They made it to the academy without having to deal with the crowded tavern. A squad of academy guards was waiting when they arrived. Hao told the rest of them to wait in the carriage while he inquired about their presence.
“Is there something I can help you with?” Hao asked the man with captain’s insignia on his sleeves.
“We’re here to escort the novices to the arena,” the guard replied. “It is customary for the winner to have an honor guard.”
“I see,” Hao nodded, stepping aside from the door. “It is safe to come out,” he told the people still in the carriage.
Gregory stepped out and the guards all snapped to attention. He moved aside so Hao could help Yoo-jin out of the carriage, then he copied Hao, offering his arm to Yukiko.
“Champion Pettit, if you and runner-up Warlin will follow me?” the Captain said. “We will escort you to the arena. Your family may follow,” he added to Yukiko.
“We’re in your care, Captain,” Gregory said, stepping forward with Yukiko beside him.
The walk across the grounds was uneventful and Gregory wondered why a guard was provided to the winner. Something to ask Rafiq later, maybe, he thought.
People were milling around the arena, but made way for the guards as they approached. Cheers and a few boos reached Gregory and Yukiko. The boos cut off abruptly and the sound of a scuffle broke out. Four guards broke off from the procession to break up the fight.
“Certainly is lively,” Hao said.
“Those poor few should have known better than to jeer,” Yoo-jin shrugged.
One of the guards turned to Hao, Yoo-jin, and Lin once they had entered the arena halls. “If you three will follow me, a box has been set aside for you to view the ceremony.”
“Lead on,” Hao said, then called out to Gregory and Yukiko, “We’ll see you afterward.”
Gregory raised a hand, but did not stop, “See you after.”
Gregory was surprised that no other finalist was present in the waiting area. “Captain, where are the others?”
“Being taken up one by one to have their exploits celebrated. You’ll be joining them shortly.”
Minutes passed as they waited. The sound of boots brought his attention to the hallway. Another group of guards led a group of four apprentices into the room. The apprentices’ yellow robes had the insignia of the Han Merchant clan on the sleeves.
“There they are,” the tallest of the group said. “You both barely scraped through, then one of you withdrew from the final. Didn’t care to fight each other again?” The question held the slightest edge of scorn.
“The healers told me to forfeit so my eye could heal,” Yukiko replied with a shrug. “I’d rather keep it, and second place wasn’t so hard to swallow.”
One of the others laughed, “Point. Good thing the healers care for us during the tournament or we’d have had a few rough spots ourselves.”
“Rumor had it otherwise,” the leader of the group said, “apologies.”
“Accepted,” Yukiko bowed her head. “I’m sad we missed seeing your final fight.”
“The Eternal Flame is less than amused today,” another of the group smirked. “Their novices and apprentices both failed to take top spots.”
“Will you be joining us?” the last of the four asked.
“We’re still evaluating which clan is best for us,” Gregory said. “Obviously, the Eternal Flame was snuffed off that list.”
The four apprentices laughed at his joke and a few of the guards chuckled before the captain cleared his throat. “Prepare yourselves. We will be moving in a moment. We will lead, and the novices fall in behind us with the apprentices at the end. Move to stand before the council and do as instructed. When the ceremony is over, come back here so we may escort you away from the arena.”
“Yes, sir,” the apprentices said as a unit.
“Understood,” Gregory and Yukiko added a moment later.
Seconds ticked by and the guards checked their uniforms. At some signal Gregory could not see or hear, the captain drew himself to attention. “In three… two… one… march.”
Gregory was impressed at the perfect timing of the guards as they marched up the stairs and down the short hall to the arena floor. The sound of cheering started as a dim roar that grew steadily louder as they got closer to the exit. The guards marched out, splitting to the left and right to form a tunnel for the novices and apprentices. Each pair of guards came sharply to attention as Gregory and Yukiko passed.
Gregory kept moving at the same measured pace the guards had marched to, taking in the filled arena. The stands were jammed with people, all of them on their feet and cheering.
“Wave,” one of the apprentices said just loud enough to be heard. Gregory and Yukiko both jumped a little, but started waving at the spectators.
The noise from the crowd grew even louder when the two novices acknowledged them. The ground shook just perceptibly when people began to stomp their feet as they cheered, clapped, and whistled their approval. Embarrassed and discomfited at the attention, Gregory looked away from the crowd to where he was going.
In the center of the arena, the other six finalists from the novices and the runners up from the apprentices stood. Two grandmasters and an elder faced them, waiting. Gregory recognized the elder as the same one who had seen them in the healer’s hall. One of the grandmasters was the same man that officiated his last match, the other one was the one that had stopped Skippy’s father attacking him. All three of the greater magi stood with impassively regal bearing as they waited for the tournament winners to reach them.
Coming to a stop a few feet from the magi, Gregory stood straighter than he ever had in his life. Yukiko beside him mirrored his stance, and the four apprentices formed a line beside her. The council of the academy waited for a moment as the crowd grew quiet.
“Novice Warlin, your ability to fight even under extreme duress has been noted,” the elder said. “Not many could continue to fight after their heads had been wreathed in flame. The healers have assured the council that you will recover. As the runner-up, you will be rewarded with gifts to help you increase your aether and your novice classes are considered successfully passed, allowing you to train as you see fit. We shall be looking forward to your performance in the next tournament.”
The crowd grew raucous again, and the elder let them continue for a few moments before she raised a hand to quiet them.
“Honored council,” Yukiko told them, “I was blessed to have instructors who helped bring the best out in me, and a partner in training that pushed me every step of the way. With that and the environment you foster inside the walls of the academy, I was able to rise as I have. I thank you.” Yukiko made the deepest formal bow she had made in her life to them.
The council bowed their heads fractionally to her in return as the crowd cheered. Calling for silence again, the elder turned to face Gregory. “Champion Pettit, you faced challenging opponents and overcame them all. You faced trial by fire and pain, and even though the odds were stacked against you, you managed to find your way through to the top. The most frightening aspect for your peers is that you did it all without direct use of magic. The council has ordered the archive to do all they can to aid in finding your magic. We all look forward to the next tournament, especially if you are able to augment your abilities. Your rewards for being the champion are the greatest any novice could hope to attain. Besides the alchemical aides you will receive and your novice classes considered successfully passed, allowing you to train as you see fit, you will also be allowed to seek the counsel of the council once per member. Use those moments wisely. The strong rise to the top and grow stronger— that is the way of the magi. We look forward to the next tournament and what you might show us then.”
The crowd exploded when the elder finished her speech, and she let them continue for a moment longer than normal. Gregory looked shocked, not expecting the nature of the final reward.
“Honored council, I never expected to stand here before you. As my training partner Novice Warlin said, it was because of her, the instructors, and the academy itself that I was able to achieve what I did. I dearly hope to learn of my magic, so I thank you in advance for the aid in discovering it.” He bowed to them as deeply as Yukiko had, and the crowd went wild.
The elder waited a moment before she raised her hand for silence again. “Apprentices of the Han Merchant Clan, you have prevailed over your adversaries and claimed the top spot in this tournament. Your clan accrues honor for your achievement, and your rewards shall reflect that.”
“Honored council,” the leader of the group replied once silence had been restored, “we succeeded because our clan supported us to the best of their resources. Without the support of the greatest clan, we would not have prevailed as we did.”
One of the grandmasters raised an eyebrow and his neutral expression dimmed at the apprentice’s words, but he remained quiet.
“People of the empire and fellow magi, these are your champions. Celebrate their success, and know it is magi like this striving for greatness that will keep the empire safe and strong,” the elder announced as she stepped back from the groups, mirrored by the grandmasters. “Let the celebration begin and not end until tomorrow night!”
Once the elder was done speaking, the grandmaster who had frowned motioned with his hand and the council vanished from the floor of the arena.
“Back to the waiting area,” the apprentice said as their group turned together and led the way.
Gregory and Yukiko exchanged a glance, sharing a smile and falling into step behind the apprentices.
Once they were all back in the waiting room, the apprentices let out whoops and started razzing each other. Gregory grinned at seeing the four celebrate as friends. The guards spread out into the room, waiting for them to be ready to leave.
“Top two spots? The clans will really be fighting over you now,” one of the apprentices laughed. “Well, except the Eternal Flame. They’re likely a bit upset with you both.”
“A little,” the leader snickered. “Did you see Novice Shun’s face? Oh, he hates the both of you, and not just a little. If he could shoot flames from his eyes like some adepts can, you both might have died in front of the elder.”
Gregory and Yukiko exchanged a glance. “We’ll be prepared for him,” Gregory said.
“At least you get out of classes,” one of the others said. “I would have killed to get out of history and economics. So fucking boring.”
“If Magus Han heard you say that,” one of the others smirked. Her face scrunched up, and her voice shifted. “Apprentice, if you dislike it so much, then you should join the caravan guards. Yes, that is what we shall do with you.”
Gregory and Yukiko laughed along with the others, as the impersonation had been passable. The guards were all stone-faced, clearly not wanting to laugh.
“Speaking of, she’ll be waiting for us. Let’s go,” the leader said. “Hope you two decide to join the clan. Han always takes care of those who excel.”
Saying goodbye, the apprentices left with half the guards. Gregory and Yukiko were left with the original guards who had brought them to the arena. They shared a long look, both of them smiling.
“Time for an important dinner,” Gregory said softly.
“The dinner of a lifetime,” Yukiko beamed.
“If you’re both ready, then follow us,” the captain said, before barking an order at his men. “Form up!”
