Gregory sat in his aether cavern, just watching the flames. Nothing surprising would happen for the day, and his unit would be leaving Coldwood for Krogga. That lent a peacefulness he’d been missing for months. He put off training to just sit and relax in his cavern, thinking back over the year.
He’d grown through pain and sorrow— the trials of the north had left a mental mark on him. He’d deliberately killed people, had friends and allies die with him nearby, but had pulled down corrupt men who abused others. The innocence of his youth was entirely gone with this year. Melancholy touched him for a moment at the realization.
It would take months to march to Krogga from where he was; all of his wives would be there before him. He smiled when he thought about all of them welcoming his trio of friends joining them at the embassy. He knew that Clover, Ling, and Roshana would be eager to have the tea ceremony with Yukiko so they could be fully accepted as wives.
“I wonder if she’ll wait for me, or if she’ll have the ceremony with them? I’d be fine, either way, but I’d rather lean more toward them not having to wait for me. I know they’ll be fine. It’s just the last formality Yuki wants.”
He considered his friends who’d be scattered across the Velum Empire for their adept postings, then gather back at the academy for their magus postings. They’d be taking over the orphanage and helping teach classes. He was proud of them and their achievements. A hint of concern about their adept postings nibbled at the back of his mind, but he ignored it.
“It feels like so much longer than a single year, but it’s just one day short of it… I took a stand for the innocent, using the laws as a shield to help them and protect myself. In the end, it cost three of my men their lives that they gladly laid down to assist me… dozens of eurtik freed from enslavement, and maybe even a change to the laws being upheld both here and in Icelake. I made some friends in both towns, and even a few among the free eurtik of the north. I should call this year good, but the loss of those three still touches my soul…”
He took a deep breath, staring at the fire for a few minutes of silence. The flames flickered, danced, and spun as if trying to distract him.
“The next rank will put me into magus-tier in truth, not just in title…” Gregory murmured. “A new part of the spirit path should start to be available to me, and to my wives, too. Besides being able to weaponize my resonance, I know the next biggest part of the spirit path can manifest between magus and master tiers. It’ll help with being ready for anything that comes our way.”
A chunk of flame separated from the fire. It splashed against a wall, shimmering before fading into sparks that flew down the channels.
Gregory was on his feet in an instant. Approaching the spot the flame had touched, he inspected the wall. There was a rough outline that was barely etched into the stone. He smiled as his fingers traced over the outline.
“Sooner than master, maybe a rank or two into magus…” Gregory murmured. “Is this you, Darkness, or is it just because of the unified paths?”
“Yes.” The voice was barely there, but it was hers.
Gregory looked back at the flame; it danced a little more before going back to normal. “Thank you, my dearest helper. I’m eager for my next rank, even if it means waiting for Krogga. I’ll claim your hand and kiss your fingers.”
The flames surged, making Gregory pull back for a moment. When he looked back, the fire was normal again.
“I love you, too, my dark heart.”
Fourth bell chiming made Gregory’s meditation lapse. Getting up, he stretched before looking around the barren room. He’d taken everything of his into his ring last night, but double-checked to make sure he had everything. Stepping into the hall, he nodded at Rafiq, Davis, and the squires who were coming out of their room with bags on their shoulders.
“Good morning. Are you ready to leave the cold north behind?” Gregory asked.
There was a chorus of various agreements.
“Breakfast, the Peaceful Fist, and then to the open road,” Gregory smiled.
“The supplies are all arranged and the route is set, sir,” Davis said, coming up beside Gregory. “The party last night with the other unit was good. Both sets of men seemed eager to mingle.”
“Agreed,” Walun said, stepping out of his own room. “Good morning to you all. I did hear that the Peaceful Fist was going to be done this morning, right?”
“We do it every morning,” Gregory said. “You can join us if you want before you go to speak with Jenga.”
“I’d like that. I’ve heard about the combining of the paths that all of your clan does. I haven’t seen it, but would like to try it, at least.”
“It’s taxing for the first few weeks, but after that, you won’t feel drained,” Gregory said as he started downstairs. “Your cook was pleasant to mine. Thank you for that.”
“He was happy to let another take on the task for a day,” Walun chuckled. “Besides, the food was delicious.”
“Barny’s talented that way.”
Gregory nodded at French, who was the sergeant on duty to make sure the men were getting up. French saluted them before going back to his task. The next floor down had Walun’s sergeant verbally berating his unit for not moving faster. Walun paused to speak with his sergeant as the others kept going.
“Hopefully, that isn’t normal…” Davis murmured.
“Agreed,” Gregory sighed, thinking about how lucky he was to have the dedicated men he had.
~*~*~
Breakfast was amazing as Barny, the sisters, and Walun’s single cook pulled out all the stops to make a fabulous meal. Everyone dug in with gusto, praising the food. Gregory saw Walun’s cook speaking softly to Barny the entire meal, and he was pretty sure the man was asking for advice.
When breakfast was over, Gregory’s men trooped outside for the Peaceful Fist. Walun gathered his men up to watch while he joined in. Walun’s officers participated, too, but most of the men just stood there, watching with bemused expressions.
The sixth hour chiming brought the Peaceful Fist to a close. Walun, his officers, and the couple of men from his unit who’d joined in were sweat-soaked and panting.
Gregory grinned as he patted Walun on the shoulder. “Told you it’d tax you.”
The men who’d been bemused earlier were no longer looking that way, eyeing the exhausted expressions on their sergeants’ faces. A few even started to murmur, wondering how such slow, controlled movements could wipe them out.
“Yes, you did. I’ll need to bathe before going to see the magus,” Walun said, but he stepped back and bowed to Gregory. “Thank you, Pettit. Umm… might I ask for a small favor before you depart?”
Gregory chuckled, turning his head to Davis. “Lieutenant, get the men ready to march. I’ll be having a two-match spar with Adept Walun.”
“Yes, sir,” Davis said, saluting. The men were already moving to get things ready before he’d even started giving orders.
Walun’s officers watched the other unit with a hint of envy as they went to get their unit ready to see Gregory’s off. Walun bowed low to Gregory before he summoned his training weapons. Gregory eyed them as he backed away and summoned his training naginata to hand.
“What are they?” Gregory asked when Walun gripped his pair of weapons.
“Wind and fire wheels. Not many use them, but with my personal fire magic being more close-range, they work well for me. No foresight, please, as I won’t be using my aether.”
“Just skill, but you should know something.” Gregory rested his training weapon against him as he summoned his medal, pinning it to his haori. “You’re fighting an armsmaster.”
Walun stared at the medal before he exhaled slowly. “Very well. You said a two-match spar. What’s the second match?”
“I’ll use the wakizashi for that round. I’m still getting used to it.”
“Maybe I’ll win one, then,” Walun smiled as he set his feet. “I’m ready.”
Gregory took his stance, eyeing Walun. “Begin!”
~*~*~
Davis was chuckling as they rode out the south gate of Coldwood. “Poor adept never had a chance. You might not be an armsmaster with the wakizashi, but you’re still far more skilled than most with it. He might be decent with his weapon, but he was completely outmatched.”
“I’m just glad he took the losses well,” Gregory said. “It was a good idea to have you spar him right afterward. Did you lose intentionally?”
“No. He is skilled; that’s why it took so long. His men needed to regain a little faith in him. They would’ve been fine if we’d just had the unit attack you.”
Gregory laughed. “He can beat thirty men, so, of course, he can beat our magi?”
“Roughly, yes. My sparring with him was easier than that.”
“For the best, even if it did take longer.”
“Looking forward to Krogga, sir?” Davis asked with a crooked smile.
“Of course, Davis. My wives are waiting for me. I have no idea what challenges we’ll face over the next five years, but at least I’ll have them beside me.”
“The new men will fold in more during the march,” Davis said, switching topics. “The last month has allowed the pair to be accepted by their squadmates. Building their faith in you is just going to take some time. The fact that they’re past the weakness of the Peaceful Fist is helpful, too. It might kill them to make the march if they weren’t.”
“I’m glad Roberts found us people at all. That just leaves us down a single man. Glasson’s squad is kind of unique, though… I’m not sure just adding another in there would work.”
“That was why we left them down one. I’d have left the empty spot in French’s squad, otherwise.”
The pair lapsed into silence for a minute as they rode ahead of the unit.
“Thank you, Davis,” Gregory said. “You’ve done a lot to help me the last couple of years. I want it stated that I’m grateful. If or when you step away from the unit, I’ll make sure my gratitude is fully known.”
“It won’t be soon, sir,” Davis said. “I’m not going to stop at the end of your magus posting unless they put you somewhere we can’t follow.”
“Guess we’ll have to wait and see, then,” Gregory smiled. “That’s five years away, and we’ll have more trials to face before then.”
“You have your men behind you, sir. No matter what comes, we’ll be in the thick of it with you. Not just because of our oaths, but because we know you want a better tomorrow.”
Gregory smiled at the words; he bowed his head, accepting them. “It might take years or even decades, perhaps into your children’s or grandchildren’s time, Davis, but I’ll do my best.”
“Honor, duty, death, sir.”
“Honor, duty, death, Lieutenant.”
