Linai - Love is in the air in Republic City

Chapter 7

The next morning, Linai opened her eyes and found herself in a room flooded with a faint light. The first rays of sunlight crept through the curtains, danced on the walls and seemed to give her a deceptive sense of calm. But a storm was raging inside her. She felt torn apart inside, almost numb from the thoughts and feelings that circled within her. It was as if she was caught between two worlds - one in which she still believed in the ideals of equality and justice and the other in which the reality of violence and conflict around her shook her to the core of her beliefs.

The routine of her work at the café offered some stability, a familiar feeling amidst the chaos, but even here her thoughts kept drifting to the events of the previous night. The images of the benders having their powers taken from them were like shadows that refused to leave her. She imagined what it must have been like to lose her own element, her own heritage, which was part of her identity, so brutally. This idea caused an unease in her stomach. She wondered if she herself could support such a thing, if she was part of a plan that robbed people not only of their abilities but also of their identity.

Despite the doubts that nagged at her, she decided to take part in the next Equalist training sessions. Perhaps in time she would understand the greater vision behind Amon's plan, perhaps she would recognise the reasons that led him to choose this radical path. But the more she thought about it, the more her uncertainty grew. The ongoing tensions between benders and nonbenders were like a smouldering fire that could degenerate into an open blaze at any moment. Under the leadership of Councillor Tarrlok, a new task force had been set up with the aim of quelling the riots between the parties. It was a move that raised both hope and concern. Linai had heard that Avatar Korra had joined this task force. The thought of it was a stab to her heart. Was this the way she wanted to go? Korra had chosen her side and gone with the benders, and Linai felt vindicated in her decision to stay with the Equalists. Amon was right.

But during the Equalist rallies, there were increasing reports of attacks on benders. Linai heard of violent attacks and acts of revenge that further hardened the fronts between the two groups. Even though she was not yet involved in the operations, she knew it was only a matter of time before she would be caught up in the action. In their training sessions, the topic was often present; conversations centred around the latest developments, strategies and the need to defend themselves. It was a confusing time and she was in the final stages of her training. Soon she would be ready to dive into the reality of the conflict.

One evening, after a particularly intense training session, Linai found the courage to talk to Amon about her worries. The room was filled with the sultry heat of the lamps that pushed back the darkness outside. 'I'm worried that we're moving away from our original goal,' she said, looking into his earnest eyes. 'The violence could cost us the support of the population and jeopardise what we want to achieve.'

Amon looked at her for a moment, as if weighing up her words. 'I understand your concerns, Linai,' he finally replied. His voice was calm, but the weight of his words made the room seem even more oppressive. 'But many people feel helpless and believe they have to resort to drastic measures to be heard. It's a dangerous time.' His gaze was firm, and Linai sensed the depth of his convictions. But the more she thought about his point of view, the more the gap between them grew. She didn't want to believe that violence was the only way to change. There had to be another way, a way based on understanding and compassion. The world was complex, and she knew it was important to build bridges, not walls.

'There is already enough fear and mistrust between benders and non-benders,' she urged further. 'We need to build bridges, not walls. Maybe we should encourage more dialogue and not just raise our fists.' Amon pondered. 'Maybe you're right,' he finally muttered. 'We should find a way to emphasise non-violent approaches and reach more people. We need support from the nonbenders, but also from benders who are willing to talk to us.' Linai nodded, but the uncertainty remained. What if the path she proposed did not meet with approval? What if the brutality of reality overtook them before they had a chance to put their ideas into practice? She felt like a leaf on the wind, torn between her convictions and the brutal reality that was growing around her.