1 Chapter 1 - Haji

The fiery wind shrieked when a fireball, the size of a bench, flew in the air. It launched towards a bare-chested young man, who stood fearlessly in front of the threatening fire. He formed a defensive posture as the fire neared him, perfectly deflecting it and leaving him untouched.

"Is this all you can do? Pathetic." The young man taunted, his hand gestured for his opponent to come once more.

Another bare-chested man stood opposite, Dazi, the opponent of the young man, lunged forward while shouting fiercely "Haji, you bastard!"

Haji smiled at the success of his provocation, he lunged forward as well and the two exchanged fists. Fire came whenever they strike, but it was apparent that Dazi's stamina was running low, each of his strikes was perfectly dodged by Haji, yet he could barely do the same as time passed by.

A few moves later, the fight had already turned one-sided, Haji had landed a successive number of punches on Dazi's face. The crowd laughed at the sight of his playful banter, cheering and jeering at the fight.

"Quite a sight when Haji dominates his opponents every match, isn't it entertaining, father?" A middle-aged woman laughed, while an old man stood uprightly beside her. The woman's features resembled Haji, she looked alluring with her hair tied up and a typical noble dress complimented her motherly charm.

The old man beside the woman donned a general's armor, his grey old hair was tied into a top-knot and his presence garnered attention from the crowd, as he is a famed general of their nation.

"The match should have already been finished if the boy just used firebending arts instead of punching playfully." Her father, Bujing, spoke seriously although he had a wide grin, seemingly, proud of his grandson.

Cheon, Haji's mother, glanced at Dazi's face then looked weirdly at her father, she said in a bewildered manner, "I think that's not at the level of playful punches, father, look at his opponent's face. I wonder what level of damage is the word, serious, for you?"

"Of course, it's when the opponent could not stand nor speak." Bujing said laughingly, "Back in my days, I'd burn my foes' hands and feet, leaving some crippled or dead."

His words left Cheon speechless, she could only shake her head and resume focus on the match.

When Haji was about to hurl a fire-jab, Dazi retreated backward and clumsily formed a shield of fire in front of him. Narrowly defending himself from the continuous launches of fireballs. He was being slowly pushed back and when the array of fireballs ended, he retreated backward once more.

Unfortunately, the fatigue had ridden his senses weak, at the moment he landed on the ground, a stream of fire came in front. Dazi was not able to protect himself this time, and the fire burned him furiously.

Ear-piercing cheers along with Dazi's painful shrieks filled the arena, an observer appeared in the ring, making the crown silent in anticipation. The observer walked in front of the burning Dazi, and extinguished the fire with his manipulation skills.

"Haji, child of the dosa clan, winner of the Agni kai!" The observer shouted after inspecting Dazi, who was barely breathing.

The crowd roared with cheers once more at the loud announcement of their favorite duelist's victory. It was quite a sight, they joyfully laughed at the dying man, showing off the ruthlessness of the fire nation's citizens.

"Look at these cheering fools, I wonder what they'd look like if they were the one laying on the ground." Haji sneered, gazing around the whole arena, and imprinting the crowds' look in his mind. Then his gaze turned towards the half-dead Dazi, "This is why I hate lovesick fools."

When Haji left the arena, a carriage pulled by a dragon moose awaited him. There, Cheon smilingly looked at him from the window, gesturing for him to hurry up. "Where's grandfather?" Haji asked, sitting in front of his mother.

Cheon answered him, "Your grandfather left for the palace. Also, he was very proud of you as always, leaving with words that he'd bring a gift on his return later."

"Will it be another golden jewelry, or a beautiful girl this time?" Haji asked teasingly, rubbing both his hands with a lecherous look shown in his face, a lot different from his previous stoic expression.

If the love-struck girls were to see him like this, how disappointed would they be? Cheon thought while gazing at her child. Her boy was once an obedient kid but he was failing in his academics and in firebending skills, to the point of being deemed dumb and worthless in the academy. However, one day inside his room, Haji had a sudden seizure in his room, shaking and foaming profusely. After his seizure, Haji lay unmoving yet breathing on his bed. The day after, the boy woke up and he who had never even lay hands on a book started reading one. He also started to act more mature than his age, while also randomly spouting lecherous remarks from time to time.

"How I've told you to stop with your careless words, what would people think if they'd hear you talk like that?" Said Cheon, her tone turned into one of a mother disciplining her child, "And how dare you talk about wanting a girl in front of your own mother. Do not act like your bastard of a father, and you should treat a woman with respect."

Haji sat silently, avoiding his mother's gaze while she spoke in outrage. I forgot to remind myself again to stop joking in front of my mother... He thought, looking at the scenery outside the carriage.

"Why did you need to inherit that unpleasant trait from your father…" Cheon mumbled, and kept silent right after, ignoring her son while angered.

The awkward atmosphere between the two kept going until they reached the family's mansion, to which Haji apologized and reconciled with his mother before locking himself up in his room. Haji had a hot shower before resting lazily on his king-size bed, wrapping himself up with a thick blanket. He slept soundly even with the aching pain from overstraining himself during the match.

Night had passed by and the morning sun had once again risen from its slumber. Haji woke up with dried saliva around his lips, and his mind was still disoriented from awakening. He wore a school attire after washing his face, and then walked towards their dining hall, sitting beside his mother. His grandfather seemed to have left early in the morning, but did not forget to leave a golden ring as a congratulatory gift for him.

"Another expensive gift from grandfather, hehe." Haji praised, fiddling with the ring in his hand.

Cheon reprimanded, "Focus on your food first."

Haji nodded and wore the ring on his right hand's middle finger before continuing to munch on his food, consisting of a porridge and a loaf. The flavorful taste had always packed him a sensational taste, and the wide variety of spices used reminded him of the past. Delight showed every time he munched, and with that, the meal was finished in no time.

"Thanks for the meal. I'm off to school, mother." Haji stood up and bowed to his mother, leaving in haste.

He could hear his mother's voice from behind, "The carriage is ready outside, stay safe!"