DAILY LIFE
The old building collapsed the instant the great curse devoured the structure. Rotten wood flew as everything around her was plunged into nothingness. Azula could only look on in disgust at the situation she was suddenly engulfed in. With a quick scan around her, the princess propelled herself with a burst of fire towards one of the split wooden planks. Grabbing the sharp material and with renewed momentum from her feet, Azula descended to the edge of the creature's stomach. Before falling to the ground, she managed to drive the board into the beast's flesh to slow down the momentum. It was an oddly familiar action, if not for the terrible stench and her grim outlook.
With a more controlled descent, Azula landed on solid ground. Though she expected to see a more visceral scene considering she found herself inside a curse, the reality was that the environment was more reflective of a bizarre fantasy. The closest Azula could find was a deep swamp that sank her feet to her ankles, with the vegetation replaced by strange sewers. The only reminiscence of a stomach was the red sprouts that kept a circulation.
She recalled the origin of curses, stemming from the negative emotions of humans. Fear unquestionably must be a constant ally in spawning such hideous creatures. Still, who would be so pathetic as to fear sewers, just some grates and water falling like little waterfalls? It had to be a pitiful group of people. More pitiful, however, was the fact that she fell into the trap completely, confident in the weak curses she had faced earlier.
Still, crying over spilled milk would not do Azula any good. Instead, she decided to be initiative-taking, guiding herself by the walls as she held back an inward sigh. She felt her new shoes unraveling with each footfall. She swore to break the curse. Those boots were tasteful, but the meager salary the bandaged idiot gave her did not allow her to buy more than one pair.
With pent-up anger, Azula focused her flames on one of the edges of her stomach. Taking a deep breath, a sea of flames lashed out at the wall. Seeing that it did not work, she focused her flames even more so that the heat gathered in one spot. She persisted for a couple of minutes until she had to relent upon realizing that she was not making any progress. Her second-best possibility was to target the black buds, but it had a similar impact as hitting the wall. With some sweat on her brow, Azula followed her new course of action to the muddy water, thinking that by seeing her behavior, she could descend further and find an escape route.
The plan was interrupted when she started hearing voices. No, it was not right; it was a voice that echoed in a repulsive cacophony that only got louder and louder. Azula took up her guard, ready to attack whatever the curse threw at her. However, it did not take her long to find its source. She relaxed her guard and waited with her arms crossed until the source fell.
A panda fell from the sky and landed on the dirty ground. The monochromatic fur turned gray from the interaction with the dirty water. Azula could only shake her head at the shameful act of her animal companion.
"I must admit, it was a memorable fall."
"Oh, Azula. I see you were swallowed too," Panda commented, shaking her head slightly as she ignored her companion's biting words.
"That's obvious," Azula dismissed, rolling her eyes at the obviousness of the situation, and instead decided to invest her thoughts in something more productive. "I must assume that the extent of the curse's consumption is not limited to the building but to the whole block."
"Why do you say that?" Questioned Panda.
"Simple: The limits of the barrier, the minimum time from the report until now, and the positions after separating - Azula was guided by his idea, thinking to a greater extent about the possibilities." Even so, there must be a limit to where the sewer creature can move, and the conditions must be inherent to its nature. Although I cannot rule out the idea that it is just a response to seeing how full the building once was of people.
"Hmmm! You shouldn't treat people as mere food. Although that's a good hypothesis," Panda cheered, which made Azula shake her head as if it was another obvious fact. "It may be possible, but..."
"But what?" Azula hissed, annoyed by Panda's attitude, which resembled that of a small child caught in the middle of mischief.
"Well..."
XXX
Panda was worried. The building Azula went to inspect was not large enough to take as long as she did to inspect. Anyway, they both went on the mission together, so it was important to keep the information current.
It was only upon seeing the remains of the old building's floor that he realized what had happened. The large hole extended several feet deep but was just the right size to engulf most of the building without compromising the foundational columns that supported it. With a slight detour, Panda tried to cross to the other side of the hole, at least to follow the trail left by his companion.
As soon as he took the first step to cross, the ground disappeared beneath him. No, it was not because the demon attacked; simply the resistance of the ground was so low that Panda's body weight could not support it. The animal sorcerer could only let out a feeble "eh" before descending into the jaws of the beast.
XXX
"And that was what happened."
Azula did not know how the hell she was able to keep her stoicism upon hearing the way Panda complicated things. At least having outside support would have helped a little, but his unpreparedness for entering enclosed spaces was too glaring a flaw. Was he intellectually disabled? Was his animal side affecting his cognition? She hoped not; she had had enough of dealing with useless flunkies who could not connect two ideas at once. Panda did not seem all that concerned, so she must not have given the matter too much thought.
Still, her theory was not so far off the mark. Now, could that have helped her out of that situation? With Panda, she had greater freedom to experience various scenarios that could be advantageous.
- "Panda," Azula called out, her partner at once responding to the steel in her voice. "Do you claim that your power stems from your control of cursed energy to enhance your physical strength, right?"
"Correct."
"We'll use that," Azula said, pointing a finger at the remnants of the mark her earlier fire attack left on the wall. "Hit it."
Without waiting for a second call, Panda positioned herself to deliver a powerful punch that caused a jolt all over the wall. The power behind it was so intense that the curse was on the verge of regurgitating its insides with just one punch.
"So, it's only fire-resistant," Azula deduced.
This was a strange situation where her cursed energy nature worked against her. In the humid environment, the modified cursed energy was one of the few scenarios where it was less useful than the conventional one. It did not bother her. The linearity with cursed techniques and the energy itself was not as straightforward as bending elements. There was no superior element like fire that was prevalent in everything.
However, that did not explain the intense heat she was experiencing and the sweat that was pouring out of her. It felt like a sweltering day, especially for her, a firebender who had heightened resistance to heat and fire. Not only that, but she could also feel her energy waning at a considerable rate, which Panda did not. Furthermore, Panda's blow was not powerful enough to cause such a chain reaction, resulting in an internal tremor in the creature.
Its resistance to fire, its anomalous reaction to Panda's actions, the swamp, and the strange panorama. Although it seemed like the crossroads of a complex riddle, it barely took a few seconds for the princess to deduce the nature of the situation.
"Listen to me, Panda, because I will only say it once," Azula declared, which made Panda turn to her to hear what she had to say. "This curse may not withstand its own energy."
"You're talking about my punch."
"A blow like that could cause a reaction, but not enough to shake everything," Azula agreed. "Furthermore, the residue on the wall did not result from my concentrated flames, but from the wide flames I unleashed when I fell. Now, I don't have to explain to you how much two plus two is to know how that goes."
Panda took a moment to process the information. An idea dawned on him before his fist hit the palm of his hand, illuminating his mind simultaneously.
"Oh, I get it. It's like a Pokémon that's super-effective against its own type." Azula did not know whether to nod or send a stream of flames at her partner, so her expressionless look was enough to convey how impressed she was by his strange comparison (besides, what was a Pokémon anyway?). "You should spend more time with Inumaki; he has amazing video games."
"That's not relevant," Azula denied, a little more firmly due to her nerves being altered by Panda's witticisms and the increasing drain of cursed energy. "Now, eliminate all this dirt and give it a perfect shot!
"Whatever you say," whispered Panda, feeling uncomfortable with the treatment from her companion. And I thought Maki was bad.
Azula narrowed her eyes at the subtle comment. In the past, she would let that pass as a simple complaint stemming from laziness. Now, an inner annoyance arose regarding Panda. Was that resentment she heard there, or fear, grudging respect?
"Azula?"
As she watched Panda lie on the floor, she did not at once identify it, but her mind plotted alternatives to a betrayal. Although Panda and Inumaki's meek personalities seemed not to be a problem at first, that was only because of her lack of knowledge regarding them. When in doubt, having a backup plan in case either of them stepped out of line did not hurt, even if it meant compromising his recent alliance with Maki.
"Hello, anyone home?"
A small flicker seemed to awaken Azula from her stressful internal conversation. Instead, she looked at Panda, who turned all her fur grayish again from the stagnant water.
"Are you alright?"
it was ironic that he was the one to ask that. However, those pitiful, pity-filled eyes were a harder blow that she did not know how to respond to. Yes, Azula did indeed know how to manage the situation, but she could deal with that later if only her partner would be helpful and get them out of this predicament.
"Don't lose your concentration! If everything goes as planned, this curse will expel us immediately."
"But the unfocused one was you," Panda remarked, only to be met with a conveniently deaf ear.
Without looking, Azula soaked her palms again with the black water. While she was not at all pleased to end up muddy, she would have no problem repeating a functional process if it would get her out of there; she was not that fussy. With a deep breath, red flames concentrated in the palm of her hand.
"The moment I stop producing fire, you will hit the point I burned with full force. Are we clear?"
"Perfect!"
Ignoring his enthusiasm, Azula generated a small knife of fire that pierced the skin of the curse. Considering the point, she made earlier, the strength of the structure was immediately compromised as the intensity of the flames became too much to bear, with constant wobbling becoming stronger and lasting longer.
Without a signal, Azula withdrew her arm. As soon as it parted, a grunt of effort was released as she concentrated her fist, wrapped in cursed energy, on the still hot spot. The curse seemed to emanate from within, with both sorcerers prepared to respond to any new sign. Only for it to end in nothing.
The tremors ceased, and calm prevailed for a few seconds. The time had passed long enough for Panda to be on the verge of questioning her partner.
Just one step was enough, and the black water rose like a geyser. Even Azula, who did not neglect her stance for a second, underestimated the scope and power of the regurgitation. She shot off alongside her partner into the skies that soon lit up under a dark blanket of the outer barrier.
XXX
The black waters rose to the heavens. Azula and Panda barely had time to react and position their bodies to cushion their fall. Without hesitation, Panda swiftly grabbed Azula's plush body, cushioning most of the impact as he released her, allowing her to fall smoothly onto the decaying wooden floor. Though it was unexpected, Azula accepted the swift move, noting with approval Panda's priority to preserve her integrity as a fighter.
The curse raised its voice in a mighty roar that stunned all present. The sorcerers stood on guard as they waited for the creature to appear in search of revenge for its insatiable appetite. Contrary to the belief of a huge creature several feet tall, a small mouse the size of the palm of a hand appeared from the large hole.
Azula watched with interest as the mouse scampered around the holes in the walls, moving swiftly with its tiny paws in nimble maneuvers. However, the overflowing cursed energy emanating from the tiny body left no doubt that it was the same curse that created the massive bottomless pit.
Azula used her fingertips to launch a series of precise fire flares to block the mouse's path. Panda, on the other hand, tried to take advantage of the few openings left by Azula's attacks to deliver forceful blows. Although he was able to dodge a few times, the small size and lightning speed of Azula's attacks were too much for him to oversee.
"Stupid sewer mouse," Azula complained, quite frustrated by her inaccuracy and how annoying it was to play chase. "Panda, get away!"
Without needing another warning, Panda backed away. Right under his nose, a pillar of fire was released to destroy a section of the already damaged walls. The mouse tried to escape through the rubble of the attack, but Azula foresaw this and, waiting for the opportune moment, completely incinerated the debris. The curse reacted first, and he was able to escape the improvised bonfire before being consumed.
What he did not realize was that Azula had taken him to a corner that was sturdy and had no escape route. Azula could already taste victory as she prepared her final flames in the palm of her hand, ready to end that annoying curse finally.
"Azula, wait!"
Taken aback by the warning, Azula hesitated before striking her, wanting to see what had caused Panda to stop. Nostrils flared at the absurd situation: the boy in the room found himself caught in the crossfire from the adjacent room, with minor burns on his arms from the first wave of flames that targeted him. Of all the points that this useless kid could have made, did he have to position himself in a way that would end the curse's existence? Or did the curse have enough cunning to involve the child in the equation of his attack? Although the curse did not seem to own great intelligence, he still had the self-preservation instinct and the coldness to execute simple plans and trap his victims, so it was possible.
Azula could not care less about that child and what happened to him. Under normal circumstances, that decision would have already cost the child his life. However, the fact that she no longer had the freedom to act made it necessary to conduct the actions more efficiently to minimize the collateral damage that could affect the infrastructure and citizens of the area. Greater than her need to kill the creature, having a perfect and effective record would be the quickest way for them to recognize her worth and the need to be called upon for more difficult missions, promotions, and greater independence.
In short, she had to keep that brat alive if she wanted to create an impression of security.
In that moment of doubt, the mouse seized the opportunity and, with a guttural roar, opened its mouth wide to bite Azula. Her teeth, however, disappeared. In the blink of an eye, the little mouse transformed its small jaw into a bottomless pit that expanded in size with every millisecond.
Azula cursed inwardly at the boy's interference and the useless warning from her partner. She was certain that if she had launched that attack, she could have exorcised the curse without getting entangled in such an uncomfortable situation again. Still, her complaints were nothing more than signs of surrender. In her place, she decided to take a fraction of the seconds she had to make her move.
Although the timing needed to calculate the speed at which it spread and to be able to hit one of the creature's blind spots was considered impossible by many, the Fire Nation princess found it well within her capabilities. Forming a circle around her axis with her arms, Azula launched a wheel of fire that flew through space. Instead of colliding with one of the walls, the fire wheel pierced one of the creature's small eyes. The creature at once had to retreat when pierced by the powerful flame, abandoning its goal of devouring Azula, and reducing its size to address the fire. Better his wound.
Without hesitation or mercy, Azula took advantage of the creature's sudden shrinkage to incinerate every molecule of the annoying curse. Not even ashes remained; all traces of the creature were completely evaporated. The princess stood over the spot where the curse had once been, showing no emotion, as if accepting that it had finally ended her existence.
No longer feeling her cursed energy, she focused her annoyance on Panda, who, like a pet, tried to calm the pained and scared child. The child could only look at Azula with a certain suspicion and fear. On another occasion when Azula needed to feel better, she simply wanted to put an end to everything related to the dirty neighborhood and relieve her frustration with a well-deserved bubble bath.
With a firm step and a penetrating gaze, Azula approached the boy, who took a few steps back and collided with one of the few remaining walls.
"If you know what is good for you, you will leave immediately."
"M-Monster." Terrified, the boy ran through the hallways that were not destroyed or incinerated, disappearing from Panda and Azula's sight.
The princess watched the direction the boy ran with a frown. With an exasperated sigh, Azula shook her head before collecting herself and turning back to Panda. Although he was a pain in the end, Panda proved to be a competent companion when it came to dealing with these creatures. It was unfortunate that he clearly shared the Avatar's vision of rescuing as many people as possible from a dire situation. A complete fool.
"That wasn't very nice."
"If it's not clear to you, I'm not trying to be," Azula responded. Although Panda wanted to say more, he chose to remain silent on the matter.
"I guess it all ended well in the end," Panda remarked, his tone as cheerful as ever. "Besides, that was a second-rate curse. Sorcerers who can deal with them are rare. Congratulations on the excellent work!"
Azula studied her companion for a few seconds. Was her flattery his way of having a good relationship with her? Or was he looking for something more in her words? Is there a way to communicate with her or assess her character? If that were the case, Azula would have no problem closing. Lying and acting are weapons that she would always have in her favor, regardless of her circumstances.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Panda thought before an idea crossed his mind. "Oh, I get it. You want to pet my fur, right?"
"What?" Azula asked, completely caught off guard.
"I notice you're a little tense. Come on, touching my soft paws relieves anyone's stress."
Azula debated for a few seconds whether Panda was serious. Although her experience taught her that these types of individuals had a greater than average understanding of situations and deciphering their true thoughts goes beyond a glance, part of her only attributed their behavior to a relaxed and go-with-the-flow personality. However, that was a bit discordant with the earlier information.
"I have my own ways of relieving stress; I don't need your help with that," Azula dismissed, but she did not entirely abandon the conversation. "You're pretty comfortable with all of this."
"With what?"
"Aren't you going to criticize my behavior?"
"What should I do that?" Panda questioned, scratching his head in complete doubt. "You did an excellent job.
Azula raised an eyebrow, keeping her eyes devoid of any thoughts. The awkward silence forced Panda to think about what her companion was referring to, a realization she soon expressed by snapping her claws.
"You could indeed improve the way you treat other people, but it doesn't matter," Panda argued, his arms extended to make his point. "In this job, the important thing is to eliminate the curses that come your way. Everyone has their own way of handling things, and I can't blame you if this is how you choose to deal with them."
Azula studied Panda for a few seconds. He looked and felt genuine, and his eyes did not reflect any doubt or uncertainty. Panda clearly believed his own words. With some resignation, Azula decided to follow her instincts and leave the area without further questioning. That meant nothing. She would still have to keep an eye on her behavior. Azula could not trust that sincerity to translate into true loyalty to her methods.
"I'm… pleased you can understand that."
Panda nodded at Azula's words before escorting her out.
"Although can I make a recommendation?" Panda asked cautiously, beginning to understand a little of his partner's short temper.
"What is on offer?"
"I think you should address that cursed energy drain," Panda advised, pointing his claw at Azula's soaked clothes. "You know, you're sweating quite a bit."
Unconsciously, Azula watched herself, noticing that the curse's internal heat had caused her clothes to be marked with sweat. Fortunately, the garment that day was thick enough for some details to be noticeable, but she could not help feeling that it only worsened her already low spirits. She longed even more to arrive and immerse herself in a deep bath without anyone around would disturb.
XXX
"Your damn energy control sucks, it's that simple."
What Panda said was not an attempt to assert moral superiority or a response to Azula's clear excessive sweating. It turns out that the sweat came from a constant drain of cursed energy.
"Don't you contradict yourself? The only reason you allowed me to join the regular missions is that my control over my cursed energy was perfect."
"When did I say that?" Gojo claimed with feigned annoyance. "I only assumed that your skill level was sufficient to manage second-grade curses with smugness which, by the way, is grateful that my judgment was accurate, and nothing negative occurred during that mission."
"Do you really expect me to thank you?"
"Of course!" Gojo responded quite cheerfully. "Otherwise, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Azula looked at her "master" unimpressed, not revealing her true annoyance. Part of her knew that somehow Satoru did not buy her act, but it was enough that he did not continue teasing her and got to the point.
"Tell me, Azula, have you stopped to think about the vast amount of energy you possess compared to others?"
Azula thought about it for a second. She did not know where Gojo was going with everything, but she would play along if it meant even the slightest bit of progress. Truth be told, she saw that aspect as insignificant, not out of lack of curiosity, but rather because the difference was clear enough to give greater weight to more than just a curious fact.
"It's vaster."
"To say it's vaster is an understatement," Gojo remarked, standing up from his comfortable desk chair. "The amount of cursed energy you possess is obscene, comparable to that of a special-grade sorcerer."
"You mentioned something, but it doesn't lead to any point."
"Do you not understand?" Satoru questioned, not sounding disappointed even though Azula did not delve into her answer. "With the cursed energy you possess, all your capabilities should extend beyond those of a mere grade-two sorcerer."
In a way, she knew. And while she was not one to take the effortless way out, the books and information provided were merely speculation and unfinished theories. For over a millennium, the practice of sorcery had only yielded fundamental concepts and theoretical foundations for techniques and barriers. While these were useful, they did not contribute to the expansion of her skill set. This limitation caused significant dissatisfaction as it made the Fire Nation princess overly reliant on the teachings of her incompetent master.
"I think it's a little unfair that you reprimand my performance," Azula argued, shrugging her shoulders slightly. "My progress is hindered by your refusal to move beyond the basics that I have already mastered."
"Yes, maybe you make a valid point," Gojo agreed, pointing his finger up as if he were emphasizing the point. "But if you continue down that path, it won't be long before you stagnate, and I can't allow that. What kind of teacher allows his students' potential to go unfulfilled?"
"I suppose one incapable of carrying out his role," Azula smiled, seeing that this was already going somewhere. "Of course, that's not the case with her, is it, Gojo?"
"Of course not!" Gojo raised his voice, quite moved by the words of his student (even though they were insincere). "I'm glad that my student has so much faith in me. Some of your classmates don't believe that she can achieve anything with them, and it hurts me a lot."
A sigh tempted to escape Azula's lips, but she maintained control, revealing nothing more than her condescending smile and blank stare. If Satoru kept up her end of the deal, she would be given at least a slight satisfaction of victory. With each piece of knowledge bought, it would only serve as another tool to bring him to her knees and provide him with clarity about who owns the divine right to rule over an albino with a sweet tooth addiction.
With a wave of her hand, Azula followed Satoru through the halls of the academy. His week at her place was enough to build some familiarity and give a clear clue as to where her teacher took her. After a few minutes, they both arrived at the training ground, the same one that Maki had faced a month ago.
Azula frowned slightly. She knew the behavior patterns of her classmates. Even though it was only for a week, the path Gojo led her on was the same route her classmate took every day to practice using various tools.
"There are several ways I could correct you, but now is not the time to radically change your style. That didn't work for Megumi; I guess it doesn't work for you either. Instead, I prefer a more progressive approach."
As if confirming his intentions, Gojo opened the door of an old shed that housed a large number of weapons of all kinds. There were sharp weapons, those intended to leave bruises, and deadly weapons like firearms, explosives, and swords.
Azula observed the warehouse with little interest, bothered by the subtle implication that Gojo had made. Weapons were not without their uses; they served as a practical choice for individuals who lacked the innate ability of bending. Even she, during the eclipse, was not opposed to using knives to gain an advantage over her enemies.
However, the eclipse was an exceptional case. Using a weapon only shows your lack of skill as a bender. That is why someone like Zuzu put so much effort into mastering the Dao swords. He could not accept the fact that he was a weak bender, so he turned to weapons to make up for his shortcomings. It would be admirable if it did not sound so pathetic.
Now, under the circumstances of her new power, she was being forced to choose one of the many weapons in the place. It was not any particular or strange training, just mastering a weapon, which was considered a huge waste of time for Azula. However, if there was one thing she had to be forced to accept about this new world, it was its strange customs and methods. Without giving him the benefit of the doubt, she let Satoru explain why.
"I hope you have a good explanation of what we do here. I would hate to imagine this beautiful shack engulfed in flames."
"I would ask you not to do that.," Gojo responded. Contrary to expectations, he sounded quite exasperated by the idea. "Director Yaga does not want to dispose of all these weapons and replacing them will surely be a headache that will be assigned to me."
Without another word, Gojo began to take long strides, as if he were inspecting a specific item in a supermarket. Azula divided her attention between Satoru's movements and the weapons, though none of them piqued her interest. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Satoru had stopped. Unceremoniously, Gojo threw out a golden sheath of a small sword. Azula had no difficulty grabbing the weapon's handle.
Out of curiosity, Azula unholstered her weapon. The black handle extended the steel blade into a double-edged sword, which Azula effortlessly mastered due to its great lightness. Losing all interest in her, she put away the weapon and let it rest listlessly in her left hand.
"Your biggest flaw right now is thinking that the cursed energy is your bending." Azula opened her eyes slightly at the implication, but Satoru stepped forward before she could say anything. "I know what you'll say, and I know you know the difference. That, however, doesn't change anything; your body is still flowing as if your cursed energy were equal to the aforementioned Chi. Until you can make a subconscious difference, all you are doing is forcing your cursed energy to flow instead of collaborating with it."
"And selecting a weapon will, of course, help correct that," Azula scoffed, fiddling with the weapon her teacher had just thrown at her.
"All the weapons you see are weapons imbued with cursed energy. This one, specifically, specializes in storing cursed energy," Gojo explained, entering his instructor mode. "Think of it as taking your dummy training to a new level. Now, you must harness your abundant cursed energy, delve into it completely, and explore every aspect of it to understand your true potential. Of course, you can't achieve it right now, but I invite you to try!"
With some disinterest, Azula accepted the challenge. She tried to channel the cursed energy into the palm of her hand, assuming it would be as straightforward as plugging a wire into an electrical outlet. It turned out that she was even more defiant than expected. Her energy seemed to bounce around for a few moments before she managed to dissipate it by starting to generate involuntary flames. With a critical eye, Azula evaluated the results of her attempt, partly understanding what Satoru meant by all her talk.
The teacher, dismissing the entire function as nothing more than a game, only chuckled before advancing toward his student.
"Of course, that means you have to learn to master that sword." Satoru got dangerously close to Azula's personal space, to the point that she was tempted to try using her flames in the strange case in which the power of infinity was deactivated. However, she abandoned the idea when she realized the potential consequences. "And for that, we have the perfect person to train you!"
Although Satoru extended his arms and bowed slightly to introduce the person who would train Azula, the individual took more than a minute to appear. Still, it was not difficult for Azula to figure out who would have the honor of instructing her. A girl with green hair and glasses entered the shed after a few stretches.
Maki was tempted to ask why she was summoned, but a single glance at Azula's weapon in hand and Gojo's smile, which faltered due to the weapon user's tardiness, provided all the necessary context.
"I see that Satoru has compelled you to train me."
"He didn't even tell me what he needed me for," Maki acknowledged, which did nothing to stop her growing smile at the free opportunity presented. "I thought it would be worse, but watching your arrogant ass fall to the ground repeatedly? This is a task that I will find fun."
"You should be careful, Maki," Azula warned, her eyes gaining a dangerous edge that Maki immediately identified. "Using cursed tools doesn't attract my attention at all. That will only make your fall more humiliating the moment I become more skilled than you in its use."
"Oh, is that so?" Maki responded to her gaze with determination, unaffected by the threats.
"I cannot imagine the disgrace it would be for you to be surpassed in the art that you have dedicated your life to perfecting. It's a terrifying prospect, don't you think?" Contrary to Azula's expectations, Maki did not respond with a challenge or harshness, but with a strange, confused look.
"Good! It's good that both are motivated," Gojo congratulated, standing between the two, although both doubted that he was trying to prevent any conflict. "Azula, I give you the next two months to master the use of the Jian. Consider it a personal task."
"You have nothing to worry about, Satoru. This will take less than a month," Azula arrogantly estimated to compensate for Maki's lack of participation, which left a bad taste in her mouth.
"That's the spirit!" Gojo congratulated Azula, patting her head like a little girl as a "reward" for her enthusiasm.
Maki had to hold back her laughter at the sight of her partner, who was trying her utmost not to show how upset she looked. The invisible smoke that seemed to rise with every touch of Gojo was enough to make the spectacle worth it grief.
"I hope you live up to expectations, Maki," Azula warned. "I expect nothing but excellence from my instructors, and I hope you don't back down for a second because I won't."
- "Yeah," Maki nodded with approval. "Whenever you want."
XXX
Anytime turned out to be the same moment that both girls left the shed. Gojo seemed to have done his good deed for the day and decided to go somewhere else, presumably to deal with a mission he had left pending or to find a way to pass the time. It was obvious to Azula that neglecting to provide her students with proper guidance on how to improve was an unorthodox and lazy approach. However, she felt powerless to compel Satoru to take his role more seriously. It was frustrating to see how powerful he was. The guy caused her to realize that she would not stand a chance against him. For that reason, and only that small degree of respect for her strength, he settled for giving her guidelines so that she could enhance her knowledge and skills through practice.
In that sense, maneuvering a weapon was strange for Azula. She was not a beginner when it came to using weapons, but she was inexperienced in handling one like the Jian sword. Contrary to her expectations, the Jian proved to be a weapon that suited the princess's style quite naturally. Unlike the conventional sword, which focused on cutting and power, the Jian was a lighter and more refined weapon, but with greater precision and lethality. Any cut was enough to leave deep wounds. In addition to its elegant and dynamic design, it allowed Azula to move agilely without many distractions. A weapon of precision and lethality, perfect for a warrior of her caliber.
The problem was everything else.
Blocking the swing of the wooden katana, Azula attempted to parry Maki's feeble slash. The attempt was futile as Maki swiftly countered the attack with a single swing of her katana, causing Azula to lose her balance and fall to the ground after being struck by the handle of the enemy weapon.
You did not have to be a genius to know that facing a person who specialized in performing masterful skills with a weapon that you had never tried in your life would end up in an unbelievably bad state for one of the parties. When it seemed like a good opportunity to attack, Maki responded effortlessly by doubling the force of the blow. Whenever she tried to defend herself, Maki's hand consistently found an opening that was too obvious for someone of her experience.
"What's the matter? Are you tired already?" Maki questioned, her eyes fixed on the battered body of her partner who fell again after a new blow to her solar plexus.
"Not a bit!" Azula answered enthusiastically, matching her comment with a new attack that culminated in a blow to her hand, nearly causing her to drop her weapon.
"I was supposed to have explained the basics to you. It doesn't make sense if all I do is kick your butt over and over again. You will only get desperate."
Between tired gasps, Azula acknowledged Maki's point. That point was the reason she did not reprimand or cause any more of a fuss than an occasional response. Every blow, every fall, every slight comment that her partner made about her would only fuel her fury for the moment when she far surpassed all her capabilities. Injuries and humiliations were unpleasant but obligatory steps that every teacher had to face on their way to rise above others. So, yes, allowing her to enjoy her small victories while she would be an equivalent payment for her services in training her.
"Are you scheming again?" Maki sighed, tired of her partner's cold demeanor. She did not look at her or flinch, still being still. Her lack of response was all the answer the girl with glasses needed. "It's not very difficult to guess your thoughts when you put yourself in that state."
Despite her smile, Azula's eyes only exuded great anger at the condescension with which she was treated. All her teachers, at least, had the power to support her words (at least in their time). The only reason Maki had any chance was that she played in her element, and it did not suit Azula to undo all the progress she had made did to ease the tension between the two.
It did not help that Maki could not discern her intentions either. She understood that Gojo could see through her. Her six eyes were something that surpassed any control technique, much more exact than even the blind earthbenders' sonar. Maki was different. It did not matter if she was innocent or meaningful, as long as she kept coherent speech and breathing. She was always able to anticipate Azula's intentions before they materialized. It was not because Maki was an expert manipulator or smarter than Azula; it was simply instinctive, an observation that surpassed her expectations.
"My focus is on you right now."
"Why do I feel burns just thinking about your thoughts?"
With her mind focused, Azula took a more defensive stance. Against her ideals, Maki's pace of play was the only way for her to minimize the damage. She did not expect to win; she was not that naive. But marking her next dominance started with something as simple as a punch.
Despite her overwhelming strength, Azula maintained her composure, deflecting blows from Maki's katana with her jian. The princess's concentration was absolute. Even though Maki carefully controlled her strikes to be non-lethal, the force behind each blow caused chaos in Azula's body. That, combined with the fact that her weapon was one-armed and inexperienced, caused Azula to overpower her with just a few blows.
Despite these conditions, she stayed calm. Her mind focused on her goal and nothing else. She had to hold on a little longer until her idea could be executed. Blow after blow, a layer of sweat enveloped the princess as she felt increasingly pressured by the endless wave of strikes, the burning sensation in her hand turning into an ache due to the intense stress surrounding her. Her eyes narrowed in focus, reflecting the effort of enduring all the accumulated damage.
But everything was overshadowed by the meticulous detailing of Maki's foot position. Dropping down, Azula swept Maki's leg. Caught off guard, the specialist barely had time to react to the kick. She could do nothing about the blow that her heel received from the following attack. Maki's eyes widened in surprise as she saw herself descending a few centimeters from Azula's formidable weapon. Although it did not cause any actual harm, it carried a significant implication.
Azula smiled in complete satisfaction when she saw the defeat of her companion as an absolute certainty. It did not matter that she was not a weapons specialist; she was a greater martial artist. The only thing that mattered was landing that blow; the means were not important if she made that point clear. The only point that matters in life: victory.
Only to discover her mistake when Maki, instead of falling on her weapon, used her katana as a boost. The wood creaked under the force needed to reassemble itself. With the last use of it, Maki used the momentum to, surprisingly, propel forward. Azula opened her eyes to see the sword's handle descending towards her vulnerable position.
Unfortunately for her, Azula's last move was a high-risk, high-reward strategy that also left her in a compromising position, but her determination to win was clear. She never imagined that Maki would use her weapon in that way, and that was the reason for her victory.
The forecast was always the foundation of combat, politics, and everything else. Anticipate everything, be at least two steps ahead, plan for contingencies after contingencies until everyone around you realizes that they are caught in their own web. At what point did she lose so much that she received blows to the forehead because of her ideas?
"Okay, that's enough," Maki declared, putting away her wooden sword, much to Azula's dismay.
Azula quickly stood up, eager to continue. However, a fragment of her rational mind allowed the moment to pass. It was the best; there was no way she could surpass Maki in that field. In these cases, patience was the only factor at play. The Jian would become her discipline, and the calluses on her hands the medals of experience, which was the only way to compensate for this humiliation.
**FLASH**
With a sudden flash of light, Azula's eyes blurred for a second as she received the reflection directly into her eyes. Azula watched with annoyance as Inumaki played with her cell phone. She was no longer so inept with the technology of that world that she did not know her partner had taken a photo of her and Maki. Because? It did not matter; knowing Inumaki, it was not serious at all. Mind you, that only made her already weak patience grow.
With utmost calmness and a cold look, she addressed the clueless boy who continued in her world with an excited Panda.
"I see you're having fun."
"Salmon."
"Azula, excellent moment! Could you call Maki? You both should see this." Panda asked, but Azula ignored him, keeping her eyes on the carefree Inumaki.
"I hope you know that I am no longer so inadequate in this world to realize that taking photos behind people's backs is in bad taste. Am I wrong, Inumaki?"
Although it was difficult to discern her expression from the scarf covering her mouth and only revealing part of her face, the slight paleness and uneasy eyes were enough for Azula to realize that her companion had finally understood the nature of her conversation.
"Mustard leaf." Inumaki, who handed his cell phone to Panda, bowed in a sign of apology when he saw the annoyance caused.
Azula was tempted to continue taking it out on the already docile Inumaki, but that was not her intention. She just wanted him to remember her place in all of this. Moreover, the way they approached the content on the cellphone also caught her interest.
"I will accept your apology. Now, if you would be so kind, please hand me the phone."
Stretching his hand out in front of the boy, Inumaki broke out in a cold sweat. Although he seemed tempted to deny it, a quick check of Azula's cold eyes made it clear that it was not exactly an open request. Reluctantly, she showed her partner what he and Panda saw: it was a street battle between fighters who did not seem to have anything special beyond ordinary training.
Azula watched the fight for a few seconds with her cell phone in hand. While they were not bad, her interest died quickly. Swiping the screen, she noticed that it was a live broadcast. By changing the cell phone tab, she noted the origin: a personal chat with the name Kirara Hoshi. The only reason she entered the chat was because of the photo that was taken of her and Maki after she stopped meeting her.
"You should not eavesdrop on other people's conversations."
"They stop being alien the moment they involve me. If this photo prompts me to join this conversation. Who likes to be talked about behind their back?" Azula dismissed Panda without delving into details in the chat, just seeing a few lines before realizing it was a casual conversation.
"It seems that this Kirara person has an interest in me," Azula said absentmindedly, handing over the cell phone while she questioned Panda.
"Yes, she is our superior."
"Our superior?" Azula scoffed at the very idea, finding it laughable in her mind.
"She is of a higher grade," Maki intervened, with her weapon already found and attached to her back. "She, along with Hakari, is a second-year member."
"Do they really study here?" Azula asked, with some surprise.
It was no wonder that the only members of the academy she met were her classmates, her annoying albino teacher, and one or another of the staff, such as the assistant, the nurse, or the director. Despite being aware that she was a first-year student, these subjects did not show a single shadow during her time here.
"Sometimes I wonder the same thing," Maki sympathized with her doubt, shrugging her shoulders. "They rarely show up, and they have only seen us once to witness "our passions" or something."
"That's not entirely true. Superior Hoshi visits Inumaki and me from time to time."
"Salmon."
"Well, for me, she hasn't shown a hair. She's as lost as that idiot Hakari," Maki replied, losing interest in the conversation.
However, something about the last comment intrigued Azula. Rather, the one who directed Kirara's actions was not Kirara herself, but Hakari. This is reinforced by the fact that she saw a little of her way of speaking, and she doesn't seem like the ones who cause problems. Instead, she appears to be one of the free-spirited individuals who do as they please in a more organized manner.
"You mention this Hakari guy a lot," Azula said to none of the three.
"You don't miss anyone, he's an idiot," Maki replied with disdain, although her disinterest changed to a more focused expression for a moment. "But he's a lucky bastard."
"I think that's the best way to describe it," Panda agreed.
"Does it have to do with his cursed technique?" Azula pressed, not knowing how a luck-based technique could influence combat or manipulate it in any way.
Maki shook her head.
"Not only his technique, but luck also has to do with everything around him."
XXX
Hidden from the afternoon light, among sheet metal roofs and rubble of an abandoned parking lot, a small group of people carefully saw a well. Despite being such a small group, barely exceeding a dozen, anyone who heard the cheers and angry shouts from outside would swear that it was a mob of a hundred people gathered to cause damage.
However, far from that idea, everyone was focused on the development that was conducted in the well. Two combatants, with bleeding smiles and bruises that began to hinder their movement, entered the final stage that would decide the winner after an intense battle without rest or mercy. The support for their favorites, the potential disputes that would break out the moment someone was left lying in the mud, and the lively atmosphere were only contrasted by the two boys.
Two teenagers did not pay attention to the resolution of the fight. Instead, their focus was on the crowd of people excited about the event. Kirara was an androgynous-looking boy with brown hair and cerulean eyes that bestowed upon him a feminine charm. The other was a stocky teenager with dark dreadlocks, a shaved head, and the beginning of a mustache under his nose.
"This one?"
"Uninspired."
Kirara showed his phone to Hakari, who disinterestedly saw its contents. For his part, Hakari paid more attention to the extensive catalog of shoes that he saw at an official Air store.
"And what about this one?"
"Before death."
Again, Kirara returned to his cell phone, leaving Hakari alone for a few seconds before something caught his attention.
"What do you think of this one?"
With a sideways glance, Hakari was about to reply, but the content Kirara showed left him amazed. A simple black wig with a hint of magenta on some of the top edges of the hair. He immediately looked at the contents and was sure that the wig was a safe bet.
"Reserve them all, Kirara."
"Why?"
"So that no one can take away your originality, of course!"
"Hmmm," the calm response of his companion did not dampen Hakari's spirits. "Okay, but I'll only buy one; the rest will come out of your pocket."
"I already told you that today I have a good feeling."
As if it were a divine call, the screams of the people turned into a cacophony as pitiful gazes fell to the ground. Just seeing the reactions was enough to figure out the winner of the match before Hakari's calm yet wild smile, revealing how the money had accumulated for a shocking victory.
"It was risky to put all of our savings into this strategy."
"What are you talking about?" Hakari replied, indignant at the mere conception of the comment. "The odds were in our favor; we would have been fools not to make this bet!"
"I guess you're right."
"And that means...!"
From his cell phone, Hakari discarded all the shoe pages, only keeping one: a 28,600-yen Air Jordan S1. The boy's eyes lit up with excitement. Without hesitation, he swiped a credit card and at once paid for the shoes that would soon be in his hands.
For his part, Kirara bought the wig without the excessive interest that Hakari had. It was just another purchase from a recognized website, no different from going to the store and buying it. The funny thing is seeing a notification arrive after paying. It wasn't the purchase confirmation; that one arrived a second later. It was from Inumaki, his kouhai.
Upon seeing the message, Kirara realized that he had a bad habit of starting conversations and then leaving them halfway, often not responding for prolonged periods of time. With a lazy eye, he observed Inumaki's message thread, highlighting his less talkative side, a stark contrast to the technique of his ranting through text messages. However, the text was not what interested him; it was the image.
Two girls had a light sheen of sweat after a brief confrontation.
He didn't have to be a genius to know that these were his kouhais. He met Maki, the girl with glasses. Although he didn't dislike her, he also couldn't bring himself to approach her. The other, however, was a complete mystery.
"Hey, Hakari, do you recognize this girl? I don't remember seeing it in the induction."
His partner, who was elated while dealing with the frustrated guests searching for complaints about the outcome, directed his focus towards Kirara. Not caring much about the complaints, he focused on trying to recall if he had ever seen a girl like that. With black hair, sharp and shadowy features, and a slender body, she was not someone who could be easily ignored. However, it didn't take him long to find an answer.
"She's new."
"Are you sure?"
"Definitely," Hakari assured.
"How do you know?"
"I would never forget eyes as full of passion as those."
Without warning, a punch flew towards Hakari. The intense heat in the hearts of the losers turned their fury against the provider of the entire event, accusing it of running a scam by persuading them to bet on the loser. Hakari had no problem dispatching a small mob of sulks who didn't know how to lose; fights were always liberating. Kirara, for his part, just watched as Hakari dodged all the punches with overwhelming ease, feeling almost sad as the drunken punches tried to connect with some part of his partner.
"You know, Kirara," Hakari commented, delivering a blow to the solar plexus to knock out one of the irate spectators. "I'm curious about her." Two blows to the jaw were enough to knock out two other opponents. "I think we will go to school tomorrow!"
"I was afraid you would say something like that," Kirara said, moving her body away from him to avoid the thug's blow aimed at Hakari. "I guess there's nothing to do. No one can stop you when you sulk about something."
XXX
I don't even know what to comment.
I know it's been a few months since the last post. The only thing I can say: college sometimes sucks. It's also not all its fault, I didn't know how to organize myself during this time.
Fortunately, I've already scheduled a time when I'll dedicate myself to just writing, so I think next time it won't really take that long. My goal is to have a chapter every two weeks, maybe on Saturdays. I apologize a lot for my absence.
On another note, what did you think of the chapter, did you like it? I would be very grateful if you could say in Reviews what you thought of it, if you have any complaint or related doubt, I will gladly answer it or respond accordingly.
Now, some answers to comments I have received during this time:
Xavier Rall: Yes, English is not my first language, it's Spanish. I always try to have the least number of mistakes, I proofread every time I'm going to publish in the English version, but I can't avoid missing some. And I advance question: no, I have not been able to get beta, most of them that are free disappear, they review only a fragment for weeks or there is hardly any feedback.
DBlaviken: Yes, for now, it's the buildup for some things that will come later. We literally haven't even gotten to the first strong arc of the animej (JJK0), though there are still a few things to go before that happens.
Psy-Kick: Thanks!
Naufalrakha0104: I can't exactly do spoilers, but it will have a lot of reality shocks later on.
Ghost: Although Maki's desire is indeed to destroy the clan, but at this point in the story she is limited by Mai's presence. That she wants to control it or have more hierarchy there is to have influence, get her sister out and continue with her things (and have her clan eat shit for the treatment they gave her). Already what happened in the manga was literally a real disaster for the clan.
Luckenzio: This first arc focuses on that, so I hope you enjoy it.
UselesssYellow: Thank you. It seems like a lot of people like the Maki/Azula dynamic. I seem to be doing a good job on that side so I'm glad.
And nothing, if you like the story, comment, follow and favorite, and until next time.
Adieu!