The morning was just dawning.
The sea was calm, but gray — as if it was hiding something under the surface. Arden and Rin walked along the edge of the camp, away from the others. The armors were off, only dark suits and fatigue on the shoulders.
Arden lit a cigarette.
A few steps in silence.
Then, without looking at Rin, he says:
"I don't know why..."
Smoke slowly came out of his mouth.
"…but I'd like to fight him again."
Rin stopped.
"Kael Thryon?"
Arden nodded.
"It's not hate."
Short break.
"It's not even revenge."
Rin looked at him from under her eyebrows.
"Then what is it?"
Arden looked out to sea.
Where the water is deepest.
"When I was in front of him… my fire was quiet."
He clenched his fist.
"It's like something is listening to me."
Rin is silent.
Arden continued, his voice low.
"For the first time since Minato… I wasn't alone in a fight."
Rin understood.
He says quietly:
"He's your equal."
Arden gave a small laugh—without joy.
"Maybe."
He stomps his cigarette on a rock.
"And that's the problem."
The wind blew the smoke towards the sea.
Somewhere far away, a wave crashes against the rocks.
In response.
Water shadow
The Thalasse camp was set up on wet ground, the canvas of the tent soaked with moisture, the torches burning with a bluish flame. The sea was close — always close.
Kael Thryon sat on a wooden crate, his elbows resting on his knees. His men were talking, laughing softly, sharpening their weapons.
But Kael wasn't listening.
Something was tightening in his chest.
Not the pain.
Not fear.
Something familiar.
Close your eyes for a moment.
Before the eyes — black fire.
Fox.
Katana.
He opens them abruptly.
"You felt it too, didn't you?" asked one of his friends.
Kael didn't answer right away.
"Yes."
Quietly.
"Again."
At that moment, several soldiers raised their voices a few steps away.
"Hey! Watch her."
Laughter.
Rough.
Empty.
Kael turned his head.
A young girl was carrying a chest of medical supplies. Her hair was dark, wet from the rain, her face calm. Beautiful in a quiet way — but the eyes… the eyes were old.
Soldiers stand in her way.
"What is it, you fool, can't you hear?"
"They say you're that coward's granddaughter."
The laughter grew louder.
"Prince Poseidon."
"If he had courage, we wouldn't have perished against the Fire Nation today."
The girl says nothing.
He doesn't cry.
Don't beg.
Just look down and try to pass.
One of them drove into her face.
"Your grandfather turned his back on the war. He's the reason we're here."
Kael stood up.
His steps were quiet, but the water under his feet trembled.
"Enough."
His voice was calm. Too calm.
The soldiers turned.
"What is it, Kael? Defending a traitor bastard?"
Kael stepped between them and the girl
"If you say his name one more time…"
He looked at them coldly, one by one.
"…you won't have the language to repeat it."
Silence.
The soldiers retreated, muttering.
The girl remains standing.
He looked at Kael.
"Thank you," he says quietly.
Kael nodded.
"What's your name?"
"Nerissa."
The wind pulls the sea closer to the shore.
Kael looked in the direction of the enemy camp, far across the battlefield.
Same feeling again.
Same weight.
He thought to himself:
Heartless Blade…
You still have something in you.
The sea is churning.
The war has not yet said the last word.
Before the storm
Night fell once more over the Fire Nation camp.
Torches burned low, the wind carried the smell of salt and ash. In the main tent, a map of the southern front was spread out across a table, the corners pressed in with knives and stamps.
Captain Talin stood above it, his finger tracing the coastline.
"The Thalassa are retreating here... but they are not fleeing. They are clearing the ground."
Rin sat off to the side, arms crossed.
"So bait."
Arden stood in the shadow of the tent. No mask. The scar over the eye was in semi-darkness. He didn't speak.
Lyra leaned over the map.
"The medical convoy will be vulnerable if we move at night. But if we stay…casualties will mount."
Captain Talin sighed.
"We have two options: a frontal strike or—"
"No," Arden interrupted calmly.
All eyes turned to him.
He walked over to the table. He placed his hand on the map, right on the narrow passage between the rocks and the water.
"Here."
Rin understood immediately.
"Silent passage. Fog at dawn."
Arden nodded.
"Shadow goes first. No fire. No noise."
"And you?" Lyra asked.
Arden looked at her.
"I'm going last."
Silence.
Captain Talin straightened up.
"If this goes wrong—"
"He won't," Arden says coldly.
Rin looked at the map once more.
"Target?"
Arden answered shortly.
"Cut their breath away. Make them retreat."
He doesn't say his name.
But everyone knows who he means.
Captain Talin took the seal and slammed it against the map.
The plan was complete.
Outside, the wind changes direction.
The sea receded in a moment.
It's like he's holding his breath.