*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
˚ ₊ ♡ ❰  MIRACULUM ❱
*✧ ─── ❝ ❪ TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS
OF THE LOWER CLASS ❫ ❞

⋆ 🌪. CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
˚ ₊ ♡ 112 a.a ─── book two: earth

WHEN UKI AWOKE THE MORNING AFTER HER RATHER BOILING CONVERSATION WITH ZUKO, SHE BELIEVED THAT whatever semblance of peace that had settled between them was shattered. Stifling silence had loomed in their Earth Kingdom home ever since they had sat down across from each other during breakfast—clearly unnoticed by Iroh who jubilantly prepared tea and served them a heartfelt broth.

"How did you sleep nephew?" Iroh wondered innocently.

Before Zuko could muster a reply, Uki cut in with a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Probably like a baby," she said sweetly, her voice laced with sarcasm as she shot Zuko a pointed look, "since he acts like one every second of the day."

The words hung in the air for a moment, charged with a biting humor that sent a shiver down Zuko's spine. The cup he had been holding in his hand shattered with a loud crack, spilling tea across the table as he glared at Uki.

Uki, with her smug little smirk, leaned back in her seat, her arms folding across her chest. She met his furious gaze unflinchingly

Iroh snort only made the firebender's scowl deepen.

Zuko scoffed, and pushed himself up form his seated position and disappeared with heavy footfalls in his and Iroh's room.

Iroh watched Zuko leave, a knowing glint in his eye. His gaze then shifted back to Uki, who still sat at the table, a devious grin plastered across her face, clearly pleased with herself.

"What?" Uki asked, her tone sharp as she noticed the look Iroh was giving her—one that she couldn't quite place but somehow knew wasn't entirely innocent.

"Oh, nothing," Iroh said, waving it off with a playful smile. "You two just remind me of myself and my late wife."

Uki froze mid-sip, her hand shaking just slightly as she stared at Iroh in shock. The next thing she knew, she had choked on the tea she had been drinking, the liquid splashing down her chin. She sputtered, wiping it away quickly, her face flushing in embarrassment and surprise. "Your jokes need work Iroh." Uki deflected, turning away from the elder man. She quickly finished the last of her broth, setting the empty bowl down before pushing herself to her feet.

"I'm going out." She announced swiftly, already reaching for her bag. She barely heard Iroh's amused hum before she was out the door, stepping onto the bustling streets of Ba Sing Se.

The morning sun hung low in the sky, its golden light warming her tan skin as she took a deep breath.

Securing her bag over her shoulder and adjusting the dark sash around her waist, Uki set off with a determined stride. The university.

While working at Pao's teashop had been mind-numbingly dull—aside from the occasional interesting customer—one conversation had made the whole ordeal worth it.

A group of young adults had come in afternoon, dressed in far finer clothes than most in the Lower Ring, their mannerisms stiff and refined. Uki had barely paid them any mind at first, their droning chatter background noise that nearly lulled her to sleep until they mentioned exams and professors.

She'd nearly spilled a pot of tea in her haste to listen in, catching only fragmented pieces—ancient texts, scholars who specialized in interpreting ancient text: a library filled with knowledge few ever had access to.

It felt like fate was nudging her.

Uki could only hope she would be able to find out more about the Avatar guides—about Atka and Niyahitha.

Now, weaving her way through the crowded streets, she kept her head high, her movements purposeful. She had memorized the directions given to her, though getting from the Lower Ring to the Middle Ring was no simple task.

The walls dividing the city loomed ahead, an oppressive reminder of the structure and control Ba Sing Se prided itself on. She had to squeeze past carts and impatient travelers as she approached the gate, watching as a line of people waited for clearance to pass through.

She kept her breathing steady. The last thing she needed was to look suspicious.

When her turn came, she presented her forged identification, the one Iroh had arranged for all of them. The guard barely spared her a glance before waving her through, and Uki let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

The Middle Ring was noticeably different. The streets were cleaner, the buildings taller, their architecture elegant in a way that made her feel like she stood out more than she liked.

The university came into view after another stretch of walking. It was larger than she had imagined, its entrance guarded by towering pillars and intricate stonework. Students in finely woven robes wandered in and out, some carrying stacks of books, others engaged in deep conversation.

For a moment, Uki hesitated at the base of the steps.

Steeling herself, she climbed the steps, pushing past the nervous energy coiling in her gut. She approached what looked like the main administrative building, stepping through the carved wooden doors into a quiet, dimly lit hall. A desk sat near the entrance, an elderly man in deep green robes sitting behind it, flipping through a large scroll.

Uki straightened her posture, clearing her throat. "Excuse me," she began, keeping her voice steady. "I'd like to inquire about gaining access to your library."

The man barely looked up. "Students only," he said dismissively, rolling up his scroll.

Uki furrowed her brows. "I'd be willing to pay for a temporary pass."

Now, he did glance at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. He took in her simple clothes, her well-worn bag, the way she carried herself—not as a scholar, but as someone who didn't belong.

"There are no temporary passes," he said firmly. "If you wish to access the university's resources, you must be a student. Applications for admission are closed for the year."

Uki's lips parted slightly. "But—"

"You should leave," he cut in before she could finish, already turning his attention back to his work.

Embarrassment burned beneath her skin.

Fists clenched at her sides, she turned on her heel and walked out, shoulders tense, heart pounding. The cool air of the Middle Ring greeted her as she stepped back onto the university steps, but it did nothing to ease the sting of rejection.

She had expected a challenge.

She hadn't expected a wall.

"That looked painful."

Uki whirled around and came face to face with an Earth Kingdom boy—his hair a muddy brown, seemingly tousled by the wind. He wore a casual grin as he observed her.

Her posture straightened, a hopeful glint in her eyes. "Are you a student here?"

His smile broadened, almost in a smirk but she chose to ignore that. "I am—the name is Yuanyun."

Uki's heart kicked up a little, a flicker of hope slipping past her lingering embarrassment. If he was a student, maybe he could help her.

She eyed the books tucked in his arm—worn at the edges, well-used, their spines lined with gold-inked calligraphy. Some looked like historical texts, others like records or teachings.

"Yuanyun," she repeated, testing the name. "You wouldn't happen to know how a non-student could get into the university library, would you?"

Yuanyun's grin didn't falter, but there was a glint of amusement in his dark eyes, like he was enjoying some private joke. "That depends," he mused, shifting the books in his grip. "Are you asking because you have a deep love of scholarly pursuits?"

Uki crossed her arms. "I'm asking because I need information."

He let out a small laugh, shaking his head.

Her patience, already worn thin by the rejection inside, threatened to snap. "Look, if you don't want to help—"

"I never said that." He lifted a hand, cutting her off with a teasing lilt in his voice. "I was just curious about your... determination." His gaze flickered back toward the administrative building. "They turned you away pretty quickly. You must've stood out."

Uki tensed, instinctively adjusting the sash at her waist. She didn't like that. Didn't like that people could see she wasn't from here—that she didn't belong.

"I just asked the wrong person," she said stiffly.

Yuanyun hummed, considering her. "Well, since I happen to be one of the right people, maybe I can point you in the right direction."

She narrowed her eyes. "What's the catch?"

His smirk deepened. "Smart. There's always a catch." He rocked back on his heels, tilting his head as if weighing his next words. "How about a favor?"

"Depends on what this favor entails?" She crossed her arms.

He shrugged, "I don't know yet...so how about it?" He held his hand out.

Uki bit her bottom lip before taking his hand in her own.

"Glad to do business with you..."

"Lian." The fake name felt foreign on her tongue.

Yuanyun grinned, testing the name. "Lian." He let it settle, then, with a sudden burst of exaggerated familiarity, slung an arm around her shoulder. "Follow me, my young scholar."

Uki stiffened, suppressing the urge to shove him off. Instead, she let herself be guided, falling into step beside him as they weaved through the university grounds.

The library loomed ahead, a grand structure with towering pillars and sloping jade-green rooftops. It was quieter than the rest of the university.

At the entrance, two scholars in simple brown robes stepped out, chatting in low voices before disappearing down the path. A guard was stationed by the heavy wooden doors, his expression bored but alert.

Yuanyun steered her casually to the side, lowering his voice. "Normally, you'd need an official scroll to enter. Only students and faculty are allowed access."

Uki frowned. "Then how do you plan on getting me in?"

He grinned, unbothered. "I have my ways."

Before she could ask what that meant, he was already moving, leading her towards a smaller side door tucked beneath an arched hallway. The entrance was less guarded—no sentries, just a single scholar disappearing inside with an armful of scrolls.

Yuanyun quickened his pace, grabbing Uki's wrist and pulling her with him. "Stay close and keep your head down."

She followed without protest, slipping through the door just as it creaked shut behind them.

Inside, the scent of parchment and aged ink filled the air, mingling with the faint mustiness of old wood. Towering bookshelves lined the walls, stretching so high that ladders were needed to reach the uppermost scrolls. The library was dimly lit, the glow of lanterns flickering against polished floors.

Yuanyun moved with practiced ease, nodding at passing students and scholars as if he belonged. Uki mimicked his confidence, keeping her posture relaxed despite the way her heart pounded.

He led her deeper, past study tables where students hunched over open scrolls, past rows of meticulously cataloged texts.

Uki studied the rows of carefully bound tomes and scrolls. Some were marked with golden calligraphy, others with faded ink nearly rubbed away with age. She reached for the nearest one, her fingers brushing against the cool, worn parchment. The title was unfamiliar, but something about it called to her.

Before she could pull it free, Yuanyun placed a hand over hers.

"Not here," he whispered. "Not yet."

Uki gave him a sharp look. "Why not?"

He tilted his head toward a shadowed corner of the library.

Following his gaze, Uki's breath hitched.

A man in dark robes stood between the shelves, his back half-turned. His posture was stiff, his attention locked onto a single scroll in his hands. But it wasn't his presence alone that set Uki's nerves alight—it was the way his movements were too controlled, too deliberate.

The way he subtly glanced around, as if watching.

A member of the Dai Li.

Yuanyun's grip on her wrist tightened slightly. "They monitor what people read," he muttered under his breath. "Too much interest in the wrong history... and people start disappearing."

Uki swallowed hard and retracted her hand.

She had gotten inside.

But getting what she needed—and getting out—would be another challenge entirely.

Yuanyun exhaled slowly, thinking. Then, without a hint of hesitation, his mischievous grin returned. "Alright, scholar," he murmured. "I hope you're good at improvising."

Uki raised a brow. "Why?"

Instead of answering, Yuanyun suddenly let out a sharp gasp, stumbling backward into a nearby bookshelf. The wooden structure trembled under the impact, scrolls and books toppling from their places as he flailed dramatically.

"Oh spirits!" he cried, drawing the attention of everyone within earshot. His voice carried through the quiet space like a crashing wave. "I can't believe it!"

Uki nearly choked. What in the world was he doing?

Scholars and students alike turned toward the commotion, their annoyed whispers filling the air. Even the Dai Li agent subtly shifted his attention toward the outburst.

Yuanyun clutched at his chest, staggering toward a study table where a few students sat, wide-eyed. "I've been a fool—no, a fraud! My entire academic career has been a lie!" He collapsed onto his knees, knocking over a stack of scrolls in the process.

Uki had to fight to keep a straight face.

A nearby scholar adjusted his spectacles, frowning. "Young man, what exactly is the meaning of this?"

Yuanyun looked up, shaking his head as if in utter devastation. "The texts—I've been reading them wrong all along! The theories—I've miscalculated everything! My dissertation is ruined, my future is ruined!" He let out an exaggerated groan, burying his face in his hands.

More scholars gathered, murmuring amongst themselves.

The Dai Li agent, while not fully engaged, had turned more toward the scene, his focus wavering as he took a step closer to the boy.

Now was Uki's chance.

She didn't waste a second. Slipping away from the crowd, she moved swiftly along the shelves before some kind of pull made her pause.

Hidden on the outskirts of the library an old scroll stood out to her.

There.

She grabbed a scroll and tucked it into her sash.

"—and you, sir!" Yuanyun's voice rang out again, more indignant than before. Uki peeked around the shelf to see him pointing dramatically at a random student who looked utterly bewildered. "You were right! I should have listened to you!"

"I—I don't even know you?" the poor student stammered.

Yuanyun gasped. "Of course you do! You told me just last week in Professor Yunjin's class—"

"There is no Professor Yunjin—"

It was absolute chaos.

Scholars were now actively trying to calm Yuanyun down, while others debated whatever nonsense he had just spouted. The Dai Li agent had taken a step forward, as if debating whether this absurdity was worth his attention.

Uki took her cue. With the stolen scrolls hidden beneath her tunic, she turned on her heel and slipped toward the exit.

Just as she reached the side door, Yuanyun's voice echoed once more:

"I must go. I must meditate on my errors." A heavy pause. "Or—or I must flee to the Foggy Swamp and start a new life as a cabbage farmer."

Uki bit back a snort as she slipped outside.

Moments later, Yuanyun appeared beside her, utterly composed, as if he hadn't just staged the most ridiculous academic meltdown in Ba Sing Se history.

"Smooth," he said, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeves.

Uki exhaled, shaking her head in disbelief. "You're an idiot."

He smirked. "An effective idiot."

She couldn't argue with that.

YUANYUN DID NOT LEAVE HER ALONE AFTER THEIR QUOTE UNQUOTE ROBBERY—he seemed determined to follow her back to the lower ring of Ba Sing Se, his hands casually tucked behind his head as he whistled an off-key tune.

Uki shot him a glare. "Why are you still here?"

He grinned. "What, you thought I'd let you waltz off into the Lower Ring—have you disappear? I'll never be able to cash in my favor."

She raised an eyebrow, "So, what? You'll follow me back home and , what? Skulk around the front door until you think of something you want?"

He winked, "exactly."

She huffed, adjusting her bag as she weaved through the crowded streets. The farther they got from the university, the rougher the roads became—ornate stone paths giving way to cracked, dirt-covered walkways. The towering buildings of the Middle Ring shrank into smaller, more clustered homes, laundry lines stretching between rooftops.

It wasn't until they reached a quieter street—one lined with aging buildings and shadowed alleys—that Uki slowed her pace. She turned to Yuanyun, her expression serious. "Look, this is where we part ways."

He raised a brow. "Just like that?"

"Yes, just like that." She adjusted the strap of her bag, where the stolen scroll was hidden. "You helped me. I owe you a favor. But you don't need to stick around. And I don't want a stranger to know where I live."

Yuanyun studied her for a moment, his usual smirk faltering just slightly. Then, to her surprise, he sighed. "Alright, alright. I can take a hint." He held up his hands in surrender. "But don't forget, Lian. You do owe me."

Uki rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah."

With a lazy wave, he turned on his heel and strolled back toward the Middle Ring, whistling once more. Uki watched until he disappeared into the crowd before letting out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

A beat passed and she quickly reached for the scroll tucked in her pants, an eager grin on her face as she went to open it.

"Who was that?"

Uki, startled, whirled around to find Zuko watching her with a suspicious glare, a bag of...something in his arms, most likely an errand for Iroh.

She quickly hid the scroll behind her back. "No one."

Zuko narrowed his eyes. "Didn't look like no one."

She scoffed, shifting on her feet. "Are you following me now?"

"I was coming back from the market," he said, shaking the bag in his arms as proof. "You're the one acting weird."

Uki forced a casual shrug. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Zuko huffed, stepping closer. "What are you hiding?"

"Nothing."

His glare darkened.

Uki took a slow step back, her grip tightening around the scroll. She could already tell he wasn't going to drop this.

She tried again. "It's really none of your business, Lee."

His eyes flickered with something unreadable before he suddenly dropped the bag on the ground, and before she could react, Zuko lunged forward, reaching for her hands. Uki cursed, twisting out of his grasp, but he was faster.

"Lee!" she hissed as he caught her wrist.

His grip was firm but not painful. With a sharp yank, he pulled her hand forward, revealing the scroll she had desperately tried to hide. His gaze flickered down to it.

Uki grumbled beneath her breath before knocking her elbow against his chest push him back and yanking her hand free.

Clutching the scroll close to her chest, Uki settled one last glare on the firebender before stomping away.

Zuko stood still for a moment, watching Uki's retreating form as she walked away, the scroll clutched tightly against her chest like a lifeline.

A muscle in his jaw ticked.

⋆⋅ ━━━━ ‧ ༻✩༺ ‧ ━━━━ ⋅⋆
wordcount: 3240

that was the last of the daily updates this week!
I hope you all enjoyed it 🫶