Suki's face became a stone mask. And I understand her a little. Something incomprehensible is going on in the local kingdom. What the hell? Okay with the earthbenders, you can pull your pussy up to your nose and say that they decided to create a resistance cell here, which is unlikely. How many of them were there? Twenty people maximum, considering the statistics. And not even soldiers, but ordinary village masons - such, of course, they can throw a boulder and most likely once served, but in reality, why the hell would they at least be able to do something. Usually, such cases are suppressed by the strengthening of that same commandant's office and stricter rules, but not by putting the entire population on bunks.
I mentally wrote down this point. This village was lucky; here I was greeted not with kicks and screams, but with food and lodging for the night. Even though the first one was paid, it doesn't change the essence. I will monitor this personally.
Yes, no matter how cynical it may sound, I cannot devote my personal attention to all villages, so I decided long ago that under my personal patronage and frequent irregular checks, I will take those where the residents deserve it. Or, as in this case, one specific resident.
In the house, the first thing that caught our attention was one very simple object - a child. About five or six years old, he ran out to meet his mother, throwing himself into her arms.
"Mom, mom, look what I did," the boy said first, showing a figurine of some animal made of stone.
Ugums, and the woman seems to be slightly deprived of brains. Bringing random travelers into a house where there is a child, an earthbender, in a village where they are supposedly punished for this.
Smart.
She clearly understood this too and went into a slight panic, maintaining a tight smile, but the sweat began to subside down her temple. Suyuki saved the situation:
- Oh, what a figurine, in our village, the boys also sculpted different things from clay, even Aki, remember? - and glared at me as if she was ready to kill me now.
Apparently, she thinks that I'll now run to hang the kid or hand him over to the commandant's office. I have nothing else to do, damn it.
"Yeah, I mostly liked to sculpt turtles for some reason," he supposedly reminisced.
The woman relaxed right before her eyes, as if some spring inside her had unclenched. Apparently, she was already on the verge of fucked up. And the boy continued to blink his eyes and apparently tried to comprehend what was happening.
"Where is your dad?" Suki continued the dialogue, leaning towards the boy.
"He died a few years ago," his mother answered for him, "he was killed," and she fell silent, clearly not wanting to continue the topic.
Yeah, let's write it down: either repression, or he was a rebel and, it seems, an earthbender, judging by the kid. It wasn't passed on from the mother, was it? But who knows, really. Maybe the Magess herself, she just doesn't get fired up. Magic doesn't exactly depend on gender. Although if you remember, just a few years ago, there was some kind of particularly large rebel movement... small ones happen often, but then something tough happened right then. It's as if the conclusion suggests itself. And not only for me.
Suyuki again glared at me, as if I myself had personally killed this fucking man from the village. Oh, I feel like I'm going to eat some more shit with her. Well, it's okay, maybe he'll let it go when we not only listen, but also understand.
As a result, we settled down in a conventional living room, before going to bed we talked, listened to the travelers, and we hung our ears to listen to what was happening here. Of course, we started from afar - we asked about some rumors or local customs, just a little folklore - a little bit of everything. And little by little I began to find out what was happening here.
Slips or stories, but what's going on here is some complete bullshit. The first opinion turned out to be really true, some very wealthy man sat down as the local head and began collecting exorbitantly large taxes, obviously putting it into his own pocket. Nobody demands huge profits from local villages; up there in the capital, they don't need it - profits and money are made on something completely different. Totally on something else. And here, as long as they don't riot.
And these are the ones I should put on the ass. Because that's not the point. These citizens consider them to already belong to the Fire Nation, because they're not even a front-line village, and they're not from the gray zone, who knows what. And quite a deep rear.
Moreover, local bouncers are not shy about begging money here; they really feel like kings, because no one can do anything to them, and there's simply nowhere to complain.
Oh, how I wanted to release someone's guts now, but the native breeze saved me, and my face went from barely restrained anger back to simple sympathy and nodding my head. Now is not the time to do anything.
Of course, I have with me the necessary documents about who I am, but we are fucking collecting information. We didn't come to punish, but simply to scrupulously write down all the bullshit, so that we could then pass it on with a punishing sword and a note to the general.
Well, nothing, nothing. The main thing during the reconnaissance process is not to die and return to the base with the data, and then we'll see.
***
- Aki, wake up! — The boy woke me up with a joyful squeal. His name, by the way, is Deer. "Mom and Suki have prepared breakfast, go to the table!"
"I'm getting up, I'm getting up," I muttered, although my eyelids still did not give in, as if they were filled with lead.
"Well, Aki-i," we got along quite well with this kid yesterday; he's a cool guy. If I wanted a son, then perhaps something like this. Curious and with a good heart.
"That's it, that's it, I'm up," with these words I switched my position to a sitting position and, barely opening my eyes, headed towards the kitchen.
It wasn't far to walk, obviously it was still the same shack, and the kitchen here was very conventional. I hope I can solve this. And in just half a year, the living conditions of the local people will improve.
We had breakfast, for free by the way, because Suyuki bought food and obviously more than she needed.
The next day passed almost unnoticed, the hostess persuaded us to stay another day, they say, take a rest from the road, and we are glad. We should collect more information. Why should we move forward right away? But we still didn't wander around the city, mostly we went to the local market, helped with chores around the house... some slightly strange feeling, because I wasn't doing well at some things, so much so that both Suki and the mistress.
Well, yes, I don't know how to peel potatoes, they turned out to be rectangles, what now? I've never done this, not even with the Master. I can sweep. But peeling potatoes is not.
In general, except for this jamb, the day went fine. And the night too. Unless Suyuki kicked - we slept next to each other, one might say, on the same large bed - there was something soft on the floor, covered with some kind of fabric.
And in the morning it turned out that she felt cold and she snuggled up to me a little. Which made me jump up as if stung in the morning. And then I was even a little embarrassed to look into my eyes. What's going on in her head, Lord?
True, in the morning, although more likely closer to nine o'clock in the morning - I'm not used to the village daily routine and don't intend to, that's it - I discovered something missing: the rag from the rapier was there, but the rapier itself was not.
The first panic subsided as soon as I didn't find Dir either. The puzzle came together and went into the courtyard behind the house to see how the kid was selflessly trying to swing a piece of iron almost as tall as him.
He's trying to wave selflessly, he's sweating all over, apparently he's been trying since the very morning. I looked for about ten minutes, looked and decided to intervene.
"This weapon is not suitable for you," I said, causing Dir to jerk in place, fortunately I managed to intercept the rapier.
True, I cut my hand a little because of the blade, but it's okay.
"I just... he unraveled a little and I..." the guy tried to justify himself.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to scold you," I smiled, with a deft movement returning the rapier to its sheath, straight from the swing, which impressed the boy, I can see it in his eyes. Then he squatted down so that we were at the same eye level and said, "It's just really not yours, Deer." You are a bender so you don't need any hardware; you are a weapon in yourself.
"No, no, no, I'm not a bender..." the guy began frequently, his eyes darting, apparently, his mother gave him an educational program.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," I smiled, "you need to develop your body and your magic."
"Then they will kill me or take me somewhere," the boy hung his nose.
"Look, let's do this: I'll keep your secret, and you'll keep mine," and after waiting for a nod, he continued, "just be patient for a couple of months." I promise you, you can safely train earth magic, okay?
-Are you one of the rebels? — the boy dropped to a whisper, widening his eyes and staring at me as if I were a hero. Hmmm, now it's clear exactly how his dad died.
"No," I chuckled, "I just know this fact." These will be our two common secrets, agreed? - I said and extended my little finger.
"Mom also knows that I'm an earthbender," Dir muttered uncertainly, but seeing that I was still holding my finger, he grabbed it with his own.
Really cool kid.
That same day, Suyuki and I decided to finally walk around the village and at least visually assess what was happening here.
We walked along the main street, looked at the stalls, and even looked into some main building where the Fire magicians were drinking. The rage in me grew stronger, as did Suyuki. We didn't see anything good, to say the least. Tired, frightened people in bad clothes, dilapidated houses of the same type even along the main street, if you can call it that, and the satisfied faces of the commandant's office. Oh, they won't have to smile like that for long.
I directly remembered these fuckers, both that staggering warrior who decided to simply kick a passerby, and that young private with a rat's face who took whatever he wanted from the counters. Everyone.
I'll hang you the fuck up.
But, I was still holding back myself and holding back Suyuki. It's not a good idea to get caught up in something so simple. We still have to eat shit, but the locals are used to it. It's better to wait another month and we will decide everything everywhere, than for rumors to spread and it will be much more complicated.
And everything was tolerable, exactly until the moment we decided to return. Even from afar, we suspected something was wrong when we saw fighting rhinoceroses.
It's good that my rapier was in a bundle behind my back, because otherwise I would have had the feeling that while we were gone, Dir would not have been able to restrain himself and waved it, who knows. You might get hurt.
We did not immediately run into battle, but simply approached to see the still digestible picture. Three fire mages stand and say something to the slightly pale mistress.
We have only heard the end of the dialogue:
"... so we'll have to work it out," said the leader, apparently with a nasty grin, because he was also the most well-fed. And with these words, the three of them picked up the struggling woman and dragged her into the house.
"Stop," I managed to grab Suyuki's hand. I literally needed ten seconds to think about how to help out the mistress and not get burned myself, but the warrior no longer thought about it.
- Wait!? "They…" the girl began to be indignant, trying to break free. She was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening, from which a boy literally ran out, but he was looking back over his shoulder and tripped, falling.
And then all three fire mages came out with angry faces, and it's clear why. The main hog had a bruise under his eye, apparently Dir decided to help his mother and fired a stone at him, only the strength was enough to create a bruise.
"Well, well, well, it turns out that her pussy is an earth magician," said one of the singers, flexing his fingers.
"Little bastard, now I'll show you how to use magic against power," the hog said angrily, approaching the boy, "I'll fucking break your arms first, and then make you watch how we have fun with your whore mother."
"I won't let you hurt her!" — the boy said, trembling all over his body, nevertheless taking a semblance of a fighting stance. We looked at this entire procession from the side, so everything was clearly visible, like on a theater stage. Including incorrect stance.
"Ha, come on," the hog laughed as he approached, "shoot me with a pebble again," he was still mocking.
And Dear really tried, even the hog himself was surprised and twitched a little when the guy "hit" the air with a sharp movement, apparently trying to pull off a trick that he had seen long ago. But, unfortunately, nothing came of it. Maybe because of excitement, or maybe because of fear. The Fire Mages just started laughing, but I realized that it was time to act.
So that at the moment when the hog raised his hand to strike, he had time to grab it by the forearm, when the fist was a few centimeters from the closed eyes of Deer.
- What? - the hog only managed to ask before he received my kick in the stomach, and, I want to note, not with full force. I don't plan to kill them. Straightaway.
- Aki! - the boy exclaimed, opening his eyes and seeing me, - they wanted... my mother...
"I know," the tone itself dropped to icy calm, because the breeze in my head filled my skull on its own, although I didn't want it, "three Fire Nation warriors, on duty, wanted to rape a resident of the Fire Nation colony and beat her son."
- Who are you? — the hog croaked, already gradually unbending from the blow to the gut.
- Oh, me? - I raised one eyebrow in the style of May, - your judge. What an executioner.
"Don't talk nonsense," said one of the two who sang along, after which he waved his arms awkwardly and threw a small stream of fire at me. A swing of the rapier, which I didn't even take out of its sheath, and the stream simply breaks against it. Of course, I slightly used air magic here, but from the outside it still looked impressive.
The second singer also started to do something, but didn't have time at all. The distance was small, so I took just a step, hit him on the attacking hand with a rapier and directed his stream upward, not forgetting to hit the nose of the hog with my forehead, which at that moment was right in front of me. There was an unpleasant crunch, apparently my nose was broken. This made him back away slightly, which gave me the opportunity to kick the first one, right in the knee, breaking it and folding the leg to the side towards the other leg. The third one, who was about to attack again, I simply poked the rapier in the stomach with all my strength - it was still in its sheath, so he simply fell, trying to breathe air.
- Wow! - Deer shouted, jumping on the spot when he realized that the threat had passed. Right at that moment the hostess ran out with her skirt slightly torn and a red mark on her face, obviously from a slap.
- How do you move so fast? - Suki also arrived in time, - this is simply unreal!
"As you can see, everything is real," I answered, not letting the breeze out of my head and therefore not losing my icy intonations, "Suyuki, tie up these three louts..."
"Thank you very much, Aki, Suyuki..." Dir's mother tried to smile, "but this is unlikely to help - if these don't come back, they will send more and more... they won't just leave it."
- Oh yes, we won't leave it like that! We will report to the captain and he will come and destroy everything here to pieces if you don't let us go! - the hog with a broken nose said in a nasal voice. All three were conscious, only the one with the broken leg was howling in pain.
"Oh, leave it, and how," I smiled, "and you're right, we're now going to your captain." Report.
- Aki! - the hostess gasped, - there are crowds of them there, it's better to call some kind of reinforcements... you won't be able to kill them.
Suyuki was silent and simply assessed the situation, apparently realizing that I decided right now and immediately to restore order here. How could it be otherwise? Is it really possible to leave such hospitable people to be torn apart by idiots?
- Who said I was going to interrupt them? - I said, turning to her, - I just want to talk. Exactly so.
- Hey, what's going on here! - There was an exclamation from the end of the street. There, in response to the screams of these three idiots, a bunch of fire mages from the town hall arrived. To my surprise, not all of them were drunk. The company was not so large, but apparently, the local leader also came out, because the six soldiers were straight out of the ranks of ordinary idiots.
Four are clearly seasoned warriors, because they, unlike everyone else, managed to assess what was happening and took a fighting stance. The fifth was dressed in an officer's uniform with an officer's helmet, which he hastened to take off.
"You dare to attack Fire Nation soldiers!" — he shouted, almost spitting saliva, taking three steps forward. His security, accordingly, also hurried to stand behind him.
"So this is the meeting," I raised my eyebrows, "what, you didn't recognize me?" Brother.
- Wha-him? - Daisy narrowed his eyes contemptuously, - this one will definitely be executed, impersonating an aristo...
"Daze, Daze," I shook my head, "we haven't seen each other for only a few years, and you've already forgotten your brother?" I'm Akimaru. I see that you have been assigned to a warm place. How are you? How are your parents?
The words seemed to be good, but they were said in such a tone that even the most stupid idiot could understand that I was mocking.
Well, what can I say. They really fixed it up. A captain sitting somewhere in the rear in a village with his personal guard. Not the most profitable place, well, he's not the son of some Admiral Chan. As they built it, they built it. In a couple of years he will come out with some medals and will tell everyone what a brave warrior he is. We saw it, we know.
- Akimaru? - we must give him credit, there was even some warmth in his voice, - have you been wandering around the continent of earth all this time? Seriously? Look at you, aristocrat, you look like... like...
"I look right, Daisy, I look right," I interrupted him again, "would you like to tell me what's going on here?" Why Agni, your subordinates behave like bandits and robbers, and not warriors of fire? What the hell is this attitude towards the residents of a Fire Nation colony? Why the hell are most males sent to prison? What is going on?
"Don't meddle where you shouldn't," he said, "you don't understand anything about this, so don't understand any further." You will still face punishment for attacking the military. Like my brother, of course, you won't be executed, but...
"You don't understand, Captain Daisy," he removed any humorous or sarcastic notes from his speech, "I'm asking as a captain and inspector of the Fire Nation colonies." And all these questions will be answered, one way or another.
"Oh, well, why bother inventing it, Aki," the brother laughed, "guys, tie them up, but no harm, he's still my brother."
Yeah, some people don't learn anything. And they don't want to study. Taking the lighter out of my pocket, I opened it with a click and in a second fanned the blue flame throughout the entire free area in front of me and the others.
"Whoever takes any action against me will be considered a deserter." My people are already on the way, and you won't be able to take me myself.
There were whispers around about the blue flame, and somehow, everyone absolutely suddenly changed their minds about going, at least from the rabble.
- Take him for what you're worth!
I never thought Daisy had such frayed nerves. Although a Fire Mage, what? This time four seasoned warriors went forward; however, I went to meet them, drawing the rapier from its sheath again.
We must give them credit; they fought well. Maybe not like magicians, but like soldiers, with lances and such good jets of fire, but if Suyuki, who is still standing on the sidelines, were in my place, she would have to sweat.
But for me, no. There is one weak part of the pike: the sharp part is easily cut off along the shaft, especially if the chopping is done with something sharp. Of course, chopping wood with a rapier is still an idea, but if you send a wave of wind a little ahead that will cut it down, then from the outside, everything will seem exactly as if the rapier is chopping the shaft.
In general, it was quite easy to make sticks out of the weapons of all four; They didn't have time to reach for the swords on their belts - I was simply faster and knocked them out one by one, easily dodging their attempts to attack me. From the outside, it probably looked the same as always: I jumped around four people, knocking out one after another.
And then he just shook off his shoulder with a demonstrative movement, deftly putting the rapier back into its sheath.
- So, gentlemen. Let's go back to where we started. Or does anyone else want to try themselves?
- Akimaru! Agni fuck you, you were not a magician! - Daisy shouted, - and since when are you a captain, and also an inspector?! I won't believe this for the life of me," and after that he shot a projectile of fire at me.
"Idiot," came a voice from somewhere behind Suyuki. I really still can't understand why she stands there and doesn't do anything, doesn't she really want to crush the sides of the Fire Mages? Okay, we'll figure it out later.
Lighter, click and the ball of fire was absorbed by a blue stream. I didn't want to dodge - there could easily be people behind me, and the ball is not a jet, it flies until it hits. Daisy planned to send the second one straight at me, but, however, did not have time. In almost one leap I reached him enough to poke him with the sheathed rapier with my outstretched hand. I could go further, but this is already quite pale.
I poked him right in the solar plexus, causing him to curl up and begin to choke. Walking up to him, I turned his face over to me with my foot and, bending slightly, took out a piece of paper from his bosom. Where it was written down who I was and who assigned me this status.
- Look, Daisy, and read carefully. Captain Aki - Inspector of Fire Colonies, do you see? I'm asking, do you see?!
"Y-yes," the poor fellow barely exhaled. Although no, such a status must be earned, so you're an idiot.
- That is great. Now: line up. Smi-irno. — it's a pleasure to watch how the soldiers, despite their condition, tried to remember what these commands meant and line up. Having chosen the smallest one, I handed him another piece of paper - empty - you go to the coastal city and give the piece of paper to anyone in the Fire Nation uniform. If you run away, you will be a deserter. If you don't make it in two days, you're a deserter. Understood me?
- Yes! - oh, how quickly they learn, the look is correct, just five minutes ago there was a greyhound boy milking suckers, and already bam - and a machine gun was attached to the gun. Oh well. Now my poor fellows and kioshnits will arrive, we will arrange a trial here.
Of course, many village residents were drawn to this performance and were now watching with fear and anticipation. For them, something incomprehensible and even terrible was happening, and I understand them.
- So, citizens. My name is Aki and I am an inspector sent to identify behavior inappropriate for the high rank of the Fire Nation army. Starting today, I will sometimes challenge some of you to dialogue, do not be afraid - I am here to establish justice. Your relatives who were wrongfully locked up in prison will be returned. Cases of unlawful treatment of you will be reviewed. But, I want to separately note, if your relative was involved in rebel activities, then he will remain in prison. Such actions fall under an article sufficient for imprisonment. "Everyone is free, we're all leaving," I said loudly, indicating what was happening, "Suyuki, let's go, we need to get settled in the mayor's office."
"You go, I'll come up in a few hours," she said, "I'll take our things, calm down the hostess and Dir."
By the way, they stood and looked at all this with incomprehensible emotions on their faces. Hmm, for some reason I don't like Suyuki's attitude, as if she's up to something. OK, let's see.
* * *
Three days later, some of my poor fellows arrived at the place, mixed with the kiosk workers and the Streets. Yes, it's more convenient for me to call them that way, even in my head, why not?
During this time, it seems, I managed to age ten years and turn gray. I thought it was easy to do good and do justice, but God, how wrong I was. Documentation, almost any kind, was absent as a class; all data had to be collected personally, listening to different people and writing down their words. The names of the people, when they were taken, where they were taken - given the widespread illiteracy of most people, this was all incredibly difficult. But who else besides me?
But I'm a fucking Warrior! My job is to fight, kill, cast magic, capture, and so on, but I can't sleep for the third day in a row for five hours in order to clear up all this nonsense.
And the local soldiers, all of them, immediately became white and fluffy. And in general they are no-no, not an ounce in the mouth, not a centimeter in the ass. I looked at all this, looked at it, and wrote it down to General Lee as is. The answering falcon came twelve hours later and said that in another three days trusted people would arrive and sort everything out.
As I understand it, the majority of them are the only ones who have gathered around the general. And he values such people, collects them and protects them in every possible way. Well, we'll see, in any case, I'll come back to the village to check.
By the way, everyone will be taken wherever they need to go. Oh, I feel like I'm sure they'll screw my brother over there. But here there is no one. Therefore, I will do as a relative what my father did not do. I'll give him a show flogging. To go straight without pants in the square and with a whip, so that the scars remain.
Hard? And what he did here wasn't harsh? Even cruel. No matter, you won't gain more brains anyway. But there will be a reminder.
The general gave the go-ahead to conduct local trials as well. It's not that I didn't carry them out anyway, but now with all confidence. Five people - we hang them. No talking. Rapists and murderers. Some will be whipped until they bleed, and some, like in the Middle Ages, will be placed in shackles in the square for a day.
And, of course, everyone was fucking fired from military service. I will only send veterans to the capital. They, of course, are most likely nits too, but they will find a place to place good warriors. The tea army is not only based on knights in white armor.
Suyuki started to worry me specifically. Apparently, she would be satisfied with the option of executing everyone, there is no way to pardon them. Either the girl is slightly stressed and expresses her worries, or I seriously overestimated her mental health. Or intelligence.
In any case, after I had already decided everything, she left extremely dissatisfied. And that's an understatement.
And the next day the poor fellows arrived and the trial began. The local soldiers somehow relaxed, they thought it was all over - the boss was to blame, but they shrugged it off, but the idea did not reach their minds that they could tell everyone straight out that they were at least fired, and at night they could very well kill me. And in this matter, I can't even rely on Suyuki, why the hell did I take her with me? Maybe he fell in love, or what?
No, it's some kind of nonsense.
In general, five were hanged, having first torn off their regalia, a bunch were punished in various ways, which I have already mentioned, all this under the whistling and hooting of the crowd and under my simple, emotionless: "Do you understand why?" Oh, they understood. I saw in everyone's eyes that, of course, they began to make excuses, immediately making all sorts of excuses, but my slight smile and bowed head made them almost piss before the verdict was pronounced.
And why are they doing this?
My brother did not disappoint; he squealed from the whip as if he was being cut alive. He promised everyone non-mortal punishment, but I whispered one simple thing in his ear. If he tries to take it out on ordinary civilians again, I will challenge him to Angi Kai to the death. Now I'm not a dick from the mountain, but a fire magician. I have the right.
In theory, I should have waited three days, but I was already too lazy to sit here, the documents suffocated me too much. So I trusted my poor fellows, who were in total shock from their surroundings and without permission, without a kick from above, began to help people as much as possible.
I'm really proud, bitch! I'll give them a bonus.
And everything would have been fine if, just before leaving, Deer had not found me, right in my office.
"So you... you're a firebender?" - he asked immediately. Well what can you answer?
- Yes, Deer. "I am a Fire Mage and an officer in the Fire Army," I said, "but as you can see, I'm not like... my brother." Agni, what a Brazilian series. I promised that everything would be fine, right?
"Yeah," the guy nodded gloomily, "my father was killed by people like you, Mr. Aki."
"You can just call me Aki," I nodded, "yes, like me." It's just, Deer, this is war. There's a lot of crap out there on both sides. Moreover, your father was a rebel. And I want to say, from experience, it sounds beautiful only in words. Usually they need to live on something, wear something, and the only thing that distinguishes them from ordinary bandits on the road is that they are not in pursuit of loot, but of some idea. But I'm sorry about your father. Honestly.
"I believe," sighed the kid, a cool little guy after all, "and it's precisely because you're so good that I'm saying it." You won't touch my mom, will you? - I nodded to this question, - I overheard the dialogue between my mother and Suyuki. She was trying to find a way to communicate with earthbenders or rebels. She promised to lead them to you.
Pu-pu-pu. Okay, that doesn't mean anything yet, maybe she was trying to get information about the resistance cell. Only time will decide everything here. If he says it means he's on my side. If he doesn't say it, it means he's warmed the snake on his chest.
"Thank you for the information, Deer," I nodded, letting go of the cold aloofness and seeing how scared the boy was, I said, "your mother, like you, is not in danger, don't worry." By the way, if you need something, go to any warrior and ask. These are my subordinates and they will in no way harm you.
"I know," he smiled with a gap-toothed smile, "some girl in uniform gave me some candy!" And I was just walking by! Can you imagine!
"I really hope that everyone will behave this way," I nodded, I was not able to show emotions - I was too tired, and the information about a possible betrayal crippled me, "I will come back here and the first thing I will do is come to you." Tell me how everything happens here, okay? Oh, and by the way," I remembered, taking out a wallet with a decent amount of money, "this is for you and your mom." For an overnight stay. And for your work in denouncing the evil fire mages, of course," I smiled.
The boy said goodbye and ran home happy, and I stood near the window and stared at the evening sky.
For some reason it was offensive inside. I have little faith that Suyuki was trying to do something for our cause. Most likely she still wants to leak me. This is the most betrayal, but I had no idea what to do with it.
That's it in general.
***
Well, we left the village literally the next morning after the news from Dir.
And now everything is screwed up. I keep a close eye on Suyuki and now I can't even sleep properly while she's on watch—honestly, it's stressful. Of course, it's really too early to draw conclusions: Deer, firstly, whatever one may say, is still a child and could have misunderstood something. Suyuki could have simply been looking for backup options for herself in case we disagreed, as had often happened before.
But my instinct says that this smells like kerosene, and I, the bitch, am used to trusting it. That's exactly what we hope for, and given that there is magic, the world of spirits, and so on, then, apparently, for good reason.
I spent a lot of time on one good idea. When I was cutting with a rapier something that, in theory, I simply shouldn't have, sending a wave of air in front of the piece of iron, an idea came to my mind. What if you enveloped a rapier in air so that it could cut anything without becoming dull?
The idea was good, but how to implement it? At least approximately. I started with a simple thing: I started doing my meditations while holding a rapier in my hands and trying to wrap the breeze that I released around the sword. I couldn't think of a better one.
Well, a couple of times the rapier just blew away. A couple of times I accidentally released flammable gas, a couple of times the rapier got hot from the air and cooled down. In general, nothing happened.
I lack some understanding. I have not yet seen in this world and do not remember from the cartoon that anyone used the elements even slightly indirectly, except for iron armor, but, nevertheless, there is hope. I hope something works out.
In subsequent villages and even towns, things were clearly better than in the very first one. But better doesn't mean it's the way it should be. Everything was carefully documented on pieces of paper and remembered. After a few more days of travel there was already a pile of papers ready to be sent, but we were in no hurry. There were already rumors about hidden inspectors, so we had to look around.
That's what we did. To be honest, we didn't stay in one place for long. Mainly because of Suyuki. In almost every village she went somewhere for some reason. And she became very distant from me. There were no more conversations, no discussions, just business. Moreover, the way her mood fluctuated, it was simply terrifying. Either she is angry, then she behaves like a beaten puppy, then she walks around with a gloomy expression on her face, in general, she is incomprehensible.
Although there is something unclear there. She ratted me out, and now she began to have pangs of conscience, especially because I was doing the right thing. It's just sometimes not as bloodthirsty and one-sided as she wanted. For her, everything is simple: Fire magicians are bad, which means they have to kill some peasant for hitting them.
And the worst thing is, because of my mistake, her opinion of the Fire Nation only declines. And the mistake is that she is a homely girl, one might say, who does not fully understand what war is. She, of course, took part in battles, but it was not a war.
So I came up with an idea on how to correct her opinion about the army. Unfortunately, I won't show anything particularly good at the front, but for the sake of example, can we walk through the villages on the other side?
This is what I actually proposed to the girl, to which she even happily agreed. Well, yes, it's much more convenient to drive me into a trap on the other side of the front. For some reason, I'm too self-confident, but these same magicians could not defeat four, albeit brilliant, children - I'll probably be able to somehow escape with all my luggage. Especially when they try to take me alive. And they will.
But just in case, I sent a signal from the village to my poor fellows with a falcon. They arrived, taking the warriors of Kyoshi, because, surprisingly, according to short correspondence with the main ones whom I appointed, it turns out that the warriors, unlike their leader, are more than satisfied.
Well, it's clear why - they, unlike Suyuki, only punish - it's us, the front watch, who slurp the crap and look at everything not after the fact, immediately condemning the criminals, but only, bitch, we monitor the situation. In fact, without my native breeze in my head, I would hardly be able to control myself.
Yes, this is me reassuring myself that there is no need to kill Suyuki right here, you can understand. But everything depends on her. And from her actions. If she completes her task, I will personally execute her and condemn her according to all laws for desertion. Let's see.
In general, the front line was far from continuous; there were quite roads along which even merchants walked, but how could it be otherwise in a hundred years? It's just that when more active actions begin, people stop going, and some people have relatives on both sides. Someone has a business - many products are cheaper from one line and more expensive from another, and vice versa. Most of the Earth's aristocracy has been collaborating with the Fire Nation for a long time. How could it be otherwise? Security guarantee, huge money, and so on. And even the cities in which certain families live are unlikely to ever turn out to be the front line.
In general, we crossed the line calmly, even unnoticeably. But there was no point. Suyuki waited and waited for something, and was very disappointed when she discovered exactly the same villages. Externally.
But in reality it turned out to be even worse. Food in the villages was already constantly being delivered to the Fire Nation. Various kinds, but there were caravans, bringing things, food, spices: this is a consequence of cheap transport, namely, riding animals. The price is comparable to buying a bicycle when in the nation of Earth, according to our careful inquiries, with a personal car.
Well, and a couple more factors, let's say that the production of various kinds of things on the islands of the Fire Nation is carried out by stamping and in factories, while the people of Earth have only handmade work. Needless to say, how much cheaper clothes and various necessary little things are there?
But the products are cheaper from strawberries, you can't argue with that - they still have too large territories with huge sowing potential. In fact, this is how caravans cross the border: they bring cheap products there, and from there cheap essential goods.
Previously, a lot of metal products had the coat of arms of the Fire Nation printed on them, by the way, but after people realized how huge a market they were losing, namely, no one in the earth nation would use such things, they stopped minting them. And dammit: about a third of the proceeds for almost everything come from the nations of the Earth.
Of course, this is all, as I understand it, I'm sure that local businessmen have learned to screw everyone around no worse than in my world. I just won't go there. I generally paint pictures, I have money. By the way, I should draw a picture, because somehow I neglected this matter with this walk and inspection.
And on the ship there are quite a few paintings lying in a pile. When I get to the master, I'll give him most of it and let him sell it. Yes, and they should take my money. It turns out that the thing is more than necessary. Ha, who would have thought, yes.
So, besides all this, the army of the people of the earth... mmm, looked like ordinary bandits. If the Army of Fire, again, was at least clearly distinguished by the fact that everyone was always wearing a uniform, clean and complete, then here... well, at best, a hat, and then, apparently, from the sun, or some kind of shoulder pads, and so clothes are clothes, often dirty, sometimes torn, and sometimes seemingly good, but as if from someone else's shoulder.
In general, it was difficult to even call it an army. Well, that's understandable, considering how the central government has given up on so many things, the army's supply is suffering and there is something to supply the units sitting in the ass of the world, even at the front, but who cares about some village? They will go around the tenth road.
You can't underestimate the enemy, I'm sure they also have units that, together with the master, will make me sweat. Earth magic in general is quite intense. You won't be able to throw fire or water with small shrapnel no matter how hard you try, but these are the favorite techniques of the Earthlings. And not necessarily directly: a dozen soldiers become and throw such shrapnel in a canopy over a hundred meters, and this is the only way ordinary soldiers can get rid of it in batches. Another thing is that our countermeasures have already been invented and strictly prescribed...
Well, in general, a typical confrontation between sword and shield. They also have to come up with different things against our techniques, fire is also no joke, you know.
After the first village, there was a second and a third, and even a fourth, where the pictures did not change at all, and Suyuki became more and more gloomy. Even more than that: after the first village she stopped going anywhere. Which is definitely a good sign.
But the villages have not changed at all. That is, in general. Outback on outback, in comparison with them even the very first village of Dir could even compete. And the rest, the better ones, could even seem like a city against the backdrop of local earthen boxes, sometimes with roofs and a dozen robbers who hold the city.
When we were leaving the last village and heading to another, an unexpected meeting occurred. With the fucking patrol. I must say, they looked a little better than those sitting in the villages, but they were still the same gang of bandits as the army.
- Hey, boy, what kind of package do you have? — A soldier passing by drew attention to his animals.
"A gift from my father," I said, without turning my head in his direction.
"Show me," the soldier apparently decided to specifically find something to profit from, the rest stood up, taking us in a light semicircle, "let's look at the gift."
- He doesn't have to do this! - Suki went a little overboard with the attack, emotional from what she saw - this is his personal thing.
"Oh, look, what an intercessor," said one of the other earthlings. I still didn't understand whether it was a joke or not, but everyone around me laughed disgustingly, "Let you serve us, and we won't look at what's there?" What do you think?
Judging by the fact that everyone was already looking at her, literally undressing her with their gaze, they were no longer interested in the bundle as such.
- You... what? "Suyuki was literally taken aback, and the soldiers had already begun to jump off their mounts.
"Otherwise, we will find in your boyfriend's package something for which he can be imprisoned or even executed..." One of the soldiers licked his lips, "Come on, beauty, agree, we won't offend you."
"I'm not her boyfriend," I said.
- Ha-ha, but your boyfriend pissed - what kind of backwardness are they? Why do they laugh at every phrase?
"No," I shrugged, taking off the package, "am I afraid of you?" It's just that she's really not my girlfriend, but my subordinate. By the way, I am Captain Aki of the Fire Nation army. Nice to meet you.
And when they neighed, I struck the first blow with my rapier. It took no more than thirty seconds to kill the entire group; not only do they, in principle, not pose a threat to me, but they were also not at all prepared for such a development of events.
"And these are soldiers..." said the lost Suyuki, who just stood there lost. Her ideas about the world finally began to be trampled into the dirt. I thought I wouldn't overpower her, and she would remain everywhere with her undoubtedly correct opinion.
"Do you remember Fire Nation soldiers acting like this?" — I raised one eyebrow, wiping my rapier on the trouser leg of one of the corpses with a familiar gesture, "and I don't." Only in the first village did we run into complete chaos. Do you remember that a dozen soldiers came to our fire? Did anyone allow themselves something extra? No, because among them there were three girls who, even if such a seditious thought flashed through one of them, would quickly tear off the idiot's balls. The difference is precisely in such details. That's how the Fire Nation attacked, once upon a time, and little by little, you understand why.
Suyuki just remained silent and watched as thick, viscous blood soaked the dry ground.
— Are we going to bury them?
- For what? - I shrugged my shoulder, putting the rapier into its sheath and turning away from Suyuki, - not our territory, not our soldiers, and even animal bodies will be taken away. And perhaps it's time for us to go to our front line. During the day, the patrol will already begin to look for them - after all, they are not complete idiots sitting there, but they have good sniffers, and they can find them in the village. And there is absolutely no desire to start really active military operations together.
Actually, said and done: after checking the map and compass, we headed towards the border. True, as I later realized, we made a very good mistake by choosing the shortest path - the perpendicular. Because before this our road was a curved line from the border and, it turns out, we actually pass through the area of the same lands.
Somewhere at a not very great distance from the border, literally about three hours later, our road was sharply blocked by a wall of earth. And soldiers began to emerge from the bushes around us.
This time they were not pathetic robbers. Dressed strictly in uniform with their own addition, barefoot - a distinctive feature, by the way, of good earthbenders - with stern faces, all as if they were picking up a block, not a single one was overweight or underweight.
No underestimation, everyone immediately stood up in fighting poses, some close right next to them, some far away, having prepared stones. The seriousness was at the level and somehow, judging by the readiness for battle, it didn't matter to them whether they took us alive or dead.
- And here is our Kira. Captain Aki and the Inspector," he read, revealingly from the piece of paper, the sight of which made Suyuki turn pale.
Hmm, great. Just great.