Magi's Path

by Daniel Schinhofen

“I will try, then,” Yoo-jin said. “Do you want me to be as strict as possible?”

  “She wants to learn what it means to be a lady’s maid, but only has minor training as a housemaid. She’ll make mistakes, but she will learn and not repeat them. You don’t have to be overly strict, just be firm with her. Please, Mother?”

  “Very well,” Yoo-jin said. “Dear one, is this acceptable to you?”

  Hao had listened the entire time, clearly thinking. “Hmm... at the end of the year, you all leave to train with your men. After that, you’ll be given your adept posting, and then your magus posting. There will be seven years where you won’t be here to check on her or the others.”

  “That’s right,” Gregory said, wondering where Hao was going.

  “I was thinking ahead. Pardon me,” Hao said. “I am fine with this trial.”

  “Thank you,” Yukiko said, looking back at Lin. “Lin, please tell Elsa to attend us and let Vana know we’re ready.”

  “Of course.”

  There was a knock on the door a minute later. After a few seconds, it opened and revealed Elsa, with Lin behind her. Elsa entered the room and came over to stand beside the table, looking at Yoo-jin. “Mistress, I’m Elsa Bommet. Thank you for this opportunity.” She dipped into a curtsy.

  “Elsa, my daughter asked me to give you this chance. I will explain things to you one time only, and I expect you to accomplish the tasks. If there is any confusion, you may ask for clarification, but my daughter has said you are intelligent, so I’m sure those questions will be few. If you repeat a mistake, I will be displeased. From this moment until the time we leave the city, you will be my personal maid. Normally, that would mean you would take care of my rooms and any other need I may have. Since we are here and not at home, you will attend me when I am here, and care for the room we use. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, mistress.”

  “Very well. Take your station.”

  Elsa went to stand behind Yoo-jin, putting her back to the wall and crossing her hands over her navel as she waited.

  There was another knock on the door— Lin opened the door to reveal Vana with a cart. “It’s good to see our favorite guests have come back,” Vana smiled. “I have the brunch you requested.”

  “We’ve been looking forward to it,” Hao smiled. “No other place we’ve stayed at since leaving home has had the same quality as you do here.”

  Vana’s smile widened and she bowed her head. “Thank you, sir. I do hope that we can keep the standard up during your stay.”

  “We have no doubts,” Yoo-jin said. “Please, serve us, and tell us about the meal.”

  ~*~*~

  With their brunch over, Gregory stood up. “I promised Nessa that I’d speak with her father about him attending the tournament. If you’ll excuse me?”

  “Hmm, I’ll come with you,” Hao said, standing as well. “If he or Vana do attend, we can always give them a ride up.”

  “Since the men are leaving, I’d like to hear more about how the wedding came about,” Yoo-jin said.

  “Oh, yes, please,” Umbrose smiled.

  “Well,” Jenn said slowly, “it started before we left for our training outside the city—”

  Gregory and Hao left the room. Hao stopped them walking halfway down the hallway. “Gregory, a question— are you sure you will still love Yu as much as you always have, even with Jenn being a part of your relationship?”

  “Honestly, I worried about it a great deal, Father,” Gregory said. “It’s odd, though... I don’t think my love for Yuki has dimmed at all. If anything, it’s grown, if that’s even possible. It could be that love is like aether— there isn’t a finite amount, and it’s something that can expand if you feed it.”

  Hao blinked slowly for a second, then chuckled. “Shared love grows?”

  “It feels that way to me,” Gregory shrugged. “I love Yuki as much as I always have, if not more now, but I also love Jenn. Maybe not as much as Yuki, but there’s only a very small amount of difference between them now, where before, it was a noticeable gap.” Taking a deep breath, he met Hao’s eyes. “And Yuki and Jenn are the same. We all love each other a great deal. We’ve not had a single fight in the time we’ve been together. Now, that hasn’t been all that long, but even if we do argue or fight, I don’t think it will be bad.”

  “Hmm... Very well. Yu is happy, I can clearly see that. I just worry that you’d minimize her in favor of Jenn.”

  “Never,” Gregory said.

  Hao smiled. “That’s quite clear, and it makes me glad. Now, let’s go speak with Ramon.”

  The taproom had a handful of other people besides the guards. A few of them glanced at the pair as they entered the room, and two raised their glasses to them. Gregory gave them nods back, vaguely recalling them being in the tavern before.

  Ramon, once he’d seen them, came to the end of the bar. “You wanted to talk?”

  “Yes, but I also don’t want to stop you from making a living,” Gregory said, looking at the man who’d just gone to the other end of the bar for a refill.

  “Hang on,” Ramon said, hurrying down to refill the man’s mug and quickly coming back. “Sorry. It’ll be fine, if it can be discussed here.”

  “It should be. Nessa was wondering if you, Vana, or both of you would be making it to see her fight?”

  Ramon deflated slightly, looking at the bar top. “I wanted to, but I don’t have anyone who can stand in for me. Vana’s sister is going to come work the kitchen for her.” He paused, looking up at Hao. “That means the food will decrease in quality slightly. She’s good, but she isn’t Vana.”

  “Hmm, understandable,” Hao said. “Considering the reason, none of us will say a word.”

  “Thank you,” Ramon said tightly. “I don’t have someone I trust to run the bar in my absence.”

  “Well, maybe I can help?” Hao offered. “Hintle, come here, please.”

  Lin’s new second-in-command got up and went over to Hao. “Yes, sir?”

  “How long has it been since you left your family’s business?”

  “Ten years, sir.”

  “Could you do the job again?”

  Hintle hesitated, looking at Ramon. “I’d want to be refreshed and to know how things were done in this establishment, sir, but yes.”

  Ramon looked between Hao and Hintle. “You want him to take my place?”

  “It’s just an option,” Hao said. “My men are the most trustworthy people I know. It will be up to you if you wish to take advantage of the offer but, as Hintle said, he’ll need you to show him how you want things done.”

  Ramon licked his lips, clearly considering the offer. “Can I have a moment to think, please?”

  “As long as you’d like. Hintle, if he accepts, this will be your task while we are in the city. I’ll make sure you are provided a bonus for going outside what your job normally entails. I’ll warn Lin about it, as well.”

  Hintle exhaled slowly as he watched Ramon go into the kitchen. “I’ll do my best, sir, but may I ask why?”

  “His daughter is a novice, and she will be in the tournament,” Hao said softly. “I know what it feels like to worry for your only child during that time. Their family has been good to us, and repaying kindness is something I have rarely been able to do.”

  “Understood, sir. If he accepts your offer, I will do my very best.”

  “It’s also likely that his daughter will be joining our clan,” Gregory said softly, “so this will help the clan and us.”

  Hintle drew himself up taller. “My very best to help the little miss.”

  Hao chuckled lightly. “Thank you. We are returning to the back before we head out. If he accepts, have someone arrange for a second carriage during our stay so we can ferry everyone back and forth.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  As Gregory and Hao walked down the hall, Gregory exhaled. “Thank you, Father.”

  “Ramon and Vana have been good to us, and returning that in this wa
y makes me feel better. I was thinking his daughter would join your clan, and that just makes it even easier to help them. Now, we have places to go and things to accomplish, but first, we must collect our wives and guests.”

  “Yes, Father.”

  Chapter Fifty-four

  When they arrived at Alvis Alchemy, Gregory was glad that Umbrose and Elsa had stayed behind or they would have needed two carriages. Entering the business, they were greeted by the smiling receptionist, Rhea.

  “I’d like to speak with Alvis,” Hao said after greeting Rhea in return.

  Rhea looked apprehensive, but just nodded and went through the door into the back.

  “Making them worry?” Yukiko asked her father. “That means you have something in mind.”

  “A worried man is more willing to make a deal,” Hao smiled slightly.

  “As you’ve taught me,” Yukiko said.

  “Well, considering that you’ve told me you don’t need any other enchantments, this is going to be our sole stop today. I might as well get the best I can while I’m here.”

  A moment later, Rhea came back out, giving them a worried smile. “Alvis will be right out, sir. He is in the middle of making a batch of pills and can’t stop without losing the supplies.”

  “Ah, of course,” Hao said, mildly perturbed.

  “Is there anything I can do for you?” Rhea asked.

  “No. I believe this will require me speaking to him directly,” Hao said.

  “Is it likely to take him long?” Yoo-jin asked.

  “Maybe a quarter of an hour,” Rhea admitted.

  Hao’s eyebrow went up. “A quarter-hour?”

  “He’s making the pills for your daughter and her group, sir,” Rhea said, clearly hoping that would mollify Hao.

  “I see...” Hao exhaled. “Some tea would be good, then.”

  “Of course. I’ll be right back,” Rhea said, hurrying into the back again.

  “We need to tell them we’re seventh rank now, too,” Gregory said.

  Hao turned to look at Gregory. “Did you say rank seven?”

  “Yes. We reached it this morning,” Yukiko said. “We’ve been hoping to keep it secret until we fight in the tournament, but we do need to tell them, at least.”

  “You’ve gained more than a full tier in a year?” Yoo-jin asked slowly. “Isn’t that... wrong?”

  “It goes against what I know of magi,” Hao said. “It should take you longer to advance as you go, not less time.”

  “Well, we aren’t training the way others do,” Yukiko reminded them.

  “That is very true...” Hao nodded slowly. “Hmm... I do hope they are as secretive about their customers’ needs as they have said they are.”

  “We’ll find out shortly,” Yoo-jin said. “What has your clan said about your growth?”

  “They’re just as shocked,” Yukiko replied.

  “They were,” Jenn nodded. “They aren’t sure if it’s a record for reaching this rank or not, though.”

  “It will surely bring eyes to your clan,” Hao said.

  “And there will be more by the end of the tournament,” Gregory said. “Nessa, Daciana, and Victoria are all seventh rank novices.”

  Hao’s eyebrows rose again. “It’s as if your clan attracts magi who grow fast.”

  Gregory, Jenn, and Yukiko exchanged glances, all of them feeling a little bad about keeping secrets from her parents.

  “It does feel that way,” Gregory said after a small delay.

  “Here we are. Tea,” Rhea said, coming back into the room with a tray. “I have two pots, with orange for you two, and lotus leaf tea for the apprentices. Lotus leaf tea is best for spirit path magi, but can still be useful to all magi.”

  “Thank you,” Hao said, turning to Rhea. “We’ll be glad to wait a little longer to speak with the alchemist.”

  Rhea visibly calmed as she poured tea for them. “Thank you, sir. I’m sure he will come as quickly as he can.”

  ~*~*~

  It was a little longer than a quarter-hour before Alvis came out of the back. “I apologize for the delay, Master Warlin. I have the items for your order, so I can send them with you instead of having them shipped up to the academy, if you’d like.”

  Hao stood with a neutral expression. “I came to talk business, and though the tea was nice, I was kept waiting for longer than I’d hoped. Your assistant assured me that you were tied up because you couldn’t pause while making the pills?”

  “She is correct. If I had tried to stop, it would have ruined everything,” Alvis said. “The loss of supplies wouldn’t have been minor, considering their strength.”

  “Yes. As a merchant, I can understand not wanting to lose profit in such a manner.”

  Alvis relaxed a little. “I’m glad that you understand. What can I do for you?”

  “The three of them will be leaving the academy to go train with their troops after this academy year ends. I need to know what you can do for them when it is uncertain where they will be.”

  “Yes, I understand,” Alvis nodded. “We could make a large batch, clearly marked with what rank they should be before they take them, that could go with them. The additives will degrade slightly over time which is unavoidable. Even in a storage-enchanted item, the additives still lose potency. That would likely be the best way forward, but that would be a bit bulky if you wanted me to supply them for an entire year.”

  “A storage-enchanted item would make transport easier,” Hao said. “I could see about acquiring one. I’m sure a number of enchanters here in the city have a few.”

  “I would be surprised if they didn’t,” Alvis agreed. “The only other option would be to engage a spatial magi to transport the additives directly to them, but that is prohibitive.”

  “Hmm...” Hao said, clearly considering the option.

  “Father,” Yukiko said, “we have an item that can store things. It shouldn’t be a problem to have them made ahead of time.”

  “I see,” Hao said. “Very well. I will make sure the account is added to so you can continue to supply them while they are here. When this academy year comes to an end, they will let you know where they are in tier and ranking so you can prepare a full year’s worth of additives for all three. Armsmaster Watashi will be the one to hold the account as he has been. I will, of course, also be back for the last tournament, so we can settle everything.”

  “I’m glad we’ve arranged this business dealing,” Alvis smiled widely. “I do believe it was the reason I was contacted by Aether’s Guard to produce supplements for the magi they’re planning to invite to their clan after the tournament.”

  “Ah, so a profitable contact came from this?” Hao asked with a sharp smile. “That’s good. I’m sure you’ll keep that in mind when the end of the year comes and we haggle the price of the initiate supplements for them.”

  “Of course,” Alvis said, his smile going a little stiff.

  “Not a lot, just a little,” Hao chuckled. “After all, we’re both men of business.”

  The stiffness faded slightly. “Of course. Shall I bring the just finished supplements now?”

  “Please,” Yukiko said. “Also, just so you are aware,” she said, slipping her medallion out of her kimono, “we’ll need the next set to be stronger.”

  Both Alvis and Rhea’s eyes widened at the sight of seven sunflower yellow rings glowing on her medallion. They looked at Gregory and Jenn, who had also produced theirs.

  “So fast...” Rhea whispered, her lips curling into a big smile. “If it became known they used your supplements…” She trailed off when she realized she’d spoken out loud.

  Alvis had nodded at her words, then froze.

  “I see... Maybe a deal could be arranged?” Hao smiled like a shark smelling blood. “Once the tournament is over and their strength is known, of course.”

  Alvis looked torn— he knew Hao would push for all he could, but the potential profit of it being known that it was his supplements that�
�d helped three apprentices reach the seventh rank before the first apprentice tournament could be huge. “I look forward to speaking with you after the tournament,” Alvis finally said to Hao.

  “As do I,” Hao chuckled.

  “Rhea, go bring the supplies for them,” Alvis said. “We don’t want to delay our honored customers any more than we already have.”

  “Yes, sir,” Rhea said, rushing into the back.

  ~*~*~