Chapter 5: Chapter 4: Forced Collaboration
As she headed to the temple library with the sage, she was confident in her imminent victory over the unknown demon...
Soon, that confidence began to fade. With every passing minute, with every book, scroll, line, and every piece of information she read, it disappeared completely. Throughout this time, Azulu was accompanied by the demon's mocking comments, ceaselessly taunting her, her people, and their meager knowledge of spirits. Playing on her nerves, the demon did everything possible to weaken the girl's mind, but she continued to resist, slowly beginning to realize the desperate situation she was in.
The Fire Temple was a rather large building, constructed in shades of red and black, both inside and out. It was built with elegance yet simplicity. Inside, there was even more simplicity, expressed in ordinary furniture, modest decor, and other inconspicuous details. Nevertheless, it was majestic and beautiful in its own way. Of course, the Fire Temple fell short in every aspect compared to Azula familiar palace; however, it didn't even attempt to match the opulence of the most important building in the capital. Perhaps only the library in this temple was slightly larger than the one in the palace. But the princess had no interest in the interior or local beauty; she was concerned only with information and nothing else.
Azula spent just over two hours in the structure. As the spirit had mentioned, it turned out to be a futile waste of time and precious energy. The only thing the princess began to suspect was the peculiarity of the spirit that had infiltrated her. Despite all the knowledge accumulated by the sages over millennia, she found no way to rid herself of the demon. But was it really a demon? Because of the information she had received, the girl began to doubt the stranger's affiliation with evil spirits. This raised even more questions, to which no one was in a hurry to provide answers. Possession was too rare a phenomenon that people had only heard of but couldn't study sufficiently. As the sage had said: it was an exceedingly rare occurrence, often leading to death.
Azula thoroughly examined all the available information, but there was nothing known about spirits like the one she had encountered. The girl found no signs of possession within herself, and perhaps she wouldn't have suspected the existence of an extra personality within her for a long time if the unknown entity hadn't chosen to speak first. This spirit did not fit any documented mention of its kind.
He was neither light nor dark, possessing a good mind like that of a human, indicating that the spirit wasn't even connected to nature. Perhaps he was the spirit of a deceased person or an abstract concept... the former lacked the necessary power to possess a human, at least there were no mentions of it, while the latter could very well do so. However, they had far more opportunities to harm a person.
The most well-known spirit among humans associated with an abstract concept was Wan Shi Tong—the great spirit of knowledge. His library was sought after by all scholars and knowledge seekers from around the world. Surely, in his library, there were answers to Azula's questions. Unfortunately, no one knew where it was located. As for the spirit of the deceased, the sage was confident that the dead lacked the ability to take over the body of a living person, but with powerful spirits of abstract concepts, it was quite the opposite.
The problem lay in the fact that the spirit Azula had encountered didn't resemble any of the known Fire Sages' spirits. His similarity to the spirit of a deceased person was striking, but his powers and control over the princess's body contradicted these conclusions. Perhaps in other Fire Temples, there might be more information on the needed topic. By the time the necessary scrolls would be delivered to the princess, the demon could do whatever he pleased with her.
In one word: as the spirit said, it was a futile waste of time.
Sitting in the palanquin, which servants were carrying back to the palace, Azula practiced her breathing technique, keeping her emotions fully under control. Without this technique, it would have been much harder for her to maintain a cool head and a clear mind. Having been without rest for over a day, fatigue was gradually overcoming her, along with growing despair. The princess couldn't find a way to rid herself of the harmful parasite, and admitting her affliction would be a foolish endeavor.
"Where are we heading now? Don't forget about the training with the guards. I promise to behave decently and not interfere with you, he-he-he-he," she replied to the demon with a sharpness, not allowing unnecessary ears and fear to tarnish her reputation, for which she had worked tirelessly since childhood.
Tilting her head back, she takes a deep breath, then lowers her head, exhaling all the air she's taken in. She repeats it again and again.
"Breathe, breathe. It's nice when you're alive," the demon couldn't help but remind her, never leaving the girl for a moment.
Inhale-exhale. Inhale-exhale...
"Ah..." she yawns widely, feeling the growing weakness and a desire to sleep.
"What's this? Yawning? Is fatigue catching up with you? Poor thing, get some sleep, and I'll take over the body for a while. Everything will be fine, he-he-he-he," ignoring the demon as usual, the princess continued her breathing exercise, fighting against the increasing drowsiness.
Azula was confident that she could endure another day or even more without any rest. Since childhood, she had preferred to sleep as little as possible, dedicating most of her time to training and allocating only the minimum required for such a seemingly useless thing as sleep. By spending all her free time improving herself, the princess quickly gained recognition for her talents. Unlike her brother, who devoted much less time to studies than she did, she became accustomed to such demands. But the demon was right; it was only a matter of time before she weakened and couldn't resist the growing fatigue, which was increasing with each passing hour.
Her hopes for the wisdom of the sages were shattered, just like before. Seeking help from her father was not even considered; it was too humiliating. Besides, what could Fire Lord do to help her? She could issue the necessary commands to the right people herself. It was a pity that all her servants and subordinates proved useless against a single spirit whose power was insufficient even to take control of her body. And as if mocking her and her entire nation, the spirit repeatedly mentioned the Avatar.
The Avatar would help... if the Avatar were alive... The Avatar knows more... The Avatar could handle any spirit... The Avatar, who would never assist the direct heir of the person who orchestrated the genocide of an entire nation.
The worst part of the unfolding situation was the real threat posed by the spirit. The demon quickly grasped where and how to apply pressure to make her suffer more. His target was her reputation... the reputation that Azula had earned over the years. She knew, following her old Uncle's example, what consequences a single defeat could bring. Death was not as terrifying to the princess as the loss of her reputation in the eyes of her subordinates, especially in the eyes of her father—Fire Lord and the absolute ruler of their entire nation.
"Oh, the carriers have stopped; we have arrived back at the palace. Are you ready? I'll try to make this day unforgettable," the demon informed her, being the first to notice the palanquin's halt.
"Lady Princess, we have arrived at the palace," one of the servants informed her, following the demon.
This day promised to be very long.
Upon arriving at the palace, one of the closest male guards at the main entrance immediately addressed the princess. He informed Azula of the whereabouts of the patrolmen who had transgressed the previous day. That's what reputation meant. If the patrolmen had not come forward for punishment themselves and had tried to avoid it, the princess would have had to exert a bit more effort. Undoubtedly, this would have intensified the severity of the punishment for the men. She had worked long enough for such a reputation, and it was precisely the destruction of that reputation that the detested spirit had set its sights on.
"You may speak, soldier; I hear you," Azula releases the royal guard, taking note of the new information.
"And here are your sparring partners. I wonder how you'll handle this now? Sleepiness won't go away. What lie will you come up with this time?" the demon didn't leave her alone.
"I must also inform you about the military assembly, which will commence with the last rays of the zenith sun. The Fire Lord wishes to see you there," the guard added.
"Oh, it's definitely not your day today, little one. So many opportunities, I don't even know where to start and how to destroy your familiar life..."
"And you decided that it's worth mentioning such information after you've disclosed the whereabouts of the errant guards?" The princess's eyes narrowed, foreboding trouble and hardships for the guard who had provoked her anger.
"It's my fault, Princess, I apologize. I'm ready to accept any punishment," the guard, clearly knowing Azula, immediately confessed, deciding not to give the girl too much time to contemplate his punishment.
"I don't have time for you, and you've delivered the information, albeit not perfectly. In the future, try to differentiate the importance of the information and avoid disappointing me with your carelessness."
"Understood, I'll do better!" The guard straightened up, hiding his inner joy at the displayed mercy.
The princess briefly surveyed him and then continued on her way.
"As merciless as ever, but without them, you're nobody..." the spirit commented on her actions once again.
Walking through the palace corridors, she leisurely made her way to a destination known only to her. There were still several hours left until the military council, so she had time to attend to her own matters. There was no need to rush, and the errant guards could wait a bit. Roaming through the palace corridors, Azula turned into an area where few people ventured. She was in search of a secluded spot where no one would overhear her. She could have gone to her chambers, but Azula knew that the maids were currently tidying up in there.
"What are you up to? In any case, it will all be in vain. I can't wait for the military council. Let's see how resilient you are," the inner voice remarked on her unusual behavior.
Ensuring that there was no one else in the corridor but her, she pulled on a light fixture, revealing a hidden door hidden behind tall curtains. After entering one of the palace's secret passages, she closed the door and ignited a flame in her hand. After walking a bit along the secret passage, Azula stopped.
"We can talk here," Azula said, gathering her strength, as she looked at the bluish flame burning above her palm.
"With whom are you talking? There are only walls here! Are you already having problems with your mind? Will you start calling me mommy soon?" The irritation from the mocking tone of the spirit was immediately suppressed by the princess's rationality. She had had plenty of time to think during her journey in the palanquin, so Azula continued with a timid and apologetic voice.
"I want to apologize to you for my..." Before she could finish her sentence, the mocking voice of the spirit interrupted her.
"Brazenness? Arrogance? Hubris? Cruelty? Selfishness? Threats? What exactly are you apologizing for to me?" He was still laughing at her, but she held her ground, realizing more than ever the danger the spirit posed to her.
"For everything. I haven't behaved respectfully enough toward you..." There was silence from the spirit for a few seconds, and Azula stood in the middle of the narrow corridor shrouded in darkness, head lowered.
"I see that you've begun to understand the predicament you're in. Unfortunately for me, that's not enough. You're not sincere in your words at all. I don't hear any remorse, I don't see an awareness of your mistake, I don't sense any emotions; you're just... lying. I won't forgive you just because you ask for forgiveness with a timid voice and a guilty look, you self-assured brat," the spirit continued to mock her sarcastically.
Azula hadn't received such direct and blunt rejections in a long time. As a princess, she had grown up accustomed to having most of her desires fulfilled instantly. As she matured, Azula realized that deceit was a formidable tool with which she skillfully achieved her goals, emulating her father, who had risen to the highest position in the Fire Nation despite adversity.
Deceit and manipulation. Unfortunately for the girl, the spirit was indifferent to these tactics. She didn't know his weaknesses, only his desires, and judging by his tone, he had easily seen through her acting. However, there was no way out, and she could only continue playing her game with a faint hope of victory. The very thought of defeat disgusted her. She would simply exert more effort and once again justify her reputation as a genius, no matter what difficulties she had to face or how much humiliation she had to endure. She would achieve her goal at any cost. Any cost...
Azula's brilliant mind quickly assessed the situation, and she responded in the same timid and apologetic tone.
"What do I need to do to earn your forgiveness, great spirit?" Azula continued her charade, still hoping to outsmart the spirit. Lying had always come easiest to her, and now, more than ever, she needed to tell many lies.
"Free me from your insincere flattery. As for forgiveness... I'm willing to accept it in poetic form, but only if it truly touches my heart. Of course, you must compose the poem yourself; that's the whole point! Come on, brat, show me your genius!" the spirit replied cheerfully after a brief pause, causing Azula to cringe at his demands. The princess had never taken an interest in any form of art, considering it the domain of the weak and the unsuccessful.
"I'll need some time," Azula replied to the spirit with restraint, not even knowing what she would have to do to earn his forgiveness.
"I don't recall you ever giving me time for explanations... you'll have to work hard to impress me, and remember, I'll definitely sense your insincerity," the spirit retorted with a hint of amusement.
"Is there a chance for me to make amends with you, great spirit?" Azula inquired.
"What did I say about flattery? Don't make me waste time repeating myself," the spirit responded with a hint of irritation.
"In that case, how should I address you?" Azula asked.
"After nearly two days, you remember proper manners? It's quite astonishing. Better late than never, but your upbringing and manners leave much to be desired. You're the princess of the most advanced nation, aren't you ashamed?" the spirit returned to his mocking tone, emphasizing with his entire intonation that he was trying to put Azula in her place.
"... Azula remained silent, making every effort to contain her emotions and avoid a sarcastic response. Nobody had ever behaved so arrogantly and boldly towards her while remaining unpunished. She was skilled at lying, but against the spirit, it wasn't as effective as she wished. She had to accept the new rules of the game and play it to the end. If she couldn't take the spirit by force, she might as well try to deceive and use him. These were the thoughts swirling in the princess's mind.
"However, why don't you give me your body for a while? I promise I'll return it intact," the spirit slightly shocked the princess with his overly direct and audacious proposal.
Azula didn't immediately come up with a suitable response for the spirit."
"Forgive me. I don't think that's the best idea. I have many tasks to attend to today, and I would prefer to maintain my reputation without arousing any additional suspicions from my father. With my current status, I can achieve my goals much faster and easier, regardless of your intentions. Being the heir of the most progressive state is much better than being an unknown or an exile," the princess replied after a brief pause.
"In simpler terms, you don't trust me... that's okay. We hardly know each other, and our introduction was far from ideal. You see, I don't trust you either. To earn my name, you'll first need to gain my trust, and before that, seek forgiveness. Until then, refer to me as 'spirit' without unnecessary flattery and false respect," calmly replied... the spirit."
Azula felt a small sense of satisfaction with her idea. She quickly understood what the spirit needed and how she could provide it on her terms, without fearing any loss.
"I could leave my body to you overnight, as I've been doing all week. Just with my status as a princess, living is much better than without it. I'm confident that my position will positively impact your plans, whatever they may be," she said.
"That's a start, Azula, but you're quick to understand what I need... It's only been about thirty hours, hehehe..." The spirit's sarcastic tone over her intelligence made her grit her teeth, but she continued to remain silent, awaiting further words from the spirit.
"You're right; that's exactly what I want from you. But I think we have some time to conduct certain experiments right now, after which we can discuss our forced cooperation," the spirit said, with a hint of pleasure in its voice.
"What are you..." Before she could finish, the spirit immediately cut her off.
"What did I say about lying, girl? Your brown-nosing is starting to get on my nerves."
After a moment of thought, Azula replied, "What do you mean by that, Spirit?"
"Relax your body, and I'll take full control of it, then I'll return it to you. It's a little trust test between us," the spirit replied, causing Azula to think carefully and weigh all the risks involved.
The risks were not small; the Spirit had already threatened to expose the princess in the worst light possible to her father and the high-ranking officials of the Fire Nation. She desperately wished to avoid this outcome, as even death would be more pleasant to Azula than losing the recognition she had worked so hard to achieve in her father's eyes. Previously, she had not even suspected such a turn of events, but the Spirit had demonstrated its power over her body, and now it had become a nightmare for her.
Weighing all the risks and benefits, carefully considering the offer, she replied:
"Very well... I agree."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone