The novices were sad they weren’t going to be able to train with their friends, but they understood. They were slightly upset when Dia told them that Egil had banned everyone but himself, Bishop, and the apprentices from the arena.
Sixth bell chimed as the five apprentices walked out of the tunnel and onto the sands of the blue arena. Bishop, Egil, and Mindie stood in the center, chatting amiably with each other. As the sixth bell died away, Egil turned from the conversation to face the approaching group.
Roshana came sprinting out of the preparation area, breathing hard as she got into line. She glanced at the others, then at Egil with worry.
“Apprentices, I expect you to be here and lined up, ready to go, when the sixth bell begins to chime for the rest of the week. Understood?” Egil addressed them with a commanding tone.
“Yes, sir,” they replied in unison.
“Good. Bishop will be helping me demonstrate and to push you. I’ll get each of you started, then work with you one by one. At the end of each day, Bishop and I will spar against you, one after the other. Adept Laka will be here to heal you if any accidents happen.”
Mindie gave them all a smile and bowed her head to them.
“I’ll start with Roshana, first, then Clover, Ling, Yukiko, Jenn, and Gregory, in that order. I will be using your given names to eliminate the confusion of Pettit, Pettit, and Pettit. Any questions?”
“Sir, what weapon will I be working on?” Gregory asked.
“Today, the guandao. You need more work on it than the su yari. You don’t need instruction on the naginata, but I’ll be fighting an extra match against you every day just with that weapon.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Go exchange your weapon, then come back out,” Egil told Gregory, who had brought a naginata out with him. “Bishop, get them limbered and ready for me. Roshana, step over here with me.”
“Yes, sir,” Roshana said, clearly nervous as she moved to where Egil had pointed. She was holding a pair of sai in her hands.
Mindie stepped back, staying on the sands. She didn’t expect to have to help any of them soon, but it was better safe than sorry.
~*~*~
Minor injuries did happen throughout the day— a missed block that bruised a wrist, a twisted ankle when backpedaling away from Egil, a bruised rib from an attack, and a few others.
Gregory caught bits and pieces of his friends going up against Egil as he tested each of them, then started them on specific routines for attacking and defending. Being the last one Egil got to didn’t mean he had nothing to do, though. Bishop made him work through the kata Gin had taught him for the guandao.
It was nearing midday before Egil got to Gregory. “Gregory, I’ve heard this is not your best weapon. Let me see what you can do with it.”
The resulting match was far from what Gregory would’ve liked. Egil controlled and led the entire fight. It ended when Egil disarmed him, then tapped his helmeted head.
“Not the worst I’ve seen, but nowhere close to your skill with the naginata. You fight yourself when using this weapon. Your body wants to flow like you do with the naginata, but the guandao is a stronger weapon. It’s designed to keep moving and deliver punishing hits.”
“Yes, sir,” Gregory said.
“Follow along with what I do. Mirror me,” Egil told him. He led Gregory through a simple, but lengthy, kata. “Now show it back to me,” Egil said once he’d finished.
Gregory took a single deep breath, then started the kata. Egil watched impassively, nodding when he’d finished.
“Good. Now practice that while I go back to Roshana.”
“Yes, sir,” Gregory said as he reset and started the kata again.
By the time Egil made it back to Gregory, he felt that he could walk through the kata in his sleep.
“When I say, begin the kata and do not stop no matter what,” Egil said simply as he put a helmet on and stood opposite Gregory. “Begin.”
Gregory did as he was instructed— Egil attacked Gregory and was blocked by the kata routine, then had to block when Gregory’s attack came around. When the kata ended, Egil nodded.
“The kata is a simple one, so you can shift when needed, but it’s versatile and easy to change when chaining different katas together,” Egil said.
“It felt fluid, sir, almost like how I feel with the naginata.”
“That’s the point. You don’t use kata when you fight with the naginata, you use the forms. They aren’t rigid. They’re fluid. We will go again, but I will be shifting so you’ll have to adapt to the changes.”
“Yes, sir.”
Gregory felt the match flow and felt more confident, even when Egil stopped him cold and crushed him after a few minutes. Mindie was there to check him when he found himself on his back.
“He’s fine, now, sir,” Mindie said.
“Remember that the weapon is moving, so the butt is also useful,” Egil told Gregory as he sat up.
“Yes, sir,” Gregory replied.
“Okay, everyone, step back!” Egil boomed.
Mindie helped Gregory up. “You looked much better before he clubbed you.”
“Thanks,” Gregory chuckled wryly. “And thank you for again being here for us.”
Mindie smiled at him before she backed away.
“Roshana, to the center. You’ll face Bishop, then myself. You won’t win, but do your best.”
“Yes, sir,” Roshana said as she put her helmet on and went to the center of the arena.
The fights went by quickly, with each person fighting Bishop, then Egil. No one won a single fight, though Jenn came close against Bishop. Gregory didn’t do any better when he fought them, but he felt confident after he lost the second fight.
“Gregory, take the naginata from Adept Laka and come back to face me.”
Gregory turned to find Mindie holding a training naginata out to him. He traded weapons with her before going back to face Egil. He felt a peacefulness settle over him as he turned toward the armsmaster.
“Bow to your opponent,” Bishop said.
Gregory did as commanded. They’d cut down the bowing during training to be just to their opponent. When he stood up from the bow, he took the first stance and waited.
When Bishop called for them to start, both Gregory and Egil rushed forward. The clacking of the training weapons crossing came hard and fast for a half-minute before they both backed away.
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 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 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 been 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 Gregory, 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.
