Avatar: The Flames of Kaiya

Within the upper ring of Ba Sing Se, the old building had received a gentle rebirth. Its pale green walls bore a sense of quiet dignity beneath lanterns that shimmered against polished stone. Outside, a large crowd murmured with approval as Joo Dee stepped forward. Her posture small, her attire neat, she gestured with restrained enthusiasm. Although her words reached the people through careful enunciation, there remained a certain unevenness in her speech. The midday air carried faint incense and something like relief among the listeners. They had waited too long for something meant for them, and now it stood before them: a women's art institute born from old wealth and fresh intention.

"We are honored today. New school for women's arts. All cost covered by city. No burden, no worry," Joo Dee declared, voice quivering but resolute. "Corrupt King Kuei's old wealth now serve people. Also thanks Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom working together. You come, learn, grow."

As she spoke, Kaiya stood off to one side, her posture modest, a small stack of pamphlets tucked beneath one arm. She wore robes of rich earth-green, yet the way she inclined her head low suggested no desire to draw the crowd's eye. Though her garments were fine in texture, they revealed no secret longing on her part. In her silence, one might have guessed her a servant distributing notices or tidying the grounds, not the one quietly guiding the future of this city's women.

Applause rose from the assembled families. Young girls peered at the building's entrance, their minds alive with faint dreams. Some reached for the pamphlets Kaiya offered, others whispered excitement. The day's sky, pale and unthreatening, looked on without judgment.

Soon after, far from the public gaze, Kaiya and Joo Dee retreated to a private chamber deep within the palace. Inside, thick walls muffled the city's bustle. The chamber's lamps burned steadily, illuminating carved wood panels and faded murals of fields and distant hills. A hush here, deeper than silence, allowed for truths unspoken before the crowd.

Joo Dee stepped forward on quiet feet, brows gently knit. "Ceremony go well," she said. "But…Kaiya, why you do this? Why no use funds for…comfort? You have so much remain. You choose only small part for school. Could have big estate, soft pillows, many servants. Yet you still sleep in small room, wash bowl by own hand. This…strange."

Kaiya set the pamphlets down on a low table. "You speak of luxury as though it holds a singular charm, but you misunderstand me. I was raised in privilege—silk bedding, ornate lacquer screens, servants anticipating every need. Such wealth was never a treasure to me, merely the air I breathed. I do not despise it, nor do I crave it. I simply have no illusions about its worth. Wealth clouds judgment, dulls ambition, and I cannot afford to lose my clarity. I live modestly now, not out of rejection but because it serves me better. My plans demand purpose, not indulgence."

A pause, the lamplight steady. Joo Dee's confusion did not lessen. "Then why this school for women, for arts? Why of all things you do first? You have open field. You choose girls paint and sing?"

Kaiya met the question with careful thought. Her voice lowered slightly, not in secrecy but in reflection. "Because I know what it means to be stifled. In my youth, I was sent to an academy where we were shaped like tools. We were pressed into molds that allowed no soul to breathe. Any deviation brought ridicule. Any subtlety met suspicion. I refused to abandon my own manner, and they expelled me, seeing only rebellion where I offered honesty. That place offered no refuge for a spirit in bloom." 

She paused, letting the memory settle in the chamber's stillness. "Here, I want something else. A haven where women and girls may discover what stirs within them, not what someone else insists they must pursue. These funds once belonged to a king who hoarded them. They still run deep. A small portion now serves art and freedom. More remains, but I begin here, with a quiet step rather than a grand march."

Joo Dee listened, head tilting. Her hands folded over one another, uneasy yet intrigued. She stepped closer, voice hushed and uncertain. "But…you no reveal who you are to them. Why? Would they not praise you? Appreciate you?"

Kaiya's expression turned thoughtful. "Praise can twist the heart. Applause can become a chorus demanding to be pleased, shaping choices that ought to remain pure. If I linger unknown, I make decisions without the weight of a thousand voices seeking favor. I remain free to do what I believe correct, not what others expect. I know who I am, and so do you, but I desire that anonymity to guide my hand, not gilded flattery."

Joo Dee's eyes lowered toward the chamber's floor. The lamplight caught the edge of her cheek, revealing a subtle warmth. She knew Kaiya's strength—the girl's past, her firebending, her ties to formidable mentors who recognized something special. Joo Dee had feared that strength once, and perhaps still did. Yet now, in this quiet space, she found respect growing like a secret garden. "You…want them have what you no have," Joo Dee said softly, voice halting, "You give them path all own. No force."

Kaiya inclined her head, just enough to affirm without flaunting. "They will paint their own destinies," she said, eyes drifting to the wooden panels as if envisioning new murals of color and life, "They will do so because they can, not because they must."

Joo Dee said nothing more. She needed no further explanation. The silence settled between them, not uneasy, but thoughtful. In that moment, the chamber felt large enough to hold quiet dreams and unspoken hopes. The institute had opened its doors, and beyond them, many lives awaited change.

* * *

Within the throne room of Ba Sing Se, fresh incense coiled through the high spaces, drifting among carved beams and faded tapestries. A new order had begun to settle in this place, where the Earth King's seat had once loomed with quiet arrogance and now bore the subtle signs of Fire Nation influence. Light filtered softly over glossy tile, lending the space a hush that wavered between awe and uncertainty.

Ten servant girls stood before Joo Dee, their posture careful and stiff. Earth Kingdom greens met Fire Nation reds in their layered robes, each subtle fold pressed and arranged to please eyes that would soon judge them. 

A few lowered their chins, others tightened their shoulders, all anticipating Joo Dee's instructions. Among them, Kaiya's figure drew a cautious second look from every corner of the room. She wore familiar tones, yet her hair reached well past her waist, black strands too long, too rich, as if each passing month of growth had affirmed some inner truth. She had braided it after the local style, though no Earth Kingdom girl wore it so abundant. And then her eyes, gold like smoldering embers, marked her as an outsider. Her stance remained composed, her focus inward, as if the grand throne behind Joo Dee were no more than a detail.

Joo Dee took a small step forward. The folds of her simple attire whispered along the polished floor. A slight tremor in her hands revealed her attempts at composure. Her voice came, halting but resolute, each word delivered in a careful, uneven cadence.

"Fire Lord Ozai come soon. Big day. Many tasks," she said, scanning the line of servants. "Everything must shine. Path must be smooth, halls beautiful, feast perfect. Need you all do very best."

A faint tension stirred among the girls. Some clenched their fingers behind their backs, others set their mouths firm. They understood this visitor's name. Ozai was not one to tolerate the slightest flaw. The memory of recent conquest still whispered at the edges of their thoughts.

Joo Dee inhaled slowly, as though steeling herself.

"One chosen be cup bearer. Special role. Bring drink, stand by Fire Lord. Must be perfect, look nice."

At this, shoulders tensed. Eyes flicked from one servant to another. Who would stand at Ozai's side? Who would be spared the scrubbing of floors and polishing of doors?

Joo Dee's gaze settled upon Kaiya. The quiet hush in the hall grew heavier as the chosen one stepped forward. Kaiya's face remained poised, expression steady as still water.

"Kaiya chosen," said Joo Dee.

A murmur rippled along the line. The Earth Kingdom girls, who had scrubbed kitchens and dusted corridors for longer than anyone cared to recall, stiffened. Some muttered, barely under breath. They looked at Kaiya's golden eyes, her posture, her foreign beauty. They bristled. One could no longer contain herself.

"We have been here long," she said, voice sharp but low. "Why her? We work hardest."

Joo Dee's shoulders stiffened. She lifted her chin, attempting authority.

"Fire Nation recently take Ba Sing Se. Fire Lord Ozai not want Earth girl by his side. Better he see Fire Nation face serve him now. Show that city know new order."

The others fell silent. Her reasoning stood on unshakable ground. They had heard the rumors—Ozai's temper, his disdain for uncertainty. A servant at his shoulder must not provoke his irritation. They fumed, but words failed them. After a pause, the line broke, and duties were assigned with brisk motions. The girls departed in small groups, some sent to paint peeling railings, others to sweep dust from long, empty corridors. Two drew near Kaiya, summoned by Joo Dee's subtle nod. These would prepare her. An envious hush settled over the pair as they led Kaiya away.

Beyond the throne room's cold elegance, in a private chamber furnished with steaming water and scented oils, Kaiya was stripped of her traveling robes. The bath water was warm, the fragrance mild and herbal. Steam rose and curled about her hair as deft hands scrubbed and rinsed. These hands worked quickly, without kindness. No familiar chatter passed between them. Only the rustle of cloth, the drip of water, and a few sidelong glances that revealed their resentment.

Once her skin gleamed, they draped fresh garments about her, smoothing fine fabric into place. They arranged her hair with patient effort, combing, pinning, and shaping it into a style that balanced Earth Kingdom subtlety and Fire Nation grace. Her eyes, set against the dark curtain of her hair, gleamed like silent embers beneath the lamplight. Each movement around her had the quiet tension of reluctant admiration.

By the time they finished, news arrived at the door. Joo Dee's voice, muffled yet urgent, announced that the Fire Lord's party neared the palace. The servant girls stepped back, their gaze sliding between Kaiya's face and the polished floors. Kaiya inclined her head slightly, as though acknowledging their work without pride or scorn. Outside, a distant echo of footfalls approached, and the palace readied itself, each part bracing against what might follow.

* * *

Within the great hall of the palace, a hush lingered over a table laid with platters of steaming fish and lacquered bowls heaped with fragrant rice. Around it stood a circle of Fire Nation officers, their armor polished to a muted sheen. At the head sat Ozai, draped in robes of crimson silk, his eyes drifting with a faint, knowing amusement. To one side, Joo Dee hovered, her hands folded in front of her as if cupping something delicate and easily lost. The lamplight revealed careful shadows along the carved columns, and outside, distant horns hinted at a city subdued, its rebellious murmurs pressed into silence.

"Your Majesty," Joo Dee began, voice measured, "crime in lower ring all gone. Thieves punished. Order return. No troubles now. Citizens happy, trust your rule. They say you bring peace, yes, they accept you."

She paused, tilting her head slightly as if weighing her next words. "Morale high. Streets quiet. They know who true ruler is, who make city safe."

A silence followed, broken only by a quiet crackle from the braziers. Ozai reached for his goblet, gold rim catching the lamplight, and took a slow sip. He nodded, an air of leisure drifting about him. 

"I see," he said, the words low and precise. "My brother failed to secure Ba Sing Se. He pulled back when tested, showing weakness. But now I find not only have we taken it—anew under my daughter's efforts—but there seems to be a subtle style of governance flourishing." His gaze drifted toward Kaiya, who stood poised with a wine jug, dark hair cascading down her back. She lowered her eyes at his glance.

He rose, robes sweeping gently over the polished floor. "The feast is fine," he said, "but I have matters to discuss. Joo Dee, come." He strode toward a side chamber where the air grew quieter, more intimate. Mid-step, he turned, letting his eyes settle on Kaiya. "And we'll need wine of course,"

She bowed, answering without hesitation. "Yes, Fire Lord Ozai."

In the private room, the hush deepened. A single lamp set upon a low table glowed steadily, and the scent of incense lingered as if careful not to offend. Joo Dee took her place in a corner, head lowered, arms folded tightly at her waist. Kaiya knelt by the table, her posture balanced and calm despite the currents of thought that surely moved beneath her quiet face. Ozai took his seat opposite her, settling with a slow exhale, as if this moment amused him.

"You surprise me," he said. "After Azula's mentorship, you displayed power that could have made you a terror on the battlefield. I expected you to blaze a path of conquest, yet here you are: no longer the conqueror, but the unseen hand of governance. Your approach, while unorthodox, yields results that even I cannot deny." 

He tapped a finger lightly on the table's surface, watching her. "Peace, order, stability—Ba Sing Se kneels without a murmur. Rare achievements."

She looked down at the rippling surface of the wine within its jug, then raised her eyes to meet his, each word chosen with care. "Fire Lord Ozai, I once believed my place was on the front lines. I admired Princess Azula's prowess, thought to follow her path. But as circumstances led me here, I found a different calling. This city does not need more flames in its streets. It needs a shape—an order that grows from within, binding the people's loyalty without constant force. I find I excel not by bending steel and crushing foes, but by directing a city's heart."

Ozai narrowed his gaze, though not in disapproval. "You sound certain. But you know that the comet approaches, and rebels remain. Such power should not be wasted. Are you sure you would not prefer to join the final sweep when we burn away the last of those who resist?"

She bowed her head slightly, as if to acknowledge the gravity of his offer. "I could. But consider the value I hold here. If I risk myself battling the remnants, who would maintain the delicate balance inside these walls? You have many soldiers capable of wielding fire in its raw, punishing form. You have fewer who shape entire cities from the quiet corridors. My safety here protects an asset you have already found priceless."

Ozai leaned back, arms folding with languid ease. "Your argument is sound. Results matter." 

He gave a subtle nod, then lowered his voice. "You wish a place to explore your firebending outside the martial constraints others set upon you. A sanctuary, as you once mentioned. What if I grant you this city as that sanctuary? After the comet has passed and the war ends, remain here. Consider Ba Sing Se your home. If you wish, I will have your mother brought from the capital. You may shape your practice, your governance, and your ambitions as you please. I will open every resource. Earthbenders can raise whatever structures you desire, the wealth of the old kings yours to command, and you may flourish without limitation."

Kaiya's eyes widened. For a moment, her composure wavered. Her return to the Fire Nation capital had always seemed inevitable, a distant goal. Now Ozai offered to anchor her here forever. The thought moved through her mind, rearranging the future she had imagined. She bowed low, knees pressing the floor, hair spilling forward. "The Fire Lord honors me with his generosity. I humbly accept and shall serve this city in your name."

A faint smile flickered on his lips. He rose, voice steady. "Good. Continue your work. If only my daughter had such foresight. Your presence is worth more to me than I had anticipated."

He departed with a measured step, the torchlit hallway receiving him and his escort in silence. After a moment, Joo Dee straightened, releasing a breath that had caught in her chest. "That go well," she murmured, voice hushed and uneasy, as if speaking too clearly might break some spell.

Kaiya did not answer. She remained kneeling, mind drifting through the generous promise just laid at her feet. The lamp's flame wavered against the polished table, and somewhere outside, the city she secretly governed waited beneath a new sky.