by the man's side. The woman didn't care much but the boy kept prodding the body.
Their guards took them away after a while.
And still none looked up.
And still none cared for the captive in the corner.
He couldn't risk the chance of his face being seen. He had a scarf covering his mouth and hair but plans rarely survived contact with the enemy. A skirmish could undo years of caution. Both his Order and his prince could not learn yet of the truth. His metal claws held true against the ceiling but he couldn't stay upside down for too long. He also couldn't kill everyone here—both because he shouldn't and couldn't.
It took too much out of him just to wrap his will around his victim. At most he could muster the strength for another couple of targets but it would tax his Chi too much and undo the strength his inner fire afforded him. Earth benders didn't go down so easy against blunt force, and he still needed to break her chains. And neither did waiting or attacking would bring him any good.
He needed a different approach.
And then it hit him. Jeong Jeong crawled out of the room still upside down like a gecko and trusting some more in his new steel to hold its own against the solid earth. He made his way down the hall and to some odd corner in the too large house. He then stilled his breath and once again spread out his will, but this time not to grasp but to perceive. All people had an inner fire and attuning oneself to the most subtle shifts of heat could allow one to feel it beyond obstacles.
Jeong Jeong found a suitable target. He brought himself closer to another corner near two guards. Then he brought out a knife and stilled himself once more—breathing deep and spreading his will towards the space around him.
He dropped the blade and let it clang against the ground.
And soon enough the two guards appeared to investigate the noise. He took away their heat as well. He was tired, but he kept to the ceiling for a few more moments just to be sure. Only after the span of ten breaths did he drop down from the ceiling and dragged the two bodies away, to the same corner they came from. He stripped down one of the guard's robes and wore them over his own clothes.
Jeong Jeong quickly made himself scarce and went back into the room with the girl.
Someone had already taken the body away and the girl was still there, a prize all but forgotten. But not alone. There were guards scouring the entire room checking the food and walls and floors. He made his way in full of confidence. As long as one wasn't a problem, no one cared. People always preferred to believe there was never a problem.
And caution was a problem.
He made his way to the girl with none the wiser of his deception. She looked up at him with grey, burning eyes, and he saw the fury of the storm behind her. He knelt down and brought one hand to his lips.
"I am here to free you," he whispered.
She grit her teeth but said nothing. He took the chains by her feet and summoned his remaining strength to slowly pull apart the chains. It was easier to shatter the crude iron but he needed this done quiet. Her eyes went wide. He took her hand in his own.
"I will get you out of here. Play along."
She nodded. Shaking, but not broken.
He stood up and tugged on the chains of her hands, pulling her up with a start. She grunted but did not fight. Then he made his way to the door with his heart hammering in his chest and with his contempt for her treatment clear on his face. He walked with a purpose. Not too fast but forceful, and he would tug her chain every now and then.
They walked unmolested through the many halls, passing countless guards and servants and none questioned the angry guard dragging away the slave. They walked out of the main doors and found themselves at the gate.
He nudged his chin up at the guards. They saw his face and the slave behind him.
"I'm just taking out the trash," he said.
The girl grit her teeth and pulled against the chains. He pulled them right back.
"Can't have this one talking."
They let them out without a word.
Then the girl took him by the hands and dragged him bodily away with the wind whistling against his ears.