Chapter-75

"Brat!" The girls panicked as they saw the giant charging toward Rina. Some attempted to rush to help her, but they wouldn't arrive in time. Among them was Caede, who felt the world stand still as the mercenary raised his axe, threatening to harm the girl.

Terrified, Rina closed her eyes and shielded herself. Suddenly, there was a loud noise, and when she opened her eyes, Zu was in front of her, grabbing the attacker's wrist and using his own force to toss him out onto the street, where he crashed to the ground.

With a stern face, the girl descended a few steps to the street, drawing the attention of passersby and the girls from the brothel. Caede instinctively held Rina in her arms.

"Damn bitch!" The giant pounded the ground in anger, then scrambled to retrieve his axe. He yelled and swung at the girl, aiming to cut her in half with a downward strike. But she evaded it effortlessly, sidestepping the attack with grace.

His anger flared, and he unleashed a series of blows with his weapon, but she gracefully dodged each one as if it were a child's game. She moved nimbly, like a skilled dancer.

"Did you know she could do that?" Haru asked one of the older women from the brothel. Caede seemed as surprised as the rest.

"No," Caede replied in disbelief, watching the stranger's movements, which appeared to require little effort.

After about five minutes of fighting, the mercenary couldn't keep a hold of his axe. Azula took advantage of that moment and landed a powerful punch that knocked several of his teeth out.

He rolled on the ground, trying to stand, but a forceful kick to his stomach made him drop his axe. Dazed, he tried to fight back, but Azula grabbed his wrist, jumped behind him, and with a loud snap, broke his right arm.

The sound made the onlookers cringe, and the mercenary screamed in pain. When he attempted to get up, Azula pressed her foot on his neck and took his other arm, wearing an almost evil grin.

"What's the matter? Where's your anger?"

"You... Ahhhhh!" His yells grew louder as she began bending his other arm in the opposite direction.

"You need a lesson in manners."

Azula felt a rush of power having this defeated man at her feet.

"... or maybe that's too good for you," Azula whispered darkly, making sure only the mercenary could hear her. She increased the pressure of her foot on his neck, making it seem like it might snap like a dry branch. "End your life. I'll sleep soundly tonight..."

"Zu, stop it!"

Azula stopped before she could break the mercenary's neck. Looking up, she saw Rina, who had a look of panic and fear. The firebender stood still for several seconds, then slowly moved her foot away from the man's neck and crouched down to take his coin pouch from his belt.

"Never come back here, or next time you won't be so lucky." With that threat, the princess walked away from the wounded man, who was attended to by some earthbender soldiers that had come to investigate the commotion.

"Who started the riot?" One of the teachers asked, looking suspiciously at Azula who remained standing where she was.

"It was that man!" Haru pointed at the mercenary, and several other girls began to scream. It didn't take long for the soldiers to grab the mercenary and take him away.

Azula could hear their footsteps as they circled her until she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you," Caede said. The two exchanged a brief handshake and parted.

"That was amazing, Zu!"

"You showed him!"

"You're a hero!"

"Teach us your moves!"

Azula was overwhelmed by the shower of compliments and the smiles of all the girls surrounding her. They patted her on the back and even hugged her, all with beaming smiles.

But as someone tugged on her sleeve, she looked down and saw a shy Rina.

"Thank you for protecting me, Zu."

Azula's stoic demeanor remained, but the girl's smile stirred a strange feeling in her chest. She didn't respond with words, just allowed the little waterbender to take her hand and guide her back inside the building.

It had been a long day.

….

"Hey, that was mine!"

"If you fall asleep, you lose~"

"No wonder you're so heavy."

"What? Heavy?!"

"Someone has to do this week's shopping; we're making good money these days, so we can treat ourselves."

"Please, Caede! I need toilet paper! I'm tired of using the bucket!"

"Psss~ You act like you use it all the time."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you want a clean backside? Wash it thoroughly."

"Shut up! I'm eating, and hearing about Fomy's backside makes me lose my appetite."

"Excuse me? They say I have the best backside here."

"All men love plump, soft butts."

"Your grandma's got a plump, soft butt!"

"Get your hands off me!"

"Back off!"

"No!"

"SILENCE!"

Caede's shout filled the dining room, causing all the girls to quiet down and return to their meals. Nobody wanted to experience her wrath; her muscular arms were fearsome.

Sitting between Haru and Rina, Azula was clearly annoyed by the noise and chaos in this rough place. She wondered why she was still here.

"Is this what every day is like?" She asked, voicing her frustration.

"Yes! Isn't it fun?" Rina replied, her eagerness for breakfast undeterred. It was the reason she hadn't left the place yesterday, although she couldn't explain why.

Was it because she liked Azula?

Did she feel indebted for the princess saving her life?

Or maybe she simply wanted to be near her...

She hoped it was the latter two.

"So... Who taught you to fight?" Haru inquired, wanting to strike up a conversation.

"Various masters and some self-taught skills," Azula responded vaguely as she received her breakfast: rice and eggs, a decent start to the day.

"Well, watching you fight was amazing. I bet you've never lost a fight."

"I have. I've lost to... a boy."

"Oh~? A tough ex-boyfriend?"

Azula gave Haru an odd look, and the waterbender responded with a playful grin.

"Don't make that face, you have that sparkle in your eyes, it was someone who left a mark on your heart, right?"

"…"

"Tell me what are you going to do the next time you see him?"

"I'm going to rip his head off"

Several of the girls had a chill because of the cold look and gloomy voice that the new girl had.

The new girl's icy and threatening tone sent shivers down the spines of several girls.

"All girls who've been wronged say that," Haru casually commented. She didn't seem to notice the intensity of Azula's gaze. Instead, she patted Azula on the back. "I wanted to get back at my first boyfriend when he cheated on me... and I did."

If Azula's smile was unsettling, Haru's grin was wicked. Other girls shuffled their chairs away from them. Meanwhile, Rina just tilted her head, not fully understanding her sister's words.

"I'm not in love with him," Azula growled, realizing Haru's intentions, and she shook her head.

"Don't deny it. You're just delaying the inevitable. You know what we'll do? We'll confront him. We'll tie him up and show him that the best thing for him is to be at your feet, begging for your affection." Haru took out a notebook from her pocket and began sketching out whatever plan was forming in her mind. "What's he like? Tall and thin? Short and chubby? Attractive and foolish? Ugly but clever? Young or old?"

"He's twelve."

"Oh... I won't judge. Besides, he'll grow up."

"Haru is quite the character," Rina commented, looking at her sister who was always the most eccentric and vengeful among the group.

"Tell me something I don't know." Caede sighed and shrugged her shoulders, knowing that changing this girl was impossible. She was a good person, but her approach left much to be desired. "It's time for you to go to school."

"Alright!" Finishing her breakfast, the girl excitedly scurried through the hallways to find her backpack and head to school.

"Can you accompany her?" Caede knew that the young waterbender had taken a liking to the new arrival. She saw no harm in the two getting closer, and it was a good way to ensure Rina's safe journey to school.

"Yes." Having gained a reprieve from the uncomfortable conversation with the neurotic and quirky woman, Azula got up from her chair to accompany the girl who was already at the door, eager to leave. With a sigh, Azula went along to escort her.

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