Lesson One: Lightning
Felix walked quickly to class, it was a beautiful morning and excitement filled the hall outside of the Basic Battle Weaves class. He gently pushed by some of the other students that were talking in the hall instead of walking into the classroom. Felix in his black uniform and boots had a lightness in his step as he opened the door and assembled along the wall in the classroom.
Asha'man Lagon started the class with the usual warnings not to practice unsupervised and went on to say that these weaves were extremely dangerous. A thought passed through Felix's mind as he heard the Asha'man say that, Of course they are dangerous, they are Battle Weaves. The thought drifted from his mind with a chuckle on his lips, light enough for himself to hear but not loud enough to cause trouble.
The Asha'man all dressed in black with a Green Cord on to stand for his Ajah made a gateway down to the Channeling Yard. A place to practice weaves in relative safety. Felix followed the line of other learning ranks through the gateway, he had to duck his head ever so slightly to avoid touching the top of the Gateway. When he arrived in the open field with rocks littered about he stepped to the side to allow others to enter and stood back for the demonstration of the Lightning Weave.
The Asha'man wasted no time in seizing Saidin and making two columns, one of fire and one of air. They inter-weaved into a beautiful braid that turned into a lightning strike as fast as the eye could see. Felix watched with a look of exhilaration on his face. The small hairs on his arms stood on end as the Accepted channeled and another strike started next to the first. The Green Ajah Asha'man turned towards the students and instructed them on the task for the day.
The time to channel had arrived so Felix settled into Ko'di and focused on calming himself. He was grateful when his excitement was fed to the fire in the void. He was fearful of getting in trouble for being so exhilarated about these weaves. With one last deep breath Felix reached for the Male source Saidin. He felt the normal burning in his veins like lava pouring through him, the fight for control and the sharpened senses. He felt joy break through the void and exhilaration broke through in the gap. The young man took a minute after wrestling control of the source to take a breath and feed the fire in the void his excessive emotions.
With his emotions in check Felix walked towards a large boulder and drew a large hot pale red thread of fire and a wispy yellow thread of air from the source. He aimed the threads at the boulder and allowed them to interweave to create a bright white strike of Lightning that split the boulder. He jumped in the air and cheered when the boulder cracked and both sides rocked. He quickly regained his calm and proceeded to keep channeling strikes while he waited for Asha'man Lagon to critique his work. He was satisfied that the Asha'man would find his work exemplary.
Asha'man Lagon started the class with the usual warnings not to practice unsupervised and went on to say that these weaves were extremely dangerous. A thought passed through Felix's mind as he heard the Asha'man say that, Of course they are dangerous, they are Battle Weaves. The thought drifted from his mind with a chuckle on his lips, light enough for himself to hear but not loud enough to cause trouble.
The Asha'man all dressed in black with a Green Cord on to stand for his Ajah made a gateway down to the Channeling Yard. A place to practice weaves in relative safety. Felix followed the line of other learning ranks through the gateway, he had to duck his head ever so slightly to avoid touching the top of the Gateway. When he arrived in the open field with rocks littered about he stepped to the side to allow others to enter and stood back for the demonstration of the Lightning Weave.
The Asha'man wasted no time in seizing Saidin and making two columns, one of fire and one of air. They inter-weaved into a beautiful braid that turned into a lightning strike as fast as the eye could see. Felix watched with a look of exhilaration on his face. The small hairs on his arms stood on end as the Accepted channeled and another strike started next to the first. The Green Ajah Asha'man turned towards the students and instructed them on the task for the day.
The time to channel had arrived so Felix settled into Ko'di and focused on calming himself. He was grateful when his excitement was fed to the fire in the void. He was fearful of getting in trouble for being so exhilarated about these weaves. With one last deep breath Felix reached for the Male source Saidin. He felt the normal burning in his veins like lava pouring through him, the fight for control and the sharpened senses. He felt joy break through the void and exhilaration broke through in the gap. The young man took a minute after wrestling control of the source to take a breath and feed the fire in the void his excessive emotions.
With his emotions in check Felix walked towards a large boulder and drew a large hot pale red thread of fire and a wispy yellow thread of air from the source. He aimed the threads at the boulder and allowed them to interweave to create a bright white strike of Lightning that split the boulder. He jumped in the air and cheered when the boulder cracked and both sides rocked. He quickly regained his calm and proceeded to keep channeling strikes while he waited for Asha'man Lagon to critique his work. He was satisfied that the Asha'man would find his work exemplary.
Lesson Two: Fireball
Felix walked into the battle-weaves class with a minute to spare before Asha'man Lagon started explaining the weave of the day. The Green Asha'man explained that the class was going to learn about fireballs today and that the class would take place in the Channeling Yards. When he finished explaining the lesson Accepted Mora embraced Saidar. All of the women in the class saw the telltale sign of light around Mora and the men felt tingling as Mora weaved the gate. One by One the students stepped through the gate way and were instantly transported to the Channeling Yards.
Once the whole class was assembled in the Yards the Asha'man demonstrated the weave for the fireball, a simple weave of fire and air in the shape of a ball and propelled by air. Lagon threw the ball of fire at the dry grass on the other side of the yard and it started burning intensely. Accepted Mora used a simple weave of water to douse the fire and the Asha'man used a thread of fire to absorb the rest of the fire. After the fire was out Asha'man Lagon instructed the group to pair off one to weave the make the fireball and the other to put out the fire. After a round they would switch jobs until both students learned the weave.
The Soldiers and Dedicated in the class paired off and the Novices and Accepted paired off. Each pairing stood away from the other pairings to practice. Felix got paired with an Andorian Soldier.
Both men embraced Saidin, moments passed as they both fought for control of the destructive source. When the soldiers regained control, Felix pulled small threads of Air and small threads of Fire. He put the threads into a tight weave in the shape of a small ball. A ball of fire ignited into existence in front of Felix. With a thin thread of wispy air he propelled the ball to the grass, igniting the grass. With a quick flourish the Andorian pulled a hot thread of Fire and touched the flames on the grass, soaking up the fire.
Felix completed the weave four more times, each time a success. Fire and Air weaves came naturally to Felix. After the fourth set the boys switched and the Andorian wove a ball of fire and sent the ball into the grass. Felix dived into the source pulling out a thread of fire and soaked up the flames. Back and forth the Soldiers went, one would put out the fires while the other made the Fireballs. Sweat rolled down the students faces by the time the teacher was satisfied with the weaves and the class ended.
Once the whole class was assembled in the Yards the Asha'man demonstrated the weave for the fireball, a simple weave of fire and air in the shape of a ball and propelled by air. Lagon threw the ball of fire at the dry grass on the other side of the yard and it started burning intensely. Accepted Mora used a simple weave of water to douse the fire and the Asha'man used a thread of fire to absorb the rest of the fire. After the fire was out Asha'man Lagon instructed the group to pair off one to weave the make the fireball and the other to put out the fire. After a round they would switch jobs until both students learned the weave.
The Soldiers and Dedicated in the class paired off and the Novices and Accepted paired off. Each pairing stood away from the other pairings to practice. Felix got paired with an Andorian Soldier.
Both men embraced Saidin, moments passed as they both fought for control of the destructive source. When the soldiers regained control, Felix pulled small threads of Air and small threads of Fire. He put the threads into a tight weave in the shape of a small ball. A ball of fire ignited into existence in front of Felix. With a thin thread of wispy air he propelled the ball to the grass, igniting the grass. With a quick flourish the Andorian pulled a hot thread of Fire and touched the flames on the grass, soaking up the fire.
Felix completed the weave four more times, each time a success. Fire and Air weaves came naturally to Felix. After the fourth set the boys switched and the Andorian wove a ball of fire and sent the ball into the grass. Felix dived into the source pulling out a thread of fire and soaked up the flames. Back and forth the Soldiers went, one would put out the fires while the other made the Fireballs. Sweat rolled down the students faces by the time the teacher was satisfied with the weaves and the class ended.
Lesson:Three Flash Fire
Felix arrived before the rest of the class, he walked into the small classroom devoid of all students. He took a seat near the front of the room and waited for the class to start. After everyone arrived the Asha’man told the students that the class would be held in the channeling yards and took everyone down the many stairs through the Grey Tower down to the Yards.
The class arrived in the Yards and the instructions began. Air and Fire woven together and Air to push it off, almost a mix of the previous two weaves. The instructions for practice were the same as the class before, pair off and one channels and the other puts out the fires.
Felix paired off with the same Andorian Soldier as the class before, the Andorian stepped forward first and channeled the two elements together, he pushed the weave off and it dissipated after a pace of distance.
“Mind if I give it a try mate?”
“Sure take your shot, I think I did not make the threads large enough…. Or close enough.”
Felix called the void around himself and fed his emotions into the fire. The process to reach Saidin was getting easier the longer he stayed at the tower. He reached out for the source and fought the battle for control. His blood was on fire but he quickly overcame the fight and won control for a time. He called up two cords, one Fire as hot as a camp fire and one of Air, wispy and floating. He began to twist the two cords and they exploded in his hands. It was a minor explosion, no one else noticed it. Mishaps had happened all over the yards, nothing too extreme.
“What was the man?” The Andorian shot at Felix with his eyebrows raised.
“Where you put too little of the elements in I put too much, way too much.” Felix replied with bright red cheeks. Embarrassment flooded the void, as he wallowed in the fact that with his primary elements he still managed to mess up a weave.
“Eh well stuff happens, let's try again.”
“Ok, you go mate.” Felix replied lightly, still somewhat shaken by his singed hands.
The Andorian soldier pulled the elements out and twisted the threads together. He gave the weave a gentle push with air and it hit the ground and it lit the ground on fire. Felix pulled a cord of fire out of the source and touched the fire, he absorbed the fire and released the cord.
He took a few breaths to steady his nerves, the void was not working like it should. He reached for Saidin and pulled out a thread of Fire and a thread of Air. With more caution he twisted the element threads together and pushed it off with a thread of Air. It hit the grass and lit it on fire. They both took turns with the weave and had mostly successes.
The class arrived in the Yards and the instructions began. Air and Fire woven together and Air to push it off, almost a mix of the previous two weaves. The instructions for practice were the same as the class before, pair off and one channels and the other puts out the fires.
Felix paired off with the same Andorian Soldier as the class before, the Andorian stepped forward first and channeled the two elements together, he pushed the weave off and it dissipated after a pace of distance.
“Mind if I give it a try mate?”
“Sure take your shot, I think I did not make the threads large enough…. Or close enough.”
Felix called the void around himself and fed his emotions into the fire. The process to reach Saidin was getting easier the longer he stayed at the tower. He reached out for the source and fought the battle for control. His blood was on fire but he quickly overcame the fight and won control for a time. He called up two cords, one Fire as hot as a camp fire and one of Air, wispy and floating. He began to twist the two cords and they exploded in his hands. It was a minor explosion, no one else noticed it. Mishaps had happened all over the yards, nothing too extreme.
“What was the man?” The Andorian shot at Felix with his eyebrows raised.
“Where you put too little of the elements in I put too much, way too much.” Felix replied with bright red cheeks. Embarrassment flooded the void, as he wallowed in the fact that with his primary elements he still managed to mess up a weave.
“Eh well stuff happens, let's try again.”
“Ok, you go mate.” Felix replied lightly, still somewhat shaken by his singed hands.
The Andorian soldier pulled the elements out and twisted the threads together. He gave the weave a gentle push with air and it hit the ground and it lit the ground on fire. Felix pulled a cord of fire out of the source and touched the fire, he absorbed the fire and released the cord.
He took a few breaths to steady his nerves, the void was not working like it should. He reached for Saidin and pulled out a thread of Fire and a thread of Air. With more caution he twisted the element threads together and pushed it off with a thread of Air. It hit the grass and lit it on fire. They both took turns with the weave and had mostly successes.
Lesson 4: Static Field
The class was like always held in the channeling yards, the students arrived via a gateway from the classroom. After they arrived Asha’man Lagon instructed the class in the weave of the day, the Static Field. The weaves were more complex than the earlier classes and and involved water.
The students picked the same partners as the two earlier classes so Felix worked with the Andorian again. Both boys called the Void around themselves and reached for Saidin. There was silence around the Yard as everyone of the students sought to dominate the source or for the women embrace it. The group had gotten faster as a mass but some were faster and more advanced than the others. Felix was one of the last to gain mastery over the source. He had a hard time maintaining the power. He lived in fear that he would not survive another encounter with the unbound Saidin.
At peace with the world, their arms tingled then power was felt in the air and static fields appeared around them. The upperclassmen were showing off. Many of the accepted and dedicated had produced the weave well the first time. A field of electricity in front of them.
Felix drew threads of air and fire from the source. He placed the flowing air delicately in a grid five paces in front of his feet. He placed down the fire diagonally across the air making holes in the weave as he let it flow into the form his hands sought. He dropped his hands to his side and admired his work for a moment and wiped the sweat from his brow. Air and Fire were strengths but even with strengths practice made better. The andorian had placed a sloppy grid of air and strong lines of fire.
Many of the soldiers and novices struggled with the complexity of the weave compared to the earlier weaves. With a deep breath Felix attempted to draw a thread of water to place some pieces of the element into the weave. The thread slipped out of his hands time and again. Frustration tried to break the void, sheer willpower fed it into the fire in the center. Always water, why can not all weaves be fire and air they are easy.
Felix felt silly seconds after the thoughts passed through his brain. My mother would have boxed my ears for the complaining. Perseverance! He focused his mind and willed a thread of water into his hands. The water he placed in the weave without a second guess and the whole weave fizzled out of existence. As it faded a few of the other boys laughed at him. His cheeks turned bright red. He tried time and again to complete the weave.
The beginning part of the weave he had down, Air and Fire came naturally. After all of the class had completed the weave Felix finally completed it and he tried for the electrocution weave. The practice from the first weave made the second weave much easier but it still took him the rest of the class to complete it and he only got it right once. He walked out of the class with one thought on his mind. I am never using this weave.
The students picked the same partners as the two earlier classes so Felix worked with the Andorian again. Both boys called the Void around themselves and reached for Saidin. There was silence around the Yard as everyone of the students sought to dominate the source or for the women embrace it. The group had gotten faster as a mass but some were faster and more advanced than the others. Felix was one of the last to gain mastery over the source. He had a hard time maintaining the power. He lived in fear that he would not survive another encounter with the unbound Saidin.
At peace with the world, their arms tingled then power was felt in the air and static fields appeared around them. The upperclassmen were showing off. Many of the accepted and dedicated had produced the weave well the first time. A field of electricity in front of them.
Felix drew threads of air and fire from the source. He placed the flowing air delicately in a grid five paces in front of his feet. He placed down the fire diagonally across the air making holes in the weave as he let it flow into the form his hands sought. He dropped his hands to his side and admired his work for a moment and wiped the sweat from his brow. Air and Fire were strengths but even with strengths practice made better. The andorian had placed a sloppy grid of air and strong lines of fire.
Many of the soldiers and novices struggled with the complexity of the weave compared to the earlier weaves. With a deep breath Felix attempted to draw a thread of water to place some pieces of the element into the weave. The thread slipped out of his hands time and again. Frustration tried to break the void, sheer willpower fed it into the fire in the center. Always water, why can not all weaves be fire and air they are easy.
Felix felt silly seconds after the thoughts passed through his brain. My mother would have boxed my ears for the complaining. Perseverance! He focused his mind and willed a thread of water into his hands. The water he placed in the weave without a second guess and the whole weave fizzled out of existence. As it faded a few of the other boys laughed at him. His cheeks turned bright red. He tried time and again to complete the weave.
The beginning part of the weave he had down, Air and Fire came naturally. After all of the class had completed the weave Felix finally completed it and he tried for the electrocution weave. The practice from the first weave made the second weave much easier but it still took him the rest of the class to complete it and he only got it right once. He walked out of the class with one thought on his mind. I am never using this weave.
Lesson 5: Quagmire
The students met in the Channeling Yards and the class began immediately in the cleared area. The weave was the Quagmire or swamp a mix of earth and water. Felix groaned when the Asha’man told them the elements they would have to use to complete the weave. The group spread out and the teachers walked around observing the students.
Felix walked some distance away from the other students, close enough to be observed but not close enough to injure another student should his weave become unstable. With two elements he had minimal control over, he would fail and it would be bad.
He called upon the void and fed his worries and fear into the flame. Ko’di was becoming easier the longer he stayed at the tower. He used the skill before he came to the Grey Tower for Sword Training in his village but nothing pushed him to his limits like using the One Power. He fought for control of Saidin It took him a mere minute but the fight felt like ages, the power and Felix fought back and forth always on the edge. He fought the urge to hold as much of the power as he could and settled on a nice safe amount, a mere trickle. If he was gonna succeed it would not be by force.
Felix felt in the trickle of the power he held for the power of earth, the mountain, balance, stability, the land. Many of the others had begun their weaves and were having success, a distraction nothing else. Felix pushed all of the environment away and focused on his task, EARTH. He struggled for a while before he finally grasped one thread then two and wove them into a cross weave. He set the weave gently on the ground and focused on the next element Water. He focused on the fluid nature of water falls and on the power of the great seas. He struggled for several minutes till he finally got a grasp on the fluidic threads and plugged the holes in the weave.
The ground in front of him turned to mud and spread from the weave, he sank to his knees in mud. He just stood in shock as he sank further and further into the mud. Threads of air lifted him in the air and set him behind the pit of mud.
“Thank you sir!”
“It happens child continue, focus more on your task and it won't get out of control.”
If only he knew Felix thought with a shake of his head.
He pulled more threads of earth and water to try again. He failed the weave again and again as he practiced. He did not create anything until near the end of class when he made a small square of quagmire that would have only been big enough to stop a small rabbit. It was a success though.
Felix walked some distance away from the other students, close enough to be observed but not close enough to injure another student should his weave become unstable. With two elements he had minimal control over, he would fail and it would be bad.
He called upon the void and fed his worries and fear into the flame. Ko’di was becoming easier the longer he stayed at the tower. He used the skill before he came to the Grey Tower for Sword Training in his village but nothing pushed him to his limits like using the One Power. He fought for control of Saidin It took him a mere minute but the fight felt like ages, the power and Felix fought back and forth always on the edge. He fought the urge to hold as much of the power as he could and settled on a nice safe amount, a mere trickle. If he was gonna succeed it would not be by force.
Felix felt in the trickle of the power he held for the power of earth, the mountain, balance, stability, the land. Many of the others had begun their weaves and were having success, a distraction nothing else. Felix pushed all of the environment away and focused on his task, EARTH. He struggled for a while before he finally grasped one thread then two and wove them into a cross weave. He set the weave gently on the ground and focused on the next element Water. He focused on the fluid nature of water falls and on the power of the great seas. He struggled for several minutes till he finally got a grasp on the fluidic threads and plugged the holes in the weave.
The ground in front of him turned to mud and spread from the weave, he sank to his knees in mud. He just stood in shock as he sank further and further into the mud. Threads of air lifted him in the air and set him behind the pit of mud.
“Thank you sir!”
“It happens child continue, focus more on your task and it won't get out of control.”
If only he knew Felix thought with a shake of his head.
He pulled more threads of earth and water to try again. He failed the weave again and again as he practiced. He did not create anything until near the end of class when he made a small square of quagmire that would have only been big enough to stop a small rabbit. It was a success though.
