Linai - Love is in the air in Republic City

Chapter 6

Linai woke up early in the morning as usual. The alarm went off and as she peeled herself out of bed, she thought about the day ahead. It was a familiar rhythm: get up, work hard and then go to training with the Equalists. The routine gave her stability and helped her not to lose focus. After a quick breakfast, she made her way to work at the café. The streets were quiet and the smell of fresh bread and coffee greeted her as she opened the door. The first customers were already there and she immediately started taking orders.

During her shift, she kept overhearing conversations about Korra, who was training in professional taming. The news about the Avatar was on everyone's lips. Some guests talked about how impressive it was that Korra was working so hard on her skills, while others wondered if she could solve the problems between the benders and the non-benders. 'Did you hear that Korra is preparing for the next challenge?' a customer said to his companion. 'She says she wants to make sure everyone in the city feels safe.'

'That sounds good, but what about us non-benders?' the woman replied. 'I hope she doesn't forget that we have voices too.' Linai felt her heart beat faster. It was important that Korra was aware of the non-benders' concerns while she was improving her skills. Linai didn't have the chance to meet Korra herself, but she wanted to make sure their concerns and fears were heard.She was exhausted after a long day of work, but the thought of the upcoming training with the Equalists energised her. Arriving at the warehouse, the atmosphere was one of energy and determination. Amon and the other members were already waiting for her, ready to discuss the next steps in their movement.

The training began with an intense discussion about the current issues being dealt with in the city, including Korra and the upcoming meetings. 'It's important that we make our message clear, especially now that the Avatar is in town,' Amon explained. 'People are divided, and we need to make sure that the concerns of non-benders are not overlooked.'

Linai listened intently as her peers shared their ideas. It was clear that the tension between benders and non-benders was a key issue, and it was up to them to address it. 'We need to remind Korra and the bending people of their responsibilities,' said a member named Kaito. 'It's time they understood that it's not just about their abilities, but also about how they use their power.' The young woman nodded in agreement. She knew that it was important to stand up for her rights in this situation too. After training, she spoke to Amon. 'What do you think, should we approach Korra directly? It would be important for her to know our perspective.'

Amon thought for a moment. 'That could be a possibility, but we have to be careful. The Avatar has a lot of expectations, and we don't want our concerns to get lost in the shuffle.' 'Perhaps we could formulate an open letter of sorts,' Linai suggested. 'That way we could make sure our voice is heard without it being too confrontational.' Amon nodded in agreement. 'That's a good idea. Let's work on that plan in the next session.'

In the days that followed, her daily routine repeated itself. She worked hard in the café and occasionally in Mr Bao's restaurant. When she started her shift with him, she practised her chi blocking in the morning. As the day of the big meeting approached, Linai felt a tingle of excitement and nervousness. She knew that this would be a crucial opportunity to represent the concerns of the non-benders. Together with the other Equalists, she would make sure their message got across clearly.

Preparations for the meeting were in full swing. Linai worked on the open letter they were going to send to Korra, trying to summarise the main points that concerned the non-benders. It was important that they felt they were being heard, especially at a time when the Avatar was in town and drawing attention.

The day of the meeting had arrived. The atmosphere in the abandoned warehouse where the Equalists had gathered was tense. Electric lamps cast dim light on the hard faces of the non-benders. For once, Linai tied her hair back in a braid and placed a scarf over her hair, tying it under her chin. After a while, the hall was filled and the noise level increased.