Wandering Prince

Avatar the Last Airbender, Zuko SI

05

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Go down to the market and get some seaweed, Zuko.

I rolled with the blow, stumbling slightly at the force of it. That only seemed to incite their ire more as the next one hit me in the gut hard enough to lift my feet off the ground. I exhaled explosively, thankful I hadn’t eaten breakfast, because I was pretty sure I’d have just lost whatever was in my stomach if I had.

Don’t start any trouble, Zuko.

I steadied myself on my feet, keeping my hands at my side as I met the eyes of my attackers. Someone behind me punched me in the kidney and I winced, before a foot kicked my knee out, sending me to the ground. From there, the circle of men and boys closed in, kicking and stomping as I rolled to protect my vitals.

I hadn’t needed to start trouble—trouble had found me. It had been a week and Senna figured that people had had long enough to adjust to the idea of my presence.

The market had fallen silent the moment I entered, people recoiling away, giving me a wide berth as I made my way to a vendor selling seaweed. Pulling out the coin Senna had given me, I gave the man a polite bow—too polite in my opinion, given that I hated bowing and scraping, but it was part of the culture in most of the world here. Setting the coin on the stall (made of ice), I had gestured at the seaweed and asked, “How much will that buy?”

The vendor swiped up the money and counted it slowly as, around us, a crowd began to form. Finally, he shook his head and pocketed the money. “None.”

“None? Not a single piece?” I asked.

I watched his eyes flick over the crowd around us before he shook his head again. “No.”

“Alright then. That’s fair.” I held out my hand and smiled. “I’ll have the money back, then.”

“What money?”

I frowned at the stupid game, biting my tongue. “The money I put on the table. Which you just put in your pocket.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Are you accusing me of stealing, Fire Nation?” the man demanded, loudly.

The crowd grew restless at that and I took a breath, smiling. “No, absolutely not. You must have gotten confused. The money I placed on the counter wasn’t a donation, you see. That was Senna’s money, for buying seaweed. So, if you’re not selling seaweed today, then I’m going to need that back.”

“Oi! You heard him, Fire Nation! Get lost!” someone yelled.

I held the merchant’s gaze for a few more moments, before nodding. “Old man. Scar under his right eye. Beard. Sells seaweed. I’ll let her know where to collect her money from.”

And that was when someone clocked me from the side and I found myself surrounded by a group of angry Water Tribe.

Eventually, they got bored and dragged me over to one of the canals, before tossing me into the freezing water. The cold soothed the forming bruises and I allowed myself to be carried away a good distance, before pulling for shore and hauling myself onto the street. Steam curled off of my body as I focused on my breathing, limping my way back to Senna’s house. The few people in the street gave me a wide berth.

Stepping into the house, I shut the door behind me and began stripping out of my soaked clothes as I headed for the bathroom. From the kitchen, Senna called, “Where’s that seaweed?”

“They were sold out.”

The woman scoffed. “Sold out? They don’t sell out.”

She stepped out of the kitchen and frowned as she took in my shirtless form crossing her living room as I worked at my pants. Her lips pulled into a tight line. “Who did this?”

“An angry mob,” I grunted, pushing open the door to the bathroom and stepping in. Hanging up my clothes, I finished stripping and stepped into the cold water in the tub. Focusing on my chi, I quickly had the water to a nice, steamy temperature in moments and leaned back to soak. The older woman stood in the doorway watching as I closed my eyes and focused. After a moment, green fire began to dance over my body and my bruises and aches began to fade.

“And you just let them?” she demanded.

“They were just people,” I sighed, shaking my head. “Besides, there were waterbenders in the crowd, waiting. If I’d done anything to defend myself they wouldn’t have hesitated. They probably would’ve attacked even if I tried to run. Better to let them get it out of their system and see they aren’t going to get burned to death just because they make me angry.”

“Stupid. They could’ve killed you.”

“I’d have healed myself if there was any real danger. I’m not stupid, Senna. Nor am I some kind of martyr, or a masochist.”

She fell silent for a few moments, before eventually asking, “And the money?”

“Old guy. Had a scar under his right eye. He pocketed the money then wanted to play dumb—”

There was a knock at the front door and Senna turned away, closing the bathroom door and going to answer it. I relaxed and focused on healing myself as I listened.

“What do you want?” Senna demanded.

Quietly, I heard the jingle of coin. “Next time, come to the market yourself.”

The old man. Well, guess he’s not as much of an asshole as I thought. He just understood the situation.

“No. He needs to be able to buy and sell like anyone else.”

“And you want me to jeopardize my other clients for one outsider, Senna? I have to live with these people. I can’t just pick up everything and fuck off for a year or more at a time. I do business with him, they stop doing business with me. Don’t send him by again, for his own sake. Don’t know if he noticed, but a few of the more eager hunters were in the market waiting for their chance. He’s lucky he took the beating. Next time, he’ll be lucky if someone doesn’t gut him.”

I heard footsteps, followed by the door closing. Quietly, Senna grumbled, “This is all so stupid.”

Eventually, I finished healing up and got out of the tub. A bit of fire got my clothes dry and I got dressed. The trader met me in the living room with an expectant look. “Come on.”

“Hm?” I asked, stretching and popping my back.

“We’re going to see my aunt.”

I considered her for a moment before asking, “Is that really a good idea right now?”

“You looked like shit when you came in. I say we walk right back through the market like nothing happened on the way.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “Alright. I’m game.”

With that, we left and made for the palace. As we passed into the market, they fell silent again at my presence. I actually recognized a few of the ones from the first time, still hanging around and laughing—a few faces of those who had gotten their licks in. I met their eyes expectantly, as if daring them to try again. Seeing me completely unharmed seemed to spook them however, and they kept their distance.

Senna went right up to the old man’s stall and slapped down her coinage. “Seaweed.”

He frowned, glancing over to me, before answering. “We’re closed for the day.”

Louder, the older woman asked, “Oh? Are you? Well, listen up, all of you.”

Looking around, I winced as I realized just how much attention she had. “Senna…”

“Quiet,” she shushed me. “Kuruk, how are you enjoying those eggs, hmm? How about the fresh vegetables? Leeks and potatoes are in season right now and they do add a little extra something to the same bland old soup, don’t they?” Turning, she looked to another merchant. “Ujurak, you’re turning quite a profit off the fish you’ve been selling to the southerners, aren’t you? Massak, how is your brother faring with all of the steel he’s been getting from the south to make into tools?”

Senna’s glare turned to the crowd now. “A word. One word from me. And it all goes away. The merchants I do business with stop trade with the north entirely. Their competition won’t bother, because they know their ships won’t be allowed in. If you think you can go around me on this, if you want to get off your asses and brave the outside world, you’re welcome to try. I’ll spread word and no one will do business with Agna Qel'a. The things you enjoy, the things you depend on, will disappear overnight.”

People in the crowd looked away, refusing to meet her eyes. There was some grumbling, but no one said anything against her. “Zuko is my employee. I’ve hired him as my bodyguard. Refusing to sell to Zuko is the same as refusing to sell to me. Attacking him is the same as attacking me. The only reason those of you who did so earlier are alive is because the boy is a saint. Go ahead, show them what you can do.”

“I’m not sure that’s wise—”

“I’m making a point, Zuko. Show them.”

“Fine,” I sighed and held out my hand, conjuring a simple flame in my palm.

Several of the crowd gasped and backed away. Senna grinned and waved, and I extinguished it. Turning back to Kuruk, she growled. “Now, where’s my damn seaweed?”

The old man sighed, before grabbing a wad of the stuff and offering it. Senna stuffed it in a hide bag hanging from her belt and nodded. “Let’s go.”

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Yue sat quietly beside Yagoda as the old woman went through her lessons. It was always the same. Just healing. She knew the lessons by heart—well enough to teach them, as she sometimes did, when Yagoda was feeling under the weather or wanted to take a break. She wanted more, but what she wanted and what was expected of her were two different things—a fact she was quickly growing to resent.

I wish something interesting would happen, just once, she mused, going through the ingrained motions of waterbending to practice her healing on the practice dummy, lighting up the ki paths within it all at once and then in sequence, in key areas of the body.

The ladies in the class liked to gossip and the current talk of the town was that of a young man who had come in with old Senna. Some claimed he was a firebender, others that he was just of the Fire Nation. Many of the ladies in their class claimed to have seen him come in and swore he was quite handsome. No one had seen him in the week since he had arrived, however.

I don’t care if he’s a firebender. I think I’d enjoy meeting someone who isn’t from Agna Qel’a. At least, as long as they aren’t horrible to talk to. A small smile pulled to her lips as she wistfully added, Especially a cute boy. It would be nice to speak with someone who can go two minutes without talking about the war or politics, or ‘our future.’

Unfortunately, that seemed to be all Hahn was capable of speaking on. She couldn’t entirely blame him for that, seeing as he was set on becoming a career soldier. All he knew was war. Which was unfortunate. He was rising rapidly through the ranks and had taken an interest in her. There was a very real possibility that he would propose soon and she would be expected to accept, for the good of the tribe.

But what about for the good of me?

Before she could get too deep into those thoughts, the door opened at the far side of the room. They were almost finished with their lessons for the day and weren’t expecting guests or visitors, so everyone in the room paused to look up and see who was interrupting their lesson.

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Yue recognized Senna, of course. The trader wasn’t around much, but she always stopped by to visit her aunt when she returned to Agna Qel’a. The man beside Senna was unknown to her, however. His clothes were clearly those of an outsider, even if they looked suited to the cold. But it was his features that gave away who he was and where he was likely from.

He had his somewhat long hair pulled back into a loose tail at the back of his head, but the front of it had been cut short, leaving it as a bit of a mess that looked like it needed a comb. He wore an easy smile on his lips as his golden eyes swept over them. Those eyes found and met her own and his smile widened just a bit, showing off straight white teeth, and Yue felt her heart pound in her chest.

Oh no. I’m in trouble~.

“Fire Nation,” one of the girls whispered and a buzz of hushed whispers filled the room, even as they moved away from the door.

“What’s he want?”

“Why is he here?!”

“…He’s kind of handsome.” There was a quiet smack, followed by a hissed, “What?! You’re all thinking it too!”

“Yagoda, I’m back,” Senna announced, cutting through the chatter.

“Heh heh. Yes, I see that. And you’ve brought a friend,” Yagoda nodded. “We’re done for today, girls. Go home.”

The other ladies cleared out, leaving just Yagoda and Yue behind. Senna eyed her and jerked a thumb at the door. “You too.”

“She can stay,” Yagoda countered. “Yue is the best healer among this generation. She may as well be my apprentice at this point. Now! Who’s your friend?”

The boy brought his fist and palm together and bowed politely. “Zuko, master Yagoda.”

“Polite,” Yagoda murmured, raising an eyebrow. “I’m no master, boy.”

Zuko stood, looking confused. “Do you not have years of experience in your field of expertise?”

Yagoda’s lips twitched. “I do. Thank you for not saying ‘decades.’”

He chuckled at that and asked, “And are you not the most experienced and learned in your field?”

“That I am,” the old woman nodded.

“Then, as far as the outside world is concerned, that makes you a master of your craft.”

Yagoda shook her head. “It’s not our way.”

“If you say so.”

Senna reached out and swatted at the back of the boy’s head, sending his hair flying briefly. “Oi, knock it off, brat.” Turning back to Yagoda, she asked, “Can we sit?”

“By all means,” Yagoda gestured to the empty pillows in front of her.

Yue watched as Senna waved off Zuko’s offer of a hand getting seated, before the boy seated himself between Yue and Senna, sending her a smile that made her stomach do a little flip and her heart pound. Remembering her manners, Yue bowed in place where she sat. “Ah! I’m Yue.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” the boy grinned and Yue had to look away.

He, he’s Fire Nation! I shouldn’t feel this way! she mentally scolded herself, only to turn her eyes back to him and immediately lose that battle.

“So, what brings you? Surely not just to catch up, given your traveling companion,” Yagoda asked, curiosity in her voice.

Senna gestured to Zuko. “Well? Go on. Show her.”

Zuko sighed and rolled his eyes, before holding out his hands. A fire sprang to life between them. Given he was a firebender, that normally wouldn’t be anything unexpected… but the color threw her off. From what Yue understood, fire from most firebenders was somewhere between red and orange, with a rare few exceptional examples being blue—usually past Avatars.

The flames between Zuko’s hands danced and wavered, throwing off an eerie but somehow calming green light.

“Pretty,” Yue breathed, earning a nod from Senna.

“That it is,” Yagoda murmured. “But you learn quickly that sometimes, the most beautiful things in nature are the most dangerous. So, young Zuko. What fresh horror does this green fire bring?”

“I was hoping you could tell me, actually,” he explained. “As far as I can tell, it heals anyone it comes in contact with. People, animals, plants. If it can be healed, it does. It doesn’t burn people to the touch but it’s still fire, so it will catch clothes, wood, and other things alight.”

“Is that so?” Yagoda hummed, before abruptly shooting her hand forward.

“No!” Yue yelped, reaching out to stop her as the old woman put her hand in the flames. Her eyes went wide when nothing happened. Or at least, not what she was expecting. Instead of burning to a crisp, Yagoda’s hand looked fine. Perhaps better than fine, even.

Yue’s eyes narrowed as she saw one of the liver spots on the old woman’s hand slowly shrink and eventually disappear. Yagoda pushed her other hand into the flames and sighed in what sounded like bliss, closing her eyes.

“It’s not healing,” Yagoda murmured, and Yue reached out and laid her hands on Yagoda’s arm, trying to feel for herself what was going on. “You see, the funny thing about healing is that while it can do things like reduce swelling and inflammation and relieve pain, it can’t actually fix or reverse the toll nature takes on the body. Things like arthritis, joint problems, aching in the bones? All the little signs of aging? No amount of healing can truly fix it. It can only temporarily alleviate the symptoms, but never fix the cause. Likewise, healing does not remove or heal scars.”

“Yeah,” Zuko agreed, nodding. “Old age happens as cells divide and telomeres break off the end of…” he paused, then chuckled, shaking his head. “The body breaks down the older it gets, because every time part of it heals, repairs, or grows it breaks a tiny piece off on the inside. And people and most animals don’t regrow things because they scar instead, because it’s faster. That’s normal, unfortunately.”

Yue watched as Yagoda’s faded eyes opened wide, the old woman staring at the young man across from her. “You understand.”

Zuko shrugged, looking away with a smile. “A bit.”

“I see,” the old woman nodded. “Then that should make this simpler. You understand how the body divides parts of itself to make new parts. That is not what your fire does. It burns away the old piece and from the part that burns, makes an entirely new part in its place. Not just new, but whole and healthy, as it should be had it not been damaged by time. I’ve seen similar in sponges, starfish, octopi, squid, and the like. I’m not entirely sure of the mechanism, but… it feels to my chi as though there is a spiritual element. As though the fire restores what should be from the spirit, from the memory contained within those pieces.”

“Wait. You’re saying it’s regenerating cells?” Zuko’s eyebrows went up as he looked down at where he held Yagoda’s hands.

“If that’s what you call it, yes. Why, these old hands feel better than they have in years already. Look.” Yagoda pulled her hands from the flames and they all leaned in to look. Yue knew the feel of Yagoda’s hands well and, as she reached out and touched them, she found them smooth and supple to the touch—as though they belonged on a somewhat younger woman who wasn’t constantly exposed to the bitter cold of the north. Most of the liver spots were gone, as were the wrinkles, and her skin felt tighter. To her healing power, the difference was obvious as night and day, between Yagoda’s hands and the skin of her wrists up.

“Amazing,” Yue whispered.

“Well, that does answer a few questions,” Zuko murmured, before sending Yagoda a smile. “Thank you for your help.”

The old woman considered for a moment, before reaching out and taking Zuko’s hand, probing him with a diagnostic technique. “Mm. No more strain than if you were bending normally?”

“Not really,” Zuko shook his head. “It requires more concentration, but I could keep it going pretty much all day if I needed to.”

“And you’ve adapted to the cold here quite quickly.”

Zuko shrugged at that. “It’s all in the breath. I’ve been working on breathing techniques since I was little. It was a bit of a strain once I got here for the first few days, but I got over it. It was a lot like going from a normal elevation to climbing a mountain where the air is thin. Eventually, you adjust. The chi up here is more closely aligned with the water element, but it’s still just chi.”

Nodding, Yagoda took her hands back, staring at them as she held them in her lap. Senna shifted in her seat, preparing to get up. “Well, if that’s it…?”

“Actually,” Yagoda began, drawing their attention. “I would request a favor of you, young man. If you would hear me out?”

“Of course. You’ve helped me a lot here. I can use this safely and not worry about hurting someone,” he grinned, and Yue again felt her heart skip a beat.

“Tell me… what do you think would happen, if you were to use that fire on a person, in whole?”

Zuko frowned, sitting back on his cushion as he considered. “I’m not entirely sure. I’ve used it on myself several times. I used it today after, well…”

“After you let yourself be beaten in the market,” Senna grumbled.

“What?!” Yue gasped, going wide-eyed. “What happened?”

Yagoda reached out and took Yue’s hand, sighing as she squeezed it. “What do you think happened, silly girl? Fools didn’t take the time to think their actions through. They let themselves be led by their feelings. Anger. Hatred. They saw only Fire Nation and attacked.”

“That’s about right,” Zuko confirmed. “Don’t like it, but I understand it. I’m a guest here and a problem besides. As much as I’d have liked to fight back… Here, in the heart of the northern capital? Surrounded by warriors and waterbenders? I would have probably been killed before I could begin to explain that it was self-defense.”

Turning a smile on Yue, Zuko reached out and laid his hand on hers. The contact was only for a moment, but it left her feeling warm where he touched—a warmth that spread through her body and left her biting her lip to stop the sound she wanted to make from escaping.

So warm! What… what would it feel like, to be in his arms?

Her thoughts were put on hold as Zuko shifted his attention back to Yagoda. “So what? You want to try it and see what happens?”

Yagoda nodded. “If you wouldn’t mind. At worst, it gives me a few extra years puttering around. At best… Well, I suppose we’ll see. Surely you must be curious.”

“I am,” Zuko admitted. “Not sure how long it’d take, though. I’m willing to try if you are.”

The old woman nodded. “Good, good. I can set aside tomorrow to try, if you like.”

“That’s fine by me.”

“Yue,” Yagoda looked up at her. “I’ll want you there with me to keep an eye on things. I trust young Zuko is wise enough not to intentionally harm me, but all the same, I would feel safer if you were there in case of any accidents.”

“Of course,” Yue nodded. She happened to agree that it was better to be safe than sorry. She could also admit to curiosity towards seeing the procedure done over the whole body. What she wouldn’t admit to was a desire to spend more time around Zuko. If the process wasn’t too mentally taxing, there was a good chance that they would be in proximity for hours with nothing to do but talk…

“There’s just one question,” Senna murmured. “What happens if it works?”

Zuko opened his mouth, only to pause and frown. “Ah. Good point.”

“What do you mean?” Yue asked, confused.

“Well, suppose it restores Yagoda by ten years, down to thirty.”

The old woman laughed, reaching out and shoving Zuko’s shoulder as he smiled. “Sweet talker.”

“People are going to be very interested in anything that can restore even a modicum of youth. Even if it only gave her a few more years, that’s something people would kill for. If it could restore someone to their prime? Well, I imagine that’s something that might be worth starting a war over.”

“We wouldn’t—”

“Don’t be naive, girl,” Yagoda scolded. Sending Zuko a considering look, she continued, “I will vouch for you.”

“And what happens when I decide it’s time to leave? I’m not planning to stick around forever. There are places I need to be.”

Senna chuckled at that. “He says he’s on a spiritual journey.”

“Hoh?” the old healer murmured. “And how is that going for you?”

Zuko smiled, before holding out his hand and creating a normal, orange flame. A moment later, the flame shifted to blue and the air of the room warmed quickly. Then it turned green, and finally a mesmerizing purple. “There were more colors the firebending masters taught me, but these are the only ones I can produce at the moment. And then there’s this.”

The fire winked out, only to be replaced by a pure, glowing white sphere—bright and as pure and entrancing as the full moon. Yue’s eyes went wide and she carefully reached out, her fingers just brushing the surface of it. “It’s pure chi.”

“Mm. Yes, I see,” Yagoda nodded, a smile on her lips as the light winked out. Humming, she murmured, “The old men will want to find some way to tie you to the tribe and ensure you come back at some point.”

“What? You mean—?” Senna began, only for Yagoda to wave her off.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll speak with them.” Looking to Zuko, she instructed, “Tomorrow. Be here bright and early.”

“After my morning practice,” he confirmed. Frowning, he added, “Too bad I don’t really have anywhere to actually practice. I imagine if I head out the doors and into the tundra far enough to not cause problems, they’ll be locked behind me.”

“I’ll take care of it. Give me a day or two. In the meantime, I want to catch up with my niece. Yue!”

“Ah! Yes?” Yue startled as the older woman grinned at her.

“Why don’t you show Zuko around? Go sit down, have some tea.”

“Very well,” Yue nodded, pushing herself to her feet. Zuko stood and followed her from the room.

The door shut behind them and Zuko asked, “So, what do you do for fun around here?”

Yue hummed. She considered it and frowned as she realized that there was little in the way of ‘fun’ in her life. Frowning, she admitted, “I don’t know. I’m not really allowed outside the city. I read books and scrolls when they come in from the south. We do occasionally get a theater troupe here to perform. We have our own troupe as well, but… well, there isn’t much that everyone hasn’t already seen a hundred times. I like going for walks in the city, or riding in the canals, especially at night. What about you? What do you like to do for fun?”

He was a firebender, so of course they had a common interest in bending. She really, really hoped it wasn’t something military related.

Zuko sent her another of those smiles she was quickly coming to think of as being entirely too dangerous for her especially, the way they made her heart leap. “Bending, of course,” he said, and she nodded at the expected answer. “Travel. I picked up a pipa and I’m learning to play that.”

“You play?” Yue asked, her interest piqued as she turned and sent him a hopeful look.

“Terribly,” he admitted with a grin. “I sing too, but it’s like squealing cats.”

Yue reached up to cover her smile as she giggled. “I’m sure it’s not that bad. Perhaps you’ll play for me later?”

“Sure. I wouldn’t mind giving you a laugh,” he rolled his eyes. “I play Pai Sho and know a few other games, if you’re interested in learning.”

Yue bit her lip as she thought about it. “Pai Sho is considered a man’s game…”

Zuko waved the words off with a scoff. “Please, I’ll be happy to teach you if you want to learn. Honestly, outside of a very few things where one or the other of us is just better suited to something by nature, the whole ‘man’s role’ this, ‘woman’s role’ that thing is garbage. You should be able to cook, do your own laundry, and clean up after yourself regardless of your sex. Likewise, bending used by a woman is just as dangerous as that used by a man. Both will kill you dead if you aren’t careful.

“Would I put a woman on the front lines during a war? No. Absolutely not, if I had any choice. That’s just asking for her to be captured alive and for awful things to happen. Doesn’t mean she can’t stand behind a few lines of men and lob bending techniques over their heads into the enemy lines. Or act as a healer, to get your people back into the fight faster than the enemy can do the same for their own. Or some sort of highly trained, elite unit of special forces, but that’s the exception, not the rule.”

Quietly, Yue asked, “Were you part of the military?”

Zuko shook his head. “No. As a noble’s son, I had private tutors and training. My training was pretty eclectic. I learned bending at the academy, under men and women alike. The master I learned the sword from was a bit of a hermit. Some of the best archers and trackers I studied under were women. Honestly? I was sent away as much as I was because I was kind of a thorn in my father’s side.”

Grinning ruefully, he rubbed his chest, adding, “That’s why I’m here now, instead of back in the capital with my sister. I mouthed off and my father tried to kill me for it. So I left as soon as I was able.”

“Oh!” Yue gasped, her eyes going wide as she reached out and laid a hand on his, searching his body for signs of damage with a technique. To her surprise, while there were some lingering signs of damage, it seemed that most of it was gone—likely by means of the green fire, at a guess. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. He’s… not a good person,” Zuko shook his head, squeezing her hand. “Anyway, let’s talk about something else. Literally anything else.”

Nodding, Yue led them to a kitchen area where she could start preparing tea. “Where have you been so far, in your travels?”

“Not many places, yet,” Zuko admitted. “I left from the Fire Islands and went straight to the closest Air Temple to get a bit of a breather and figure out my next move, but I got caught in a storm…”

Yue listened, wide eyed, as Zuko told her of his adventures. Of the wandering island that turned out to be a lion-turtle. Of the ancient firebending masters, who from his descriptions, she intuited to be dragons. Of the abandoned air temple…

The tea was almost forgotten, until Senna eventually came to retrieve Zuko and Yue realized she was running late for the evening meal when Yagoda pointed it out and asked Yue to accompany her. Zuko said his goodbyes to the two of them and, to her delight, Yue managed to extract a promise from him to continue their conversation tomorrow.

It was as they were nearing the dining hall that Yagoda quietly asked, “Well? What do you think? Do you like him?”

Yue laughed quietly, a happy smile on her face. Yagoda raised an eyebrow as she studied Yue’s face for a moment, before quietly snorting. “No, don’t bother. It couldn’t be more obvious.”

“It, it is not! I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Yue denied, looking away as her cheeks turned red.

“Of course,” Yagoda patted her hand. “Of course, dear.”