Aether's Apprentices

by Daniel Schinhofen

  A couple of seconds later, they clashed again. Gregory moved with the flow of combat, his body leading him on reflex. Everything felt right as he parried, blocked, and riposted.

  Egil laughed as they broke apart again. “Yes! This is what I wanted last time.”

  Gregory laughed with him, his soul soaring. The fight felt right to him and the challenge made him feel alive. He rushed back in again, eager to push Egil for more.

  Egil met the attack, and the fight continued. They crossed a significant length of the arena during their match, but it did end. Egil landed a small glancing blow to Gregory’s left arm, and he immediately dropped his hand off the naginata. That small edge was all Egil needed to push Gregory’s weapon aside, then slap his down on Gregory’s head.

  Gregory staggered back, shaking his head. Panting as he drew off the padded helmet, he gave Egil a wide grin. “Thank you, Sensei.”

  Mindie was there a second later, checking Gregory’s head. “Hmm… he’s fine.”

  “I was able to check the swing since I had him wounded,” Egil said, removing his own helmet.

  “If I had any armor at all, it would’ve been different, but without armor, that would have gouged my bicep,” Gregory said.

  “You almost managed to stop it, and that attack was one of my best combos.” Egil was smiling as he shook his head. “I look forward to tomorrow.”

  “So do I, Sensei,” Gregory said, bowing to Egil.

  Egil bowed back before turning to face the group. “Dismissed.”

  Mindie stepped back as all the other members of Aether’s Guard, minus Bishop, came swarming over to Gregory.

  “You almost had him!” Clover said excitedly. “That was amazing!”

  “I was so, so nervous,” Roshana said. “But he was understanding and showed me so much. The adept who taught my novice class wasn’t as helpful.”

  “We’re glad you were here with us,” Jenn said. “Watching you fight is interesting. You almost seem to dance or flow like a river.”

  Roshana bowed her head. “My mother taught me some, but nothing compared to what they tried to teach us last year, or what I learned today.”

  “And we have six more days,” Gregory smiled.

  “I hadn’t been sure if he’d managed to hit you, but then you dropped your arm like he had,” Ling said. “I know some would have been tempted to ignore it.”

  “Greg is always honorable when it comes to sparring,” Yukiko said.

  “It’s how we learn best. Cheating isn’t going to help you learn,” Jenn nodded.

  “Maybe tomorrow, I’ll get him,” Gregory said. “How do you all feel?”

  They talked about what their day had been like as they headed for the tunnel and down to the preparation area. Mindie watched them walk away with a wistful look before turning to go the way Egil had. She stopped, as Bishop was standing there.

  “Magus?” Mindie asked.

  “I wanted to thank you again, Adept,” Bishop said. “Every time we need a healer, you have been here for us, for them.”

  “It’s my job, ma’am.”

  “No,” Bishop said softly. “I’ve heard that you’ve asked to take on all healing when our clan is involved.”

  Mindie looked away from Bishop. “They try hard to do the right thing. I want to help them, and this is the best I can do.”

  “For now it is,” Bishop replied, “but after this year, you won’t be there for them.”

  Mindie’s lips creased down. “I know...”

  “There are options open to you,” Bishop said, touching Mindie’s shoulder gently. “Consider them, then meditate on what you should do. You do follow the spirit path, after all.”

  Mindie stood there when Bishop left, her mind reeling. After a few minutes of standing alone in the arena, she got moving. I can take a day or two off, maybe go into town... I have my stipend. It’s expensive, but it would help me know the way. Nodding to herself, Mindie made up her mind. After they finish their week of training, I’ll go and see.

  ~*~*~

  When they got back to the clan hall, Bishop had them do magic training for an hour. The bath was relaxing for Gregory, but the novices peppered the others with questions about the training they’d done. Dinner came and went, with many compliments to the staff for the food. Then, it was up to Gregory’s room, as the novices wanted to know more.

  The first part of their last hour was taken up with talking about Egil’s training. They listened raptly when Gregory told them about his last match with Egil.

  “You came so close,” Daciana sighed. “Do you think you can take him tomorrow?”

  “I’m going to try,” Gregory chuckled.

  “Now that we’ve talked about training,” Ling asked, “can we discuss resonance?”

  “Yes,” Yukiko said. “Resonance is an advanced training technique to the spirit path, but it also isn’t. It’s an adaptation of it and a way to help your awareness increase. We came across a book that mentioned it first, then did our best to find more on it.”

  “There was a scroll in the clan archive that helped some,” Jenn added when Yukiko paused, “but even that didn’t help enough.”

  “I eventually asked Dia,” Gregory said. “She told me that it isn’t about sound, but about knowing yourself. Accepting your fears, weaknesses, strengths, and desires.”

  “How?” Nessa asked.

  “Meditation. Not the Peaceful Fist or anything else, just regular meditation. You’re trying to feel your aether as it seeps from your body,” Yukiko said. “It’s like a fine mist that we all exude. When you find your resonance, you’ll be able to feel it all around you. From what we’ve been reading, if you keep with it, you’ll eventually be able to feel it even when you’re not meditating.”

  “Just meditate?” Victoria asked.

  “Yes,” Jenn said softly. “When you find it… that’s when it really begins.”

  “It tests you,” Yukiko said. “You’ll face each of those four trials. I don’t know what happens if you fail, but even succeeding isn’t pleasant. You have to accept who you are, the fact that you have weaknesses, strengths, fears, and desires. Each time you do…”

  “Pain. Emotional and physical pain,” Gregory picked up the conversation. “My fear is losing those I love. It started with my mother, but her body vanished, replaced by Yukiko and Jenn. Seeing them torn, bloody, and dead was hard.” He looked at each of the women in turn. “But I know that’s my fear and I accepted it. When I did, the aether burned me, purifying me in a way.”

  “Then came weakness,” Jenn said, picking up the thread from Gregory. “Mine is my body... small, slight, and weak. Without my magic, any of you could hurt me and those I love. I know this— I’ve always known— but accepting it was hard. Then, the aether burned me, purifying me.”

  “After weakness is strength,” Gregory said. “Stubbornness is mine. I refuse to give in, even when everyone calls me foolish. I held onto my dream of being a magi for over a decade before it happened, against almost my entire village deriding me as a fool. The pain came again when that was done.”

  “Desire is the last,” Yukiko said, speaking before her lovers could. “That can be the hardest to accept. Seeing what you truly desire can shake you, and it’s the easiest one to turn away from, to lie that you don’t really hope for what’s being shown. Mine was making sure Greg is showered with as much love as I can give him. I want to guide those that we deem worthy of being beside us and make sure he never wants for love.”

  A few small, sharp intakes of breath came from all those listening.

  “That desire... I accepted, knowing that my heart will have many that he loves and that I will share him, but that I’ll also be the one to guide that love,” Yukiko said. “Which is why, when someone does come to us and tells us they want to join our family, I will test them. I’ll only allow those who want the very best for Greg to stand beside us, loving him and us equally.”

  The room was silent. The five women who’d be
en listening processed what they were just told.

  “We should wait on this until we’re into the sixth rank of the apprentice tier before we do this?” Nessa asked.

  “Yes,” Yukiko said. “I know some of you might want to rush it, but don’t. You say you wish to follow in our footsteps? Then do that and wait.”

  “We will,” Victoria said. “You’ve never led us wrong, Yuki. As difficult as it is at times to wait, we know that you have our best interests at heart.”

  “Agreed,” Nessa nodded.

  “If…” Daciana began, but then stopped.

  “Wait until you find your resonance,” Yukiko said. “You have to face your challenges first.”

  Daciana bowed her head. “I have heard you, Alpha.”

  “Alpha?” Clover asked.

  Daciana’s face went crimson. “Uh…!”

  Victoria touched her hand. “It’s okay, Daciana.”

  “It is,” Nessa added, covering Daciana’s other hand.

  Daciana swallowed, then looked at everyone. “Alpha. She’s the alpha female of our pack. She leads, we follow. That’s what my blood tells me, and I agree with it.”

  Ling nodded slowly. “I understand. My family is similar, in a way.”

  “But it’s one guy and five wives,” Clover said. “Right?”

  Ling exhaled slowly, then nodded. “We follow a pride structure.”

  “We’ll also have a pride,” Jenn said. “Gregory is the only man that will be in our relationship. He already has Yuki and me.”

  Gregory’s face heated, and the twentieth bell began to chime. “Oh, time for bed. We have another hard day ahead of us, so we should turn in.”

  Seven sets of eyes stared at him and his face flushed hotter.

  Clover was the first one to her feet. “We do. Good night, Yuki, Jenn, Greg.”

  Ling was only a second behind Clover, saying good night before following her friend out the door. The novices were a little slower with their goodbyes, but they left a moment later. When they were all gone, Gregory exhaled a deep breath.

  “Was it difficult, dear one?” Jenn asked as Yukiko shut and locked the door.

  “A little. Yuki? Thank you.”

  Yukiko gave him a soft smile. “I spoke of desires so that they would know we’re open to the idea, and to spare you both.”

  “Thank you,” Jenn said softly. “Not sure I could have admitted it to them all right now.”

  “I know. Greg would have exploded from embarrassment if he’d tried to tell them his desire,” Yukiko giggled. “But now, it’s time for bed. Once I’m done guiding you, our dear fighter, we can even sleep.”

  Jenn was on her feet in an instant. “Yes, please.”

  Gregory chuckled as he got up. “Our life is a little odd, but I wouldn’t change a single thing about it.”

  They were all smiles as they headed into their bedroom.

  Chapter Forty

  A dream that felt important was already fading as Gregory woke slowly. He tried to pull it back, but it drifted away from his mind like morning haze before the sun. Someone kissing his chest got his attention, and he looked down at Jenn, who was looking up at him. “Good morning, dear one,” Gregory murmured, then bent his head to kiss her.

  “Hmm? I want one, too,” Yukiko said.

  Gregory and Jenn were happy to oblige her. Their kisses lingered for a little bit before the third bell chimed. With sighs, they all got out of bed, going to dress.

  “Are you sure, Greg?” Yukiko asked as she was getting her obi on.

  “I’m a bit worried,” Gregory replied. “They say they’re fine with it, but when the time comes…?”

  “We’ll deal with it if there’s a problem,” Jenn said softly. “This is something they’ve all hinted at wanting. Besides, it’s just one part of our day.”

  “Gin’s first, to see the kids,” Gregory smiled, pushing aside his worry.

  “Training the Peaceful Fist with them and having brunch,” Yukiko said. “This way, they can celebrate with us.”

  “Does Clover know we’re also celebrating her belated birthday?” Gregory asked as he got his boots on.

  “No,” Yukiko giggled. “It’ll be a surprise for her. The others were told so they could make arrangements if they wanted.”

  “It should be a good day,” Jenn smiled.

  “I was surprised you invited Roshana to Gin’s,” Gregory said.

  “Something about it felt right,” Yukiko said. “Darkness mentioned her to you before, too.”

  “She did,” Gregory said. “I’m not upset. I agree that she feels natural to the group, as natural as Ling and Clover did when they joined our friends. I’m surprised she hasn’t asked to join the clan yet.”

  “I think she’s waiting because of tactics,” Yukiko said.

  “Egil split each class up, so no class was completely a single clan,” Jenn added.

  “Oh, I didn’t think about that. Even with Farin joining his clan, that only gave them five,” Gregory said.

  “Exactly. She wants to go with us to the tournament and doesn’t want to chance Egil needing to split the class again.”

  “I think she’ll ask before we leave for the tournament,” Yukiko added.

  “She’s just coming to Gin’s, right?” Gregory asked, suddenly very nervous.

  Yukiko’s smile grew wide. “Maybe.”

  “Yuki, please?” Gregory asked.

  “Just Gin’s,” Jenn said, giving Yukiko a headshake. “That was bad, Yuki.”

  “Sorry, but he’s cute when he worries,” Yukiko grinned. She shifted to stand in front of Gregory, looking up through her lashes at him. “Forgive me?”

  Taking her in his arms, he kissed her lightly. “Always. But please temper that impulse a little?”

  “For you, my heart, I will.”

  “Let’s get going,” Jenn said. “Our friends are probably waiting already.”

  “I’m sure they are,” Yukiko giggled as she led the way to the door, “and they don’t even know about the surprise yet.”

  ~*~*~

  Clover and Ling were waiting for them when they came downstairs. “Good morning, Jenn. Happy birthday,” Clover said, giving the smaller woman a large hug.

  Jenn hugged her back. “Thank you. It’s technically tomorrow, but since this is our day off, it felt better to celebrate it today.”

  “I know you said that we’ll be going to Gin’s and having brunch there, but was that all?” Ling asked.

  Yukiko’s lips twitched, but she managed to keep a neutral expression. “There might be more.”

  Ling bowed her head. “It felt like there might be. I won’t pry, as it’s obviously a surprise.”

  “Odds that Daciana is already waiting for us?” Gregory whispered.

  “Pass,” Ling replied with a smile.

  As they went down to the next floor, the lack of bet was proven to be the right choice. Daciana, Nessa, and Victoria stood, waiting for them. They wished Jenn a happy birthday and each hugged her.

  They’d just started down the stairs again when Gregory felt something and looked behind them. Dia was trailing them, a smile on her face. She bowed her head to him, but didn’t speak.

  When they made it to the dining room, Bishop greeted them and also wished Jenn a happy birthday. That was echoed by Dia, which caused all of the women to whip around, not having known Dia was there.

  “I was surprised at how quickly Roshana adapted to Egil’s training,” Bishop said.

  “She said she had limited training from her family,” Gregory told her. “She also mentioned that the adept who was teaching her group as a novice was lackluster.”

  “If Egil had trained her at all before the second tournament, she might have been a real challenge for some,” Bishop said.

  “Roshana believes in Aether,” Yukiko said. “Her family moved to the empire because they firmly believed that Aether would return, and that he would be here when he did.”

  “She hasn’t approached
me yet,” Dia said. “Hmm...”

  “You might have two approach you in the coming month or two,” Bishop said. “I spoke to another who I think will be joining.”

  “And the clan grows,” Dia smiled softly. “I am happy.”

  “We have a good meal planned for tonight,” Steva said as he brought breakfast to the table. “We’re all eager to share another birthday with the clan.”