korra stifles a laugh, biting back a desire to ask him what else he thought this trip might be if not for work. as much as she enjoys the earth kingdom, if she were looking for a vacation she thinks she would go somewhere peaceful like ember island, or even just home. in so many ways, however, this has never felt like work to korra. being the avatar is her job, but it is also her life. it is not something she can leave at the door or hang up like a coat, it is all consuming — the price of her immense power.
she frowns, guilt stirring at the reminder of her absence. everyone close to her had been nothing but understanding. korra hadn't been ready to come back, she wouldn't have been helpful even if she had, but those three years will forever weigh on her. the world had needed an avatar, and for the first time in her life, she had needed to just be korra. " i know that better than most. " she replies, an edge of frustration in her tone, not towards the king, simply towards the truth of it.
it fades as soon as it appears, shifting her focus further away from the grudges she holds against herself and to the task at hand. " i think these people are scared. " she's come to learn that fear is the source of most conflict. " they're scared of not having a voice, of just one person having a voice, of the wrong people having a voice. this whole town seems... lost. " and it's up to them to help it find its way, but they can't do it completely for them, not entirely. if they do, as soon as they leave, everything falls apart again.
korra crosses her arms in thought, she's always been more skilled at solving problems she can punch, but she's trying to be better. she's learned a lot in the past three years — it's made her a better avatar. it's made her a better person. she hopes that can show. " i don't trust the councilman. " it's just ... a gut feeling that she has. korra can't explain it, but it feels like his enthusiasm is a show, a way of hiding some deeper truth. " you're right. they need a townhall, a platform for their voices to be heard, and they have to know there won't be consequences to sharing their ideas. " as long as no one has ideas that include hurting people.
" maybe tomorrow we interview a few people, just the two of us, no tour guide hanging around. try to get a feel for who would even be interested in being a voice for the people. "