Gregory felt good when they left the room. He could feel his aether compress while he meditated, and was certain that he had started on the path of spirit. Two paths have begun, but can I continue to grow them together? And what of mind? Gregory wondered as they followed Mitzi and Nisha to the entrance.
“Greg,” a familiar voice called to them when they reached the lounge, “and Yukiko. With two of the women, no less. My goodness.”
“Nick,” Gregory chuckled, “I can’t say you have much room for talking there.”
Nick smiled broadly from his place among three of the oiran. “Well, someone had to keep them company with the others all engaged. Besides, I was waiting. I heard that guests of mine had come in before us.”
“Thank you for the gift. It was pleasant,” Yukiko said. “It will make visiting the other clans today both easier and harder.”
Nick’s smile thinned a little before widening, “Just keep the Eternal Flame’s generosity in mind.”
“I shall,” Yukiko bowed her head to him. “We have people to see, so apologies that we can’t stay and talk longer.”
“It’s fine,” Nick assured her. “Greg, stop by my room tonight. I’m having the guys over for some cards.”
“Cards?” Gregory said.
“Oh, right, sorry, I forget. There are a number of games of chance that we play with cards. I take it your village didn’t gamble that way?”
“The little gambling that went on was betting on Go or bones.”
“Don’t worry, we can teach you. Most magi play a variety of card games, so best to learn now.”
“Michelle and the others won’t be there?” Yukiko asked.
“I believe they’re having tea,” Nick chuckled. “I’m sure she’ll invite you once she gets a chance. Don’t let me keep you. Go and enjoy the day.”
“Have fun,” Gregory said.
Nick winked when Yukiko was not looking his way, “I’m sure I’ll manage.”
Leaving the building, they paused once they were on the street. “Where to?” Gregory asked as twelfth bell chimed.
“I heard of a good place near the gates to the lower ring,” Yukiko told him as she waved down a rickshaw driver. “Before we go there, though, I have another stop on the way.”
“Okay,” Gregory said. He did not pry further, seeing that she wanted to keep it a secret.
“Yes, mistress?” the rickshaw driver asked when he came to a stop in front of them.
“Hemet’s, please. I’ll ask you to wait for us, as we’ll be going to the Golden Boar after that.”
“As you wish, mistress,” the driver smiled.
It took a little more than ten minutes for them to stop next to an understated shop. The building gleamed as the sun shone off the immaculate white stone. The sign outside the shop declared it Hemet’s Curiosities.
Following Yukiko inside, Gregory glanced back to see the driver putting an orange flag atop his rickshaw. Must denote that he’s waiting or something similar, Gregory thought.
The interior of the shop was sparse; a counter took up one wall, behind which was a door, and two tables filled up most of the small area in front of the counter. A bald man with a long, thin, white beard stood behind the counter, his hands hidden in the voluminous arms of his kimono.
“Welcome to my shop. How can I help you two today?” the old man asked politely, his smile professional.
“I have an item I need you to check for me,” Yukiko said as she approached the counter. “I am also counting on your discretion in this sensitive matter.”
“You wouldn’t have come to me if it was otherwise,” Hemet replied.
Pulling out the case that Gregory had seen last week, Yukiko placed it on the counter. “This was a gift of enticement, but I need to know more about it to properly judge the worth of the gift.”
Hemet’s eyes flicked to Gregory for a moment before he opened the case. “Hmm, this is master quality at the very least.” Hemet produced a monocle and placed it in front of his right eye. “Yes… high master quality, or maybe even lower grandmaster quality.” Turning the necklace over, Hemet tsked upon seeing the small flame emblem emblazoned on the inside of the necklace. “It is a good piece. It will allow one to conjure a globe of fire once, until it recharges.”
“Useful for the upcoming tournament,” Yukiko nodded.
“Ah, a novice. I had thought so,” Hemet nodded. “It could give you the edge to clear a tough fight, yes. It is well known that only the Eternal Flame produce these necklaces. They only give them to members in good standing and those they dearly wish to recruit.”
“How much will you buy it for?” Yukiko asked.
Gregory blinked, not having expected her to sell it.
“Not many of these are around. To sell it would give away that I bought one recently.”
Yukiko laughed lightly, “We both know that you transport items that you wish to distance from yourself to other cities and towns. I expect you to take that into account when stating your price.”
Hemet’s eye twinkled, “Ah, someone who knows the dance, and so young, too. If only I was two hundred years younger. Fine, I will give you twenty-thousand vela.”
“Thirty.”
“Twenty-five, and no more.”
Yukiko bowed her head, “As you say, but would you consider forty if it was in trade?”
Hemet’s professional smile became real, “Thirty.”
“Thirty-four, to undercut what I would normally ask for in return, out of courtesy.”
“Accepted, with no vela exchanged.”
“I would like to see what you would suggest for two novices who will have a very difficult time in the tournament.”
Hemet’s eyes darted to Gregory, the smile becoming knowing. “Very well. What magics do you both possess?”
“I have shadow magic and his… is unknown,” Yukiko said.
Hemet blinked slowly, before his lips pursed. “Interesting. That makes this more of a challenge. Please be seated. I’ll be back shortly.”
When Hemet went into the back, Gregory was confused on what he should be feeling. He wanted to argue with Yukiko for what she was doing, but he also wanted to thank her for doing so much for him.
Yukiko stood at the counter, not turning to face him. “Greg? I touched the spirit path today. I could feel it, truly feel it. That means I’ve touched two so far, so please, don’t fight me on this. It is a pittance compared to what you’ve done for me.”
Gregory shook his head with a sigh, “But I haven’t done anything, Yuki. You’ve done that all on your own.” Moving to the side, he sat at one of the tables. “I haven’t done anything to match this.”
“No. You’ve done more than I can say. I would never have tried to reach for two paths, much less all three, if not for you. I tried because you told me it was possible. I put my faith in you, and it’s been true. This barely scratches the debt I feel I owe.”
“I feel I owe you, you feel you owe me… makes it hard to know what to do,” Gregory chuckled awkwardly.
“Maybe we don’t try to keep track,” Yukiko said with a weak chuckle of her own. “Father would be appalled at that idea, but if we’re going to be partners, it makes the most sense.”
Gregory felt two paths open before him again. One where he disagreed and they quarreled, causing their friendship to fade and break apart by the end of the year. In the other, they stood back to back and faced all comers with smiles on their faces, while wearing sunflower kimonos.
“Kind of makes the choice easy,” Gregory muttered.
“What?” Yukiko asked, turning to him with worried eyes.
“Agreed, Yuki. No scores kept— only helping each other climb higher.”
Her cyan eyes stared into his for a long moment, her cheeks heating. “Agreed, Greg. We’ll climb together, no matter what others might think.”
Gregory felt like he was missing part of what she was meaning, but before he could question her, the door opened and Hemet came back into the room.
“I have a few items for you to consider,” Hemet said, laying a display case on the counter. Seven rings were contained within the velvet-lined, glass-topped case. “The first are simple; they will help you recover from fatigue and minor injuries,” he pointed at two plain silver and onyx bands. “These will allow you to manifest your aether into attacks,” he pointed to three rings in sequence, “kick, punch, grapple. Each of them is good as long as you have aether to fuel them. This one,” he pointed to an odd-looking reddish metal band, “blocks pain for a short time. It will block all pain, even fatal pain, making it both a curse and blessing. The last one is for you, miss.” Hemet smiled as he pointed to a band of mottled gray, “This will allow a shadow magi to shift from one shadow to another, but only as long as it has enough aether. If it is fully imbued, it can be used three times before it is drained. It normally takes a magus days to give it a single charge. A novice like you would take months.”
“I think that item would take all of my potential trade,” Yukiko said with a smile.
“Not many shadow magi, and most of them can do it without my trinket,” Hemet shrugged. “It was a bad buy on my end years ago. I would let it and one of the lesser rings go.”
“That doesn’t make things even,” Yukiko murmured.
“How is the ring charged, sir?” Gregory asked from his place at the table.
“Pouring your aether into it, which is why it’ll take her so long to charge it. It is fully charged currently.”
“Anyone can put their aether into it?”
“That is correct.”
“Take the offer, Yuki,” Gregory said. “That ring will help you more than any of the other rings. One of the lesser ones is more than enough for me.”
Yukiko frowned, but sighed, “If that is what you want, Greg.”
“It’s a deal, then,” Hemet said, unlocking the case and extracting the two rings. “The lesser recovery ring can be used multiple times, but like hers, it requires charging. This one pulls aether from the environment, and while at the academy, you should be able to use it every hour.”
“How much for the match to that ring?” Yukiko asked.
“Normally, ten thousand vela. I’ll let you have it for eight if you can pay it by the end of today.”
“Will you take a bond for the eight thousand?”
“A bond? Backed by whom?”
“Warlin Mercantile.”
Hemet eyed Yukiko for a long moment, “I’d want to verify the bond.”
Yukiko nodded and pulled out a scroll, “I’ll need a pen.”
Hemet placed a pen and ink on the counter. “Before you put ink to parchment, may I see it?”
Handing it over, Yukiko smiled at him. Hemet looked over the scroll, then placed his monocle on for a moment before nodding. “Always a pleasure doing business with someone backed by the empire.”
Yukiko wrote out the amount and signed the bottom of the scroll. She nicked her thumb for a drop of blood, which she smeared next to her name. The scroll glowed golden for a moment, and she handed it to Hemet. “Done.”
“Three rings,” Hemet said, handing over all of them. “Please come back again if you require anything further.”
“I shall,” Yukiko said as she took the rings in hand. “Ready, Greg?”
Gregory had risen to his feet, but stayed back when she had pressed for more. “Food, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’m ready, then.”
Once outside, Yukiko put two rings on and handed him the other one. “Now we’ll have a slightly better chance during the tournament. Try not to use them before then. That way, it’ll be a surprise to those we face.”
“Sounds like the best idea,” Gregory said, slipping the ring onto his left index finger. The band vibrated for a second, then shrank a little to fit him perfectly. “That was odd.”
“It is normal for enchanted items, otherwise none of them could be made except to order.”
“More to learn,” Gregory said as they climbed into the rickshaw that had been waiting for them.
