Chapter 46. The Conversation.
You get used to the good life quickly. I'd completely forgotten what it's like to not fly, but instead crawl along on a ship that can't even reach half my usual flying speed. It's especially "great" when you're sailing against the current, or when the rowers tire out, and you're left relying only on the wind.
Driya found her calling. Her restless nature couldn't stand even a day without adventure. While everyone thinks she's in her cabin, Driya explores the ocean's depths, studying its plant life. Every new discovery adds more capabilities and functions to her ship. Sometimes, I feel sorry for Jong Jong's people, toiling away when the ship itself could move much faster without their help.
A magician who only uses their gift for war is a poor one. Luckily, I'm not like that, and the former admiral had nothing to do with it—it wasn't him who reminded me of a water mage's potential. With a little hint from Jong, I began speeding up our ships with water magic.
We can't sneak straight to the pole. Most of it is patrolled by the Fire Nation's sparse ships, which, making good use of their resources, have set up a decent watch. To get two ships past unnoticed, we'll have to approach the other end of the pole, where there are no settlements, only endless fields of snow. There, a team of mages, bear-dogs, and sleds pulled by buffalo-yaks will be waiting to take us to the capital.
It felt like Jong Jong had shed the shell of fatalism. As he admitted, he'd been living on autopilot for years, seeing no future for his squad. They'd chase him to the end, putting the people who followed him—good guys and girls who trusted him completely—at risk. Often, he'd thought about settling his people in some remote place and running from his pursuers alone. But Chey disagreed. Without the admiral, the group wouldn't stay united—they followed *him*. It would be too selfish.
Such conversations helped us get to know each other better. There wasn't much else to do on the ship anyway.
"Why did you decide to desert?" I'd always wanted to know the real reason.
"There's no single reason—it built up over years," Jong Jong began thoughtfully. "I was born on a small island with only one settlement. Life was... normal. I had nothing to compare it to back then. The main thing was, there was enough food. I was lucky—my magical gift showed up early. Every boy in the village dreamed of becoming a warrior for our nation, to punish our enemies with fire and sword," the admiral chuckled bitterly. "Then came the training years—no time for reflection. The army taught me to ignore certain unpleasant things. Power was more intoxicating than the finest alcohol, and the environment pushed me to be merciless. Before I knew it, I was an admiral. That's when the turning point came."
"So, what happened next?" I couldn't hold back, breaking the long silence.