Aether's Guard

by Schinhofen, Daniel

  “Yes, sir,” Gregory said.

  “Are you staying in this class?”

  “We don’t know yet, sir,” Yukiko replied. “Gin will be at the clan hall tonight. We have to see what he has planned.”

  “I see. If he is to be your instructor, there’s no reason for you to be here. I would ask that you stay in class, though, as having you here will help the others improve. While that might not be best for you overall, it would help the empire.”

  “We’ll let you know, sir, once we know,” Gregory said.

  “Very well.” Paul nodded, before looking to Jenn. “Bean, we were disappointed that you declined to join us. However, Aether’s Guard was our parent clan before they fell on hard times. We hold no ill will toward you, so please know that that door will remain open to you.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Jenn said, bowing formally to him.

  “That is all,” Paul said as he headed away.

  “Guess we just have to ask Rafiq about aether class… We can do it tomorrow morning,” Gregory said. “Meet you at the bulletin board to go back to the hall?”

  “Yes,” Yukiko smiled. “Be safe.”

  “You, too,” Gregory replied. “You have a friend with you, at least.”

  Jenn nodded. “We’ll be fine.”

  “I have no doubts,” Gregory said before he jogged away.

  ~*~*~

  Arriving at the clan hall, they found Gin on the porch of the clan hall, speaking with Dia. “Ah, there they are,” Gin said, getting to his feet. “How was class?”

  “Bad for several people,” Gregory replied before launching into an abridged version of what had happened. “Which leaves us wanting to know how you plan to train us.”

  Gin nodded. “I’m not surprised, considering everything I’ve heard of the academy. Two of you are exempt from classes, but one of you isn’t. I’ll train you during the same hours as your physical conditioning class. Before or after that, I’ll give you extra lessons, if you want them. This way, your schedule doesn’t need to change unless you want it to.”

  “That leaves us with meditation after Gin teaches us,” Gregory said. “We’ll still study in the morning and between classes.”

  “Same schedule, just replacing the last class with being trained here,” Yukiko said. “Maybe we should drop aether class, Greg. I think it’ll get worse there.”

  “But how will you both learn your magic without it?” Jenn asked.

  “We will provide,” Dia said. “We have someone to train Yukiko with shadow magic on hand already. Gregory’s magic is the tough one. If you wish to drop that class, we’ll provide an instructor for you.”

  “Really?” Jenn asked. “I’d like that. I thought I had to pass that class, but I’d rather learn here if I can. If only I could move into economics class with them, too.”

  “Only economics and history affect adept postings,” Dia said. “I’ll arrange for a teacher for you starting next week. You should ask Magus Han if you can change periods. The worst she’ll say is no.”

  “I will,” Jenn nodded.

  “We begin training tomorrow,” Gin said. “You are to meet me here at the same time your class would be.”

  “Yes, Sensei,” Gregory and Yukiko replied, bowing formally to him.

  “Yes, sir,” Jenn said a second behind them, also bowing formally.

  “The rest of the day is yours,” Gin said as he turned to enter the clan hall.

  “We get to start you on meditation, Jenn,” Yukiko said. “Come on.”

  Jenn let Yukiko lead her away. Gregory went to follow, but Dia held up a hand to stop him.

  “Gregory, I’ve been meaning to ask— what path are you taking?”

  Gregory paused before asking a question instead of answering hers, “Are you staying with Aether’s Guard after this year, Dia?”

  Dia laughed lightly. “A clumsy evasion. The answer is yes. This is the clan I belong in. I was part of it for over twenty years, but left it last year to take up Keeper duties.”

  “Oh, I see. The answer is complicated,” Gregory said slowly. “We’re training more than one path.”

  “The truth is good, even if it is incomplete,” Dia said. “Meditation implies the spirit path, yet I know you’ve been studying a lot as well, which indicates the mind path. Your bodies have grown firm and strong, more so than just the novice class would do, hinting at following the body path.”

  Gregory just blinked at her, not thinking they’d been so obvious.

  “Did you know that Lionel Lighthand trained both body and spirit paths?” Dia asked.

  “We’d heard so. He wrote a scroll about it,” Gregory replied cautiously.

  “‘The Peaceful Fist,’” Dia nodded. “There’s a scroll about it in the study here. It goes into more detail than the one in the archive.”

  Gregory leaned forward slightly. “It does?”

  “Yes,” Dia smiled. “Your friends are waiting for you. Don’t let me keep you longer. If you feel like sharing more, I’ll be here to listen.” Dia pulled her pipe from her obi.

  Gregory wanted to ask her more, but he bowed and went after the others instead.

  “Greg, is everything okay?” Yukiko asked.

  “Dia knows we’re blending spirit and body paths. She said there’s a better scroll on it in the study.”

  “I’ll ask Murium about it later,” Yukiko said. “Since I’ve just about finished the one in the archive, it’ll be good to see how this one differs.”

  Jenn stood there, waiting. “How do we do this?”

  “This is called the Peaceful Fist,” Yukiko said, turning to Jenn. “Just follow my movements. If you feel yourself starting to meditate, let your mind go.”

  “But how will I be able to copy you if I do that?”

  Yukiko smiled. “You will, because your body will continue the movements. Trust me.”

  “Okay,” Jenn said and took up the same pose that Yukiko did.

  Gregory moved to form a triangle with them. “Nice and easy, slow and controlled,” he murmured as he started the first kata.

  ~*~*~

  When they had finished meditating, Jenn was happy. “I could almost feel it. Every time I tried to grab it, it slipped away.”

  “You need to relax,” Gregory said. “Don’t grab at it. Just welcome it and wait.”

  “Got it,” Jenn nodded.

  “Time for our bath,” Yukiko said. “See you in a bit for dinner?”

  “Yeah. I’ll stop in and see if Murium can find the scroll for us before going to the dining room.”

  “We’ll see you there,” Yukiko smiled.

  Gregory went toward his room, to the men’s bath. Stepping inside, he saw Gin pouring water over his head.

  “Gregory,” Gin said as he wiped the water out of his eyes, “tell me, how is she doing?”

  “Yuki? She’s doing well, Sensei.”

  “If we aren’t training, you may call me Gin. I want to know if the other novice, Jenn Bean, is friendly to Yu?”

  “Yes. I was a little surprised, too, but it might be because of her heritage. Jenn is part dwarf.”

  “Ah, that might be enough. You’re sure that she’s a true friend, and not like Shun?”

  Gregory thought about it before nodding. “I feel that she is.”

  “I was going to ask Yu, but I’m glad I got to ask you, instead.” Gin fell silent for a second. “You and Yu are behaving yourselves, correct?”

  Gregory spluttered— he’d been pouring water over his head when Gin asked. “What?”

  “Propriety is being observed?”

  “We’re being respectful to her father’s wishes,” Gregory said.

  Gin stared at him before nodding. “Besides stealing a kiss here or there, you mean.”

  Eyes going wide, Gregory wondered how Gin knew.

  Gin laughed as he got up off the bench and headed for the tub. “Because you are both young and in love. If you had tried to deny it, I would’ve thrashed you. As long as she is a
maiden for her wedding, I will not object.”

  Gregory spluttered again. “Gin!”

  “I know you love her and want to do the right thing,” Gin said, ignoring the indignation. “I also remember what it’s like to be your age and have a beautiful woman doting on you. I’m trusting you to do the best for her.”

  “I’ll do my very best, Gin.”

  “That’s all we can realistically ask.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Rafiq greeted them when they entered the archive the following morning. “Novices, it’s good to see you. What can we do for you today?”

  “I’d like to know more about couples being posted to positions,” Gregory said.

  “Hmm, I do believe there is something. I’ll have it brought out to you.”

  “I’d like to read about dual affinities.”

  Rafiq nodded slowly. “I’ll bring you what I can.”

  “I’m still reading about the clan,” Jenn said.

  “That book is already waiting for you.”

  “Thank you, Rafiq,” Gregory said, echoed by Yukiko and Jenn.

  “A pleasant day to you all,” Rafiq replied.

  When they finished with Magi Squares, they each started in on their subject of choice. Gregory’s book was slim, but not easy to get through. It started with the old laws and how they influenced how magi couples were treated for postings. After each section, there was a treatise on the reason why the law changed.

  When it came time for them to leave for class, Gregory had only covered half of the book. “It’s complicated… the laws are changed every twenty years or so. I might finish it tomorrow.”

  “Dual affinities are different. Either one is vastly dominant over the other or both are weaker than a single affinity,” Yukiko explained. “They do happen, as Adept Dunn said, about once a decade. The combinations that have been recorded are all disparate, as well. The records only go back to a thousand years ago.”

  “Our clan history is interesting,” Jenn added, wanting to be a part of their conversation. “I had no idea its history stretched all the way back to the beginning of the empire.”

  “I want to see what history books the clan has later,” Gregory said. “This is your class right here, isn’t it?”

  Jenn nodded. “See you back at the clan hall. Stay safe. I hope Magus Han says yes.”

  “Us, too,” Yukiko said. “You stay safe, as well.”

  “Economics first,” Gregory said as they started down the path they needed to take. “We’ll do aether introduction today to let Dunn know that we’ll be quitting the class.”

  “That’s fair, but are you sure that seeing all the magics isn’t better for you?”

  “I’m not positive, but I don’t want to give them any chances for more accidents, either.”

  “It was nice of Gin to send news to the magus that we’re withdrawing from physical conditioning class. I think he deserved to know.”

  “That reminds me, I need to apologize to Klim. I’d promised to spar with her at least once with each weapon.”

  “It’s good to keep your promises,” Yukiko nodded. “Maybe ask her to do it during our day off? We can set it for when we’d normally leave the academy, then head out afterward.”

  “I’ll see about getting a message to her,” Gregory said. “Are you going to be ready to celebrate your birthday?”

  Yukiko gave him a smile. “Did you have something planned?”

  “Yes. I asked Dia to assist me with preparing it.”

  “I see... Any hints about what it might be?”

  “I don’t recall you giving me any hints,” Gregory chuckled, “not that mine will be that surprising.”

  Yukiko bumped his hip with hers as they walked. “I’m glad you liked it, and I’m even happier that it led us to this point.”

  “So am I, dear one.”

  ~*~*~

  Economics and studying in the archive flew by with nothing unusual happening. The only oddity was Petak not being in economics class. Gregory wondered what Petak’s punishment for hitting Dunn with his magic was.

  Getting to aether introduction just as the previous class was being let out, Gregory and Yukiko stood out of the way. Yukiko pulled the shadows around them, and no one looked their way. When no more students left, she dropped them.

  “None of the Eternal Flame,” Gregory said.

  “They haven’t apologized yet?” Yukiko asked. “I thought they would to get back into the class.”

  “Do you really think Nick would?”

  “Hmm...” Yukiko murmured.

  “Adept, may we have a moment?” Gregory asked Dunn when they reached the desk that they’d used all year.

  Dunn unfolded himself from his lotus position. “What can I do for you, Novice?”

  “Yukiko and I will be leaving the class, and I wanted to let you know. It isn’t because of you— we’ve enjoyed our time here. However, considering the rumor that a novice died because of Nick yesterday, and the fact that Petak tried to hit me with that fire but got you instead, we feel it’d be safer to be trained at the clan hall.”

  Dunn exhaled slowly, nodding his head. “I was afraid of that. I don’t blame you for wanting to stay safe. Are you sure that your clan will provide for you, though? Many clans will not hire magi to teach novices when the class here is free.”

  “We’ve already been reassured,” Yukiko said.

  “Very well. I thank you for telling me. I wish you both well.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Gregory said. “We’ll be staying for today’s lesson, if that’s okay?”

  “It is. Use it as best you can.” Dunn walked back to the sunlight and took up the lotus position again.

  “Notes?” Yukiko asked Gregory.

  “Not today. I’ll probably spend most of it talking to the crafters. They’ve been the most approachable.”

  “Okay. If you see anything, let me know and we’ll leave right away.”

  “I will.”

  “You know, if we shift our schedule tomorrow, we can study with Jenn before Gin trains us,” Yukiko suggested. “I can train shadow magic during the second-class period.”

  “That would be good,” Gregory agreed. “I’ll join you during that to see if I can get anything to happen.”

  Yukiko gave him a soft smile. “As my heart wishes.”

  ~*~*~

  When they made it back to the clan hall, Jenn was sitting out front, already eating her snack. “I’m so excited,” Jenn smiled. “Magus Han said she’d let me switch to your class.”

  “That’s excellent news!” Yukiko grinned, giving Jenn a hug as she took a seat beside her.

  “And an armsmaster is going to be training us today, too,” Jenn said.

  “His assistant will be teaching us weapons,” Yukiko said. “She’s the better of the two with short blades. I’m sure Gin will be the one to do the first part of our training.”

  Gregory took a seat beside Yukiko. “He’ll push us as hard as he can, too, just short of the breaking point.”

  Jenn nodded. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Ah, there you are,” Dia said, stepping out of the clan hall. “Jenn, we have arranged a tutor for your magic. I overheard you say that your schedule has shifted to match theirs, as well. Since that’s the case, I have a schedule for you all to follow.”

  All three of them focused on her.

  “Your first class is economics with Magus Han. After that, you’re to come back here for magic training. Inda will be your instructor, Yukiko, and Master Chen will be your instructor, Jenn.”

  All three of them looked shocked at what she said. Jenn was the one who stammered out the question first, “Master Chen…? Of the… Iron Hand?”

  “A favor owed to our venerable elder was called in. Do your utmost to learn all you can.”

  “Yes, Dia... Thank you.”

  “I’ll pass your thanks along to Elder Lightshield. Gregory, we have no instructor for you, considering your magic. Elder Li
ghtshield said that it’s an intuitive magic, and that you have to learn on your own.”

  “I thought it might be that way. If Yuki and Jenn are being taught in the same place, it would be helpful for me to be there to observe.”

  “I’ll see what I can do to make that happen,” Dia said. “After magic training, you are given two hours to study or meditate as you wish. A snack will be served after that time. Following your snack, your physical and weapons training will begin. Bathing and dinner will follow that, and then you are free to do as you see fit. Questions?”