-Updated Version-
Tetsu woke up accompanied by dark circles. He yawned as he walked into the common space.
"Did you not sleep at all?" Ren asked concerned.
"Some." Tetsu smoothed his hair back and grabbed a moonpeach from the table that was spread for breakfast. "I've been reading up on waterbending so I can choose the better teacher."
Ren grit his teeth. "Go with the one you want."
"But what if I choose the wrong teacher and my waterbending isn't— "
Ren held up a hand. "Whatever you're worried about probably won't happen at least not in the way you think, just stop thinking about it."
Tetsu's shoulders sunk for a moment. "But it's our job."
"Look." Ren took a bite of a dumpling. "Both are good teachers so just close your eyes and point."
"I'll know where they're standing before I do that."
"Then flip a yuan."
Tetsu snorted. "Of course. Heads for Nulia and tails for Inuk."
"It would work."
"What if you choose?"
Ren frowned. "According to your logic that would be terrible since I don't know anything about waterbending in comparison to you. But alright, I'll choose for you."
Tetsu looked slightly panicked. "Actually— "
Ren held up a hand. "Kidding."
Jinora ushered them on the same route they had taken yesterday. They passed the green-covered courtyard and out of an arch to the right and continued through into a large rectangular space, open to the sky and wind. The stone was evenly paved and in the center carved into a shallow depression. The stone descended into a smaller rectangle and at its center was carved a round sparring ring. Nulia and Inuk stood on the edges of the ring. The white-haired man that had greeted them yesterday walked up.
"Good to see you." He gave them a wide smile the small opal around his neck glinting.
A variety of people stood under a tall, wide stone pavilion covering the side of the arena. Some were garbed in deep blue, others were fashioned in white standing to one side, and a smaller group in a far corner were dressed in greys and browns. Tetsu caught one of the white-clad people peering at him. They looked away leaving only the impression of two short braids hanging on either side of their face. Inuk stood calmly in the shallow stone recess the beads in his hair glinting faintly in the overcast conditions. Nulia slowly wrapped her hands in off-white gauze and tied the cloth off near her wrists. She stretched her hands looking bored.
"Begin."
"They look pretty good." Ren leaned toward Tetsu.
"That isn't helping."
Ren looked around. "These people. They're all separated."
"I read about it. The water tribes like to keep the traditions of each part. North, South, and the southeastern islands where Nulia is probably from."
"There are watertribe in the southern mangroves as well," Jinora added walking back from speaking with the white-haired man.
Tetsu turned his head. "Really?"
Inuk relaxed into a stance, hands out fluidly and spine staight. Nulia sat high on her feet, legs spread elbows close to her middle. She pulled water from a large jug stepping into the movement. Inuk waited, eyes following her movement. She spun, creating small motions with her fingers. The liquid into a disk around her until it was a blur and she launched it toward Inuk. He turned catching the surge. With a violent snap of her forefinger, a thin slash cut his way skimming his lower leg. The incision shredded his pants and caused a thin line of blood to run down. She sent another slash of water at him. Inuk turned with his whole body catching the added weight and spinning all of it together around him, forming a shield. He sent a stream of breath out into the air, condensation collecting on her then sent the water slamming back freezing her into the ground. She whipped the ice off of her and spun it into a lasso above her sendign shards off that dug into his skin. He pushed a large wave into her, slamming her down. Nulia rolled back onto her feet using the water to support her weight. She wiped the side of her mouth blood dripping onto her wrappings. Clouds streamed out of their mouths as they panted looking at each other. She pushed dark brown hair from her eyes and smiled. Behind Inuk's back, a first of water raced toward him. He threw an arm back and the water turned into a large cloud of vapor, clinging to his clothing.
"Good job," Nulia said as they walked up to each other. They put their palms together, bowing slightly. "You bested me."
A few people dressed in browns grumbled amongst themselves. Nulia returned to the side under the stone overhang. A smile on her face. Inuk returned as well his expression neutral.
A broad-shouldered man stepped out. "Nulia has conceded. Inuk is the automatic victor. He is now a master and a waterbending guide."
Ren's head snapped to Tetsu. "He wasn't a master before?"
Tetsu blinked.
"At least you didn't have to choose right?" Ren said.
Tetsu's eyes trailed Nulia.
Heavy rainfall pelted the skylights. Tetsu stayed in the apartment while Jinora and Ren trained in the courtyard. Jinora stepped in a concentric pattern as she held her hands out circling Ren.
"Step, step, and then slide," she said as Ren tried to emulate the circle as she curved around him. Jinora stopped as their paths would have caused them to collide.
"Glance at where you want to go," she said letting her arms relax. "It's about body orientation and trajectory."
Ren nodded.
"If you feel your feet are getting caught on the ground try to lighten your weight and shift it more equally by evening out your center of balance."
"What's that?" Ren straightened.
Jinora fell out of her stance as well traversing the short distance between them. She paced up to him and stood perpendicular to him so she was facing his side. With one hand she pushed his lower torso in and held the other hand on his back and then pushed and pulled.
"It's slightly different for everybody since we have different frames and builds but it's close. Each one of us has a center of gravity that rests above but near our pelvis. If we don't shift weight in our bodies evenly with our center of gravity it's easier to be knocked down or destabilized. Once you are stable you can begin to execute balanced moves. Walking is falling except we catch ourselves. That's how airbending works as well."
Ren looked down at her and nodded. "Is this right?" he asked shifting.
"Let me see," she said looking all around him and inspecting his pose. "Better. Now you need to remember this posture while you are doing something else. It's about getting so good at it that you don't need to remember so you can focus your attention on the next move."
She held her arm up slightly and then began walking as she created a ball of air in her hands while stepping in a circle.
"Step, step, slide, step."
Once she made the circle she handed Ren the air and he carefully mirrored her steps reaching where she stood.
"Good." She started walking. "Keep doing it." She orbited him at a slow pace. "Once you get quick you can be behind someone much faster than most can react."
Ren stood straight with a slight bend in his legs as he circled. She formed an air ball in her hands and directed it to him. They exchanged it as they revolved around each other.
"Do you feel that?" she asked him as she let the air float away from her fingers.
"What?" he said his brow damp.
"The freedom of movement."
He stopped, letting the orb of air dissipate, and stretched backward a little. "Since I have to go in a circle at first it didn't feel like— but I can get everywhere with it."
"Exactly, now let's see what Tetsu is doing," she said brushing off her top.
Unsurprisingly, Tetsu had his nose in a book. Jinora leaned close to inspect the name etched down the spine.
"That's not a bad one but I'd recommend another."
Tetsu slid the book down for a moment. "Which one? This one is talking about things I don't even understand."
Jinora nodded. "There's a book I heard is helpful. It's called Structure of Water."
"Do they have a library here?"
"Not exactly," Jinora said sitting down in the free chair. "Though there is an area where books are sold. I'll have to ask the guide how to get out and out on the streets," she said, "before that let's have lunch."
They tread side by side. Jinora was dressed in muted colors with a loose hood draped over her head. Tetsu wore an outfit Ikiaq had bought at SilkSun. Ahead, the guide walked with hair braided down his back, leading them through a few gates. The city was a strange maze-like arrangement circling outward. They came to a large area where dignified citizens walked. The man took a right turn and came to an organized street where several stalls sat. Though they were much more like small buildings with roofs. The difference was that the front was open just enough for you to see the vendor and for them to see you.
"This is the book sector," the man said standing to the side.
Jinora and Tetsu walked up to one of the boutiques.
"Excuse me," Tetsu began. "Do you happen to have The Structure of Water?" The man at the large stall shook his head his braid swinging behind him.
At the fifth shop they visited Tetsu sighed. Jinora paced up to the next one. It wasn't quite as big as the other structures and was a shallower shop but still, it held a healthy amount of books tucked in the back, sunlight illuminating the dust-free spines.
"Do you happen to have The Structure of Water?"
The man behind the cart was tall, had white hair, and had an elegant hairstyle pinned to his head with golden pins. His skin was pale and his chin was slightly pointed. Dry air and the smell of cedar permeated the shop.
"Who's the author? It's not uncommon for books to be titled slightly differently by different print shops."
"I think it's by Nuvuia."
The man went to where his shelves sat and began looking through the books. He turned back a small grey book held in his hands.
"Here. This copy is titled By the Drops," he said and laid the book before her.
"It's in wonderful condition." Jinora's eyebrows went up.
"I've had some help in that regard, I knew a waterbending charmer," he said smiling lightly. "Books are a way to connect with the past. If we don't want to lose its wisdom we shouldn't let our books lose their luster either."
Jinora was silent for a moment and smiled picking it up. "How much would you value it for?" she said reaching for her purse.
The man's eyes flicked upward. "This one isn't for me to sell."
Tetsu's eyes shifted to Jinora's forehead. Her arrow wasn't showing only brown hair.
"What do you mean?" She shifted eyebrows crinkling.
He pushed the book into her arms and shook his head.
"You must know this book is rare," Jinora objected.
"It's a debt repaid," The man said
She deposited the book in Tetsu's arms and placed a large stack of yuan down on the table.
The bookseller didn't say anything as they walked back toward their patient guide.
"I've read about the system they have here," Jinora began. "But it's more organized than the last time I was here and in comparison to Yue City."
"Why's it called Yue City?" Tetsu asked turning to her the book leaning against his chest.
"It was built around Yue Bay. The previous city was called Republic City. But an event occurred that opened a spirit portal nearly in the center of the city. The city center shifted several miles southwest and the old center is now on the outskirts. For a fresh start, the city was renamed nearly forty years ago."
"Do you live in the same place you did before?" Tetsu asked.
"Yes. The island is the same but not much else," she said.
"Have you visited the air temples?" Tetsu asked.
Jinora remained quiet for a moment. "I have. Why do you ask?"
"I just wondered why you don't live there."
She slowed her pace. "Someone in my family did live at one. Part of my family still does. I haven't been there in a while."
Tetsu didn't say anything else and followed her as they walked back trailed by the guide.
When they returned Ren was sitting at the table, "Yaxi has asked us to attend her birthday."
"When is it?" Tetsu asked.
"Around a month. She said it's close to the first day of spring remember?"
"Seems early for an invitation."