Chipping the Block (Fanfic)
Posted: May 15th, 2016, 8:00 pm
Corben
Corben walked through the pathways of the Grey Tower, looking for the Dedicated who had been placed in charge of his chore period.
Corben could smell the kitchens nearby, the roasting food and scent of bread carrying over the soft breeze. As he walked through the late afternoon sunshine, Corben allowed himself to enjoy the relative quiet of this portion of the Grey Tower.
As he rounded the corner of the buildings, he spied the large woodpiles that fed the forges and ovens of the Grey Tower. Wincing when he saw the splitting axes and saws he realized he was most likely chopping wood. I knew the Travelling Yard was too good to last. No one gets away from the drudgery of these chores for long, thought Corben as he removed his black coat and laid it gently on the rack provided.
The instructions to wear his boots were clear now, after all there was no sense risking bare toes around the sharp axes. As Corben rolled his sleeves out of the way, and prepared to begin he could see flows of air from the corner of his eye.
The flows of Air struck his back and chest, the thin flows bringing out sharp pain that forced him to clamp his teeth shut or cry out. Turning as he could under the assault, Corben could see no one and the weaves winked out before he could see where they came from. With his thick boots cutting him off from the soil, there was no way to reach for the Source.
"You might as well show yourself, if you have a grievance let's settle it the proper way," said Corben to the empty space surrounding him, convinced this was a prank from some Soldier in his classes.
Once more threads of Air assaulted him, and as the pain made him step backwards he could see through the tears welling in his eyes that they were coming from behind a bin of charcoal. As the assault ended, Corben was floating in the Void, feeding the pain of the welts to the Flame.
In the emotionless cold of the Void he walked forward, determined to confront his tormentor. Weaves of water struck from the bin, the weaves using barrels of rainwater to send a drenching torrent against him.
Again with the thick boots, Corben could see the light of Saidin but he was unable to reach past the block for it. Deep in the Void a great anger washed over him, fed to the Flame before it overcame his senses. "You better kill me if you are determined to, I will not give you the satisfaction of asking. And you will not enjoy the Master of Soldiers attention I assure you," Corben declared coldly, his voice frosty from the Void.
As he neared the bin, he could see flows of Air effortless wrap him in their bindings. As he was lifted in the air, he could feel the bonds holding him firm and in front of his eyes he saw threads of fire and air twin together.
The sudden crack of lightning startled Corben, and in his mind be frantically tried to claw and force his way past the wall in his mind, but there was no use. To his terror, he saw a stone faced Dedicated emerge from behind the bin, a ball of fire weaving in front of his outstretched hands.
Corben struggled without use, his body unable to even shift the threads of Air that bound him. Again and again he tried against the block in his mind with no success. Light, this is madness, thought Corben as he stared at the Dedicated, unwilling to allow the other man to see his panic.
As one the weave was released and Corben landed on his rump as he saw the ball of fire disappear. The Dedicated regarded him intently, before holding his hand out to help Corben off the ground.
"I am sorry Soldier, when I first learned we often attempted to beat the Block out of a channeler. With threat of danger having brought out your ability, I thought it likely that it might break your block," the Andoran explained as he sat with Corben upon one of the large chopping blocks.
So that's what the attack was for, light what a way to train. Although I've heard the Black Tower does far worse, Corben thought to himself as he recalled the whispers and gossip in the baths and mess hall amongst the Soldiers.
"No need to apologize Dedicated, I know that my teachers are concerned with my Block and how it will impede me. If the cure must be harsh, I would rather tackle the issue now," Corben replied, a smile he did not feel on his face. He knew there were many layers of politics once one began as an Ashaman, and he had no wish to make a social stumble over welts that would heal.
"Good, give it time and allow your teachers to work with you Soldier. I know personally the advantage to removing a Block, and what works for one does not work for another," the Andoran finished as he stood and as he departed, he looked over his shoulder stating,"You are free for the rest of the chores Soldier, go get something to eat if you wish."
Corben could smell the kitchens nearby, the roasting food and scent of bread carrying over the soft breeze. As he walked through the late afternoon sunshine, Corben allowed himself to enjoy the relative quiet of this portion of the Grey Tower.
As he rounded the corner of the buildings, he spied the large woodpiles that fed the forges and ovens of the Grey Tower. Wincing when he saw the splitting axes and saws he realized he was most likely chopping wood. I knew the Travelling Yard was too good to last. No one gets away from the drudgery of these chores for long, thought Corben as he removed his black coat and laid it gently on the rack provided.
The instructions to wear his boots were clear now, after all there was no sense risking bare toes around the sharp axes. As Corben rolled his sleeves out of the way, and prepared to begin he could see flows of air from the corner of his eye.
The flows of Air struck his back and chest, the thin flows bringing out sharp pain that forced him to clamp his teeth shut or cry out. Turning as he could under the assault, Corben could see no one and the weaves winked out before he could see where they came from. With his thick boots cutting him off from the soil, there was no way to reach for the Source.
"You might as well show yourself, if you have a grievance let's settle it the proper way," said Corben to the empty space surrounding him, convinced this was a prank from some Soldier in his classes.
Once more threads of Air assaulted him, and as the pain made him step backwards he could see through the tears welling in his eyes that they were coming from behind a bin of charcoal. As the assault ended, Corben was floating in the Void, feeding the pain of the welts to the Flame.
In the emotionless cold of the Void he walked forward, determined to confront his tormentor. Weaves of water struck from the bin, the weaves using barrels of rainwater to send a drenching torrent against him.
Again with the thick boots, Corben could see the light of Saidin but he was unable to reach past the block for it. Deep in the Void a great anger washed over him, fed to the Flame before it overcame his senses. "You better kill me if you are determined to, I will not give you the satisfaction of asking. And you will not enjoy the Master of Soldiers attention I assure you," Corben declared coldly, his voice frosty from the Void.
As he neared the bin, he could see flows of Air effortless wrap him in their bindings. As he was lifted in the air, he could feel the bonds holding him firm and in front of his eyes he saw threads of fire and air twin together.
The sudden crack of lightning startled Corben, and in his mind be frantically tried to claw and force his way past the wall in his mind, but there was no use. To his terror, he saw a stone faced Dedicated emerge from behind the bin, a ball of fire weaving in front of his outstretched hands.
Corben struggled without use, his body unable to even shift the threads of Air that bound him. Again and again he tried against the block in his mind with no success. Light, this is madness, thought Corben as he stared at the Dedicated, unwilling to allow the other man to see his panic.
As one the weave was released and Corben landed on his rump as he saw the ball of fire disappear. The Dedicated regarded him intently, before holding his hand out to help Corben off the ground.
"I am sorry Soldier, when I first learned we often attempted to beat the Block out of a channeler. With threat of danger having brought out your ability, I thought it likely that it might break your block," the Andoran explained as he sat with Corben upon one of the large chopping blocks.
So that's what the attack was for, light what a way to train. Although I've heard the Black Tower does far worse, Corben thought to himself as he recalled the whispers and gossip in the baths and mess hall amongst the Soldiers.
"No need to apologize Dedicated, I know that my teachers are concerned with my Block and how it will impede me. If the cure must be harsh, I would rather tackle the issue now," Corben replied, a smile he did not feel on his face. He knew there were many layers of politics once one began as an Ashaman, and he had no wish to make a social stumble over welts that would heal.
"Good, give it time and allow your teachers to work with you Soldier. I know personally the advantage to removing a Block, and what works for one does not work for another," the Andoran finished as he stood and as he departed, he looked over his shoulder stating,"You are free for the rest of the chores Soldier, go get something to eat if you wish."