The lockdown in the capital ended almost as quickly as it had begun.
Before Ren even received a reply from his teacher, the restrictions were lifted.
The new Fire Lord was not Iroh, but the second prince, Ozai.
Still, the worst outcome Ren had imagined did not happen.
General Iroh accepted the new Fire Lord’s punishment.
He resigned from his post as general, surrendered his military authority, and now served as the Fire Lord’s military adviser.
Power had changed hands peacefully.
That let Ren breathe a sigh of relief, but it also made him curious about General Iroh.
As the saying went, a gentleman did not stand beneath a crumbling wall.
When the throne had been well within his reach, Iroh had chosen to give it up.
Ren could not tell whether that was foolishness or honor.
Either way, he was curious about the man.
That afternoon, after school.
Not much time had passed, but when Ren saw Zuko again, he found that his friend had changed.
He looked worn down.
Ren found him on the steps beside the school.
Zuko was leaning against the wall, shoulders slumped and head lowered, as though he had dozed off.
His black hair had grown past his earlobes and covered half of his haggard face.
He looked like wood burned down to the end, leaving only pale ash behind.
For a moment, Ren almost doubted it was him—and did not want to disturb him.
But the school would close eventually.
If the guards found Zuko there, they would still send him home.
Ren walked over slowly and patted Zuko’s shoulder.
His friend, trapped in shallow, restless sleep, startled awake.
He struggled to open his eyes, revealing faint streaks of red.
“…Ren.
It’s you.” He was dazed for a moment, then relaxed once he recognized Ren’s face.
Rubbing his eyes, he said, “How long was I asleep?” Zuko panicked at first, then drooped again.
“Forget it.
I’ll apologize to the teacher tomorrow.” Ren sat down beside him on the steps and asked quietly, “Why did you fall asleep here?” “You’ve got heavy shadows under your eyes,” Ren added, concern in his voice.
“Have you not been resting lately?” Zuko forced a weak smile.
“I’m fine.
It’s like when we were studying with Master Piandao, except now I have more firebending lessons too, so it’s just a little tiring.” Looking at the forced smile on Zuko’s face, Ren did not believe for a second that this was only “a little” tiring.
“And how are the lessons going?” “Not great.” Zuko grew even more discouraged.
He raised his hand, clenched it, then let it fall open.
“I don’t know why, but my firebending has gotten weaker.
No matter how hard I try, it feels like it won’t obey me anymore.” “You could ask Azula,” Ren said.
He did not have a better answer; after all, he had no bending talent and could not truly understand the reason behind Zuko’s changing firebending.
“Maybe she knows why your firebending has weakened.” “Azula…” Zuko paused, then said unwillingly, “She’s smug enough already.
If I ask her, she’ll only laugh at me.” Ren knew how complicated things were between the siblings, and for a moment, he did not know what to say.
So he changed the subject.
“There’s always a way forward.
The future’s still long—you’ll find a way to make your bending stronger.
“Let’s not talk about unhappy things.
Come eat at my place later.
I’ll cook.
“Once you’ve eaten, you can rest there too.
Sleep is important.” “Ah, about that…
I Zuko scratched his head awkwardly.
“I need to go back and practice firebending later.
I might train until very late.
Maybe next time.” “Are you sure that’s all right?” Ren paused, looking at Zuko’s bloodless lips, and chose his words carefully.
“Your body is going to give out at this rate.” Zuko waved his hand dismissively.
“It’s fine.
If I get too tired, I can rest whenever I want.
“Besides, I’m the crown prince.
I’ll inherit the throne one day.
“When that happens, I’m definitely making you my chief grand advisor!
Ren had not expected Zuko to remember what had only been a joke back then.
“The position of chief grand adviser was abolished by the Fire Lord after Avatar Roku’s era, wasn’t it?” Ren had always been good at history.
Hearing Ren’s reminder, Zuko replied with total earnestness, “Then when I become Fire Lord, I’ll just bring it back.
Problem solved.” Staring at the absolute conviction burning within his friend’s eyes, the words Ren had prepared to urge him to take it easy died in his throat.
As a friend, it was proper to offer comfort, but it was overstepping to arrogantly dictate another person’s path.
To do so would be nothing more than self-indulgent meddling under the guise of kindness.
Lacking a sense of boundaries was a disservice to both of them.
“I should get going.
See you next time.” Zuko seemed a little more energetic as he stood and brushed the dust from his clothes.
“If there’s anything I can help with, you have to tell me!” Watching his tired back, Ren still could not stop himself from calling after him.
“After all, you’re the one who said you’d make me your future chief grand adviser.
So don’t be polite with me!” Zuko didn’t turn back, merely raising a hand in a parting wave to acknowledge the sentiment.
He deeply appreciated Ren’s kindness and concern.
But Zuko understood even more clearly that he could not trouble Ren under the excuse of asking for help.
Especially after his mother left, Zuko understood his friend’s situation far better.
He could empathize with it now.
He really should try being harsher on himself.
No matter how hard things became, he could no longer think of acting spoiled with his family.
That was too childish, too weak.
It was not the quality a proper Fire Nation crown prince should have.
… After parting with Zuko, Ren bought groceries first, then headed home.
No matter how much things changed, life still had to go on.
With his worries tucked away, Ren arrived home and was just about to unlock the door when a slow, deep male voice came from behind him.
“Excuse me.
Is this the residence of the late Reno?” Ren instinctively turned around.
Standing before him was an elderly man dressed in the simple, formal robes of a Fire Nation military official, his hands tucked quietly into his voluminous sleeves.
He possessed a remarkably kind, genial countenance.
Though, calling him elderly didn’t feel entirely accurate.
Judging only by his face and hands, he did not actually look that old.
But his long, frost-silver hair, together with the quiet, lifeless grief around him, made him seem especially aged.
“Um… may I ask who you are?” Ren asked curiously.
“Ah, my apologies.
I have neglected to introduce myself.
I was a close brother-in-arms to General Reno during his lifetime.
My name is Iroh.” The old man introduced himself with a warm, generous smile.
Iroh?
Ren quickly realized there were certainly other people named Iroh in the Fire Nation—but in the capital, someone who knew his father and served in the military… Aside from the former great general, now the Fire Lord’s military adviser, there could be no one else.
Ren immediately offered a formal bow.
“General Iroh, I’m Reno’s son, Ren.
I didn’t know you would be visiting today.
Please forgive my lack of preparation.”