Then after that conversation, I forced Elphaba to sit up with me the rest of the way to Shiz so I could lecture her about Fire Nation customs, traditions, dress, and the Fire Nation way of life. "Alright, Elphaba, I have to teach everything I know about the Fire Nation. I can only tell you all of this on the way to Shiz—not while we're there. We'll have to secretly train you in Firebending. I'm going to need you to pay attention to what I say. In the Fire Nation—that is where most Firebenders live—people wear mostly red and black. They—the people—are usually very pale. The student or younger person always bows to the teacher or older person, like this." I gave her an example of how they bowed in the Fire Nation. "Teachers are addressed as Master so-so. The only exception to this rule is to your Firebending teacher, whom you would address as Sifu so-so. For example, you once your training begins you will call me Sifu Yue." Elphaba nodded and I said, "Tell me if I lose you." She nodded and I added, "You'll have to talk." She nodded again.
I sighed, and then continued. "Anyway, most Firebenders—in the Fire Nation anyway—not all live there—some live in the Earth Kingdom—once they learn that they can Firebend are immediately sent to an academy to learn how to control their powers. I will teach you, but you have to promise me something." Elphaba nodded and I said, "Promise me that if I say you're not ready for more advanced training that you'll believe me." Elphaba nodded and said, "I promise." I nodded and then continued. "Firebending is controlled by the bender's breathing rate, and the motions of his or her body. There are no real defensive moves for Firebending. It is all about being on the attack and forcing your opponent to retreat. Firebenders are strengthened by a variety of things—fire itself, obviously, the sun, the stars, lightning—only the most advanced can learn to truly harness the power and energy within a lightning bolt—and comets. The only pesron—or people, I should say—that can effectively defend or possibly defeat a Firebender would be a Waterbender, such as myself or someone else from either the Northern or Southern Water Tribes or the Swamps of the Earth Kingdom. That is all I can tell you. Your training begins at dawn, tomorrow."
She looked at me and I repeated, "Dawn tomorrow." Elphaba groaned and said, "I should probably get to bed then." I nodded in agreement and I said, "We'll both need the rest." Elphaba and I both curled up and fell asleep.