Stars And Lions [Attn: Keillan Lomore]

[Sean]

Day One: The Arena

The sun was a ginger blaze on the horizon by the time Val strolled through the Channeling Yards. Of late much of his time had been spent there and rightfully so. Bee had made him realize how frivolously he’d treated his responsibilities in the past. Funny how it takes a woman to set you on the right path.

Deciding not to think any further on the matter, Val waited for his charge. Soldiers had a scant hour before time devoted to the completion of assignments came about. He’d written to Master Elonid in hopes of getting Keillan for more than an hour each day, but the portly Asha’man wouldn’t budge on that point. Seemed that things were tense between the man and the Keeper of Archives. Having met Asha’man Arcuraim once or twice before it was hard to imagine the easy-going fellow to be the sort to hold a grudge, but to question above one’s station invited undue risk.

A breeze passed and Valadin fought not to shiver. Unbearably hot days and nights cold enough to chill the bone; the Shadow’s touch was getting stronger. Lifting his head to the darkening sky he found it hard to believe that origin of all evil was exuding his dark influence over the world when there was still so much beauty left in it. Already the stars overhead began to gleam, their brilliance no longer suppressed by the light of day. Smiling slightly as it made him think of the candlelight he’d shared with an Aes Sedai. That night had been one etched into his heart—as was the woman whom he shared it with.

I’ll gain the cord soon…then you an’ me’ll be able to share the cold nights together. Until recently it was a promise he wasn’t certain he’d be able to fulfill, but his declaration of joining the Green Ajah had cleared those doubts away. Strangely the decision had brought a new confidence in him.

Not turning as the crunch of charred soil announced the arrival of the late Soldier. “Can’t be late in the fight against the Shadow, Soldier. Might cost somebody, someday. Light, might cost us the whole bloody world,” he scolded lightly, hands clasped behind his back while he kept staring at the heavens.

Finally with a sigh he turned, no hint of hostility in his face. “No need to explain, let’s jus’ git to it. Seize Saidin an’ we’ll start.”

[Teddy]

Kiellan cursed as he hurried along the hallway leading to the Channeling Yards. Everything that could possibly go wrong that morning had gone wrong. It had started when he woke up and wanted to wash himself. Kiellan wasn't used to washing himself every day. In fact, people had called him overly clean in the Rahad for washing himself once a week. In the Grey Tower, however, people washed daily, and he had been expected to do the same. This morning, however, there had been no water left, and it had taken him forever to convince the only Soldier around with any skill in Water to give him some more. Because of this, he had been late for breakfast, and had only managed to grab a single slice of bread. It was more than he usually got back home, but since arriving at the Tower, he had grown used to a healthy breakfast, and the hard work they made him do made sure he needed it. Because he was late for breakfast, one of the Aes Sedai had seen it fit to tell him off for it, and because of that, he was now late for his appointment with Valadin.

Finally, he arrived at the Yards. Valadin was already there, of course, waiting for him. He seemed to be lost in thought, but as soon as Kiellan entered the Yards, he spoke. Somehow, he must've sensed him coming. Kiellan was learning more about he One Power everyday, but some of the things people could do with it still amazed and confused him. Or perhaps he had simply been loud. As he reached the Dedicated, he stopped, catching his breath.

"Apologies, dedicated, I...", but Valadin interrupted him, turning around to face Kiellan. At least he didn't look mad. Punctuality was important in the Grey Tower, and while Valadin always seemed to be more forgiving than most, he still hated disappointing his teacher. Pushing that thought back, he started working on seizing Saidin. It now came to him much more easily than it had at first, except for the very first time, of course, but he still had to concentrate. He imagined the Void in his head, and with it, the Flame. He started pushing all his thoughts about his own tardiness, and the irritation about all that had gone wrong that morning into the Flame. Thought after thought fueled the red tongues in his own mind, and when the final hint of emotion was gone, he could see Saidin surround the Void, trying to break through. Bracing himself for he inevitable struggle that the Power always brought with it, he seized for it. The incredibly natural smell of the Yards, as well as the beauty of the complex around them, came rushing through him in full force, but he managed to maintain the calm of the Void. It took him a second, but he managed to surpress Saidin. "I have grasped Saidin, Dedicated."

[Sean]

Lesson One: Shielding

Even before Kiellan had spoken, Val had sensed the menace of Saidin from the Soldier. The Power within was roused by a kindred spirit. When he reached for the Void, embracing the calm detachment that came with the Oneness, Saidin was waiting not far behind. In an instant his senses took in the world with dizzying clarity. The coolness of the evening air on his skin, the ants scurrying about on a hill more than a hundred paces from where they stood, and even the song of a lark, humming its melody from a distant origin far away reached his ear. Inside his blood chilled and boiled without regularity as Val felt reborn into a world of fire several times over. As always the male half of the Power wrestled as was its nature. It remained one of the few things that Valadin relished about being a male channeler.

The fight.

That moment where he felt himself being pulled into the infinite depths of the True Source. On days where his studies were not priority he wondered what would happen if he leapt over the precipice and allowed himself to be taken by Saidin; would it truly be so bad?

Such thoughts had no place within the Void and were soon devoured by the Flame as Saidin was crushed by his will, submitting reluctantly until all settled within him. Val began speaking as if the endeavor had been a trivial exercise—something that as a Soldier took some getting used to.

With a hand he signaled Kiellan to remain where he was. The first lesson in dueling with the One Power…Is he ready? It was not a question of skill, but of mindset.

“Tarmon Gai’don is comin’. Used to be that weren’t no need fer channelers to learn how to fight other channelers; we all served the Light. Ain’t so now. Reckon yer as likely to fight a Trolloc as ya are a Dread lord. That means ya need to be ready, Soldier Kiellan.”

Giving more than a wagon’s distance between, Val readied Saidin, the destructive power nearly gleeful as he pulled a Thread of Spirit and slammed a Shield down between Kiellan and the Power without warning. Having done his research and with Garyas going great lengths to instill the correctness of the Battle Weave, Val wasn’t overly concerned with safety. Concentrating hard to ensure that the wall of Spirit only shielded and not severed, Val explained. “Right now, I’ve Shielded ya from the Power. Can’t wield a thread of Saidin. Ya saw the Flow of Spirit I used, eh? Blunt and hard…like a wall, but smooth if ya probe it with yer mind. Go ahead give it a try while I’m talkin’.”

Pausing for the lesson to take hold he tried to remember what it was like the single time he’d been Shielded. It was like being locked in a vault with no air. The Power shimmering on the other side of the barricade yet inaccessible to the one who’d become so used to its might.

“If there’s a great difference in skill or power most channelers’re gonna want to Shield ya an’ be done with it. Without the Power ya got yer wits an’ what fightin’ skills ya can manage. If yer facin’ more’n one channeler an’ ya get Shielded—surrender. Ya lost either way. No point gettin’ killed over it.”

As suddenly as it had slammed in place, the Shield disappeared and Saidin rushed hungrily back to its vessel. “Now then, try it on me. Put yer best Shield up…an’ I’ll show ya a proper defense against it. Think smooth rather than sharp thread of Spirit…would hate to get severed from the Power by a Soldier,” Val chuckled dryly.

Soon he fell silent, the drum of his heart beating in rhythm with the Battle Song which hummed beneath the sounds of everything. If only he held a sword in his hand then…the world would’ve been perfect.

[Teddy]

Saidin was still fighting, but so far, Kiellan had managed to subdue it. The struggle for control made him feel alive, made him forget everything about the Tower. It made him think of home. He knew how disastrous it would be if he lost that fight, only for a second, but somehow, the stakes only made it better. It made the challenge real, and he had always loved a challenge.

A sudden feeling of awe pulled him away from his thoughts. A cruel presence was nearby, a presence that he had come to recognize as someone else holding saidin. He looked at Valadin, and knew he was fighting the same fight that had occupied Kiellan moments ago, although it didn't take him as long, apparently.

Kiellan nodded at the other man's words. He knew that. He had heard stories in Ebou Dar of channelers who had turned to the Shadow. Some said they did this by choice, some said they were forced, but either way, the havoc they wreaked was terrible. As much as the Grey, White and Black towers tried to use the One Power for good, it could be used for evil as well. And now, with the recent confession by the White Tower that there was, in fact, a Black Ajah within their walls, things had only gotten worse. It was impossible to know now who was left to be trusted, and who was merely pretending. Kiellan wondered how that was in the Grey Tower. Was there a Black Ajah here as well? The thought scared him, but he didn't let it break his concentration, and he fed it to the Flame.

Val walked away from him, and Kiellan suddenly realized something horrible had happened. One moment, he had been holding the One Power, and the next moment, it was gone. Kiellan tried to seize it again, but all he found was a massive wall between him and saidin.He had felt this once before, during his very first lesson with Valadin, but then, he had known nothing about the One Power, hadn't even known how to seize it. Now, he panicked. He calmed a little bit at Val's words, but the feeling that he had lost something, that he had lost his very essence, didn't go away. The Flow of Spirit... yes, he had seen it, now that he thought of it. A single Flow, woven by Valadin, almost unrecognizable in its subtlety.

Kiellan did as he was told, and tried to feel the wall. He probed it, imagined running his hand over it, and understood what Valadin had meant. The wall was smooth, not rough as he had thought at first. Running his imaginary fingers over the wall, he tried to search for any kind of weakness, but could find none.

Giving up his struggle with the wall, he nodded at the Dedicated. He understood what Valadin was saying, but he didn't think he would ever be able to surrender. He never had, and he didn't think there would be anything worse than the shame in that. His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden feeling of joy, as the wall was lifted. Carefully, he tried reaching for the One Power, first pushing all his emotions and thoughts into the Flame.

The feeling of euphoria when he managed to seize saidin was so great, that it shattered the Void. With renewed effort, he found it again, and once more eliminated any semblance of feeling from his mind. The feeling of relief at having the One Power back struggled, but eventually, that too was gone. As he grasped saidin, he tried to pick out one small thread of Spirit. He wasn't strong with Spirit, and it took him some time to grasp one, and even than, it seemed slippery. Forcing himself to keep hold of the thread, he tried to smooth it, and weave it as he had seen Val do. Than, without hesitation, he pushed the Flow of Spirit between Valadin and the One Power. The slippery thread seemed reluctant, but it obeyed.

"Did it work? I tried, but I'm not sure if I did it."

[Sean]

As the shield clumsily fell in place Val fought impulse to resist. Abruptly the maddening torrent that had been churning within him moments ago winked out leaving the world stripped of the vibrance and energy it had held. The change was chilling and though the Void held against most of the frenzied panic that began to grow, something died within Val in those precious breaths were he could not feel Saidin's glow. For long he'd loathed it's presence, ever seeking to entice him, but now he missed it like a dear old friend.

Keeping the dying feeling from his face took effort. Mastering his emotions Val managed a sharp nod of approval. Make 'im stop! something raged inside. Thankfully they'd already been separated by a good deal of space; it wasn't paranoia to believe violence might have broken out otherwise. “Good. It's a basic Weave that all channelers learn. You'll learn it 'til yer Weavin' it with yer eyes closed."

Time ticked by too slowly the longer Saidin was withheld from him. Dots of sweat traced the veins of his temple before falling. His hands clasped tightly behind his back squeezed together so hard that feeling had fades ages ago it seemed.

“That bein' said ya won't be Shieldin' anyone with a lick o' sense in battle. Most'll cut the Weave down or push the Shield away with Spirit. Ya learned first hand what's like to be Shielded...desperate folk might even try an' attack ya to break loose." Val explained. “Best use Shieldin' when surprise is on yer side...or you know yer flatout stronger than yer enemy. Make bloody sure ya are too."

Unconsciously his mind had been probing the Shield for holes. When he found one he drew ruthlessly on Saidin. The One Power rushed to him straining the minor breach until wall shattered. The backlash would've been enough to daze Kiellan had Val wanted to attack. Instead he reveled in the struggle for dominance that resumed as if there had never been a break.

With a smile Val added, “Best be sure yer Shield is set rightly no matter who yer Shieldin'. Next lesson...what do you know of Cutting Weaves?"

[Teddy]

According to Valadin, the Shield had worked, but it must not have been strong. Weaving the Flow of Spirit had been incredibly difficult, and Kiellan knew Val was right not to use it to overpower people. He shrugged. All the better. It was way too defensive for him anyway. He had always preferred being on the offense, even in the petty fistfights back home. He loved the rush of cornering your opponent, and the jolt of energy that came with it, and had always thought other would do the same if he ever showed weakness.

He felt Valadin probe his shield, just as he had done himself earlier, when the roles were reversed. Unlike earlier, however, he could feel Val actually pressuring his weaves, trying to find the weaknesses, and when he found one, he put pressure on it. Kiellan wasn't sure if he should try to strengthen his Shield or not, but he also knew that if it came to a battle of force, Val would easily overpower him.

He felt the backlash as his teacher burst through his shield, the ricocheted power of his own weaves numbing his mind for a moment. He stumbled backwards, struggling to maintain his balance, but he managed to succeed. Trying to regain some semblance of calm posture, he straightened his back, but his senses were still uncertain from the smack of Power he had felt earlier. He knew that, had it been an actual fight, Valadin would've been able to strike him down with ease, especially in this weakened state of dizziness. It only assured him never to try this weave in an actual fight that he couldn't easily win, although he also knew that it was a weave that he was supposed to know, just in case.

He tried to search his memory for an answer to Valadin's question. He had heard the term before, and he remembered where. It had been on the way from Ebou Dar to the Grey Tower, in one of his talks with Fares Asha'man. The conversation originally had been about the Shadow, and the military tactics it used. One of them was that it deployed dreadlords, channelers who had pledged themselves to the Shadow, in battle. Kiellan had asked how one could fight these dreadlords, and Fares had mentioned that other channelers could be used to Cut their weaves. It was supposed to be a way to neutralize what the dreadlords were attempting.

"I don't know much about it, Dedicated, but I have heard a little bit. Cutting Weaves are meant to split the weaves of another channeler, negating its effect. It is one of the most powerful defenses against others who use the One Power."

[Sean]

Kiellan’s wealth of knowledge of the One Power rarely failed to surprise Val. The young Soldier had come to the Grey Tower knowing more than most Soldiers did after years of education and practice. Either a curious mind or a very informative resource coaxed such wizened answers. What proved more interesting was the inspiration for the acquiring of such information. Valadin knew plenty Ash’man and Aes Sedai who enjoyed the influence of being in the know; it created great advantage in the Great Game as well as Tower politics. Never having developed a taste for navigating intrigue, Val reviled those that abused their skills for position or power.

Kiellan didn’t seem to be aware of the opportunities his resourcefulness granted him. It was…refreshing.

“Yet again, it seems ya know more’n half the louts in yer rank,” Val replied with a smile. “I will tell ya that some Weaves are harder to cut down than others as are the less fancy Weaves. Better to dodge a Weave of pure Fire or Earth if yer not handy at dueling channelers.”

Saidin still burned hotly during the conversation. Concentrating a moment gave him a tenuous command of it and in moments he’d woven a complex ribbon of Fire, Earth, and Spirit. Power thrummed like a living thing, the action of Weaving making it burn with greater intensity. Val drew a breath to calm the storm at his fingertips, the Void playing a large role in the effort.

“Fire, Earth, and Spirit,” he said, looking into Kiellan’s eyes. “These three Flows are what men use to cut Weaves ‘fore they form though I’ll add that if yer great in strength then a Weave o’ pure Fire’ll do the trick jus’ the same.”

As always Kiellan studied Val with enthusiastic fervor. Learning seemed to be a hobby rather than a chore. Val wondered what sort of life the man had come from to be so. “Pay attention to the shape…but realize it ain’t a shape, but a feelin’. Saidin’s respondin’ to what I want to do with the Weave. Most Weaves work like that, but if yer heart ain’t strong, yer Weave’s gonna be as sharp as a butter knife.”

When Kiellan nodded Val let the Weave dissipate. The menacing aura still emanated from the Soldier. It was strange to know that his own strength in the One Power likely felt as malevolent to the lad. “Any time yer Weave is cut down, there’ll be a brief moment of dizziness like ya jus’ felt a minute ago. See Weaves are like a whip or a spear ya strike out with. If it’s been broken then pieces are gonna come flyin’ yer way…only there ent no avoidin’ gettin’ the backlash in this case.”

Garyas had taught him and others this Weave through actual combat. The method had been crude and one of the Soldiers at the time had been burned out as a result. There were days when Val would look upon his friend and wonder if he’d ever forgiven the man for not saving one of their brothers. I won’t make that same mistake.

“Now then. Dunt need much from ya. Jus’ give me yer best Weave. It can be somethin’ simple if that’s all ya know or if ya managed to pick up somethin’ interestin’ then show me that. I’ll show ya how to rightly cut down a Weave.”

[Teddy]

Kiellan thought he'd impressed Valadin, and smiled. "Thank you, Dedicated."

He always liked displaying the things he'd learned since leaving his home. Those were the moments that got him through the worst of it, the moments that reminded him it was worth it, sort of. Since his arrival at the Tower, he'd gone out of his way to talk with Aes Sedai and Asha'man, gathering as many scraps of their vast knowledge as he could. Some of them had not appreciated it, and had scolded him for not knowing his place, but many had also seemed refreshed by his genuine curiosity, and he had learnt a lot from them. Paying attention to Valadin's lessons, as well as the general lessons of the Accepted and Dedicated, had taught him even more. Kiellan sometimes had the feeling he was the only person in the Tower who was actually there to learn, with all the grunting and sighing by most other Soldiers and Novices.

The feeling of menace emanating from the man across him had never faded, but Kiellan only noticed it again when he saw Valadin deftly weave a spear of Fire, Earth and Spirit. He noticed how his teacher wove Fire and Earth together, bonding and fortifying the two with Spirit. Kiellan had quickly gotten better at observing other people's weaves, and trying to replicate them. He had had some trouble with that at the start, until a Dedicated had made him form different weaves for four hours straight. After that, it seemed he had gotten the hang of it.

He listened closely to what Valadin told him. The whole shape, but not a shape business confused him, but he would see. He nodded. Valadin let go of the weave. At the Dedicated's command, he seized a single weave of Fire. It had been the first weave he had been taught, and it was one of the few he knew for certain he would be able to produce on command. He didn't like taking the easy way out, but he would be mortified if he failed to produce anything. With that thought, he shaped and molded the weave of Fire, just as the Dedicated had taught him, just as Fares Asha'man had once done to test his aptitude with the One Power. He forced the weave to form a single, small flame, dancing from fingertip to fingertip. He made it grew a little, until a slow, steady flame was resting in the palm of his hand.

[Sean]

“Life is all about conflict. The pursuit of happiness—that’s life, not the achievement.”

The Flame of Resonance breathed into existence at the Soldier’s behest. Behind his blank stare, Val wondered where Kiellan had learned that Weave; it certainly wasn’t something that was taught within the curriculum. Never mind that. Focus.

As a gentle instructor chided his student when distraction set in, the Void drew his mind to the matter at hand. Saidin roared like a great living thing as he snatched it roughly with body and soul, willing the great power to his command as he replicated the Weave he’d demonstrated to Kiellan moments ago. This time there was nothing frivolous about the ribbon of Fire, Earth, and Spirit. Each Flow was honed with intent in short order and the Flame of Resonance dancing on the winds before Kiellan was snuffed out as Val cut the Weave at its origin. Feeling rather than seeing the faint red thread of One Power that had passed through the lad’s center fade to nothingness, Valadin let the tempest within slow though did not completely relinquish Saidin.

“That’s a cutting Weave. When yer channelin’ ya can tell when a man’s holdin’ Saidin, but ya should also be able to sorta…erm…well see or feel the Flows that’re bein’ used. That’s what yer cuttin’. The One Power no matter who’s channelin’ comes through the person and when yer Cuttin’ Weaves all have to do is cut the link between the Flows an’ the person.”

Pausing to let the lesson sink in, Val felt a small thrill race through him at Saidin’s flare. Though the Void allowed him clarity of mind to resist the mad pleasure of drinking deeper of the river, a small smile played on his lips as he held his hand out before him. “Next part of the lesson.”

Flows of Air and Fire came together in a beautiful, yet simple Weave. A fireball the size of tankard of ale burned brightly in Val’s hand. The embers provided warmth to the rest of his skin and the light glowed against the evening darkness, yet no harm came to Valadin as he studied the flames. Fire was always the most unpredictable of the Flows. Always yearning to grow and consume all that it could most instructors warned the lower ranks against using it copiously in their Weaves. For Val it was an irresistible challenge. Like Saidin Fire fought him for control the way that Spirit and Air did not. He had great skill for it, yet the Flows were never as pliable as the former though not as difficult to form as Earth or Water.

Looking up from the Fireball Weave his smile faded, “Make sure ya know the Flows fer this…don’t tell anybody I showed ya if burn someone up—they’ll still ya fer sure. That bein’ said…that ain’t the lesson. Ya ready?”

When Kiellan nodded, Val launched the Fireball with his mind though he did go through the physical motion of hurling the flaming sphere in the Soldier’s direction as well. Some details were unnecessary yet prudent.

“Cut the Weave!” he shouted as the Weave streaked towards Kiellan like a falling star.

[Teddy]

Kiellan saw Valadin giving his flame a strange look. Weird. He hadn't thought it such an odd weave, but perhaps it was. He would have to remember that, so he would look up what it was. Pushing that thought out of his mind, he saw the same weaves Valadin had used before, a combination of Earth, Fire and Spirit, woven together to form a sort of spear. The flows of the One Power were intangible, of course, and could hardly be said to have a shape, but it felt like a spear nonetheless. And unlike the one Val had woven before, when he had simply showed how the weave worked, this one was sharp, and ready to be used. Its sharp tip seemed to taunt everyone who dared strike at its master, as if wanting to be used. Then, Valadin threw the spear.

It cleaved Kiellan's flame right down the middle. The backlash felt similar to what it had felt like when Valadin had broken through his Shield, and Kiellan wondered if he was here today as a student or a punching bag. Once more, he stumbled backwards, and his sight went black for a moment. It wasn't pain that he felt, not really. It was a feeling of total, utter disorientation, and he realized again that this would have been the end had they actually been in a fight. He regained his balance, and tried to imitate the serene, effortless look of the Dedicated in front of him. He didn't think it worked, but it couldn't look as stupid as the disorientation that still filled his mind. It was the first lesson he had learned in the Rahad, after his mother made him get into fighting: never show weakness. As always when he thought about that memory, he rushed his hand along his arm, feeling the scars that had been decorating his arm for almost a decade now.

He nodded at Valadin, as his teacher explained about the cutting. He had felt it, when Valadin had split his own weave. The spear made from the One Power had penetrated his own weave, he had felt it, right in the middle. As he listened, he felt the menace and awe emanating from the other man grow. He must've been planning to use saidin again.

Kiellan didn't trust the smile that suddenly formed on Val's face, and he definitely didn't trust the ball of fire dancing in his hand. The flame was much larger than Kiellan's had been, and its tongues seemed to laugh at him, ready to devour him if given the chance. He could also see the Flow of Fire that Valadin had woven to create it. The weave was definitely stronger than what Kiellan could manage, of course. The Dedicated had been at the Grey Tower for much longer than him, and so was still a lot stronger in the One Power. Although it was hard to estimate his own strength, or what it would become, Kiellan thought his own potential with Fire might be greater than Valadin's. For now, though, he knew that his teacher wouldn't need to break a sweat to beat him.

On Valadin's order, Kiellan tried to form the weave needed to cut Val's Fire weave. The Void in his mind had been shattered when his weave had been cut, but it didn't take him long anymore to find it again. In seconds, he felt the serenity and peace of the Void come over him, as always gleaming on the edges with the tempting light of saidin. As he seized it, the now familiar struggle came over him. The strange combination of being so close to the abyss, to madness and eventually, death, yet feeling more alive than he had ever had without the One Power, was no longer as alien to him. He grasped two Flows of Earth and Fire, coming as naturally to him as had they been tangible, and wove them together. The next part was harder, and it still took him a moment before he controlled the weave of Spirit, but he managed to do it. He strengthened his weave with it, leaving him with a spear much like Valadin's had been, although not as strong or sharp. He nodded at Val, signifying his readiness.

He had expected that he would have to cut Valadin's weave. He had expected the Dedicated to hold the flame, however, having Kiellan cut it from a distance. Instead, the Dedicated proceeded to hurl the flame right at him. For a second, Kiellan panicked, but then, instinct took over. He took only a fraction of a second to take aim, and then, he threw his spear. Aiming with the One Power wasn't the same as aiming a real spear. You had to imagine the spear landing at the place you wanted it to, guiding it with your will. When someone had first explained that to Kiellan, it had seemed much easier to him than aiming a real weapon, but he had soon found himself mistaken. He had taken his time to work on it, though, and had tried to hone his will as one would a weapon. Although he still had a long way to go, that extra work seemed to pay off now. The spear didn't cleave Valadin's weave of Fire as cleanly as his teacher had his, but it seemed to do the trick. The weave split, and after a second, it disappeared completely.

Not realizing he had been holding his breath through the whole ordeal, Kiellan slowly exhaled. "Blood and bloody ashes! Couldn't you have used another method? Or at least something that wouldn't have bloody killed me?" He was a little surprised at his own outburst, but he was genuinely shocked that Valadin had thrown a fireball at him. "I mean... I apologize, Dedicated, but was it necessary to throw of ball of death at me?"