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Aes Sedai Training
Once it has been determined that a girl can channel the One Power, she is brought to the White Tower for years of careful study. For girls who show a great deal of ability, the White Tower’s patience is nearly limitless. The White Tower is not done with a girl who can channel until it says it is. The journey to become Aes Sedai begins as a novice. Novices are clothed in pure white, and are given a great number of chores. These chores are to strenghten the novice’s mind and body, as well as to learn the Aes Sedai way. It is during this period that these girls learn about their gift, and how to use it. After five to ten years of study, most novices are prepared to move to the next step. Before becoming Accepted, however, a final test must be passed. A candidate to become Accepted must pass through an arched ter’angreal. This ter’angreal has three arches, each of which must be passed through. The candidate is presented with her worst fears - once for what was, once for what is, and once for what will be. No one knows for certain whether the worlds these candidates enter are real or not, but some women who enter the arches never return. It usually takes a number of years to become a full Aes Sedai. While none except the Aes Sedai themselves know the exact manner of the test, it involves showing the ability to channel under the most extreme conditions. The women who pass this test then swear the Three Oaths while holding the Oath Rod and become full Aes Sedai. Frequently instructors use hand motions to teach different weaves to their pupils. While these hand motions are in themselves not part of the weave, their use in instruction means that full Aes Sedai continue to use them. A good example is a fireball - no current Aes Sedai are able to make the weave for a fireball without using a throwing motion. Some Aes Sedai go so far as claiming that they can determine who a Sister’s teacher was solely by the various hand motions she uses in weaving the Power.
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