Aether's Guard

by Schinhofen, Daniel

  Murium’s eyes bugged out, her lips trembling. “She did?”

  “Yes. Now, if you will excuse us, I’m still conducting the tour,” Dia said, ushering them out of the study.

  Dia showed them the baths last, making sure they understood which was the male side and which was the female side. “If you are ever caught in the wrong one, I’ll make sure you learn a very painful lesson, not that I expect any of you to make that error.”

  “No, Dia,” Gregory said.

  “Never, Dia,” Yukiko replied.

  “No, ma’am,” Jenn said crisply.

  “Dia or Magus, not ma’am,” Dia chided Jenn gently. “Now that you’ve seen everything, did you have any questions?”

  “Which rooms are ours?” Yukiko asked.

  “We would normally place you in the smallest rooms as novices. However, since we won’t have new novices until next year, it was decided to put you into the standard quarters. Follow me.”

  She led them to their rooms and had them verify that all of their things had made it. Once they had, she bowed her head to them. “I wish you all a good night. The hall does not have a lights-out time, but we do ask you to respect your neighbors. I am on the top floor and there is a plaque with my name on the door, if you have to find me in the middle of the night. Any other questions?”

  When the three said they didn’t, Dia took her leave. Left standing in the hall, they exchanged glances.

  “We should be turning in soon, ourselves,” Yukiko said. “Normally, we do an hour of studying before bed.”

  “Oh... Would it be okay if I joined you?” Jenn asked.

  “I’d like that,” Yukiko replied. “We’ve been mostly focusing on economics to stay ahead of Magus Han.”

  Jenn winced. “I could use help with that.”

  Gregory chuckled. “I understand. Yukiko is a great teacher.”

  “My room tonight?” Yukiko asked, opening the door. “We’ve been switching rooms for studying. Making it a three-room rotation is good, as well.”

  Entering Yukiko’s room, Gregory took a longer look at the layout. It was similar to the rooms at the dormitory, but the walls here were solid wood, not the heavy paper and wooden slats of the dormitory. There was a closet for personal items, a short-legged table in the middle of the room, a mat and bedding near one wall, and a pitcher and basin on a shelf.

  Taking his seat, Gregory pulled his bag around and took out his notes. “Do you have notes for economics, Jenn? We might want to see where you are, then work from there, so we’re all on the same page.”

  Jenn winced. “Uh… I don’t have many notes.”

  Yukiko patted her hand. “You will. We’ll begin with the basics and work back from there. Greg, you should start. It’ll let me see how much you remember.”

  “A test? Okay then, I can do this,” Gregory grinned.

  Jenn pulled out her paper, ink, and pen. As she got things ready, she wondered if she had done the right thing. Something about Gregory pulled at her. She felt like she needed to be beside him, to be there to help him. Glancing his way and seeing him smile at Yukiko, Jenn felt a twinge of jealousy, which she quickly squashed. “I’m ready,” she said.

  “Okay,” Gregory said, giving her a smile, “let’s start at the beginning. Feel free to tell me if you already know a part so we can skip ahead a little.”

  “I will,” Jenn said, returning his smile.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Gregory rolled to his feet, yawning and rubbing at his eyes. Blinking slowly as he adjusted to the light, he went over to the closet and pulled out his clothing for the day. Taking the clan badge, he rubbed his thumb across the shield before pinning it to the kimono. After getting dressed, he snagged his bag that had been set by the door, left his room, and turned to see Yukiko closing her door.

  Giving her a smile, he stepped aside and let her into his room. The moment the door closed, the two came together, arms wrapping around the other as their lips met in a passionate kiss. The moment drew out and Gregory deepened the kiss. Yukiko followed his movements, lips parting so their tongues could briefly duel.

  Pulling back with his face flushed, Gregory was breathing fast. “This is torture,” he groaned.

  Yukiko leaned her head against his chest, hearing his heart race. “Yes... I’m sorry, dear one. I would gladly go further, but you’ve stated that you don’t want to hurt my family.”

  Gregory’s arms tightened around her. Exhaling a deep breath, he kissed the top of her head. “I know. Your father wouldn’t be happy if we went further before the wedding. I’m doing my best.”

  “Yes… I have to restrain myself from doing more, as well. It’s only your wish to do the right thing that stops me from pushing for more.”

  Kissing her head softly again, he smiled at her. “I love you, Yuki.”

  “And I love you, Greg.”

  “We should get going.”

  “Yes,” Yukiko murmured, kissing his chest before letting go of him. “Should we include Jenn in our morning study?”

  Gregory released Yukiko. “You’re okay with that?”

  She met his eyes. “She’ll be our companion for the next few years, and is a fellow clan member. Helping her expand as quickly and as much as she can is a good idea for the clan.”

  “If that’s what my heart wishes.”

  Yukiko touched his cheek. “If you don’t want her near us—”

  Gregory took her hand in his and kissed the palm, cutting her off. “I’m fine if you want to include her in our training, but I’d thought you weren’t going to get along with her since she seemed interested in me.”

  Yukiko giggled. “But I’m your heart, and you’re mine. She’ll learn that nothing will separate us. As long as she accepts that, there will be no trouble. I believe she’ll come to understand eventually. I’d also like to have more friends.”

  “Okay, let’s see if she wants to join us. Not sure she’ll be able to walk all three paths, though.”

  “That’s a fair point, but we can offer her the chance.”

  Gregory put his arms around Yukiko again. “Just one more small kiss?”

  “As my heart wishes,” Yukiko said breathily and closed her eyes.

  ~*~*~

  Yukiko smiled at Jenn when she cracked her door open. “Would you care to join us for our morning studies?”

  Jenn blinked slowly. “Are you both following the mind path?”

  “In a way,” Yukiko said. “We can explain, if you’d like to join us.”

  “Okay, let me get dressed. Can you have them make me something similar to your food, please? I’ll meet you in the dining room.”

  “Got it,” Gregory said from a few feet away. “See you there.”

  Jenn jerked slightly, as he’d been out of her line of sight. “Oh, uh... thank you.”

  “He didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable,” Yukiko told her. “I sleep in my shift normally, and I was embarrassed when I opened the door one morning when he woke me.”

  Jenn gave her a thankful smile. “Thank you, Yuki. I’ll hurry.”

  Yukiko caught up to Gregory. “She’ll join us shortly.”

  “Smart idea for you to ask her,” Gregory said.

  “Yes. I think you both would’ve been embarrassed.”

  “Yeah...”

  Making it to the dining area, they found Velma preparing to cook in the kitchen. “Oh, morning to you both. I’m just getting things ready. What can I make for you?”

  “I’m not sure what would be best,” Gregory said. “Since you’re more knowledgeable on what to mix for the best aether boost, I’ll leave it in your hands.”

  “I agree with Greg, Velma. Please make us what you think best for us, and a third helping for Jenn. She’ll be joining us shortly.”

  “Very well,” Velma said. “I’ll have it ready as soon as I can. There’s some juice on the counter here if you’d like something to drink while you wait.”

  “Thank you,” Gregory said, going to pour t
wo glasses.

  “You can take the pitcher to the table. Glasses are in that cupboard there,” she said, pointing.

  “I’ll get the glasses, Greg,” Yuki said.

  They’d taken seats and were sipping juice when Jenn came bustling into the room. “Oh good, I’m not late,” she breathed with a sigh of relief, sitting with them.

  “It’ll be a few minutes, yet,” Velma said.

  “Have some juice,” Gregory said, pouring her a glass.

  “Thank you, Greg. You, too, Velma.”

  “After breakfast, we go to the archive for study,” Yukiko said.

  “Yes. You said you’re not really on the mind path. What does that mean? You both study a lot, like you were on the mind path.”

  Gregory looked over to see Velma focused on cooking. Pulling his medallion out, he let her see it. “We’ve been training fast.”

  “Seven?” Jenn asked in a shocked voice. She fished her own medallion out, showing the sixth circle lit. “How? I’ve been training the body path with hardly any pauses. The sixth one just activated this morning.”

  “We’ve been training more than one path,” Yukiko said softly.

  Jenn’s jaw dropped and her eyes went wide. “But… isn’t that impossible?”

  “Not for us,” Gregory said. “We’ve found a way, but it takes everything we have. We study in the morning before class and during the time that was for history class. We meditate and work on our body paths at the same time. It’d been before physical class, but now it’s after. Then, in the evening, we study more.”

  Jenn’s brow furrowed. “But that… I do that much training on just the body path, and I don’t grow that fast.”

  “It’s your choice,” Yukiko said. “If you trust and believe, though, you can join us.”

  Jenn chewed her lip as she considered what they were saying. “If it doesn’t work, I’ll be hindering my growth.”

  “That’s true,” Gregory conceded. “It’ll work. It has been for us.”

  “But if it was that simple, then others would be able to do it, too,” Jenn said.

  “No,” Yukiko said softly. “There’s a trick to it, but we can’t tell you what it is. You’ll have to choose your path— you can train as you have been or join us.”

  “Breakfast is done,” Velma said and started plating the food. “I’ll bring it over in just a moment.”

  Jenn was spared answering for a bit while they ate. It took longer to eat than their previous breakfasts, as the meal had more aether to process than they were used to. Rice, soup, pickled vegetables, and fish; it was the same thing they had most mornings, but this was seasoned and treated differently.

  “I can tailor the food to your levels better than the food we prepared for all novices,” Velma told them as she took a seat and sipped at some juice. “I’m glad to see you’re enjoying it.”

  Jenn stopped a little short of finishing. “It’s too much for me. It was very good, Velma, but I’m not as advanced as they are.”

  Velma blinked. “Oh. I’m sorry. I di—”

  “It’s our fault,” Yukiko interrupted her. “We didn’t know, and you made three identical meals like we requested.”

  Velma looked worried. “But—”

  “It’s fine,” Jenn said. “I’ll train harder and then it won’t be a problem.” She looked at Yukiko. “Please show me?”

  Yukiko bowed her head. “Very well. The archive first.” She paused and pulled the ring she had gotten from Gregory yesterday off her hand. “Wear this for today. We trade it every day. It helps develop the mind path. Greg, should we share the rewards, too?”

  Gregory nodded. “We do have the extra from the tournament.”

  Jenn looked between them, unsure of what they were talking about. Taking the offered ring, she put it on. Jenn wiggled her finger when it resized to her hand. “That felt weird.”

  “Come with me for a moment. We have some other things we can share,” Yukiko told Jenn. “Greg, we’ll meet you at the door.”

  “Sounds good,” Gregory said as he finished off his juice.

  ~*~*~

  Walking to the archive, Jenn was still trying to come to terms with what was going on. “But those are yours, Yuki... I shouldn’t be using them.”

  “We already have our own,” Yukiko said. “This is a gift to a friend. Please, Jenn, let me help you advance with us.”

  “Greg?” Jenn asked for help with a pleading gaze.

  “Yuki’s right,” Gregory told her with a grin. “If you want to keep up with us, you’ll need it.”

  Jenn frowned, but stopped arguing. The rest of the short walk to the archive was in silence.

  “Greetings, Novices,” Rafiq greeted them. “I see you have brought another with you to learn. What would you be interested in studying, Novice?”

  Jenn glanced at Yukiko and Gregory uncertainly. “What should I study?”

  “Whatever interests you,” Yukiko said. “It’s the act of learning that matters. That’s easier if the material is something you like.”

  Jenn nodded. “That makes sense… I’d like to learn more about Aether’s Guard, first.”

  “It’s always good to know about the clan you’re a part of. A book will be brought to you, though your clan will likely have books we do not. Do either of you want different subjects?” he asked Yukiko and Gregory.

  “I’m good with the text I was studying,” Gregory said.

  “I’m still working on mine, as well,” Yukiko said.

  “Very well. I’ll have a book for your friend brought to your table.”

  “Thank you, Rafiq,” Gregory said, bowing his head to the archivist.

  Yukiko and Jenn mirrored his thanks and bowed before they all headed into the back of the archive. Taking their seats, their books were already waiting for them. Jenn took a seat beside Yukiko, puzzled as the other two pulled some papers out of their bags.

  “This is called Magi Squares,” Yukiko said, putting the sheet in front of Jenn. “Let me explain how it works.”

  The three of them each finished a single Magi Squares sheet, though Jenn struggled through hers. “That was very complicated,” Jenn said.

  “I didn’t have time to make an easier one,” Yukiko apologized, “but you did manage one that we were both doing, which is very good. We warm up with those, then start learning. We break in time to reach our first class.”

  “My first class is aether studies,” Jenn said, “then economics, with history last. I quit history, though.”

  “You can either come back here to study or train,” Gregory said. “We have economics, then we come back here to study before aether.”

  “Okay. Is there anything else I can do to try what you two are?”

  “We’ll show you after classes,” Yukiko said. “We can go back to the clan hall, have dinner, and then do meditation together. After you get used to the idea, you’ll be able to do it on your own.”

  “Okay.” Jenn slid the book she had asked for in front of her and opened it up. “First, we study.”

  Gregory and Yukiko exchanged a smile.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “She’s interested in trying,” Yukiko said as they walked to their economics class.

  “Yeah. I don’t think I could have completed that Magi Squares if it’d been the first one I tried.”

  “You would have, but it might have taken you just as long as it did for her.”

  “Longer,” Gregory sighed. “She’s still from a large town or small city. Her basic education was better than mine.”

  “You’re too hard on yourself.”

  “Maybe.”

  Yukiko took his hand briefly and gave it a squeeze. “What do you think the others will say?”

  “Probably insult the clan, maybe us. Anything they can to try baiting us.”

  “Yes, there is that. The teachers are likely to already know about us having joined a clan.”

  “Need to see what happens with them. If they react badly, we’ll
pull out of class… oh, Gin will be at the clan hall today. We should see what he wants to do for training, since it might affect our schedule.”

  “Yes. Truthfully, we can probably skip one of our study sessions. I’m curious if he’ll want us to leave conditioning class for his training alone.”