Gregory and Yukiko walked side by side, crossing the grounds of the academy to the mess hall. Gregory was still musing on his ability to wield a naginata with such ease. Yukiko broke the companionable silence after a few moments.
“Greg, you’ve improved so rapidly. If it wasn’t for Inda’s training in shadow entanglement, I’m not sure I could win as often as I do against you.”
“You’re still winning half or more,” Gregory replied. “Gives me something to keep striving for.”
“You’ll easily surpass me by the end of the year,” Yukiko sighed. “I’m not sure I’ll be a partner at that point.”
“Yuki, you’re improving fast, too. Remember how you did yesterday? You led Nick the entire time you sparred. You didn’t do that the first time.”
Yukiko nodded slowly, “You’re right. It just feels like I’m losing ground compared to you.”
“Or I’m finally becoming your equal?” Gregory suggested another way to view it.
Yukiko’s frown became a smile. “Equal. Yes, I want you to be.”
“I’m trying, Yuki, I am.”
“Food, then studying, yes?” Yukiko asked.
“That is the plan,” Gregory chuckled as they reached the mess hall.
~*~*~
With dinner done, the two friends headed back to the dormitory. “Our increased aether makes it easier to eat,” Gregory said. “I barely have to slow down anymore.”
“Yes, and after another circle or two, we’ll be able to eat more quickly. That’ll give us even more time in the morning and evening.”
“More time for studying,” Gregory grinned.
The front room was noisy when they entered the dormitory. Shaking his head as he changed his boots for slippers, he wondered if the happy sounds would continue after next week. They had only taken a couple of steps when Dia’s door opened.
“Novices, a moment,” Dia said as she left them at the doorway. She returned a moment later with a scroll and a small wooden box. “These came for you.” Handing Gregory the scroll and Yukiko the box, she smiled. “I wish you both a good evening.”
“Thank you, Keeper,” they said in unison, bowing to her.
They glanced from the scroll, to the box, and finally at each other before quickly going upstairs to find out what they had. Sitting down at the table in Gregory’s room, Yukiko set the box in front of her. “You first?”
“Okay,” Gregory said, opening the scroll. He glanced at the first few lines, “It’s a letter from Gunnar.” He rolled it back up. “What about you?”
“You’re not going to read it?” Yukiko asked.
“Later. It’ll be mostly gossip about what’s going on back home. I’m more interested in what that box contains.”
“Okay, but after we know, you should read the letter.”
“Deal.”
Yukiko pulled the box to her and shook her head. “Too much, Father.” With a sigh, Yukiko took out her knife and pricked her thumb, pressing it to the front of the box. There was a distinctive click before Yukiko lifted the lid.
“How was that locked?” Gregory asked.
“A blood-lock. Only those who are blood-related by a single degree can open it. They are norm…” Yukiko began to explain as she pulled a scroll out of the box first, setting it beside her, but she trailed off as she stared into the box.
“What is it?” Gregory asked.
Yukiko shut the box, shaking her head. “My father is insane.”
Gregory chuckled, “What is it?”
“Money. More than he should have sent. It explains the blood-lock.”
“Is it that bad?” Gregory asked puzzled. “It means you can get more things to help, right?”
“Possibly,” Yukiko said slowly. “I need to read the scroll.”
“I’ll read mine, too,” Gregory said, picking his up off the table. “Study afterward?”
“Yes,” Yukiko replied distractedly as she picked up the scroll, broke the seal, and unrolled it.
Gregory worried for her, but followed his own suggestion and began to read the scroll from Gunnar.
Greg, we were surprised to hear from you. How is the academy? I’m sure things have happened since you wrote us. I’m not sure how to break the news to you so, I’m going to be blunt.
Ria is married to Stan. Two days after you left, she went to him and demanded he court her, and married him a week after that. I was pissed off, but El explained it to me; told me that you told Ria find a good husband. Still beat on him a bit, but I didn’t break anything. I think she could have picked better if she had just waited a bit first, but both her and El have shouted me down over that repeatedly.
Your father is working for the good of the village as a servant. He hasn’t touched a drop of alcohol since you left. He moved in with my family and gave us your old house in return. Said a growing family needs a home. Don’t worry, I made sure your room was cleaned before El stepped foot in it.
The village had a visit from a trader named Lagrand about a week after you left, and he has entered a deal with Ria to purchase clothing from the Delarosas. Not sure what the deal is, but everyone seemed happy about it.
Not much else has happened here— you know as well as I that Alturis doesn’t change. Oh, well, not true. Today, we found a new vein of ore, so the mine is still good for the next decade, at least. I’m working alongside both of our fathers, so I’ll be able to keep a good eye on him for you.
Now for the best news: El is pregnant. Ria turns out to be pregnant, too. Before you go thinking that Ria’s kid is yours, she wanted me to tell you that the timing is not right. Wish it was your kid, but that wouldn’t be right to Ria. Keep your chin up, and we hope to hear back from you after the tournament. You damn well better show them what an Alturis man can do.
Oh, and you don’t owe us anything. If you hadn’t been there, we all know what would have happened. Just do your best, and maybe visit us if you ever get the chance.
Gunnar, El, and family.
Gregory felt drained, and his heart ached unexpectedly. Ria… I hope he is good to you… I hope your child is as beautiful as you. Closing his eyes, he took several deep breaths to control the emotional turmoil that swirled inside of him.
“Greg?” Yukiko asked softly.
“Sorry, village gossip. Everything is fine,” he said, but he could not force a smile to his lips.
“Something is bothering you,” Yukiko said, shifting around the table to sit beside him. “I’m here if you want to talk.”
Gregory slid the letter over in front of her, “Go ahead and read it.”
Yukiko picked up the scroll, reading it slowly, before she set it back down. “They are moving on with their lives, and that bothers you?”
“Yes and no,” Gregory sighed. “I don’t know. I always wanted to be here and I knew things would change after I left, but I guess I also hoped they would still be the same.”
Yukiko leaned into his side gently, “I’m jealous, myself. Your friends obviously still care about you. It must be nice.”
Gregory’s arm went around her waist without thinking, holding her like he used to with Ria. “You have a friend— a true friend— in me, Yuki. I’ll always care about you.”
“Promise?” The word was a bare whisper leaving Yukiko’s mouth.
“Promise, Yuki. I’ll always care for you.”
They sat there for a while before Yukiko sighed, “We need to study.”
“Yeah,” Gregory agreed, but he did not move.
“Maybe in a bit?” Yukiko said softly.
“In a bit is fine with me.”
The pair stayed that way until the next bell rang the nineteenth hour. Yukiko was the first to move, letting out a regretful sigh. “We have an hour before we need to sleep.”
Letting her go, Gregory exhaled sadly, “Yeah, work to do.”
Yukiko shifted back to her side of the table and put her scroll back in the box, setting it on the floor beside her. She did not look up at Gregory, “Grab your papers. We’ll get in what we can.”
“Yuki,” Gregory said gently, waiting for her to look up, “thanks.”
She gave him a soft smile, “Just as you’ll always care for me, I’ll always care for you, Greg. My word on that.”
The moment stretched as he stared into her cyan eyes and felt something he had not ever felt before. Heart beating faster and his mouth going dry, he just stared into her eyes.
“Greg?” Yukiko asked when he continued to sit there.
“Huh? Oh, um, yeah,” he stuttered. He got up awkwardly and went to retrieve his notes so she could teach him more on trade.
~*~*~
The hour felt like it passed too quickly for Gregory. “Guess it’s time for bed,” he sighed as the twentieth bell chimed.
“Tomorrow comes early, and we have more studying to do. That scroll needs our attention; if we can combine two of the paths, we’ll grow even faster. Since we’ll have at least one of the great clans upset with us, it would be best if we do all we can.”
“You’re right,” Gregory said. “You never told me what your letter said.”
“It was from my mother,” Yukiko said hesitantly. “She’ll be coming with Father to the tournament. She’s making arrangements to meet the day before the tournament starts. You’re asked to come, but you don’t have to if—” Yukiko started to speed up at the end, but Gregory cut her off.
“I’d love to, if you want me there.”
Yukiko’s hesitant smile grew wide, “I’d like you to come, yes. It’ll be at a tavern, so food will be part of it.”
“Can’t say no to free food, can I?” Gregory joked.
Shaking her head, Yukiko gathered up the box and scroll. “See you in the morning. I hope you have pleasant dreams.” The moment she finished speaking, her face flushed red and she hurried to the door. “Goodnight.”
Mention of dreams brought back the memory of Yukiko nude in bed and asking him to join her. Taking a deep breath, he wished her a goodnight.
As he put things away and got ready for bed, Gregory had to wonder about what the day had thrown at him. He had grown in power, learned he was skilled with a naginata, and found out that Ria had done as he had asked and moved on with her life.
Guess that explains what the darkness was talking about last night, Gregory thought. Doesn’t explain how she knows things or how that bit with Yukiko in my dream happened. With a sigh, he got comfortable on his mat. I think I love her. Maybe even more than I loved Ria, and that’s silly. I knew Ria for years and Yuki for only a handful of months… Not that it matters, can’t be with either of them. Ria got married and is going to have a kid, and Yuki is promised to another… I wonder what her betrothed thinks of her being a magi?
With that thought circling his brain, Gregory exhaled deeply and rolled to his side, hoping that sleep would claim him before too long.
