Aether's Guard

by Schinhofen, Daniel

  It took her time to go down the line of students, adjusting a foot here, a hand on a shaft there. When she got to Gregory, she just nodded before moving to the front of the class again.

  “Now, you will follow along, doing as I do,” Klim said.

  Class went by slowly as Klim walked them through the basic kata for the weapon. She’d correct people, making sure they had it right, before moving on. Everyone in class got corrected at least once, except for Gregory.

  “Okay. Before class ends, you will walk through those stances,” Klim said. “Ready?”

  “Yes, ma’am!”

  “As I call them, shift to the next,” Klim said. “First stance!”

  As they switched to the second, two of the crafters messed up. Klim called a halt and had everyone reset to start again. Every time someone made an error, she would start them over from the beginning. Gregory didn’t say a word, just resetting and starting again each time. Others were clearly disgruntled that a few people were making them repeat the first steps over and over again.

  When the hour bell rang, announcing the end of physical conditioning, Klim grimaced. “Tomorrow, we’ll be doing this over and over until you get it right.”

  “But why, ma’am?” someone asked with an angry tone.

  “Because these are the basics. Everything builds off this.”

  “The other class wasn’t doing this...” the novice grumbled.

  “I teach my way,” Klim snapped. “Disrespect my teaching again and we’ll be having a demonstration of why the basics are important.”

  When no one spoke up, Klim nodded. “Dismissed.”

  As everyone headed for the tunnel, Gregory sighed and watched the others leave.

  “You never got corrected once,” one of the crafters asked, “did you?”

  “He didn’t,” Klim answered, even though the question had been aimed at Gregory. “Novice Pettit is being taught by Armsmaster Gin and has supposedly faced an apprentice with a naginata. If he made errors during this stage, he’d not be a student of the armsmaster.”

  “Hmm...”

  “You only made two mistakes during class,” Klim said. “Behind Pettit, you’re the best at listening. Half of the problem for the others is they don’t want to fight. None of this group finished with more than a single win during the tournament, besides you two.”

  “Crafters are bad at fighting,” the novice sighed.

  “Not really,” Klim replied. “Polearms are best used to keep your opponent as far away from you as possible.”

  “Is it possible to get extra training, ma’am?” the novice asked hopefully.

  “If you were part of the clan, yes. Since you are clanless, no,” Klim replied.

  “Of course,” the novice said tightly. “Thank you.”

  “Thank you,” Gregory said, giving Klim a bow.

  “I look forward to how much you two can learn over the next few months.” Klim turned and made her way toward where the other adept was standing.

  ~*~*~

  Leaving the arena behind him, he met Yukiko coming his way. “How was it?” Gregory asked.

  “He’s a good teacher, but the class is large,” Yukiko replied as they walked to the training building closest to them. “Nick, Jason, and Hayworth all have skill with swords, but longer bladed ones. Our group was split into two with Adept Linto, who is part of the Han clan, taking over to teach those of us who chose shorter swords, which has Jenn with me still.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Michelle and Gina are with me, though...”

  “Oh, that’s not good.”

  “Your class doesn’t have any of the Eternal Flame, does it?”

  “None. The crafters are from other clans or unaffiliated.”

  “How did your class go?” Yukiko asked.

  Gregory relayed how the class went as they found an empty room and dropped their bags by the door. “I think she’s going to press me when she wants to demonstrate.”

  “That seems likely.”

  “Meditation, shower, dinner, study?” Gregory smiled.

  “And a kiss,” Yukiko added with a smile.

  “As my heart wishes.”

  ~*~*~

  When they made it back to the dormitory, they found a cluster of magi waiting outside the door. The pair sighed before continuing toward the people waiting for them. The moment they were spotted, the magi came forward to greet them.

  “Novices,” the lead one said, “we’ve come to speak with you about joining a clan.”

  “As we explained to the magi who were waiting yesterday, we’ve already narrowed our choice down to three and are debating which of them we will join,” Yukiko said.

  “Oh? Have those clans been notified?” another of the magi asked.

  “No. We felt it would be wrong of us to tell them. We knew they would be disappointed when we finally settled on one.”

  “Which three?” the first speaker asked. “Obviously, the Eternal Flame isn’t one of them.” His lips twisted slightly as he spoke.

  “One of them is the Han Merchant Exchange,” Gregory said bluntly. “Do any of you think you could top them?”

  The magi exchanged glances before they stepped away from the building. One of the others there sighed, “No. If you’re looking at clans with that kind of history, we’ll concede on trying to recruit you.”

  “Thank you,” Yukiko said, bowing to them. “We’re sorry, but we didn’t wish to alienate anyone.”

  “Besides the Eternal Flame and those closely associated with them, you mean?” the last said as the other magi left.

  “Even them. We didn’t set out to embarrass or alienate,” Yukiko replied. “Some of the novices who joined them do appear to be having hard feelings over their loss during the tournament.”

  The magi laughed, “Indeed. If you join Han, they’ll back off a good deal. Good night to you both.”

  “Night, Magus,” they said.

  As the last magi walked away, Gregory exhaled. “Maybe the word will get around?”

  “Maybe, but when we don’t join Han, Marcia might take it badly now,” Yukiko said. “I was trying to avoid that.”

  “Ah, I’m sorry,” Gregory apologized.

  “Novices, welcome back.”

  Gregory frowned slightly at the part-rabbit eurtik who welcomed them home. Her robe was the one Dia was normally wearing, not that of the staff who worked in the building. “Thank you…”

  “I am Keeper Clau,” the woman replied, her long ears twitching. “I’ve taken over the duty of keeper here.”

  “You replaced Dia, Clau?” Yukiko asked with a smile.

  “The change took place just after sixth bell,” Clau replied.

  “Then we’re still in good hands,” Yukiko said.

  “Thank you. I was surprised when the change came, but I wasn’t going to turn it down.”

  “What happened to Dia?” Gregory asked.

  “Family business is what she told me,” Clau replied, but her eyes sparkled with laughter.

  “Ah, I hope I understand,” Gregory said.

  “I’m sure you’ll see her again before you leave the academy behind,” Clau smiled.

  “Thank you, Keeper,” Yukiko said. “We have studying to do before bed. If you will excuse us?”

  “Good night to you both,” Clau added as she took a seat on the bench.

  Changing their shoes for slippers, the pair quickly went upstairs. Gregory followed Yukiko into her room and chuckled. “I hope it means what I think it does.”

  “I’m sure it does.” Yukiko was grinning. “Hopefully, it means in another day or two, we’ll have a clan.”

  “Yes.” Gregory’s grin matched hers as he slipped the ring free and gave it back to her. “Your turn. Instead of economics tonight, I was thinking we could just work on Magi Squares?”

  “If that’s what my heart wishes.”

  Chapter Ten

  “I hope it’s today or tomorrow,” Yukiko was saying as they he
aded for the mess hall.

  “That would be nice,” Gregory agreed. “Since Dia left—”

  “Hey, Pet-tit,” Fureno said, cutting Gregory off, “I need to talk to you.”

  The two of them stopped, surprised that Fureno was awake and waiting for them short of the mess hall. “About what?” Gregory asked.

  “About your disrespect toward a great clan,” Fureno smirked. “Clanless, like you, need to be put in their place.”

  Gregory shook his head. “Good luck with that. Come on, Yuki, we—”

  “I’m challenging you!” Fureno snapped, again interrupting Gregory.

  Gregory paused, frowning. “You’re serious?”

  “Yes!”

  “Fine. An hour before conditioning, in the arena we’re supposed to be at,” Gregory said. “No aether, no items, just hand-to-hand combat. What’re the stakes?”

  “If you lose, you’ll publicly renounce your title as champion of the tournament. I’ll find an adjudicator,” Fureno said.

  “No, I will,” Gregory said. “If I win, you’ll not participate in the next tournament. Now, pardon us, we’re on our way to breakfast.”

  Fureno sneered. “Pets shouldn’t be allowed into the mess hall.”

  “Why?” Yukiko asked as they went to pass him. “A weasel like yourself was allowed in.”

  “My family hasn’t slept with beasts, at least!”

  “How were you born, then?” Gregory asked as they continued walking.

  Fureno scowled at their backs, watching them go. “You’ll pay for that...” he muttered and stalked off.

  “That was odd,” Gregory said as they reached the mess hall.

  “It seems like they’re going to start now,” Yukiko sighed.

  Seeing the teachers having their breakfast, Gregory made his way toward Paul. “Sir, might I have a moment?”

  Paul sighed and set his book aside. “What is it, Novice?”

  “I was just challenged to a duel and am in need of an adjudicator this afternoon, an hour before physical conditioning.”

  “Who?”

  “Novice Fureno.”

  “The Eternal Flame,” Paul nodded. “I will adjudicate the match. Rules and stakes?”

  “No aether or trinkets, just hand-to-hand combat. I give up my position of champion, or he doesn’t participate in the next tournament.”

  Paul’s eyebrows went up. “Very well.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Gregory said, bowing to him before going to join Yukiko in line for food.

  “That makes sure it’ll be a fair match,” Yukiko said.

  “If he had declined, it would’ve been tough to find another I can trust.”

  “A challenge?” Ravol asked.

  “Yeah. The Eternal Flame is moving,” Gregory said.

  “If they can’t use aether, you should win,” Zenim said.

  “He should,” Yukiko agreed.

  “We’ll be rooting for you,” Steva grinned. “Not that you’ll need it.”

  “Your snacks are ready, as well,” Velma said, handing their snack bags and food over after she scanned their medallions.

  “I’ve been meaning to ask— what are you doing when you do that?” Gregory asked.

  Velma showed the ring on her hand. “This marks the medallion as having been here. If I try to scan it more than twice, it chimes loudly.”

  “Huh... Thank you.”

  “Have a good day,” the cooks said as the couple went to find a table.

  ~*~*~

  After spending the hour in the archive, Jason stopped them on their way to economics class.

  “I wondered what hole you were in,” Jason smirked, stopping them on a bridge a hundred yards from the classroom.

  “We were improving ourselves,” Gregory said.

  “That’s a simple thing, isn’t it? Not sleeping with animals would be a start.”

  Yukiko touched Gregory’s shoulder and laughed. “For you, that would mean no longer licking Nick’s boots, right?”

  Jason’s eyes went cold. “I wasn’t talking to you, half-breed. Someone will put you in your place soon.”

  Gregory shook his head. “What do you want, Jason?”

  “A challenge. The hour before conditioning. When you lose, you’ll publicly announce how inferior you are to any of the Eternal Flame.”

  Gregory frowned. “Fureno has already challenged me for that time.”

  “Are you refusing a challenge?” Jason snickered derisively.

  “No aether, no trinkets. Just hand-to-hand combat,” Gregory said. “Your loss will require you to publicly kiss Yukiko’s foot.”

  Jason’s face went white, red, and then white again. “I’ll enjoy watching you fail.”

  “Will you move now? Some of us actually like to learn,” Gregory said.

  Jason sneered as he walked off. “Your small mind will never learn.”

  With him gone, Yukiko sighed. “Why does it feel like they’re up to something bigger?”

  “No idea, but if Nick shows up next, I’m not going to be surprised.”

  ~*~*~

  Economics and their second study session at the archive went as normal. Gregory was glad that no one else showed up to challenge him. Aether introduction was hands-on again, with the novices trying to duplicate what they had been taught a few days prior.

  Gregory took notes, talking to the novices who seemed indifferent or partially friendly, but avoided the ones who looked hostile. While Yukiko was working on her shadow magic, she kept her eyes on Gregory to make sure he was okay. Dunn stopped by a couple of times and encouraged Gregory to keep trying different things.

  When class ended, Gregory and Yukiko hurried to the arenas to find out where conditioning was going to be held that day. Seeing the paper on the board directing them to the green arena, they paused— the class had never visited the same arena as the day before. Not having anything else to go on, they went over to the green arena.

  There was an old man sweeping the entryway when they got there. Gregory’s lips turned up at the corners, as he remembered meeting him before. “Laozi, it’s good to see you again.”

  Pausing, the old man in the gray kimono looked up. “Ah, Novices. How are you?”

  “We’re good,” Yukiko smiled.

  Laozi’s eyes crinkled. “Why are you here? Novices should be at the blue arena today.”

  “The announcement said green,” Gregory said.

  “Hmm, odd... Either the magus didn’t change it, or someone is trying to get you in trouble,” Laozi said.

  “That’s the first trick,” Yukiko sighed. “Thank you for letting us know.” She bowed her head to him.

  “Oh, none of that. I’m merely a sweeper and am not worthy of a bow.” Eyes twinkling, he bowed to them. “I hope I’ve been useful to you both. Please excuse me, but I must go back to work.”

  “Thank you, Laozi,” Gregory said, bowing his head. “You deserve respect. You’ve helped us again.”

  Laozi waved off his words, smiling the entire time. “I wish you well, Novices.”

  Once they said goodbye, they hurried to the blue arena. When they reached the sands of the arena floor, the novices of the Eternal Flame, the other novices, and Magus Paul were waiting for them.

  “Pettit, I almost called you absent from your challenges,” Paul said sternly.

  “Apologies,” Gregory said, his face grim. “When we passed the board, the paper said green. If not for the sweeper at the green arena, we’d never have known.”

  Paul’s brow contracted, but before he could speak, Nick said, “Of course, fringer. Just admit you had cold feet. If you do that and beg forgiveness, we might not make you fight at all.”

  “It’s the truth,” Gregory said simply as he pulled his bag off and handed it to Yukiko. “I’m here and I’m ready.”

  “Very well. Everyone, move back,” Paul said. “We’ll get these challenges over with quickly. Pettit and Fureno, come stand in front of me.”

  Fureno’s face was t
wisted in anger, but he did as Paul commanded. Gregory stared at the other novices as he took his position. “I’ll make sure you regret what you’ve done, Pet-tit.”