Aether's Guard

by Schinhofen, Daniel

  “You do?” Jenn said. “Why?”

  “When she spoke, I could hear a faint hum to her voice. Since neither of you mentioned it, I thought that my acute hearing allowed me to detect it.”

  “Interesting,” Dia said. “I look forward to meeting her.”

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  The week flew by for Gregory, Yukiko, and Jenn, thanks to the routine they had established. During their study time in the archive, Yukiko changed topics to learn about the traditions of eurtiks, Gregory put his myth study on hold to read about the guards inside the academy, and Jenn had gone back to the conflicts with Buldoun, since her request had been denied.

  ~*~*~

  As they made their way to the postern gate, the three friends couldn’t help thinking about the flower girl, and wondered if she’d be there. Nearing the gate, they saw Dia conversing with the sergeant from the week before.

  “There they are now,” Dia said once she saw them.

  “Indeed,” the sergeant said. “The apprentice needs to verify you, first.”

  Dia turned to the apprentice on duty, who was pale and looked ill. “Apprentice, the novices and I would like to go.”

  “Fine... go on,” the apprentice said, not looking up, much less standing.

  “You should see the healers,” Dia told the apprentice. “If you’re ill, it will impact your work and might spread to the guards.”

  Lifting his head, the apprentice locked one bloodshot eye on Dia. “I’m not sick. Now go on.”

  Dia shook her head and turned back to the sergeant. “If that is sufficient?”

  “Open the gate. Let them out,” the sergeant told the guards, looking displeased at the apprentice. “Have a good day, ma’am. You, as well, Novices.”

  “Thank you,” Gregory, Yukiko, and Jenn said in echo, bowing their heads to him.

  “At least I know where they get their respect from,” the sergeant commented.

  Dia laughed lightly. “They were this respectful before they fell under my wing. I’ll return before my novices, sergeant. Maybe we can talk a bit more, then.”

  “I’ll be here until sunset,” the sergeant said. “Good day.”

  Outside the walls of the academy, Dia looked at the three of them. “Well?”

  “She’d likely be at the main gate,” Yukiko said.

  “I doubt she knows about the postern,” Jenn agreed.

  “Let’s go,” Gregory said, leading the way.

  The other three fell in behind him. Dia tapped Yukiko and Jenn on the shoulders and motioned for them to slow their pace. Jenn frowned, but did as she was told. Yukiko gave Dia a questioning glance before slowing her stride.

  Making it to the main street, Gregory gave the rickshaw driver they’d used before a nod, but kept moving, looking for the girl. Nearly a minute went by and Gregory felt disappointment well up inside him.

  “Mister, would you like a flower?” a young voice asked, making Gregory spin around. The girl was next to a building, obscured by the shadows, her feet shifting nervously.

  “I was thinking that you could take care of some flowers,” Gregory said. “I know a place with a garden that could use some attention.”

  Stepping away from the building, the little girl gave him a tired, worn, and shaky smile. “Something safe would be nice.”

  Gregory gave her a smile in return. “There’s someone you need to speak with, first.”

  “She doesn’t look as much an urchin as I had thought she would,” Dia said, approaching with the other two. “I am Magus Dia Ursinda, the head of Aether’s Guard inside the academy walls. What’s your name, child?”

  “Elsa Bommot,” Elsa swallowed before bowing deeply to Dia.

  “My juniors have thought that you’re in need of help. Is this true?”

  Elsa didn’t reply right away, staying bowed at the waist. “Yes…” The single word was barely audible.

  “Admitting you need help is not shameful,” Dia said softly. “You would have to work hard, diligently, and promptly. Can you do as you are bidden?”

  “Yes, mistress.”

  “Very well. You won’t be inside the walls, so no worry for that. You’ll come with me— my sister will have use for you. We’ll speak with her and then see if you still want this.”

  “Yes, mistress.”

  “Novices, I will take it from here. Enjoy your day off.”

  “Thank you, Dia,” Gregory said, bowing formally to her. “I am grateful.”

  “Thank you, Dia,” Yukiko added.

  “Thank you, Dia,” Jenn finished.

  “Enough. Go enjoy your day,” Dia said with suppressed laughter. Looking back, she saw the rickshaw driver watching them. “You, I have need of your service.” Touching Elsa’s head gently, Dia said softly, “Stand upright. We can’t have servants who don’t look up. They’d be forever running into things.”

  Elsa giggled, then cut off in horror as she looked up. “I didn—!”

  “It was right to laugh,” Dia said simply.

  The three novices glanced back as they walked away. Gregory grinned. “I’m glad that worked out.”

  “You do know it easily could have gone wrong, don’t you, Greg?” Yukiko asked him.

  The grin faded. “I know Yuki... I know. Something about the girl just seemed right, though.”

  Yukiko touched his hand. “I know. I trust her, too, and I normally wouldn’t. Between that and your insistence, I decided to trust the feeling.”

  “She reminds me of someone,” Jenn said as they headed for the park. “I can’t place who or where, though...”

  “Perhaps your previous life?” Yukiko suggested.

  “Maybe,” Jenn replied.

  ~*~*~

  Jenn sighed as they walked to Gin’s home. “Last week was the only time I’ve seen it.”

  “It’ll happen again, and then slowly happen more often,” Yukiko said. “That’s how it was for both of us.”

  “Maybe I’m just impatient,” Jenn said. “I just want to be your equal… or at least not too far behind you both.”

  “I know that feeling,” Gregory said. “That’s how I felt with Yuki at the start of the year. She knew so much more, was a far better fighter, and was more advanced in aether.”

  “You’ve closed two of those three, and I don’t think you’re going to be behind me much longer in the third,” Yukiko smiled. “Honestly, Greg, if I didn’t know you were from the fringe, I wouldn’t even guess it. The only advantage I have at this point is experience in business with my father.”

  “That is what I am lacking,” Gregory said. “Experience.”

  “Which we all get every day,” Jenn said.

  “That’s true,” Gregory chuckled. “For instance, when Chen threw you across the yard yesterday.”

  Jenn winced at the memory. “He’s a very tough sensei. Nothing is given by him. Every inch has to be earned.”

  “I noticed,” Gregory said. “You appear to be learning quickly.”

  “Yes,” Jenn said. “He mentioned that, too, right before he threw me across the yard.”

  “Did he say anything specific?” Yukiko asked.

  “Just said he was impressed at how quickly I was picking up his training. It’s only been a week, but some days, it feels like a week each day I see him.”

  “I understand. My teacher is just as focused on my learning,” Yukiko said.

  “She really worked you over the last two days,” Gregory said.

  “It’s been rougher than before. I almost feel like she is trying to teach me faster than Jenn is learning from Master Chen.”

  Jenn winced. “I hope not.”

  “I’d feel bad for both of you, then,” Gregory said. “A competition between them would be very rough. Then again, someone once told me the hardest paths make for the best magi… if they survive.”

  “Says the man who just watches us get thrashed,” Jenn snorted. “Yuki, shouldn’t we make him pay for watching us take the pain he doesn’t feel?”


  Yukiko laughed. “I want to say yes, but Greg isn’t responsible for his magic. If he could be trained like us, I’m sure Dia would have arranged for someone that would be equally hard on him.”

  “I guess,” Jenn tsked. “Still feels like he’s laughing at us while we struggle.”

  “If I could use my magic like you, I’d train like you do,” Gregory said.

  “We know, Greg,” Yukiko said gently, touching his arm briefly.

  “I didn’t mean… I’m sorry,” Jenn said.

  “It’s fine,” Gregory shrugged. “I’d probably feel the same if our spots were reversed.”

  “Do you think Elsa’s settled in already?” Jenn asked, wanting to change the subject.

  “We’ll find out shortly,” Yukiko said, “though we might not see her today. I’m sure Baylyss will be training her as hard as our teachers are. It probably runs in the family.”

  “Maybe I didn’t do her a favor,” Gregory said wryly, earning laughs from the other two.

  ~*~*~

  Baylyss opened the door for them. “Novices, welcome back. I have you to thank for my helper, I’ve heard.”

  “Elsa?” Yukiko asked.

  “Yes. She’s settling in today. Next week, she’ll be helping me in my duties when you are present.”

  “Did Dia tell you that Elsa likes flowers?” Gregory asked.

  “I’ve heard from both of them how she came to Dia’s attention,” Baylyss said. “It’s good to help others, but it does risk you being taken advantage of.”

  “I know.”

  “We’ll help him when he makes those choices,” Yukiko said. “We agreed with him, after meeting Elsa.”

  “Did she have others she was caring for?” Jenn asked. “I’ve seen groups of lost children helping each other before.”

  “If she is, she’s not mentioned it to me yet,” Baylyss said. “I’m sure she will open up to me in time. The teachers await you in the same room, and I’ll have some tea brought in shortly. To answer the question you haven’t asked yet, Gregory, she will be educated.”

  “That obvious?” Gregory asked.

  “It was,” Yukiko said.

  “Very,” Jenn agreed.

  “My sister and I know how to help those in our care,” Baylyss said. “She will have every opportunity. Whether or not she takes advantage of them is up to her.”

  “Thank you, Baylyss.”

  “Enjoy your games,” Baylyss smiled before she left them to go prepare the tea.

  ~*~*~

  “Thank you for the hard work, Baylyss,” Yukiko said as they got ready to leave.

  “We really do appreciate it,” Gregory added.

  “Excuse me... may I say goodbye to them?” Elsa asked. All eyes went to the girl, who was wearing a simple maid outfit. She fidgeted under their gazes as she approached them. “Thank you. I’m very grateful, and I’ll do my best to make sure you’re proven right.” She bowed deeply at the waist to them.

  “We already are,” Gregory said. “If you weren’t the person I thought you were, you wouldn’t be here right now.”

  “Elsa, we do not bow like that to departing guests,” Baylyss said softly. “We thank them for coming and see them gracefully out. I’ll work with you on it. You’ll be helping me with my duties here, which includes seeing to them every week. You’ll get ample opportunity to show them how right they were.”

  Elsa stood up straight, took a deep breath and, with her head held high, spoke in a clear voice, “Thank you for coming. We look forward to your next visit.”

  Baylyss’ eyebrows raised slightly. “Very good.” Turning to the novices, she gave them a smile. “I look forward to next week. I have a feeling that Elsa will be doing her best to learn everything she can before you return.”

  “We’ll be looking forward to seeing you both again,” Gregory said.

  With goodbyes said, the trio took off toward the academy at a brisk jog.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Rafiq greeted them when they arrived at the archive. “Good morning, Novices.”

  “Morning, Rafiq,” Gregory smiled. “We’re all in need of new material today.”

  “I was wondering about that. What would you like?”

  “The history of Krogga,” Gregory said, “a country ruled by a high priest of Krog. Considering how entwined Aether and Krog are in many myths, I want to see what their country has done differently.”

  “There’s a subject no novice asks about,” Rafiq chuckled. “I’ll do what I can.”

  “I’d like to see about the wars with Krogga,” Jenn said.

  “You’ll move onto the country of Limaz after that?” Rafiq asked.

  “Probably,” Jenn admitted.

  “Very well.”

  “I’d like to read what I can about bane beasts,” Yukiko said. “History to start with, then moving on from there.”

  “Hmm... Another unusual topic. You three certainly keep us on our feet. I will have them brought over. How has your time been since the tournament?”

  “Peaceful,” Gregory replied.

  “How unusual. By now, there are normally challenges and accidents happening, and with you two holding the top places, I’d have expected you to field a number of them.”

  “We only attend one class currently,” Yukiko said. “That’s probably kept a lot of the grief away.”

  “Yes, that would cut down on opportunities,” Rafiq nodded. “Don’t let me keep you. The books will be brought right over.”

  Thanking him, the three friends headed for the table they used every time they came to the archive. Taking their seats and getting Magi Squares blanks out, they set out to make them for each other.

  “We’ve never seen any of the other novices in here, and we’ve rarely seen an apprentice or initiate,” Yukiko mused. “Why do they not take advantage of this resource?”

  “Maybe they use it when we aren’t?” Gregory opined. “We’re up far earlier than most of the students here. We’ve come back during a class period before, and that’s when we saw the others. It also explains the lack of other novices.”

  “That’s fair,” Yukiko said. “I just don’t understand not wanting to use it as often as you could, especially for those on the mind path.”

  “From all I’ve seen and heard, other clans aren’t as willing to give their novices the freedoms we have. The Iron Hand especially— they’re highly regimented in what’s allowed and when,” Jenn said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the other clans are strict like them.”

  “That makes sense,” Gregory agreed. “Yuki is also right, though. We use the archive every day, and we’ve never seen anyone here nearly as often.”

  “We could ask Rafiq, but I don’t think he’d tell us,” Jenn said as she passed her Magi Squares to Gregory.

  “Thanks,” Gregory said, putting the last number on his and handing it to Yukiko.

  “And done,” Yukiko said before sliding hers to Jenn.

  “Your books,” Simon said as he placed them on the table between the novices. “May the knowledge be easy to learn.”

  “Thank you,” Gregory replied. “We’ll be starting on them in just a few minutes.”

  Simon bowed his head before walking away.

  “Focus on this first, then start reading,” Jenn muttered under her breath.

  Yukiko’s lips twitched into a smile when she overheard Jenn. She did likewise, focusing entirely on the paper in front of her so she could get to her book.

  ~*~*~

  Gregory shut his book with a sigh. “Sometimes, I think Rafiq is purposely making this difficult.”

  “Why’s that?” Yukiko asked, closing her book.

  “This history of Krogga... it’s so stilted and slanted in favor of them, it’s nearly painful.”

  “It’s been thirty years since we had a war with them,” Jenn said. “That was just after the current high priest took on his position. Change of power in a country does seem like a warning that war is soon to come.”<
br />
  “With increased power, many want to see what they can do,” Yukiko replied. “I don’t find that correlation odd. In fact, a change in leadership and no war either externally or internally would be the oddity.”

  “I suppose,” Jenn said. “The war before that was right after Krogga put down a civil war. The oddity is in our history texts… it says they were the aggressor. In this book, it’s a bit more muddled.”