[Complete] Thorn Within (Attn: Avyra)

[Avyra]

(Shush fam, you're fine. If you still want to do this, then I'm still game, no matter what the reply speed. ^^)

Avyra looked over at Elia, trying to read past her expression. She could tell that she was doing something wrong, but Elia hadn't told her quite what. I will get this right, Light blind everyone! She'd do it even if she was going in blind. Elia asked her to lower the weave onto the mannequin and she obeyed, lowering her weave onto it. But when asked how she felt, she looked back to the Accepted. "I don't feel anything." Was that good? Bad? Yes? No? Apparently it was fine; that was what was supposed to happen. But Elia didn't say anything else besides for her to try again. Avyra did, feeling her weaves down onto the mannequin just like before. Finally, however, she had to ask. "What, exactly, am I getting wrong? I can't see it, Accepted, but you can, so I need help in knowing where to place my weaves." Boy did it hurt to say that. "I can see that you're displeased about something, however. If its my weaves, I would like to know how to fix them. If its about me personally, then, I guess we're stuck."

[Craig]

Elia

The Accepted could understand the young novice's frustrations. She would understand the novice's disappointment and upset if she was merely looking to form a glowing orb of light. It was silly teaching a novice this new to channelling. Still, Elia pursed her lips together, before coming upon an idea. "Let me..."

Instead of threads of Air and Spirit, Elia wove Earth and Fire and Water in the pattern of the Delving weave. Rippling water stood in for the main flows of Spirit, burning fire for the Water, and floating motes of dust for Air. Channelling the raw elements like this, especially Fire and Earth, was a lot more tiring than the actual weave for Delving was, but she forced herself to maintain it for as long as Avyra needed to study it for. It was a sign of her growing strength with saidar that she could even handle this much Earth at once. When the novice was done, she let the imitation weave fade with a relieved sigh. There was a building pressure against her temples; it would be a few minutes until she had a full-blown headache. "Now, you try," she said softly, one hand rubbing against her head. "The main threads are of Spirit, followed by Water, then Air."

[Avyra]

Avyra nodded, watching her work and weave the threads around the air. An illusion, she figured. To help her. But now she got it, quickly memorizing the moves and committing them to her short term memory, then got to work. It was slow, and she wove Spirit, along with Water and Air, into the pattern Elia had shown her. It was easier with a visual, and she looked proud of her work, actually. Still, she wasn't too sure of this. "We don't have to finish this, if you don't want to. Or if you don't think I'm ready. We can focus on other weaves." The scorn she had held before was gone, and she actually looked a bit concerned for her teacher.

[Craig]

Elia

This attempt was far better than the others. There was little discernible difference between the shape of Avyra's weave and Elia's, although the width of some of the individual threads were different. When the novice placed the weave onto the manikin's head, the silver filigrees of Spirit returned into her. It was a real shame that she couldn't see the results of her own handiwork.

Elia smiled broadly. "That was excellent, Avyra. Truly. For one who can't even see what she's doing, it was masterful." The taller Shienaran took the girl in for a very un-Aes Sedai-like hug. "But," she continued, her voice souring slightly, "you may be right about not continuing. At least, not right away." Elia could feel her headache building, and it was not going to be pleasant. "I think once you are more familiar with saidar and can see the weaves, that would be a better time to carry on. I don't think I would have any luck teaching you Healing, although that is as much on me as anyone else. It is a complex thing, and not something you wish to get wrong."

The Accepted smoothed out her skirts. She wasn't sure of the time until the next bell, but there was little use either of them sitting around just marking time. "Well novice, you've done well, and I'm sure you'll do better in time. Do you have any questions for me? I shall speak with the Mistress of Novices about your success here today, and ask her to delay any further lessons for another time." Elia's smile was warm and kind, meant to quell any concern Avyra may have.

[Avyra]

"That was excellent, Avyra. Truly. For one who can't even see what she's doing, it was masterful," Elia said once she was done, and he took the Novice into a hug. Avyra looked a bit shocked by the hug, to say the least, but she returned it, raising up a bit on her toes. Elia brought up not continuing, suggesting that she pick back up once she gained some ability, and then went on to say that she might not be able to teach Avyra healing. "Oh, I wouldn't feel too bad," Avyra said, pulling away. "I know how to Delve now, and I can practice that. And then we can get into healing." As much as she didn't like being called "Novice," Avyra couldn't bring herself to complain. Elia had been, for the most part, very kind and understanding. And open, once they had actually begun working. "Thank you, Accepted Elia." I'm sure Mirin Sedai will be thrilled to hear some good things about me for once. "I'm sorry for my spat at the beginning of the lesson. You didn't deserve that."

[Craig]

Elia

Elia sniffed. "Oh, don't worry about that ch-, ah, Avyra." She offered an apologetic smile. "I didn't mean to come off as prickly. That's more of my brother's forte, but I'm sure you've already seen that side of him." She glanced down at the golden ring on her left hand: the Great Serpent ring. "I'm only a slight step up from being a novice, not a slight step below being a full sister." The beautiful Accepted waved Avyra towards the door. "Go, enjoy whatever remains of the hour. I shall put this away, and see if I can't steal a few minutes in the Gardens myself."

Once Avyra had left, Elia sunk down into the seat. She worked a nail into a groove on the table until it broke. Cursing herself for her stupidity, she bit off the rest of the nail. Despite the difficulties Avyra had faced, Elia considered this more of a failure on her part than on the novice's. Her trip to Mirin Sedai was not solely for the purposes of handing out congratulations to Avyra for her accomplishments, but to apologise to the Mistress of Novices for her shortcomings.

Embracing saidar, Elia produced the Delving weave and settled it over the manikin, then she did the same with the basic Healing weave, the only one she had truly mastered. She stared glumly at the manikin for a while, before bundling it under her arm, and leaving the classroom herself.

[Avyra]

(About a week later, give or take. Fanficing on me own)

Although their first class had been a flop, Avyra had gone to Mirin Sedai and requested another one, much to the Mistress of Novice's slight confusion. In truth, she had liked Elia, once the class had picked up speed, and she figured that with a bit of time, she could eventually at least get delving down. Her teacher greeted her in a usual "hello," and the pair got started for the second time. Avyra had told her only delving, just to make sure the novice knew how, and Elia had been happy to agree to a second lesson. Her teacher explained the weave again, and showed Avyra what she needed to do to weave the weave onto her mannequin. Avyra focused, replicating what Elia's illusion had shown. It was getting easier and easier. Avyra was good at using the Power when she focused and had a visual aid to guide her. Once she got the weave again, she glanced up at Elia. "I'm going to try it without a visual, now. Maybe this will work." She paused, closing her eyes, remembering the motion. She began to weave Spirit, creating the initial web. Then she focused on Water and Air, finishing with a smile. "Aha! I think I got it." She worked with it some more, under Elia's guidance, learning quickly where was best to put the weave. However, it probably wasn't the same as working with a live subject. "Can I try on you?" Elia considered this, then she nodded, pulling a chair over to sit down in front of Avyra, probably for ease of working. Avyra got to work, manipulating the weave, Elia watching her as she did it. It was a rhythm now, a pattern. She had it, and suddenly raised an eyebrow. "Am I supposed to feel something? Because I do," she said, narrowing her eyes a bit. "Yes, very good. How does it feel?" Avyra paused, considering her question. "Well, nothing about you feels wrong, or at least, not majorly. You feel tired, though, I think." The Accepted smiled, standing. "Release the Source, you've done wonderfully, Avyra." The novice smiled back, releasing the Source. "Thank you. It wasn't too bad, once I got it down. I'm glad I did. This is pretty fun!"