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ASTG: Chapter 21
🕑 Added 2022-05-18 20:51:28 +0000 UTCZuko, who had been tapping the ground with his feet, sighed and said. “Finally!”
“Don’t mind me. One must prepare before moving.” Raoh said.
Zuko nodded. It was the dawn already. “Don’t mind me. We have been waiting for a chance to win against my father for so long, so it’s better not to make me wait for more. And not to mention, I have been trying to find the Avatar for my whole fucking life!”
“Geez. You need some tea. And cold water.” Raoh said. Still, Zuko was saying the truth. His life, ever since he became a banished prince, was about finding the Avatar. Ever since he was at an age where should play, he suffered from dishonouring and betrayal. It seems that his personality was too serious when it comes to dealing with such matters.
Raoh turned his head. There was a man, muscular, tall, with his hair tied in a lock and a long beard. Raoh’s observation Haki told him that this is the strongest Earth bender he faced so far.
“And you are.”
“Previously known as General Fong.” Fong gave a slight bow.
“He is one of the few who didn’t join the Fire Nation forces and resisted. After all his men were killed, General Fong was resisting alone, and the White Lotus order had saved him. He is a powerful bender, and he will be in help with us.” Zuko said, and Fong nodded.
Raoh scratched his forehead. “So, we have everything ready.”
“Yes. Few rides. Cloaks, and a map.” Zuko said. “Fong, as a previous General, has the map memorised, so we can depend on him guiding us here.”
“Good, good.” Raoh smiled and clapped. “We now need to pick up an Earthbender on our way before heading down.”
“Who? I believe that I’m enough to teach the Avatar.”
“The one who I am talking about is way out of your league.”
Raoh smiled at Fong, who raised one eyebrow.
“And who is he?” Fong asked. “You know, King Bumi had died a long time ago.”
“She, in fact.” Raoh corrected. “I know that for sure. Trust me for now.”
“Fine. I’ll verify how honest your words are by myself.” Fong said.
“So, where are we heading,” Zuko asked.
Raoh, obviously, is the leader of the trip.
Raoh put his hand on his head and thought for a bit. He remembers Toph, but he doesn’t remember her last name.
Luckily, he remembers what she is doing.
She is an underground fighter by the night. But in the morning, she is just a blind girl who is protected by her father.
But that might have changed. She isn’t a little girl anymore, now she is about 15-16.
“We are going to visit the underground arena’s tournaments. I know we can find her there.”
Fong and Zuko nodded.
“Fong, I’ll trust you to guide us through. And please, look for a near place where noble Earth Kingdom families live.”
Fong clicked his tongue, an angry expression taking over his face. “Those nobles, traitors. They had the money to help us, to gather our forces and defend the Earth Kingdom. Yet they have chosen to side with the other nation and pay for them.”
Raoh let a sigh. “Guess you know them well; good.”
The three then rode the animals they had. Raoh didn’t know how to name his ride. It was brown, like a horse in the body and the size, but had a head of a bird.
The three of them kicked their animals, making them move. Raoh was impressed by how fast these things are. They were like cars, or faster.
In the middle of the way, Raoh said. “Fuck!”
“What?” Zuko asked.
“I have forgotten to bring my money,” Raoh said, as he forgot a good amount of wealth back in the cave he was sleeping in.
Zuko rolled his eyes and Fong didn’t say anything.
“Can you lend me some money?” Raoh said.
“Sure, just once we arrive and you prove your point,” Fong said.
“I agree.” Zuko smiled, for the first time.
“Your loss.”
The sun rose and started climbing its way to the middle of the sky. Raoh and the group found themselves in a city, a pretty city.
There was a school of Earth bending at the entrance, there were lakes everywhere, and there were fancy-looking houses.
It seemed to be a rich area. One can easily tell that. Around, you can see some nobles from the Fire Nation walking around with Earth nation’s nobles.
Raoh, Zuko, and Fong wore cloaks to hide their faces. They were known and easy to recognise, especially Zuko, the banished prince.
While walking around, they were trying to gather everything they could about Earthbenders tournaments… And by that, they meant underground ones.
Once they went to a shady place, Raoh asked for some money. At first, Zuko seemed to resist the idea, but Raoh said it was for the mission. Out of the three, it seems that he is the one with experience in blackspot’s people.
Zuko was observing how Raoh was getting along, and he turned his head to Fong. “Seems he is using money to get us in.”
“Sure… he is a wanted after all.”
“We are too.”
“But that’s because we resisted the Fire Nation. He is different.”
“Look, he went to a gambling spot.”
Zuko raised his eyebrows and quickly went to Raoh, who sat down. He grabbed him by the shoulder and said. “What are you doing!”
“I already got us a place in the tournament… for free. I’m just keeping the rest. So, sit down, and don’t disturb me.”
Zuko clenched his teeth and looked at Raoh. “You’ll pay in case you lost.”
“Don’t disturb my focus,” Raoh said, ignoring him.
Zuko sat down with a somehow angry and impatient attitude. The game soon started, and Raoh was dealing with the cards.
Zuko’s attitude changed in no time as he started to observe the game. Raoh seemed to be knowing what he is doing.
As it seems, Raoh was winning almost every round, and losing only a few. The few silver pieces soon turned into 510 silver pieces. In the last round, Raoh lost about 10 pieces, leaving him with 500.
“Okay, the game is over… Sorry guys, but I won’t go with another round, not just with my luck turning bad.”
“You cowards…” Someone growled at his face. But without a valid excuse, they couldn’t attack him. Unless they wanted to push any potential customer away.
“Don’t be shy… I’ll be back here tonight.”
“Fine, we’ll be waiting for you.”
Raoh stood up with a sack full of silver. He patted Zuko and threw a few coins in his hand, and walked away.
Zuko followed him. “Are you going there tonight…”
“No…” Raoh said. “Maybe… but probably not. I only said that so they wouldn’t follow us.” Raoh laughed. “Or I would have cut them into pieces.”
Zuko looked at the money sack of Raoh. He raised his eyebrows in some amazement. But that expression vanished so fast. “So, how did you get us in?”
“I said I have a powerful fighter, and he is ready to die for bread. They said tonight, and they gave me the location.”
“And how do you know that our target is here.”
“Her Alias is the Blind Bandit. Once I said that they understood I know the underground.” Raoh said.
“Do you?” Zuko said.
“No. But if I didn’t show that I’m confident that I know, would you believe me?” Raoh asked.
“No.”
“Now, we have free time, until the night,” Raoh said. “Plenty of free time.”
“Tsk… too bad…” Zuko said. “More time to waste.”
“I’ll shop for some clothes meanwhile,” Raoh said with somehow a carefree attitude. “You do you.”
