“Good morning,” Jenn greeted Clover and Ling as they approached the stairs.
“Good morning!” Clover beamed. “I had a lot of fun yesterday.”
“The kids certainly enjoyed having you there,” Yukiko smiled.
“Because she’s as innocent and active as they are,” Ling said with a straight face.
Clover gave Ling a piercing look. “Was that a compliment?”
“I think it was,” Gregory said. “There’s nothing bad with being innocent and energetic.”
“Yeah,” Clover grinned wider.
“You did well with leading the Peaceful Fist, too,” Jenn said. “We got caught up in training, so I forgot to tell you yesterday.”
“Thank you.”
“How do you think Roshana did studying?” Ling asked as they descended to the next floor.
“I’m uncertain, but it will tell us a lot,” Yukiko said. “I don’t expect her to have memorized anything, since she’s on the spirit path. With that said, though, I expect to see improvement if she did study.”
“If who studied?” Daciana asked, waiting for them on the landing.
“Roshana. She joined our tactics class after Farin joined his clan,” Gregory said. “She was the coordinator for us during the last game.”
All three novices looked interested. “What did you think of her, Yuki?” Nessa asked.
“She’s on the spirit path and has shown a keen mind,” Yukiko said. “She’ll also get along with us, I believe. Her grandmother came here from Limaz, despite her obvious eurtik blood. From what Roshana said, it was because they believed Aether would return and that he would be in the empire.”
Gregory caught a few of them shooting glances at him and he started to worry. That worry came to an abrupt halt when a voice came from behind him. “Gathering on the stairs again?” Dia asked. “And who are you speaking of?”
“Roshana Arnab, a clanless water magi,” Gregory told her. “She’s asked about the clan briefly, so she might approach you, Dia.”
“Hmm… I will look into her while we wait to see what she will do. She joined your tactics class?”
“When Farin went to his clan,” Jenn said.
“I see. Very well. In the meantime, shall we go to breakfast and not clutter the hall and stairs?”
“Yes, Dia,” they all said.
~*~*~
“Good morning to you all,” Rafiq smiled, showing a lot of teeth when he did. “Did any of you require new books?”
“I’d like to look into Limaz culture,” Nessa said.
“Limaz history,” Victoria added.
“The wars with Limaz,” Daciana said.
“A sudden surge of interest in Limaz? Very well. I will have books brought to your table.”
The novices didn’t look in the direction of the others, and Gregory wondered if their interest was because of Roshana.
“I need to learn more about Buldoun,” Clover said. “Customs and culture, please?”
“Hmm, I was going to ask for those, but I’ll study laws for now,” Ling said.
“We can trade when we finish?” Clover offered.
“That’ll work fine for me.”
“I’d like to see anything more on holding aether on the body path,” Jenn said.
“I’ll have to check on that,” Rafiq told her. “I’m sure we have something, though.”
“I haven’t asked for shadow magic texts since we started using the second floor, so I’d like something on that, please,” Yukiko said.
“Of course.”
“Any journals from Lionel Lighthand?” Gregory asked.
“I’ll have one brought to you,” Rafiq bowed his head.
They all thanked him before striding away. Once they were out of earshot, Rafiq looked behind him and gave Sarinia a bow of his head.
“Give them what they ask for,” Sarinia said. “Start with the least offensive journals for Gregory, and Yukiko can have an initiate scroll on her magic. Jenn is the tricky one, but give her the text describing the problems with holding aether. We’ll adjust from there.”
“Those are all initiate texts, chief,” Rafiq said softly.
“Did you not see their medallions?” Sarinia smiled toothily. “They’re almost there, on the tenth rank of the apprentice tier already. I believe my initial thoughts are correct. We can push a little, but make sure it stays with the staff.”
“As you decree, Chief,” Rafiq said before he motioned another archivist to him.
~*~*~
“They all took a sudden interest in Limaz,” Gregory said as they walked toward their class.
“They should study other countries more,” Jenn said, “and it’s natural that they start with a country we’d just mentioned.”
“We’re studying Buldoun, as we don’t know if we’ll be in that country or ours,” Clover said.
“Best to be prepared,” Ling agreed.
“I was just wondering if it was because of Roshana,” Gregory said.
“Part of it might’ve been,” Yukiko said, seeing no reason to lie to him, “but part of it is also because they know we studied those countries. They really are trying to emulate us as best they can.”
“Okay. Roshana is just a classmate and potential friend, though, so they don’t need to worry about her.”
“Greg!” Farin called out before anyone else could speak up.
The group came to a stop by the doors to the tactics hall. The Iron Hand was coming toward them, with Dave at the front.
“Good morning to you, Iron Hand,” Gregory greeted them.
“I’ll catch up,” Farin told his clan members.
“Of course. We’ll be waiting,” Dave said as he continued to lead the rest of the Iron Hand past them.
“We were sad you left us,” Yukiko said, “but we’re glad that you’re with your clan.”
Farin looked conflicted. “I’m sorry. Dave mentioned to Master Chen that I should be with them to increase our odds in the next tournament. When Chen asked me my thoughts, I said it might be best for the clan.”
“And we don’t fault you for that,” Jenn said. “Clearly, though, you also considered staying.”
“Yeah. You’ve all been so good to me. You helped me grow. That let me ask Magus Erichson for help, and that got me into the clan.” Farin bowed deeply to them. “If I can return your kindness in the future, I will.”
“Just be our friend, even if we’re separated by clans,” Gregory said. “We thank you for being you. Chucky had us leery of what might happen when you took his place. The difference for us was as pronounced as it was for you.”
“Who took my place?” Farin asked.
“Roshana,” Gregory said. “Here she comes now.”
They all looked where Gregory was looking and saw Roshana approaching them. She bowed her head to them as she got closer, Yukiko’s books held to her chest.
“Good morning,” Roshana greeted them.
“Good morning,” Yukiko greeted her back. “Let’s get up to our room. We’ll see you there, dear one.”
“Sure,” Gregory said. He was surprised by Yukiko taking Roshana in tow, leading the others inside, and leaving just Gregory and Farin outside.
Farin watched them go, then glanced at Gregory. “How long has she been in class with you?”
“Just the one day. We just finished a week off. Funnily, it was just like with you,” Gregory chuckled.
Farin laughed, too, thinking back to his own awkward joining of the class. “It looked like they were smiling, so maybe she’s getting the same warm welcome that I did.”
“She seems just as earnest and eager to learn as you were.”
“Then maybe this will all work out for the best. She just switched which class she was a part of. I wonder if Fred went to her old class? The people would be the same, but just shifted around a little.”
“Maybe. They made her play a game to join our class after you left.”
“Really?” Farin asked, motioning to the door.
“Yeah, a three-way game,” Gregory said, walking inside the building. “She was the winner, so she got to join the class.”
“Interesting. I had no idea my move made so much happen.”
“More than you thought?”
“Yeah. I figured Fred would have just shifted to your class in exchange,” Farin said.
“Apparently, a few people had asked to join our group and, when you left, it created the opportunity.”
“Huh… If she won, then they likely just moved Fred and made it easier. It might’ve gotten complicated, otherwise.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Gregory admitted. “I hadn’t considered it before. Have they said when Egil is going to train you?”
“Next week, I think,” Farin said. “I believe there’s going to be a day between us being trained and your clan being trained, when we’ll be getting together for sparring matches.”
“Oh, that’ll be good,” Gregory grinned.
“For you, maybe,” Farin snorted. “Dave is chomping at the bit for another chance at you. He thinks he can beat you and your wives.”
“Having hope is good,” Gregory chuckled. “See you later.”
“Yes, have a good day,” Farin said as they went their separate ways.
Gregory entered the classroom to find Roshana being quizzed by the others. The books Yukiko had given her were on the desk in front of her.
“What is Buldoun’s greatest weakness?” Ling asked.
“Their dependence on their money,” Roshana replied. “If you can hit their supplies for a few upkeeps in a row, you can throw their morale into serious question.”
“That’s right,” Yukiko smiled. “Beyond the money, what else is it?”
“Lack of magi. The empire can do well against them if no magi is fielded. Buldoun can field a magi from their country, but the cost gets more prohibitive the longer they’re kept on the field.”
“What about Limaz?” Clover asked.
“That’s a tougher question,” Roshana answered. “They don’t have a clear weakness like Krogga’s to Buldoun gear. If anything, it would be their supplies. Limaz is arid for a majority of the country. For them to move to a war footing, it would take a few years to prepare enough food for it to be feasible. However, that same thing is true if someone attacks them— the invader has to have planned their supply routes carefully and be well-equipped.”
“I’d agree with that,” Jenn said. “They can field magi easier than Buldoun, but not as well as us. Their gear is decent, but not as good as Buldoun’s. They do have better cavalry, though. They can be a threat and a challenge to all the other nations, but are also the least likely to go to war.”
“I did my best to study the books you gave me. I’m not on the mind path, but my family did give me some help,” Roshana said, touching a ring on her finger. “A mind ring. It helps me study better.”
“They gave you that, but you’re on the spirit path?” Clover asked in confusion.
“My family has always meditated to connect to their spirits. Even those who had no aether meditated. It is by being connected to the world that we have come to hear the wisdom and guidance we have followed.”
Gregory’s eyebrows went up, briefly wondering if Darkness was the one helping guide Roshana’s family. If so, why? he asked himself.
“Keep the books and keep studying. Maybe you’ll play again today, and we can see how much you were able to understand,” Yukiko told her.
“We’ll do just that,” Paul said from behind Gregory. “Against Gregory, both of you empire. Gregory, take a spatial magi, and Roshana, a water magi. The rest of you, set up an interesting map.”
“Yes, sir,” they all said, moving to get the game ready.
~*~*~
Leaving class, the six of them stood just outside the tactics hall.
“Only a week of studying and you’re already much better,” Yukiko told Roshana. “You seem driven.”
“I am, Yuki,” Roshana said, using the nickname Yukiko had told her to use. “I have faith in Aether and I believe that he guides me. Maybe that’s arrogant, but every time I meditate and see the aether flame, I can almost hear a voice… afterward, I always feel calmer, but I have new thoughts on what to do next.”
“An interesting idea, and no, I do not take offense to the idea. I think we’d all like Aether to guide us,” Yukiko replied smoothly. “If you can hold your faith and stay as driven as you are, there’s no telling what might come of it.”
“That’s my hope,” Roshana bowed her head, books clutched to her chest. “I will study hard. May your training be rewarding.”
“Thank you,” Gregory said. “We should get going. See you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” Roshana replied, watching them go.
