Sloane headed for the gardens again. There were very few of these blessed moments when he had absolutely no classes or homework or chores to do, and he wanted to enjoy every single minute. The library was not a place where Sloane could relax with all the people studying intently and Browns frowning at him if he breathed loudly. His room was not an option either, since he still wasn't too comfortable with sharing it with other Soldiers in the first place. Well, the others wouldn't most likely be in the room at this time of day, but he still rather spent his time somewhere else.

So the gardens it was. It was a beautiful day, if a bit too windy and cloudy to be perfect. But any day he had a free hour was a beautiful day. The gardens looked beautiful to him too, even though he wasn't a fan of gardening or flowers in general. Even the odd Aes Sedai enjoying the flowers seemed more pleasant than usual. There weren't any Asha'man visible, but he would have probably been happy to see them too. Everything was just perfect. Well, almost. Perfect enough, certainly.

Sloane breathed in deeply and smiled to the world. It was moments like these when he could forget all the annoying chores and tiring homework and demanding Asha'man. It was moments like these when living in the Black Tower felt almost pleasant. Other times living in the Black Tower felt frustrating, tiresome, ridiculous or pointless. All that kept him in the Tower was Lalaine and the fact that he would become an Asha'man. And of course it was nice to learn how to channel. But everything else... But no, this was not the time to worry about such things. This was the time to forget and relax.

Sloane sat down on a cold stone bench and looked at a bunch of flowers that could have been roses for all he knew in a bush in front of him. They were beautiful. Sloane smiled again and closed his eyes, enjoying the cold breeze hitting his face.