“Good morning, Apprentices,” Rafiq greeted them. “Did you enjoy your days off?”
“It was different,” Gregory replied. “We missed being able to be here yesterday morning, but we were outside of the walls of the academy at the time.”
“I figured something kept you away. It isn’t like you to miss a day of study. It’s interesting, though… we’ve had two other apprentices in here for the majority of the day over the last week.”
“Ling and Clover,” Yukiko smiled. “They’re in our group for tactics.”
Rafiq’s voice reflected his puzzlement. “Group? Tactics is a single large class.”
“It was,” Jenn corrected him. “Egil Magi-killer got approval to change things up this year.”
“Hmm… Intriguing. The council isn’t known for drastic changes in policy. I wonder…” Rafiq trailed off, looking into the distance.
“Wonder?” Gregory asked.
“Hmm? Oh, nothing to concern you. Did you need new books?”
“We’re still working on the ones we have,” Yukiko replied. “Thank you for all of your help.”
“No thanks are needed. It’s my joy to see young minds expand and learn,” Rafiq grinned. “Good studying to you.”
“Thank you,” they replied.
“I wonder what he didn’t say?” Yukiko asked. “It isn’t like him to not answer a question.”
“Maybe it touched on something they aren’t supposed to discuss with apprentices?” Jenn suggested.
“Could be,” Yukiko said slowly.
They had barely begun to make their Magi Squares when their friends joined them. Daciana was the first one at the table, as she normally was.
“Good morning,” Daciana greeted them. “Did you enjoy the day outside the walls?”
“We did,” Yukiko replied. “We were able to visit some shops, and even had an early dinner at Stabled Hunger.”
“How were my parents?” Nessa asked as she sat.
“Good. Your mother spoke with us for a while. We were able to reassure her about some of her fears.”
Nessa looked down. “Did they bother you?”
“Not at all,” Gregory said. “You should be proud to have parents who love you so much.”
“I am, but I also don’t want them to bother you,” Nessa said, looking back up. “I’ve told them time and time again that everything is okay.”
“But you could just be putting up a strong front to make them worry less,” Jenn told her. “Hearing it from others can help.”
“True…” Nessa said. “As long as you were okay with it.”
“Did my dad bother you?” Daciana asked.
“We never saw him,” Jenn told her.
Daciana exhaled in relief. “That’s good. I know he can be aggressive at times.”
Gregory’s lips trembled as he tried not to laugh. His shared glance with Jenn found her in the same position.
“At least you come by it naturally,” Nessa grinned.
Daciana blinked, looking as though she were about to object, then shrugged sheepishly. “I try to temper it.”
“We know,” Nessa smiled softly. “You do well until you get excited.”
“Then she gets very forward,” Victoria nodded. “I’ve noticed. That isn’t bad, either. It lets us all know where you stand on a point.”
“Agreed,” Nessa added.
“Okay, but I’m trying to be better about it,” Daciana said.
Gregory finished off the Magi Squares he’d been making. “There’s nothing wrong with being who you are if it doesn’t hurt those you care for. Yuki, for instance, can go a little overboard when it comes to helping her friends.”
Yukiko gave him a smile and shrugged her shoulders. “I treasure my friends. I’ve had so few that I want to make those who are my friends happy. Speaking of, we have Magi Squares made for you today.” She pushed a folded page to Victoria.
“For you, Nessa,” Jenn said, pushing a page to her.
“And for Daciana,” Gregory said, nudging his to her. “We have studying to do upstairs. We wish you the best in studying.”
“Have a good day,” the novices told them as the apprentices left.
“Don’t they normally do their Magi Squares with us?” Victoria asked as she opened up the paper she’d been given. “What?” As she looked down at the Magi Squares, she saw the two small stud earrings resting in the middle of the page, along with a smaller slip to explain what they were.
“It looks like they were speaking the truth…” Nessa smiled as she picked up the earrings on her page.
“‘Holds aether, so you can do more,’” Daciana whispered as she looked at the studs. “Wait, these used to be Jenn’s…” She coughed. “I mean… we’re lucky that we found these.”
“Indeed,” Nessa said, looking up just as the other three got out of their line of sight. “We’re very lucky to have found our friends, too.”
“Friends, yes. Friends are good,” Victoria smiled. “But some friends can grow close…” A hopeful gleam was in her eye as she said the words.
“They understood,” Yukiko whispered as they went up the stairs. “We’re treading some thin ice by doing that, but no one saw us, I think.”
“Apprentices, how is your studying going?” Sarinia asked, coming out of a dark alcove.
All three stiffened before Gregory replied, “Very well, Chief Archivist. Oh, and thank you for all the help you and your staff have given us.”
Sarinia’s smile grew slightly. “All who work here love to help the younger magi grow. Our deepest wish is that one day, the magi of today, will help change the world.”
Gregory blinked at her for a second, then bowed his head. “That is a lofty goal, but one I do find myself hoping for, as well.” Yukiko and Jenn nodded along with his words.
“Yes, I had thought you three might. I wish you a good day,” Sarinia said, moving past them with silent steps.
“Good day, Chief,” Gregory replied, bowing his head to her back.
They stayed quiet until they got to their table. Once they were seated and working on their expanded Magi Squares, Yukiko whispered, “She knows we’re helping the others.”
“She’s helped us in the past,” Gregory replied just as quietly. “I don’t think she’s against us.”
“We should still be careful,” Jenn said. “A friend today doesn’t mean a friend tomorrow.”
“Yeah, Nick helped prove that,” Gregory sighed, “but unlike him, I don’t sense her wearing a false face.”
“Agreed,” Yukiko nodded. “Her words have been true to us, and I can’t detect any lie to them.”
“Something to keep an eye on, regardless,” Jenn said.
“Yes, but unless she proves otherwise, I’d like to treat her as friendly,” Gregory said.
The other two agreed, and they lapsed into silence as they focused on their Magi Squares.
Eyes watched them for a moment longer from the darkness of a nearby alcove before they faded from view.
~*~*~
Arriving at tactics class, Gregory, Yukiko, and Jenn were smiling as they waited for the others. They didn’t have long to wait before Clover and Ling arrived.
“Did you enjoy your week off?” Clover asked as soon as she saw them. “We studied so much. It was amazing.”
“We had a lot of training, ourselves,” Yukiko replied, “but we did make time to leave the academy for a bit, too.”
“We were in the archive every day,” Ling said. “It was time well spent. I’m looking forward to today, though.”
“Because you finally get to play against me?” Jenn asked with a grin.
“I get to test my knowledge against you,” Ling replied.
“She’s been going over a lot of strategies,” Clover said. “She’s very intent on winning today.”
Ling looked away, her cheeks pinking. “As anyone should be.”
“Good. I want a challenge,” Jenn said amiably.
“But the other thing we want is to help you,” Yukiko said. “We picked up a few things you might enjoy, if you don’t mind a gift from a friend?”
Both Clover and Ling looked at her with surprise. Clover was the first to reply, which wasn’t a surprise to anyone in the room, “We’d love to be friends, but you don’t need to give us gifts for that.”
“Clover’s right,” Ling said with a small smile. “It is flattering, though, that you want to give us gifts.”
“These are gifts to help you learn,” Yukiko said, pulling four books from her obi and setting them on the desk. “If you want them, that is.”
Clover was there a half-step before Ling. Neither of them touched the books, but they were clearly eager to. “‘Lighthand’s Strategies’ and ‘Commander Stratagems’?” Clover nearly squealed as she stared at the books. “Oh, these will help my mind path and help me learn the game better!”
“Two each,” Ling said softly. “These are not cheap…” She glanced up at Yukiko. “You would give us these with nothing asked in return?”
“No strings attached,” Yukiko said sincerely. “I would like to be friends and not merely classmates, but you can spurn that and still keep the books.”
“Spurn you? No!” Clover said as she lurched over the table to give Yukiko a brief hug. “Momma always said a real friend asks for nothing, but will always try to make your life better. I’ll do my best to be a friend.”
Ling stood there for a long moment, clearly uncertain, before she bowed formally to Yukiko. “I accept the gifts, and will also try to be a friend.” Swallowing, she looked away. “Not that I’ll ever be able to do much to show that in return…”
“It’s fine,” Yukiko said, placing a hand on Ling’s arm briefly. “I’ll be looking forward to how you do today.”
“We all are,” Gregory said. “I still think Jenn will win, but I think you’ll do better than you fear.”
Ling nodded. “I will give my very best effort.”
“Shouldn’t we always?” The question was curious, without subtext.
“Good morning, Farin,” Gregory greeted the newest member of the group. “How was your week off?”
“Disappointing,” Farin replied. “I wish my magic hadn’t been split, but that is not what Aether decreed.”
“You have twin magic?” Jenn asked, surprised.
“Earth and water,” Farin replied. “Both are weaker than even those currently in the novice class. It’s why no clan will take me.”
“Everyone can find their place, in time,” Paul said, entering the room. “Have you improved in your martial skills at all?”
“No, sir,” Farin said. “I can’t find a teacher who will take me. I asked the keeper if the academy could help, but none of the other clanless have asked for extra instruction, so the council doesn’t want to hire someone to train just me.”
Paul stared at Farin for a long moment, then nodded. “I will find you an instructor, but if you fail to give them everything you have, they will stop teaching you. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!” Farin replied quickly, happiness filling his voice as he bowed formally. “Thank you, sir.”
“Enough,” Paul said. “Today, we have a game in earnest with Jenn against Ling. You can choose any empire commander. The field will be neutral ground, with a river breaking it in half. Gregory, Yukiko, Clover, set the board. Farin, you haven’t been with us long, so you will take notes. Gregory, when the game begins, you will answer any questions Farin has. Yukiko and Clover will bring any pieces that need to be brought into play. Questions?”
No one spoke up, so Paul nodded. “Get to it.”
~*~*~
“That was a long game. Ling did well,” Gregory said as they left the building. Stretching, he looked at the night sky and sighed. “Won’t be any training tonight.”
“It took longer than I thought it would… Ling understood more than I thought she did,” Jenn said. “Her use of the archers was perfect.”
“Clover is amusing,” Yukiko giggled. “Her encouraging Ling nearly made Magus Erichson rebuke her.”
“She means well,” Gregory chuckled, thinking about Clover’s antics.
“She just wanted Ling to feel better,” Jenn smiled. “Those two will make a good team when we have team games.”
“Yes, they will,” Yukiko agreed. “Reminds me some of Daciana and Nessa, honestly, but with less aggression and more unbridled cheer.”
Gregory laughed. “Yeah, I can see that.”
“Who do you think the cook will be tonight?” Jenn asked, looking up at the star-laden sky.
“I think Steva,” Yukiko replied. “Not that it matters. Dinner will be delicious, no matter who it is.”
