Second day on the job.
And Azula was already considering that going back to the Fire Nation, facing possible execution, didn't sound as terrible as serving tea to old men who couldn't stop staring at her.
"Thank you, Miss."
At least not everyone who came for tea was elderly; there were also mothers with their children who enjoyed a good cup in the afternoon.
"This is the best tea I've ever had."
"Yes, despite the rundown look of this place, the tea is exceptional."
"Definitely."
"Hahaha, thank you, gentlemen. I find joy in the simple pleasure of making tea for a living."
It was strange for the two brothers to see their uncle so content with so little. He had gone from being a decorated general of the Fire Nation, with all the luxuries at his disposal, to finding satisfaction in making and serving tea to the ordinary people of the city.
"I need to step out. I'm taking Lee to help me load the merchandise boxes," announced the boss of the humble establishment, leaving with Zuko, leaving the shop temporarily empty, as several customers departed.
Noontime usually brought an empty store.
They had made good money so far.
Reluctantly, Azula began sweeping the floor while Zuko took orders and occasionally served. She had to assist him when it got busy. Iroh was busy making tea. Azula's tasks didn't go beyond sweeping or wiping tables. She hadn't realized her life could be so dull now.
"Azula, can you come here for a moment?"
Setting the broom aside, she curiously approached her uncle in the kitchen. Without much preamble, she couldn't help but feel drawn to the aroma of the tea he was brewing.
"What do you need, old man?"
"It's time I teach you something very important, something Zuko unfortunately didn't learn."
"Oh?" The former princess perked up; as far as she knew, her uncle had taught her older brother a technique for redirecting lightning. Would he now teach her a technique to better manipulate lightning? It would be a valuable addition to her skills.
"I'll teach you how to make tea!"
"…"
"Where are you going?" he asked, puzzled as he watched his niece turn and head for the door.
"Watching grass grow would be more interesting than learning to make tea," she retorted.
"Very funny." Iroh caught her by the jacket and pulled her back. "It's time to teach you one of the oldest practices of the Fire Nation."
"Making tea..."
"Yes, making tea."
Azula rolled her eyes, thinking of ways to escape.
"Come on, don't make that face. It's funny. Our ancestors were the first to make tea, with the flames of their own hands."
"How interesting," Azula's sarcasm was evident.
"Mock if you want, but what I'm going to teach you is something very valuable to me... I hope you respect it, because if you don't respect the teachings, it means you don't want to learn."
Azula stiffened at her uncle's serious look.
Giving a soft sigh, she watched the pot of water being heated on the fire and instead looked into her uncle's eyes.
"Good, I'll try it, old man."
"That's enough for me." With a happy smile, the old man uncovered the vessel, letting the steam from the hot water float. "What I'm going to teach you is called Cha Do Yu."
"Cha Do Yu?" Azula repeated, confused.
"It means 'The Way of Tea'. You could call it a ceremony, a means to achieve the four aspects that must be fulfilled when making tea." He explained with a soft smile while using a small spoon to move the leaves inside the teapot.
Azula watched curiously as the fire under the porcelain vessel grew and decreased with the gentle movement of the old Dragon of the West's right hand.
"Respect: The purpose of the ceremony is always to honor the guest and make them feel comfortable. All things are respected, and their existence is appreciated."
"Harmony: Between people and with nature, the place, the utensils, and the way they are used."
"Purity: The place is kept as simple as possible. It's not about filling the space or the senses. The utensils have a cleaning ritual as a symbol of the clarification of the mind. Inner purity, neatness."
"Peace or serenity: The pure interest in Tea awakens in us a certain peace since it must preserve a time and a place. Once we follow the previous steps, we achieve tranquility and peace of mind."
Azula listened to each word, recording them in her head, while she watched her uncle place some leaves of different herbs.
He gave her some to sniff. They didn't seem like much, but when all of them were put in the vessel, within a few seconds, a heavenly aroma filled the air, making Azula feel... happy.
"My beloved told me... that the tea house was what everyone should aspire to be..." Iroh slowly increased the flames in the kitchen, then turned them off and let that heavenly aroma invade the entire place.
"Why should it be like this?" Azula asked curiously, looking intensely at her uncle, eager for an answer.
"Why is it that when it's tea time, 'we are all equal'? Your flag doesn't matter, your age doesn't matter, your social class doesn't matter. None of that matters when you just want a moment of peace and security having tea with the people you appreciate," Iroh remarked.
"…"
"Sometimes it disappoints me to see so many people lost in their own concerns and ignorance, their goals and obsessions..." Iroh carefully poured the tea into two cups.
Azula took one of them, feeling its warmth in her hands. Strangely, her uncle had found the perfect spot where the tea was at the ideal temperature, so the porcelain wouldn't burn her hands, nor would it be cold and ruin the tea.
"Many people have forgotten the fragility of life and the importance of living each moment to the fullest, leaving everything aside and 'just this once', enjoying an occasion that will not be repeated. Each meeting and each moment in our life is... unique," Iroh continued.
"..." Azula brought the cup of tea to her lips, overwhelmed by drinking something divine. Somewhat lost, but with a feeling of happiness in her chest, she looked into her uncle's eyes.
He had a comforting and fatherly smile.
She couldn't help but smile back, a big smile showing off her sparkling teeth and crystalline eyes.
For a moment, everything was peace, everything was wonderful, everything was... unique.
*Blow*
The atmosphere of peace and tranquility shattered when the door of the small business was suddenly kicked open by an enraged Jet, who pushed aside everything in his path.
"Can I help?" Iroh didn't expect such an interruption.
"It's not help I want from you, but rather a part," Jet unsheathed both curved swords, aiming at uncle and niece. "I want your heads on wooden stakes."
"You're in the wrong place, young man. We're not looking for trouble," the old general tried to prevent something bad from happening, but this boy wouldn't make it easy for him.
"You're the ones in the wrong place, firebenders!"
[ If you want to read advance Chapters then go to Pat reon and support me there.
PAT REON I'D:- Alzero ]