Gregory entered the room to see a stern-looking man watching him with inscrutable eyes. Beside him sat a smiling woman who strongly resembled Yukiko, but with graceful age wrinkles at the corners of her light blue eyes. Yukiko had her back to him, her shoulders stiff. “It is an honor to meet you, mister and madam Warlin. I’m Gregory Pettit, Yukiko’s friend.” Gregory’s words were stiff and formal, exactly as he felt the moment needed.
“Come, sit,” Yukiko’s mother said with a smile. “Our daughter has been telling us about you.”
Gregory moved to take the seat beside Yukiko. “Thank you,” he said, bowing his head.
Hao Warlin did not smile as Gregory sat. “Yu has said you’ve been at her side every waking moment since she came to the academy. How did that come to be?”
The oppressive weight brought to bear by a concerned father settled over Gregory as he met Hao’s dark brown eyes. “I saw her when we went to have our magic tested. I caught her when she fell. She approached me later that night as I returned to my room, and we struck up a friendly conversation. The next morning, I helped her get away from two overeager novices and again we started talking. We’ve been training side by side every day since then.”
“It matches her tale, though with less praise for your actions than Yu gave us,” Yukiko’s mother mused with a knowing smile. “Where are our manners, dear?” she said, giving Hao a pointed look before facing Gregory. “I am Yoo-jin Warlin, and my husband is Hao Warlin. It is a pleasure to meet a friend of our daughter.”
“Jin,” Hao sighed. “We need to—”
“Nonsense,” Yoo-jin cut him off. “Can you not see how uncomfortable you are making our Yu? We can just ask simple questions. There is no call to treat him like a debtor coming to ask for more time.”
Hao’s jaw tightened, but he did not gainsay his wife. “Gregory, tell us what your days with Yu are like, won’t you?”
Gregory shot a glance at Yukiko. She did not look at him, sitting still and serene like a lake during winter. Not seeing any hint of what he should do, he gave them the flat truth of the matter, describing their days at the academy as well as their days off.
“Yes, I owe Gin a considerable sum,” Hao said tightly. “My daughter didn’t even try to negotiate the price.”
“We needed his tutelage,” Yukiko said suddenly. “I’m sure he’ll barter with you, Father.”
“I would pay any price for you, as you well know, Yu. I’m not sure how I ended up paying for your… friend.” The last word was punctuated by Hao’s frown.
“I owe him a debt, and this is but the very tip of that debt,” Yukiko said, sounding as if she had already said the phrase often.
“I would like to hear more about what he is doing to warrant such repayment,” Yoo-jin said gently. “She hasn’t told us much, and your description of your studying didn’t help in that regard,” she told Gregory.
“How much do you know about magi and the paths to train?” Gregory asked.
“Evan, please,” Yoo-jin asked. A person Gregory had not been able to see until then stepped away from the wall behind her.
The person’s skin went from the same color and texture of the wall to normal, save that his eyes were purple. “Mistress, the magi of the empire believe that the way to build one’s aether is by focusing on specific paths; body, mind, or spirit. Few in their history have managed to walk two paths at once, though among those who study the empire, it is thought that the emperor himself has managed to combine all three. Current thought in the empire is that it is foolish and a waste to attempt to walk more than a single path and it’s practically impossible to do so, in their estimation.”
“That is what we know,” Yoo-jin said simply.
“Evan isn’t a magi from the empire is he? He’s like Inda,” Gregory asked. No one replied, but Yoo-jin’s smile grew at his question. “Very well— it is possible to walk more than a single path. Yuki and I are doing so.”
Hao’s eye twitched when Gregory used his nickname for Yukiko. “Oh? And you’ve had tangible results?”
“We have,” Yukiko answered before Gregory could. “What is me being able to train twice as well as any other magi worth, Father?”
Hao leaned back, staring at his daughter for a long moment. “I sense a trap in those words. Good. You haven’t forgotten everything I taught you.”
“I ask that you answer the question, Father.”
Yoo-jin sighed, “She is as stubborn as you, dear. If you do not answer, she’ll stop cooperating, as well.”
“Very well. I’m going to remove the familial aspect, though. If you were a normal magi, who I had a vested interest in…” Hao paused as he looked up at the ceiling for a few moments. “I’d consider it worth about a tenth of my proceeds for the year if they were under contract for at least five.”
Yoo-jin nodded, “I agree. That changes since it is our daughter, though; it becomes worth more.”
Yukiko smiled broadly, “This cannot leave the room. It would be detrimental to me if it became known.” Seeing her parent’s interest and Evan fading back against the wall, she looked over her shoulder to Lin, who nodded. “Very well. Gregory isn’t just training with me on two paths, but all three. Without him, I would never have touched two, much less all three paths.” Seeing both of her parents lean back with furrowed brows, she continued, “Now what is that worth, Father?”
Minutes went by before Hao spoke again, “How? How is he specifically tied to this?”
“He was the one who forced me to accept that it could be done. He’s led the way for every exercise and attempt to push the boundaries. I would be average and either completely isolated, or forced into a clan like the Eternal Flame, if not for Gregory.”
“Do you concur with her view?” Yoo-jin asked Gregory.
“Not exactly. Yuki believes in me more than I do. I did tell her it was possible and asked her to join me in attempting it, but she has been just as focused on the goal as I have been.”
“Modesty is good, but when dealing with merchants, it can be a fatal flaw,” Yoo-jin told him. “Can it be proven in any way?”
“It’ll become clearer as the year passes. We’re increasing our ranking faster than the other novices,” Yukiko said, pulling out her medallion to show them. “This is the highest circle anyone has reached in the novices to this point, but many were only a single circle back when the year began. We were two and three rings back. Before the end of the year, we will have passed through the novice rings and begun on the apprentice rings. We’ve found a way for body and spirit to work in unison, and we’ll be working on folding the mind path in next.”
Hao stared at the medallion, “By the end of the year? You are sure?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm,” Hao nodded. “Very well. The cost of Gin’s tutelage is far outweighed by this. And so much more. You have been correct in your assessment, Yu. If you are going to stand out that far, though, you will become a target, will you not?”
“Yes. After this tournament, the clans choose which novices to accept. Greg and I have not chosen a clan. You know of the great clans and why I won’t choose any of them. The lesser clans would get overpowered and bow to them if we joined one of them. That leaves me lacking in many ways. Some can be fixed by the proper application of vela, but others cannot.”
“Gregory, will you not be joining a clan?” Yoo-jin asked.
Asked the question flatly, Gregory answered truthfully, “I will go where Yuki goes.”
Yukiko turned on him, her mouth opening and closing, clearly lost. “Is… is that why… you haven’t chosen?”
“Yes. We are partners. We agreed, and we can’t continue to be so if you and I go different ways.”
“Greg,” she grabbed his forearm. Gregory hissed in pain as she squeezed the wound there. “What?” Feeling the bandage under his kimono sleeve, she pushed it out of the way, exposing the bandage. Her face went white, then red in anger, and her chair shot backward as she spun on Lin. “What is this?”
Lin stiffened in the face of her anger. “Yu, I can—”
“No evading, Lin. Why is he injured? He was in perfect health when we arrived. Now his arm is bandaged.” Looking back at Gregory, she scrutinized his clothing, letting Gregory see how serious she was, before she spun back to Lin. “His silks are marred as well. What did you do to him while I was speaking to my parents?”
Lin did not back down, instead pressing into her verbal attack. “Nothing to concern the young miss. He hasn’t complained about anything. You seem to be trying to make an issue out of nothing.”
Yukiko took a step forward, her jaw set, “Nothing? He is injured. When is it nothing if a guest of ours becomes injured? I left him in your care, and now he is injured and his clothing is damaged.”
A knock on the door made her pause, and it opened to reveal Gin. “Excuse this old man, but I think I need to step in here.”
Yukiko’s ire went from Lin to Gin without dimming in the least. “What did you do, Gin?”
“An object lesson in who is fit to stand beside you,” Gin said steadily as he shut the door behind him. “He fought ten of the guards.” He paused, looking intently at Hao and Yoo-jin in turn. “He defeated all of them, and not one-on-one, either. He had only a practice naginata in his hands and no armor while they had their armor and practice swords. His knee was injured and his arm. His knee is healed already, and his arm will be by the end of the day.”
Yukiko worked to conceal her astonishment, her emotions fluctuating wildly.
Hao spoke into that moment, “Bested all of them?”
“Earlier today, he fought Egil to a standstill with a naginata,” Gin said. “Gregory is without a doubt among the best wielders of that weapon in the empire at this time, and in a few years, he will eclipse all others.”
“What did Egil have to say?” Yoo-jin asked curiously.
“He concurred with my assessment,” Gin replied. “Considering the restrictions placed by the academy, it is my opinion that Gregory is the best person to have at Yu’s side. He will keep her safe and do everything he can to protect her. I’m willing to go so far as to say that he is as worried for her safety as either of you are.”
“Yuki,” Gregory said softly, “everything is fine. You’ve hurt me worse than this during training, and I’m as equally at fault. I agreed to the match in the yard. If you are going to chastise him, you must include me, too.”
“I see.” Yukiko’s shoulders slumped, “You’re really okay?”
“Not entirely. I’m worried for you.”
With her cheeks flushed, Yukiko returned to her seat, not meeting his gaze. “I’m sorry for my outburst. It is wrong of me to act in such a way.”
“Yu, we should leave your father and the others here. We need to speak privately concerning the matter of betrothal,” Yoo-jin said, rising to her feet. Her face and tone were carefully neutral.
Yukiko’s face froze and the color drained from it. “Yes, Mother.” Rising from her seat, Yukiko looked down at Gregory, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Greg… I am sorry.”
Gregory thought hard, trying to figure out what she could mean. Watching the door close behind Yukiko and her mother, he felt his heart clench as understanding came to him.
“Hmm. Yes. Talks,” Hao said gruffly.
Gregory closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before he turned back to Hao. When Gin and Lin took seats beside Hao at the table, Gregory wondered exactly what was coming.
“Yukiko has been betrothed for nearly a decade,” Hao said, his expression serious. “Her betrothed is Dan Yulin, the heir to the Yulin Merchant empire in Buldoun. Has she mentioned this to you?”
“She has told me repeatedly that she is betrothed, sir. Not to who, nor any other specific.”
“What of you?” Lin cut in. “Where do you come from? Who are your parents? Do you have a betrothed?”
“I come from Alturis. My mother died when I was a child and my father is currently a servant to the village. There is no one waiting for me,” Gregory replied, feeling his hopes diminishing with each word.
“A fringer with no family of note,” Hao said flatly.
Gregory stiffened at the words. “Do only those born into privilege and power have substance in your eyes?” Gregory asked harshly without thinking.
Hao’s eyes narrowed, “My daughter is the only thing besides my wife that matters in the world. All of my accomplishments are to ensure they are well cared for and safe. Evan was a street rat, and he is one of my most trusted employees.”
“Then why can’t a fringer be as trusted?” Gregory asked bluntly.
“He has a point, Hao,” Gin nodded. “I’ve worked with them every week, and I can say that he has shown no inclination to tarnish Yu.”
“Ten men,” Lin added. “Not trash, either, but my men. Father and myself would be hard pressed to do as much, and to be standing at the end with only two wounds? He’s by far better able to protect her than anything we can arrange for her inside the walls of the magi.”
Hao looked thoughtful for a long moment. “You both raise valid points. I need to seek my wife’s council before—”
“We have returned,” Yoo-jin said as she came into the room. “Has anything drastic occurred?”
“No,” Hao said. “I was about to seek your council, dear one.”
“Ah, a good idea. Step out of the room with me. Evan, Lin, Gin, all of you come as well,” Yoo-jin said as she moved to stand beside the door. Yukiko came into the room, her head down.
Gregory wondered what was happening, but could not ask any questions before everyone was gone, leaving him alone with Yukiko. He went to her, coming to a stop a few feet from her. “Yuki, are you okay?” he asked when she stayed by the door, her face hidden from him.
“I am not sure. I’ve had news about my betrothal.”
Gregory’s heart clenched, his final few hopes falling away. “Oh. I’m sure you will be happy. No man could have you as a wife and not feel as if the world smiles upon him.”
“No man?” Yukiko said softly, her voice hitching. “I have one question that I need an honest answer to, Greg. Will you do that for me?”
“I’ll always be honest with you, Yuki.”
“If I asked you to flee with me, to run from this place, leaving behind the academy, to spirit me into the northern wilds, would you?”
Gregory inhaled sharply, unsure if he was hearing her right or if this was a test. Shaking his head, he did as he had promised and answered honestly. “I want to, Yuki. My dream of being a magi has met another dream and I’ve found it to be the lesser of the two. I can’t, though; it would destroy your family and I know you love them. I can’t cause you that pain.”
“If not for my betrothal… would you…” Yukiko tried to ask the question she wanted the answer to, but she could not bring the right words forth.
“Yes. No price would be too high,” Gregory said, his throat dry as he forced the words out. “I know that it—”
Yukiko was suddenly in his arms, her soft lips on his. Gregory pulled her tightly to him and returned the kiss, as he had time and again in his dreams over the last few months.
Breathing fast when the kiss ended, Gregory stared into Yukiko’s cyan eyes with fear and hope. “Yuki?”
“My betrothal was absolved,” Yukiko whispered. “Being married to a ‘magi of the empire’ was too much for him. I can accept my heart now.” Leaning forward, she kissed him again, gently, sweetly, hopeful.
Gregory returned the kiss in equal measure, his heart pounding as he felt his dreams burst forth into reality. If this is a dream, please, Aether, let me die before I wake.
Gregory and Yukiko stopped kissing, but did not step away from each other when the door opened, knowing they had already been seen. “It seems you’re right again, dear one,” Hao sighed.
“It was painfully obvious to me, but men can be slow to see,” Yoo-jin smiled. “I thought she was going to be upset by my news, but it turns out our little girl has turned out to be just like me. She found her heart all on her own and only tried denying it for our sake.”
“Your father hated me for years,” Hao said, glaring at Gregory. “I should keep that tradition alive.” His lips trembled as he fought to keep a smile off them.
“Father,” Yukiko sighed, “no.”
“It seems we are going from one betrothal to another,” Yoo-jin said, looking at Gregory. “I do take it that you would be amenable to that?”
“I have no bride price,” Gregory hated to say it, but he did.
“Teaching her how to combine all three paths is bride price enough,” Yoo-jin smiled. “She will be unique, alongside you, in that regard.”
“I told you that we would be equal partners,” Yukiko whispered.
Gregory chuckled, “I could never have hoped that this is what you had in mind.”
“We shall have the official announcement dinner on the last night of the tournament,” Hao said. “I trust you to do what is right and proper, Gregory.”
Releasing Yukiko, who he had been holding the entire time, he bowed to Hao. “Yes, Father.”
Yoo-jin laughed loudly at that, “Oh, he will fit in fine.”
Hao blinked, shaking his head. “I can feel more hairs turning gray already.”
