Spring was the season when all things came back to life.
That was what people said, at least.
In truth, there was always a lingering bite of winter mixed in, so the students at school still bundled themselves up tightly.
Ren blew a breath of warm air into his cupped palms and rubbed his hands together, finally feeling a bit of relief.
Maybe the war really will end this year.
Ren thought, gazing up at the dark clouds gathering on the horizon.
He paid fairly close attention to news on that front.
He was a practical person.
At present, the Fire Nation had stretched its battle lines very far, especially with the siege of Ba Sing Se, which had been locked in stalemate for nearly three years.
The drain on resources was enormous.
Strategically speaking, however, as long as they could take Ba Sing Se and seize the entire northern region of the Earth Kingdom, they would be able to sustain themselves from there and push straight through to unify the world.
If that happened, even if he ended up on the battlefield someday, he would just be following behind, fighting easy battles with the wind at his back.
As for offering his loyalty to the great Fire Lord and all that—Ren was not actually a little kid.
A couple of slogans were not enough to fool him into limping along after them.
Besides, he had no talent for bending.
In the Fire Nation’s extreme social-Darwinist atmosphere, where the strong were worshipped and the weak were looked down on, he might end up as cannon fodder without even realizing it.
“Ren, over here!” A lively voice rang out behind him.
Ren glanced back and saw a girl in the standard Fire Nation school uniform, her long hair braided, waving at him.
Beside her stood a cold-looking girl.
Ren recognized them at once.
Ty Lee and Mai.
To be honest, Ren still had not figured out how the two of them had become such good friends, much less the kind who were practically inseparable.
Was it because natural cheerfulness countered brooding darkness?
Ren hurried over and asked in a low voice, “Where’s Her Highness?” Ty Lee leaned forward.
Hm.
Very flexible.
In the same low voice, she replied, “Azula?
From what she said, her royal uncle sent back a gift, so she went back to the palace first.” Hearing that Azula was not there, Ren let out a breath of relief.
There was no helping it.
That esteemed princess never knew how to hold back.
Back when Ren had first transmigrated into this world, he hadn’t yet understood the difference between benders and ordinary people.
He had believed that after three years of grueling sword training, he would surely become some kind of legendary local sword god.
But after Azula forcibly dragged him into sparring with her, Ren quickly gained a very clear understanding of the gap between benders and ordinary people.
It was a damned dimensional strike.
You wanted close combat?
Fine.
She would light a ring of fire around herself.
How were you supposed to get close?
You did not get close?
Then she would keep hurling fireballs at you!
It was simply too unfair.
From then on, Ren gave up his arrogance, steadied himself, and continued studying the sword.
Fortunately, although he had no talent for bending, his physical ability far surpassed others his age.
Otherwise, Ren would already be considering switching to a desk job.
Thinking about it carefully, the Fire Nation did treat its scientific and technical talent rather well.
It was just that the restrictions on personal freedom were a bit severe.
“Hellooo?
What are you thinking about?” Ty Lee’s lively voice pulled Ren’s attention back to reality.
He tightened his clothes around himself and said, “Nothing.
I just think that after going a whole day without seeing our respected princess, I rather miss her.” The three of them walked side by side.
Ty Lee looked thoughtful after hearing Ren’s words, but Mai, beside them, said in a slightly hoarse voice, “That is a lie.” “Huh?
You’re lying to me?” Ty Lee blinked, her wide, innocent eyes full of confusion.
Ren covered his face inwardly.
There were moments like this when he truly couldn’t stand Mai—that gloomy girl with the razor-sharp tongue.
Sensing the need to change the subject immediately, Ren scratched his head and said, “Ty Lee, I heard you recently learned a technique for blocking chi.
Can you teach me?” Ty Lee’s attention was, as expected, instantly diverted.
She skipped ahead of them, clasping her hands behind her back, and said with a bright smile, “That’s right!
You think it’s amazing too, don’t you?
But I can’t teach you for free.” At that, Ty Lee lightly bit her finger in thought.
“How about this?
You treat me and Mai to dessert, and then I’ll teach you.
What do you think?” Mai glanced at Ren, clearly aware that he was changing the subject.
But Mai, who could scarcely muster interest in anything, did not bother to point it out.
“No problem,” Ren agreed at once.
The three of them arrived outside a pastry shop.
Ren quickly found a seat by the window, then said to Ty Lee, “Ty Lee, please help me get a dessert.” No sooner had Ren sat down than he found himself meeting the eyes of Mai, seated across from him.
Although Mai wore her hair in buns, it did not make her look old-fashioned.
Her smooth black hair fell past her ears, and her cheeks still had the soft baby fat of childhood.
But the eyes hidden behind her bangs were like a pool of stagnant water, unable to stir up interest in anything.
She carried a distant air far beyond that of an ordinary child.
Mai was the first to look away, propping her chin up with one hand as she gazed out the window.
“Miss Mai, are there any books you usually like reading?” Ren did not want to just sit there in silence.
Expecting the iceberg across from him to open her mouth was less realistic than expecting the North Pole to melt.
So he took the initiative and looked for a topic.
“…Ancient history.” Ren had not expected her to answer, but to his surprise, Mai actually did.
Still, the answer was a little unexpected.
Ren had thought she might say something like One Hundred Ways to Assassinate Someone.
After all, Mai’s overall aura leaned heavily toward the gloomy side.
“You’re surprised?” Mai was very observant and keenly caught the flash of surprise that crossed Ren’s eyes.
Ren considered his words before slowly saying, “A little.
I didn’t expect you to like something with such a sense of age, like history.” “What I like and what I’m supposed to do aren’t things I get to decide.” Her answer was as cold as ever.
Ren counted on his fingers and said, “I can’t agree with that.
You like cherry-flavored pastries.
Your favorite flower is the night orchid.
And now, the books you like are about ancient history.
So how can you say you don’t get to decide what you like?” “You talk too much.” Mai turned her face away, watching the pedestrians pass outside the window.
But her earlobes had flushed red.
Clearly, she was a little embarrassed.
Just then, Ty Lee came trotting over with pastries in her hands and another plate of pastries clenched in her mouth.
Ren quickly got up and took the pastries from Ty Lee’s hands.
He placed the little cherry-flavored cake in front of Mai and said, “Ty Lee, if you couldn’t carry everything, you could’ve called us over to help.
Why were you carrying one in your mouth?” Ty Lee sat down beside Mai and said with a grin, “It’s no problem!
Even if there were two more plates, I could still bring them over!” Ren gave her a thumbs-up and praised her.
“Impressive.
Even the most seasoned acrobat would have to admit defeat before your skills.” “Hehe!” Ty Lee looked a little embarrassed by the praise, but she still straightened her back and said, “That’s what I want to do in the future!
I’m going to become an acrobat.
And I’m going to be the best one.” At Ty Lee’s words, not only did Ren freeze for a moment, even Mai frowned.
“What’s wrong?” Seeing both of her good friends fall silent, Ty Lee wondered whether she had done something wrong.
“Ty Lee, your family won’t agree to let you become an acrobat.” Mai was the first to pour cold water on her.
After all, their families could all be considered wealthy and noble.
The education they had received since childhood taught them to look down on lowly professions like acrobatics.
Ty Lee blinked her big eyes.
Tears seemed to glimmer inside them, and she looked as if she were about to cry.
Ren, on the other hand, did not mind.
In his view, if someone could earn clean money through their own talents and live with a clear conscience, what did it matter whether others called the work noble or lowly?
“Ty Lee, if this is your dream, then I’ll definitely support you.” Ty Lee wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Looking at the earnest expression on Ren’s face, she couldn’t help but smile through her tears.
“Ren, you really are the best.”