Aether's Guard

by Schinhofen, Daniel

  Sitting down for breakfast, the friends were chatting in between bites when Dia joined them. “Good morning, Novices.”

  “Morning, Dia,” Gregory was the first to respond. “How are you today?”

  “I’m fine. Everything is moving smoothly. The tournament is coming quickly.”

  “It is,” Yukiko smiled. “We’re looking forward to it.”

  Dia’s lips twitched upward. “I’m sure you and Gregory are, but not because of the tournament itself.”

  “It’ll be good to see how we’ve progressed compared to the others,” Yukiko replied. “But yes, the main reason is because of what happens once the tournament ends.”

  “I’ve been surprised by the lack of challenges and other harassment,” Jenn said after a moment. “I had heard how common it is after the first tournament, and yet we’ve seen very little of either.”

  “Mostly because you’ve reduced their chances to harass you,” Dia said. “You only take the first class. Otherwise, you are in the archive or clan hall. On your day off, you seclude yourself in Gin’s home. It doesn’t give them many opportunities. When I was a novice, it wasn’t uncommon for the mess hall to be the place where most of those challenges took place. Since you eat here, that’s been denied to them.”

  “I was wondering about that, Dia. Even the teachers seem to eat there. Is having a kitchen and staff so rare inside the academy?”

  Dia nodded. “It is. Only a handful of the buildings have the facilities for it. Even those with the facilities prefer not to spend the money to have supplies brought in, nor desire to hire a dedicated staff to cook. When you met with the clans, how many of them had anything besides tea and simple pastries?”

  “I hadn’t thought about it,” Yukiko said slowly. “Now that you mention it… maybe two?”

  “Exactly. The great clans send their members to the mess hall. It’s just easier for them.”

  “Then why did the elder go to this length?” Gregory asked. “I’m not complaining— Steva and the others are amazing cooks, and we’re lucky to have them.”

  “No need to butter me up,” Steva laughed.

  “Because of the harassment,” Dia replied. “He knew what you would face if you went to the mess hall. Did you not encounter a problem even when you were accompanied by him?”

  “I never thought about it,” Gregory said. “We were getting a little harassment before, though. It just stopped abruptly.”

  “Right after you and Jenn made a mockery of being challenged. No doubt they’re waiting for the tournament to strike. Weapons and aether— that’s going to be a dangerous combination for most of your class to contend with.”

  “Especially with Nick and his friends,” Yukiko added.

  “The Eternal Flame always has at least one member in the top eight. Just as they are in contention during the second and third-year tournaments.”

  “I don’t look forward to it, even with a naginata in hand,” Gregory said.

  “It’ll be difficult,” Dia agreed. “Just do your best. It’s all we ask.”

  “We will,” Jenn said. “I plan on winning.”

  Yukiko caught the sly glance Jenn shot her, and a knowing grin crossed her face before she put a normal smile back on her face. “We all want to win.”

  “How often does the first champion repeat?” Gregory asked.

  “Very rarely,” Dia replied. “They’re normally targeted by the rest of the class, sometimes even their own clan members, to be removed from contention early.”

  “The first few days must be the hardest,” Jenn said. “Three bouts with weapons and aether?”

  “No,” Dia said, correcting her. “The second tournament is a single fight a day. The first nine days are to find the eight novices that will move on to the finals. Those eight fight over the next two days, and then the final two are given a day to recover before meeting for the final match.”

  “That means the fights will be even tougher,” Yukiko said. “With only a single fight a day, there’s nothing to stop everyone from going all out.”

  “Correct. Once the tournament ends, your novice year ends,” Dia said. “You will have a month-long clan training period before your apprentice year begins.”

  “I didn’t know that,” Jenn said.

  “I’m sure that Elder Lightshield will have things arranged for the clan,” Dia smiled. “I must get to my other tasks. I hope you all have a wonderful day off. Don’t forget that Gin will be visiting his house today.”

  “We haven’t,” Gregory assured her. “Are you going to stop by, Dia?”

  Dia smiled enigmatically. “I can’t say. Good day.”

  The three novices exchanged glances when she left. “She’s going to be there,” Yukiko said.

  “Definitely,” Jenn nodded.

  “It’s unanimous,” Gregory said. “Come on, we don’t want to be late to the archive.”

  ~*~*~

  They were on their way to the meeting room to play Empire’s Gambit against their instructors when the front door opened. Gin gave them a nod as he removed his shoes and put slippers on. Inda and Indara followed him inside and copied him.

  “Where is Baylyss?” Gin asked.

  “I’m here, sir,” Baylyss replied, coming out of the side room. “I would have greeted you, but I didn’t know when you would be appearing.”

  “I understand. I’d like to meet your helpers, especially Elsa.”

  “Yes, sir. Please follow me,” Baylyss said, heading toward the back of the house.

  “We’ll be joining you once we’re done,” Gin said. “If you can refrain from playing Empire’s Gambit today, we’d like to join in with some Go, Shogi, or another pastime.”

  “Of course, Sensei,” Yukiko said, bowing to him. “We’ll arrange that while you meet everyone.”

  Gin nodded, not having paused following Baylyss.

  “Good thing we’re between games,” Jenn said as they entered the room. “It’ll be easier to clear the table.”

  “Clear the table?” Lon asked.

  “Gin is here today,” Gregory said. “He’d like to join in a few games, but not Gambit, as it takes so much time.”

  “Can’t deny the master of the house,” Vexlin said. “We’ll get it cleared. You might need to ask Baylyss where the games are, though. We didn’t bring the boards with us.”

  “We can start with some cards,” Gregory said. “Baylyss is busy, as are the kids.”

  “Understood,” Cal said, rubbing his head. “Well, first things first.”

  They had the table cleared by the time Gin entered the room. Baylyss and Elsa followed him with the Go and Shogi boards in hand.

  “Lon, Vexlin, Cal, this is Armsmaster Gin Watashi,” Yukiko said, introducing them.

  “It’s an honor, sir,” Lon said, bowing at the waist. “Thank you for allowing us into your home.”

  “An honor,” Vexlin and Cal echoed.

  “I’ve heard good things about you from Yukiko. Let us sit, talk, and play,” Gin said as he came forward.

  Cal’s eyes drifted to Inda, who had followed Gin into the room, his tufted squirrel ears twitching. Inda looked his way and gave him a slight nod of her head before moving to stand against the wall.

  Gin saw the look from Cal. “Inda is my closest companion. She’s been with me since shortly after I left the service of the Warlin household,” he said as he took his seat.

  “She isn’t joining us?” Cal asked.

  “No,” Inda said. “My duty is to keep him safe.”

  Lon sat back, having just taken his own seat. “You keep an armsmaster safe?”

  “It is my task.”

  Vexlin exhaled. “Okay, no forced shuffles at this game.”

  Gin laughed. “I’ve seen a number of cheats in my long years, Vexlin. You may attempt to cheat, and as long as it’s not against me, I won’t call you out on it. They need to learn, after all.”

  Vexlin chuckled. “Far be it from me to argue with an armsmaster.”
>
  ~*~*~

  The games stretched out over the next few hours, and Cal kept glancing at Inda. When a break came for refreshments, he approached her cautiously.

  “Excuse me… Inda… I—”

  “I’m not interested,” Inda said not unkindly. “I already have someone I’ve given my heart to.”

  Cal’s ears twitched wildly, his face giving away his embarrassment. “Ah… Of course. Sorry.”

  “There is no need to apologize,” Inda told him. “Your attraction was obvious. I know a few women who might respond well to an advance from you, but I am taken.”

  “Oh. Uh... You do?”

  Inda’s impassive face cracked for a moment, the smile real, before it vanished. “Leave your name and where I can have them meet you. I’ll make inquiries, but I can promise nothing.”

  “N-no, that’s fine!” Cal stumbled over his words, clearly flustered but eager. “Thank you!”

  Inda nodded her head, her eyes never having left Gin’s back. “Of course. Please enjoy the rest of your time in my master’s home.”

  “Of course,” Cal said a smile on his face.

  The door opening gave way to Elsa, Baylyss, and Indara. They had trays of snacks and a couple of different drinks with them. Cal blinked, his eyes darting from Inda to Indara and back.

  “No. She’s my twin, and she is also taken,” Inda said, catching sight of his reaction from the corner of her eye.

  “Oh... of course,” Cal said, going back to the table.

  ~*~*~

  When the time came to leave, Gin thanked each of the instructors for their hard work and gave them each a small bag before showing them out.

  After saying their farewells to Baylyss, Elsa, and the other children, they got in the carriage Gin had waiting for them. Gin sat between Inda and Indara, while Gregory ended up between Yukiko and Jenn.

  “They’re good instructors,” Gin said. “How long are they going to instruct you?”

  “Until the tournament,” Yukiko said.

  “Do you know what the clan has planned?” Gregory asked Gin.

  “I do not,” Gin replied. “Dia seems uncertain, herself. I don’t think the elder told her anything beyond that he would arrange something.”

  “Makes it hard for people to interfere if the plans aren’t known,” Inda said.

  “That’s true,” Gin chuckled. “The fewer people that know, the less chance that your enemies can find out.”

  “You think they’ll do something after the tournament?” Gregory asked.

  “Through second year, at the very least. Third year, you’ll be sent out into the nearby towns to train with your soldiers. That makes it harder for them to cause harm themselves, but I have no doubt that they will find a way to make your life interesting if you upset them more.”

  “Not even touching on your adept posting,” Inda added.

  “Indeed,” Gin nodded. “Your willingness to push and study ahead of your year will help you, but it also makes you a larger target. It’s good that you three are in this together. Each of you has strengths the others do not, and that will help cover for the weaknesses you each have. But even those weaknesses are being slowly eroded, aren’t they?”

  “We’re doing our best, Sensei,” Yukiko replied.

  “And far exceeding in most ways,” Gin smiled. “I’m looking forward to this tournament and this next year.”

  Chapter Forty-three

  Over the next month, no one challenged them or gave them grief, although, through the last few days, they heard stories of more aggressive behavior from the other novices. Daciana had a second challenge that she won easily— she overpowered her opponent, who conceded before he could be hurt too much. Nessa accepted a challenge, as well, but opted to do Magi Squares at the archive instead of combat, much to her opponent’s frustration.

  Yukiko had gotten a firm grasp on shadow leaping, and started giving her shadows definitive shapes, focused mainly on hands to grab things. Inda was impressed at how quickly Yukiko was learning.

  Jenn’s tutelage under Master Chen continued to be brutal, but effective. She was a bruised mass at the end of each session, but her ring and some healing tea from Dia got her sorted quickly every day. Jenn was confident in her ability to block and absorb the damage inflicted by another physical enhancement magi, and was making headway toward using brief bursts of aether to infuse an attack instead of using more than needed.

  Gregory was able to see aether threads easier. Watching Inda and Yukiko, he could see how the threads had to weave to make specific magics happen, and learned how to tell which woman cast the spell, as their threads had different consistencies.

  ~*~*~

  Rolling his neck as he walked toward the door, Gregory thought about how there were only two weeks until the tournament, and four weeks from a day he’d been growing anxious for. Her parents will be here in two weeks, the day before the tournament starts. Two weeks from that... we’ll be exchanging vows. A thrum of energy rushed through him as he imagined Yukiko in her wedding dress.

  The knock on his door pulled him from his thoughts. Opening it, he had his arms suddenly filled with Yukiko as she kissed him and shut the door behind her with her foot. Gregory groaned and pushed her back into the closed door, returning the kiss with equal passion.

  The kiss had started to grow heavy when there was another knock. “Greg? Yuki?”

  Yukiko unclasped her legs from around Gregory and he steadied her as she stood. “We’ll be right out, Jenn,” Yukiko said a bit breathlessly.

  “If you’re dressed, can I come in for a moment?”

  The two of them smoothed their kimonos and stepped back from the door. “Come on in, Jenn,” Gregory said.

  Jenn cracked the door open, peeking inside before opening it more. “I’m sorry for interrupting, but someone did ask me to make sure she stayed true to what you wanted.”

  Yukiko exhaled a shuddering breath. “I did... Thank you. It’s been getting worse over the last month.”

  “You asked her to stop us?” Gregory asked, his eyebrows up as high as they could go.

  “I did.”

  “It wasn’t the only thing I wanted to share with you,” Jenn said, pulling her medallion out. “Rank two.”

  “That’s good,” Yukiko smiled broadly, stepping forward and taking Jenn’s hand. “And thank you again. I wouldn’t have stopped myself. We should give him a minute to calm himself, as well.”

  Jenn’s gaze darted to Gregory’s waist, then quickly away. “Yes, that would be good. We’ll see you downstairs, Greg.”

  “Thanks,” Gregory coughed.

  When they left the room, Gregory leaned his head against the door and breathed slow and deep. That was close... You wouldn’t have been the only one who wouldn’t stop, Yuki. To fail so close to the end would be tragic.

  ~*~*~

  “Next week is our last day with the instructors,” Yukiko told Gregory when he joined them in the dining room.

  “Yeah, and your parents said they’ll be here the day before the tournament starts.”

  “Yes. We’ll be having lunch with them at Stabled Hunger. Jenn, you’re coming, too.”

  “I am? But, Yuki—”

  “No buts. My mother asked to meet you, and it’s a good time for it.”

  “Okay... I don’t want to intrude, though.”

  “If she wants you there, there’s no intrusion,” Gregory said. “They want to meet the people who are close to their daughter. At least you won’t be as closely scrutinized as I was,” he chuckled.

  Yukiko smiled softly. “That seems so long ago, the day we finally accepted each other.”

  “And yet it’s only been a little more than five months...”

  “And in less than a month, you will be wed,” Dia said, coming into the room.

  “Good morning, Dia,” they each greeted her.

  “Good morning to you all. I’ve been tasked to ask if you’ve read on any crafts over this year?”

  �
��I read up on smithing,” Jenn said.

  “Leatherworking,” Yukiko added.

  “I just started in on bowyering,” Gregory said.

  “Very well. Enjoy your breakfast. I’m to inform you that dinner the night before the tournament is being held here, and that Elder Lightshield will be attending. This might conflict with your parents’ wishes, but the elder has made this mandatory.”