Chapter 7: Consequences
After two months, the controversy of the events inevitably erupted, creating a commotion that generated instability in the country.
However strange the commotion of a third son of the Fire Lord may be. The reactions are consistent with the very culture that has been defined over the centuries.
Since the royal family unified the Fire Islands, the most important monarchy in the world was born. Generations and generations of people have been taught to have total loyalty to the royal family, placing this foundation in their souls from the age of 4 for every child.
Hundreds of years after unification, the royal family can be considered almost equivalent in status to spirits or even deities, and this admiration is so strongly rooted that not even the Avatar himself has a voice in the nation's ears.
Thus, the commotion of a third son changes the course of a nation, just as the argument between Prince Zuko and Azula over Ozai's succession persists. The existence of an anomaly like Kai upsets the quasi-religious beliefs about the royal family.
Many who have studied the nation's history remember a period during the time of the Kyoshi avatar, when two heirs, one legitimate and the other a bastard, divided the nation, almost exploding into civil war.
Although rumors have spread, a large part of the population thinks it's absurd that their king had a child out of wedlock, which is clear from the little information available.
For the sages of fire, the existence of Kai was a great heresy that had to be stamped out quickly.
Ozai was never in favor of the prophecies related to the sages, but strong pressure from his father Azulon led him to marry Ursa. According to the prophecy, their children would be powerful descendants, and nothing was more important for a lineage like royalty than descendants worthy of the throne.
When Kai was announced as the third son, it was almost obligatory for the sages themselves to think that he was infinitely weaker, but still a political threat to the stability of the nation.
For Ozai, the discovery of Kai reinforced his ignorance of the prophecies of the Sages, and he preferred to ignore them during those months. For him, the strength of his firstborn overshadowed the potential of his prophesied children.
During those months, Kai and Ozai fought life and death battles every morning. During the day, Kai was put to military studies in private sessions and when night covered the sky, he could do whatever he wanted, as long as he didn't leave the palace grounds.
During this period, Zuko tried to challenge Kai in an attempt to defeat him and get his father's attention, but Kai actively ignored his middle brother's attempts to "Agni Kai" with various excuses. The reason for this was that Zuko didn't know what Agni Kai really meant and invoked it as if it would really solve his problems with his father.
In fact, Azula and Zuko had no idea that their father had dedicated an entire training session to Kai.
If put into practice, all of Ozai's children would have the opportunity to train with him. Before, only Azula was really worthy of his attention, because of her abnormal potential, and unlike Zuko who wasn't trained because of his lack of elemental talent, but because of his weak attitude that didn't convince Ozai to dedicate time to him.
However, as much as these sections facilitated and inspired Azula's growth, Ozai himself remained stagnant because his daughter was still too weak in his eyes.
It was clear that if Azula was considered a prodigy, then Kai would be considered the prodigy of prodigies in the eyes of any master. As a result, Ozai himself began to develop his powers as a fire bender naturally with each training session.
This was what Ozai secretly admired most about his firstborn. The ability to evolve so quickly made him think that it would be more worthwhile just to use Kai in fundamental matters of the nation, and he was willing to encourage him to take part in military meetings.
Even Ozai didn't realize it yet, but inside his heart he saw that his throne would be in good hands in the future, when he would rule the remaining nations with his iron fist.
This led to yet another family dinner, where almost the entire royal family was gathered in one place, enjoying luxurious food.
- Finally my dear father, I can now keep my blue flames for almost ⅔ of the training. - Azula was pleased with her achievements.
- Very impressive Azula, you're getting closer and closer to being the first fire bender to 100% tame blue flames. - Ozai praised his daughter without much emotion, but pleased with the progress in his heart. - And you Zuko, how is your training going?
Zuko was surprised by his father's question, but quickly felt ashamed, as he was nothing like his sister. Indirectly, he stared at Kai who was in his own world, totally oblivious to the few moments when Ozai was in a good mood.
- I'm sorry, Dad, I'm reworking my bases with Uncle Iroh. But I can tell you that I'm good with swords. - Zuko expressed his happiness at finding something that allowed him to evolve in some aspect of combat, even if it was hand-to-hand.
- Hahahaha! - Azula laughed briefly, finding his brother's story ridiculous. - Zuko, we're firebenders, why are you wasting your time with swords? What do you think, Kai?
Kai opened his eyes in surprise at being drawn into the conversation, since he usually just ignored Azula and Zuko's discussions because of this competition for Ozai's attention.
- Whatever. - Kai commented without even looking at Zuko. - If he's happy with that, who am I to stop him?
- Hmmmm... tell me, where do you hang out when it's morning? Don't tell me you like running away from the palace. -Azula looked at Kai as if he had fallen into a trap that would make him feel ashamed in Ozai's presence.
Kai turned his gaze to Azula, and for the first time made a mocking expression for a few microseconds, understanding Azula's intention but preferring not to salt the wound.
Thanks to her training, Azula, even though she was young, could pick up the smallest details of people's faces, and she was surprised at her lack of concern when she was accused of disobeying the fireman's orders.
Ozai preferred to ignore Azula's hasty accusation about his bastard son, but reminded him of a proposal he had made to him that very day, just after the manital fight.
- So, Kai, have you thought about my proposal? - Ozai asked without looking at Kai, putting a piece of fish back in his mouth.
It was obvious that Azula and Zuko were once again watching their older brother with curiosity and astonishment, as they remembered Ozai's attitudes: they were never proposals, but orders that came out of his mouth. The causal way in which it was addressed to Kai was totally unknown to the crown princes.
When Kai heard his father's words, his body trembled nervously. His expression was one of discontent, his teeth slightly pressed together.
- "What kind of proposal did you give him?" Zuko interrupted, but his voice was full of discontent and envy.
- Isn't that the obligation of the heir to the throne? - Kai said, turning to face his father, but his eyes showed total disinterest, something Ozai could easily read.
- This opportunity isn't just for the heir, if you take advantage of it, you can create your own reputation without being tied to your current status. -Ozai explained patiently.
- "What are you talking about?" Azula asked, doubt now filling her heart.
- I want Kai to take part in the meetings in the war room. - Ozai expressed his plans, indifferent to Azula and Zuko's surprised reactions.
For Kai, when he was offered this tribute, he himself was slow to understand at first, but after a few minutes, he decided not to answer Ozai in the morning, asking for some time to think. In his heart, he suspected that the Fire Lord was slowly reconsidering his position on the throne, a responsibility in which he had no interest, but that he understood the benefits of such a chance.
What Kai didn't understand was that this request opened a door that not even the princes had opened before.
Zuko dreamed of taking part in military meetings in order to win his father's respect and love.
Azula interpreted this as Kai taking on the role of Ozai's favorite son. For as long as she can remember, Azula has fought for Ozai's attention. Since she couldn't be loved by Ursa in his eyes, she focused all her efforts on her father, giving him a sadistic personality that reflected the fire lord.
The two brothers looked at Kai with hatred, but they didn't want to create a fuss in their father's presence.
Azula clenched his fist tightly, causing his nails to pierce his skin. Zuko looked back at his fist, frustrated by the lack of strength in his gaze, wondering what Kai had and he didn't.
- Don't you think it's too soon for me? - Kai asked, aware of his brothers' thoughts on Ozai's move.
- As I see it, you already have all the tools, now you need the experience to be able to lead your own fleet in the future. -Ozai said, staring at Kai seriously, giving a silent message that he couldn't deny his request.
Kai sighed, he had no intention of starting a speech, to tell the truth, the last few days of training had put his body under a physical and mental stress he wasn't used to.
It felt like his body was strange, that it was somehow changing. At first he thought it was puberty, but clearly these changes were nothing like those portrayed in medical books.
For some reason, he noticed that his sense of smell had improved, sometimes at night he could see better than ever and his curvature of fire was increasing rapidly. But what bothered him most were his dreams. He dreamt that he was in a great forest full of creatures he had never seen before, and this aroused his curiosity.
During his afternoon studies, Kai became interested in the creatures that lived in the nations, but none of them were like the ones in his dreams. This multitasking left him exhausted during the week, not to mention Ozai's sudden warning to enter the war room.
- I'll show up at your meeting. - Kai decided to give up fighting and simply accept Ozai's request, just to get back to bed faster.
Ozai, seeing that his third son had accepted, just shook his head in satisfaction and went back to concentrating on his food. Seeing that Ozai wouldn't tolerate any more conversation at dinner, they all shared the silence, while Kai ordered another plateful of fish, with an appetite that was new even to him.
***
As Kai walked silently to his room with a hand on his stomach, satisfied with his food, he noticed Azula in the hallway. The little princess had her arms crossed, her expression less than pleasant.
Preferring to avoid setting off a bomb, he walked as far away from Azula as possible, hoping internally not to be stopped.
- Where are you going?" Azula's voice echoed down the corridor.
- Just going somewhere away from you.
- I want an Agni Kai! - Azula challenged in a fighting pose.
- I'm not in the mood. -Kai yawned, almost falling asleep.
Suddenly, a blue flame shot towards Kai. Thanks to his natural reflexes, he managed to reflect the flame in another direction, messing up the wall.
- At noon, don't you dare be late. - Azula gave his ultimatum, heading towards his room, ignoring the fire that was about to start.
Kai snorted, using his fingers to generate a pop, causing Azula's flames to go out. However, a stabbing pain ran through his hand.
Looking down, he realized that the skin on the hand he had used to defend himself against Azula was burnt.
His expression was dumbfounded for a moment, impressed by the skill shown by the little princess. A smile spread across his lips and his eyes glowed like fire.
- Okay, that's inter
Weekly Power Status
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