Elsa opened the door and gave them all a wide smile. “Welcome back, magi. Please, come in. We have things ready for you. Will you be training in the yard first?”
“Of course,” Yukiko replied fondly. “We’ll change and be there shortly.”
“Very well. I will make sure the children are ready for you,” Elsa said before she glided away.
“Magi, welcome back,” Baylyss said, passing Elsa in the hall. “The three rooms are ready, and the extra mats have been cleaned and placed. The children did ask if they would be allowed to watch this time.”
“Yes,” Gregory replied. “It’s why we split it into three rooms, so that there would be room for them to observe.”
“I also have a limited supply of items on hand in case of accidents,” Baylyss said, looking at Daciana. “How did that heal up?”
Daciana looked away. “I saw the healers when we got back to the academy. It’s fine, now.”
“What happened?” Jenn asked.
“My last match with Indara last week… I landed poorly,” Daciana said.
“Her tail got kinked,” Baylyss said.
Daciana’s ears flattened and her tail curled down between her legs. “An accident.”
“I never thought about that,” Gregory said thoughtfully. “That had to hurt.”
“It did…” Daciana said.
“I’m glad I’ll never know what it felt like,” Victoria said. “Daciana ignores a lot of pain, but even she acted like it hurt.”
“I don’t even want to imagine,” Nessa said, “though there wasn’t any lasting harm, at least.”
“That’s good,” Jenn said. “Thank you for having some healing items on standby, Baylyss.”
“You are welcome. Will you three be staying the night?”
“No, we have to go back tonight,” Yukiko responded. “We believe that the elder has returned.”
“Ah, yes, that would make sense. The tournament is right around the corner.”
“One hundred and ninety-two hours,” Daciana said.
Baylyss gave Daciana an amused look. “Indeed, that does sound correct. Your clothing is waiting for you. I will have refreshments made as requested, but be aware that it will not give you a lot of leeway.”
“We know. It’ll be fine,” Yukiko smiled. “Come on, the children are waiting for us.”
As they all started away, Baylyss touched Gregory’s shoulder when he went to pass her, being the last one in line. “If you have a moment?”
“Of course. What do you need, Baylyss?”
“I just wanted to ask if you think any of them might end up as magi in the coming years,” Baylyss said.
“I don’t know,” Gregory replied. “They’re all good kids, but honestly, I hope they aren’t. They would have the same kind of hatred directed toward them that they’ve already had to deal with.”
Baylyss nodded slowly. “I was thinking much the same, but I thought you should know that they all hope they are. Maybe you can speak with them so they understand what they would face?”
“I’ll speak with Yuki. She and the others would be able to explain it better than me.”
“Very well,” Baylyss said. “Thank you. I should point out that I asked you specifically, as Elsa will listen to you above any of the others, and the children all listen to her.”
Gregory’s forehead creased. “She listens to me the most?”
Baylyss gave him a kindly smile and laughed lightly. “You were the one who suggested helping her first, and were the one who gave her more money than she’d ever held at one time well before she came here. She idolizes you above the others, Gregory.”
“Oh,” Gregory said slowly, thinking back to how he’d hurt Elsa last time. “Yeah, that makes sense. I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you. I’ve delayed you long enough. Good training to you all.”
Entering the garden, he found all the children waiting for them. “Before we start, I wanted to say a few things,” Gregory said, surprising everyone. “I’ve been thinking about you all,” he gave the kids a smile. “Have you all been hoping to be magi?”
“Of course!” the eldest boy said first, swiftly echoed by the others.
“We want to be like you,” the youngest girl said, her scaled tail swishing behind her.
Yukiko, seeing what was going on, spoke up, “You know that we face hardships, right?”
“Because of your heritage?” Elsa asked understanding what they were doing.
“Yes,” Yukiko said. “Just because we’re magi doesn’t mean that it stops. It’s worse in some ways.”
“But… you’re magi…” the young girl said.
“It means we don’t get as much grief from those who aren’t, but the other magi can be much worse,” Jenn said. “Even for me, it was hard.”
“I get people who disparage me, too,” Gregory added. “For me, it’s the fact that I was born out on the fringe, as I’m sure Victoria is dealing with.” She nodded when they looked at her. “I just want you to keep in mind that being a magi doesn’t mean people will stop being mean.”
“In some cases, it’ll be even worse,” Yukiko said softly. “I’ve had people who didn’t just speak badly to me, but wanted to collar me and treat me as a pet, or even kill me.”
All the children’s eyes got large as she spoke.
“I was lucky to have my friends,” Yukiko went on. “We don’t want to squash your dreams, but you need to temper them.”
“Since the start of the year, I’ve had a lot of fights,” Daciana said, “all because of my or Nessa’s blood. Even then, I have to pick and choose when to fight or they’ll try harder to keep pushing me to fight until I lose.”
“We’re training you to defend yourself, but also to hone your mind to think,” Gregory said. “Even if you never become a magi, there are things you can do to support those you care for.”
“Like we do here,” Elsa said. “Making sure the home is in order for them is vitally important.”
“It is,” Yukiko smiled. “Knowing we have a safe place to rest with people who care for us is a balm to our nerves.”
“And if we aren’t magi, there is a clan hall that could use people to care for it,” Elsa said. “We can still serve them indirectly in the future.”
The children looked a little more relieved.
“If you are magi, there is at least one clan that doesn’t care if you are eurtik,” Gregory said, “but please don’t fixate on being magi unless it’s something you dearly wish for yourself.”
“Now, it’s time for the Peaceful Fist,” Jenn said. “Afterward, we’ll split you into groups so you can watch the training. You’ll rotate rooms so you can see each of them and us for different sessions.”
The children all smiled and took up the first stance of the meditation. Elsa looked thoughtful, and her eyes kept going to Gregory.
~*~*~
Gregory wiped the sweat from his brow. Damn, that was work. Even Victoria is coming along fast. If they can overcome the aether of the other novices, they’ll win easily.
“Greg?”
Turning around, he found Elsa standing in the doorway. “Yes?”
“Thank you for helping them understand that they don’t need to be magi.”
“That includes you, Elsa.”
Taking a deep breath, she nodded. “I know. If I’m not a magi when my age day comes… will there be room for me to help?”
“If that’s what you want when that day comes, I will speak with Dia or whoever else is in charge and ask for you.”
Swallowing hard, Elsa took a step toward him. “By then, you three won’t be at the academy at all, will you?”
“We’ll be done with our magus posting, so I don’t know where we might be by then,” Gregory said.
Drawing herself up a dozen feet from him, she met his eyes. “You’d have a home?”
“Well, yeah, I would hope to,” Gregory said, uncertain of where she was going with her question.
“Your new home would need staff. Would…?” She trailed off, unable to ask for what she wanted.
A vision hit Gregory and he breathed slowly when he saw Elsa— older, taller, and grown into a mature woman. She was wearing a maid uniform bearing the emblem of the clan and was curtsying to him. Her eyes shone with happiness and a hint of mischievousness as she watched him from under her eyelashes.
He blinked as the vision vanished and exhaled slowly. I see. Thank you, Darkness. Clearing his throat, he gave voice to her unspoken question. “Yes, if you continue to apply yourself as you already are.”
Eyes going wide, Elsa stared at him before a wide, bright smile formed on her lips. “Thank you.” The words were choked with emotion, but instead of flinging herself at him, she stood up straighter and dipped a respectful curtsy before she rushed from the room.
“You’re welcome,” Gregory said to the empty room.
It was less than a minute later when Yukiko found him, still standing there. “Greg, the bath is open now.”
“Okay. Uh, Yuki?”
“What is it, dear one?” Yukiko asked, moving to his side.
“I had a vision of Elsa.”
Fear hit her stomach and she grabbed his arm. “Yes?”
Gregory explained what had happened, and as he did, Yukiko exhaled, her fear ebbing. “So I told her yes, if she keeps doing as she is.”
“And I agree with you,” Yukiko said. “Jenn will, too.”
“Okay. I just worry that she’s trapping herself with us.”
“She will make her own choices, but you gave her hope. That will drive her to do the best she can. It is still many years away, as you know. There’s a chance she will be a magi or that she’ll find something else.”
“Yeah…” Gregory exhaled.
“Go bathe. After you’re done, we need to get back to the clan hall,” Yukiko said, kissing his cheek. “I’ll tell Jenn what happened.”
“Okay,” Gregory said, kissing her cheek before leaving the room, putting the conversation with Elsa behind him.
~*~*~
When they arrived back at the clan hall, they were surprised that Dia wasn’t outside smoking. As they exchanged footwear for slippers, Ravol found them. “Ah, you’re back. Did you already bathe?”
“We did before we came back,” Yukiko said.
“Good. I’ll let Dia know that you’re ready for dinner then. We were mostly waiting on you.”
“We’re sorry to delay the meal,” Gregory said. “We’ll go to the dining room.”
“Okay,” Ravol said as he hurried away.
Entering the dining room, they saw Bishop already there, speaking with Elder Lightshield. Bishop looked up as they entered and smiled. “Welcome back, Apprentices.”
“Thank you,” Gregory replied to her before turning his attention to Lightshield. “Elder, it’s good to see you again.”
Lightshield gave them a smile as they sat. “It is good to see you three again, as well. I hear that we are likely to have five more join us before the solstice.”
“We’ve spoken with five magi that are interested,” Yukiko replied. “Three are waiting for the tournament to end.”
“I will be speaking to all five,” Lightshield said. “We will hold off on inviting any of them until after the tournament, though, for their safety.”
“We were concerned about that,” Jenn said.
“As you should be, for friends,” Lightshield replied. “Tell me, do you think they will uphold the clan ideal?”
Gregory had been looking the elder over while the conversation went on. He felt a pang in his chest, as Lightshield was obviously fading. His skin was duller, with more wrinkles near his eyes, and his beard was a starker white than it had been.
“Yes,” Yukiko said without hesitation.
Jenn nodded. “Ling is the only one I have concerns for, but I believe she’ll be as dedicated as the others.”
Gregory thought about it, aware of all the eyes on him, waiting for his answer. “True belief is hard to know…” he said slowly. “I think all three novices are dedicated to joining the clan and helping it grow. Clover and Ling…” he hesitated, then spoke on, “that’s a little trickier. Both of them deeply wish to see things change for the better. If they join the clan, I feel as if they’ll be as staunch a defender of the clan as Dia or Bishop.”
Bishop’s eyebrows went up, but didn’t gainsay him.
Lightshield nodded slowly. “All three of you believe in them? Very well. I will speak with them. Dia sent letters to all five letting them know we are considering them, but that we will be waiting until after the tournament to invite those we wish to join us.”
“You’re waiting to make sure they’re as safe as they can be,” Gregory said.
Lightshield nodded. “Yes.”
Before Gregory could reply, Dia and the others showed up, and conversation was set aside for dinner.
~*~*~
Once dinner was over, Lightshield spoke up, “Just a few more things to tell you before you can go study. For the next six days, you will be training here, from the hour after your morning study period until dinner.”
“Yes, sir,” they replied.
“The day before the tournament is yours to do with as you wish, but I am sure that will be spent seeing family,” Lightshield smiled.
“Thank you, Elder,” Yukiko said.
“As for the tournament,” Lightshield went on, “the first few days, I would ask that you be present for the novice tournament. Some of them could use your support, after all. Once the matches are finished, you are free to your own diversions. On the nights of your fights, I ask you to return at a reasonable hour so that you will be refreshed for your own matches. The last night of the tournament will be the celebration feast. Your family is invited,” he said, looking at Yukiko.
“I’ll inform them, Elder.”
“I know you spent the day after the tournament with your family before, but I ask that you are here to welcome our new members this time. We will be having a celebration event to welcome them. Sadly, that is after the tournament, so neither your family nor theirs will be allowed inside the walls.”
“We understand, sir,” Gregory said.
“Those are the requirements of the clan for the tournament,” Lightshield said, pushing himself to his feet slowly, using his cane to support him. “Ah, I have also made sure that an auction house box is set aside for the clan during the tournament. Your family is free to use it.”
“I’ll tell my father. Thank you, Elder.”
Lightshield looked at the three of them with a smile on his lips. “I am very proud of you all, and I know you will show the academy how strong you all are again. Have a good evening.”
“Good evening, Elder,” all three replied, bowing their heads to his back.
