Avatar: Fire Emperor Chapter 38 38 Sense of Security

Inside the confinent room, after the teacher left, Zuko reviewed the textbook for a while.

Feeling bored, he wanted to look outside.

As soon as he opened the window, he was t with the guards' watchful eyes, which made him helplessly retreat back into the room.

Though it was called a confinent room, it was actually just a rather secluded courtyard within the palace.

Ozai had punished him by confining him there for a month, with guards watching both the front and back entrances, forbidding him from going anywhere.

Bored out of his mind, Zuko practiced so Firebending forms.

When he got tired, he simply sat on the ground to rest.

Gazing at the empty room, he couldn't help but complain in his heart.

It was all Azula's fault for insisting he cause trouble with her!

Even more infuriating was that Azula wasn't punished, while he was stuck here!

He raged inwardly for a while, but there was nothing he could do.

His only hope now was to join their plan to find his mother's whereabouts once he was released.

Speaking of which, whenever he thought about it, he found it incredible.

Although Azula's attitude toward Kahn was indeed different from others, he really didn't know when those two had gotten so close.

And on such an important matter, Azula had actually told Kahn first.

Zuko felt that sothing was off between the two of them.

Just as he was lost in thought, a faint rustling sound suddenly ca from the corner of the room.

Zuko looked over alertly.

He saw the floor tile in the corner lift, revealing a hidden passage.

Imdiately, Azula's figure erged from the passage.

"Azula...!"

"Shh—"

Azula warned him to be quiet.

Zuko imdiately reacted and silenced himself, his eyes wide with shock.

Azula wasn't the only one to erge.

Ty Lee ca out next.

Then Mai followed.

Finally, Kahn stepped out.

All their companions had arrived.

"What are you doing?"

"And what about this secret passage?"

Zuko asked in a hushed voice.

"We ca to play with you."

"Half a month has passed, so you must be feeling stifled, my zuzu."

Azula chuckled softly.

Ty Lee also greeted Zuko.

"I heard you're finally willing to go on adventures with us."

"And welco to the Royal Girls' Adventure Team!"

"What is all this?"

Zuko was a bit confused, not understanding what they ant.

Kahn understood Zuko's bewildernt, so he stepped forward.

"Let explain."

Because the part about Ursa couldn't be revealed to Mai and Ty Lee yet, Azula cooperatively sent them away.

She had them keep watch on the guards, one in front and one in back.

Perhaps accustod to Azula's orders, the two didn't suspect anything and obediently left.

Kahn told Zuko the purpose of their visit and the real plan between him and Azula.

After listening, Zuko didn't imdiately question these matters.

Instead, he suddenly said:

"So you've joined too?"

"That Royal Girls' Adventure Team."

"...That's not the point, okay?"

"If you understand, hurry up and get moving!"

Kahn said exasperatedly.

This brat...

He would deal with him sooner or later!

"Alright."

Returning to the main topic, Zuko, who was still unaware he was about to get a beating, said worriedly:

"Isn't it too risky?"

"Not only are there guards outside, but palace maids also co to deliver als."

"If we're discovered..."

Kahn fully agreed with Zuko's cautious concerns.

However, Azula spoke impatiently:

"Are you coming or not?"

"Do you really think we need you?"

"Do you think we can't act without you?"

"Huh?"

"My foolish brother."

"You!"

Zuko imdiately wanted to explode.

But after taking a deep breath, he held it in.

This made both Azula and Kahn look at him with new respect.

When a person leaves their parents, that's when they begin to grow up.

After the changes in the palace, not only Azula but Zuko also showed visible growth.

Though most of the ti, he didn't display it.

Zuko made his decision.

"I'll go with you."

Although he still couldn't avoid it in the end, seeing Zuko's growth, Kahn patted him on the shoulder with relief.

For once, Azula also showed a hint of a satisfied smile.

"Then let's get ready to go."

"By the way, I've already figured out the ti when the palace maids deliver your als each day."

"We just need to be back before then."

Zuko was stunned.

"Azula, you—"

"You'd better thank , my dear zuzu."

"I'm not always this kind, especially to you."

"Opportunities like this don't co often."

Zuko imdiately shut his mouth.

Thinking that Azula seed not so bad was probably the biggest misconception he had ever had in his life.

So the five of them entered the secret passage, with Azula still leading the way.

Zuko also mimicked her, raising a small fla in his palm to light the surroundings.

He looked around the dim and unfamiliar passage and asked curiously:

"Speaking of which, what is this secret passage?"

"And how did you discover it?"

Hearing this, Azula clicked her tongue.

Ty Lee answered him instead:

"You really should have gone on adventures with us before, Zuko!"

"The palace is full of passages like this."

"And where we are now is just one of them."

"Listen to Ty Lee, zuzu."

"Even an outsider understands the palace better than you do."

"I truly feel sorry for you."

Azula didn't miss any opportunity to mock Zuko.

Zuko didn't retort.

Looking at the passage beneath his feet, he felt that Azula and Ty Lee's words weren't entirely unreasonable.

He indeed knew too little.

If it were the old Zuko, he would never have ventured into these places without permission.

But perhaps that day's prank had triggered sothing in him.

Or for so other reason, he had gradually beco less resistant to these things.

After erging from the other end of the passage, they officially began today's "adventure ga."

They searched for undiscovered secret rooms or passages within the palace.

Azula suspected that Ozai might have hidden the items Ursa left behind in a secret room known only to him.

Although they did discover many hidden passages, no one could say for sure when they were built.

No one knew why they were built or how many there were.

As the royal palace of the Fire Nation, the most powerful nation in the world, it still held many secrets.

However, a secret room is called secret precisely because of its concealnt.

It was not sothing easily found.

At least, despite everyone's efforts today, they didn't find any useful clues.

So Azula cheerfully decided to continue next ti.

Ignoring Kahn's resistance, she planned to make this activity a regular form of entertainnt.

Before the palace maid delivered the al, everyone dispersed.

Zuko also quickly returned to the confinent room, pretending nothing had happened.

Recalling today's experience, although he had done many forbidden things, he seed to feel more at ease than before.

Because this ti, he was not alone.

He had companions.