Getting to class was no different than any other day. Taking their seats, they made sure they had supplies for notes ready. Gregory looked over the last set of notes he had taken for the class, refreshing himself on what the teacher would be covering.
“For a magicless, clanless fringer, he sure acts like he cares, doesn’t he?”
The snide voice behind them almost made Gregory turn to look, but instead, he ignored the taunt. Yukiko glanced back to see the same student who had called Gregory a fringer on their first day in the class months before— Petak.
“For someone who looks down on Greg as a fringer, you don’t seem to be able to answer the questions put forth by Magus Marcia any better than he does,” Yukiko said.
“I’m sorry, did the little bird say something?” Petak snickered.
Gregory’s hands clenched and he bit down on the anger he felt. I was warned not to let them goad me like this, he reminded himself.
Yukiko laughed, “I’m sorry, what rank did they give you at the end of the tournament? It must be higher than fifty.”
Petak inhaled sharply as if he’d been slapped physically. “Do I need to prove where you belong, half-breed?”
Gregory started to turn, but Yukiko placed her hand on his shoulder to stop him. “Ignore him, dear one. If he wanted to, he could challenge one of us, but since he knows he’d lose, he’ll just stand there yammering on, hoping to provoke us.”
Gregory gave her an apologetic smile, as he’d almost done exactly as he shouldn’t. “You’re right, Yuki.”
Seeing his insults not having the impact he hoped for, Petak took his seat with a severe frown. A couple more students entered the room and the muttered comments grew, but no one was as outspoken as Petak had been.
Sixth bell began to chime and Magus Marcia wasn’t in the room. Gregory was just starting to wonder what that might mean when the doors shut hard, followed by the sound of the teacher walking toward the front of the room.
“Good, we’re all here. I wasn’t sure if some of your clans would pull you from the class or not,” Magus Marcia said when she reached the front of the room. “Even our top two novices are here. That makes it hard on the rest of you. They don’t even have to be here, and yet here they are. I find myself slightly surprised by that. Why are you two here?”
“We’re here, Magus, because your class is informative. Missing it would be a detriment to us. We also do not wish to anger the Han clan,” Yukiko answered.
Marcia’s lips twitched. “You think missing the class would impact how the Han clan views you?”
“It might be seen as an insult to the one who heads the clan inside the academy this year,” Yukiko replied. “It’s because of those reasons that we’re here. Even if one wasn’t the reason, the other would remain, so we will, as well.”
“Your father is a shrewd merchant, Warlin. I see you’re as savvy as he is. The truth is that the Han clan wouldn’t be pleased nor upset with your actions. However, as a teacher, it’s gratifying to know that my time is being appreciated.”
“Kiss-ass half-breed…” Petak muttered.
Marcia thrust her hand out instantly, which was followed by a surprised yelp. “Novice, do not interrupt my class because you’re jealous of another novice’s standing. If you wish to prove yourself their better, challenge them or beat them in the next tournament. Next time, I will eject you from this class. Understood?”
“Yes, Magus!” Petak said in a near panic.
“Good.” Closing her hand, she turned to the board, ignoring the dull thud and groan from the student she had just dropped. “Now, we had been speaking of compound interest…”
Gregory picked up his pen and got ready to start making notes, his attention focused on the teacher. Yukiko did the same, but a small smile touched her lips as she listened to Petak continue to make pained sounds behind them.
~*~*~
With class over, the couple got their stuff put away. Marcia watched them as the rest of the students shuffled out. “Pettit, Warlin,” she called out as they stood up, “what are your plans for joining a clan? The offer to join the Han Merchant Exchange is still open.”
“We’re still weighing all of our options,” Yukiko said.
“I do not envy you what the next few days will bring,” Marica said. “To have the wrath of the Eternal Flame and no one to aid you…? I’m sure you will see the shelter that can be yours in time.”
“Thank you, Magus,” Gregory said, bowing to her. “Also, congratulations to your clan on the apprentices winning in the tournament.”
Marcia’s lips thinned slightly. “We’d prefer to win again next year, as well.”
“We’ll make a decision soon,” Yukiko said. “As you said, we’ll be needing aid. Allies, as well, if things go differently than hoped.”
“That will depend on who you choose. We do have allies in clans not tied to us. If you choose one of them, we’ll be amenable to such things.”
“Of course, Magus,” Yukiko bowed. “If you’ll excuse us?”
“May your day be less eventful than this class was,” Marcia dismissed them.
~*~*~
Making it back to the archive, the two of them greeted Rafiq on their way to their table. Their steps slowed when they saw Master Damon sitting at the table already.
Looking up from the scroll he was reading, Master Damon stared at Gregory. “Novice Pettit, I would like some of your time.”
“How might I assist you, Master?”
“Your father was distinctly unhelpful. It seems he didn’t know your mother’s maiden name.”
Gregory frowned. “I’m sorry, sir. I don’t either.”
“Yes. We will, however, discuss a few things. By doing so, it might help me narrow my search for her point of origin. If I can find out who she was, I might be able to find a starting point for your magic.”
“I’m eager to assist,” Gregory said, taking a seat.
“Novice Warlin, you do not need to stay for this,” Damon said.
“If my betrothed is going to speak of his mother, I’d like to stay, Master.”
“Betrothed? I hadn’t heard. Is it recent?”
“Yes. It was after the tournament, sir.”
“Hmm. Congratulations, but you must be aware that your clans will surely separate you?”
“We’ll be joining the same clan, sir,” Yukiko replied, “once we decide on one.”
“That will make one clan very happy, indeed. That isn’t the reason I’m here, though.” Taking out some paper and ink from a small hip pouch that was much too small to hold those items, Damon nodded. “We’ll start with language. Did your mother ever pronounce the following words differently than others in your village…?”
~*~*~
Gregory felt drained when Damon left them a little over an hour later. Yukiko sat beside him, her hand on his under the table.
“Are you okay, dear one?”
“Exhausted. I never knew answering questions could be so nerve-wracking.”
“You should ask Darkness if there’s a way to misdirect them to an innocuous magic,” Yukiko whispered, “to throw them off this trail. I don’t think Damon will stop, until he unravels it.”
Gregory nodded slowly. “I will, but I don’t get to speak with her until we go up a circle.”
“That might be problematic,” Yukiko sighed. “Come on, we need to get going to aether introduction. That took all of our normal study time.”
“Yeah,” Gregory sighed as he got to his feet.
The walk to their next class took them across a good part of the academy grounds, and helped Gregory feel less drained the closer they got.
“Novices, do you have a moment?” someone called out.
Stopping, they turned to find the head of the Iron Hand clan approaching them. Bowing together, Yukiko spoke up, “How might we help you, Master Chen?”
“I’d been hoping to speak with you about joining the clan again. All of my subordinates have failed to speak with you. Do you desire to be clanless so much?”
“We do not, Master. Choosing the right clan is proving to be more difficult than we had thought.”
“Understandable. Your skills in combat— both of you— were proven during the tournament. Even without magic, you rose to the very top, Pettit. That tenacity is something we value. Standing against the Eternal Flame, enduring the fire, and winning is also something to be very proud of, Warlin.”
“Thank you, sir,” Gregory said.
“I’m honored, sir,” Yukiko added.
“Do you detest joining a clan devoted to protecting the empire?”
“No, sir,” Gregory said before Yukiko could. “I just don’t think we’d be the best fit with your clan.”
Chen sighed. “Very well. I had to try before the Eternal Flame sought its revenge. I wish you both the best with finding a clan.”
“Thank you, Master,” they said.
With Chen striding away, Gregory exhaled. “Everyone is warning us about what’s coming.”
“We’ll have to be very observant and ready to react,” Yukiko said. “Maybe we should wait off to the side of the class for a few minutes? We’ve run into Nick and the others here before, and right now, it’d probably be best to avoid them.”
“Good point,” Gregory agreed as they took a side path, away from the next class.
