Gregory was amazed at how quickly the next two weeks flew by. Everything had gone right back to routine… well, mostly back to routine, if he was honest. There was some awkwardness among the group now, with glances and muted conversations about Gregory.
Gregory wasn’t much better; he let his gaze linger at times, recalling what he’d seen at the bathhouse and how interested each of the women had been. Clover, especially, since she’d been the most daring of the bunch, besides Yukiko.
Roshana would place her hand on Gregory’s back or shoulder during tactics class now, leaning in more to discuss things when they worked together. Gregory was acutely aware of her bountiful nature in those moments, but he was able to keep his mind working.
Other than those small differences, the routine of class and training settled right back as it had been. Gregory started to feel the different magics easier— he was able to pick out each person’s magic, even when the instructors’ and students’ strands intersected each other.
~*~*~
Gregory smiled as he settled in to sleep with Jenn and Yukiko cuddled up next to him. The novices had been excited when they broke apart to go to bed. They’d been keeping track and were certain they would be ranking up again in a day or two.
Eager to be apprentices, Gregory thought. I don’t blame them. Being among the best of their class is something to be proud of. Kissing both of his wives one more time, he slipped off into slumber.
When he opened his eyes a moment later, he chuckled. “Darkness, my heart, how are you?” He turned to face her and his breath caught for a second. The darkness had faded more, and he could make out the vague shape of a person sitting in the shadows.
“Yes, you are growing stronger, which peels back my shadows,” Darkness’ voice held her joy.
“Still a darkness among shadows, but even that makes me glad. It means I’m getting closer to you, dear one.”
“Yes,” Darkness sniffled. “Another couple of tiers and you will be ready to see me and, maybe… touch me briefly.”
“I want to. I will grow in power as fast as I can, Darkness.”
“I know,” Darkness replied. “I am helping, but I am also mitigating.”
“What?”
“If I did not help you, you would have bulled through the novices ranks much faster than even your friends have,” Darkness said. “I siphoned off the excess and have it set aside to give back later, for you, your wives, and friends. Training three paths should have had you growing at least thrice as fast as anyone else.”
“But doing so would’ve made us stand out even more,” Gregory murmured. “Thank you.”
“You already stand out, my heart. I do not want you garnering the wrong attention before you have a chance to grow enough to defend yourself.”
“Yuki would agree with you, and I do, too. Wait, is that why the novices are a little more powerful than we were?”
“Yes. I am using them to show that the clan grows fast, but also so they overshadow your growth a tiny bit.”
“I’m not comfortable with you using them as bait.”
“They are not bait. They are misdirection,” Darkness reassured him. “I will keep them as safe as I can, for you and for them.”
Exhaling, he nodded, then sat up on the edge of the bed closest to her, unconcerned about his nakedness. “And the dream I couldn’t remember before the bathhouse?”
“That was your magic at work. I didn’t touch the dream, nor stop you from remembering.”
“Ah, okay. Are they all…?”
“Past wives?” Darkness asked with a giggle. “Yes. Your rebirth brought them all back, even the one or two that were born before you.”
“Some are older?” Gregory asked.
“Yes, though not as old as Bishop or Dia,” Darkness reassured him. “Nothing you would find… objectionable.”
“Do you know all of them?”
“Know for certain? No. But a few, I am sure about. A few more resonate correctly.”
“Roshana?”
“Yes, dearest. She is indeed one of them. You enjoyed seeing her, too. Would it shock you if I said I was more endowed than she is?” The shadow in the darkness shifted as if displaying her chest.
“I can’t say I’m not thinking about it now,” Gregory snorted.
“It is almost time,” Darkness sighed. “They all do care and want to love you, but will abide by Yuki’s rules, dearest. You will not have another wife for a while yet, so do not worry.”
“Alright. Yuki and Jenn are really okay with this?”
“Yes. They are excited, almost as much as you are, and I can see how excited that is,” Darkness whispered, hunger in her words.
“That’s because of you, my heart,” Gregory said, motioning at what she was referring to. “And if we’re done, I need to try and claim my heart.” He launched himself off the bed, making it a little more than a single step before the vice of darkness grasped him.
“Soon…” Darkness whispered as his consciousness fled.
~*~*~
Gregory woke with a shuddering gasp, his whole body trembling. “Oh, Vera,” he panted.
“Close,” Yukiko exhaled as she lay atop him. “Good morning, our love.”
“Yes, good morning,” Jenn murmured, moving to kiss him. “We thought you would have woken sooner.”
“Darkness,” Gregory said.
Yukiko looked at Jenn’s bare chest, where her medallion glowed with a single orange ring. “Oh, we didn’t notice.”
Jenn giggled. “We had other matters in hand… and mouth and…”
“I noticed,” Gregory laughed when she trailed off. “Is it—?”
He cut off when the third bell started to chime.
“Sadly,” Jenn sighed.
“You’re not done yet,” Yukiko said as she got off Gregory and lay on the edge of the bed. “Come on, hurry up so we aren’t late. Dearest, grab our clothes, please?”
Gregory sat up, then smirked when Jenn dove between Yukiko’s thighs. “I see. Must have been a deal about who got me or seconds?”
“No deal. She’s mine to use as I wish,” Yukiko gasped. “That’s what she loves and what I love.”
Shaking his head, Gregory went to the armoire to get their clothes and spare himself from another rise, which would only delay them further. To stop the small sounds of pleasure behind him, he filled them in on what Darkness told him as he dressed. He was just finishing when Yukiko and Jenn came up on either side of him, both grinning.
“She’s right, our heart,” Jenn said. “We’re excited about them joining us. Is that okay with you? The fact that we want them, too?”
Gregory paused, letting the idea bounce around in his head for a moment. “Yes. I like the idea of you both being loved by them. It makes it easier for me to accept.”
“Good, because we want them to love you, too,” Yukiko added. “Thank you for our clothes, dearest. Why don’t you go see our friends? We’ll join you at the table.”
“Okay.”
When Gregory made it down to the next floor, he found Clover and Ling waiting. Clover’s smile was large as she broke into one of her dances. Her medallion had six rings, illuminated yellow.
“We grew, we grew, we grew!” she chanted as she danced.
“You did,” Gregory chuckled. “Congratulations to both of you.”
“The novices knew,” Ling said thoughtfully. “I find it interesting that they’re growing so equally and that we are in sync with each other in that growth.”
Gregory pulled his medallion out, showing them the glowing orange ring. “We are.”
“Initiate…” Clover said, touching his medallion. “So high already.”
“You’ll be there, too, in time,” Gregory said.
“We know,” Ling said softly, touching Clover’s arm. “We have faith in Aether… and you.” When she saw his eyes widened slightly, she quickly added, “The three of you.”
“In all three of you,” Clover nodded, “but you a little bit more, at least for me. I believe the past is connected to now.”
Ling glanced at Clover, then nodded. “So do I, but…”
“I’m not disturbed by it,” Gregory told them. “And I believe we are, too.”
Clover’s smile grew wider. “Really?”
“Really, really,” Gregory smiled back at her. “Yuki and Jenn said they’ll join us at the tables. Come on, the novices are probably waiting like you were.”
“We were,” Daciana said as she came up the stairs, “but I heard you, so we came up.” She hesitated, then blurted out, “Is it okay? To be connected both past and now?”
“It is,” Gregory said. “Did you grow in rank?”
“And in tier,” Nessa said, coming up beside Daciana, showing them that her medallion was glowing with a single yellow ring.
“Congratulations,” Ling told them.
A small round of congratulations went around the group before Gregory got them moving downstairs.
“We don’t want Dia getting upset with us,” he told them as he led the way.
They all agreed with that, but Victoria asked, “Greg? Are you okay with the idea of what we all want? I worry you’re just saying yes, but you really aren’t.”
Gregory paused on the bottom floor, looking back at her. “I’m nervous, but yes, as long as our friendship is undamaged and Yuki approves. But it won’t be soon.”
“Resonance, first,” Nessa nodded. “We know, and we’ll wait.”
“They don’t have to,” Daciana sighed. “Already at the right rank to try finding resonance.”
“Even if they find it tomorrow, they won’t be folded in right away,” Yukiko said as she came down the stairs. “Clover, Ling, we should talk before you try finding your resonance. We might be able to help you.”
“Yes, Yuki,” Clover nodded quickly.
“Agreed,” Ling added.
“And ladies?” Yukiko added, addressing the three novices. “The same goes for you. In fact, if you rush, it will likely stop your chances entirely. Safe and slow— that is the way.”
“Yes, Yuki,” Daciana said, lowering her head as her tail curled between her legs.
“We’ll keep her and us in check,” Nessa said. “We follow, Yuki.”
“Good,” Yukiko smiled. “Now, think about how your class will react when they catch sight of your new rank.”
Daciana grinned broadly, her tail starting to wag again. “Oh, that will be fun!”
Bishop and Dia were already seated at the table when the group entered the room. Dia’s smile grew as she saw the hint of Daciana’s medallion. “Novices, already apprentice tier?”
Daciana displayed her medallion proudly. “Yes, because Aether leads us.”
Gregory’s eye twitched at her phrasing, but no one saw it.
“He leads all of us,” Dia agreed. “We are his guard. What about the rest of you?”
Dia and Bishop praised Clover and Ling when they showed them how they’d grown. Both older magi were silent for a long moment when Gregory, Yukiko, and Jenn showed them their medallions.
“Our clan will be sought after next year…” Bishop said. “We’ll need some stronger magi to help guide the newer ones.”
“Yes. I believe the elder will make arrangements, but I will send him a letter,” Dia said. “You three again exceed what we think should be. Well done. Your contemporaries will be beside themselves when they find out. I suggest you keep your power hidden as long as you can.”
“We will, Dia,” Jenn said.
“Good,” Dia exhaled.
“I’ll have breakfast ready shortly,” Zenim said when they all took their seats.
~*~*~
When they entered the classroom, Roshana was already there. Her medallion was plainly visible as she greeted them. “Good morning to you all.”
“You made it to the third rank of apprentice? Well done,” Yukiko grinned. “Did you grow faster than you had anticipated?”
Roshana blinked for a moment, then bowed her head. “I did. It’s because of the Peaceful Fist, isn’t it?”
“In part,” Jenn grinned. “When are you going to join the clan? We’d welcome you into our ranks.”
Roshana clearly wanted what Jenn was asking for, but she shook her head. “I have to wait. I don’t want to be separated from you all now.”
“Why would you be?” Paul asked, having stepped into the doorway.
“Sir,” Roshana bowed along with the others to him. “Magi-killer separated all the larger clans into smaller groups. I figured he didn’t want any class to have all members of a single clan.”
“He didn’t,” Paul agreed. “These three have a persuasive charisma about them, we’ve noticed. It’s why I invited Farin when I did, because he was going to try joining them, otherwise. It also turned out to be the right call. He will be a good commander and is making progress with his magics and skill in combat.”
“So she shouldn’t join our clan?” Gregory asked.
“She can,” Paul said, holding up a hand to add, “but I’d suggest she wait until you all leave for the tournament. That will make it impossible for others to cause trouble.”
Roshana bowed deeply. “I will wait, sir. Thank you. I was afraid you would say if I did, I’d have to leave the group.”
“No, it would cause… problems if you did it now.”
“Understood. Thank you, and Magi-killer, sir.”
“Thank you,” Gregory said, echoed by the others as they all bowed to him.
“That kind of loyalty is hard to find. How I wish you’d joined our clan,” he sighed wistfully, then went back to business. “Okay, the game today is Roshana against Gregory. Fields with light forest. Get to it. Roshana, you’re a water magi, of course. Gregory, let’s give you alchemy.”
“Yes, sir,” all six said in unison before moving to set the board.
