Performance Anxiety
Novice Brileia Narelleva, Written by Katie
Posted on Wed, Sep 1, 2010 19:21 pm
It was fairly early when Brileia found herself wide awake and staring at the ceiling, shifting restlessly in her bed. She’d found it difficult to fall asleep last night, despite being worked into exhaustion under the watchful eye of Perie Sedai during the day and the follow-up session with Candance Sedai afterwards. One would think that she would have passed out upon reaching her bedroom, but that had not been the case at all. Not only had it been hard to find a comfortable position to lay in, but her mind had been far too full of various thoughts to actually allow her some respite.
The young Novice had spent most of her night, worrying about the upcoming Embracing lesson. What if she wasn’t able to actually touch the One Power? Would she embarrass herself in front of the Aes Sedai teaching as well as the other Novices? It was hard not to be pessimistic about her chances. Until she had encountered Sherada Sedai back home in Maradon, Brileia would never have dreamed that she would be able to do something so wondrous like become of the famed Aes Sedai. Thinking back on that moment, she had been confused and honored by the Aes Sedai’s words, the woman telling her that she had the Spark (whatever that was). But she couldn’t actually think of any instances where she might have embraced saidar unknowingly; and it was hard to believe that a young girl like herself would be able to do so.
With a sigh, the petite Saldaean girl pushed away those thoughts and rose from her bed, realizing that it would be in her best interests to get ready for the day. She really could not afford to get in any trouble; and she definitely had no desire to be sent to the Mistress of Novices’ office again. Without thinking, she went through the motions of freshening up and dressing for the day, small fingers deftly winding her waist-length curls into a thick braid. She only briefly glanced in the mirror at her pale face and the dark circles beneath her eyes before gathering her supplies and leaving the room.
If one good thing had come from the day of the Festival, it was that Brileia now had a better idea of how to navigate the sprawling grounds of the Tower. She moved quickly through the hallways with quiet and careful steps. It really wouldn’t do for her to stumble and fall. She really didn’t think Perie Sedai would be very understanding if she had to go back to the infirmary with the same ailment for the third time in three days. When she finally reached the classroom, Brileia was surprised and even more nervous to find that the Mistress of Novices would be the instructor for this class. She silently curtsied to the Aes Sedai as well as the Asha’man that was standing beside her before hurrying away to take a seat. Cautiously she settled onto one of the pillows, taking care that her white skirts were spread modestly over her legs. Hiding a wince, she tried to find a comfortable position before giving it up as a lost cause. Well…it couldn’t be helped; she had earned that switching and if residual aches and pains made her uncomfortable, it could only serve as reminder for her to remember to mind herself better in the future.
While the young Novice had noticed the male Novices in the room, she had quickly pushed that knowledge to the back of her mind, not really wanting a repeat of yesterday. Cerulean eyes rested solely on Candance Sedai as the woman began the lecture, her smooth voice drawing her attention at once. She quietly listened as a few of the other Novices shared their stories of having touched the One Power before coming to the Tower. Their experiences were fascinating, and yet she could not think of a single thing in her own experience that could have remotely been anything like their tales.
Gathering her nerves, Brileia hesitantly lifted a small hand into the air, figuring that this would be the best time to ask (even if she really didn‘t want to call attention to herself). When she was finally called up by the Mistress of Novices, she spoke just loud enough for the others to hear her. “Candance Sedai, all of the examples shared so far seem obvious that it was channeling. But is it possible for someone have the Spark without even realizing that they’ve touched the One Power?”
In reply to Embrace & Seize: For New Novices![show]/[hide]
A knock at the classroom door brought Candance to her feet, her grey skirts falling neatly to the ground, no wrinkles evident. Slowly she crossed the room, carefully checking that all of her greying hair was pulled back into the bun at the back of her head before she opened the door, finding a black clad man awaiting her on the other side.
“Candance Sedai,” he said respectfully, knuckling a fist to his heart.
“Thank you for joining me, Asha’man Roran,” she said formally, pulling open the door to allow him to enter.
“It is my pleasure. I find that I am quite enjoying life in the White Tower, if I am honest. It is drastically different to the Black Tower.”
Candance knew that to be true, having visited the farm once with Melina Sedai, before she was raised to Amyrlin Seat.
“The novices will be here soon, I told them to be here by morning bell, which is only a minute or two away.”
Candance was proved true when, within a few moments, the first novices began to arrive to the lesson. The girls dropped into a curtsey, the boys a bow, directed first at Candace and then at Asha’man Roran. She knew that the novices would be on their best behaviour, for a lesson taught by the Mistress of Novices.
“Welcome,” she began, once they were all present and seated on the cushions she had scattered on the floor of the classroom, “to you first lesson involving the One Power.”
“You all know who I am,” Candance said smoothly, a small smile playing at her lips, “and I know who all of you are.” She wondered how many of them were afraid of her; already there were a few she had had in her office for a penance, even though their time in the White Tower was relatively short. “But introductions are still in order. This–” she gestured towards the Asha’man who stood silently behind her, his face impassive “–is Asha’man Roran. He will be teaching the males of the class. When the class breaks up and he begins to guide you, I would have you introduce yourselves to him.”
Candance did not feel that she needed to add that the novices would treat his word as if he were Aes Sedai – even after a short term in the White Tower, her novices knew how they were to treat Accepted, Aes Sedai and Asha’man.
“You are here to begin to learn how to wield the One Power; one of the most important lessons you will learn is that there are differences between males and females. Females embrace saidar, while I’ve been told the methodology that males use is akin to seizing hold of saidin. A man cannot teach a woman anymore than a woman cannot teach a man, it would be like a fish teaching a bird to swim, or vice versa. For that reason, in all channelling classes you attend there will always be both a male and a female teacher. Tell me child,” she said, directing her question at one of the novices, “how much do you know of the One Power?”
“I...I know some, Candance Sedai.”
“Some is not enough, but this is easily remedied. The True Source is the force that was made by the Creator to turn the Wheel of Time; it is, effectively, the driving force of creation, ensuring that time continues to progress throughout the Ages. It is from the True Source that women and men are able to draw on the One Power.
“The One Power is what provides the force that the True Power needs in order to push the Wheel of Time; broken up into saidar and saidin, which work with each other, but at the same time they work against each other, pulling and pushing at each other, to turn the Wheel. Not everyone has the ability that we have, only a few can learn the touch the True Source and use the One Power.
“There are those, quite rare, who are born with the Spark – an innate gift that will mean that they will eventually touch the One Power, even if they are never taught by another. Most who can touch the One Power, however, need to be taught to do so; if they are not taught then would never naturally touch on the One Power. Those that I mentioned before, born with the Spark, may never realise what they are doing. It may be some odd occurrences that happen – doors slamming themselves in a temper, a baby healed from a fever – but most of the time if they are not taught control over their ability they will die. Some will survive, developing their own rudimentary control over the One Power applied to their daily life, perhaps as a Healer, possessing an amazing skill to cure even from the worst disease.
“Before you can do anything with the One Power, to guide it to a purpose such as lighting a candle, you must learn to first tap into the One Power. It is very important that you learn to do this well, so that you can draw on the One Power regardless of the situation you find yourself in, such as periods of stress or fear. It is for this purpose that we are here today and will continue to meet most days over the continuing week. We could jump through it all quickly, but that would not develop the skill and control you need to have to be successful in the White Tower.
“I have given you only a very brief background, but more knowledge will come to you at the right time as you delve into your gift. That said, however, does anyone have any questions of what I have described to you before we begin? I have a question for you all, too. I know some of this, but I would like to know if you have touched saidar or saidin before. If not, then do not fret, your time will come soon enough.”
OOC: Welcome, novices, to an embracing/seizing lesson! =) Post at least 400 words for an introduction post, and have your novice ask a question if you want them to, or at least answer Candance’s question! Part 1 will be up on the 8th!
