Aether's Guard

by Schinhofen, Daniel

  As they left, Yukiko glanced at Gregory. “Isn’t sparring with her dangerous?”

  “No. She seems like a good person. She just wants a challenge.”

  “I’ll trust your opinion on it,” Yukiko said. “Meditation, bath, and food, right?”

  “And a kiss before the bath,” Gregory said softly.

  “If that’s what my heart wishes,” Yukiko smiled.

  ~*~*~

  Meditation brought forth a memory instead of Gregory’s usual aether cavern.

  The square was busy; it always was when the ceremony happened. Gregory, Gunnar, Eloria, and Amoria were perched on a wagon, looking at the stage as those who were to become adults began lining up.

  “Do you think it’ll be one of them?” Amoria asked.

  “Doubt it,” Eloria said. “Look at Scottie.”

  “How did he dye his hair blue?” Gunnar laughed.

  “I overheard his mother saying he found a patch of berries and mashed them into his hair,” Eloria giggled.

  Gregory was only half-listening to them, as he had caught sight of his mother. Frowning, he wondered why she was speaking to the proctor. He knew he’d declared that he was going to be a magi to her the other day, but she wouldn’t tell the proctor, would she?

  “Greg?” Amoria asked, taking his hand. “What’s wrong?”

  “Huh? Oh, nothing.” Shaking his head, he gave her a grin. “I was thinking of those berries near my house.”

  “Going to try making yourself a redhead?” Gunnar laughed.

  The memory ended and he was back in his cavern. Gregory was moving through the slow-motion martial arts forms they used when meditating. “Why that memory?” Gregory questioned the aether flame.

  The flame just burned away. Gregory did note the sparks and pops of different colors, as well as the way the fire seemed to surge and ebb. “Am I feeding you too much, aether?”

  The fire did not respond or change as he kept moving through the motions. Shaking his head, he focused on the movement of the forms and let his mind work on the memory.

  ~*~*~

  “That was odd,” Yukiko said when they finished their hour of meditation.

  “Oh?”

  “I had a memory of Father and Mother talking about me crying... It was because I was being bullied about my heritage. I remember the moment perfectly, and how it was Mother who convinced Father to take me with him. I always thought it was Father who had convinced her.”

  “Did he object?” Gregory asked.

  “No, he was just surprised that she suggested it. It meant she wouldn’t get to see me as much, and Father knew it would hurt her. It also explains why, when we did make it home, she was always with me.”

  “She loves you and did the best thing she could for you, even if it hurt her.”

  “Yes...” Yukiko said softly. “I’ll make sure to let her know how thankful I am.”

  “That’d be good.”

  “What about you?”

  “A small snippet, and odd,” Gregory said. “The year before my mother died, I made my declaration of being a magi. When Bishop came to the village that year, my mother had a discussion with her. I was across the square from them, so I have no idea what was said, but the memory of seeing them talk is there.”

  Yukiko’s brow furrowed as she gave it some thought. “Do you think she told Bishop?”

  “I don’t know. When we see Bishop again, we can ask her.”

  “Do you think she’ll admit anything?”

  “I don’t know, but asking shouldn’t hurt anything.”

  “Okay.”

  Gregory pulled Yukiko into an embrace. “Before we leave this room, though...” He smiled as he slowly inched his lips toward hers.

  “As my heart wishes,” Yukiko murmured.

  Chapter Twelve

  Leaving the dormitory, Gregory and Yukiko were surprised to find Elder Lightshield sitting on the porch, talking to Clau. “Keeper. Elder,” Gregory said, bowing to them.

  “Novices, things are going a little faster than I thought they would,” Lightshield said. “Tonight, you will be able to move to your new residence.”

  “Oh… Elder, we had a question,” Yukiko said.

  “You may leave the clan at any point you wish to do so,” Lightshield said. “That policy has been in place from day one. It’s one of the reasons we have so few members.”

  “Thank you,” Yukiko said.

  “We were a little worried, as it’s tough for even non-magi to leave a clan,” Gregory said.

  Lightshield nodded. “Yes, it is. Those in power wish to stay in power, even if it means forcing those under them to stay. If you are fine with Clau arranging it, she’ll have all of your things delivered for you. I would like to invite you to the second terrace for dinner tonight. It’ll be the public acknowledgement of you joining Aether’s Guard.”

  “We’d be honored, Elder,” Yukiko said, bowing.

  “Very well. I’ll finish my arrangements today and see you at the mess hall for dinner,” Lightshield said, rising to his feet.

  “We normally get there an hour or more after classes finish,” Yukiko said.

  “I see. Very well. An hour after classes are over, I will meet you there.”

  “We’ll be there, Elder,” Yukiko said, bowing again, Gregory mirroring her.

  By the time they straightened back up, Lightshield was gone. Clau gave them a smile. “Do you want me to have your rooms packed and sent over?”

  “Please, Keeper?” Yukiko asked.

  “We would appreciate it, Keeper,” Gregory added.

  “Very well. I’ll make sure it happens. I just hope it wasn’t me that drove you away.” Her lips were twitching as she fought to keep the grin off her face.

  “No, Keeper,” Gregory said.

  “Of course not, Keeper.”

  “Have a good day, Novices,” Clau said as she rose to her feet and went inside the dormitory.

  Heading down the path toward the mess hall, Gregory chuckled. “I wonder what the others will say when they find out today?”

  “No doubt they will have some very colorful words,” Yukiko grinned.

  ~*~*~

  “Morning, Rafiq,” Gregory greeted the archivist.

  “Morning to you both, Novices,” Rafiq replied. “Would you like a change in reading material?”

  “I can use one,” Yukiko said. “Is there anything about meditation and martial arts together?”

  Rafiq took a moment to answer, “I’m not sure if it’s approved for novices... I will check. If it’s not, did you have another choice?”

  “Anything about the academy itself?”

  Rafiq blinked slowly. “Very well. That’s not something anyone asks for, normally. I’ll have something brought out to you.”

  “I’m almost done with the Aether’s Guard history,” Gregory said. “Can I see something about the various posts that adepts are assigned?”

  “I’ll have a text brought to you,” Rafiq said.

  “Thank you,” they each said, bowing to the archivist.

  Once the two were out of earshot, a shadow formed behind Rafiq. “Give her the scroll she asked for. They’re already following its advice,” Sarinia said.

  Rafiq inhaled sharply before nodding. “As you command, Chief.”

  The shadow was gone by the time he finished speaking, and Rafiq called one of the archivists over to have them get the books for the novices.

  Gregory and Yukiko were just finishing up Magi Squares when Murium brought them the requested materials. After a brief conversation, she hurried away, letting the novices get to their studying. Yukiko was absorbed in her new scroll, and Gregory worked to finish the Aether’s Guard book so he could start the next.

  ~*~*~

  As they walked to their economics class, Yukiko explained what she had read to Gregory: “I’m certain it isn’t a novice text. The scroll is called ‘Study of the Peaceful Fist’. It detailed how the idea came into being, pushed by Lionel Light
hand during the First Eurtik War. It sought to balance physical and spiritual training... We’ve already been doing it.”

  “That must be the continuation of the scroll we’d read that started us on the idea. I wonder why they gave us this one now?” Gregory mused.

  “Do you think they know we’ve already been doing it?” Yukiko asked softly.

  “Maybe. I think the chief archivist is trying to help us. Letting us see that scroll is almost a certainty, as I highly doubt novices should read it. I wonder if even apprentices would be allowed to.”

  “Why would she go that far?” Yukiko asked.

  “We could ask, but I doubt she’d tell us.”

  “We could ask to speak with her?”

  “It rarely hurts to ask,” Gregory nodded. “We can see when we stop back in.”

  “What about your books?” Yukiko asked.

  “Aether’s Guard is a complicated story. The clan declined because it was split over the ideal of protecting the empire or upholding that Aether himself would return. The Iron Hand is an offshoot of Aether’s Guard. They set aside the idea that Aether would be reborn and dedicated themselves to making sure the empire stayed strong.”

  “They might be friendly to our clan, then,” Yukiko suggested.

  “The book mentioned friendly relationships, but who knows how they feel now? I only got a little into the scroll on adept postings, but they are many and varied. I’ll know more tomorrow, but passing classes is the biggest part that restricts postings. Failure to complete a class satisfactorily will bar you from posts, just like the teachers said.”

  “We’ve been given automatic passes for this year, at least,” Yukiko said.

  “Yeah, which means we’ll have a wide selection of postings available to us. Some magic types can help slant things even more. The assistant healer who saw us both after the tournament told me about that.” Gregory relayed what Mindie had told him, finishing just before they reached economics class.

  “Interesting. I can understand why things might be different for healers.”

  Entering the class, Magus Marcia was already seated at the front of the room. She gave them hard looks, her lips compressed in displeasure.

  “Magus,” Gregory said, bowing his head to her.

  “Novices, I’ve heard a rumor that you have settled on a clan,” Marcia said bluntly.

  “We have, Magus,” Yukiko replied calmly. “Did we upset you in doing so?”

  Marcia’s lips thinned further. “I’d been given reason to believe that you were going to join the Han clan. An affiliated clan spoke with you a few nights before and you made them believe that was true. Yet today, I hear differently.”

  Gregory sighed, “Magus, we did think long and hard about joining Han Merchant Exchange. In the end, we chose a different clan. We apologize if we made it sound certain that we would join your clan... it wasn’t our intent. We meant no disrespect. As we said, your clan was in the last few we were considering.”

  Marcia’s lips softened slightly. “I see. Who have you joined? It was said to be a clan of history, and besides Han and the Eternal Flame, there are no other clans with as much history in the empire.”

  “There is one other,” Yukiko said softly. “They promised us the ability to leave them at any time we wished, as well.”

  Marica blinked at them, stunned. “Aether’s Guard? You’re joining that broken clan?”

  “The freedom they promised us gave them the edge,” Gregory said. “While they might be nearly gone, they aren’t gone yet.”

  Marcia covered her face with a single hand for a moment before shaking her head. “You can leave them at any time?”

  “Yes, Magus,” Yukiko replied.

  “Very well. When you find yourself in need of more aid, I’ll listen to your request, though it will require you joining the Han clan then.”

  “As you say, Magus.” Yukiko bowed formally.

  “We understand, Magus,” Gregory added, bowing just as formally.

  “Take your seats. The others will be here shortly,” Marcia said. “I think you’re foolish for listening to that deluded elder, but we all learn through errors.”

  Gregory and Yukiko did as she bade them. The next member of the class arrived a moment after they did. Class went by quickly, with Marcia being clipped and precise with her lesson. The few times she did call on anyone to answer a question, she picked the two novices in the class who had joined her clan.

  ~*~*~

  Leaving economics, Gregory and Yukiko headed back toward the archive. “Do you think we should drop the class?” Gregory asked. “I doubt she’s going to be friendly toward us at this point.”

  “Not yet,” Yukiko said. “If we drop today, it’ll irritate her more. We need to wait for an appropriate spot where our leaving can be attributed to other reasons.”

  “Wait for Petak to make a scene again?”

  “Exactly. Then, we can profess that we’re just tired of the harassment. It won’t make her happy, but it shifts the blame to Petak.”

  “Makes us seem weak,” Gregory said. “It’d invite more harassment from the others.”

  “It could. If we drop economics, we might drop aether introduction, as well. I can learn from Inda, and nothing there is actively helping you.”

  “Dunn has been pretty forthright about wanting to help. Seeing the other magics in use is interesting, too. It’s like part of my mind itches when I watch them, like a memory just out of reach.”

  “Hmm. Your past life trying to help you, maybe?” Yukiko murmured.

  “That’s what I was thinking. Watching the different types of magic being used might be helpful, even if we aren’t seeing any progress right now.”

  “Do we stay with physical conditioning?” Yukiko asked. “I’m in the same group as Jenn, and she’s the one bright spot there. If I leave, she’ll be the only target for them.”

  “You two are getting along?” Gregory asked.

  “She’s been helpful,” Yukiko said. “When we’ve paired off to train, she’s been there every time for me. It’s upsetting Michelle and Gina, and sparing me an accident.”

  “Has she joined the Iron Hand yet?”

  “Not yet... I think she’s going to follow us,” Yukiko said softly. “Let’s set it aside for now?” Yukiko added as they reached the archive.

  “Okay.”

  “Welcome back,” Rafiq greeted them. “Your material is waiting for you.”

  “Thank you, Rafiq. We were wondering if we could talk with the chief archivist?”

  “Regarding...?”

  “Various scrolls,” Yukiko smiled.

  Rafiq stared at Yukiko for a long moment. “I will inquire, but the chief is a busy person.”

  “We understand. If she can find a moment, we’d appreciate it,” Yukiko said. “We’ll be at our usual table.”

  “Very well,” Rafiq said.

  The two of them took their seats at the table and started with Magi Squares. When they finished that, they started in on the materials they had been reading. Both of them were deeply engrossed in their reading and failed to see Chief Archivist Sarinia take a seat at the table.

  “Novices?” Sarinia asked.

  “Oh, we’re sorry,” Yukiko said as she closed her book. “It’s such an engaging text.”

  “I’m glad you’re making use of it,” Sarinia said. “Most find it foolish and a waste of time when they read it.”

  “They just lack the depth to truly appreciate it,” Gregory said.

  Sarinia gave him a small smile. “Some of the magus and master levels would be upset to hear you say such of them.”

  Gregory’s smile went wooden when he considered what she had replied with.

  “We had a question, if you’re willing to answer it for us,” Yukiko said softly, lowering her voice. “This isn’t a novice-approved scroll, is it?”

  Sarinia’s head tilted slightly to one side, her smile growing larger. “Are you suggesting my archivists have given you a t
ext you shouldn’t have, Novice?”

  “No,” Yukiko said slowly. “I was more wondering if someone with authority was helping us?”

  “The archive is neutral,” Sarinia replied. “We’re forbidden from taking sides in any dispute.”