Flames of the Future
Academy Headmaster
The nervousness came right back when they—Zuko, Akira, and Hideki—left the palace grounds. Or at least, in Zuko's mind, it felt like the nervousness he'd felt about starting at the Royal Fire Academy for Boys sored right back. He took a deep breath, taking in the vast world outside of the palace he was unfamiliar with, even though he'd traveled with his Uncle Iroh that one time he'd been taken to train with Piandao.
"That didn't exactly end well," Zuko thought to himself. "At least while I was outside of Master Piandao's complex. I don't know what will happen if I run into that one kid a third time."
Akira patted him on the shoulder, indicating they should start walking. "We don't want to be late, even with you being a new student," Akira said. "The academy is quite strict."
Zuko frowned, starting to keep in step with the older boy. "From the way Azula talks," he said, shaking his head, "You'd think they weren't."
"What do you mean?" Hideki asked, also falling in step with Akira.
"I don't know how to put it," Zuko says, "Beyond the fact, she's practically bragged about never getting in trouble with the teachers. That, and she's bragged about having entered sooner than me, the few times I've run into her since…."
He stopped speaking, not wanting to say what they all three knew. While there'd been a concerted effort to make sure Zuko could spend as much time with his youngest sister Kiya, from what he'd observed, there'd also been a concerted effort to keep Azula away. However, she'd managed to a few times slip through the cracks and bothers him, resulting in discussions between him and Iroh about ignoring the things his sister said to him and that she was simply trying to get a reaction from him.
"Which in turn," Iroh said more than once, "Why we keep you two apart. You don't need to be bothered with that nonsense of hers."
Zuko also wasn't supposed to tell her he was starting at the academy, as there was some suspicion that Azula would ruin any plans Azulon put in place for Zuko to have the chance to observe his peers as well as the people he would eventually rule once he became Fire Lord himself, yet that seemed like something never meant to be, given how ancient is grandfather was while still having the strength and fury one would expect of the Firebender who was Fire Lord.
And his nervousness grew thinking about his duty and not failing his grandfather or uncle, let alone letting the memory of his cousin down.
It was all—
"Honestly, it's all too much," he thought to himself, paying attention to the route Akira took him and Hideki along, but when they arrived, what he saw was a huge building, one that the palace dwarfed and yet was still more significant than his sword master's dojo. Zuko took a deep breath, unsure of what to think, until Akira patted him on the back again, and he walked through the front gate.
"Now we will take you to see the academy's headmaster so that he can explain things to you, and then Hideki and I will show you where the classes are," Akira said as Zuko looked around.
As he did, he caught sight of Chan, remembering how the boy mocked his dead cousin the first time they'd met based on things he'd heard his parents say. Yet, the second time, when they were doing the meet and greet with other nobles when Kiya was born, he'd met Chan's younger sister Ming, who was a stark contrast to her older brother.
Zuko looked away, hoping he was right in assuming he'd not looked over long enough to draw Chan's attention to himself, and instead fell in step behind Akira, moving quickly. They eventually arrived at a room where Akira knocked, and they were bidden to enter. He followed the older boy, with Hideki by his side, but then his eyes blinked and blurted out. "I know you."
The door closed behind them, although he wasn't sure who approached them. Akira elbowed him in the side, clearing his voice only for the headmaster to laugh. "And I know you, Prince Zuko. I was there, the day of your birthday, among those observing your bending skills."
At that, Zuko felt his throat tighten, unsure of what the headmaster thought of his bending at the time, the memory of his failure in front of his grandfather the day before his Uncle Iroh became, in the eyes of the law, his father.
"But here, you'll be going by the name of Lee?"
"Yes. Yes, sir," he said, politely bowing to the man while the others followed suit. The headmaster returned the bow.
When they stood, the headmaster said. "Keep in mind, Prince Zuko, that the academy will not afford me the privacy of treating you according to your actual rank, not while you are presumed to be Lee rather than Prince Zuko, yet your uncle and grandfather do this so you can become a stronger person, one with a better understanding of the world around you. I'm actually honored to be a part of that process."
"Yes, sir," Zuko said, worrying his lip.
"Don't do that," the headmaster said. "By that, I mean don't show signs of weakness to the other students. Particularly when the last thing we need is one of them challenging you to an Agni Kai."
"Pardon?" Zuko asked.
"While you will be attending all classes, starting the first couple week with only the morning ones the other students are scheduled for, you will not be attending lessons on bending."
"Sir?" Zuko said, looking at the ground. "Because grandfather doesn't want anybody to know how awful my bending is?"
"Pardon," Akira said, clearing his voice.
"Yes," the headmaster narrowed his eyes, obviously displeased with what Akira did, but then….
"I know my question is out of place."
"Oh. That's why the headmaster is showing displeasure. I should not ask unnecessary questions of my elders here, even if my curiosity urges me to do so. That—what then is the purpose of the academy?"
"But it is my duty, as Prince Zuko's companion, to look out for his best interests and make sure this goes off well," Akira said, positively perking the headmaster's attention.
"Mine as well," Hideki said.
"Ah, but do be careful," the headmaster said, "when outside my office."
"The fact we're in the privacy of your office makes this the right time to inquire, for Prince Zuko's sake, if it would be possible for you to explain the reasoning behind not allowing him to attend the Firebending lessons. I understand if…."
"Is it because Fire Lord Azulon doesn't want anyone to know my Firebending skill?" Zuko blurted out.
"Careful with that, Prince Zuko," the headmaster said. "Crown Prince Iroh would likely have the sage advice for you right now of choosing words wisely, particularly since you are at this school simply, Lee," the man said. "However, you are right in that is one reason."
Zuko felt his heart sink, his eyes on the ground.
"However, even if Fire Lord Azulon had requested it, I would not ever dishonor Crown Prince Iroh by having another lest mastered then he interfere with his teaching," the headmaster said. "But having seen you bend, I don't see the lessons you'd receive here being of any use to you other than to impede your growth as a bender. I'll leave it at that, but if Akira and Hideki here wouldn't mind, would you show Lee where the classrooms are? Here is the schedule for those in your year group, although I understand you and Hideki are in the same year, which will help. Now be off with you."