A new life, away from the old one. [ATTN: Alianora]

[Nani]

Athlin Mansarn

Athilin twisted her hands together and frowned as she tried to remember what she had been taught. It was a lot of classes to sift through, a lot of issues with her inability to channel that left her work partners frustrated and her teachers thinking she didn't have any sort of spark, and all of that left her feeling inferior. But she recalled something about blocks during one of the One Power classes. "I believe that one of the teachers we had mentioned it when we were talking about shields, but given that they didn't know anyone in the class was dealing with one, they didn't get too heavily into the subject. They mention trying to find the reason for the block and that it will vary, but they didn't go into more details then that. We moved on from there." Athilin replied, before sighing softly.

"If I had known then what we think now, perhaps I could have asked the right questions. Asked more questions. But looking back will always be perfect." She smiled a bit sadly, before she shook her shoulders out and straightened her back. "So what is the next steps if we go with the idea that I have a block?" Athilin wasn't afraid of hard work. She had worked hard for most of her life, and that alone made her determined to see this through. After all, despite the sadness she knew when she dealt with the times she did touch the power, there was a sweetness, and happiness underneath it all. And she wanted to feel that happiness again, and perhaps let it fill her properly and get past whatever it was that made her this sad to begin with.

OOC: I think once you tell Athilin the plan, we can close this thread out. Also apologies for the wait on this school got very busy and with this pandemic I've been very stressed.

[Alianora]

Liaran Sedai

Liaran leaned forward in her chair, her dark eyes meeting the novice's own. "Being blocked is something that can happen to anyone who is born with the spark, who will channel with or without instruction. It can be thought of as a condition that must be met in order for that person to channel, and in many cases, results from the new channeler struggling to handle the knowledge that he or she is touching the One Power. They can take nearly any form, from the strong emotion that seems to be behind yours, to something as simple as needing total darkness to be able to reach the source."

The Aes Sedai spoke more quietly as she switched to a slightly more personal topic in an effort to let Athilin know that she did understand the difficulty ahead of her. "I came here blocked myself," she admitted, "and could not touch the One Power without feeling as if my life were in danger." If Athilin asked how she'd broken it, Liaran would find a way around answering her, as that answer was the very last thing the novice needed to hear.

Her expression was serious as she watched the girl, but her voice softened as she added, "It is not something that the channeler means to do, but just happens to some of us. What you and I have to do now is figure out how to break yours. It may be a long and difficult process, but I don't want you to get discouraged. I have never before heard of anyone whose block could not be broken with enough time and effort." If she did, of course, Liaran would never tell the novice of it.

After the class ended, she went straight to the library to do research. She continued to see Athilin for classes, but instead of teaching, devoted all their time together to attempting to break through the girl's block. As the weeks passed, Liaran felt as if she were spending more time in the library, and consulting with many of her Indigo sisters, than she was in her own Ajah quarters. If she had been accomplishing anything, she would not have minded, but over time, she had to face the truth that she was not, and that the only methods she'd come up with for addressing Athilin's block were those that she simply didn't have the stomach to inflict on the novice.

She'd never liked to admit defeat, and it was with much reluctance that she forced herself to begin inquiring about another teacher for Athilin. Months had gone by by the time she found someone she thought might be successful, and while that was a relief, the Aes Sedai remained displeased with herself for what she considered a failure of hers.

Having spent the evening before in the Channeling Yards, throwing fireballs to work out her frustration with herself, Liaran was able to meet her student in the classroom for the last time without displaying the smallest hint of her emotions. "We'll be going somewhere else today," she explained. "I've decided it would be best for you to work on your block with a different instructor, so you'll be meeting with him for these classes from now. If you'll come with me, I will show you where to go."

Upon reaching their destination, Liaran paused before opening the door. "You've worked very hard during our classes, and I have no doubt that you'll overcome your block." she attempted to assure the girl. "While I may not be teaching you any longer, I will still be here. If you have any further questions for me, the Mistress of Novices knows how to reach me. " She opened the door for the girl, and once Athilin had entered the classroom, closed it behind her and departed down the hall.