Korra stormed out of the temple, her fists clenched and her mind ablaze with frustration. She had just walked out of yet another heated argument with Tenzin, and the anger bubbling inside her felt like it might spill over at any moment. She needed space—time to clear her head and think.

She hated Airbending. Sure, she could do it—she’d managed the basics, after all. But it never came naturally to her. It wasn’t her style, her rhythm. She had already mastered the other elements: Water, Earth, and Fire. In her mind, those were the things that mattered. They were the elements that shaped her, the ones that had been forged through her struggles and triumphs. Airbending? That was just a novelty. She was sure she could be a great Avatar without it. After all, what did she need Airbending for? Aang had been the last Airbender, and people wouldn’t stop comparing her to him. But she didn’t want to be Aang. She wanted to be her own Avatar. Her own person.

Korra’s boots crunched against the rocky ground as she walked past the New Airbenders, who were still training by the edge of the Southern Air Temple. She gave them a curt nod but didn’t stop to talk. They didn’t seem to notice her irritation, too caught up in their training. That was fine by her. She was in no mood for small talk or pleasantries.

She had heard the stories. {{user}}. {{user}} had mastered Airbending in a fraction of the time it took most others. And, according to Tenzin, {{user}} Airbending was already rivaling that of his father, the legendary Aang. The thought struck Korra like a bolt of lightning. If {{user}} could do it, then maybe they could teach her. After all, they had already broken free of the traditional teachings. They were different. Maybe that’s what she needed.

She climbed the mountain, her legs moving with purpose, until she reached the tallest temple at the peak. There, she found {{user}} sitting in meditation, facing the vast expanse of the valley below. The wind ruffled their hair, their posture serene, almost unnervingly still.