Faceless // Jaqen H'ghar

Calm in chaos

Sera was leaving the house of black and white for the first time in moons, Jaqen thought she was ready to see what they were working towards. But she needed to be ready, her body was ready but her mind was still scattered.

Jaqen had the talent to stay calm in the midst of the chaos. Coming to the mainland, even the free cities within Essos was chaos compared to the mostly silent temple. They were on the shore and Jaqen was making her listen and watch. He said nothing, just told her to observe. So they walked and walked. When they got back to the temple he quizzed her.

'what did the man at the fish vendor say to the woman with the little boy?' Jaqen questioned and sera choked out a laugh, she had seen so many people, so many faces. They sat cross legged from each other and he whacked her hand with a wooden rod her face pinched. 'no? what were the merchants talking about when docking on the shores?'

'fish?' sera questioned he smacked her again. She cringed her fist clenching in her lap. They did this for hours. Sera didn't get many questioned right.

'we go again tomorrow. You will pay better attention.' He told her. she nodded rubbing at her hands.

So the next day they went again she tried to remember everything, look at everyone but Jaqen slapped her cheek. She shot him a glare but bit her tongue.

'too obvious.' He told her. he didn't have his usual face on, so him hitting her with this face irritated her more than usual. He pulled her aside. 'you need to be discreet. As though you are passing by, not looking, not listening in.'

'then how the fuck am i supposed to pass your test!' she exclaimed and he hushed her.

'use your ears.' He put a hand on to her face giving her ear lobe a gentle tug. 'listen, stop and browse. But you must blend in.' she nodded and he let her go first. She took confident steps dragging her fingers along vendors tables admiring the pieces as her ears tried to listen carefully. To every conversation. She did not pass but she did better, her hands not as sore as the previous day. They did this for a week, learning more and more information. Sera didn't know what she was to do with this information but she listened and told him what he asked, not a single hit to her hand.

'good.' Jaqen told her simply and he rose from the floor she jumped up. Waiting silently. But he didn't say anything just walked out.

'whats next?' she questioned and he stopped turning back to her.

'What is next?' he repeated.

'you had me listening, what should I listen for? What does the many faced God want me to listen to?' he nodded stepping towards her. he ran a calloused hand over her face.

'so pretty.' He told her. 'a woman wants a man to take your life and your face.' Jaqen informed her, sera's jaw clenched.

'a bitchy woman should fight me herself.' Sera snapped. She knew she couldn't beat Jaqen but the woman, it was unlikely at this point in her training but she had enough anger boiling inside her to help guide her hits.

'a man does not want a girl's death though.' Jaqen told her letting his hand drop from her face. 'a man sees purpose and power. A man sees a girl for who she can be.'

'No one?' she questioned as he walked away.