Leaving the arena behind, Gregory and Yukiko went to the training hall in the opposite direction from the mess hall. Stepping inside, they could hear voices coming from the baths. Gregory motioned Yukiko on until they found an empty room.
“We should finish our meditation,” Gregory said. “It’ll also give us a chance to miss the others in the mess hall.”
“Yes, that might be good,” Yukiko said as she put her things beside the door. “Are you going to tell me what happened in aether class?”
“The adept tried to fry my hands,” Gregory said, putting his bag down. “I saw the strings of aether and was able to get out of the way in time. I still need to recopy that last page of notes.”
“It’s good that you saw them,” Yukiko said. “The fact that an adept is trying to help them injure us means it’s worse than I feared.”
“Yeah… It might come down to avoiding the classes for the rest of the year.”
“That isn’t ideal, but it might be our only recourse if we wish to avoid the worst of it.”
“Yeah.”
~*~*~
With their meditation and bath done, the couple walked to the mess hall.
The sun had set, so only the lights from the lamps spaced intermittently and the moon lit the area. As they walked down the path, Gregory looked up, looking at the stars overhead. “The new year starts soon,” he murmured.
“Yes, and my birthday, as well,” Yukiko said.
“That’s in six days?”
“The day before winter solstice. We came that close to me being a year behind you in the academy.”
“Huh, that would’ve changed a lot of things,” Gregory murmured. “I might have fallen for Nick’s false face.”
“You wouldn’t have been happy there.”
“No, I wouldn’t have been. But once you join a clan, there’s no leaving that clan until you’re done with the commitment to the empire. Even then, it takes effort to leave one. Your dad isn’t even a magi and he had trouble,” Gregory said.
“Yes. It was another reason why I was so hesitant to join a clan. Not that we’re being given much choice.”
“We haven’t officially joined Aether’s Guard yet. Maybe we can work out a clause to leave at the end of our commitment?”
“We can ask. Though with the clan being so small, I doubt they will object too much if we leave. Their other members must have left over the years, too.”
“It’s also been more than twenty years since they’ve had any new members,” Gregory added.
“Yes. I think there will be others after us, though. They’ll have to be strong and talented, as the clan is likely to be a target for a long time because of us.”
“Then why take us in?” Gregory mused. “The trouble has to be more than what we can bring as tournament winners.”
“Which makes me think that Lightshield knows or suspects something,” Yukiko replied.
“Bishop…” Gregory said. “I told her I talked to my aether. I didn’t know it was unusual then.”
“She must have told him,” Yukiko nodded. “I want to ask at the archive, but even if they have any texts on Darkness, I’m sure they are restricted above novices.”
“Yeah.”
“Dinner, then back to the rooms to study,” Yukiko smiled as they stepped into the mess hall.
Pausing in the doorway, they were surprised at the scene going on. Everyone was watching a large man in a sunflower kimono kneeling and bowing, his head pressed to the floor.
“I’m sorry for not seeing you as people,” Jenga was saying as he bowed.
The cooks all looked anxious and were trying to get him to stand back up.
Jenga rose to his feet, his face blank. “I have done as my duel required of me.” Turning, he saw Gregory by the door and stiffened. “It’s done, Novice.”
“I witnessed it,” Gregory said. Placing his hands in a formal bowing position, Gregory bowed his head. “The duel has been satisfied.” He said, using the phrasing he’d read earlier in the year.
Jenga stiffened before he bowed his head back, his right fist cupped by his left palm at chest height. “The duel has been satisfied.”
Gregory and Yukiko headed for the food line, while Jenga and a handful of other people wearing the same clan symbol left the mess hall. Giving the eurtiks smiles, the pair were quickly served.
“My son left on his trip today,” Steva said.
“May the Traveler watch over him,” Gregory said.
“Thank you,” Steva replied.
“I didn’t mean to make that awkward for you all,” Gregory said. “I didn’t think he’d do it when so many others were present.”
“It’s fine,” Velma assured him. “By next week, no one will remember. Enjoy your meal.”
~*~*~
Nearing the dormitory after dinner, the two of them were ready to do a bit of studying and turn in for the night. When they arrived, three people in cyan kimonos were sitting on the bench right outside.
“Novices,” one of them said, getting to her feet, “we’ve been trying to meet with you.”
“We’re sorry, Magus,” Yukiko said. “We’ve been very busy.”
“The winners of the tournament usually are,” one of the others spoke up.
“We’d been hoping to speak of your future with a clan,” the third magus added.
Yukiko bowed to them. “I’m sorry. We’ve picked out three clans that we’re interested in.”
All three frowned, but inclined their heads. “We understand,” the first one sighed. “May your clan help raise you higher.”
“Thank you, Magus,” Gregory said, bowing to them.
As the three magi left, Dia stepped out onto the porch. “Novices, now that the majority of your year has gone off to the clans, would you care to change rooms?”
“No, Keeper,” Yukiko said. “We’ll keep them until we also leave.”
Dia bowed her head. “Of course. You’ve made your choice?”
“We’re close,” Gregory said. “Nothing has been finalized yet.”
Dia’s lips twitched and her eyes seemed to sparkle with laughter. “Of course. I did hear a curious rumor today.”
Yukiko glanced at Gregory before she took the bait. “What rumor is that, Keeper?”
“An old clan, one of the oldest, is about to be rejuvenated. My mother used to care for the clan when they had a building inside the walls of the academy. If that were the case, I would expect that my duties here might shift, as well.”
Gregory was able to mostly suppress his laughter. “That would be interesting.”
“Do you think that clan would be able to do right by their novices?” Yukiko asked, able to keep her face straight.
“They might be hard-pressed, but they would do everything they could.”
“Since we’re still undecided, we’ll keep an open ear for them,” Yukiko said. “If you will pardon us, Keeper, we’re going to study before bed.”
“Sleep well, Novices.”
“Thank you, Keeper,” they said.
Yukiko dropped her things off in her room before meeting Gregory in his. Settling in at the table, she passed the ring of the mind over to him. “Your turn. We forgot to pass it earlier.”
“We got a bit distracted,” Gregory replied, slipping on the ring that would help him train his mind path better. “Did you have a box waiting for you, too?”
“It’s marked from the academy. It should be the gifts from the tournament,” Yukiko replied. “Did you want to open yours?”
“Might as well,” Gregory said as he opened the lid of the small chest. “Powder, pills, leaves… looks very similar to what your father bought us.”
“I wonder if we can double up on them?” Yukiko asked.
“Ask Rafiq tomorrow?”
“Yes, that might be for the best.”
“Economics?” Gregory asked as he set the box aside, ready to get to studying.
“You’re doing much better with it, but yes, that’s for the best right now,” Yukiko smiled.
The next hour was devoted to Yukiko helping him understand economics better. When the hour chimed, they both sighed, as the day was done.
Yukiko moved around the table and leaned against Gregory. “A few minutes, just for us?”
“Agreed,” Gregory murmured as he put his arm around her.
“Do you think your father would come for the wedding, if he could?” Yukiko asked after a moment of silence.
Gregory exhaled slowly, conflicted on the question. “I don’t know. I think he would now, but a year ago? No, he’d never come near this place.”
“I asked Mother to see what the cost would be to have his debt paid,” Yukiko whispered. “I didn’t know how to mention it before now.”
Shifting, Gregory pulled her closer to him. “It’s okay, dear one. Afraid I was going to be upset?”
“A little. You resist me trying to pay for things.”
“I did,” Gregory nodded, “but I’ve come to accept that it will be like that. I’ll do my best to repay you in love.”
Gently tilting her head to face him, he kissed her softly.
Yukiko turned to make the kiss easier, wrapping her arms around him.
The kiss deepened slowly, their lips parting ever so slightly as they let the moment build. Yukiko let out a soft sound and pushed herself against Gregory. Gregory pulled her closer, almost dragging her into his lap as they continued to kiss.
Both of them let out shuddering breaths when the kiss ended, their foreheads resting against each other and their eyes locked on their lover’s.
“I need to go,” Yukiko said breathily.
“I know,” Gregory replied, his voice a whisper. “I’ll see you in the morning, Yuki.”
Yukiko didn’t move. She knew she should go, but she didn’t want to.
“We’d disappoint your father,” Gregory said softly. “Your mother would understand.”
With a shuddering breath, she closed her eyes and leaned away from him. “Yes… Six months. Why does it seem so far away?”
“Because time always crawls when you want something.”
“Yes… Yes, it does,” Yukiko agreed as she shifted farther away from him. “This is going to be difficult.”
“Yes,” Gregory agreed, scooting back.
Opening her eyes, she gave him a strained smile. “Good night, dear one.”
“Sleep well, my heart,” Gregory replied.
Her eyes sparkled as she got to her feet. “I will.”
Gregory watched her go, exhaling a deep breath when she left. Standing up, he picked up the chest to put it into his closet. When he opened the door, he frowned, as there were a lot more clothes.
“Guess the staff put you away for me,” Gregory said as he set the small chest on one of the shelves.
Taking one of the leaves from Alvis Alchemy, he put it under his tongue as he got undressed. The faint taste lingered in his mouth when he crawled into his bedding. As he closed his eyes for sleep, he could feel his aether working to process the leaf.
