ATLA: Azlua

Project Phoenix

Mai raised an eyebrow. "Right. That's why you're staring at a map like it insulted you."

Azula shot her a glance, the faintest smirk tugging at her lips. "Careful, Mai. Your humor is showing."

"I can stop," Mai said dryly. She straightened, folding her arms. "But seriously, you've been brooding since Jai Yu blocked you in court. If you're this rattled by him, maybe you should delegate dealing with him to someone else."

Azula's smirk faded. "It's not about being rattled. It's about showing strength." She paused, her gaze hardening. "He's a symbol, Mai. If I can't control him, it sends a message that I'm not in control of the Fire Nation."

Mai studied her carefully. "Or it sends a message that you're wasting time on one man when you could be focusing on the bigger picture."

Azula turned to face her fully, her golden eyes narrowing. "And what would you suggest? Ignoring him while he undermines everything I'm trying to build?"

"No," Mai said simply. "But you don't have to do it alone. You have allies. Use them."

Azula scoffed softly, though there was no venom in it. "Allies," she repeated. "I've never been good at relying on people."

Mai shrugged. "Maybe it's time to start. You don't have to take down Jai Yu today. Focus on what you can control."

For a moment, the room was silent except for the crackle of the torches. Azula's expression softened, just slightly. "I'll think about it," she said at last, her tone grudging but sincere.

"That's all I ask," Mai replied, giving a faint smile. She stepped back from the table. "Try not to stay here all night."

Azula watched as Mai left, the sound of the door closing behind her echoing in the empty room. She sighed, running a hand through her hair. Maybe Mai was right. Maybe.

Captain Shen's Investigation

The tunnels beneath the Fire Palace were damp and dimly lit, the flickering of oil lamps casting long shadows on the stone walls. Captain Shen moved with purpose, his steps silent despite the weight of his mission. He entered a small chamber tucked deep within the labyrinthine passages, a place reserved for the Fire Nation's most secretive work.

Scrolls and ledgers were spread across a table, their edges curling with age. Shen's sharp eyes scanned the documents as he worked, his gloved hands carefully flipping through pages. The ledger he'd uncovered earlier that day sat open before him, its cryptic symbols and irregular fund movements hinting at something far larger than he'd initially suspected.

Shen's mind raced. The ledger pointed to shipments heading to remote locations, all under the guise of legitimate trade. But the quantities didn't add up, and the destinations were curiously vague. He pulled out another scroll, cross-referencing it with the ledger. A pattern began to emerge—one that pointed directly to Jai Yu's faction.

As he worked, the faint sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor outside. Shen froze, his hand instinctively moving to defensive posture. The footsteps grew louder, then stopped just outside the chamber. The door creaked open, and a messenger stepped inside, bowing deeply.

"Captain Shen," the messenger said, his voice low. "The Fire Lord has summoned you."

Shen nodded, his expression unreadable. He gathered the ledger and scrolls, tucking them carefully into a satchel. "Tell her I'm on my way."

The messenger departed, and Shen lingered for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he considered his findings. Whatever Jai Yu was planning, it wasn't just a simple power grab. This was calculated, expansive. And if Azula wanted to outmaneuver him, she would need every detail Shen could uncover.

With that thought, Shen stepped into the corridor, his footsteps echoing as he ascended toward the palace above.

--

The air in Azula's private chamber was heavy with the scent of candle wax and ink. The Fire Lord sat at her desk, its surface littered with documents and maps. Her expression was sharp, her golden eyes fixed on Captain Shen, who stood at attention before her, his posture as rigid and disciplined as his reputation demanded.

"You have something for me, Captain?" Azula's voice was low but carried the weight of command.

"Yes, Fire Lord," Shen replied, stepping forward and placing a thick, weathered ledger on her desk. "This was recovered from one of the nobles close to Jai Yu's inner circle. Their security was minimal, and my team was able to infiltrate without detection."

Azula raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly. "Minimal security? That's careless for nobles aligned with someone as meticulous as Jai Yu."

Shen nodded, his face unreadable. "It struck me as odd as well. The ledger was hidden within the stonework of their library—a concealed compartment behind a false panel. It wasn't an easy find, but we managed."

Azula's fingers drummed lightly on the desk as she studied the ledger. Its worn leather cover suggested frequent use, but the faint scent of freshly dried ink hinted at recent tampering. She opened it, her eyes scanning the pages, her expression unreadable as she traced her fingers over the text.

The contents were a mix of mundane inventory logs and heavily encrypted entries, their meaning obscured by layers of codes and symbols. Her mind worked quickly, piecing together fragments of what she could decipher. The details hinted at smuggling—routes, quantities, and payments—but nothing definitive. Nothing that pointed directly to Jai Yu.

"It's incomplete," Azula said, her voice clipped as she closed the ledger. "Encrypted records, vague references... even if this points to smuggling, it doesn't connect Jai Yu directly. If I were to bring this to him, he'd simply discard the ones responsible and absolve himself of any involvement."

Shen remained silent, his hands clasped behind his back. He knew better than to interrupt her when she was processing information.

Azula's eyes narrowed as she turned the ledger over in her hands, inspecting the spine, the edges, the faint scratches on the cover. Something about it felt too convenient. After months of clean records and dead ends, this ledger had practically fallen into her lap. The timing was suspicious—too perfect, too easy.

She set it down on the desk and leaned back, her gaze shifting to Shen. "You're dismissed. Monitor the nobles closely, but do not act unless I give the order. And ensure your presence remains undetected."

Shen bowed deeply. "As you command, Fire Lord." He turned and exited the chamber with the same silent precision he had entered, leaving Azula alone with her thoughts.

She picked up the ledger again, her fingers lingering on its surface. Every time she looked at it, her distrust deepened. It wasn't just the convenience of its discovery—it was the way it had been left in a place where it could be found. The nobles close to Jai Yu weren't fools. They wouldn't make a mistake this obvious unless they wanted her to find it.

"This is bait," she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible over the crackle of the brazier in the corner of the room. Her mind raced with possibilities. If this was a trap, then acting on the ledger could lead her straight into Jai Yu's hands. He could discredit her, paint her as paranoid, or worse—manipulate the situation to strengthen his own position.

Azula's lips curled into a faint smirk. You think you can play me, Jai Yu? she thought. I won't take the bait, but I will wait. And when I'm sure, you'll be mine.

She set the ledger aside, her fingers brushing against the cold metal of her seal. For now, she would bide her time. Patience was a weapon as sharp as any blade, and she intended to wield it with precision.

Azula rose from her chair, her eyes drifting to the map on the wall. The Fire Nation's territories stretched wide, its dominion vast but fragile. There were cracks in the foundation, but they were cracks she could mend. One by one, she would secure her position—starting with Jai Yu.

With a deep breath, she extinguished the candles and left the chamber, her mind already plotting her next move.