Gregory tugged the sleeve of the white and green silk kimono he wore, not used to the way it felt. He had not expected the boots that went with the outfit, but Yukiko had contacted the cobbler at some point and got him a set that fit him perfectly. Glancing out of the corner of his eye at Yukiko, he smiled.
With her hair cut close to her head, she looked different than before, but no less beautiful to Gregory’s eyes. Her kimono of green silk with white owls brought out her eyes and her skin. Her eyes shifted and she caught him watching her, making her smile brightly at him.
“What are your plans now that the classes have become moot?” Yoo-jin asked.
“We talked while changing,” Yukiko replied. “We’re going to continue with our schedule: waking early and having breakfast before heading to the archive to train the mind path. After a couple of hours, we’ll go to Gin’s to train spirit and body. Return to the academy for dinner, a little more mind training, then sleep. That will fill our days every day until the next tournament.”
“While changing?” Hao asked with pursed lips, staring at Gregory.
“Our rooms are beside each other,” Gregory reminded him. “We spoke through the wall.”
“That better be the truth,” Hao grumbled, glowering.
Yukiko rolled her eyes, “Father, please. If we were going to do something like that, we’d have done it already.”
Yoo-jin giggled, “She is my daughter, after all.”
Hao grumbled as he looked out the carriage window.
“That is if we can leave the academy during the week,” Gregory said, bringing the topic back on point. “We don’t know if it’ll be allowed. We’ll ask Dia tomorrow and find out, but that is our plan for now.”
“Hmm,” Hao grunted. “We’ll be here tomorrow. We had planned on leaving the following morning. We should meet for lunch at Stabled Hunger and you can tell us then what your final plans are.”
“That is fair, Father.”
The carriage came to a stop in front of Gin’s manor. Gregory caught scraps of laughter and music coming from the courtyard that was surrounded by the building.
Indara opened the door for them, “Please, honored guests, come in.”
“That is a very good color for you,” Yoo-jin told Indara. “It brings out your eyes wonderfully.”
“Thank you,” Indara bowed. “The guests are gathered in the courtyard and open ballroom, awaiting your appearance.”
“There should be five more arriving late,” Yukiko told her.
“I’m aware. The five who work in the mess hall of the academy. Their spouses are already here and asked if it was really okay for them to be late.”
“Well, if everything is ready, let’s proceed,” Hao smiled. “Please, lead us to our guests.”
Indara bowed to him, then led them into the house. She walked at a steady, sedate pace so everyone could stay in sync as they headed for the event. She paused just outside a closed set of double doors, looking back to make sure everyone was there before she opened them wide and proceeded into the room.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the stars of tonight’s dinner and the parents of the eventual bride,” Indara announced, her voice cutting over the music and bringing all eyes to the doorway.
The musicians stopped immediately, so the room was nearly silent as Hao escorted Yoo-jin into the room. The couple stopped a few feet in and bowed to the crowd, then moved aside so Gregory and Yukiko became the center of attention. Swallowing hard, Gregory escorted Yukiko into the room like Hao had and bowed to the room, Yukiko bowing with him.
“Now that the guests of honor have arrived,” Gin’s voice filled the silence, “let us pray to Aether and Vera that their life is full of love and prosperity.”
All heads bowed, the room silent again as everyone prayed for the couple. After a few moments, Gin announced, “Now, let’s greet the couple and wish them well ourselves.”
The guests lined up to pay their respects to Gregory and Yukiko. Yukiko smiled, greeting each person warmly as they came forward. Gregory’s smile was awkward, which made some of the guests feel more at ease, having been nervous themselves.
Yukiko placed her hand over her heart and spoke. “We thank our friends and family for coming to our betrothal dinner. We are honored and blessed to have you with us on this first step of combining our lives.”
Gregory cleared his throat, feeling out of place as he mirrored Yukiko, “Thank you, all of you. Yukiko and I have never had a lot of friends, so we are honored and blessed that each of you considers us so. We hope to keep the bonds of friendship strong with you as we move forward with our lives together.”
Applause and whistles were the enthusiastic response to the short speeches. Hao cleared his throat, turning all eyes to him.
“Honored guests, thank you for coming. We regret that Gregory’s family could not be here in body, but we are sure they are here in spirit to witness this great day in his life. I was hesitant to accept my daughter’s proposal that she marry him, but love will not be denied. After recent events, I know that Gregory loves Yukiko as deeply as I do my beloved wife. In six months, after the next tournament, Gregory will wed Yukiko. Then, we will celebrate two great events.”
Yoo-jin waited for the cheers to die away again before she spoke, “This betrothal is unusual in our family. We never thought that our daughter would be a magi, nor that she would find her love during her first year. We have only asked that they do their best to grow, learn, and prosper together, while letting their love lead them. We hope that you will all be our guests again in six months.”
Before the cheering could start again, Gin interrupted, “Hold a moment, I have something of import to say.” Everyone stared at him, wondering why he had interrupted. “This home will not do for the wedding. I will find a suitable location, one that will honor both the bride and groom. My star pupils deserve to be shown to the world when they wed, and I will make sure the venue is perfect for them both.”
Yukiko shook her head, “Gin, you are too kind.”
“Nonsense! I have been waiting to see you married from the day of your birth,” Gin replied. “Now let us drink, dance, and await the final guests. Once they arrive, dinner will be served.”
~*~*~
The party lasted well into the night. The workers from the academy left one-by-one as the pressing need for sleep finally called them away. After the last guests were gone, Gin walked them to the door.
“You could stay the night here if you wish,” he told Yukiko.
“We are returning to the academy for the night,” Yukiko replied. “We need to find out if we will be allowed to train with you every day.”
“Lunch tomorrow at Stabled Hunger,” Hao reminded her. “I’ll send the carriage to pick you up.”
“Yes, Father,” Yukiko replied.
“I thought you might want to return to the academy. I have another carriage waiting to take you back,” Gin chuckled when he opened the door. “I will see you all at lunch, as well.”
“I’ll be happy to see you there,” Yukiko smiled.
“Sleep well, dear,” Yoo-jin said, giving her daughter a hug. “And you, Gregory.”
“We’ll do our best, but we’ve trained ourselves to wake before the sun, so it might be hard to sleep in,” Gregory replied.
“We’ll be fine, Mother,” Yukiko said. “Take care of Father.”
With the two couples separating into different carriages, the goodbyes took a little longer, but they were soon heading in opposite directions. Gregory yawned as the lateness of the hour finally caught up to him.
Yukiko yawned a second later, “Those are contagious.”
“Sorry, Yuki. First one awake wakes the other?”
“Yes. We’ll sleep later than normal, but I doubt it’ll be later than the other novices.”
“Do you think the clan recruiters are still waiting for us?”
“Doubtful, though I expect them to do their best to find us tomorrow,” Yukiko replied, trying to stifle another yawn.
Gregory shifted to sit beside her instead of across from her. “You can rest against me if you want.”
“Very kind,” Yukiko replied as she rested her head on his shoulder.
Gregory put his arm around her shoulders and held her. “I’ll wake you when we get there if you drop off.”
“Dear one, thank you,” Yukiko murmured sleepily.
~*~*~
The driver rapped on the front wall of the carriage, jolting Gregory and Yukiko awake. “We’re here,” the driver said loudly.
“Thank you,” Gregory said, climbing out and helping Yukiko down.
The gates were shut and the guards on the walls watched as the two novices walked up to the postern door. The magi on duty there glared at them as she checked their medallions, then grudgingly let them through.
The path to the dormitory was silent and shrouded in shadows. “It’s beautiful at night,” Yukiko murmured as they walked beside each other.
“Peaceful,” Gregory agreed.
As they got closer to the dormitory, they were surprised to see the front brightly illuminated and a dozen people sitting on the benches beside the door.
“So much for peaceful,” Gregory sighed “Think we can slip around the back?”
“Yes, follow me,” Yukiko whispered as she gathered her aether, thickening the shadows around them. “Just watch your step.”
The people waiting were unaware that the pair they were there for had evaded them. Happy to find the back door unsecured, they slipped inside and went up the stairs to their rooms.
“Goodnight, dear one,” Yukiko murmured, leaning over to kiss his cheek.
“Goodnight, Yuki,” Gregory replied, returning the chaste kiss. “See you in a few hours.”
