When Jenn walked out of the tunnel, Paul was already waiting in the middle of the arena with Egil. Striding forward with firm steps, Jenn closed the distance, her face impassive.
Egil waited for her to stand opposite Paul. “This duel is held under Kroggian terms. As Magus Erichson is playing the part of a Kroggian commander, he will not be using aether actively. There is a simple change to this duel, as we do not want either of you to die: the fight ends if you disable your opponent or if the other one gives up. I will call the match if I deem one of you unable to continue fighting. Do you agree?”
“Yes,” Paul said simply.
“Agreed,” Jenn said.
“Back up twenty paces and prepare yourselves,” Egil commanded.
Paul moved instantly, but Jenn hesitated a second before doing the same. She hadn’t thought about how the start of the duel might be different from what she knew. She didn’t let that throw her— instead, she settled her mind, blocking out the sounds of the crowd.
Once they came to a stop, Egil backed away, his hand raised. It came down as he spoke the single word they were waiting for: “Begin!”
Jenn’s legs flashed blue as she closed the distance on Paul. He had set himself defensively and, when their swords met, the sound was loud. Jenn leapt back a second later, needing the distance, as Paul matched her strength with his own unenhanced strength.
She didn’t get a long pause. Paul rushed after her, his sword already pulled back to strike. The next few seconds sounded like a smithy as metal rang out against metal. Paul was the one to disengage when Jenn kicked at him. He’d have loved to take advantage, but his sword wasn’t in position to cut her leg.
Jenn took a slow, deep breath when Paul didn’t charge her again right away. He can match my brief bursts… will I be able to do that when I become a magus? Pushing the distracting thought away, she forced her aether to split as Bishop had taught her. A quarter of her power went to speed while the rest stayed to keep her strong.
Paul was nearly caught by surprise when Jenn came at him again— her speed had increased and he had to work at matching her. On top of that, he struggled to keep his aether in check. The flame wanted to infuse him, and he had to fight to hold it back. Even with his internal conflict, he was able to separate from her and gain distance.
This time, Paul was bleeding from a couple of small gashes in his arms. Jenn had taken an even shallower nick to her left leg, but her aether was already healing it. Jenn’s lips pursed when she saw one of Paul’s cuts start to heal.
“They can heal. Not as well, but they can,” Paul said, reading her face. “And yes, they are this fast and strong, too. Do you understand?”
Jenn hadn’t been expecting the speech, but her head bobbed once.
“Good. I will push as much as I can without aether,” Paul told her.
The next few moments were a blur for a lot of people in the crowd. Jenn was forced back, having to push more aether into her body to meet and stop Paul’s attacks. She hated the cost of burning so much of her aether, but she’d finally met his attack.
As the fight went on, Paul was impressed by how solid Jenn’s swordsmanship was. Most physical enhancement magi tended to neglect the fundamentals, relying solely on their aether to make them faster and stronger than non-magi. Jenn was meeting him in skill, and Paul made a mental note to ask to spar against Bishop. If she’d taught Jenn how to fight like this, she would be a challenge for him.
They locked up, inches from each other for a brief moment. Paul’s eyes were cold and promised death. Jenn’s were burning with aether as she snarled, then kicked. Paul got his leg up to catch the strike, but it nearly shoved him off-balance. He traded another cut to break the lock and spring back.
Jenn took a deep breath. She’d taken more wounds in that exchange, and one was a deep slash to her left arm. Paul had taken wounds on his non-weapon arm and a couple to his legs, but he still seemed rock steady. With the thought of her lovers watching her, her clan behind her, and the other apprentices hoping for her to win, Jenn exhaled slowly.
Paul set himself into another defensive posture, seeing her decision to come for him again. He had another card that he hadn’t yet played, as it would cost him pain and blood, but if it worked, he’d disarm her and win. Deciding it was time, he didn’t look forward to what was to come.
When Jenn moved again, even Paul had trouble following her. If he’d had his aether flowing, he’d have been able to increase his reaction speed, but with it stilled, he struggled. Jenn pushed all of her aether to speed when she moved, but as she came to a stop just feet away from him, she switched her aether from speed to strength.
Paul was able to get his sword around in time, but again, he wasn’t prepared for what Jenn could do— he’d never known an apprentice with the strength of aether she had. His block pushed her blade to the side, but not far enough to stop it from striking him. Searing pain shot through his leg, and he fell to a knee.
Jenn lashed out with her foot, catching Paul under the chin with a flame-covered boot. In return, she felt pain flood her planted leg, and she fell to the ground.
“Stop!” Egil boomed.
The moment the word left his mouth, both Klim and Mindie rushed from their tunnels. Jenn pushed her aether to her wounded leg, pressing on her inner thigh to help staunch the blood. Paul was flat on his back, unmoving on the ground a few feet away from her.
Mindie went to her knees next to Jenn, her hands pushing down onto the injured leg. She exhaled and pushed her aether into Jenn, helping the slowly healing wound close faster. Jenn’s jaw clenched, but she stayed silent as Mindie worked.
“He used aether,” Klim exhaled in relief. “He’ll be awake in a moment. If he hadn’t, he’d likely be dead.”
“She would have survived without my intervention, but she’d have lost a lot of blood. The last attack by Erichson clipped her artery. Her aether was already closing it when I got to her,” Mindie said.
With a pained grunt, Paul blinked as he came awake. “Did she have a hammer?”
“Her boot,” Klim said. “Aether-infused. You cut her artery in return. However, it was a slight cut, and her aether would have closed it before she died.”
“I had to use aether to mitigate the impact,” Paul grunted, sitting up with Klim’s help. “I realized a little too late what she was doing and knew I wouldn’t be able to stop her kick.” Looking up at Egil, Paul sighed. “I lost.”
“I accept your admission and the words of the healers,” Egil said.
Paul blinked as the world swam when he shifted his gaze to Jenn. “Do you think your blade instructor, Bishop, would spar with me?”
“She’s my weapon and aether instructor, sir,” Jenn said. “You can ask her. I believe our clans will be having a sparring session in the future.”
Egil’s lips twitched. “Yes, with concessions for me.” He pulled a softly glowing metal disk from his pouch and spoke into it. “Magus Erichson has admitted his defeat, and the healers have concurred. Jenn Pettit is the winner of this fight. This match concludes the tournament and leaves Shining Light, Iron Hand, and Aether’s Guard as the winners. Class dismissed. Everyone has tomorrow off.”
Jenn gratefully took Mindie’s offered arm to get back to her feet. Once she was standing— slightly favoring her healing leg— she bowed to Egil and Paul. “My thanks for the duel and the instruction, Magus, Armsmaster.”
“It was a bold idea to call for this. What would you have done if I had been the commander left?” Egil asked.
“Taken my chances with the numbers, sir. If Greg had been allowed to be part of the team, the two of us would have fought you and Erichson much sooner.”
Egil’s lips twitched. “Hmm… Interesting.”
Paul wobbled slightly when Klim helped him up. “Fighting him would have been a no, but fighting me was a yes?”
“Sir, most magi without aether are ineffective in combat,” Jenn apologized. “Bishop has told me this repeatedly. Honestly, if I’d known how close this was going to be, I might have opted for the numbers, instead.”
“Mollifying, and she is correct. I will be speaking with her about a match or three,” Paul said. “Good day, Apprentice.”
“Good day, Magus,” Jenn replied.
As she left the field with Mindie beside her, Jenn waved to her lovers, who were beaming down at her. Stepping into the tunnel, Jenn leaned against the wall for a moment and took a few deep, slow breaths.
“Are you okay?” Mindie asked, already reaching out to check Jenn again.
“The rush is fading and my mortality is catching up to me,” Jenn said shakily. “My blood sings during the fight, but after, I feel weak, drained… It’ll pass in a moment.”
“Adrenaline,” Mindie said. “You both came close to death.”
“More than once,” Jenn admitted as she turned to face Mindie.
Mindie’s eyes widened when she saw the scars on Jenn’s breastplate and helm, a few of which were more than just scratches. “Oh, Aether…”
“He was watching over us,” Jenn said with a twisted smile. “Thank you again, Mindie, for everything you do for us.”
Mindie blinked at her before smiling slowly. “I’ll do my best to keep you alive.”
“Greg would appreciate that, as would Yuki.”
Mindie’s cheeks heated slightly and she looked away from Jenn. “Oh, that’s… uhm… nice. Come on, they’ll be waiting for you soon.”
Jenn’s lips quirked up and she nodded. Daciana was right, she thought. “Waiting for us. They’ll want to thank you, too.”
Mindie’s cheeks turned redder. “There’s no need for that.”
“Have you heard about your magus posting?” Jenn asked.
“No,” Mindie sighed. “I don’t think they’ll let me stay. Too many places need healers.”
“If you had a clan, they could lobby for you,” Jenn said as they started down the hallway again. “A clan that would disregard your heritage and values you. I’m sure one exists, if you can believe.”
Mindie’s steps faltered for a second before she nodded slowly. “I… maybe…”
“The choice is yours, but some of us value you a great deal and would love to call you clanmate and friend. Something we can’t do right now.”
Mindie was silent as she looked into the distance, clearly thinking over what Jenn said.
Jenn and Mindie gathered their things, then left the preparation area together. Aether’s Guard was waiting for them, and Jenn beamed as they cheered for her. Mindie started to step back, but Jenn caught her arm and pulled her up to stand beside her again.
“And our thanks to you, as well,” Dia said, turning her eyes to Mindie. “Time and again, you have been there to help our magi. Your eagerness to heal has been noted and it is admired. The academy will be a darker place without your hopeful light to help keep the younger magi healthy and whole.”
Mindie was bright red when Dia spoke. “Thank you, Magus. I just want to heal… The council might let me stay for my magus posting.”
“Doubtful,” Bishop said softly. “It is almost unheard of when an adept who teaches is also allowed to stay for their magus posting. When it does happen, it is because a clan has interceded for them.”
Mindie’s ears dropped and she bowed her head. “I understand.”
“If you want to talk of clans later, my door is open,” Dia said. “Something to note, though— one must firmly believe that Aether will return. We ask anyone who wishes to join to go through a tea ceremony to see if it’s what their heart desires.”
Mindie’s eyes darted briefly to Gregory, Yukiko, and Jenn, then away. “I thank you, Magus. I will consider your offer.”
“Very well,” Dia said. “Now we go back to the clan hall to celebrate our apprentices’ victory during the tournament, and Jenn’s victory in the duel.”
Cheers came from the group as they left.
Mindie watched them go and licked her lips. She thought of herself in that group, walking beside Gregory and his wives. She felt the warmth in her chest and wondered if she could ever have that, or if she was just deluding herself.
