Inside the confinement room, after the teacher left, Zuko reviewed his textbook for a while.
Feeling bored, he wandered to the window for a look outside—only to meet the sharp eyes of the guards. He instantly retreated.
Though called a "confinement room," it was really just a secluded courtyard within the palace.
Ozai had ordered him confined there for a month, with guards stationed at both the front and back doors. He wasn't allowed to go anywhere.
Bored out of his mind, Zuko practiced some Firebending forms. When he got tired, he sat down on the floor and stared at the empty room, grumbling internally:
This was all Azula's fault for insisting he pull a prank with her!
Even worse—Azula wasn't punished at all, and yet he was stuck here!
He raged silently for a while, but there was nothing he could do.
The only thing he could look forward to was joining their plan to find his mother once he was released.
Honestly, the whole situation still felt unbelievable.
Azula's attitude toward Kahn was definitely different, but he had no idea when the two of them had gotten so involved.
And Azula had even told Kahn first before telling him.
Something definitely felt off about the two of them.
Just as he was spacing out, he heard a faint rustling from the corner of the room.
Zuko immediately tensed and turned—only to see a floor tile slowly lift up, revealing a hidden passage beneath it.
Azula emerged from the passage.
"Azula—!"
"Shh."
She gestured for silence, and Zuko shut his mouth immediately, eyes widening.
Azula wasn't alone. Ty Lee climbed up next, then Mai, and finally Kahn. His entire group of companions had arrived.
"What are you all doing here? And… what is this passage?" Zuko whispered.
"We came to play with you. Half a month alone—you must be suffocating, my dear Zuzu," Azula said with a soft chuckle.
Ty Lee waved at him happily.
"I heard you're finally joining us for adventures! Welcome to the Royal Girls' Expedition Team!"
"What is that even supposed to mean…?" Zuko muttered, confused.
Kahn stepped forward, understanding exactly what Zuko was feeling.
"Let me explain."
Since the part about Ursa couldn't be mentioned in front of Mai and Ty Lee, Azula cooperatively shooed them away, having one watch the guard in front and the other watch the one behind.
Accustomed to Azula's commands, the two didn't question anything and simply went.
Kahn explained the real purpose of their visit and the plan he and Azula had been working on.
After hearing it all, Zuko didn't question the details—instead he asked:
"So you've also joined… the Royal Girls' Expedition Team?"
"…That's not the point, okay? If you understand the situation, get ready to move!" Kahn snapped.
This brat. I'd deal with him later.
"Alright."
Returning to the main matter, Zuko asked nervously:
"Isn't this too risky? There are guards outside, and palace maids bring meals. If we're discovered—"
Kahn nodded, completely agreeing with Zuko's caution. But Azula waved dismissively:
"Are you coming or not? Do you seriously think we need you? That we can't act without you? Huh? My foolish brother."
"You—!"
Zuko almost exploded, but somehow he forced himself to calm down. This made both Azula and Kahn glance at him with new respect.
When someone leaves their parents' shadow, that's when they start growing up.
After everything that happened in the palace, both Azula and Zuko were growing in their own ways—though Zuko didn't show it often.
"…I'll come," he said.
Seeing Zuko's growth, Kahn patted him on the shoulder proudly. Even Azula allowed herself a faint, satisfied smile.
"Then let's move."
"By the way, I already memorized the exact time your meals are delivered each day. We just need to return before then."
Zuko stared at her.
"Azula, you—"
"You'd better thank me, my dear Zuzu. I'm not usually this kind. Especially not to you. Opportunities like this don't come often."
Zuko shut up immediately. Thinking Azula was ever "not bad" was the biggest delusion of his life.
The five of them entered the secret passage. Azula led the way, and Zuko mimicked her by lighting a small flame in his palm. He looked around the dark passage curiously.
"Where did this passage even come from? And how did you find it?"
Azula clicked her tongue, and Ty Lee answered for her:
"You really should have come on adventures with us before, Zuko! The palace is full of hidden passages. This is just one of them."
"Listen to Ty Lee, Zuzu. Even an outsider knows the palace better than you. I pity you," Azula added mercilessly.
Zuko didn't argue. Looking at the passage beneath his feet, he realized they weren't entirely wrong. He really did know too little.
The old Zuko would never have stepped into such a place without permission.
But maybe that prank had shaken something loose in him. Or maybe something else. Either way, he no longer felt as resistant to these things.
After emerging from the other end, their "adventure game" officially began.
Today's mission was exploring unknown parts of the palace to find undiscovered secret rooms or hidden passages.
Azula suspected Ozai might have hidden whatever Ursa left behind in a secret room only he knew.
They found many passages, but no one could say when they were built, why, or how many existed.
This was the Fire Nation's royal palace—the heart of the strongest nation in the world. It held countless secrets.
And a secret room is called a secret room for a reason. It's not found easily. Even after searching all day, they found nothing useful.
Azula still cheerfully declared they'd continue next time—completely ignoring Kahn's protests—and decided to turn this into a regular "entertainment activity."
Before the palace maid arrived for meal delivery, everyone parted ways.
Zuko returned to his confinement courtyard and pretended nothing had happened.
Thinking back on the day, although he had broken many rules, he felt… oddly at ease.
Because this time, he wasn't alone.
He had companions.
...
Author's Note:
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