“I’m ready!”

Two Firebender soldiers exchanged a glance to each other. They looked doubtful, or perhaps guilty to attack a young, teenage girl. Korra patiently waited for them to make the first move. The first move is the most important. Her sifu had said so.

"Come on. Are you cowards or scarecrows?" She heard her sifu called to the soldiers, taunting them. Korra was glad that she didn't have to fight her sifu for the final assessment. Both of the soldiers glared at the elder who was standing at the back to supervise the assessment. Korra fought the urge to attack them right now. Your opponent is me!

One of the soldiers leapt forward and sent a stream of fire toward her. The other quickly joined him. Their attacks were wild but reckless. She could easily found the space between the attack and dodged while keeping an eye on them. Eventually, the first one stopped to catch his breath. Within a second, she lunged forward and shot a preciously blue fireball to his feet. He screamed and fell backward. The second soldier got distracted and turned to his comrade. Korra moved behind him, lashing her feet at the back of his knee, unbalancing him. The soldier stumbled to the ground. When he realised what had happened, Korra was already aiming her fist toward the soldier, ready for a Firebending attack.

“I surrender.” The soldier said.

Korra stepped back, giving space for him to stand up. She heard a slow sarcastic clap from her sifu.

“Good performing. Although I would prefer if you shoot directly to your enemy’s face next time.”

Korra stared at her feet, feeling uncomfortable. “I’m sorry. Katara said she didn’t want anyone getting hurt during the assessment, and they are not real enemies.”

“That foolish woman isn’t here, is she? If this is a real fight, they would get back to their feet and shoot you to ash right now.” Her sifu narrowed her eyes. Korra suddenly wished she kept her mouth shut. Surely she wouldn’t fail her because of this, right?

“Azula!” Korra jumped in surprise when she heard Katara's voice. The Waterbender master stormed toward them. Azula sighed and seemed uninterested.

“Did I pass the assessment?” Korra asked nervously. She wanted to know the answer before these two people starting to cause a fight themselves.

“Congratulation, you’re a Firebending master.” Azula rolled her eyes. Her voice sounded so sarcastic that Korra wasn’t sure if she was serious.

“Stop messing around! Did she pass or not?” Katara growled. There was an edge in her voice. As much as Katara was so friendly and kind, Korra was always surprised to see her hostile when she faced Azula. It was like there was ambiguous baggage between the two that they refused to tell her.

Katara was now standing in front of them. Suddenly, Korra realised she was stuck between them. She felt a tingling of electric mixed with cold water in the air. She started to sweat. She concentrated on her feet. If they were going to fight, there was nothing she could do except not get in their way.

“You pass.” To her surprise, Azula just turned around and walked away. Her voice showed no emotion, but she knew her sifu was serious this time. Korra realised she should be happy, but she was still anxious about the fight that was almost happened.

“Congratulation, Korra!” Katara’s voice became softer now that Azula was gone. Korra smiled gratefully to her elder friend. This is it. One element down, three to go! Korra thought to herself.

The two soldiers walked toward them. They bowed respectfully toward her and Katara.

“I’m glad no one got hurt,” Korra said. She tried to push an old memory out of her mind - a memory of a fire accident that was a long time ago. Stop it! You’re a Firebending master now! No one will get burn.

“The Avatar. Master Katara,” The soldiers said, “Now that the Avatar has mastered Firebending, we’ll go back to the Fire nation now.”

“Go back? Now?” Korra stunned.

“Yes, that is the Firelord’s order. He wants the troop to come back as soon as your lesson is finished.”

“What about sifu Azula?”

“She will come with us.” The soldier said firmly. He looked at the airships rested on the yard far away. “We’re going to prepare now.”

Her blood froze in her veins. After all the years, she couldn’t believe they would leave her behind. She looked around, wanting to find her sifu, but she caught a worried look from Katara. Korra waited for the Waterbending master to stop her, but she just nodded, said nothing and left.

Korra ran away from the training ground. She followed the footprints in the snow but lost it when she reached the stone loggia. She swallowed. Her sifu wasn't like to be tailing, and she was really good at disappearing if she wants to. Korra glanced over her shoulder. She could still see the airship peaking over the roof far away. She still had time. Azula couldn't be too far, and the Southern compound was not that big.

Some guards were patrolling on the high wall. Korra wondered if she should ask them. She never had a full conversation with them before, but before she had a chance to make up her mind, the guards already walked away. I'll find her myself! She thought.

She ran toward her sifu’s room. Perhaps she was packing things up. She found Azula opened the door and walked out of the room. Korra was right, and her sifu had finished.

“Sifu Azula!” She called.

Azula was still walking as if she didn’t hear her, but Korra knew she did. She sped up, running pass Azula and blocked her way. Azula raised an eyebrow, staring at her emotionless.

“Wait!”

A very bold move. She thought to herself. Clearly, she didn’t think this thorough. After all, her sifu could shoot her with lightning if Korra pisses her up.

“You’re leaving?” Korra asked, hoping Azula wouldn’t trample her because of her disrespect. Azula disappointedly sighed like Korra had failed a simple test.

“You’re not a child. Stop asking the same questions that you’re already known the answer.”

“But you’re the Firelord’s sister. Can you like… not follow the order?”

“You are the daughter of Southern water tribe chief, can you go rampage and smack his tribe?”

Korra wanted to say yes out of anger, but she kept her tongue this time. 

“Although it would be fun to piss Zuzu up, I’ll better go back to the palace,” Azula caught the disappointment in Korra's face, "Don't make that pathetic look, Korra. I was only assigned to be your mentor in the first place because your fire was too strong to control, but now you don’t need me anymore.”

Korra blinked. A fire accident had made her afraid of her bending, and each day, the fire kept getting stronger and hotter. She opened her palm, seeing the blue fire dancing in her palm before distinguished into nothing. It was not something she feared anymore. Azula was right. She had fully controlled over the fire. She had already passed the Firebending assessment. She didn't need her sifu anymore.

“It is rare to find someone who uses fire like me, but I’m not surprised.” Azula continued, “I taught you what you need to know. Now you’re on your own.”

The lesson had over. It’s time for Korra to move on to the next element, even if it meant to bit goodbye to her sifu.

She bowed her head to Azula. “Thank you for all these years. It’s an honour to have you as my Firebending teacher.”

“It could be anyone else,” Azula murmured to herself, “but you have a gift. Use it wisely while it last.”

The elder pushed Korra away and walked past her. She was heading toward the airship. Korra wanted to accompany her until the airship was gone, but her feet were heavy as lead, and she just stood there, watching.

“I’ll miss you. You’re a good friend.” Korra admitted.

“I’m not your friend or ally, Korra. I simply do my job. Only fools have friends. You’re always alone, and you're lucky to be like that.” Azula didn’t look back. Her harsh words send Korra to the ice, but she shouldn't be surprised by now, knowing her sifu for ten years. She couldn’t tell what her sifu was thinking, and she guessed she would never know till the very end.

“Will I ever see you again?” Korra made a last call.

“You’ll glad if you didn’t”

That was it. Azula was out of her sight. Korra stood there alone in the hallway, listening to the eerie wind blew outside. After today, she might never see the Firebending teacher again. She always found the Azula to be strange and mysterious, and her words were colder than ice (irony for a powerful Firebender), but she had stayed with her for too long. As many other Firebending teachers gave up on her, and her fear of fire, she would somewhat take anyone to help her. And Azula did help her. Even though she was a mean person, Korra was still glad to have her as her teacher. She enjoyed seeing someone accompany her in the compound. Everyone visited her and left, but the master always stayed.

Now Azula was leaving, Korra wondered if she would be alone again. What if the next Airbender master didn’t like her?

No! She had to stop thinking like that. Whoever the next person is, it will be alright, because she won't be alone again.