Avatar: The Last Airbender: Legend

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***

-One more time! Hurry up, you're taking too long to turn around, your enemies won't stand around waiting for you to strike.

In the training hall that had recently been fully completed, the children of the lower class were training. Practising a dogfight, where one fighter is surrounded by enemies on all sides, divided the students into dozens of small groups. Three 'enemies' surrounded the 'victim' and attacked one by one or all together. The blows of wooden swords resounded from all sides, though most of the time they were training swords hitting the body.

Unlike fighting in formation, such battles required excellent physical fitness, reaction, and good swordsmanship skills. Of all the commoner disciples, only Guan Yu and Wen Chou were more or less good at it, while the rest had to walk around with a lot of bruises and abrasions.

Spinning round and round, Yu tried to use the wooden spear to repel the opponents' attacks. From the beginning, their teacher had ordered them to take a high pace, as the captain's son was a good warrior for his age. Spinning on his axis and waving his stick in all directions, the boy began to get lost in space. Confusing his opponents and forgetting their weaknesses and strengths, he stopped relying on technique and skills and began to crush his opponents by sheer force.

His spear blows caused the wind to whistle. No longer in control of his strength, Yu was hitting so hard that the tip was dangling in different directions, threatening to leave the boys without eyes if the boy, who had fallen into a fighting frenzy, began to mark their faces.

My head was getting cloudy, and the faces of my comrades were flashing in my eyes. They mixed with other images, inspired by memories. Unable to block the attacks, Guan Yu imagined faceless bandits in the place of his desk mates.

At another turn, Ping's ward did not calculate the impact and invested as if he was training with the sergeant. Cutting through the air, the blunt tip of the spear struck his classmate in the arm. A nasty crack and a shriek of pain stopped the class. While Yu tried to realise what had happened, the other children encircled the clutching boy's arm. Holding back tears, he held onto his shoulder, afraid to put his hand down to the source of the pain. When the gravity of the situation reached the captain's son, the teacher, with the help of a couple of medical personnel, carried the injured man away towards the hospital.

Surrounding the culprit on all sides, the classmates looked at Guan Yu reproachfully. Bowing his head, the boy did not deny his guilt, fully accepting the silent condemnation for the misdemeanour. Wen Chou who stood beside him conciliatingly placed a hand on his shoulder. Making an understanding expression on his face, he patted Yu with his lips pressed together.

-''Relax, it's no big deal. We're going to war after all, not ploughing fields. Besides, he'll be in the hospital for a couple of weeks, lying on a bed drinking jasmine tea.

Of course, Chou's words were a strong exaggeration, but it greatly diluted the tense atmosphere. After the crowd stopped glaring at the culprit, they began to slowly disperse, discussing what had happened. The students returned to their seats just in time to start class a second before the teacher returned.

-I'm glad you're still studying despite this unfortunate incident. After all, anything can happen in battle, I hope you will remember this little lesson.

Closing his eyes, Yu thought about today's incident. The moment he was hit, he didn't even think of stopping. Back then, right after the injury was inflicted, the boy couldn't fully realise what was happening. Thinking that he was acting out of passion, but after thinking about it more, the orphan came to the conclusion that he could have stopped the attack, but he didn't want to.

The anger that was smouldering inside demanded an outlet, and it was getting harder and harder to hold it back each time. Rolling over on his side, the child looked across the rows of sleeping mates, to where the injured classmate should have been sleeping. According to the headmaster, the broken arm would take about three weeks to heal and then another week to heal.

Feeling guilty, Yu wanted to help his classmate somehow, but his mind was empty. Every new idea was shattered by the simple reality. Guan Yu had nothing, the uniforms belonged to the school and all the few personal items were bought with Ping's money. After the tragedy in Shu Village, the boy had almost nothing left. His father's halberd was lost in the attack, and all of his clothes were burned in the fire.

Thinking over the situation, the child regretfully decided that he would ask the injured Fan at training what he could do to make it up to him.

Training the next day became much more aggressive. Having realised that the teachers were cool with injuries of any kind, the furious children pounced on each other like wild animals. Skill was out of the question, brute force and instincts prevailed over reason. Shocked at what was happening, Guan Yu tried to detach himself from what was happening and not to be like his classmates. Remembering all the lessons of his father and Ping, he carefully reflected the blows, not daring to go on the offensive.

As the attackers circled like kites, they attacked simultaneously, leaving their legs and heads exposed. Not taking advantage of the moment, Yu tried to cover himself from the blows, but failed. The first wooden sword was knocked aside, but the next one struck the boy in the side. Bending in half, the captain's son tried to put his arm out in a defensive gesture, but received another blow to his shoulder.

Falling to the ground, Guan Yu looked around incomprehensibly, but could not understand anything. As if the children were off the chain, feeling completely free, they struck with all their might, not sparing themselves or their opponent. The bacchanalia continued until the Fire Nation soldiers, accompanied by the principal, entered the room. Scattering along the walls of the training room, they froze as deaf statues. With their hands folded behind their backs, the warriors stood motionless.

Huang Zhong walked to the centre of the hall and looked at the dejected students. Interlocking his fingers, the elderly man cleared his throat.

-I'm disappointed. Look at you, you're not soldiers, you're a gang of bandits. First little test and you've all failed completely. It was spontaneous, but it showed perfectly that you are nothing like the true soldiers of the Fire Nation, noble warriors who bring peace and freedom to all peoples. You will be the face of the Fire Nation, you will be the first to be met by the oppressed people of the Earth Kingdom. And what will they see?

Swiping his hand across the hall, Jun grinned contemptuously. Puckering his lips and nudging his nose, he tried to look into the eyes of each of his disciples. With a strolling stride, the old man walked through the parting rows of children. Out of fear and shame, the boys and girls bowed their heads, feeling extremely ashamed and disappointed in themselves. Even Guan Yu, who had been half-listening to the political lessons, twitched with unpleasant emotions. With his spear on the floor, he stared at the headmaster, pondering over his words.

As punishment for the next six months, all weekends and outings to the city were cancelled. Ashamed students of the school rushed to gnaw the granite of science and showed unprecedented zeal at lessons. Day after day, the future soldiers were imbued with the ideas of the Fire Nation. Rejoicing at their successes in the military field, the little soldiers soaked themselves in sweet speeches, cementing in their hearts the idea of the correctness of all the plans of the Fire Nation. The cult of the Fire Lord's personality, the singing of the anthem, the national dress, and many other elements of sincere devotion and patriotism.

Finishing his first year of studies, Guan Yu was surprised to note his tenth year from birth. Stepping outside the school walls, the boy experienced even more emotions. The city that had fallen apart during their arrival had been completely rebuilt. The smooth streets of Lipin were decorated with Fire Nation paraphernalia, small yellow lanterns hung between poles, illuminating red banners and political posters. Several monuments had been built in the city. Entering the main square, Guan Yu gazed with delight at the majestic statue of Prince Airo that stopped the destroyers of Water City and put an end to Cao Sun's invasion.

Walking through the cosy streets, Yu felt a pleasant warmth in his chest. He was happy to watch the ruined city rise from the ruins like a mythical phoenix rising from the ashes. Touching the carved railings and handrails with his fingers, he strolled leisurely through Lipin until he came upon a significant spot.

Climbing onto the roof, the boy opened his mouth, unable to hold back a shocked gasp. The sun that had slipped below the horizon had plunged the world into darkness, but not the city on the river. Thousands of lanterns glowed in the darkness, lighting the way for the inhabitants. Many torches burned over the new bridges, and fierce flames burned in the high defence towers, pointing the way for travellers who could not reach the city before sunset.

-It's amazing, isn't it?

Smiling lightly, Guan Yu smoothly turned around, bowing in a bow. Habitually folding his arms in front of his chest, the boy bent down enough to show respect.

-Msister Wenling.

Tsking unhappily at the boy's words, the girl stood next to him, folding her arms across her chest unhappily. With her chin tilted up, she contemplated the view with pleasure.

-How long do I have to wait?

-I'm sorry, Mrs Wenling, this boy doesn't know what you mean.

A small fist slammed sharply into her shoulder. Jumping back to a safe distance, Yu grinned and rubbed the spot where the blow had struck. Hopping from foot to foot, he squirmed comically, trying to evoke pity from the girl.

-How many times do I have to tell you, call me by my first name.

-But you're so ridiculously angry, why should I stop?

Wenling's brown eyes merged with the pupil in the darkness, making them tantalising and frightening at the same time. Fiercely piercing the obnoxious boy with her gaze, the little girl, not getting any reaction, only hummed and stuck her nose up higher.

-Why haven't you been around for so long?

Exhaling tiredly, Yu sat down on the edge of the roof, hanging his legs over the water. Dabbling his feet, he gazed at the calm surface, in which Lipin's lanterns were reflected. The black, mesmerising murk of the river seemed to absorb the light.

-We failed a little exam here, so we're all being punished.

-Wenling couldn't believe her ears, 'What kind of idiots are you?

-You don't have to be rude, Mrs Wenling.

-Don't be sarcastic, I don't think the exam was too difficult, rather you are fools.

Yu decided not to continue the argument. His old acquaintance allowed him a lot of things, but when she thought she was right, it was easier to ignore her barbs completely. The boy considered it aristocratic excess, always proving himself right no matter what.

-Well, as soon as they let me go, I'm out. -Okay.

-I thought you were afraid to see me again.

-No, Mrs Wenling, I'm always glad to have your company. -No, Mrs Wenling.

The nearby lanterns burst into flames. Falling to the ground, they scattered scraps of paper in all directions. The girl hovering over Yui drew her face close.

-Are you kidding me?

-No way.

Continuing to keep the expression on her face like a talking cobblestone, Guan Yu mumbled the standard response for their conversations without giving in to emotion. He had realised one simple thing long ago: what mattered to Gongsun Wenling was the chase, the excitement. She wanted her opponent to fight back, no matter what the issue was. Fighting, chasing or arguing, the girl craved confrontation and the easiest way to get away from her was to agree with her opinion or act like a log.

After giving the insolent asshole a righteous glare, Wenling shook off her dress and headed down the hill. Without saying a word, she waited for her companion to call out to her, but when she reached the opposite edge, she heard nothing. Turning around angrily, she wanted to get into an argument again, to reprimand Yu or at the very least just banter with the impertinent commoner, but there was a void where the boy sat.

'Consent, log or escape!' Laughing loudly so that the girl would surely hear, Guan Yu swiftly disappeared into the endless alleys of Liping.