“Thank you,” Gregory said formally, unable to stop the hint of a smile from showing.
“I look forward to the tea,” Yukiko added, her lips also curled up at the ends.
“I wanted to ask, Elsa, how are you settling in?” Jenn asked, stopping in the doorway.
“I’m doing my best,” Elsa said, giving Jenn a small curtsy. “Thank you for asking.”
“And so polite, too,” Jenn grinned. “We’ll be ready for the tea when you arrive with it.”
“I’ll make it with all haste,” Elsa said.
“We’ll bring it as quickly as we can,” Baylyss said.
“Thank you,” Jenn said as she followed the other two.
~*~*~
The rest of the day was spent learning, with brief moments of them speaking with Elsa. Baylyss had Elsa serving them anything they needed while she watched from the doorway. When it was finally time to go, Elsa was there to show them out.
“We’ll see you next week, a little later than normal,” Yukiko told her. “After that, though, we’ll be here much earlier.”
Elsa looked at Baylyss, then back to Yukiko. “We’ll have everything in order when you do arrive.”
“Thank you, Elsa,” Gregory said. “Have you seen the garden?”
“Yes,” Elsa said, her professional tone and attitude falling away in an instant. “It’s so wonderful! I spend a lot of time there, caring for the flowers.”
Baylyss coughed lightly. “She spends her free time there. The little she takes, as she’s been studying a lot. I gave her more, but she asked for more instruction instead.”
Elsa went red and looked at the floor. “I just want to show them I’m as good as they thought.”
“You’re proving it,” Jenn said softly, “but you also need to take time for yourself. Enjoy it. When the time comes for you to be an adult, you might lose your free time.”
“Like you?” Elsa asked. “I want to be like you when I grow up.”
“Not everyone becomes a magi,” Yukiko said. “Even those who don’t can still do vital things to help those who are, but to do that, they have to be trained.”
Elsa nodded and looked up, her eyes bright. “I’ll study everything and do my best to learn... and if I don’t become a magi, I’ll help you.”
Yukiko placed a hand on Elsa’s shoulder. “I believe you. Baylyss will show you the way. Do what she tells you, but make sure to take some time for you, okay?”
“Yes,” Elsa replied, her face glowing with happiness.
“We have to run,” Gregory said. “Elsa, it’s good to see you again. Baylyss, thank you. We’ll see you next week.”
“We await your return,” Elsa said formally, curtsying to them as they left.
As the three of them jogged off down the street, Elsa watched them go. When they vanished from her view, she shut the door and turned to Baylyss. “I’ll take two hours a day to tend the garden, but besides that, I want to study and learn. Please.”
Baylyss watched her with an impassive face. “Very well. I’d been going slowly and easily, but since you are so earnest, I will increase your studying. I hope you’re ready.”
Elsa nodded her head. “I am.”
Baylyss walked away, a smile hidden behind her impassive features. They do seem to gather loyal friends, don’t they…?
Chapter Thirty-one
They greeted Rafiq when they made it to the archive. Gregory spoke up, preempting Rafiq’s question, “I finished the history of Krogga. I’d like to see the laws of the empire next.”
Rafiq leaned back slightly, his shock apparent. “The laws? Very well. That encompasses a number of books. Did you want to start with the current ones and work your way backward?”
“That would be for the best.”
“I’ll make sure something good is pulled for you.”
“I finished mine, as well,” Jenn said. “Can I move to the war history of Limaz?”
“Of course,” Rafiq smiled. “You’ve been burning through the war books.”
“I find them interesting and educational.”
“I’d like to study the subject of alchemy,” Yukiko said. “The history of how it started, the ingredients and what they can be used in, and anything else you think is worthwhile.”
“Your magic is shadow, though, not alchemy,” Rafiq said.
“Is that a problem?” Yukiko asked.
“Not at all. I just can’t think of the last time someone asked to learn about a subject that wasn’t tied to them. I’ll arrange for the books.”
“Thank you, Rafiq. You make learning here a wonderful experience,” Jenn said.
“It’s our wish to expand the horizons of all magi,” Rafiq replied.
“You have for us,” Yukiko said.
“He has, indeed,” Gregory agreed.
“Flattery, but I accept it. Your material will be brought out before you finish your Magi Squares.”
The three of them thanked him again before going to their table. They were just taking a seat when a quiet throat clearing got their attention.
“Excuse me, Pettit. A word, please,” Master Damon said from a few feet away.
“I have no secrets from my friends, Master. Please join us.”
Damon’s eyebrows climbed for a second before he did as requested, taking the last open spot at the table. “I wanted to see if you’d had any premonitions at all.”
“No, Master, I’m sorry. I’ve had no luck with seeing the future of late. I’ll document them for you when I do.”
Damon looked disappointed. “I see... A pity. Very well. You may leave the notes with the archive and I will retrieve them from here. They’ll want to copy them, anyway.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I wish you all a good day, then,” Damon said, rising gracefully to his feet and gliding away.
“Haven’t your small moments only been a few seconds into the future?” Jenn asked.
“Mostly,” Gregory said. “I had a vision of me and Yukiko together years from now, too.”
“Oh, so that’s why...” Jenn mumbled to herself.
“That was confirmed during the tea ceremony before our betrothal dinner,” Yukiko added. “I also had a vision of our lives together then.”
Jenn’s face went impassive. Her eyes unfocused as she was clearly recalling a memory. “They don’t always come true, though,” Jenn said softly.
“No, they don’t,” Yukiko said, “but I’ve read about the ceremonies. They’re the most probable future, and give a good indication of whether you’re on the right path or not.”
“I see...” Jenn said softly.
“Magi Squares,” Gregory said, gently nudging them. “We have to finish them before we study.”
“Yes, dear one,” Yukiko said.
“Right,” Jenn said, looking down at the blank page in front of her. “The grid, first.”
~*~*~
Taking a slightly longer route to economics class, the three friends didn’t encounter any problems. They were the first to arrive, so they took their seats and got ready for class.
“I asked Dia to let Hemet know we’d be coming by on our day off, and to inquire about another ring,” Yukiko said. “I forgot to mention it earlier.”
“I asked for her to let Stabled Hunger know we’d be there for lunch, too,” Gregory chuckled. “That completes the preparations.”
“Indeed,” Yukiko grinned back at him.
Jenn stayed quiet during the byplay. The wistful expression on her face was quickly replaced by a neutral one before they could see it. The sound of a cane on stone alerted them to Marcia arriving.
“Good morning, Magus,” the three said when she entered the room.
“Morning to you, as well,” Marcia replied as she went to the front of the room. “Bean, you’ve been improving rapidly. Have you been tutored?”
“My friends have been helping me, Magus,” Jenn replied. “While I’m not as versed in the subject as Yuki or Greg, I don’t feel as lost
anymore.”
“Clan members should help each other, but that shouldn’t deter you against fighting them during the next tournament.”
“We will all fight to our utmost, Magus,” Jenn said.
“We know that next year, we’ll be fighting together, but this year is for us to shine separately,” Yukiko added.
“Very good. I dislike it when clans try to rig the novice tournament— it cheapens the accomplishment for the winners. I do wonder how far the second tournament will go, considering the death and brutality of the first.”
Other novices started to trickle in and Marcia stopped talking with them, turning to prepare her notes for the class. Just before the sixth bell began to chime, a single novice came running into class. The wet squelch of their shoes on the floor made everyone turn to look at them. Dripping water and shivering violently, the novice staggered over to an empty table and collapsed at it.
“Novice, what happened that you are freezing to death in my class?” Marcia asked without a trace of empathy as the sixth bell finished chiming.
“I was being stopped from making it to class,” the novice replied, his teeth chattering. “I had to jump into one of the streams to get here on time, since they me blocked on the bridge.”
“You’re not going to be able to absorb the knowledge of the class in that state and will be a distraction to the others,” Marcia said. “I require a two-thousand-word essay, by tomorrow, on the pros and cons of taxes.” Her eyes shifted to Gregory. “Pettit, take him to the infirmary. He’s likely starting the early stages of hypothermia.”
“Yes, Magus,” Gregory said, rising to his feet.
“Magus, I could do the job faster and easier,” Jenn said.
Marcia stared at Jenn for a few seconds. “Fine. Pettit, sit down. Bean, get moving.”
“I’ll be back as quickly as I can,” Jenn said, getting up and going over to the soaked novice. “Come on, I’ll carry you.”
“Now,” Marcia said a little loudly, “where we left off last was…”
~*~*~
“Any problems with the novice?” Gregory asked Jenn as they packed up their things when class ended.
“No. The healer on duty took him from me without asking questions.”
“I hope he recovers,” Yukiko said.
The other two agreed with her as they followed the other novices out the door.
“Pet-tit, how is that broken clan you joined?” a snide voice asked from a few feet away.
“Fureno… does licking another’s boots to get into a clan leave a bad taste in your mouth?” Gregory asked in return.
“I don’t lick his boots!” Fureno snarled. “I came here to challenge you to a duel of magic.”
“You don’t get to pick the type of duel,” Gregory said. “If you challenge me, I get to pick the weapons. Besides, I didn’t hear why you’re issuing a challenge.”
Fureno stepped forward. The other novices stopped, watching the scene unfold before them. “When I win, you will abdicate your position as champion.”
Gregory looked bemused. “You still never said why, but fine, I’ll humor you. What are you putting on the line?”
“I’ll put up a purse of vela equal to what you received in gifts from being the champion.”
“Money?” Gregory chuckled. “Don’t really need money right now. How about you don’t harass, pester, or challenge another novice this year, instead?”
Fureno’s brow furrowed. “Your title against me not hindering or challenging other novices?”
“The fight will be ten random sets of Magi Squares. The first one done with them wins. Tonight, at the archive, at nineteenth bell. One of the archivists can be the adjudicator.”
Fureno looked annoyed. “What? You’re saying it’s to be a fight of numbers? Are you too afraid to fight me in the arena?”
Gregory laughed. “Not at all. I just don’t see the need to get my clothes covered in your blood. Those are the terms for the challenge. Do you accept?”
Fureno looked at everyone watching, including Magus Marcia, who was standing in the doorway of the classroom. “Yes, I accept.”
“See you there,” Gregory said as he started walking away.
Yukiko and Jenn quickly joined him. Once they were away from the others, Yukiko snickered. “That was wonderful, dear one. No one knows you’ve been practicing on them.”
“We don’t know what path he’s on,” Jenn said cautiously. “It’s possible that Fureno could’ve been working on them, too.”
“That’s a possibility,” Gregory said. “This type of challenge won’t get me ‘accidentally’ injured, though.”
“Ah, that makes sense,” Jenn nodded.
“It’ll be fine. Greg is skilled with them. Even if Fureno has been working on them, Greg will win. The trick will be making it look closer than it is.”
“We should stop and warn Rafiq,” Gregory said. “It’s on the way home, at least.”
~*~*~
“Novices, I didn’t expect to see you again today,” Rafiq greeted them.
“We wouldn’t normally stop by on the way back to the clan house, but there’s been a challenge issued,” Gregory told him. “I suggested the archive adjudicate the challenge, which will be completing ten Magi Squares before the other person.”
“We don’t often get picked to adjudicate a challenge,” Rafiq replied. “I’ll let the chief archivist know. Did you need us to prepare the Magi Squares?”
“It would be for the best if you did. That way, no one can claim tampering,” Yukiko replied. “When Fureno loses, we’d like it to be without a doubt.”
“Very well. I’ll make sure that the chief knows and things are arranged. When is the challenge to be held?”
“Tonight, at nineteenth bell,” Gregory said.
“Hmm, very well. We’ll have everything prepared for the appointed time.”
“My thanks,” Gregory said, bowing formally to Rafiq. “We’ll return later.”
“Our thanks.” Yukiko and Jenn bowed before following Gregory out.
Running the last bit to get home, the three of them arrived to find Inda, Chen, and Dia all waiting for them. “Apologies,” Gregory said before anyone else could. “We’re late because I was issued a challenge.”
“Who issued it, and why?” Dia asked.
“Fureno, one of the Eternal Flame novices,” Gregory replied. “He wants me to renounce my champion title. When he loses, he’ll no longer pester, harass, or challenge another novice this year.”
“If you fight with the naginata, he doesn’t stand a chance,” Chen snorted.
“The challenge is Magi Squares, and whoever finishes ten of them first wins. The archive will be adjudicating.”
Inda chuckled. “He doesn’t know, does he?”
“Fureno has no idea that we do them every day,” Yukiko snickered.
Chen laughed. “You lured him into a slanted fight? Well done. I forgive the lateness, and I’ll have to be there to see this. What time is it?”
“Nineteenth bell,” Jenn said.
“We’ll also attend,” Dia said. “After all, I expect that the head of their clan inside the walls will be there, too. It’s been some time since I’ve seen Magus Elkit. I wonder how he’s fared since the elder knocked him senseless?”
“What’s this?” Chen asked.
“I’ll tell you later,” Dia smiled. “After the lesson?”
Chen nodded. “Yes, we’re already past time. Bean, get a move on.”
“Yes, Sensei,” Jenn said, rushing to the far side of the yard.
“You, too, Yukiko,” Inda said.
“Right away,” Yukiko said as she went to her place in the yard.
Gregory started to go toward where Jenn was when Dia tapped his shoulder. “Gregory, tell me the full story.”
“Yes, Dia.”
~*~*~
Heading back to the archive, Dia walked beside Gregory. “You will win, I trust?” Dia asked.
“I’ll
win, but I’m torn between crushing him or winning by a single puzzle,” Gregory said.
“Thinking about using this challenge again?” Dia asked.
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