Waking in the giant bed, Gregory chuckled. “Hello, Darkness. I take it this means I’m an apprentice in power now?”
“Hello, dear one. You and Yukiko have both reached the next tier.”
Sitting up, he found the darkness in the corner lessened from what it had been. “Are you okay?”
“I’m more than okay. I’m very happy. You grow more powerful, and that’s why my darkness isn’t as deep anymore.”
“If I keep growing, I’ll be able to see you?”
“I’ll be laid bare before you.”
Gregory laughed. “You do love using double meanings.”
“It’s fun,” Darkness replied. “Besides, they’re both true.”
“You could lay yourself bare before me now, though, couldn’t you?”
“I could, but that isn’t how it’ll happen. Before we get too sidetracked, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Now that you’ve touched your next tier, you have the chance to actively see the lines of aether that people spin. You may now also try to catch hints of the immediate future, or even try to peel back the layers of fate and see what might come from a decision. Each of those comes at correspondingly higher aether costs.”
“That’s good. Being able to see aether being used has kept me alive a few times. Having the ability to do that at will would make it better.”
“Yes. The second tournament is coming fast— you need to work with your magic to be better used to it.”
“I will.”
“Good. Now, with that out of the way…” Darkness trailed off as Yukiko appeared in bed beside Gregory.
“I had been wondering,” Yukiko said. “I’ll repay you now, Darkness.”
“Yes, please.”
“Huh?” Gregory asked, but he didn’t get anything else out before Yukiko kissed him.
Gregory forgot everything but Yukiko in his arms. The kiss led them into other, more carnal activities, all while the darkness in the corner watched them in silence.
~*~*~
Gregory exhaled slowly when he woke in his room. I love and hate that, he sighed to himself. Shaking his head in frustration, Gregory rose and cleaned up before dressing in his novice kimono. While he dressed, he noticed the medallion only had a single ring filled, but with sunflower-yellow energy instead of the white it had been.
“A bit ugly,” Gregory chuckled. “Better get used to it. That’s next year’s kimono color, too.”
The soft knock on the door came as he was crossing the room to it. Yukiko and Jenn gave him smiles when he opened it.
“Good morning, dear one,” Yukiko smiled with a knowing twinkle in her eyes.
“Morning, Greg,” Jenn said. “Did you become an apprentice, too?”
Gregory blinked. “Too? You?”
Jenn laughed, stifling it after a second. “No. Yuki showed me her medallion.”
“Oh. That makes more sense,” Gregory coughed, embarrassed. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine. That does mean we need to send word to Alvis Alchemy for you both.”
“Yes… I wonder what will change,” Yukiko said. “That’s getting ahead of ourselves, though. We need to start the day with food. Nessa and Daciana will be at the archive today and we promised we’d show them Magi Squares.”
“Yeah. I’m glad they’re friends,” Gregory said. “They’d have a rougher time without each other.”
“And friends can help push you to do more,” Yukiko smiled.
“Yes, they can,” Jenn chuckled. “Encouragement is the key.”
“Let’s get going, then,” Gregory said.
~*~*~
They were in the middle of eating when Dia joined them. “Morning, Novices.”
“Morning, Dia,” Gregory said, as he was the only one not in the middle of a bite. “Dia, can you send someone to Alvis Alchemy for us?”
“I can. What is it you need?”
“Just to let them know that we became apprentice-tiered,” Gregory said, pulling his medallion out.
“Goodness, so soon?” Dia asked. “Our novices are surely the best in the academy. I’ll make sure they’re notified.”
“Thank you, Dia.”
“You plan to keep your normal schedule today?” Dia asked.
“Yes, though we’ll be spending some of our study time helping a pair of friends,” Yukiko said.
“That’s good. That would be Daciana and Nessa, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Admirable. They’ve both asked to speak with me, but I’m constrained by the rules. I notified each that until their year starts, we can’t discuss anything at all.”
“Is it okay if we talk to them?” Gregory asked.
“As long as you’re not trying to actively recruit them, it’s fine,” Dia said.
“Okay.”
“What’re you helping them with?” Dia asked.
“Both expressed interest in Magi Squares,” Yukiko said.
“That might prejudice their path,” Dia said. “Have you warned them?”
“We did,” Yukiko sighed. “They’ve seen us doing them and wished to try.”
“Hmm. The Peaceful Fist and Magi Squares?” Dia asked.
“Yes, Dia,” Gregory said.
“How unusual. Very well. I’ll make sure your message is sent. You’ve spoken to both of the not-yet novices. Do you believe they would fit in with the clan?”
“Both are part eurtik,” Yukiko said. “They won’t find a clan more willing to help them excel without constraints. Both are respectful and eager to learn.”
“I see,” Dia nodded. “Enjoy the rest of your meal. I have things to take care of. Quilet, have my breakfast sent to my office, please.”
“Yes, Dia.”
~*~*~
Simon welcomed them to the archive, letting them know the other two were already seated. Thanking him, the friends made their way to the table.
“Morning,” Nessa and Daciana said together.
“Got here earlier than normal,” Gregory said.
“We were both eager to learn,” Daciana replied.
“We are,” Nessa agreed.
“I want to make sure that you understand doing this could prejudice your path to mind,” Gregory said.
“We understand,” Daciana said.
“Very well. Yukiko will help Nessa, and Jenn will help you, Daciana. I’ll be making the squares for both of you. The first one will be easier and give you an idea of how to complete one without it being mind-numbing. The ones after that will get progressively harder.”
“Understood,” Daciana said, her tail wagging behind her.
“Alright,” Gregory said. “Let’s begin.”
~*~*~
Both Nessa and Daciana were quick studies, and needed very little help. It gave the others a chance to read, just not as much as they would have normally. Saying their goodbyes, Gregory, Yukiko, and Jenn headed out.
“Novice, a moment?” Simon asked Jenn. “You asked before about a book on Buldoun’s magi. I can have that for you when you’re ready.”
“Really?” Jenn asked. “I thought it couldn’t be done. It’s been so long since I asked.”
“Sometimes, things just take a while to get approved,” Simon said. “Also, Pettit, there’s going to be a book for you, too. It’s about foresight.”
Gregory smiled. “Thank you, Simon, and the chief archivist, too. It might help me understand my magic more.”
“That was all I needed to say. Don’t let me detain you further.”
As they made their way for the gate, Yukiko realized she had never asked Gregory what else Darkness might have talked to him about. She glanced at Jenn and frowned, knowing she couldn’t ask with her around.
“Do you think it’ll help you?” Jenn was asking Gregory.
“It couldn’t hurt. Now that I have an apprentice’s energy, maybe I can start trying to use it. I’d been cautioned about trying before that.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize it took that much aether.”
“I don’t know, personally,” Gregory said, “though I’ll be finding out soon.”
“Maybe you can see what our instructors are going to do and we can win a match,” Jenn joked.
“That isn’t a bad idea, Jenn. It’d be a short test, but definitely something worth considering.”
They left the academy and, as they headed for Gin’s, Yukiko whispered to Jenn. Nodding, Jenn picked up her pace and pulled away from them. Before Gregory could ask what was happening, Yukiko touched his arm.
“I asked her to give us a minute,” Yukiko told him. “I realized I never asked what you and Darkness talked about before I joined you.”
Gregory’s cheeks heated as he recalled exactly why she had forgotten. “Uh… I’ll be able to see strands of aether easier now to start. Beyond that, I should be able to purposely gain a few seconds of foresight. She also said that I’d be able to see hints of what a decision may bring in the future, but that one would be the most draining.”
“You’ll be able to do this with purpose now?” Yukiko asked.
“Yeah, instead of it happening when it wants, though that might still happen if Darkness has anything to say about it.”
“She only wants what’s best for you, as do I.”
“I know, Yuki.”
“Did you mind?” Yukiko asked in an even softer tone. “That she didn’t leave?”
Gregory’s face grew hot again, matched by Yukiko’s. “Honestly, I forgot she was there. I was entranced by you.”
Yukiko gave him a smile, her cheeks flushed flame red. “She did say that would likely happen. It helps me repay her for letting us have those moments.”
“I can’t complain, then,” Gregory said. “I need to repay her, too.”
“You did,” Yukiko told him, “by not objecting, and maybe letting her continue to do so in the future. I’ve agreed that she can have a dream alone with you, as well, but she laughed and said that would be some time yet.”
Gregory chuckled. “She’s told me I have to make her. I’m sorely lacking in the power to do that, and likely will be for years.”
“I understand. I wanted you to know that I’ve approved of it, if it’s something you want.”
“Dear one…” Gregory murmured, touching her wrist lightly. “Does it hurt you?”
“Not with her. She’s part of you, and us. I’ll never disapprove of you and her, just as she doesn’t of you and me. Besides, you’re Aether,” Yukiko whispered. “It would be wrong of me to hold you entirely to myself.”
“What do you mean, Yuki?”
Yukiko shook her head. “Nothing to bother with for now, dear one. Come on, we have a game to play.”
