❝
Kaido gently stroked the strands of brilliant fire scarlet hair behind Iwa's ear, his eyes gently traversing into hers, before traversing down her body, no matter the years, he would never get accustomed to the striking beauty of his wife. He wondered, at times, if he deserved such a loving woman, who stood beside him steadfastly despite all the vitriol, anger, hatred, and most of all, absence, in which he was accountable for, solely by the position of being the Lady of Fire. She did not choose this life, but still... she bore it with grace, and affection, and joy. And that was more than what Kaido deserved. He pressed his lips against her forehead, as best as he could, he would give such time back.
And he walked outwards towards the roars of the crowd who stood before their liege.
The burning lights upon the podium cast a warm film of heat against his skin, hundreds of thousands of citizens pooling against the once barren forbidden city grounds. Kaido gently adjusted the microphone against his podium, a new invention, crafted by Republic City and Fire Nation ingenuity.
"Thank you." He began. As Kaido spoke, the crowd's roars echoed into silence. "To my lady, Iwa. My sons, Kujaku and Kishin, to Royal Secretary Lim, Guest Speaker Rindo, Honored Guests, fellow citizens of our great Nation."
"We move at a breathtaking pace, 20 years ago, our lands were separate. 15 years ago, the first known industrial revolution began in the midst of Republic City. In 10, the arts of Lightning Bending powered the first lights of Republic City, in five, trade and commerce flowed inwards and outwards on roads by our first colonizers and by those who immigrated within and out of the Fire Nation."
"Electrical printing presses, light, motor industry, the ability to access hot water at the swivel of a finger and conjure flames without the need for bending. The capability of an ordinary man to create perfect stilled images without the need to ever touch a brush to paper. To be able to write thousands upon thousands of words without a single quill. To be able to pick up a device and speak to another from across the globe. All of which progressed in such a time in which our ingenuity and momentum have been focused on creating a better future."
"Such an awe-inspiring pace cannot help but create ills in which compounds upon the old. It shall open new wounds upon our bodies despite the inability to cover up the old, and yet we endure throughout it all. Those who came before us pioneered engines of war, mastered the arts of combat, conquered through the strength of our fire. And despite the change of the times, the spirit of that determination shall not cause us to flounder on the backwash of the successes of our past."
Kaido paused, briefly looking towards his wife with the corner of his eye, before continuing.
"However... that does not mean that we cannot take a moment to appreciate, and enjoy the time in which we have remaining, and appreciate the fellow men and women who stand beside you. For all machinery, central heat, running water, infinite electrical power and food for everyone to eat, and all that protects us from freezing cold, starvation, and lack of water are done from the will and desire of the people who stand beside you right now."
"Some of us shall degenerate into the hells of resentment from the burdens of living such a breakneck pace of life, but most of us shall refuse to do so. Despite our suffering, and disappointment, and loss, and inadequacy, and ugliness, time and time again. That is the true spirit of Fire, and our ability fight through such suffering is the miracle with those of us with eyes to see."
"Thus, this Festival is dedicated to all of you. To respect the sacrifices and efforts of all those whom have brought us this harvest, this technology, the grains in which we shall plant the seeds of our future. You are important to other people, as much as you are to yourself. You have some vital role to play in the unfolding destiny of this world. You are therefore morally obligated, from time to time, be obliged to grant yourself a respite from the ensuing chaos of the trying times. Be good to yourself, in such a way that you would take care of, be good to, and give to someone you love and value. This Spring Harvest, thus, provides such a function. May all your future endeavors be the remarkable fruits by which our children shall found their lives upon. That is all, thank you, and enjoy the festivities."
And as Kaido stepped away from the podium, he watched as his wife too, delivered a speech to the cheering and roaring crowd. Kaido himself, he felt, was never as popular as his wife, but still he could not fault the crowd. Nor could he blame his wife for the bright star which she served as his muse, as she did with many others. He gently clapped to the raucous applause of the crowd as they finished their speeches, and Kaido took his wife's hand upon his to step out of the limelight.
"Some place where we won't be disturbed, I'd say we've done enough public talking for the day." Kaido chuckled, as they finished mingling with the guests. "Would you care to guess?" He replied, walking with her back towards the Imperial Chariot.
