6. Progress

…

85 AG (After Genocide)

Iroh looked at the envelope resting upon his desk. There was no name on it to identify the sender, only the White Lotus symbol of Pai Sho.

He had just returned from the imperial city after celebrating the birth of his niece, Azula, only to suddenly find it atop the desk inside his tent.

He picked up the envelope and studied it with narrowed eyes. The paper felt older than it should have, its edges worn as though it had passed through many careful hands before reaching him. Iroh turned it over once, twice, searching for any hidden mark, but found none beyond the delicate emblem. Whoever had sent it did not wish to be known, at least not yet. He had no problem with that.

Once he made sure that no one was spying on him, Iroh broke the seal and took out the folded paper from inside. The order of the White Lotus was quite a loose organisation. The practice of exchanging letters between its members was rare due to the secret nature of the organisation.

He started to read the message written on the letter.

Iroh, the renowned general of the fire nation, let out a thoughtful hum before burning the letter until only ashes remained.

“…The grand piece that controls all four sides,” he muttered softly, caressing his beard. His eyes widened a fraction. “The Avatar…”

“This matter indeed requires utmost caution,” he continued. “I must go to the Fire Temple and confirm it myself. The Fire Sages cannot be relied upon. It is hard to tell where their loyalty lies now.”

“Sorai!” he called out.

A moment later, a soldier in his mid-twenties rushed into the tent.

“Yes, General?” he asked, his body pulled taut.

“Inform the leadership council that I will be absent from the battlefield for a few more weeks,” Iroh said, his hands clasped behind his back.

“As you command.” Sorai bowed slightly before turning and exiting the tent.

Sorai’s footsteps faded into the distance as Iroh stepped outside his tent. The air was thick with smoke and filled with the distant echoes of soldiers training in formation, yet his mind was elsewhere. If the Avatar had truly returned, then the course of the war itself could shift.

He exhaled slowly, feeling a spark of hope rekindle within his heart. Over the years, he had seen enough suffering to grow weary of the never-ending war that Fire Lord Sozin had started. All he wanted now was for it to end, so that peace could be restored to the world.

Without another word, he began making the necessary preparations for a journey that could change everything.

…

Time passed slowly.

Lee would wake early in the morning, spend an hour practising yoga with Pakku, and then sit cross-legged beside him to train in chi manipulation for two hours.

After that, he would take a quick bath before having breakfast. The next three hours were dedicated to academic studies under Mona’s tutelage.

In the afternoon, he helped his caretaker with the cooking before sharing the meal with her.

He would then return to his room to meditate for two hours, followed by an hour spent trying to move the other energy within him.

The evenings were always spent outside with his new friends, keeping his body in excellent physical condition.

At first, the new routine felt suffocating in its rigidity, but as the days turned into weeks, Lee began to adjust to its rhythm. Each day brought progress, and that steady improvement motivated him to continue his training until it became a habit.

Under Mona’s gentle guidance, his mastery of the new language improved steadily, though not without struggle. His mature mind and young brain worked seamlessly together, allowing him to absorb knowledge like a sponge soaking up water.

Pakku, on the other hand, was a strict teacher. He allowed no distractions and offered no praise. His lessons demanded complete focus and were often punctuated by sarcastic remarks whenever Lee made a mistake.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

There were days when he struggled to create effective will constructs to guide his chi toward the water chakra near his navel. It slipped through his constructs like water through open fingers. On those days, frustration lingered long after the sessions had ended.

Yet every failure helped him refine his technique, sharpen his focus, deepen his understanding of chi, and strengthen his will constructs.

It was the denser energy, which he had yet to name, that troubled him the most. His control over it improved at a painfully slow pace.

Before long, another month had passed, making it two months since Oliver, now Lee, had awakened in the world of Avatar.

…

“Yes, just like that,” Pakku murmured. “Guide the chi around the chakra, allowing it to absorb its unique properties. Good. Now, nudge it outward. There is no need to be impatient. Take it slow for now. Practice will naturally improve your speed. Do not concern yourself with it yet.”