“I was curious if you’d chosen a clan yet.”
“We have not,” Yukiko replied. “You’re joining the Iron Hand, aren’t you?”
“They have approached me,” Jenn said, “but I haven’t joined them yet. Did they approach both of you?”
“We’ve talked,” Gregory said. “I’m not sure it’s the right fit for us, though.”
“Too martial,” Yukiko clarified.
“That’s amusing, coming from the top two finishers in the tournament,” Jenn laughed.
“We were almost knocked out a couple of times,” Gregory reminded Jenn. “You could easily have been against Jason in my place.”
“Almost doesn’t count. It’s true, but I would’ve lost badly, considering that barrage of fire he had as a trump card.”
“Yeah, that was not fun,” Gregory winced.
“Yet you managed to dodge it...” Jenn said, staring at Gregory intently. “You were moving before the next flame came your way. It was amazing to watch.”
Yukiko smiled. “Gregory is special.”
Jenn, hearing the underlying message, took a small step back. “Oh, no, I didn’t mean it like that.”
“That’s good; he’s already mine,” Yukiko said plainly. “We had our betrothal dinner last night.”
Jenn’s lips twitched down before they went back to neutral. “Congratulations to you both. You’re both trying to join the same clan then, right?”
“That’s our goal,” Gregory admitted. He glanced at Yukiko, having missed the subtext before her declaration of the betrothal. “It would be difficult for us to be split up by clans.”
Jenn nodded slowly. “That’s a very good point. I’m sure that everyone but the Eternal Flame will be eager to recruit you both. I need to get going, but I look forward to seeing you at physical conditioning. You aren’t dropping that class at least, are you?”
“It’s unlikely,” Gregory said, “though it’ll depend on a number of things.”
“It’s the one class that most clans still push their novices to attend,” Jenn said. “Anyway, sorry for stopping you. See you later.” With that, she spun and jogged away.
Gregory watched her go with a thoughtful expression. “She’s a good fighter. If she joined us in a clan, it would make the apprentice tournaments easier.”
“It would, as long as she understands that you’re already spoken for.”
Gregory gave Yukiko a smile. “My heart already beats inside you.”
Yukiko’s expression melted and her cheeks heated. “Thank you, dear one. I know you hold mine, but hearing that I hold yours equally makes me happy.”
“We’d better hurry or we’ll be late,” Gregory said. “Gin won’t be pleased with us if we are.”
“You’re right,” Yukiko agreed.
~*~*~
“You’re barely going to be on time,” Indara said as she let them in. “Hurry.”
The pair were changed and kneeling in the training room just as the eighth bell struck the hour.
“I was wondering if you two would come today,” Gin said. “It’s good to see that your winning hasn’t gone to your head. However, considering your injuries, we’ll be going light today. Yu, how’s your eye?”
“Better, but still a little fuzzy.”
“Inda, take Yu and train her on magic today.”
“Yes, Master. Follow me, Yukiko.”
Yukiko rose to her feet gracefully and followed Inda from the room, leaving the men alone. Gregory watched her go, worry marring his features.
“She’ll be fine,” Gin said. “She wouldn’t downplay her injury to me or you.”
Nodding, Gregory looked back at Gin. “I know, but I still worry about her eye.”
“We don’t have long, as we have lunch with Yu’s parents today. I’m going to drill you on counters. Your leg is fine?”
“It hasn’t bothered me at all,” Gregory said.
“Good. Let’s begin.”
~*~*~
Washing the sweat off, Gregory was glad for the healing ring that sped his recovery. If not for that, he’d be badly hurt in a few spots instead of minorly bruised. Glancing at Gin, he had to wonder how dangerous being a trader’s guard was, considering how heavily scarred the man was.
“Did you find out if I’d be able to train you more than a single day a week?” Gin asked as he poured water over his head.
“We’re unable to leave the grounds except on our day off.”
“A pity. It would greatly accelerate your training if you weren’t constrained that way. You’ll have trouble keeping up with the major clans in the next tournament.”
“Because their novices will be getting personal training?”
“Yes, but also because they’ll be focused on making sure you don’t repeat your success. The Eternal Flame, especially— they lost a lot of face during the tournament. Not only did their chosen favorites lose to you, but their apprentices also lost to Han.” Grabbing a towel, Gin looked thoughtful. “They’ll be more aggressive than they otherwise would be because of that.”
“And with no clan, we’ll have nothing to help blunt their aggression.”
“That’s correct. You lack a shield.”
“Going without one will invite them to be even more aggressive,” Gregory murmured.
“Yes.”
“I’ll talk with Yuki. We might have to join a clan, after all... Making one requires being backed by the other clans, from what we’ve been told, and I doubt we’d get that backing.”
“You might be able to get it, but it would cost you more than should be paid.”
Gregory set the towel aside and began to dress. “That leaves us in a precarious place.”
“That’s my assessment.”
Gregory thought over their options in silence as he dressed. Following Gin out of the room, they met Inda and Yukiko in the front room. Yukiko looked thoughtful as well, so neither of them spoke, merely following Gin and Inda as they left.
~*~*~
Entering Stabled Hunger, the group had to pause. None of them expected the place to be full near to bursting. The applause, whistles, and cheers took both Gregory and Yukiko by surprise.
“Settle down!” Ramon shouted over the din. “Don’t be bothering my customers.”
The noise died down, but a full-blooded wolf eurtik stepped forward. “We just wanted to congratulate you both.”
“Thank you,” Gregory said awkwardly. “We just did our best, is all.”
“Yes, but you did it and cost the Eternal Flame face,” the eurtik grinned. “That makes it even better.”
“My daughter at the academy says you’re the most studious novices,” a woman with a mouse’s ears and tail said from her seat. “You always go to the archive to study.”
Yukiko gave the woman a smile. “Your daughter works in the archive?”
“She does. Not that she can say much and I rarely see her, but she’s told me of you two. Friendly, caring, respectful, and with a thirst to learn as much as you can. That’s what she’s said.”
“I think I know who she is,” Gregory said, recalling the woman with large teeth that had brought them scrolls in the past. “She’s been very helpful.”
The mother beamed. “All she wants to do is learn as much as she can.”
“Knowledge is power,” Yukiko replied.
“I hate to ruin the moment,” Gin said kindly, “but the young miss’ parents are waiting for her.”
“We apologize,” the wolf eurtik said, stepping back. “We’ll be rooting for you in the second tournament.”
A round of agreement went through the patrons, including the Warlin guards, who had been ready to help if things had gone badly. With the moment over, the group passed through the room and into the hall. Conversations sprang up behind them as they left.
Gin knocked on the private dining room door before opening it. “Excuse us for being delayed.”
Hao chuckled, “We figured it was you when we heard the commotion
.”
Yoo-jin gave the two novices appraising looks. “Kept your routine?”
“We woke up like normal,” Yukiko replied. “Well, a little later than normal, but it didn’t deter us.”
“We’ll probably go to sleep early tonight,” Gregory admitted. “Since curfew is back in place now, it’ll make it easier to comply.”
“That explains why the buyer asked for the meeting to be moved up to a few hours from now,” Hao said. “I was asked to bring both of you with me.”
Yukiko and Gregory exchanged a look. “Do you know who the buyer is?” Yukiko asked.
“Only that Hemet set it up,” Hao admitted. “I doubt they intend harm, but we’ll have the guards nearby, just in case.”
“Inda and I can come with if you would like, Hao.”
“Thank you, Gin. Considering the unknown quality, I would prefer to have you on hand. The person buying the box has to be at least a grandmaster, but might be an elder.”
“Think they just wish to congratulate us and possibly try to sell us on their clan?” Yukiko asked.
“Very likely.”
“Hemet did tell me they aren’t with the Eternal Flame, at least,” Hao chuckled.
A soft knock stopped any reply. Nessa, the daughter of the owner, came in with a tray of glasses and two pitchers. “Pardon me. I have the juice and wine for you.” She was quick to serve them, leaving the pitchers on the table. “If you’re ready, I’ll bring the food out.”
“We are,” Yoo-jin smiled. “Thank you, Nessa.”
Nessa ducked her head before leaving the room.
“You were right about him being circumspect. Hemet, that is,” Hao said as he picked up his glass. “He’ll be a good contact to have.”
“Oh,” Yukiko smiled as she drew her medallion out of her kimono, “we reached another rank already.”
Hao laughed, “You two are going to shake them up... I wonder what the record is for anyone reaching apprentice before you two?”
“I’m assuming that no one else has done so yet?” Yoo-jin asked.
“Not that we know. Nick and a few others were at sixth during the tournament,” Yukiko replied.
“That will twist them even further,” Gin said. “Everything will push them a little more, making it more likely they target you harder.”
“Without a clan, it’ll be very harsh,” Yukiko agreed. “Unfortunately, forming a clan is impossible without backing from the others… that explains why all the smaller clans started as offshoots of the major ones.”
“Hmm. Joining a small clan won’t deter them much at all, either,” Yoo-jin said, “which leaves only the intermediate and major clans.”
“None of which appeals to us much,” Yukiko said.
“‘Hard paths make the best magi,’” Gregory said. “That’s what Proctor Bishop told me when she brought me here. She did add ‘if they survive’ to it, though. With Yuki at my side, I think it’ll be tough, but we’ll survive.”
Yukiko gave his hand a squeeze. “We’ll survive.”
A knock on the door stopped them from saying more. Nessa brought their food in on a cart and, serving them all, she checked if they needed anything more before leaving them to eat.
Gregory smiled when he noticed the spiker fruit with the meal. It reminded him of his first time eating with Yukiko. Glancing at her, he found her looking back at him with a knowing smile.
“Spiker fruit… reminds me of our first date,” Yoo-jin said, smiling at Hao.
That statement got the attention of both novices. “How so, Mother?” Yukiko asked.
“The first time we went out to eat alone, Hao arranged for a private table at a local inn. The meal featured spiker fruit on the side and was used as the main part of the glaze on the fowl.”
Hao chuckled, “It’s always been a favorite of mine since then. It reminds me of that day, too.”
Gregory and Yukiko shared an amused glance before they cut into the spiker-glazed boar. Neither of them said anything, but both of them laughed on the inside that they’d inadvertently copied her parents.
~*~*~
Since they had time to kill before the meeting with the mysterious buyer, Gregory and Yukiko got some training in. Lin had the guards stationed to keep people away from the yard for them.
Gregory examined his aether cavern while continuing his slow martial exercises. The channels in the walls were slowly getting deeper and wider. His aether flame wasn’t growing or shrinking, but did appear to be getting denser and hotter. While he worked, Gregory tried to add in the mind path, doing mathematical calculations in his head.
Lin’s voice brought him out of his meditation, “Almost time to go.”
Ending his exercise, he was pulled from his aether cavern. Yukiko was smiling as she finished her meditation.
“I think it’ll work, or it won’t hurt,” Yukiko said. “I was able to do a Magi Square while staying in form.”
“I didn’t go that far,” Gregory replied. “I was just doing equations.”
“The carriage is coming around back,” Lin said. “Your parents should be here in a moment.”
“We know where we’re going?” Yukiko asked.
“Sakura-ji,” Lin replied.
Yukiko’s eyebrows went up. “Interesting.”
“What’s that?” Gregory asked.
“There are two of them in the empire, and they carry the same name,” Yukiko explained. “They’re places for exceptional food and drinks that are found nowhere else. It’s said that if you have to question if you can afford the place, you cannot. The buyer must be an elder or a sage.”
“That was my thought, as well, Yu,” Hao said as he came out the back door with Yoo-jin. “We were informed just about five minutes ago. Are you ready to go?”
Yukiko took a deep breath. “I didn’t think we’d go there short of graduation.”
Gregory felt nervous. With the way Yukiko and her parents were acting, he knew he would never even get to see a place like that if not for them. His nerves faded the moment Yukiko took his hand and gave him a soft smile.
“Just copy one of us if you’re unsure,” Yukiko told him. “I’m glad we’d been having you practice with chopsticks since the start of the year. I believe that’s the only cutlery they offer.”
“It is,” Yoo-jin said, the silk-covered box in her hands.
“You’ve been?” Yukiko asked.
“No, but we’ve always wanted to go,” Yoo-jin said.
“Today, we will get to do so,” Hao smiled.
Conversation was cut off while the carriage pulled up to the gate. As they left the inn behind, Gregory asked about Gin.
“He’s coming in his carriage,” Hao replied, “and he’s bringing a couple of the men with him. It’ll be secure, but Inda will have to stay with the carriage.”
“They don’t allow those with obvious traits of eurtik into Sakura-ji,” Yoo-jin said with a bit of tightness.
Yukiko frowned. “What of me, Mother?”
“Obvious,” she repeated. “If you had ears like Inda, they wouldn’t let you in.”
Yukiko looked unhappy, but nodded. “I see... I’m just human enough.”
“I still can’t get used to the discrimination,” Gregory muttered.
“You don’t have to like it, but you’ll get used to it,” Hao said. “We have. Don’t let it be a tripping point for you… fringer.”
Gregory took a slow breath. “Your point is made, Father.”
Hao gave him a tight smile. “Yu’s first year in school was hard for her. It was also hard for us, dealing with the bigotry and slights. You learn to let them slide off, but it doesn’t stop you from keeping track. I’ve made sure that everyone who hurt my daughter or wife paid for it.”
Yoo-jin took Hao’s hand. “Repeatedly. It might have taken time, but every slight was repaid at least threefold.”
Yukiko’s eyes glittered. “I still recall Isola’s tears when she learned that her father had lost everything. I smil
e every time I think about it.”
Gregory took Yukiko’s hand. “Ignore, remember, and then repay. I’ll do my best.”
“I know, dear one,” Yukiko said softly. “It does hurt. It’s a small hurt, but with my heart beside me, the pain fades quickly.”
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