In the days that followed, Kahn frequently visited Kou Li's house to spar with her, and the two gradually became close friends.
Kou Li's Earthbending skills were… honestly, average.
While Earth counters Fire in elemental theory, Kahn's control and combat instincts far outmatched hers.
Their "sparring sessions" usually ended in a draw—only because Kahn was holding back.
Kahn wasn't interested in bullying her; what truly fascinated him was her Earthbending itself—one of the Four Arts, completely different from Firebending.
Of course he wanted to study it in detail.
Kou Li's mother was much stronger, but sparring with her would've been far too impolite.
So, poor Kou Li ended up as his main "training partner."
"Ha~! Ha~! Ha~!"
Kou Li collapsed on the ground, panting hard, her bangs stuck to her sweaty face.
Her clothes clung to her skin, leaving her looking completely disheveled.
Kahn, barely sweating, jumped lightly down from a cracked platform of earth and strolled over.
"I mean, it's just a friendly spar—do you really have to go this hard?"
He reached out a hand.
Kou Li grabbed it without hesitation and used his strength to pull herself up.
Still catching her breath, she leaned forward with her hands on her knees.
"You're one to talk! Can't you at least let me land one hit?!"
She hadn't intended to fight so seriously, but missing every strike made her so irritated that she went all out—and now, here she was, utterly exhausted.
Kahn just shrugged innocently. "Hey, not my fault."
He really had held back. Otherwise, she'd be too tired to even move right now.
Still, he was eager to learn more.
"Your techniques would hit harder if you used more variety," he said. "Earthbending isn't just about punching rocks—it's got so many uses."
Kahn's thoughts wandered: Earth spikes bursting from the ground, quicksand traps, shifting terrain, even tunneling travel… the possibilities were endless.
Kou Li threw up her hands. "I only know a few moves, okay? I haven't learned the advanced ones yet."
"…Fair enough," Kahn said, nodding with mock solemnity.
That was a perfect excuse. And to be fair, her progress was normal for a young Earthbender.
From the nearby pavilion, Kou Li's mother had been watching the entire match with a smile.
On the stone table beside her sat a tray of fruits and sweets.
When the two finally stopped fighting, she stood and clapped her hands. "Alright! I think it's time for a break!"
She walked onto the field and assumed a calm Earthbending stance.
With graceful movements, she smoothed out the training ground—holes filled, ridges flattened, the torn-up soil restored until it looked brand new.
Kahn watched, eyes sparkling with interest. What a perfect skill for construction!
Building houses, fortresses, cities… Earthbending could change the world far more than it should be wasted on just fighting.
Still, if he had to pick, Firebending was flashier—and, well, cooler. And coolness was king.
Later, the three sat together in the pavilion, eating snacks while Kou Li's mother shared stories about their homeland—Yu Island.
Yu Island was fascinating.
It was home to both Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom citizens, coexisting in the same city—a rare blend that had broken a thousand years of separation between the Four Nations.
Normally, bending abilities were tied to bloodlines.
Firebenders married Firebenders, Earthbenders married Earthbenders. Crossing that line was nearly unheard of.
But Yu Island defied that tradition.
Kou Li herself was proof—her father a Fire Nation official, her mother an Earthbender.
The result was a thriving, vibrant city filled with life and progress.
Even Kahn couldn't help but feel drawn to it, thinking he'd love to visit someday.
Still, something felt off.
Kou Li's mother spoke of Yu Island with such pride—yet she was an Earthbender praising the Fire Nation.
It made Kahn quietly uneasy.
Maybe she noticed his expression, because she asked gently, "Something on your mind?"
Kou Li looked at him too, cheeks full of cake.
Kahn hesitated, then asked carefully, "Yu Island was originally part of the Earth Kingdom, right? You're an Earthbender… don't you ever wish to return to the Earth Kingdom?"
Kou Li blinked, clearly not understanding the weight of his question.
For a moment, silence lingered—then her mother smiled kindly. "That's a good question."
She thought for a while before answering seriously.
"What you're talking about does happen—but mostly in regions the Fire Nation has only recently occupied. The first generation there might still think of themselves as Earth Kingdom citizens."
"But the second generation? They grow up with Fire Nation education, Fire Nation traditions. They help build the cities, see prosperity with their own eyes. It's hard to believe in a 'homeland' they've never seen."
"And by the third generation…" She smiled at her daughter. "…that connection fades completely."
Kou Li's mother wiped crumbs from her daughter's face.
"By Kou Li's generation, it's already the fifth. We've lived here for over a century. We built Yu Island with our own hands."
She straightened proudly. "So even though I'm an Earthbender—without question, I am a Fire Nation citizen."
Her confidence carried a weight earned through generations of labor and loyalty.
"I'm the fifth generation!" Kou Li said proudly.
"That's right, my clever girl," her mother replied, laughing.
After their laughter faded, she turned to Kahn. "If you ever have the chance, come visit Yu Island. We'll treat you like family."
"I'll definitely go," Kahn said with a smile.
But deep down, her words lingered in his thoughts, stirring questions he wasn't ready to answer.
Forget it, he thought. I'm not qualified to worry about these things yet.