A little over a week flew by for Aether’s Guard. They had Farin over every day during the two hours the novices were in their economics class. They talked strategy and about how different scenarios might affect each of them in different ways. Clover, Ling, and Gregory were just as intent on offering ideas and solutions, knowing this was the best they could do to help the team before the games started.
They spent the rest of their time during those days training— they did magic training, physical and weapons training, meditation with the Peaceful Fist, and they discussed magics. Yukiko took three days explaining shadow magic and demonstrating different things. After her, Jenn had spoken about physical enhancement and how it felt to her. There was nothing external about her magic besides the aether flame when she pushed her aether to do as much as it could.
During those study sessions, Gregory did his best to touch their magics the way he had with Daciana, Ling, Clover, Nessa, and Victoria during the solstice. Both women had slowed speaking, watching him, but it didn’t stop them from continuing to talk.
As they were saying goodbye to Farin after the ninth day of strategizing, Dia informed them that they would be playing the following day. The rest of that day was a blur for the apprentices, as they were eager to play.
~*~*~
Third bell woke the lovers from their sleep. They didn’t tease or banter— they got out of bed and started dressing. Yukiko and Jenn were already reviewing possible strategies in their minds, and Gregory didn’t interrupt them.
The first words spoken were to Clover and Ling when they met up on the landing between floors.
“Good morning. Are you two ready?” Gregory asked them.
“We’re as ready as we can be,” Ling said. “We know that we might not even play during this round, but we’ll be reviewing different strategies while we wait.”
“We’ll get you in as soon as we can without crippling our units,” Yukiko said.
“We know,” Clover smiled. “We’ll be ready, but make sure to stay strong.”
“That is paramount,” Jenn nodded.
“Let’s go,” Gregory said.
A floor down, they found the novices waiting for them. “Good morning,” Daciana said. “Nervous?”
“Not as much as we could be,” Jenn said. “We’ve done all we can to prepare for the unknown.”
“A little, but like Jenn said, we’ve prepared as much as we can,” Yukiko added.
“We’ll miss you over the next few days,” Victoria said. “We’ll do our best to keep striving while you’re busy.”
“You’ll be playing back-to-back games, won’t you?” Nessa suddenly asked.
“We think so,” Gregory agreed. “The number of teams and the days that have gone by means that most have already played, putting us in the last set. Gin has been here at times, indicating days between games. Hopefully, we get something similar.”
“That’s what I’d thought,” Nessa nodded. She bowed to the apprentices. “We’ll be wishing the best for you.”
“For Aether’s Guard,” Yukiko replied, bowing back just as formally.
The others all murmured the same before heading down to breakfast.
The table in the hall held the majority of the instructors. Only Gin, Inda, and Indara were missing. Dia gave them a bow of her head when they entered the room.
“We all wanted to wish you luck today,” Hemet said as they took their seats.
“Gin wanted me to convey that, as well,” Bishop added. “He opted for a few more hours of sleep, since he’ll get little over the next few days again.”
“Understandable,” Gregory said. “We’ll all be in a similar state soon enough.”
“Not all of us,” Daciana muttered.
“Next year will be your turn,” Dia told her. “Since your seniors won’t be here, if you wish to have me explain more of Empire’s Gambit, I will do so during those times you normally study with them.”
“We accept, Dia,” Nessa said. “We look forward to going to Gin’s home on our day off and starting instruction on games, too. We were sad to miss last week, but staying here to train with them was good for us. We’d like to stay and train with them if a day off aligns with theirs.”
“I will let Baylyss know when to expect you so the game instructors can be ready,” Dia said.
“I have breakfast ready,” Quilet said. “Since you were all up, I opted for a buffet instead of the normal meals.”
“That’s fine, Quilet. We’ll serve ourselves,” Dia said.
~*~*~
“Good morning to you all,” Rafiq greeted them as they entered the archive. “Excited?”
“We’re looking forward to the chance to show how strong Aether’s Guard is,” Yukiko smiled.
“I’m sure the academy knows already,” Rafiq chuckled, “but strength and strategy are different things. Considering how studious you’ve all been, I won’t be surprised when you win this tournament.”
“Thank you,” Jenn beamed. “I think we’re all still good on our books.”
The others agreed with her.
“Very well,” Rafiq said. “Good studying to you.”
A round of thanks was given to him before the group headed to their normal table. As they approached, they were surprised to find two people already there.
“Aether’s Guard,” Hayworth said, bowing his head to them.
“Hayworth,” Gregory greeted him back. “We didn’t expect others to be here.”
“Walun expressed interest in coming to study with your younger magi today. I came to make sure he wasn’t bothering your clan,” Hayworth said. “I was surprised when I heard you all come every day.”
“Studying is always a good idea,” Yukiko smiled.
“True, but unless one is on the mind path, it doesn’t do as much as it could,” Hayworth replied.
“He isn’t bothering us,” Nessa said, breaking into the conversation. “Walun’s been very respectful. If he stops being so, we will cordially disinvite him.”
Hayworth gave Nessa a raised eyebrow, then stood and bowed his head. “Very well. I’ll not bother him about this matter again unless I’m told I need to intervene.”
“Thank you,” Gregory said.
“I don’t want to embroil my clan in a needless conflict. If he was just so besotted with one of the novices that he was pressing them too much, I would curtail that now.”
Walun was looking at the table, his face burning.
“Now that that’s done, do you mind if I join your study session today?” Hayworth asked.
“We normally sit with our juniors first,” Yukiko said, “but considering how awkward that would be for some, maybe we should head upstairs now, instead.”
“Yes,” Gregory nodded. “What have you been studying, Hayworth?”
“Imports and exports,” Hayworth replied as they made their way toward the stairs. “I hope to get a border posting for my magus years, at least.”
“Which border?” Ling asked.
“Doesn’t matter. I’m studying for all of them, just in case. The prestige to a clan for holding those positions isn’t small,” Hayworth said. After a small pause, he added, “I also like the idea of being there if trouble happens.”
“Didn’t think you were fixated on combat,” Clover said.
“It’s not combat, it’s the chance to make a name for myself and the clan if I can quickly quash any trouble,” Hayworth said. “The more one does, the greater the chance you’ll be posted to better things later. The empire still requires clans to provide magus tier and higher magi for some postings.”
“Like ambassadors,” Jenn said.
“Well, yes,” Hayworth conceded as they took their seats on the second floor. “There is also the academy. Being able to shape the younger generations seems like a rewarding post.”
Gregory chuckled. “Between those two, I think you’d rather be an ambassador.”
“True,” Hayworth nodded, “but there are postings for just a clan, too. Every city has a true magus or higher to keep the peace. It’s possible for your clan to post you under an empire-appointed magi there.”
“Huh,” Gregory said. “I didn’t think about that. I’d only really looked at postings that we might see when we leave the academy.”
“Most only think that far out. All clans have uses for the magi. My clan posts magi with important cargos to deter potential trouble.”
“The Han clan does something similar,” Yukiko added. “All the merchant clans do.”
“Magi Squares?” Hayworth asked when he saw them bring out their blank grids. “I’m doubly surprised to see you with them.”
“They help focus us for learning,” Clover said. “We just started them not long ago.”
“But these three are on the advanced ones,” Hayworth said. “Interesting.”
“Care to join in?” Gregory asked, pulling out another blank advanced grid. “We make them for each other, then finish the one made for us.”
“Which would double the effectiveness of the lesson,” Hayworth nodded slowly. “Thank you. I will. I will also mention this to my clan, as we should’ve been doing similar. The clan staff makes them for us, but I can see where making them for others of the clan would be helpful, too.”
“Unexpected allies can be profitable,” Yukiko said.
“True,” Hayworth nodded. “Your class is playing this round?”
“Yes,” Jenn said.
“I hope you know how to look at… a wider picture.” Hayworth’s pause and slight stress on the words hinted at things.
“We thought that might be the case already,” Gregory chuckled. “We’ll just have to see if we were right. Well… they will,” he amended.
“Yes, they removed you entirely,” Hayworth snorted. “Shortsighted. But certain clans raised a fuss over your perceived ability to cheat with your magic, as if you could use it for days on end with little rest.”
“I don’t mind,” Gregory replied as he started his puzzle. “It gives me an overview of the entire game. I’ve learned a few things by being the coordinator.”
“I hadn’t considered that position,” Hayworth admitted as he filled in the blank grid. “You truly don’t care that you were the only one singled out?”
“If it makes it so that, when my class wins, they can’t complain and cast doubts, not at all.”
Hayworth laughed lightly. “Ah, there it is. Determined to make all other clans look lesser than your own.”
“No,” Yukiko said. “That isn’t our intent. We just wish to raise our clan up…” She trailed off with a small smile.
“But if a single clan falls hard, that’s fine, too,” Jenn added.
“If they fall, my clan wouldn’t mind at all,” Hayworth said. “The loss of face they suffered when Elkit was crushed ruthlessly by Magi-killer was sweet. I was surprised when he extended that olive branch by offering Barlz the position.”
“You shouldn’t have been,” Gregory said. “Consider how fair and even he’s been this whole time— he truly is just trying to help our year learn proper tactics. As he said, Barlz had the right idea during the game.”
Hayworth fell silent as he worked on the paper in front of him, his thoughts dissecting memories and thinking on what Gregory said.
~*~*~
When they arrived at the tactics hall, Egil was already there. All five of them greeted him and bowed formally, and Egil motioned to a table. “Have a seat. Once the others get here, we will see who you are fielding and divide you. Those not playing will be sitting here with me. You, Pettit, will be helping one of the games, and it won’t be the one your friends are playing.”
“I understand, sir,” Gregory said.
“You’re the only apprentice with a clan who is not playing or an alternate,” Egil said. “Every other class picked the clanless in their group to be the one out.” He snorted. “Shortsighted.”
“That’s the way the empire is,” Clover said, her usual tone subdued, “but maybe it’ll change in the future.”
“Hope is good,” Egil nodded. “Now, sit and wait.”
Before long, the other groups filed in. One was a group that Gregory had been hoping he wouldn’t see. Nick gave Gregory a sneer as his group took their seats. Once the instructors and apprentices were all there, Egil shut the doors, then paused as the sixth bell began to chime. Gregory was staring at Nick’s group, as Chucky Smitty was missing again from their number again.
“Apprentices, your groups are the last of the initial round,” Egil said once silence had fallen again. “There will be a single day off between this round and the next for one of you. Some have complained that this will put your group at a disadvantage going into the next round. To that, I had only a single reply: ‘And?’ No battle, much less war, is fair. As for how we decided who would play who, it was simple— we drew names from a bowl. As much as some of you might feel this is rigged, it was completely random, and Grandmaster Pan was the one who drew the names. If you still feel that way, take it up with him.”
No one spoke up when Egil paused.
“Now, Aether’s Guard, who are your three?” Egil asked.
Yukiko stood. “Myself, Jenn, and Farin, sir.”
Her declaration drew some murmurs from the other apprentice groups. The instructors just nodded, having heard of Farin playing in the pre-tournament game.
“Very well,” Egil said. “The first three rooms on the third floor are for you. Wait until I send you all off, though. This way, you get to see who you are against.”
“Yes, sir,” Yukiko said, retaking her seat.
“Han clan, who plays for you?” Egil asked.
The Han clan declared theirs and were told they would be on the second floor. The Hardened Fist set their three and were paired against the Han clan, leaving just one group that hadn’t been called.
“Eternal Flame,” Egil said, turning to them, “declare your three.”
“Myself, Parks, and Morlit,” Nick said, gleefully staring at Gregory’s group.
“You have the other three rooms on the third floor. Your opponent is Aether’s Guard,” Egil said. “One last thing. Wood, which magic are you using?”
“Earth, sir,” Farin replied.
“Very well. Instructors, you have your assignments. Alternates, stay here,” Egil announced. “Competitors, dismissed to your rooms.”
Yukiko, Jenn, and Farin stood. Since they were closest to the stairs, they were the first to go up. Yukiko was having a hushed conversation with them as they went.
Nick slowed when he passed Gregory’s table. “Now we’ll knock your clan from this competition.”
Seeing Egil watching them, Gregory didn’t reply.
Nick snorted and walked off, the last to go upstairs.
Egil cleared his throat. “My four coordinators, come here.”
Gregory stood and, after a second, the clanless who’d been left out of the games stood, too. The three paused a few feet from Egil.
“You will be helping coordinate the games that don’t affect your classes. As you can see, we are missing an apprentice, which means we will be having a guest assist us today.”
A gust of wind blew around them and, a moment later, Grandmaster Pan was standing there. “Magi-killer,” Pan nodded.
“Sir, you will be coordinating for Shun’s group,” Egil said, “considering the reasons why we are missing Apprentice Smitty.”
Pan’s lips thinned, but he nodded. “Understood.” With another gust of wind, he was gone.
“Pettit, Han group,” Egil said as if the grandmaster being there was normal.
Gregory bowed, waiting while the others were divided up. He smiled when Mavic was sent to work with his wives and Farin, though a part of him still wondered what Egil had said about Chucky Smitty. Once they’d been given their instructions, they were handed three maps for the people they were assisting, a folder with blank paper, and a charcoal pencil.
“Go introduce yourselves, and do your best to learn,” Egil said.
Gregory bowed, the others a beat behind him. Turning, he headed away, giving Clover and Ling a smile as he went. They grinned back at him, having heard who was assisting their class. Mavic glanced their way, but didn’t make any motion to them.
