The pearlescent stone of the Tower’s walls shone dimly as the Sun set that day. Beldur Ardright, who had not yet heard the news, happened to be stopping by with an armload of texts when a fellow citizen whispered to him what was happening that day. He dropped the books and waved his arms high into the air and broke the silence at had stolen the breath of all the onlookers.
“We’ll miss you!” he shouted. “Good luck and come back soon!”
Out of all the people sad to see Amina leave the city for a time, the ones who would feel their loss the most weren’t her new friends, including the mayor and her neighbors. It wasn’t her family, apprehensive at her choice but watching carefully as she walked up the hill to the gate of the Tower. It certainly wasn’t the innkeepers and tavern owners in the city; (the skill at which she played the clarinet for some coin was expensive to host!) No, those that would miss Amina the most while she would be locked up, studying, were the scholarly community.
You see, while she was there, Amina was one of the best translators in the city of Tar Valon. Her knowledge of the Old Tongue was unparalleled, and Nymala Sedai, Mistress of Recruits and Novices, raised her chin as the girl walked up to the gates. Her capability was well known.
Elatheara and Zandera began clapping energetically in response to Beldur’s shout. Slade even raised two hands and cuffed them around his mouth. “Good luck!” he also yelled, and everyone began to clap.
It hurt, actually, and that was a huge surprise. Amina always lit up the room. She was as cheerful as she was studious. Even when Beldur received a terrible review by a colleague in Ilian, Amina encouraged him that they’d turn it around--and in fact stayed up late going through old texts for his next paper. Yes, she would be sorely missed, even though they knew joining the Tower didn’t mean goodbye forever.
Zandera frowned, still clapping, and remembered the coins clinking around in the bottom of Amina’s clarinet case as she finished a song on stage at the Olde Warder and Hen just in time to head to a translation assignment, hastily putting the fussy instrument away before dashing out the door, leaving the sound of tiny, joyous bells in the wake of her footsteps. It was Zandera’s job to help people to the Tower. She didn’t expect it to be so difficult… but why now, with Amina?
Amina reached the top of the hill, and Nymala Sedai’s arm guided her to turn and wave to the city before she left. For just a brief moment as Amina smiled, the setting Sun reflected off a cloud, basking the city with a glittering light as she shouted, “Yeah! I’ll do my best! See you soon! Hi-yah!” She made a small fist and punched forward.
“Yay! That’s Amina! You show ‘em what’s what!”
“Way to go, girl!”
The crowd raised up a roar, and after she turned, and the gates were shut, more than a handful of those gathered wiped away their tears.
Amina, it is with great honor that I announce your acceptance into the White Tower. Go forth, Novice Amina! You will be sorely missed, and though we are sad to have your company kept from us, we wish you the best. Reach for the stars! <3
“We’ll miss you!” he shouted. “Good luck and come back soon!”
Out of all the people sad to see Amina leave the city for a time, the ones who would feel their loss the most weren’t her new friends, including the mayor and her neighbors. It wasn’t her family, apprehensive at her choice but watching carefully as she walked up the hill to the gate of the Tower. It certainly wasn’t the innkeepers and tavern owners in the city; (the skill at which she played the clarinet for some coin was expensive to host!) No, those that would miss Amina the most while she would be locked up, studying, were the scholarly community.
You see, while she was there, Amina was one of the best translators in the city of Tar Valon. Her knowledge of the Old Tongue was unparalleled, and Nymala Sedai, Mistress of Recruits and Novices, raised her chin as the girl walked up to the gates. Her capability was well known.
Elatheara and Zandera began clapping energetically in response to Beldur’s shout. Slade even raised two hands and cuffed them around his mouth. “Good luck!” he also yelled, and everyone began to clap.
It hurt, actually, and that was a huge surprise. Amina always lit up the room. She was as cheerful as she was studious. Even when Beldur received a terrible review by a colleague in Ilian, Amina encouraged him that they’d turn it around--and in fact stayed up late going through old texts for his next paper. Yes, she would be sorely missed, even though they knew joining the Tower didn’t mean goodbye forever.
Zandera frowned, still clapping, and remembered the coins clinking around in the bottom of Amina’s clarinet case as she finished a song on stage at the Olde Warder and Hen just in time to head to a translation assignment, hastily putting the fussy instrument away before dashing out the door, leaving the sound of tiny, joyous bells in the wake of her footsteps. It was Zandera’s job to help people to the Tower. She didn’t expect it to be so difficult… but why now, with Amina?
Amina reached the top of the hill, and Nymala Sedai’s arm guided her to turn and wave to the city before she left. For just a brief moment as Amina smiled, the setting Sun reflected off a cloud, basking the city with a glittering light as she shouted, “Yeah! I’ll do my best! See you soon! Hi-yah!” She made a small fist and punched forward.
“Yay! That’s Amina! You show ‘em what’s what!”
“Way to go, girl!”
The crowd raised up a roar, and after she turned, and the gates were shut, more than a handful of those gathered wiped away their tears.
Amina, it is with great honor that I announce your acceptance into the White Tower. Go forth, Novice Amina! You will be sorely missed, and though we are sad to have your company kept from us, we wish you the best. Reach for the stars! <3
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Welcome to the Tower!
