*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
˚ ₊ ♡ ❰  MIRACULUM ❱
*✧ ─── ❝ ❪ A ROYAL INVITATION ❫ ❞

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

UKI HAD NEVER SEEN A TEAHOUSE WITH SUCH GRANDIEUR AS THE JASMINE DRAGON. WARM SUNLIGHT FILTERED THROUGH THE MANY WINDOWS, green lanterns were strung along wooden beams on the ceiling and a masterfully crafted carpet displayed a golden dragon on a field of emerald green clouds. Wooden tables were neatly placed and delicate teacups and pots clanged like a soft melody.

Uki stood still, arms folded over her chest, absorbing it all. The uniform Iroh had given her earlier that morning, when she and Zuko had arrived before the shop opened—was unlike anything she had worn before. The deep green fabric was soft against her skin, finely woven, and not the rough, patchy textiles Pao's shop had always offered. Gold thread curled along the edges of her sleeves in elegant waves, and though blue would always be her color, her heritage, she found herself strangely comforted by the way the green and gold suited her now. She didn't feel like a stranger in it. Not today.

"Who would have thought when we came to this city as refugees, that I'd end up owning my own teashop?" Iroh spoke warmly, a pleased smile on his face as he regarded the full shop with pride.

She turned toward him, a genuine smile softening the lines of her face. There was something radiant about the old general in this space. He fit here, amidst the soft clatter of porcelain, the rising steam, and the gentle murmur of customers settling in.

Even Zuko, standing at Iroh's other side, seemed... lighter. The tension that usually gripped his shoulders was gone. A strange calm settled over him, his jaw unclenched, eyes not burning but warm.

"Follow you passion, Zuko, Uki, and life will reward you."  Iroh said, gazing fondly at both of them

"Congratulations uncle." Zuko said, a rare, genuine grin tugging at his mouth.

"I am very thankful."

"You deserve it." He added, the warmth in his eyes giving his golden eyes an extra shine.

Uki nodded in agreement, uncrossing her arms to pat the elder firebender on his shoulder. "He's right you know."

Iroh chuckled warmly, a faint blush covering his weathered cheeks.

"The Jasmine Dragon will be the best teashop in the city."

"No, I'm thankful because you decided to share this special day with me." He turned to them, his eyes crinkling with emotion. "It means more than you know."

"I'm glad we could all be here." Uki offered.

"No let's make these people some tea." Zuko enthused.

Uki laughed under her breath and rolled her eyes as Zuko turned and made a beeline for the back of the shop.

She shared a conspiratorial glance with Iroh, then called after him. "I'll make sure he doesn't touch a pot Iroh—less we chase away your first customers."

As promised, Uki remained in the back for most of the day, sleeves rolled up, moving between steamers and brewing pots like she had done it all her life. The routine was oddly comforting. Measuring leaves, timing steeps, pouring just right. Zuko, surprisingly, handled the tables with a quiet diligence, carrying trays and politely bowing when thanked. Customers smiled at his awkwardness, charmed more than annoyed.

And Iroh. He floated between them all like a gracious host at a grand banquet, always with a fresh pot in hand and a story ready for anyone who asked.

Hours passed in a dreamlike haze of clinking porcelain and laughter.

That evening, the clatter of teacups had long since died down, replaced by the soft scrape of chairs being stacked and the muffled hush of the city settling into twilight. The Jasmine Dragon, so vibrant during the day, now glowed softly under the low lanterns. The warmth lingered in the floorboards and walls, steeped in the day's energy.

Uki leaned against the counter at the back of the teashop, arms folded, sleeves rolled up to her elbows. A single oil lamp flickered nearby, casting shadows on the clean dishes and empty trays. Her hair was pulled back, a few wisps clinging to her forehead with sweat. She hadn't realized how tired she was until she stopped moving.

Zuko was across the room, bent over one of the tables with a rag, cleaning it. The necklace she had given him and come untucked from his tunic and dangled loosely. The sight of it made her smile.

"It was nice, wasn't it." Uki voiced softly into the quiet night while Iroh was in the back counting the profits of today.

Zuko looked up, blinking. He straightened slowly. "Yeah... it was."

She pushed off the counter and wandered closer, her footsteps muffled by the thick rug underfoot. "Iroh looked happier than I've seen him in weeks," she said. Then, almost as an afterthought, "So did you."

A flicker of surprise passed through Zuko's face, like her words had touched something he hadn't realized was there. "I never imagined..." he murmured, gaze falling to the polished floor. "I never imagined my life could look like this."

Uki bumped her hip against his, gently stealing the rag from his hand. "Me neither. But I'm glad we ended up here."

They stood there in comfortable quiet for a moment, the soft light curling around them.

But in the back of her mind, Uki felt the whisper of reality creeping in. She knew she wouldn't be able to stay like this forever.

she knew Aang, Katara, Sokka and Toph were somewhere in the city. She however hadn't know Katara had been here earlier today, or that she had seen Iroh and Zuko.

She didn't know how worried the Southern Waterbender was about her and the fact she hadn't seen here inside the shop.

Still, Uki couldn't bring herself to leave yet. Not when she saw how at ease Zuko had become. There was something lighter in the way he moved now—less haunted. If she could just hold this space a little longer... maybe when she did find the others, she could bring him with her.

Aang after all needed a firebending teacher one way or another.

When Uki looked back at him, she found he was already looking at her.

There was something in his expression. Not intense in the way it had once been, not hard-edged or sharp. It was quiet, searching. Almost shy. But it didn't waver. It held her there in the soft golden stillness of the shop.

Something warm stirred in her chest, slow and steady. Her lips parted slightly, but she didn't speak. Couldn't, really.

Zuko rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes darting away for a breath before returning. "What?" he asked, his voice gentler than she expected.

Uki blinked and shook her head. "Nothing," she said, though her smile gave her away.

He gave a small scoff of amusement and glanced down at his feet. "You're weird," he muttered, but there was no real bite to it.

"I've been told worse," she replied, brushing past him with a teasing flick of her fingers across his arm.

Zuko was just about to continue cleaning when the beaded curtain at the back rustled and Iroh emerged, wiping his hands on a cloth and humming softly to himself.

"There you two are," he said, glancing between them with a knowing smile.

Before he could say anything else, a man appeared in the doorway. Middle-aged, sharp-featured, with a pale green cloak and a scroll held tightly in one hand. His eyes scanned the shop quickly before settling on Iroh.

"Message from the Royal Palace." He announced and Uki's eyes widened.

Iroh took the scroll and unfurled it with care. Uki and Zuko watched him as he carefully read through whatever message had been written with bathed breath.

"I...I can't believe it." He breathed out.

"What is it uncle?"

"Great news." His smile grew large and bashful, "We've been invited to serve tea to the Earth King."

Uki gasped, excitement in her eyes as she bounded closer to the pair. "That is amazing Iroh!"

Iroh rushed away, a bounce in his step, already muttering about possible blends and thinking which taste the Earth King would favour.

Uki could only smile—happiness spreading through her whole body.

THE CARRIAGE RIDE TO THE ROYAL PALACE WAS SPEND WITH SOFT CHATTER AND EXCITEMENT. Uki sat with her hands folded in her lap, her eyes dancing between the softly curtained window and the company seated across from her. The morning sunlight shimmered off the rooftops of Ba Sing Se as the city passed by in a blur of green tiles and bustling markets. It was strange to see it from this vantage—above the streets, enclosed, and surrounded by comfort.

Iroh was humming an old Fire Nation tune under his breath, fingers gently tapping the rhythm against the carved wood of the window frame. Zuko, meanwhile, sat beside her—stiff at first, but gradually softening as the quiet joy of the moment worked its way into his frame. They were pressed against each other, but neither minded the lack of space much.

The carriage came to a halt not long after the ostrich-horses trotted to a gentle stop and the door was opened for them. Uki thanked him with a gentle smile.

"Many times I imagined myself here." Iroh began, a white ornate box with golden details in his hands. "at the threshold of the palace."

In front of them was a looming building of grandeur. High fortified walls of a dark reddish colour towered over them. Beautiful details were displayed in green and gold while high above the roofs were adorned with traditional curved eaves and gilded yellow tiles.

"But I always thought I would be here as a conqueror." Iroh continued and broke away Uki's gaze from the palace. "Instead, we are the Earth King's personal guests. Here to serve him tea."

"It's strange, how fate unfolds sometimes." Uki said as they came closer to the entrance.

Iroh nodded, "Destiny is a funny thing."

"It sure is, uncle." Zuko echoed.

Uki laughed softly, but her fingers still toyed with the sleeve of her robe. "Feels strange," she said after a moment. "Going somewhere so grand. Like we don't belong."

Iroh looked at her kindly. "Belonging is not granted by walls or titles, child. It's felt in the heart. And you belong wherever you choose to walk with purpose."

At the front an attendant stood, dressed in immaculate clothes, that made her own tunic look cheap. He greeted them politely before motioned them inside.

As they followed the attendant through winding halls of jade and gold Uki could only admire it's shiny interior. Back home the palace at Agna Qel'a had always mesmerised her. The beautiful decorated halls and the way the ice shown when the light filtered through opening in the walls felt magical.

The Royal Palace here felt different, yet the same.

Eventually they entered a large room. Inside was a table and in front of it a raised platform where a throne stood. It's golden details shone in the light.

Iroh immediately got to work, unwrapping his fine-china from white cloth.

Zuko and Uki silently sat down at the table, watching him work with smiles on their faces. Not long after the scent of jasmine tea swirled through the air. Iroh poured the cups with gentle care before he said down between the two teenagers.

"What's taking so long?" Zuko murmured after the minutes began passing by.

Iroh turned to look at his nephew, the pleasant smile he had worn earlier had faded slightly, "Maybe the Earth King overslept?" he offered.

Just as the words left him, footsteps echoed.

Uki tensed, nerves rattling and her heart began beating loudly in her chest. Dai Li agents entered—silently and in large numbers. She exchanged a worried glance with Zuko.

"Something's not right." The boy muttered.

"It's tea time."

Uki felt her heart jump into her throat and a shiver run down her spine.

She knew that voice.

Her eyes darted up as a girl stepped into the room—dressed in fine Earth Kingdom Clothes, but the sharpness of her face and the look inside her amber eyes was easily recognisable.

Azula.

"Azula." Zuko's voice was rough as he pushed himself to stand.

"Have you met the Dai li?" The Fire Nation princess was undeterred by her brother's threatening look. "They're earthbender, but they have killer instinct that's so firebender. I just love it."

Uki gritted her teeth. She did not have her waterskin with her and she felt strange without it—but she could use the tea, as little as it was. But with so many earthbender...

She clenched her hand into fists beneath the table.

"Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname, Dragon of the West?" Iroh asked calmly, reaching for one of the teacups he had poured earlier.

"I'm not interested in a lengthy anecdote uncle." Azula replied in a condescending tone that had Uki blood boiling.

Iroh however looked unbothered by his niece's cold reply. "It's more of a demonstration really."

And just like that fire exploded from Iroh's mouth after he took a sip of tea. Both Uki and Zuko jumped up to join him.

Uki flicked her wrist up, gather what was left of the tea to freeze two Dai Li agents to the wall, and kicking away a third with a clean sweep of her leg.

A burst of flames—blue flames barely licked her skin as she jumped back, a hiss escaping her mouth as she clutched her arm. Her tunic was slightly burned and she glared up at the Fire Nation princess who stood smugly, arm still outstretched in her direction and fingers bawled into a fist.

She didn't have time to counter attack as Zuko's hand clasped around her uninjured arm and dragged her with him through a whole in the wall. She hadn't even see either firebender burn right through the paper.

The were running through the hallways, ducking and skidding over the wooden floors as the Dai Li chased them.

Iroh, who was ahead of them, blasted a large wave of flames at a wall at the end of the corridor. It broke apart, smoke billowing into the air. Iroh jumped out of it, tumbling for a moment before he landed into a set of sculpted bushes.

Zuko, who still held her arm in his grip screeched to a halt at the edge.

"Zuko?" She frowned, worried eyes looking between the boy, Iroh and the corridor behind them. "Let's go, what are you waiting for?"

"Come on, you'll be fine!" Iroh shouted at them from below.

"No. I'm tired of running." He said instead, fist clenching by his side. "It's time I faced Azula."

This time, Uki clutched his arm in her hand as he started to turn around. "Zuko."

"I have to do this."

Before she could realise, or try to stop him, he pushed her.

A yelp escaped her as she fell backwards and out of the hole.

"Zuko!"

⋆⋅ ━━━━ ‧ ༻✩༺ ‧ ━━━━ ⋅⋆
wordcount: 2523

holy cow, can you believe we are already on the last episode of book 2?!?! it's crazy to think were are almost in book 3 and closer to all the good stuff that will be happening heheh. My goal is still to have this finished before the year is over. Hopefully I'll manage?