"You're kidding me, right?" Korra said as she held the paper in her hands.
"The problem you face with airbending is mental." Akashi said.
Currently, both of them were on top of one of the highest buildings in the city.
"Like Aang, he had a problem with bending earth, because his attitude didn't match the one needed for earthbending." Akashi explained casually. "As for airbenders… You may know this or may not, but all of the air nomads were benders. Do you know why all of the air nomads were benders? Yet, the other nations had a mix between benders and non-benders."
"Hmm… why then?" she asked.
"Because, when you think about earthbending, you need to have a straightforward personality and not be pushy. Many people don't develop such a thing because life and so. Same for firebenders and all…"
Zuko was one of the people, who, when had changed his personality, had lost his firebending. Albeit it's temporarily, he had to relearn a whole new style from the dragons.
"But for airbenders, they have mental training when they start talking, shaping their brain to the right attitude."
"How do you know that when they don't?" She asked.
"Because I did study and make a conclusion." Akashi replied, "It's a theory worth investigating."
Korra looked at the paper that Akashi had handed her earlier. "I'm like the wind. I flow easily. My mind is clear like air. I'm forgiving and letting go…. And all of these lines. I'm supposed to read them before bed and after waking up."
Akashi shrugged.
It's established science that affirmations help.
Some turned gay because of them. Some stopped being gay. Some managed to stick to the gym thanks to such affirmations.
It doesn't change a person overnight.
It doesn't bring miracles, or make the universe move to get you what you want.
But it plants a seed in the mind. A person has millions of ideas a day that come and pass unconsciously. One could always plant an idea in their brain, which would surface later. And identity-based affirmation, within time, could affect a person's personality, and thus, his actions.
"It's not magic. You plant the seed in your mind, and it slowly grows up." Akashi said, "You're the Avatar, so, you need a matching attitude for all types of bending. I don't think you need to implant a personality of airbenders too much, only enough to get a sense of bending air."
"I'll give it a shot." She said, looking at him with suspicion.
"And don't forget to meditate. 2 times a day, for at least 5 minutes." Akashi added.
"I've never tried it before. How do you do it?"
"You just close your eyes and focus on your breaths. You can count them, and if you don't lose count, you can do it without counting." Akashi replied. "But for now, why don't we practice some normal airbending techniques?"
"What techniques?" she asked.
Akashi waved his hands, creating winds. "Basic movements for taming the air. Once you can get the hang of airbending, you'll know what to do."
"Alright."
And then, Akashi turned into a Tai Chi master.
He showed Korra a bunch of techniques used for airbending. She found a bit of difficulty in replicating them, as if she was stressed. But it was something that she'd get the hang of in no time, he hoped. At least, before Amon made his move.
-x-X-x-
"That was exhausting," Korra grumbled as she grabbed water and drank it.
"I told you not to overdo it." Akashi replied. She had been replaying his combos… and instead of doing it calmly, she was a bit aggressive and did it with high intensity. But he had to give it to her. She had immense stamina.
"By the way." Korra said, "Do you have a radio?"
"A radio?" he repeated after her.
"I want to listen to the pro-bending matches." She replied.
"I have one in my coffee shop. But these matches would stream at night, mostly, when people aren't working." Akashi said. "So, you're interested in pro-bending."
"Hmm…" she nodded, "I used to listen to them when I was in the South Pole."
"That's tough." Akashi said.
To listen to matches, and leaving the rest to your imagination… that's not sports worth listening in his book. It'd be better to watch it firsthand. Or better yet, have a TV, a beer, and a relaxing sofa to enjoy the show.
"What do you mean, by tough. Did I say something worth sympathy?" she asked.
"Why listen to the radio when you can watch firsthand." He said.
"But Tenzin had said that I won't be able to attend them, and that I should focus on my training. He said that after picking up a few things from you, I'd train in isolation in the temple." Korra said, her tone getting quite sad.
Akashi laughed.
Korra looked at him strangely, again. "What's so funny this time?"
Akashi put his hand on her shoulder.
"How old are you?" he asked.
"17." She replied.
"I hope my kids end up like you, timid and all." Akashi replied, "Go, have some fun. The worst thing he could do is to yell at you, and then come to accept the reality. Just as long as you don't sneak up from the temple, you'd be fine. Well…" Akashi scratched his hair. "And by having fun, I don't mean getting pregnant. So, don't let any boy flirt with you. If you do, Tenzin would ship you back to the South Pole."
Korra's cheeks turned red. "Hey! Keep the topic about the sports."
"Alright. Alright."
Akashi paused, suddenly getting struck by a genius idea.
If Korra somehow joined the pro-bending, and things followed the original timeline, even very slightly, wouldn't he be able to make tons of money. In this world, the gambling was like… You know, bet on a strong team, and you get 1.3x of your bet at best. Bet on the weaker team, and you'd get many times of that.
There's one thing he could do.
He knew that there was a team called Wolf Bets, and they were bribing the judges.
They'd definitely feel threatened if Korra became a pro bender.
And if he followed their leads, he could know when they would interfere and make Korra lose.
'Besides, she's the Avatar. I think betting against her gives back bigger returns.'
"I have a radio you can pick." Akashi beamed, "If you ever want to see the pro-bending arena, tell Tenzin that you'd be coming to train with me. And I'll take you there."
"Thank you." She nodded.
After that, Korra picked up the radio from Akashi's place, and she rested for a while. Tenzin came back and picked her up.
Akashi had thought about visiting the chief's office, and teasing her about her outburst earlier.
But he had decided to go against it.
It was getting late, and it's better to focus on training his sound bending.
-x-X-x-
Around 00:00.
Akashi was at the top of one of a very high building in the mid of a building site.
He breathed in, and then, he screamed out loud.
A very loud sound echoed. Akashi, for now, in his wave bending, could only amplify the waves and not change their frequency, so, he focused on that.
After clapping so much, he had gotten tired and his hands became red and swollen.
So, he had switched his training style.
[Wavesbending+ 4 exp]
"WAAAAA!"
[Wavesbending +2 exp]
"AND THIS! IS TO GO EVEN FURTHER BEYOND! HAAAAA!"
[Wavesbending up to level 2]
A very loud wave erupted from his mouth, traveling across the city.
Akashi didn't stop, and he continued grinding, screaming out his lungs.