It's Been a While (Attn: Avyra)

[Leala]

Walking up the stairs into the Tower proper, Torianin inserted herself into the hustle and bustle of the Grey Tower. Learning ranks and servants scurried about. Accepted and Dedicated tried their best to move with the grace that their desired title demanded. And Aes Sedai and Asha'man walked with that earned grace and elegance. Some of her Brothers and Sisters had the pin of an Oathsworn on their breast. Torianin was not among them. She was not subtle when she compared the Three Oaths to the captivity of an a'dam, but her message was not a subtle one. She meant was she said, and when the opportunity presented itself to remove them, she took it. Now she felt free to move around in her own skin again, and operate under her own morals.

Torianin picked out her favorite spot in the Gardens, next to the fountain. The sound of running water helped her concentrate when sitting in the basement to read her reports was too stifling. In the Gardens, she could be away from the monotony of the walls around her. Even though she had been raised to Aes Sedai, her Ajah's quarters were in the basement of the Grey Tower. She had no windows, and her quarters were under the usual standards of someone with her title, she was sure. Truly, though, she was happy to be a part of them. Now that she was a Sister of the Grey Tower, she could concentrate on her mission. She picked through reports on the bench next to the fountain and tried to find a good frame of mind for her work.

Moving a stray lock of curling orange hair from her vision, she spotted someone in the corner of her eye.

[Avyra]

Avyra

It was a break period for the learning ranks, and the Tower was bustling with activity. Nobody wanted to be kept inside on a bright day like this. Avyra was one of them. She didn't expect anyone to actually talk to her, however. Avyra had been stuck for a while. Time moved around her but she stood still. However, she did spot someone who she could possibly talk and enjoy the afternoon with. She was getting better at being silent on her feet. That was one thing being small offered. Ease of sneaking about. Well, she wasn't really sneaking. More or less, she was just trying to figure out what to say. Torianin had been her teacher for not only illusion, but the Power itself. Not only the Power, she had been the first to welcome Avyra to the Tower with open arms, showing her around when no one else had even noticed her. Avyra would never forget that. But she was Aes Sedai now, not an Accepted. She was probably busy. She probably didn't want to see Avyra, a little troublesome Novice. Some had even started calling her the "forever novice." That stung. But her sneaking ability proved to not be enough. Avyra knew that Torianin had caught her in the corner of her eye. Avyra dropped the act and moved over, not sitting on the bench for fear that she might not be welcome. She had been formulating what to say in her head but being caught had tossed anything she had planned out. "I... hello, Torianin Sedai. It-it is a nice day, isn't it? Can I sit?" She mentally kicked herself. This was Torianin. She might be an Aes Sedai, but that didn't mean she still didn't want to be friends. Right?

[Leala]

Torianin blinked her green eyes when the figure next to her began to speak. It was Avyra, a novice that she had mentored when she was an Accepted. Looking away from her reports, she smiled at the girl. She seemed nervous, though. She knew that it was because Torianin was Aes Sedai now. Even though they had an easy rapport before, the dynamic had changed between them, just that quickly. She had been waiting for the girl to be raised to Accepted. Surely that would happen soon, though. "Yes, it is a lovely day out," she said in a conversational tone, to let the girl know that she could be at ease. "And, of course you can sit next to me, Avyra," she said, making sure that the novice knew she wasn't going to call her "child."

Truly, Torianin hated using that term. She had used it once on a brand new novice, and it felt too demeaning. It felt too close to damane being stripped of their names. "How have you been doing?" she asked as the girl took her seat on the bench. "I can tell your strength in the One Power has increased since I taught you last. How are your studies going?"

[Avyra]

When Torianin smiled, Avyra's face brightened, and she perked up. That was good, right? They weren't equals by any stretch, but they were still friends, right? "Yes, it is a lovely day out." Torianin's voice was kind. "And, of course you can sit next to me, Avyra." Avyra. Not child. Avyra. The young novice took her seat, and Torianin was quick to begin a conversation. "How have you been doing? I can tell your strength in the One Power has increased since I taught you last. How are your studies going?" Avyra considered the question for a moment. "I've been better, Torianin Sedai, but not as bad as I could be. I suppose my studies are okay, though. Not too sure anymore." She was never too sure about anything. How was she doing? She didn't know. Nobody gave her any hints. She could be going about everything wrong, and that's why she was still in her novice whites. Or maybe nobody here liked her. That was also safe to assume. "But I've actually been meaning to find you, Torianin Sedai. I didn't know if you'd want to speak to me anymore, is all." She paused, her tone brightening as she looked up. "You've been raised! I'm so happy for you, Torianin Sedai!" She didn't think she could sink any lower into embarrassment, so she grinned and threw her arms around Torianin in a hug. "You'll be the best Aes Sedai, I just know it." She paused, finally asking what was nagging at her heart. "We're... we're still friends, right, Torianin Sedai? Even though you're an Aes Sedai and I'm still a novice?" She didn't want to lose Torianin.