Everyone was waiting for him when he came out of the rooms below the arena. “Well done, Greg,” Hao chuckled. “This is for you. The other two got theirs already.”
Gregory took the vela offered. “From the bet?”
“Of course. You three did the real work,” Hao laughed. “With the fights over for all of you, we can head into the city after seeing the clan hall.”
“You fought well,” Dia said. “Did your magic help?”
“It was taxing,” Gregory said, though it had not tired him as much as he thought it would have, “but yes, it was enough to help me avoid the fire.”
“Foresight,” Adolphus murmured. “That’s magic from legend.”
“You wanted to kick him that badly?” Gin asked.
“I could’ve struck him in the throat before he got to me,” Gregory admitted. “If I had, he would’ve dropped dead right there. I didn’t want to kill him.”
Gin grunted. “If you hesitate like that—”
“I won’t,” Gregory said, cutting him off. “If it was my life or his, he would’ve had his head removed. This was a match during a tournament, not a fight to the death, and I’m not Nick.”
“He was trying to remove you from the tournament and possibly kill you,” Gin said flatly. “It’s not wrong to meet force with equal force.”
“Dear one…” Yukiko said softly, touching his arm for a moment, “Gin is right. Those fires would have burned you badly if they didn’t kill you. None of us would view you poorly for returning the favor to him.”
“Not at all,” Jenn said.
“I just don’t want to be like them.”
“You never will be,” Yukiko said.
“Let’s go,” Hao said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the clan hall.”
“Are all the fights going to be like that?” Adolphus asked as they exited the arena.
“No. They put us up against people who had a chance at beating us today,” Jenn said. “There aren’t that many of them left.”
“Nick, Jason, Michelle, and maybe another six in their clan,” Yukiko said. “They’ll bring the dangerous fire… There are maybe another ten who are dangerous, but in other ways.”
“The fact we ended up against three of them means the matches are being swayed,” Gregory said.
“That’s how much sway some of the clans have,” Dia said. “I know Elder Lightshield used some of his own influence. He opted to have competent healers on hand and for you all to be in the same arena.”
“Mindie and Klim,” Gregory said. “Both have been equal and fair with us.”
“Is it possible for us to stop by the archive, as well?” Yoo-jin asked.
“Yes. No one but magi are allowed to view the texts stored inside of it, though, so it’ll be just a tour of the lowest level,” Dia explained.
Adolphus was surprised to see the koi fish in the streams and ponds, never having seen anything like it before. Jenn had to explain that they only lived in places of highly concentrated aether, and they were illegal to own if you weren’t a magi. The explanation took most of their trip to the archive.
“Magus, Novices, and guests, welcome to the academy archive,” Rafiq greeted them. “I take it you’ve come for a tour?”
“Yes, please,” Yoo-jin replied.
“Your daughter is one of the most studious novices we’ve ever had in the academy,” Rafiq said as he motioned to someone. “You should be proud of her thirst for knowledge. All three of them are equal in that regard.” Another archivist came to stand near them, and Rafiq motioned to him. “Simon will show you around the bottom floor. The upper floors are off-limits to those not higher than novice tier.”
“Mother, Father, this is Rafiq, the archivist we see most often,” Yukiko said. “When he isn’t the one on the door in the morning, it’s usually Simon. They’ve made it easier for us by always having the next book on hand for us.”
“You have our thanks,” Hao said. “Both of you. Is there any way we can repay your efforts?”
“We are not allowed to accept gifts of any kind,” Rafiq said. “If you’d like to leave a note for the chief archivist, I’ll make sure she gets it.”
“If that’s all we can do, then we will,” Hao said, “but after the tour. Simon, we are in your capable hands.”
“Follow me, please,” Simon said, leading them along the left wall.
The tour of the archive, and the subsequent note-writing, took nearly an hour. Yoo-jin had many questions about how things were sorted and catalogued. Simon was eager to explain it to her in detail. Umbrose and Adolphus were shocked to see so many books, given how expensive it was to produce even a single scroll, much less a bound book. After giving Rafiq the letters from Hao and Adolphus, the group said their goodbyes and made their way to the clan hall.
The tour of the hall took up another couple of hours, as Velma and the others were happy to make some food for them. Umbrose and Velma had a lengthy discussion about what kinds of sauces worked best with what kind of meats, much to the entertainment of the others.
When the time finally came for them to leave, Dia reminded them that they shouldn’t stay out too late, as they would need their sleep for tomorrow. Hao promised to have the carriage bring them back near sunset or a little after.
~*~*~
Gregory chuckled when he saw Adolphus, Umbrose, and Jenn’s faces once they realized where Hao had the carriage take them.
“Did I look like that?” he whispered to Yukiko.
“Yes.”
“Warlin, we can’t,” Adolphus said. “There’s nothing in there that we can even begin to cons—!”
“My daughter said I was to treat Jenn equal to her and Greg,” Hao cut him off. “There is nothing you have to do or pay for. We ask for nothing in return.”
“Yuki?” Jenn asked, clearly uncomfortable.
“This is part of the tournament for us,” Yukiko told her. “We don’t buy much, if anything, but we’re here just in case something special comes along. Greg was just as unsure and uncomfortable during the last tournament.”
“Maybe it’s best if we wait back at Stabled Hunger…?” Umbrose asked.
“That might be for the best,” Yoo-jin said. “We don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Hao, why don’t you go with them? I will stay with our children and see if there is anything for them.”
Hao chuckled. “I see… You want to stop me from spending too much.”
“Again,” Yoo-jin smiled. “You know I’ll be responsible with our money.”
“Are you sure you’d rather go back?” Hao asked the other couple. “If you’re uncomfortable, we can return, retire, and wait for them.”
“I’m not dressed for it,” Umbrose said, smoothing her plain dress. “Please?”
Adolphus realized his rough work clothing might not give a good impression, either. “Take us back, please. Jenn, you behave yourself.”
“She’ll be fine,” Yoo-jin smiled, replying before Jenn could. “We’ll likely return empty-handed, as it is. We’ll see you as soon as the auction for today is over.”
Once the others were gone, Yoo-jin led them inside the auction house.
The same receptionist from the first time greeted them. “Welcome back. Did you want a box again?”
“If the same box is available, we’d prefer that,” Yoo-jin smiled.
“Of course. Please, follow me.”
“Do I need to post the fee first?” Yoo-jin asked.
“You are honored visitors. We trust that you will settle at the end of the night,” the receptionist replied. “Would you care for any refreshments?”
“Some tea only. We’ll be having dinner afterward.”
“Of course.”
Seated in the box with their tea, they found that the auction house was still filling up with people. Gregory looked across the way to see Grandmaster Shun take his seat in his box.
“Shun is here,” Gregory murmured.
“Let’s hope we don’t bid against him tonight,” Yoo-jin said. “I don’t have the fortitude that Hao does in those moments.”
“Mother, he’s going to marry me. Maybe we can tell him?” Yukiko suggested.
“After the marriage,” Yoo-jin said. “That’s what was agreed upon.”
A knock on the door got their attention. Lin opened it to reveal Elder Lightshield.
“Do pardon my intrusion,” Lightshield smiled. “I was wondering if I might not share your box for the auction? I forget it’s wise to arrange these things ahead of time. When I inquired about a box, they informed me the last one had just been claimed.”
Yoo-jin rose to her feet. “Elder, it would be an honor to have you beside us.”
“Thank you,” Lightshield said, his cane muted against the thick rug. “I do have my own paddle with which to bid. Let me know if you are going to bid on an item, and I will stay out of the way.”
“The same for us, please,” Yoo-jin said. She motioned him to the chair to her right side. “We’ll be attending every night of the auction. Should we arrange for you to join us?”
“That would be wonderful,” Lightshield said. “I’d rather not sit on the floor, not with some of my enemies above me.” His eyes went to Shun, who was glaring at them. Lightshield gave a small wave of his hand. “It might not go well.”
“I can only imagine,” Yoo-jin said, “though I’m sure half of that hatred is directed at my family.”
“After you outbid him on something that he stated he wanted, and then your daughter beat his grandson? That is entirely likely. I doubt anything for the first few nights will be worth the attention, but one never knows when something will pique the interest.”
“I think we’ll have an idea when something of note shows up,” Yoo-jin smiled.
“Perhaps,” Lightshield replied.
~*~*~
The auction had nothing that Yoo-jin bid on. Lightshield made a few bids, but let others take it after a few small increases. Jenn had been shocked at the amount some of the items went for, but by the end of it, she seemed to have relaxed.
Dinner with their parents went by without hangups. Umbrose and Adolphus had asked about the auction, so Jenn explained it over dinner. By the time they finished eating, both of her parents appeared a little more at ease with the idea.
“I was worried you’d want everything,” Adolphus admitted to Jenn. “We do our best, always have, but even the lower items there would strain the family.”
“We’ve seen a few things that would do the same to us,” Hao said. “It’s hard when you want the best for your daughter. We understand.”
Umbrose nodded. “Yes, you do. It’s been so nice meeting another couple who have had a lot of the same experiences.”
“We agree,” Yoo-jin smiled. “Tomorrow night, I’ve arranged for a girl’s night. I believe my husband has arranged for him, Adolphus, and Gregory to be taken care of, as well. Some things just need a small audience to be said.”
Hao snorted. “In other words, they want to talk about us and spare our egos.”
Yoo-jin laughed. “I know your ego can handle anything I might say. This is so the girls can speak freely, and we can offer advice. Besides, you wanted to have a party for Greg before the wedding.”
Hao chuckled. “A tradition of Buldoun. I’ve been looking forward to it, I’ll admit.”
“Father,” Yukiko said politely, but with a hint of warning, “you’re not going to do anything to him, are you?”
“No. No! It will be a small celebration, is all,” Hao was quick to say. “I don’t plan for anything bad to happen.”
“Lin,” Yukiko asked, “you’re going, right?”
“As is my father,” Lin said.
“I’ll hold you responsible for what happens.”
Lin’s face went wooden. “Yes, miss.”
“Good,” Yukiko smiled. “I think it’s getting late; we should get back.”
“Yes,” Jenn agreed. “It’s been a busy day, and it isn’t going to be less so over the next week.”
Gregory felt a trickle of worry about what tomorrow night would bring, but he smiled, too. “Back to study, then sleep?”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Yukiko said.
