According to Iroh, perspective, resolve, worldly knowledge, and experience were things that no amount of training alone could develop. The only way, without a doubt, was to travel the world.
This was also one of the opportunities that he, Azula, and Zuko had been waiting so desperately for.
But opportunities could not be forced. After all, the world outside was in utter chaos right now, so Kahn sought Iroh's advice:
"When do you think I'll be able to travel the world and broaden my horizons?"
"Hmm."
Iroh pondered for a moment before saying thoughtfully:
"There's no rush. Although your current strength should be more than enough, you're only twelve, after all. Let's wait a few more years."
"Ideally, until you come of age at sixteen-no, wait."
Halfway through, Iroh suddenly remembered something.
Counting the years, there seemed to be only three or four left before "that" arrived.
Was it already that time?
Iroh sighed inwardly, then reconsidered, weighing Kahn's current strength, the state of the world, and various other factors as he judged whether to let Kahn become involved.
Had Kahn been an ordinary child, he would never have considered such a question.
But Kahn was different. His talent, strength, and intelligence meant he was destined to stand at the pinnacle of the world one day. Iroh also had considerable hopes for him, and that was precisely why he had to consider this carefully.
At last, he reached a decision.
Even if he did not let Kahn become involved, he should at least let him see this war-shrouded world with his own eyes. That way, after that event, whatever the outcome, he would have something by which to judge and compare.
If he missed this window, then regardless of what happened, the world afterward might look very different from what it had been before.
Iroh did not say this aloud. Instead, a tangle of emotions began surging through his heart.
Time really does fly.
Having made up his mind, Iroh amended his answer:
"Ordinarily, you'd have to wait until you came of age at the very least. But considering that your current strength is already sufficient, give it another year or two. Then you can go and see the world."
"You look like you have a lot weighing on your mind. Is something going to happen in a few years?"
Iroh's expression froze.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Uh-huh."
Kahn shrugged, then smiled slyly.
"I was just taking a guess, since you suddenly changed your answer. I didn't expect there really was something. Can you tell me a little? If it's a secret, never mind."
"You little rascal, you're as sly as they come. Did you learn that from Azula?"
Iroh scratched his head, looking helpless.
Perhaps he had grown so accustomed to Kahn's intelligence and monstrous talent that, although the question surprised him, he had taken it for granted. It had never occurred to him that Kahn was bluffing. He had really let his guard down.
Looking at the curious Kahn before him, Iroh thought for a moment and said:
"It's not really a secret. There's no harm in telling you. It can't be changed anyway. I'll make a long story short-"
"No, don't make it short. Tell me the long version."
Kahn dashed into the house, brought out a table and stools, and sat down. "I want to hear all the details."
"I really don't know who you learned this nosiness from."
Iroh sighed and shook his head, then sat down as well.
"Go brew me a pot of tea. Wait, never mind. I'll do it myself."
While Iroh went to make tea, Kahn returned to the house for some sunflower seeds and pastries, forcibly turning what should have been a solemn revelation of secrets into an afternoon tea party.
"Where should I begin?"
Iroh held the rim of his cup close and inhaled the tea's fragrance, then took a satisfied sip before asking:
"You know what the source of fire is, don't you?"
Kahn nodded. "The sun."
Air came from the sky, and the higher the altitude, the stronger its power; earth came from the ground, and as long as one's feet remained planted on solid earth, strength flowed without end; water came from the moon, and was more powerful at night; the sun was the source of fire, and the foundation of Firebenders' power.
As the sun rose and fell, the power of a Firebender's flames increased and decreased along with it. By day, Firebenders received the sun's blessing, their flames reaching their greatest power at noon, while they were weakest at night, after the sun had set.
Although the sun's effect on a Firebender's strength was not particularly dramatic, this increase and decrease still created a noticeable difference. This was also one of the reasons the resistance forces had been able to hold out until now.
"That's right. But besides the sun, there is another source that can amplify our power as Firebenders-a comet."
"That comet passes close to the world once every hundred years. On that day, guided by the comet, our power as Firebenders will increase enormously."
"Only once every hundred years, huh? Is the power the comet brings that great?"
Kahn asked as he cracked sunflower seeds.
Iroh took another sip of tea.
"Probably. After all, I've never seen it myself. But according to ancient records, Firebenders become unimaginably powerful when the comet arrives."
Kahn said thoughtfully:
"So the emperor will launch an all-out offensive that day? But what can he do in just one day?"
Iroh replied:
"One day is enough to do a great many things."
Although Kahn was very intelligent, his lack of perspective and experience still limited his understanding. As their conversation just now had shown, Kahn clearly had no concrete notion of warfare between Bending Masters.
This was also one of the reasons Iroh wanted Kahn to go out and gain experience.
"Is that so...?"
Despite what Iroh had said, Kahn still had little idea what that meant.
In his impression, in an ancient society like this, travel alone was measured in months. Even if the Fire Nation had steam-powered warships, it had no internal combustion engines, planes, or cars. Surely just getting from place to place was already a considerable problem for them?
Setting that question aside for the moment, Kahn suddenly remembered something else. A comet that arrived once every hundred years-that cycle gave him a powerful sense of déjà vu-
The current Hundred Year War had also been going on for nearly a hundred years.
By that reckoning, the Fire Nation had very likely started the war during the comet's previous arrival. Yet he did not seem to have seen such an important event mentioned in the history books.
Strange.
So Kahn asked:
"Then what did the Fire Nation do the last time the comet arrived? Start the war?"
At Kahn's question, Iroh paused in the act of drinking his tea, then grew somewhat silent.
Kahn really was intelligent, to think of that question right away. But this might be a little too heavy for him.
Still, now that things had reached this point, he would have to learn about these matters sooner or later.
Iroh set down his teacup and sighed before answering:
"This part of history has been obscured in our country's history books, so it's only natural that you don't know. The Fire Nation started the war even earlier than that, but when the comet arrived-"
"-the Fire Nation sent troops to wipe out the Air Nomads."
Before you continue