On the fourth day, a faint stirring from Alec's cabin sent a ripple of anticipation through the ship. He was waking up.
Iroh, who had been keeping a quiet vigil, entered the room, his face etched with a gentle smile. Alec's eyes, though still blindfolded, were open, a flicker of awareness in their depths.
He blinked, slowly, as if adjusting to an unseen light. His hand, weak and trembling, reached out, exploring the familiar textures of his bunk. The soft mattress, the rough wool blanket, the subtle creak of the ship's timbers – it was his cabin, his sanctuary. He was back on the ship.
He tried to recall the events leading up to his unconsciousness. The searing heat of the volcano, the desperate escape across the lava, Zuko's strained grunts as he carried him, the sudden, overwhelming wave of weakness.
It all came back to him, a fragmented but vivid memory. He remembered accepting the healing skill, the system's warning of prolonged weakness. Four more days. Four more days of this debilitating exhaustion. A sigh escaped his lips, a mixture of frustration and resignation. He was alive, and Zuko was safe, but the price was a heavy one.
Just then, the door creaked open, and Zuko entered, followed by Uncle Iroh. Zuko's face, though still pale, held a newfound lightness, a hint of the playful mischief that Iroh had always encouraged.
He carried a tray with a steaming bowl of broth and a cup of tea. Iroh's eyes twinkled with warmth and relief. Alec, despite his weakness, felt a genuine smile touch his lips. He was truly back among friends.
"Well, well, look who decided to rejoin the living," Zuko said, a teasing note in his voice, but his eyes were soft with concern. He set the tray on a small table beside Alec's bunk. "You had us worried there, blindy."
Iroh chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that filled the small cabin with warmth. "Indeed, Alec. You gave us quite a scare. We are all very grateful for your bravery, and for looking after my nephew." He bowed slightly, a gesture of profound respect that touched Alec deeply. "You have proven yourself a friend, and a valuable member of our… unconventional crew."
Alec managed a weak laugh. "Just doing my part, Uncle Iroh. Though I must admit, Zuko's piggyback ride across a lava lake was an experience I won't soon forget."
Zuko rolled his eyes, but a faint blush crept up his neck. "Hey, it worked, didn't it? And you were the one who passed out on me."
"A necessary sacrifice for the greater good," Alec countered, a playful glint in his unseen eyes. "Besides, I believe I saved your life, Prince Zuko. Again."
"Details, details," Zuko waved a dismissive hand, though his smile widened. The usual tension that often simmered between them was absent, replaced by a comfortable camaraderie born of shared peril.
"So, what exactly happened in there? "
Alec recounted their findings in the pavilion, the ancient etchings around Roku's statue, the strange, fluid movements they depicted. He spoke of the realization that it wasn't firebending, but something else, something akin to lava bending, though he couldn't explain how he knew.
He described the crevice, the water, and their desperate swim through the narrow, steam-filled tunnel. He omitted the part about the system, simply stating that he had used a powerful, draining technique to heal Zuko's burns and ensure their escape.
He spoke of the sudden, overwhelming exhaustion that had claimed him the moment they reached safety. Zuko listened intently, his expression a mixture of awe and curiosity. Iroh, ever the keen observer, nodded thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving Alec's face.
"Fascinating," Iroh mused when Alec finished. "Avatar Roku was indeed a master of all elements, and it is said he explored many obscure forms of bending. To think you stumbled upon such a secret… a remarkable feat, indeed."
"We were just trying to survive," Alec said, shrugging weakly. "But it seems we found more than just an exit."
Zuko, ever practical, interjected, "So, you're saying there's a way to lava bend? From those etchings?"
Alec nodded. "It seems plausible. Though I'm not sure how we'd even begin to decipher them without a proper guide."
Iroh smiled. "Perhaps, in time, you will. For now, rest, young Alec. You have earned it." He placed a gentle hand on Alec's forehead, checking his temperature. "Your body needs time to recover. We will discuss this further when you are stronger."
Zuko, seeing Alec's obvious fatigue, also softened. "Yeah, get some sleep, blindy. Don't want you passing out on me again."
He grinned, a genuine, unforced smile that Alec rarely saw. The playful jab, devoid of its usual bite, was a clear sign of their shifting dynamic. He was no longer just a burden, or a rival, but a trusted companion.
As they turned to leave, Alec felt a subtle difference, a faint whisper against his skin. He reached up, his fingers brushing against the blindfold that covered his eyes.
It felt… softer. The fabric was smoother, and the scent was different, a faint hint of jasmine and old tea leaves. He frowned, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.
He remembered his old blindfold, worn and frayed from countless adventures. This one felt new. He tried to recall when it might have been changed, but his mind, still clouded by weakness, refused to cooperate.
He dismissed it as a trick of his exhausted senses, a minor detail in the grand scheme of their escape and reunion.
He missed the knowing glance that passed between Iroh and Zuko, the subtle shift in Iroh's smile, a silent acknowledgment of a small, thoughtful act of care but still a hint of doubt.
The blindfold, now a slightly different shade of deep indigo, was a testament to Iroh's act of changing his blindfold. Alec, lost in the haze of recovery, remained blissfully unaware of the subtle change, a secret held by the general who had come to care for him .