Edeleas had risen early that morning, absent-mindedly cleaning his teeth with salt and soda as he ran lessons through his head. First thing this morning, he was going to meet his small class of Soldiers, teaching them some more of the minor and basix exercises for saidin. He spat the salt and soda out, reaching for a glass of water to rinse his mouth with in order to get rid of the awful taste. Then he straightened up, tried to pacify his wild blonde hair and then reaching for the blade and he started to shave. Again, he recalled his lesson plan for the day.

Saidin basics, starting with Air lifting, a little fireball producing and...Earth. Hmm...what exercise could be good for Earth? Make plants grow? Light, the Soldiers would probably laugh their ass off instead. He thought as he stripped off his white shirt in exchange for the usual black of Asha'man, and then pinning the Sword Pin carefully onto his left collar. Earth...maybe I can give them some of the minor resonance trick Asha'man Rialt taught me...see if they're EarthSingers or...

The bells of Tar Valon tolled the early chimes for the day, and Edeleas went out of the room. The barracks for Soldiers and Dedicated was already teeming, a hundred or so black clad boys, young men, men and what looked like someone close to being a grandfather scurrying around busily. Countless Soldiers saluted to him, in the Asha'man way of fist to heart, and Edeleas acknowledged them all with a polite nod and a smile. His father had always told him to return a polite salute with a sincere acceptance; it did wondrous things to the person who gave you the greeting. Edeleas took that lesson to heart, and because of it, he had earned many friends both in the Black and White Towers. The fewer Dedicated like him greeted him with a smile or a nod, but there was an occasional "All right there, Edeleas?". He smiled and answered politely. He came across a handful of Asha'man, and even Rei Laridian Maeronen of his chosen shen, Dieb Cha. He gave them all the formal salute, but Rei Laridian was the only one who returned his salute with an added wink. Edeleas wanted to laugh.

He went first to the Mess Hall to pick up a quick glass of warm milk and two warm loaves of bread before walking toward the Training Halls. There weren't many people in the halls yet, as nearly everyone were still busy catching quick breakfast in the Mess Hall. Edeleas pivoted on his heels and entered his small classroom. He was the first person to arrive. Tearing a huge chunk of bread with his perfectly aligned teeth, he sat down behind the desk and finished his breakfast in silence. That was when countless footsteps started to shatter the silence of the Training halls. He stood up and brushed his hands clean before gulping down the rest of his milk. The door opened.

Two Soldiers entered, twins like bananas, named Arun and Ares, who saluted to him. Edeleas smiled and nodded them to their seats, where they immediately went to continue their loud chatter. They were followed by a chubby Cairhienin named...named...erm...he forgot. And then the last to arrive was a towering Aiel with wild red hair and shocking blue eyes, his good looks spoiled by a badly placed scar that extended from his left eyebrow until his jaw. The Aielman's name was Charn. Edeleas closed the door with a flow of Air. Silence descended into the room, and as usual, Charn chose the floor instead of a nice armchair. Arun laughed, but a quick elbow from his twin shut him up. Charn ignored them as he would have done a fly.

"The Light's blessing be upon you all." Edeleas began. "Now, to be quick, we will be starting with the usual." So saying he touched the male half of the True Source, welcoming the raging river of fire and ice, effortlessly wrestling it under his control. Smiling with anticipation except for Charn, his students all touched saidin after him. The chubby Cairhienin started wiping his face with a handkerchief. Edeleas turned to him kindly. "Don't be nervous...Ren" now he remembered the man's name. "You've done this a thousand times before."

The class proceeded as normally as could be, and Edeleas found a new Earth Singer in Charn, who approached him at the end of the class and told him about the strange echoes from deep within the ground. At first Edeleas thought the Soldier must have misinterpreted his readings; that the Aielman could have been detecting one of the forgotten and deepest dungeons of Tar Valon, but he'd felt the odd resonance too, about some kilometers away from the city, approximately near to Dragonmount instead. Assuring the Soldier was quite an effort, mainly because Charn was Aiel, a former Seia Doon. But he managed to convince his student that there was nothing wrong. After Charn left, Edeleas remained in the room some more. By this time, saidin pulsed within the Training Hall, as most of the classes had already started. Nobody would know it if he Delved in here.

Emptying his mind and assuming the Void, Edeleas touched saidin some more, weaving a complex and wide net of Earth that he thrust deep into the ground, the end tendrils of his net searching, searching. He went deep down, far under Tar Valon itself before spreading out, hoping to cover much ground. He drew on the True Source some more, until all the sweetness started to become stinging pain. It was here he stopped, holding saidin into him, and then he concentrated, silent within the Void and within himself. At first there was nothing.

"Yes..." Edeleas whispered. "Yes..." He felt it, the resonance, reaching out to his weave, pulsating and giving off specific vibrations that he knew to be unique for each kind of ore, metal and precious stone. He felt three distinct vibrations, each one different from the last. There was a soft one, like feather caressing his cheek. The second was somewhat slippery, and the third was rock hard. They were all clumped together vastly, in great mounds, piles and heaps, somewhere by the foot of Dragonmount. It doesn't have to be a big mine...but it HAS to be deep...

Edeleas opened his eyes, and saidin fled from him. He still felt the dull ache somewhere in his heart when he let go of the One Power, but he thrust the feeling aside. He stood up and left the classroom, mind buzzing as he formed a plan on how to get out of Tar Valon undetected.

The bells of Tar Valon were the only things that wakened Marian that morning. She felt that she could have slept forever, in her comfortable Accepted bed. She liked her rooms much better than the one that she shared with Loriana, though it had been nice to have the company. The Accepted quarters seemed like luxury though, after the novice rooms. With a yawn, she rose from her bed, her feet slipping onto the cold floor. Shivering, she reached for her Accepted dress, hanging on a peg. She smiled, for some reason, at the banded hem. Today was a study day, meaning she did not have much to work on. She had a bit of free time, since she’d completed her chores the previous day. Marian didn’t mind studying, and she could certainly go get some fresh air. Buttoning up the dress, she went to her mirror and combed through her brown hair. After freshening up a bit more, she pulled on a pair of slippers and entered the hallway, where several other Accepted were rising.

She didn’t know the other Accepted very well, as she was still rather attached to many of her novice friends. Nevertheless, she was kind to all of them, and most of them were nice to her. “Good morning,” she greeted them, and they waved or gave a nod of their heads, smiling. Going down to the Mess Hall to eat, she saw that she had missed most of her novice friends, who had probably risen before the bells, unlike herself. That was disappointing, but Marian had a nice breakfast of biscuits and eggs. It tasted rather good, amazingly. After drinking down a nice drink of apple cider, she headed towards the library where she would begin her studying.

The library was quiet that morning, with many of the novices doing chores and things. Marian didn’t recognize any of them, so she minded her own business and worked through books on Age of the Legends and interesting subjects of the like. The Brown sisters wouldn’t let her take books out, she knew that, but after a nice few hours of note taking, Marian felt an urge to go outside. She’d study her notes there. It looked to be a nice day yet, and Marian was in a fabulous mood for once. Maybe she’d even go to the city to pick up a few gifts for her friends… There was no occasion, but she felt it would be a nice thing to do.

Reaching the doors, she saw someone that she did recognize. She frowned and squinted. Something was different about Edeleas, the soldier that she had met once or twice in the Mess Hall. He was a nice young man, and Marian enjoyed his company. She smiled, realizing what it was. Edeleas had been raised to Dedicated! Light, that was wonderful! He looked to be concentrating on something, but nevertheless, Marian called, “Edeleas! Wait up!” Reaching him, she smiled, pointing to his new pin. “Congratulations,” she commented, still grinning broadly. It’d been a time since she’d seen him, and it was wonderful to think that he’d been raised as well, since her novice friends still remained novices, free from the Arches.

I can Travel, but some of the Asha'man will surely detect me; most of them have surprising sensitivity when it comes to channeling, Edeleas thought hard as he made his way through Tar Valon's courtyard, his mind not really focused on where he was walking. They WILL want to investigate channeling that doesn't come from the Training Hall - bloody flaming ashes, why are YOU so nervous? They will probably think it's just a Doon m'Taal practicing with the Gaidin, offering Healing or some other whatnot...you'd be gone even before the can blink and - !

He stopped dead when he heard someone calling him, and wondering if he had been thinking aloud foolishly, Edeleas spun around, little white lies at the ready in case it was an Asha'man. His eyebrows rose at the sight of a brown-haired Accepted running toward him, waving her hand like mad. Squinting, Edeleas pushed his glasses up on his nose and gaped at Marian Skylas, one of his very first friends in the Towers.

"Congratulations," she commented, and Edeleas was surprised that she was grinning widely at him. He followed her finger, and he realized she was pointing at his Sword pin. Edeleas returned his green eyes on her, and this time, a relieved and welcoming smile broke out on his face. "Marian!" he burst out excitedly, gesturing. "How very nice to see you! You - you look good and - and a lot more beautiful when last I saw you! Light, how long was that?"

Marian threw back her head and laughed, taking the arm he offered her. "Oh, the Light knows it had been so long! I am glad for you, Edeleas, and your raising! I hope the Asha'man are not pushing you too hard," He barked a laugh at her words, making a couple of nervous Soldiers jump away from their path. The two of them made their way across the grounds and toward the gardens, which was always an ideal place for private chatter.

"The Asha'man aren't pushing me too hard, I can assure you." Edeleas grinned. "I'm the one who's pushing them. Surely you've heard the news? I can't seem to complete my day without seeing the Master of Soldeirs spout steam from his ears in anger, and I can't seem to go to sleep peacefully without the Mahdi al'Tain screaming his head out after me. Well...I can't stop myself. I like to experiment with the Power, I know it's bad and the Light knows I AM careful with it, but..." he trailed off, shrugging.

Marian gave him a playful punch in the shoulder as they came upon a vacant bench. She sat down, and Edeleas followed suit, placing his hands calmly on his knees. For a moment they sat in silence, thinking of something to say. Edeleas kept his gaze on the blades of grass near them, taking on the elegant shape of its leaves and contemplating on how the morning dew added more beauty to the plant. It was Marian who spoke first.

"You should not really experiment like that, Edeleas." she said, chuckling. "Only the Light knows when a disaster's going to happen, and you may gentle yourself or you could even die. Thank the Light I am not the Master of Soldiers or your mentor, I surely would have grown all my hairs white worrying about you. What is it? Stop laughing!"

Edeleas suppressed his laughter with an effort. He stared back at Marian, who was now pouting at him. Stretching his arms, he lounged on the bench, looking up at the early morning sky without saying anything. "I will remember your words and take your advice - and really try to make myself stop doing experiments. The Light knows you, the Master of Soldiers and Asha'man Rialt are only concerned for me. Thank you for that. But wait, we are not here to discuss my demise," he laughed heartily again "how is Kathera? I haven't seen her for quite a long time now, do you have any news of her? I miss those times in which we'd eat together, the three of us, sharing a table in the Mess Hall. Do tell me about anything, Marian. And I mean anything." he finished with a smile.

((OOC: I'm sorry it took me so long to respond. I've been busy this week. :)))

The two of them spoke for awhile, finally finding a bench in the grounds to sit. Eventually, they got to the point where Edeleas asked, "How is Kathera? I haven't seen her for quite a long time now, do you have any news of her? I miss those times in which we'd eat together, the three of us, sharing a table in the Mess Hall." She smiled, remembering that day well. She felt a pang in her heart, knowing how much she still wished Kathera, though she did not want her friend to go through the Three Arches. Those had been quite awful. She glanced up at Edeleas knowing he was one of the few friends that she had that had such horrendous experiences in the ter'angreal like she had. "I believe she is well," she said, with a sigh. "I miss those times too." Marian gave him a small smile.

"Do tell me about anything, Marian. And I mean anything," he said. So she did. She began with starting about the novices that she could no longer visit with so freely. "It's hard to adjust to life as Accepted," she said after a moment. "I miss Kathera and the others, much, and I don't know that any of them will be raised any time soon." Light, I had thought that Shaya was going to be raised before me! She missed Shaya too, though she still saw the novice often. She sighed. "It's so different. It almost makes you miss those white novice dresses, though I suppose it would be different for you." She grinned. "I don't think the white novice dresses would flatter you so much." With a wink, she laughed.

She paused. "The ter'angreal changed everything," she commented. She could not say much more than that, for it was forbidden to speak about the Arches, but Marian did not care to reveal her fears, and she certain didn't expect Edeleas to tell his. Looking at the Great Serpent Ring on her finger, she sighed. She'd given up so much for this... "My maid, Seshi, who had been my closest companion at home, died recently," she explained sadly, her smile fading slightly. The tears were gone. She had recovered her strength in her goal to become Aes Sedai, but it was still hard to think about her old friend. She rubbed an eye and asked Edeleas, "Enough about me? How has life as Dedicated been? Enjoying the new priveleges, I hope."

[(ooc - That's okay. Good to see you again! ^_^ )]

Edeleas was silent as Marian told him about her life and what she'd experienced. She was right; if she found it hard to adjust to life as Accepted, then what he was going through wasn't really heaven. He was always nervous whenever he stood in front of Soldiers in his classes, an Edeleas wished the Light told him why he always had those dog-sized butterflies somewhere in his stomach. He listened as Marian told him about missing Kathera and her other friends, nodding gently to make her see he understood. Well, he rarely saw Nhadnay and Resolute nowadays too, and it had been fun spending time with them, although he kind of wished Nhadnay had spoken. Somehow Edeleas had a funny feeling that Nhadnay could speak, he just did not want to.

When Marian now spoke of the ter'angreal, Edeleas stiffened. Her words echoed in his head. The ter'angreal changed everything... Yes, it had changed everything all right. When he finished the Third Arch, he knew something of himself had been torn from him forever. And yet again, he wished he knew what part of him got erased. He gave a start when Marian said, "Enough about me? How has life as Dedicated been? Enjoying the new priveleges, I hope." He didn't really know the answer. Edeleas pushed his glasses up and scratched his head. He cleared his throat.

"Well, what I enjoy the most is I can now go to the city whenever I wish," he smiled mischievously. "Tar Valon is always full of surprises, and I enjoy finding them in the streets. I've got a lot of free time now, and I usually spend it eating away in the Mess Hall or staying cooped up in our quarters, reading books. The classes are certainly exciting; I just wish I didn't get fluttering butterflies whenever I start to give the lecture for the day." He barked a laugh at that one. "New lessons are fun and such..." he finished in a shrug.

Marian was smiling as he spoke, and she nodded now. Then Edeleas reclined a little on the bench, and they sat silently for a few minutes. So much has changed. Edeleas thought. I wonder if I will still recognize myself when I become Asha'man... So saying the words in his head, he reached out for saidin, wove his net, and thrust it again into the ground. The resonances were stronger. He itched to go inspect that place near Dragonmount....

Edeleas leapt up from the bench, making Marian give a start. She cocked her eyebrows at him, but he looked warily around. No Aes Sedai and Asha'man around. He returned his eyes onto Marian. "Do you have something to do soon? Do you want to come to Dragonmount with me?"

Marian listened to Edeleas speak in much the same way he had for her, nodding at certain times and others remaining silent. Suddenly, he leapt up, giving her a start. "Do you have something to do soon? Do you want to come to Dragonmount with me?" he asked, as if looking around to make sure someone wasn't listening. She frowned at him. What a strange way to act! She stood up slowly. Putting her hands on her hips, she said, "Edeleas, do you have any idea how much trouble you... we'd be in if we did such?" This wasn't just a simple prank or something foolish like that, something that Kathera might suggest. He wanted them to break a very large rule of being Accepted or Dedicated, or for that matter, even novices and soldiers. They'd surely jeopardize their other priveleges they had gained at the ter'angreal.

She sighed and shook her head. She knew that look in his eyes - Kathera had one often the same, the little joking one that she was. She'd probably not be able to change his mind now, but she certainly didn't want to be involved. Marian spoke a little bit more gently this time. "I certainly cannot go," she started. "I've just paid the Mistress of Novices a visit for being out late at night, and I don't plan on recieving another punishment anytime soon." She paused, looking at him seriously. "I'd advise you to do the same," she said. They both knew very well how much trouble he would be in. Marian figured she'd also be in a very large amount of trouble if she allowed him to go... Nevertheless, she didn't want to completely ruin their friendship by turning him in. She thought for a moment.

"Now, I'd love to spend some time with you," she said, after a pause. "But if you have other things to attend to, I have plenty of studying to catch up on." She hoped that he got the hint. If she did not know for sure where or if Edeleas was going to go or not, she could not be entirely at fault. It made her stomach twist, but it was part of becoming Aes Sedai, she supposed. She crossed her arms and waited for his reply.

Edeleas knew Marian wouldn't agree. He winced as as she planted her hands on her hips (his father told him hands on hips were certainly trouble), flinching at her remark. "Edeleas, do you have any idea how much trouble you... we'd be in if we did such?" she said severely. "I certainly cannot go. I've just paid the Mistress of Novices a visit for being out late at night, and I don't plan on receiving another punishment anytime soon. I'd advise you to do the same. Now, I'd love to spend some time with you, But if you have other things to attend to, I have plenty of studying to catch up on."

He sighed. "Well...all right then, if you really don't want to go." He turned away from her, and he reached out to saidin, welcoming that raging flood of fire and ice. He wove the flows for a gateway, and a shimmering vertical slash appeared before him, widening, offering the undisturbed view of the foothills of dark Dragonmount. Edeleas rubbed his hands in excitement. Now I get to really put my Delving into action, this near to the ores and stones. I can't wait to start! He was just about to step through when he gave a final look behind him. Marian was still there, shaking her head at him disapprovingly.

He smiled. "Please, not a word to anyone." That was it and he stepped through, and closed the gateway behind him. On the other side, Edeleas looked at Dragonmount, this close he could bask in all of the prophecies and glory an Age ago, where the Dragon had died and been reborn. He shivered with excitement. But he wasn't here for a historical field trip, still holding saidin, he wove his net of Earth and thrust it deep once more. The ores resonated, and now he could identify them. His heart gave an excited leap. Gold, Silver and Diamond...all in huge quantities...

Marian rolled her eyes when Edeleas stepped into the gateway. Then it winked out of existance. "Not a word to anyone," she muttered in annoyance. She shook her head and stalked off, figuring now was as good a time as any to get some of that studying done. It was her job as Accepted to prepare herself for the time when she would be Aes Sedai. Light, how foolish he was being! He'd never get raised to Asha'man at that rate... Then again, she had been paying late night visits to the Amyrlin Seat. She couldn't help but feel her cheeks burning at the thought. That too was a foolish reason for being sent to the Mistress of Novices. "If someone asks, though," she figured, "I'll have to tell." Especially if that someone was an Aes Sedai or Asha'man. Well, she wouldn't have to speak if she didn't meet any of them.

Marian wondered if she should have gone with her friend. He might get into some trouble over by Dragonmount. She sighed and hoped desperately that he didn't. She'd feel forever responsible... She could always just tell someone, but that would be being a tattle tale. Light, burn him! She'd visit later to see if he was all right. She was allowed in the Asha'man halls now, and she supposed that extended to the Dedicated quarters. Perhaps, perhaps not. She headed back up towards the White Tower.

ooc -- I already know what I'm going to do, but I can't as I do not want to RP Marian. Her character, her reaction I say. So I will respond when she has done so for me. I apologize for length here, but there's only so much one can say about looking for a Dedicated :P )

Knocking briskly on the door to Edeleas' quarters, Rialt waited for a few moments before pushing the door open and walking inside. He frowned in disappointment when he noticed the mess on the boy's table. In the grand scheme of things, it really wasn't all that bad, but to Rialt...it wouldn't stand. He was going to be clean, and hygienic, one thing that so many of the lower ranks never truly learned, and thus unfortunately, passed on when they became Asha'man. He sighed and closed the door behind him. Edeleas wasn't in his room, wasn't in class, and he certainly wasn't doing any chores. Where in the bloody light is that boy!? He wanted to introduce him to the man who was going to be teaching him in Earth. It did make a small slight in his pride that he couldn't do it himself, but it made sense that he wasn't particularly gifted with the element, the Creator gave him talents in other areas that, he thought, compensated for his lack in Earth. Tishoan, he had instructed to wait for him in the Training halls, but Rialt also said the man could go on with his day if he didn't come back with the boy in fifteen minutes. He had been searching for thirty, and knew the N'Dore was gone. He was a slightly biased man, and wanted only those of his former Shen to instruct his mentee's.

He walked slowly through the Towers gardens, pondering where the boy could be. He doesn't have that many friends...who would he be with? Not that he expected any of the Soldiers or Dedicated to rat him out if he did ask. He turned on his foot, about to go back to his plans when he saw out of the corner of his eye, one of the girls he had met in the Library so long ago. Once he met a Tower initiate on more than one occasion, he didn't often forget their face, and he recalled vaguely having seen Edleas and the young girl speak to each other. In fact, they had been around each other alot to his mind. He purposefully approached the girl, who slowed, probably hoping that he was looking at someone behind her. She curtsied and he nodded acknowledgment, "...Accepted." He finally said after he couldn't quite produce her name, "I'm sorry if you're in a hurry my dear, but I need to find a rather illusive charge of mine. You talk to Edeleas don't you? The small Dedicated with eye glasses?" Her eyes searched around for a moment, and he regarded her silently. She knew where he was, but it was quite certain to him that she did not want to say. She hesitated only a moment before she responded to him.

((OOC: Thanks for the consideration, Asha'man Rialt. :) *feels loved* And the length was perfectly fine, at least to me - Light, it was longer than all of my posts.))

Going up to the White Tower, Marian saw an Asha'man she recognized approaching. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she squinted at the Asha'man, seeing that it was the Mahdi al'Tain, Asha'man Rialt. She'd met him in the library once during her novice years, and she had found him to be a man worthy of her respect, not that she had much choice in the matter. It had been several years since that meeting, as it had been when she hadn't even learned to channel. Light, so much had changed since then. He came closer, and she made a quick, but low, curtsy, vaguely wondering what he was doing. He seemed to be looking for someone. She wondered if he remembered her, but she doubted it, especially when he addressed her as merely Accepted. Light, the man probably met a million people a year. It was a wonder he remembered his own name!

"I'm sorry if you're in a hurry my dear, but I need to find a rather illusive charge of mine. You talk to Edeleas don't you? The small Dedicated with eye glasses?" he said. Marian nearly winced, but she contained herself. Burn you, Edeleas! Bloody idiot! Of course, the moment he had left, the Mahdi al'Tain of the Black Tower comes looking for him. Edeleas is going to kill me if I tell him, but... Weighing options in her head, she figured that death by Dedicated was better than death by Mahdi al'Tain. Hopefully Edeleas would forgive her. "I am in no hurry, Mahdi," she said quickly. Burn you, Edeleas, she thought again. There are no loopholes out of this one! I doubt even Aes Sedai weave their way around this man! She sighed. "I believe he went to Dragonmount." Somehow, she managed to keep a clear voice through it, at a level tone. Light, she hoped he didn't get mad at her for it...

OOC Post

Yay! We're complete! :boing-boing: I'm still thinking whether I'd reply to this thread or make the continuation outside the city.

I'd also be inactive for the next few days because of our finals... :) Or maybe you two could just RP on a little further, some more questions, things. :) :) :)

Thanks so much for helping me with this! *snuggles both tightly*