After bathing, everyone gathered back in Gregory’s tent. He explained what Lightshield had told him. Elsa was standing off to the side, waiting to hear what they were planning on doing.
“I’d suggest we spend the days we fight not going into the city,” Jenn said. “They’re already going to be full. We’ll need to cut back on sparring and magic training then, as it is.”
“Replace with resonance meditation?” Clover suggested.
“That would be good,” Roshana nodded.
“The day between fights, if we’re capable, we can schedule to go into the city,” Mindie said.
“That sounds like the best plan,” Yukiko said. “Even with you to heal us, we might not be in condition to do much after our fights.”
“A valid point,” Ling nodded.
“Today, we’re not going into the city. We’ve already told our parents we wouldn’t be,” Gregory said. “Maybe we should take a leisurely trip around the encampment?”
“Best to understand where everything is,” Yukiko agreed. “Elsa, you will come with us. This will help you know where things are, too.”
“As you wish, mistress,” Elsa said, the edge of happiness in her voice easy to hear.
“If you see anything to stop for, just say so and we’ll all pause,” Gregory said. “It’d be best if we stay together. We know there are people here who’d like to see us injured or dead.”
“Elsa, you’ll trail us,” Jenn said. “We want you to act like a servant for us, not as a friend. This will make it less likely for anyone to look to hurt you.”
Elsa swallowed, then bowed her head. “I understand, mistress.”
“We would make sure they paid for trying to do so,” Ling said with a soft growl.
“Of course,” Yukiko said, “but I’d rather she not be seen as a target.”
“Agreed, Yuki,” Gregory said. “If we’re out late enough, we’ll get dinner while we walk.”
“You’ll have extra work to make up for tomorrow,” Clover said to Elsa.
“Yes, but I will catch up then,” Elsa nodded, “if not tonight.”
“Five minutes?” Gregory asked.
“Yes, please,” Clover said, heading for the door. “I want to check something.”
~*~*~
As they went to leave their clan area, Hemet was standing by the way out. “Ahh, going out to see the sights?”
“Yes, sir,” Gregory said.
“If you can find some cores, please pick up as many as you can,” Hemet said. “Here is the money to buy them for me.”
Ling accepted it. “Is that all you need?”
“Hmm… for now, but if you see anything unique, let me know, and I will go check it myself.”
“I will keep my eyes open,” Ling smiled.
“Thank you. I just don’t care for the bustle of the crowds. Today isn’t as bad, but the next few weeks will see this place become quite lively.”
“The pickpockets will be out in the next few days,” Yukiko said. “The busier it is, the more likely for the light-fingered to ply their trade.”
“Yes. That is normal, but I doubt any of you will find yourself missing your money.”
“That’s true,” Mindie smiled.
“Let me not detain you further,” Hemet said. “I’ll be with the elder when you return.”
Saying their goodbyes, the eight of them walked away from the empire encampment. The sound of merchants calling their wares slowly grew louder as they went. Before they got out of the academy area, Gregory grinned, spotting Hayworth and his two clan members just ahead of them.
“Heading out?” Gregory called out to Hayworth.
Hayworth paused, looking back. “Ah, Pettit. Yes, we wanted to look around before we became too busy to do so. All of you are going? Who’s the girl?”
“Our servant,” Yukiko replied first. “She’s coming with us to help.”
“We wanted to see the encampment,” Clover nodded.
“Lots of non-magi about,” Hayworth said. “We could go together. Safety in numbers.”
“Never thought I’d hear that from you,” Gregory chuckled. “Unless anyone objects?” he asked, looking back at the others.
“Umm… can I speak with Adept Laka?” The man who spoke was pale and was wearing the Swift Wind kimono.
“Apprentice Binder,” Mindie smiled, “how are you?”
“Good, thanks to you, Adept. Thank you again.”
“Yes. Thank you,” the third member of the Swift Wind group said.
Gregory gave the physical enhancement magi a long look. He’d seen the man before, but something about him felt a little off. He was an inch shorter than Yukiko, but broad. Reminds me of Adolphus… is he part dwarven? He’d probably take it badly if I asked…
“You’re welcome, Apprentice Kang,” Mindie smiled. “I’m glad you all recovered as easily as you did.”
“Damned cowards ambushed us,” Kang said tightly.
“Surprised the sage let them stay,” Hayworth said, “but he would know better than us. Luckily, your clan was gracious enough to lend aid.”
“We try to help those who are friendly to us,” Yukiko smiled.
“Shall we go?” Gregory asked.
“Yes, sorry. I just wanted to thank her again,” Binder said.
“I love to heal, Oliver. It’s fine,” Mindie said.
As they started to leave the area again, Kang moved to walk beside Jenn. “I was hoping to speak with you.”
“Oh?”
“I wanted to ask about your training,” Kang said. “I understand if you don’t want to talk about it, but I felt the need to ask, at least. I haven’t seen anyone else at our level able to use their aether as sparingly as you do.”
“My teachers pushed me on conservation,” Jenn replied. “It’s about using just enough when you need it, not using it without thought. Now, it has meant that I’ve taken harder hits than I would have otherwise at times, but it’s what lets me outlast most magi of our year.”
“Hmm… I was just getting started on that before we left,” Kang said. “Your teachers push you hard.”
“No. They only match our intensity to learn,” Clover added in.
“Really?” Hayworth asked. “Well, it makes some sense. Three of you have ranked high in every tournament. I’d thought I was driven until I met you. It was one of the reasons I had to reevaluate old prejudices. I’d always been told fringers were slow, stupid, and not worth wasting time on. When Pettit showed up for the first time at the dormitory, I let those thoughts dictate my stance on him.”
“I remember,” Gregory said. “You insulted my mother.”
Hayworth sighed. “Yes… I will apologize now for that. As I said, I’ve had to reevaluate things.”
Exhaling slowly, Gregory nodded. “I accept. That almost had me come to blows with you, which would’ve made things much worse.”
“It would have. Then again… I might have suggested to a clan member that you needed to be taught a lesson. He failed once, then managed to trap you in a duel… only for us to find out how wrong we were.”
“Jenga was your doing?” Gregory asked, curious that Hayworth was admitting it so easily.
“Both times,” Hayworth shrugged. “It cost the clan the first apprentice tournament. Jenga was removed from the competition for his embarrassment to the clan.”
“Master Brem was very upset,” Binder shuddered. “Luckily, Jenga made up for it with the second tournament.”
“He was humbled by that duel,” Kang said. “Master Brem made him teach me the odachi for the first half of the year. I did my best and he was harsh with me, but at the end, he said I was an apt student.”
“Sadly, we didn’t get to see your skill much,” Clover said.
Kang tensed, his voice tight. “No… I didn’t get to do much.”
“She didn’t mean offense,” Ling said. “I think everyone was surprised by the ruling.”
“We certainly were,” Hayworth snorted. “But Kang will get the chance to show his abilities here.”
“Yes. I aim to be the best of the three physical enhancement magi from the academy in this tournament,” Kang said with a hint of challenge.
“Oh? Sounds like a wager,” Jenn chuckled. “Did you have anything in mind to back up that boasting?”
“We’ll get a chance at each of their fighters,” Kang said. “How about the one of us that does the best, overall?”
“Who’d judge that?” Mindie asked.
“We could ask either the Shining Light or Iron Hand leaders. Both pride themselves on honesty.”
“I can see how that would work, but what would be the wager?” Jenn asked.
“We’ve asked Magus Harrison. He suggested the favor owed for the healing is canceled,” Hayworth said.
“Ah, so this was already discussed,” Roshana said. “We’d need to ask our elder, then.”
“Agreed, it would be contingent on his approval,” Hayworth smiled, “but does Jenn agree to the wager?”
“Just us two. Not Jason,” Jenn said. “I don’t trust that pile of slime to be honest, nor honor the debt.”
Kang laughed. “Just us, then. We both know we’re more skilled than he is, anyways.”
“As much as I hate him, he’s still skilled with his magic,” Jenn said. “I wish I’d hit him just a bit harder in that last match, though. I checked my attack just a bit.”
“Why?” Kang asked.
“We try not to kill during tournaments,” Gregory said. “We’re here to learn and do our best, not cost the empire skilled magi… even if those magi are terrible people.”
“I can appreciate that sentiment,” Hayworth said, “but I wish she’d killed him. I still wish you’d killed Nick when you broke his spine.”
Gregory thought back to the fight Hayworth had alluded to. It was a year ago, but felt like so much longer to him. “Things would be different if I had, or if Jenn had.”
“Why do you wish you’d killed Jason now?” Binder asked, having been quiet as they walked.
“He tried to break Greg’s skull during the Empire’s Gambit tournament,” Jenn said tightly.
“What?” Hayworth asked.
Gregory explained the attack in the hallway.
“Ah, yes… that does sound like him testing your foresight,” Hayworth said.
“We need to find bane cores for the grandmaster,” Ling said. “So please, if you see them being sold, let me know?”
“I will,” Binder nodded.
Elsa trailed them, watching and listening. A spark of fear had crept into her heart about how brutal the academy was, but it didn’t diminish her hope of becoming a magi.
~*~*~
The two clans found that many of those present made way for them, not wanting to anger so many magi. As the day wore on, they’d stopped at several shops, checking books, enchantment and alchemical ingredients, and even weapons.
They’d also sampled some of the food stalls as they browsed the area. Some were empire foods, but a few were Buldoun foods that Yukiko suggested. The schnitzel was well-received, but the sauerkraut was disliked by everyone but Jenn, Kang, and surprisingly, Elsa.
As it got closer to evening, Hayworth wished them well and led his clan members back toward the academy tents. Gregory had them stop at another book shop, picking up a couple of books for Elsa. She’d stammered her thanks and clutched them tightly as they went back to their tents for the evening.
They passed on dinner, still being full from the day of snacking. They returned the extra vela, along with the purchased bane cores, to Hemet. He thanked them, pausing his game of Go with Lightshield for a few moments.
Finally back at their tents, the group split apart to do resonance meditation before bed. Elsa started to catch up on the laundry she hadn’t gotten to earlier after putting her books away.
Once Gregory was alone with his wives, he brought up a question he’d had, “I was wondering, Yuki… when do we tell Mindie the full truth?”
“I was going to wait until after you married her, dear one.”
“Has she been fully approved?”
“I’d say yes,” Jenn said. “She’s already showing that she’ll change for him, and for us.”
Yukiko hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll agree. I was waiting for after the tournament.”
“Because of the others?” Gregory asked.
“Mostly,” Yukiko said. “Also because I’m not sure how Jenn’s parents will take it.”
“Oh…” Jenn said slowly. “That’s a good point… but with Ulga with them now, I think they’d accept it.”
“It would also show the others that you mean to accept them, too,” Gregory added.
“And they’d let our other friends know. It might fray things a little for them, but I think it would push them to do their best,” Jenn smiled.
“Okay, but near the end of the tournament,” Yukiko said. “After the fighting, at least.”
“I can agree to that,” Gregory said. “I just see her glances. I think she’s worried about not being fully accepted.”
“I’ll have a word with her tomorrow,” Yukiko said.
“Meditate and expand our resonance for an hour?” Jenn asked when there was a pause.
“Yes. We don’t want to go to bed right away. Elsa will likely be back with the clothes by then,” Yukiko agreed.
“That’d be best, then,” Gregory said.
“But after our clothing is delivered,” Yukiko said, her eyes hungry, “we’ll go to bed.”
“I’ll make sure to stay as quiet as possible,” Jenn giggled.
Gregory chuckled, as his heart felt full of love for his wives. “We’ll all need to.”
