Kahn had to be given credit: what he said made a great deal of sense. Tenzin truly had not considered the problems caused by Korra's not having mastered Airbending yet, and the realization dawned on him.
It seemed he ought to adjust Korra's teaching plan.
But looking at Kahn earnestly discussing education with him, Tenzin felt an indescribable sense of oddness.
Why do you have so much experience?
Suddenly, he remembered what Kahn had said yesterday-
"If you're not willing to teach her, I will!"
He had originally assumed Kahn had only said that in anger, but now, could he actually have meant it?!
At that thought, a powerful sense of crisis instantly rose in Tenzin's heart.
He admitted that Kahn had a strong foundation in Airbending and understood it quite well, but he was not a true airbender, after all. If Kahn stole his position as Korra's Airbending teacher, where would that leave his dignity as an orthodox airbender?
Tenzin was fretting over this when he came back to his senses and saw Korra asking Kahn about Airbending. His expression immediately darkened.
"Why are you so good at using Airbending techniques when you're not an airbender? Do you have any tricks for learning them?"
Korra could hardly wait to ask.
Kahn smiled.
"I wouldn't call them tricks, just a few insights. Do you understand the nature of each of the four elements?"
Silence spoke louder than words here. Korra's silence had already said everything, so Kahn could only continue himself.
"Fire is free and volatile, earth is volatile and stable, water is stable and gentle, and air is gentle and free. As long as you understand what an element means, you won't be far from mastering it."
Korra murmured,
"Air is gentle and free?"
"That's right."
Kahn nodded.
"The