20 Chapter 20:  Goodbye, But Not the End - 96 AG

Now, Sozim stood at the edge of a cliff, ready to go down the mountain as his bag was once again strapped to him, and beside him was Iroh, his little belongings on his hand, while on his back was… Azula. She had been encased by cloth that had been rolled around her body and Iroh, practically wrapping the two together. The cloth has been fastened, so it won't be loosened anytime soon.

"You… sure she won't wake up?" Sozim asked, skeptical. "It'll be a bumpy couple of days."

"A failed lighting generation is no joke, Young Sozim." Iroh said. "I once got knocked out for a week because of it, not to mention, Azula here did a reckless thing."

"Yeah, well, surprises can always happen."

"In that case, I'm sure you could solve it." the old man chuckled as he crouched down, looking down towards the foot of the cliff. "I think it's best for you to go first."

Sozim hummed, already grabbing the rope and hook. "Right…"

—

The road down the mountain is often easier to do rather than the road up the mountain, but this time, it isn't so clear. With the unconscious Azula on the back of Iroh, the old man had to traverse his path more carefully, and Sozim's pace was somehow slowed down because of it. But, after around three days, they finally arrived at the near-foot of the mountain, and there, on the last downward, Sozim could see a camp had been set up there, which worried him a little, but after seeing that there weren't any soldiers, Sozim continued his last stretch.

As he touched the ground, he looked up again and watched Iroh closely, like always, so that if anything happened, he could quickly react to it.

But then, he felt that two people were approaching him, which made him turn around. It was a face that he hadn't seen for years, and the face that made him smile a little.

"Aunties." Sozim greeted the one who approached him, the twins Lo and Li.

"You came down." Lo stated. "So the princess has lost again." 

"Her mental state will be in ruin." Li continued, sighing. "I'm afraid of what's to come for her."

"It's not really a fight to be honest. She's too… desperate and didn't think of it that much." Sozim murmured, pointing up. "She's unconscious, probably in a coma, she did something reckless."

Lo and Li looked up the cliff, where they saw Iroh slowly coming down, with Azula trapped on his back. "You're with the dragon of the west." Lo said. "A peculiar company for you."

Sozim hummed. "Just a chance meeting."

Finally, Iroh slid down the rope to go down more quickly, and not even a minute later, the old man touched the ground, sighing in relief as he saw his hands got dirty, before wiping it up with a clap.

Turning around, Iroh looked surprised at the sight of Lo and Li. "Master Lo, Master Li, it's a surprise to see you here."

"It's a surprise to see you here as well, General Iroh." Li and Lo said simultaneously, bowing to him. "And you're traveling with Sozim, we hope his company didn't bother you too much."

Iroh chuckled. "Not at all, he's pleasant company." The old man turned to the sky, and saw the sky slowly darkening as the afternoon turned to the evening. "I'm tired," he said. "Let's rest for the night."

—

In the cloak of night, a radiant full moon illuminated the sky above, casting its gentle glow upon Sozim as he sat by a crackling fire opposite Iroh. With a steaming cup of tea cradled in his hands, it was a serene moment, a respite following a strenuous week spent scaling the mountain, grappling with the harsh reality of their circumstances, and descending with an unexpected addition – Azula, now unconscious, bearing the weight of her own recklessness. The soothing tea served as a comforting balm for them both.

Amidst the hush of the night, the twins emerged suddenly, emerging from the tent that sheltered the still-unconscious Azula. They swiftly joined the fireside gathering.

"She will recover," Lo declared. "Her failed attempt at producing lightning has strained her nerves, but they will mend."

Li added, "Her arm bears a scar, resembling fractal patterns akin to lightning, as if it were a branch of a tree."

Sozim interjected, "You didn't have to go into such detail."

"Scars do heal," Iroh reassured. "She will be alright."

"But we have concerns," Lo continued. "These past years, she has been consumed by obsession and the need to prove herself to her father. If she returns empty-handed, we fear for her well-being."

"Emotional scars are indeed challenging to overcome," Iroh acknowledged. "Her fate lies in her own hands; we are merely here as guides."

Sozim, sipping his tea, inquired, "I didn't realize you both were healers. Did you recently acquire these skills?"

"We are not healers, Sozim," Lo clarified. "We possess knowledge of herbs and ailments. It's part of our duties as mentors to the princess."

Sozim shrugged, stating, "Same thing."

"Are you planning to return to the Fire Nation, taking care of the 'princess'?" he asked.

"We have been banished," Lo revealed. "We can no longer serve the royal family directly."

Sozim expressed remorse, "I remember you telling me that when I escaped. Sorry."

"It's alright, young one," Li comforted. "It was bound to happen eventually. We are getting old."

Iroh inquired, "Can't you at least return to your homeland? After all, you have served your country well."

Sozim wondered, "Can you lift the banishment?"

Iroh sighed, "It may not be within my power; my political influence is limited. However, I will do what I can."

Lo and Li bowed once more, saying, "Thank you, O' Dragon of the West, for considering our request."

Iroh chuckled, "It's fine. You saved young Sozim here, I've heard. He has been a remarkable travel companion. Through him, I have come to understand my own limitations. Now, I can return home."

Sozim mused, "Home, huh?" He gazed down at his tea and sighed. "Aunties, do you still have the clothing I wore when I got stranded?"

"The Water Tribe clothing?" Lo inquired.

Sozim nodded, "Yes, that one."

"We have it," Li affirmed. "Why do you ask?"

Sozim requested, "Could you give it to me?"

Lo agreed, "Very well, we will give it to you later."

Iroh suggested to Sozim, "You should depart first. We will stay here for a while, and I will arrange for an army squad to escort us back. You mentioned you have many things to attend to."

Sozim replied, "True, but I'm not in a hurry. As you said, why not just enjoy life as it is? Nevertheless, I'll leave tomorrow morning."

Iroh chuckled, "One cannot fully enjoy life when an evil spirit could seize their mind at any moment."

Sozim shrugged, "Fair point."

---

At the break of day, Sozim was already prepared to continue his journey. He crouched down to his bag, removed the Water Tribe clothing given to him by the twins, and then retrieved something else—a scroll he had obtained years ago. Standing up, he turned to find Iroh and the twins observing him. He extended the scroll towards them.

"Here's the scroll you gave me years ago. It's been incredibly useful," Sozim said with a smile. "But... I'm sorry. I'm not a non-bender. I know you gave it to me thinking I was a bender, someone who could fulfill your dream of facing a bender one-on-one. But that's not me. You should find someone else, someone closer to home and with fewer... complications."

The twins accepted the scroll, but after exchanging glances, they rolled it back up and returned it to Sozim, leaving him puzzled.

"We're too old for that, child," Lo explained. "It's better in your hands."

Li added, patting Sozim's shoulder, "You can teach it to others on our behalf. It's undoubtedly more valuable with you."

Sozim sighed, chuckling. "You're right." He approached the twins and hugged them gently. "Thank you for everything you've done for me."

Lo reluctantly pushed Sozim away but wore a faint smile. "Let's not linger on this too long. Visit us if you ever get the chance."

"If you ever feel lost, Ember Island's beach offers a fresh perspective to those who visit," Li said, also smiling.

"I will," Sozim promised. He then turned away from them, facing Iroh while holding a pouch in his hand.

"Old man," Sozim murmured, "thanks for the tea and the wisdom."

Iroh chuckled and handed the pouch to Sozim, placing it in his palm. "Take this. It's a keepsake from me."

Sozim raised an eyebrow and opened the pouch, revealing a single Pai Sho tile—the White Lotus tile.

"White Lotus? Really?" Sozim remarked. "Aren't I too young to join you old men?"

Iroh was slightly taken aback. "What?"

Sozim shook his head with amusement and tied the pouch. "Never mind."

Iroh sighed, patting Sozim's shoulder. "This is goodbye. But we will meet again."

"Yeah," Sozim agreed, turning away, grabbing his bag, and walking away from the camp. He gave them one last simple wave before disappearing into the distance, never looking back.

[Book 1: End. Book 2 start when? in a couple of days]