76 Chapter-76

Azula observed as the local children dashed toward the small town school, their faces beaming, playing together like old friends, eager to attend the place where they could learn and grow together.

This kind of life was unfamiliar to the princess. She had been educated by analytical teachers in her grand mansion. Her interactions with Ty Lee and Mai were strategic, like positioning chess pieces that never truly moved.

Did she ever have friends?

Did she ever play childhood games?

Recollections of dreary parties her father had arranged came to mind. Pushing their children to befriend her, the parents aimed to get closer to the Fire Lord through her.

She despised being used in such a way.

"..." Azula glanced down to find Rina clutching her hand tightly. Following her gaze, she spotted a group of older girls who turned around and laughed, pointing fingers at them.

"Look who's here."

"She's that strange girl from the dirty brothel."

"Dad says they'd do anything for coins, how disgusting."

"Mom says everyone there is filthy."

"I wouldn't be surprised if Rina ends up being a... lady of the night."

Feeling Rina's hand grip hers even tighter, Azula saw the sadness in the young waterbender's eyes. In silence, Rina released her hand and headed towards the school's entrance when the bell rang.

Azula's eyes returned to the group of girls who had insulted Rina. Anger surged within her veins. She didn't care that these kids were not even 12 yet. She felt a burning desire to teach them a lesson, perhaps a fractured bone or two might make it more entertaining.

A sinister grin crept across her face. She began to approach them, intending to "have some fun." She moved slowly, making sure not to arouse suspicion. She was willing to take her time, to ensure nobody noticed. A few broken bones might add some enjoyment.

"See you later, Zu!"

Before she could reach them, Rina rushed back and embraced Azula tightly, wrapping her arms around her waist. Azula stiffened in surprise as the young girl clung to her for a long hug, ending with a bright, pure smile. Rina finally released her and dashed to her classroom.

"..." Azula stood there, watching as Rina greeted her teacher and other children with pure joy, including the group of girls who had slandered her. She greeted them cheerfully, while they simply ignored her.

Why did he bother to even smile at these people?

That question weighed on Azula's mind all day. She didn't even notice how many hours she had spent wandering around the town. It wasn't until she checked the time on a sundial that she realized it was time to go and find the girl.

The walk back to the school seemed slower than usual. She observed several children with their parents on their way home. Apparently, she was running later than she thought. Pacing a bit faster, she arrived at the school, but it was already closed. Frowning, she noticed that the same group of kids from before was leaving an alley, and she quickly made her way there.

What she witnessed made Azula clench her fists so tightly that her knuckles almost bled.

Rina, looking gloomy and disheveled, was slowly picking up her belongings from the ground and placing them back into her backpack. Everything had been scattered in a dirty puddle. She was dirtied, her clothes disheveled, and it was evident she had been pushed around and knocked to the ground, causing her clothes and face to be covered in dirt. It was a distressing scene to witness.

"Hello, Zu..." Rina greeted with a bitter smile, picking herself up from the ground. She gently used her waterbending to remove the dirt and moisture from her clothes and school supplies. With care, she straightened her rumpled attire. "Please, don't tell Caede about this."

"I'm going to make them pay..." Azula's willingness to confront each of those kids and confront them with physical violence was growing. She had seldom felt so angry before.

She wanted to retaliate, against each and every one of them.

"Don't say such things," the girl offered a small, melancholic smile and smoothed her hair.

"This is not something to dismiss!" Rina was taken aback by Azula's loud outburst. She had never seen the firebender this furious. "How can you allow them to treat you this way? Use this water!" Azula stomped her foot into the puddle at her feet, splashing water. "Use it to fight back! Make them pay for what they've done to you!"

"Why should I?"

"Why would you even ask that?!" Azula was baffled that Rina could ask such a question. She grabbed the girl by her dress and forced her to look into her eyes. "If they hit you, you hit back! If they attack you, you fight back ten times harder! Don't be afraid to defend yourself!"

"I'm not afraid..." Rina smiled gently, remaining calm as she gazed into the firebender's eyes. "Why should I be scared of those girls? If I feel anything, it's just... sadness. I'm sad to see that they're taking their frustrations out on me, tormenting me, and trying to make me feel bad, simply because they have their own problems."

"..."

"Gyro's father is an earthbender who works for the army. He often comes home angry and abuses his wife. Gyro has to wear long-sleeved clothes to hide the marks."

"…"

"Ryama has an older brother who abuses her, treats her like a servant in his own home. She has no parents; they died months ago when they crossed paths with firebenders."

"…"

"Towa... her father abuses her. It's been happening several times since her mother left because she couldn't take it anymore. I pray every night for her mother to return one day and take her away from her father."

"..." Azula released Rina, causing her to fall to the ground and her school supplies to scatter again. The girl simply knelt to pick them up. "You allow them to use you as a punching bag for their frustrations? Is that what you do?" Azula was solely concerned with Rina; she didn't care about what each of these girls was enduring.

"No, I want to help them. That's why I always try to talk to them, because I want to help... I've told Gyro that she can report her father to the militia. He would end up in jail, and she and her mother could live without the fear of being beaten. I've told Ryoma that I can send some letters to orphanages on her behalf and request that her brother be taken into custody. I'm sure she could find a good family to adopt her. I've also told Towa to speak up, to tell everything about what her father does to her. Her mother would help her and get her out of there; they'd both find happiness."

All of Rina's words were filled with hope, that one day they might allow themselves to be helped. However, beneath that hope, there was pain.

With her hair covering her eyes, small tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked at the marks on her arms from the hits those girls had dealt her. She observed how they had broken a part of her dresser and dirtied her school supplies.

"I don't understand... Why?" Azula was perplexed. She couldn't comprehend why someone would help those who had hurt her. Why would you aid those who rejected you, insulted you, and inflicted harm? Why was this girl so determined to help people who seemingly weren't worth it?

"Because we all need help sometimes, even when we don't ask for it. We'll always need someone to lend a hand in our darkest moments." Rina wiped away the tears that had gathered in her eyes and gave Azula a bright and pure smile. She held Azula's hand tightly, and they walked together. "And I love helping people!"

The two walked out of the alley, hand in hand, with Rina leading the way, smiling as she pulled Azula with her. It was time to go home.

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