“He was trying to remove you from the tournament and possibly kill you,” Gin said flatly. “It’s not wrong to meet force with equal force.”
“Dear one...” Yukiko said softly, touching his arm for a moment, “Gin is right. Those fires would have burned you badly if they didn’t kill you. None of us would view you poorly for returning the favor to him.”
“Not at all,” Jenn said.
“I just don’t want to be like them.”
“You never will be,” Yukiko said.
“Let’s go,” Hao said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the clan hall.”
“Are all the fights going to be like that?” Adolphus asked as they exited the arena.
“No. They put us up against people who had a chance at beating us today,” Jenn said. “There aren’t that many of them left.”
“Nick, Jason, Michelle, and maybe another six in their clan,” Yukiko said. “They’ll bring the dangerous fire... There are maybe another ten who are dangerous, but in other ways.”
“The fact we ended up against three of them means the matches are being swayed,” Gregory said.
“That’s how much sway some of the clans have,” Dia said. “I know Elder Lightshield used some of his own influence. He opted to have competent healers on hand and for you all to be in the same arena.”
“Mindie and Klim,” Gregory said. “Both have been equal and fair with us.”
“Is it possible for us to stop by the archive, as well?” Yoo-jin asked.
“Yes. No one but magi are allowed to view the texts stored inside of it, though, so it’ll be just a tour of the lowest level,” Dia explained.
Adolphus was surprised to see the koi fish in the streams and ponds, never having seen anything like it before. Jenn had to explain that they only lived in places of highly concentrated aether, and they were illegal to own if you weren’t a magi. The explanation took most of their trip to the archive.
“Magus, Novices, and guests, welcome to the academy archive,” Rafiq greeted them. “I take it you’ve come for a tour?”
“Yes, please,” Yoo-jin replied.
“Your daughter is one of the most studious novices we’ve ever had in the academy,” Rafiq said as he motioned to someone. “You should be proud of her thirst for knowledge. All three of them are equal in that regard.” Another archivist came to stand near them, and Rafiq motioned to him. “Simon will show you around the bottom floor. The upper floors are off-limits to those not higher than novice tier.”
“Mother, Father, this is Rafiq, the archivist we see most often,” Yukiko said. “When he isn’t the one on the door in the morning, it’s usually Simon. They’ve made it easier for us by always having the next book on hand for us.”
“You have our thanks,” Hao said. “Both of you. Is there any way we can repay your efforts?”
“We are not allowed to accept gifts of any kind,” Rafiq said. “If you’d like to leave a note for the chief archivist, I’ll make sure she gets it.”
“If that’s all we can do, then we will,” Hao said, “but after the tour. Simon, we are in your capable hands.”
“Follow me, please,” Simon said, leading them along the left wall.
The tour of the archive, and the subsequent note-writing, took nearly an hour. Yoo-jin had many questions about how things were sorted and catalogued. Simon was eager to explain it to her in detail. Umbrose and Adolphus were shocked to see so many books, given how expensive it was to produce even a single scroll, much less a bound book. After giving Rafiq the letters from Hao and Adolphus, the group said their goodbyes and made their way to the clan hall.
The tour of the hall took up another couple of hours, as Velma and the others were happy to make some food for them. Umbrose and Velma had a lengthy discussion about what kinds of sauces worked best with what kind of meats, much to the entertainment of the others.
When the time finally came for them to leave, Dia reminded them that they shouldn’t stay out too late, as they would need their sleep for tomorrow. Hao promised to have the carriage bring them back near sunset or a little after.
~*~*~
Gregory chuckled when he saw Adolphus, Umbrose, and Jenn’s faces once they realized where Hao had the carriage take them.
“Did I look like that?” he whispered to Yukiko.
“Yes.”
“Warlin, we can’t,” Adolphus said. “There’s nothing in there that we can even begin to cons—!”
“My daughter said I was to treat Jenn equal to her and Greg,” Hao cut him off. “There is nothing you have to do or pay for. We ask for nothing in return.”
“Yuki?” Jenn asked, clearly uncomfortable.
“This is part of the tournament for us,” Yukiko told her. “We don’t buy much, if anything, but we’re here just in case something special comes along. Greg was just as unsure and uncomfortable during the last tournament.”
“Maybe it’s best if we wait back at Stabled Hunger…?” Umbrose asked.
“That might be for the best,” Yoo-jin said. “We don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Hao, why don’t you go with them? I will stay with our children and see if there is anything for them.”
Hao chuckled. “I see... You want to stop me from spending too much.”
“Again,” Yoo-jin smiled. “You know I’ll be responsible with our money.”
“Are you sure you’d rather go back?” Hao asked the other couple. “If you’re uncomfortable, we can return, retire, and wait for them.”
“I’m not dressed for it,” Umbrose said, smoothing her plain dress. “Please?”
Adolphus realized his rough work clothing might not give a good impression, either. “Take us back, please. Jenn, you behave yourself.”
“She’ll be fine,” Yoo-jin smiled, replying before Jenn could. “We’ll likely return empty-handed, as it is. We’ll see you as soon as the auction for today is over.”
Once the others were gone, Yoo-jin led them inside the auction house.
The same receptionist from the first time greeted them. “Welcome back. Did you want a box again?”
“If the same box is available, we’d prefer that,” Yoo-jin smiled.
“Of course. Please, follow me.”
“Do I need to post the fee first?” Yoo-jin asked.
“You are honored visitors. We trust that you will settle at the end of the night,” the receptionist replied. “Would you care for any refreshments?”
“Some tea only. We’ll be having dinner afterward.”
“Of course.”
Seated in the box with their tea, they found that the auction house was still filling up with people. Gregory looked across the way to see Grandmaster Shun take his seat in his box.
“Shun is here,” Gregory murmured.
“Let’s hope we don’t bid against him tonight,” Yoo-jin said. “I don’t have the fortitude that Hao does in those moments.”
“Mother, he’s going to marry me. Maybe we can tell him?” Yukiko suggested.
“After the marriage,” Yoo-jin said. “That’s what was agreed upon.”
A knock on the door got their attention. Lin opened it to reveal Elder Lightshield.
“Do pardon my intrusion,” Lightshield smiled. “I was wondering if I might not share your box for the auction? I forget it’s wise to arrange these things ahead of time. When I inquired about a box, they informed me the last one had just been claimed.”
Yoo-jin rose to her feet. “Elder, it would be an honor to have you beside us.”
“Thank you,” Lightshield said, his cane muted against the thick rug. “I do have my own paddle with which to bid. Let me know if you are going to bid on an item, and I will stay out of the way.”
“The same for us, please,” Yoo-jin said. She motioned him to the chair to her right side. “We’ll be attending every night of the auction. Should we arrange for you to join us?”
“That would be wonderful,” Lightshield said. “I’d rather not sit on the floor, not with
some of my enemies above me.” His eyes went to Shun, who was glaring at them. Lightshield gave a small wave of his hand. “It might not go well.”
“I can only imagine,” Yoo-jin said, “though I’m sure half of that hatred is directed at my family.”
“After you outbid him on something that he stated he wanted, and then your daughter beat his grandson? That is entirely likely. I doubt anything for the first few nights will be worth the attention, but one never knows when something will pique the interest.”
“I think we’ll have an idea when something of note shows up,” Yoo-jin smiled.
“Perhaps,” Lightshield replied.
~*~*~
The auction had nothing that Yoo-jin bid on. Lightshield made a few bids, but let others take it after a few small increases. Jenn had been shocked at the amount some of the items went for, but by the end of it, she seemed to have relaxed.
Dinner with their parents went by without hangups. Umbrose and Adolphus had asked about the auction, so Jenn explained it over dinner. By the time they finished eating, both of her parents appeared a little more at ease with the idea.
“I was worried you’d want everything,” Adolphus admitted to Jenn. “We do our best, always have, but even the lower items there would strain the family.”
“We’ve seen a few things that would do the same to us,” Hao said. “It’s hard when you want the best for your daughter. We understand.”
Umbrose nodded. “Yes, you do. It’s been so nice meeting another couple who have had a lot of the same experiences.”
“We agree,” Yoo-jin smiled. “Tomorrow night, I’ve arranged for a girl’s night. I believe my husband has arranged for him, Adolphus, and Gregory to be taken care of, as well. Some things just need a small audience to be said.”
Hao snorted. “In other words, they want to talk about us and spare our egos.”
Yoo-jin laughed. “I know your ego can handle anything I might say. This is so the girls can speak freely, and we can offer advice. Besides, you wanted to have a party for Greg before the wedding.”
Hao chuckled. “A tradition of Buldoun. I’ve been looking forward to it, I’ll admit.”
“Father,” Yukiko said politely, but with a hint of warning, “you’re not going to do anything to him, are you?”
“No. No! It will be a small celebration, is all,” Hao was quick to say. “I don’t plan for anything bad to happen.”
“Lin,” Yukiko asked, “you’re going, right?”
“As is my father,” Lin said.
“I’ll hold you responsible for what happens.”
Lin’s face went wooden. “Yes, miss.”
“Good,” Yukiko smiled. “I think it’s getting late; we should get back.”
“Yes,” Jenn agreed. “It’s been a busy day, and it isn’t going to be less so over the next week.”
Gregory felt a trickle of worry about what tomorrow night would bring, but he smiled, too. “Back to study, then sleep?”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Yukiko said.
Chapter Fifty-one
Meeting with the others at the clan hall, Hao was still chortling over the vela he’d made off the people around him. “Even with the exceedingly bad odds I got, I still turned a nice profit.”
“Father?” Yukiko asked with a raised brow.
“Five seconds,” Hao laughed. “Five. The time for him to close the distance, disarm, and then beat his opponent. The people in the stands beside me were shocked speechless. It took me longer to get my coin than it did for Greg to win.”
“He’s gifted with the naginata,” Gin nodded. “Yukiko did very well, too.”
Yukiko smiled. “It wasn’t five seconds, but it was good. I felt bad for him... he could barely conjure a gust of wind. I ended it as mercifully as I could.”
“She didn’t even use her magic,” Yoo-jin added. “If she had, she might have tied Greg’s time, or beaten it.”
“I had Geoff, the weak enchanter,” Jenn said. “I didn’t use my magic, either. If I had, he’d have broken bones. He thanked me once it was over.”
“Not many wouldn’t have hurt him intentionally,” Dia said. “I’m worried that word about your kindness will get around. Others might try to exploit it.”
“We’ll be wary, just like we were today,” Jenn said.
“I was worried he had something up his sleeve,” Yukiko said. “Thankfully, I was wrong. I did have my magic in hand and ready to use, just in case.”
“I did, too,” Jenn added.
“I used mine,” Gregory admitted. “That’s why it was over with so quickly.”
Gin snorted. “You’re going to be a nightmare for anyone devoted to physical combat if you can keep your foresight up long enough.”
“He gives me fits when we spar,” Jenn nodded. “I think he’ll drain faster than a physical enhancement magi, though.”
“That’s my worry,” Gregory admitted. “I’ll have to use every trick I can if I go up against you or one of the others.”
“I will win,” Jenn said seriously.
“I hope we don’t see until the final eight,” Gregory replied.
“I can accept that,” Jenn smiled.
“With the fights over, it’s time to separate this party,” Yoo-jin said. “We’ll be missing the auction house tonight, but I don’t think it’ll be a loss.”
“Elder Lightshield informed me that he would be there,” Dia said. “I hope you all have a good night.”
“Thank you, Dia,” Yoo-jin said. “Would you like to accompany us?”
Dia paused in her departure, looking to Yukiko, then Jenn. “Novices?”
“I’d be happy to have you along,” Yukiko said.
Jenn hesitated, but added her approval after Yukiko. “Please.”
“Very well,” Dia said, turning back to them. “We can use the clan carriage for ourselves and make things easier.”
“That leaves us with the family carriage,” Hao said. “With Lin and Gin, we’ll at least equal the other party. Lin, did you arrange for the guards?”
“Yes, sir. The best four female guards are with the carriage. They can shift to the clan carriage easily enough.”
“Always making sure we’re safe,” Yoo-jin said. “Do not wait up for us. We might be late.”
Hao laughed. “I was going to say the same, dear one.”
As the women moved away, Gregory cleared his throat. “Hao, what’s the tradition of this party you wanted to have?”
“A bachelor party. To those about to marry in Buldoun, it’s customary for the groom to have a party before the wedding. It’s said to help remove any doubts the groom might have about the marriage.”
“I should’ve read up on their customs instead of their laws,” Gregory said.
“It’ll be fine. Now, let’s go have a good time,” Hao said.
Gin shook his head as he followed the others. “Hao, you do know that if you do this, Yoo-jin and Yukiko will be less than amused.”
“You would be correct, if I did what they do,” Hao said. “I, however, do not wish my daughter to kill me, nor my wife to help her. There won’t be a wild, uninhibited party like they do there.”
“Thank Aether for that,” Lin exhaled. “I’ve been worried about it since you mentioned the idea. I don’t get paid enough to try stopping them.”
Gregory exchanged a look with Adolphus, who looked equally worried, before addressing Hao. “Father, what do you have planned?”
Hao stumbled at the word father. “Well done, Greg. What I have planned is nothing bad. We’ll be having a relaxing time before dinner. After dinner, we’ll visit a local gambling hall to have some fun. That’s all.”
~*~*~
When they arrived at their first stop, Gregory was surprised. “Felina’s?”
“What’s this place?” Adolphus asked.
“An oiran house,” Gin said bluntly. “This is going to be skirting some lines for the women.”
“Calm down, Gin,” Ha
o said. “The services arranged are all perfectly fine. It’s a simple heated bath and massage, followed by a meal. I didn’t pay for anyone to wander off with the ladies.”
Gregory thought about what Yukiko would say when she found out. As long as I don’t touch, I don’t think she’ll be upset. I didn’t choose this place, after all. Hao might get into some trouble, though...
Aether's Guard Page 43