Gregory smiled as they made their way into the city. “How do you think they’ll take it?”
“My parents will be accepting,” Yukiko said.
“I’m not sure, but I’m hopeful. My sister might get upset,” Jenn said. “No doubt she’ll worry that you’re going to push me aside.”
Mindie looked nervous. “It’ll be okay, right?”
Roshana patted her back. “No one who has met you would be upset to have you as family.”
“She’s right,” Clover added. “My parents would be overjoyed if you were part of our family.”
“Mine would be very happy, as well,” Ling smiled.
“It’ll be fine,” Gregory told Mindie. “Yuki’s parents only care whether or not she’s happy. She’s happy you are joining us, so they will be, too.”
Mindie exhaled slowly, looking at the city before them. “Never thought Buldoun would play such an important role in my life…”
“Many things that have happened or are going to happen here will have an impact in our lives,” Yukiko said softly. “You’ve all been accepted by Darkness. That’s a big step for all of you in joining our growing family. We’re making solid friends who might help us later in life. This trip will be remembered fondly by all of us in the future.”
The guards on the gate gave them nods as they approached. “Aether’s Guard. Can’t lose a single fight, can you?”
“Don’t mind Gus. He keeps betting against you, trying to win his losses back,” another guard laughed as he waved them through. “Mind the laws and have a good day, Magi.”
“We’ll have two tough fights in the coming days,” Gregory said. “We’ll be doing our best to win them both, though.”
“Who’d bet against a mage who can see the future?” another guard laughed. “Only a bean straw man would.”
The other guards laughed as the magi kept walking. Gregory slowed down once they were away from the gate. “Yuki, can you explain that?”
“Buldoun saying: ‘only a dumb man uses bean straw.’ Beds are typically stuffed with straw for most, but the poorest use bean straw, because other types are too expensive. It’s a slight against the poor being stupid. Therefore, the stupid are poor.”
“That wasn’t in any of the books we read,” Jenn said.
“It’s an idiom,” Yukiko explained. “Like ‘a mug’s game.’ It’s similar.”
“Being able to use their sayings correctly would help others accept you, wouldn’t it?” Roshana asked.
“It would show that you’ve come to understand the culture, maybe,” Ling said. “Like being naked in the bath?”
“Are idioms gathered? Can we study them?” Clover asked.
“Not that I know of,” Yukiko said slowly. “We could ask Rafiq? If anyone would know, he might.”
“Something to consider. We have no idea where we’ll be for our adept or magus years,” Jenn said.
“Can always ask him tomorrow before our match. We know we have time to get ready after Hayworth’s fight, so there’s no need to get armored so early,” Gregory added.
“True,” Jenn agreed.
“I’m sad that we finished the book,” Clover said. “Are we going to do an hour of normal reading in that time slot?”
“We should,” Roshana said. “It was nice to have Gregory reading to us, but we all have things we’d like to learn more about.”
“I have some of Lighthand’s journals,” Gregory said. “If anyone wants to read them, I’ll be going back to them.”
“What was the last one about?” Jenn asked.
“I’m still in the early volumes. They were advancing through what had been the wilds back then, south of where Wesrik is. The empire grew a lot from where it started when it was just the Kingdom of Welton.”
“Still early in the first war, then?” Ling asked.
“Yes, but there are disagreements starting in these journals. Lighthand was already doubting the purpose of the war,” Gregory said softly.
“Not something to discuss here, then,” Yukiko said, “but something we should all do in the future. Understanding our founder’s thoughts might help us understand his reasons to found the clan.”
“Agreed,” Mindie said.
~*~*~
The inn was busy when they walked in. Scattered applause came from the Warlin guards and a few other tables. Others frowned at the group, clearly not happy with the magi continuing to win.
“Thank you,” Yukiko smiled. “We’ll be trying to win our last three fights, as well.”
“Just go back to the empire!” a gruff-looking man spat.
“Detter, mind yourself,” Calitona, the innkeeper, said sharply. “You’ll be civil in the inn or you won’t be inside.”
The man sneered as he stood up. “Empire-lover!” He spat on the floor and stomped toward the door.
The magi cleared the doorway so the man wouldn’t be near them when he left. He spat again at Gregory’s foot, missing when he shifted it just out of the way.
“We apologize,” Yukiko told Calitona. “We don’t mean to cost you patrons.”
“Detter’s always a problem. If he never comes back, it won’t be a loss,” Calitona replied. “We don’t blame your father’s men, nor those who cheered for you. I myself will not do so. I have family who are connected to one of the houses.”
“We’ll try to not disrupt your business, nor to cause problems,” Yukiko smiled.
“Thank you.”
It was just down the hall to the private dining room. After greetings were exchanged and seats were taken, Yukiko jumped right into the big news for the night.
“Mother, Father, Adolphus, Umbrose, Ulga, and Candace,” Yukiko smiled. “We have news for the families.” Seeing some eyes go wide at what they thought the news could be, Yukiko chuckled. “No, no one is pregnant. Instead, Greg, Jenn, and I have agreed to marry Mindie.”
Silence filled the room for a moment as that sank in. Mindie started to look increasingly worried, and Gregory covered her hand with his, giving her a smile.
“That’s good news,” Hao said, the first to regain his mental footing. “It was obvious that you care for her, and her for you. We just didn’t know it was in such a way. A healer is good for your family.”
“I’m a little shocked,” Adolphus said. “Jenn, you want more women vying for his attention?”
“It’s not vying,” Jenn said. “Love isn’t divided by loving others. All of us love each other. We believe in our love.”
“We just worry for you, is all. None of us will go against your love, not when it was you that helped us bring our dear Ulga into our family,” Umbrose said. “Mindie, welcome to the family.” She got up and went around to hug Mindie, who hugged her back.
“Thank you,” Mindie sniffled. “I’ve missed a mother’s love…”
“Why?” Yoo-jin asked.
“Mindie’s mother died before she became a magi,” Yukiko explained. “It was that desire to heal others that might have sparked her aether.”
“Is that possible?” Candace asked.
“It’s unknown what can cause someone to become a magi,” Gregory said. “If you’re fated to be one, strong emotions can propel your magic to a specific type.”
“Like I always wanted to be stronger,” Jenn said softly.
“And I wanted to hide from those who spoke ill of me,” Yukiko added.
“Victoria, one of our friends, always wanted to travel, and she’s a spatial magi,” Clover added.
“I had no idea that magic type could be influenced outside of bloodlines,” Hao said.
“Bloodlines can still influence it,” Gregory said. “My mother was likely a user of foresight magic, but I don’t think she was a magi.”
That got everyone’s attention.
“She saw the future at times… called them her dreams,” Gregory said softly, since everyone focused on him. Umbrose went back to her seat as Gregory talked, allowing Mindie to sit again. “She was the one who told me about magi. She told me stories of Lionel Lighthand and the other great magi of the past. It was those stories that prompted my desire to be a magi, myself. When I told her, she looked distant for a few minutes, then told me I would be one.”
“She could see that far into the future?” Yoo-jin asked gently.
“I… don’t know,” Gregory admitted. “She and my father talked about her dreams a lot. It was her dreams that had us living outside of the village. She did know that she wouldn’t be there for me… later…” He stumbled as his emotions tangled inside of him.
“The future can be changed, though,” Adolphus said.
Gregory cleared his throat. “Yes, but to what end? What if the difference wasn’t her death, but mine? Or worse? The future can be changed, but sometimes, changing it isn’t a good thing. I try not to dwell on what could have been. As Lightshield told me, thinking of what might have been can lead to madness.”
Hao cleared his throat. “How many will attend the wedding?” he asked to pull the conversation back on topic and to give Gregory a moment.
“All of the empire’s magi, minus the Eternal Flame, of course. All three houses for Buldoun, including their chaperones and the archmage. And all of you, plus Elsa,” Yukiko said.
“Hmm… I’ll have to get started on finding a venue and a place for the reception,” Hao said as he rose to his feet. “Adolphus, why don’t you come with me? It’s for our daughters, after all.”
Adolphus sat still for a moment, then got up. “Yes.”
Hao stopped next to the table. “Gregory, you should come. Let the women talk while we go get things in order.”
Gregory glanced at Yukiko, whose head nodded fractionally. “Of course, Father.”
After goodbyes, the men were out of the room a minute later. Hao paused in the hall before they could go out the door to the stable yard. “Gregory, was this your doing?”
Gregory triggered foresight, looking down branching pathways before turning it off. “There’s a lot to tell you, Father, and the answer is partially yes. Yuki and Jenn both want me surrounded by love. Bringing Mindie in here and now was Yuki’s idea, but we would have included her eventually, either way.”
“Jenn agreed?” Adolphus asked.
“She’s been fully supportive the entire time. If I thought for a moment that it would hurt either of them, I wouldn’t allow it. Their love means too much for me to do that.”
“And soon, that will include Mindie, as well…” Hao said slowly. “The others… they look eager.”
Gregory exhaled slowly, as this was the part where things could go terribly wrong. “They’re hopeful. Yuki and Jenn are testing them. If both Jenn and Yuki agree, then… we’ll be adding more to our family.”
“Why?” Adolphus asked tightly. “Why would my little girl allow that?”
“Father,” Gregory said, turning toward the shorter man, “there are reasons… reasons that would put my wives in severe danger if they’re discussed. Only those who marry into the family will ever know the truth. It’s a secret we’ve shared since I married them. We’ve kept it from everyone, even our parents, because it’s that dangerous.”
Hao inhaled sharply. “This is the secret you avoided during the bachelor party?”
“Yes.”
“Yuki agrees with your assessment?”
“She was the one who told me it should be this way,” Gregory said softly. “I tell you this now because one or both of you would’ve been angry later. If I ever cause my hearts pain, I’ll come to you and lay my neck bare for your justice. My word on my aether.”
Both men took a small step back. At that moment, Gregory felt not like an apprentice, initiate, or even a magus— his aether seeped out, and it felt far older and stronger for just an instant. Hao touched the wall as he exhaled while Adolphus’ back pressed to the wood of the hall.
“Sorry!” Gregory said, shocked at what’d just happened.
“Very well…” Hao whispered. “I will never ask again, Gregory. I have your word that you will love my Yu for all her life?”
“Until I can no longer draw breath, and then a moment longer,” Gregory said earnestly. “The same with Jenn. I cannot see life without them beside me.”
Adolphus shuddered, then nodded sharply. “Very well… If she ever tells me differently, I will come for you, foresight or not.”
“I agree, Father,” Gregory said softly. “Our family might be very large, but it will only be full of love. You have my word on that.”
“We need a big venue,” Hao said, starting down the hall again. “One that will evoke power and love in all those attending… I think I know the perfect place.”
Adolphus followed Hao, with Gregory the last one in line. Exhaling slowly, Gregory hoped that what he’d said was enough to ease the worry in both of his fathers-in-law. There was a brief worry about what all the women were discussing, but he shook his head— Yukiko and Jenn would have to fight that battle.
