Elsa looked at Jenn with wide eyes. “Could I train with you if I do better?”
Baylyss looked thoughtful and gave Yukiko a questioning look.
“If Baylyss says you did exceptionally well, you can join us for our meditation,” Yukiko said. “If you don’t apply yourself fully, then you’ll not be allowed to serve us when we’re here. Every reward has a corresponding risk.”
Elsa had looked eager, but her face dimmed when she heard the rest of what Yukiko said. “What if I do my best, but don’t do exceptional?”
“Then nothing changes from our current day off.”
Elsa chewed her lip for a moment before she nodded. “I accept.”
“Very well,” Baylyss said. “We’ll measure your week from the moment they leave today until the moment they come back the next. The bar will be high, Elsa. I do hope you do your best.”
“I will,” Elsa said confidently. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, clearly centering herself. When she opened them, she gave the three novices a smile. “If you will follow me to the garden? Once you’re settled, I’ll make sure that water is brought in case you need some while you meditate.”
“We’re ready,” Yukiko said.
~*~*~
Jenn was deep into a game of Shogi with the instructor, both of them focused on the game. Gregory shook his head in frustration— he wasn’t seeing the end game for either of them yet. Looking at the other side of the table, he watched Yukiko place her next stone, capturing a group of black stones.
“They’re both quite good at their respective games,” Vexlin said. “Yukiko is more reserved in her tactics. She’ll rarely take an uneven trade, opting to pull back to get better ground. If she ever has men under her command, they’ll know she values them. Jenn, though… she only sees victory and is very adept at using her pieces to arrange that. Her men will know that she will always strive for a victory, but that it might cost their lives. Two completely different command styles.”
“We grow stronger through our differences,” Gregory murmured, not wanting to break the concentration from the players.
“You’re between them. Cautious, but aggressive when you see an opening. I’ve seen you learn over the last few weeks. You don’t get caught in traps as often anymore. If the three of you are ever in the same battle, I would pity your opponents.”
“That’s kind of you to say, but I still have a ways to go to match them.”
“Next week is our last week to be here,” Vexlin said. “Did you have any requests for a finale?”
“I hadn’t considered it. Do you have any suggestions?”
“There’s a game that you might find interesting. It requires an even number of players, because we play in teams. After we play it, you might want to keep us around for a few more weeks.”
“What’s the game?”
“It’s one you would be taught next year,” Vexlin grinned. “Empire’s Gambit.”
“I don’t know it,” Gregory said.
Vexlin frowned before suddenly snickering. “I forget that you said you came from the fringe when you arranged for us. It’s easy to forget most times— you don’t speak like a fringer, or act like one. Even then, you would only have heard of it if you’d been around the army or were raised in a magi family.”
“I’d like to learn, especially if it’ll be taught to us next year. Being ahead of the others would serve us well.”
“I doubt you’ll be ahead of some of your contemporaries, but early study might get you to be just behind them. I’ll arrange for the game to be here and ready next week. If you do wish to continue our instruction on that game, we will be here.”
“Very well.”
“You win,” Lon said as he finished adding his points. “Well played.”
“Thank you. Our teachers have been the reason we have done so well,” Yukiko smiled.
“I concede,” Cal said. “That was a difficult game.”
“Thank you for playing against me,” Jenn said. “That move about halfway through the game.” She started to reset the board to the placement she had a question about. “I’d like you to explain it to me.”
“Ah, yes. I’d hoped that would throw you off your game. It failed. What I did—”
The door to the room opened and Baylyss entered. “It’s time.”
“Just a moment, please? I want him to explain this,” Jenn said.
“I can explain next week,” Cal said. “Being late to the academy is bad from what I’ve heard.”
“We’ve avoided it so far,” Gregory said. “We’ll also be doing Empire’s Gambit next week.”
Both Lon and Cal looked happy, and Vexlin chuckled. “It’ll likely be more than just next week. We’ll see you then. Come on, Cal, we have to make sure all the pieces are in order.”
Cal got to his feet. “Next week, I’ll explain the move before we start.”
“It’s for the best,” Jenn said. “I look forward to it.”
~*~*~
“Welcome back,” Sergeant Willof greeted them as the gate closed behind them.
“Thank you, Sergeant,” Yukiko smiled. “I hope your day was quiet.”
“Day off on gate duty is always busy,” Willof replied. “I hope your day was good.”
“It was entertaining and informative,” Yukiko said.
Saying their goodbyes, they went away from the gate and toward the clan hall. Jenn frowned, waiting for them to get a bit farther before she spoke.
“Petak was near the administration building, watching us come in,” Jenn said softly.
“Likely the Eternal Flame plotting their next move,” Gregory said. “We’ll need to keep our eyes open, especially on our day off. Fureno tried to tail us, and Petak was waiting to see when we came back.”
Yukiko nodded. “That’s wise, but that doesn’t preclude something happening this week, either.”
“Stay alert and ready all the time,” Jenn snorted. “Maybe they’re just trying to make us paranoid?”
“Could be, but Nick is more a ‘rub your nose in it’ kind of guy,” Gregory said. “They might be going a little slower right now, but I fully expect something before the next tournament.”
“It’ll be more than one thing,” Yukiko said. “He doesn’t lose graciously.”
“Not at all,” Gregory snickered.
“Today was good,” Jenn said. “I really enjoyed the match against Cal. I wonder what Empire’s Gambit is going to be like.”
“I wonder, too,” Gregory said. “Any idea, Yuki?”
“I’ve heard Gin and Lin talking about it when I was younger. I don’t recall any details, though.”
“Well, a surprise it is, then, unless one of us wants to read up on it this week?”
“I can do that. I’m almost finished with the enchantment book,” Yukiko told Gregory. “When Jenn finishes with hers, I can switch with her.”
“I should finish the day after tomorrow,” Jenn said.
“After you finish it, Jenn, I’ll take it. I can get back to the troop book after that.”
“Okay,” Jenn said. “We’re working on economics again tonight after dinner?”
“You’re almost caught up with us,” Yukiko grinned. “By the end of this week, we’ll be able to focus on something other than economics for our last hour study session.”
“That’ll be different,” Gregory chuckled. “It’s been economics before bed for half a year.”
“Yes, it’ll be interesting to pick a new topic,” Yukiko nodded. “We should start thinking about what topics we’d like to cover next.”
“Something to ponder,” Gregory said as the clan hall came into view, “but that’ll be tomorrow.”
Chapter Thirty-four
Gregory smiled when he opened his eyes and saw the silk canopy hanging over him. “Darkness, how are you?”
“I’m good, dear one,” Darkness replied. “Already to the tenth rank of the novice tier, hm? Goodness, how your enemies will hate you.”
“I think they already do,” Gregory said, rolling to his side to look at the dark corner of the room. “Thank you for the time with Yuki.”
“You’re both welcome. It was difficult to not sit here and watch, but I figured you’d want privacy for the first time, at least.”
“That would’ve made it awkward. I appreciate you giving us the time alone. It made for a very memorable solstice.”
“Yuki and I are working out how she can repay me,” Darkness said with a hint of laughter.
Gregory shifted in the bed, his libido more than eager to offer up suggestions. “Really?”
“Oh, I do like some of those ideas, dear one. You still need to be able to handle me for those to come true, though. It won’t happen while you are still a novice.”
“Wait… you’re talking to Yuki? How is that possible? I thought you were my aether?”
“The fire in your cavern is your aether,” Darkness said. “I’m something much greater, but because you are who you are, I can speak with you. I can speak with Yuki because she is your heart. The more you love someone, the easier it is for me to contact them, and that’s the only reason it was possible for me to bring you together as I did. Currently, I’m talking to both of you.”
Gregory’s lips pursed in thought as he considered what she had said. “That’s separate from those around me being able to open up multiple paths, right?”
“Those who trust in you and want to be beside you can walk the same paths as you. The moment they betray that trust, things go badly for them. No one who betrays my heart deserves to keep the gifts he bestows on them.”
Gregory exhaled in relief, as he’d been worried that allowing Jenn to join them might become a problem for them later. “You can do that?”
“Because of you, yes. You being safe, protected, and loved are what I wish for. I help those beside you connect to the paths, and I can just as easily sever them if they prove false. Yuki and I have only your best interests in mind.”
“Thank you?”
Laughter came from the darkness. “Oh, you are welcome, dear one. I doubt you’ll ever hold anything against us… unless we ask for it.”
Gregory’s body responded to the intent behind her slightly delayed addition. “I will, when asked,” he agreed, then changed the subject. “I’ve been seeing glimpses of aether more often.”
“Yes. That should be the first part of your magic that you recover. It will be a long time before you get back to what you are fully capable of, though your mother’s magic might be the first magic you can use with intent.”
“Foresight?”
“Yes. It’s very taxing, but you can bring insight about the future to you. I would suggest waiting until you’ve reached the apprentice tier before you try.”
“You haven’t led me wrong yet, Darkness. I’ll do as you suggest.”
“Have you been gleaning any insight from watching Yuki and Jenn’s training?”
“Not much... I get the odd feeling that I know it all, but just can’t remember it.”
“It will come back to you in time, dear one. Alas, our time is growing short again.”
“Darkness, are you okay with this?” Gregory asked.
“With Yuki getting all of your love? There’s a small part of me that’s envious of her. It hurts occasionally when you two share a look, hold hands, or sneak a kiss. I don’t resent her, though. I could have done as I told her; whispered to you in your dreams to sour your feelings for her. However, that would have been wrong of me. I am here because of my love for you. Making you reject the love of another to try keeping you to myself would be anathema to who I am.”
“Thank you,” Gregory said. “I can’t imagine life without Yuki beside me.”
“I know,” Darkness said. “Being loved by you is something that only the very special will know. Sleep well, dear one. I will see you when you reach your next rank.”
“But—” Gregory started before the darkness rushed from the corner of the room and swallowed him.
~*~*~
“Can’t believe you’re both tenth rank already,” Jenn was saying as they walked together. “I thought I’d been making ground up on you.”
“You’ll still likely match us again before we become apprentice-tiered,” Yukiko said.
“I hope so.”
“Good morning, Novices,” Rafiq greeted them when they stepped into the archive. “What can I do for you today?”
“I’d like a book on Empire’s Gambit,” Yukiko said.
Rafiq was silent for a moment. “I see... Interesting. You want the introduction, correct?”
“There’s more than an introduction?” Yukiko asked.
“Oh yes. It’s a technical and tactical war game. There are dozens of books that break apart conditions, maneuvers, and more. Novices don’t ask for them normally, but you can read them.”
“The introduction, please,” Yukiko said.
“I’m fine with what I have,” Jenn smiled.
“I’m still working my way through the law book,” Gregory said.
“You’re getting into the archaic parts of it now,” Rafiq said. “It can be difficult to understand some of the phrasing.”
“Yes, but I am still making headway.”
“Before the Second Eurtik War?” Rafiq asked.
“Between the first and second, currently.”
“Most have given up by that point. You are tenacious.”
“Learning is invigorating,” Gregory said.
“Very well. I’ll have the books brought to you. I hope your studying is productive.”
~*~*~
Leaving the archive, Yukiko explained the first part of what she had read, “It’s going to be complex. It makes that clear at the start. It also isn’t designed to be fair, nor balanced, as war isn’t either of those. It uses miniatures, depicting units, on a terrain map. Each type of unit has different statistics at the start of each game, but those stats change depending on a large number of factors.”
“This sounds like it’ll definitely take longer than a week to learn,” Gregory chuckled. “He’s a sly one, roping me into this.”
“Yes, but it’ll give us a leg up next year... or as he said, at least not a severe handicap,” Jenn said.
“What kinds of factors?”
“Weather, supplies, commander, loyalty, morale, opposing forces, and other things like that,” Yukiko said. “I had no idea there was something this complex to learn about. It tries to simulate field conditions for units in battle.”
Jenn’s smile grew wide. “I like the sound of this game.”
“I think we found our next nightly study session,” Gregory said.
“That’s a good idea,” Yukiko agreed. “We should see if the clan hall has the same books on the subject.”
“Finally, a fun subject to study with you both,” Jenn said.
“We’ll likely need to mock up the board and units, as well,” Gregory said. “That way, we have references for what we’re learning.”
“The clan hall might have them,” Yukiko suggested. “If this is something magi learn here, it stands to reason they would have the materials.”
“We can ask Dia after class,” Jenn said.
“Bean, I challenge you!” a gruff voice called out, interrupting their conversation.
All three of them came to a stop and looked toward the man who had spoken.
“Franco Ichor,” Jenn said levelly. “Why would I accept such a thing from you? Aren’t you still beating on the Iron Hand novices?”
“I need a challenge and I’ve heard that Master Chen of the Iron Hand is teaching you. What better way to be challenged than to beat the personal student of a master?”
“You’ve still given me no reason to accept,” Jenn shrugged. “Excuse us, we’re on our way to class.” She started to move forward when Franco rushed to block her way.
“Afraid, are you? You have reason to be. I’ve already reached the seventh rank,” Franco said proudly, p
ulling his medallion out. “The clan values me highly and is invested in my ascension in the academy. I’m fighting my way through the finalists of the tournament. You’re the next one for me to fight.”
“Still no reason to fight,” Jenn said flatly. “Give me an incentive or go away.”
Franco laughed darkly. “You would’ve done better in the Hardened Fist with that attitude. Fine. If there’s one thing my clan knows, it’s how enticing the right incentive can be. The challenge must be martial combat between you and me. Aether must be allowed, as well, just as it was in the tournament. If you accept those conditions, I’ll offer you a tidy sum of vela.”
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