Azula and Kahn led their troops back toward the Imperial Capital, but the journey was painfully slow.
Lidon and the others—still battered, still forced to march on foot—could barely keep up, dragging down the entire column's pace.
Azula executed her plan with absolute precision. Every colony, town, and city they passed through became a stage for another brutal public display.
Each time, she had the prisoners beaten and dragged before crowds to be humiliated and tortured.
Everywhere they went, the reactions were mixed:
Some were indifferent.
Some cheered.
Some were furious.
But while their march was slow, the news of Azula's terrifying "procession" traveled fast—so fast that stories reached the Imperial Palace long before they arrived.
After each show of cruelty, Azula had them treated—clean bandages, water, simple food. Enough to survive. Enough to endure the next round.
No one mistook it for kindness.
At first, Lidon and the others still had strength to curse loudly, shouting accusations at Kahn and calling him a traitor.
But as days passed, exhaustion hollowed them out. Their voices grew hoarse from constant screaming. Eventually, they fell silent.
They trudged onward like walking corpses—soulless, staggering, terrifying to behold.
Even the Royal Guards began acting cautious, afraid of provoking Azula. If she could treat rebels like this… who knew what she'd do to her own men?
And once they learned that Kahn was also involved in designing these punishments, they immediately kept their distance from him as well. Suddenly, their strange closeness made sense:
Azula and Kahn were birds of a feather.
Not people you wanted to cross.
Yet the Royal Guards missed the small details others wouldn't:
Whenever Lidon limped past Kahn, he would secretly flash a faint smile—barely noticeable, but unmistakably real.
His eyes, bright even through blood and grime, reminded Kahn that he still remembered their plan.
But that smile was also the source of Kahn's first setback since arriving in this world.
From the moment the return journey began, no matter how he meditated, his Spiritbending refused to progress.
And he knew exactly why.
After witnessing the cruelty firsthand, part of him worried that some might not endure it.
But he was wrong—Lidon and the others persevered. Whether out of sheer will to live, or faith in the future Kahn promised, they trusted him completely.
They were literally entrusting their lives to him—banking everything on a gamble he had designed.
For the first time, Kahn felt the crushing weight of responsibility.
For the first time, he couldn't calm his heart.
Azula noticed everything. She couldn't fix the situation, but she tried to ease his tension in her own… creative way.
For example—
"Wolf," Azula said suddenly, "didn't you still owe fifty military floggings?"
Wolf's face froze. "…Yes."
He had thought that joining Azula's forces would erase that old punishment. Why bring it up now?
Had he offended her somehow?
But he hadn't done anything!
Azula turned to Kahn with a cheerful smile:
"Hey, Kahn—want to give the punishment? Just don't beat him to death."
Wolf: "???"
Even Kahn's expression darkened.
What kind of demon is she?
He refused immediately.
"Forget it. I'm not into that. But… thanks for asking."
Azula shrugged.
"Alright, your loss."
Wolf breathed a silent sigh of relief and shot Kahn a grateful look.
Azula crushed that hope instantly.
"Well then, go receive your punishment yourself. And don't try anything funny."
"…Yes."
Wolf forced a bitter smile.
After all, he was the one who originally owed the punishment.
Not long after, the group gained another limping companion, adding a strangely comedic brightness to the otherwise heavy atmosphere.
Time passed.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Eventually, the towering walls of the Imperial Capital came into view.
Kahn took a long breath.
He exchanged a glance with Azula.
This was the final stage.
Upon entering the city, they were immediately summoned by Fire Lord Ozai.
Citizens crowded the streets to watch the infamous procession—gasps and whispers following them as people saw Lidon's group, now broken, bloodied, and barely alive.
Their reputations had clearly preceded them.
And reputation always brought danger.
After the streets, they entered the palace. To their surprise, Ozai first summoned not Azula or Kahn, but Wolf, captain of the Royal Guards.
Seeing Wolf limp in, Ozai raised a brow. But once he heard the reason, he dismissed it and went straight to the mission's details.
Wolf told the truth—plain, simple, unembellished. No exaggerations, no bragging.
Azula didn't need exaggeration.
Her actions were already shocking enough.
"Good. Very good," Ozai said coldly. "But why did you all disobey my orders!?"
His voice echoed like thunder.
Wolf trembled as he repeated Azula's explanation.
"Waste…?" Ozai muttered, eyes narrowing.
Then he asked, "What is your opinion of this boy Kahn?"
Wolf answered instantly, "Very strong. Very talented."
"I know that," Ozai said. "I am asking about his relationship with Iroh's former subordinates."
Wolf continued.
"They despise him. Their leader was personally defeated by Kahn. He cursed him constantly during the march. And… Kahn was involved in deciding how they were punished."
Ozai fell silent in thought.
Then he dismissed Wolf and summoned Azula, receiving similar answers.
Finally, he summoned Kahn along with her—but asked him nothing. Instead, he simply praised their accomplishments and dismissed him to rest.
The next day, Ozai announced his decision.
Lidon and the others would be paraded through the streets, then exiled to the mines for life.
Kahn finally felt the weight lift off his chest.
They had survived.
For now.
...
Author's Note:
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