Aether's Blessing (Aether's Revival Book 1)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “I’ve lived too long to think otherwise. If you’re not lovers yet, then you’re on that path already. Now, do you favor the black or the brown?”

  Gregory exhaled heavily, “Black, please.”

  “Very good. Let’s try them on,” the cobbler said, taking a seat and getting them onto Gregory’s feet. “Take a walk around the room.”

  Gregory did as he was told, keeping his eyes off Yukiko while his ears were still burning. The boots felt perfect, and when he came back, he took a seat. “Almost as if they were made for me.”

  “Naw, they’re good, but custom made? You’d know the difference. Those fit like gloves for your feet.”

  “I’ll pay,” Yukiko said, moving to the counter. “I also want to ask about more formal shoes. Will you take my measurements?”

  “Gladly,” the man said, going to get his measuring device.

  A bit later, they were back on the street, avoiding looking at the other because they could both clearly recall the cobbler’s words.

  “Yuki,” Gregory said, broaching it first, “you’re a great friend. Doubt I’d be this happy if you hadn’t been here.”

  “I feel the same, Greg. However… I can’t court you, even if I wanted to. I’ve been betrothed for nearly a decade.”

  Gregory felt his stomach fall, his mind going blank. “Oh. Yeah... Of course. I wasn’t looking to court you,” he said quickly. “Just wanted you to know that I’ll be here as a friend as long as you want me to be.”

  Yukiko felt a pit in her stomach and she bit back her sorrow at his words. “I won’t ask you to go. You really are a dear friend to me. I just didn’t want you to think it was possible, only to have your heart crushed later.”

  “Yeah, I totally get that,” Gregory said. “We should start walking back, maybe find a park to eat our snacks.”

  “Yes, that sounds good.”

  They set off walking side by side, each lost in their own thoughts.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Gregory and Yukiko eventually came across a small park off the main road and settled down on the grass for their snack. It was earlier than normal, but it helped them break the awkward tension that had fallen between them. After they ate, they both sat in the lotus position and began to breathe deeply.

  Gregory spent the next hour failing to fall into the meditative space he needed. With the chiming of the eleventh bell, he sighed and stretched. “Not today, it seems.”

  Yukiko sighed as she stepped out of her own trance. She had a pensive look on her face as she continued to look into the distance. “Maybe… but father would…? Maybe…” Her words were nearly inaudible as she mumbled them.

  “Yuki, you okay?”

  Blinking, Yukiko looked up at Gregory and smiled. “Yes. Sorry, I found a moment of clarity. Did you?”

  “No. If we keep training, it might become easier, though.”

  “Yes. We still need to train body today.” Getting to her feet, she looked at the park, “No one is here... should we use this place?”

  “Stretching and running... the park is smaller… so, forty laps?”

  “That would be close to right, but forty-two would be better.”

  “Forty-two it is.”

  Over the next hour the pair stretched, ran, and stretched again. When they finished, Gregory glanced at Yukiko, who was still catching her breath. “We haven’t sparred at all since classes started. Want to walk me through some basics?”

  Looking around and seeing the place still empty even when the twelfth bell rang, Yukiko nodded slowly. “I will show you a couple of basic attacks and blocks to counter them. When the thirteenth bell chimes, we should start back up toward the academy.”

  “Deal,” Gregory grinned, settling into the balanced stance Nick had taught him.

  The next hour flew by for Gregory as he copied everything Yukiko showed him, including a better stance. She was quick to correct his mistakes, and near the end of the hour, she even allowed him to spar with her. She won easily, but Gregory felt like he could almost see the tempo of the fight.

  ~*~*~

  “You didn’t want anything today?” Gregory asked when they started up the road again.

  “Just to get out, see the city, and engage in a little commerce. Father always says if you don’t use your knowledge, it’ll fade.”

  “I can see that,” Gregory nodded. “Does your father use the enchantment that the proctor carriages do?”

  “We can’t afford those. The great clans keep a tight hold on those to keep the most profitable trade to themselves. It requires a grandmaster enchanter to even attempt to make the tack that allows that to happen.”

  “Ah,” Gregory said, “that would let them do long distance trading faster than the smaller merchants.”

  “Yes. As a result, the most perishable items are controlled by them.”

  Gregory lapsed into thought again. If the great clans control perishable goods and anything that has to move quickly, they must be the ones who take the raw goods from the north into the cities. Those are worth more than any of the standard goods, which is how they stay wealthy and in power.

  “Oh, wait. I want to stop here,” Yukiko said, moving toward a shop.

  “Herbalist?” Gregory asked, following her.

  “I’ll be right out. Please wait here for me.”

  Gregory wanted to ask more, but leaned up against the wall instead. “Sure.”

  Yukiko vanished into the shop, leaving Gregory to watch the city go by. He noted two guards patrolling by themselves, as well as a few of the city servants moving down the street with their wheeled buckets, picking up after the horses.

  “Excuse me, sir, would you like to buy a flower?” a young girl asked, coming toward him with a handful of flowers.

  “What would I do with one?”

  “Give it to a special someone, or your mother or sister, perhaps?” the girl gave him a dimpled smile.

  Gregory smiled back at her, “How much?”

  “Five vela?”

  Gregory dug out a five vela coin, handing it to her in exchange for a single flower. “Thank you. May Aether watch over you.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Urchin, I’ve told you before that you can’t sell on the street,” a guard said, coming toward them with a fast stride.

  “Sir, I asked her if she would sell me one,” Gregory said quickly. “It isn’t her fault, but mine.”

  The guard turned on him, catching sight of the medallion around his neck. “Magi, the laws state no soliciting on the streets. We have squares for that.”

  Gregory bowed slightly from the waist. “Apologies, I will remember.”

  “Now, you—” the guard started, turning toward where the girl had been. “I’ll catch her later,” the guard mumbled as he moved off.

  When the guard was farther down the street, the urchin girl came back and gave Gregory a smile. “Thank you, sir. Not many would try to help me. Did he say right? Are you a magi?”

  “A novice, but yes. You better run along. He’ll be looking for you.”

  “I will. Thank you again.”

  “Wait,” Gregory said, stopping her from fleeing right away. “Here, take this. I’ll take the rest of those in exchange.”

  “Yes sir,” the urchin said, giving him all her flowers before looking at the coin. “A hundred vela? Sir, I—”

  “Quick, run. Here comes the guard,” Gregory said, looking past her.

  With a gasp, the urchin bolted, and Gregory chuckled as she ran. Shaking his head, he looked down at the wilting flowers and sighed.

  “I’m back, Greg… why do you have flowers?”

  “Bought them off an urchin.”

  Yukiko tsked, “They always go for the soft touches.”

  “Maybe, but she seemed nice,” Gregory said. “Anyway, have some flowers.”

  Yukiko took them on reflex. “What? I—”

  “The urchin said to give them to a friend, and you’re my only friend here, Yuki.�
��

  Yukiko looked at the sad wilting flowers, and smiled softly. “I accept, since there are no other friends nearby.”

  “Get what you needed?”

  Yukiko’s cheeks tinged with pink briefly, “Yes.”

  Gregory kept a knowing smile off his face. He remembered Eloria and Amoria wanting herbs during certain points every month, too. “We should get moving again. Have to make it back before sundown.”

  ~*~*~

  The sun was low in the sky when they arrived at the postern of the academy. A knock on the metal door caused it to be opened, but the guards on duty stood in their way, different than the ones who had been there when they left. The magi on duty was an irritable-looking man in an orange kimono.

  “Medallions?” the magi snapped at them.

  Both presented their medallions, and the magi grumbled. He waved the guards away so the pair could pass, “Novices on their days off…”

  “Thank you, sir,” Yukiko said, giving the initiate a bow of her head.

  The initiate gave her a slight nod in return, going back to a bench to sit. “Clear the gate, please.”

  “Dinner?” Gregory asked, his aether still low from their sparring earlier.

  “A good idea,” Yukiko agreed. “Maybe we can study afterward?”

  “Sure, we can use my room,” Gregory said, knowing that Amoria had always been picky about him going into her room.

  “Very well.”

  As the pair approached the mess hall, a familiar voice called out to them, “Greg? Almost didn’t recognize you.”

  “Nick,” Gregory replied. “How have you been?”

  Nick’s smile was wide, “Good. My father just happened to be in the city. You should come by my room later tonight. I have gifts from my father to the people who have been friendly with me.”

  “We’ll stop by,” Yukiko smiled. “We’re on our way to get food.”

  “I’d join you, but I just recently ate at Zerig’s,” Nick smiled, but when neither reacted, his face fell slightly. “It’s one of the best places to eat outside of the academy.”

  “Oh,” Gregory said, “I’m sure it was a good meal, then.”

  Nick sighed, brushing at his elaborate silver-trimmed, red silk kimono. “Yeah. Anyway, I’ll see you both later.”

  Yukiko’s smile waned once Nick left, “I’ve never understood the need to flaunt wealth that way. Father always said that it was foolish. There are easier ways to let people know you are well off than that.”

  “Huh, I wondered why he’d mentioned it.”

  “Wanting to show off,” Yukiko sighed. “Let’s eat.”

  The meal was as delicious and aether-filling as ever. The two of them felt more awake and refreshed than they had all week as they walked back to the dormitory. Gregory realized he had seen very few novices during the day. During dinner, there had been only five other novices in the dining hall.

  Reaching the dorm as the eighteenth bell chimed, he exchanged his boots for slippers, and the voices from inside the common room were noticeable. “Guess we’re not the only ones full of energy,” Gregory chuckled.

  “We weren’t run ragged,” Yukiko said, “even though we probably did more than they did.”

  “Fair point, Yuki. Let’s see if Nick is in his room. We’ll stop by on our way up to my room.”

  Muted voices could be heard from inside the room, so Gregory knocked on the wood panel beside the door. “Nick?”

  The door opened to reveal Fureno, Jason, Michelle, and the others all sitting around the room. Nick gave them a wide smile, “Come on in. You are the last two, so I can give out the gifts now.”

  A small cheer from the other novices filled the room, and everyone crowded one side of the low set table that had a few bags on it. Nick took his seat on one side, facing the others. “Okay, Father wished me to convey his thanks to the people who’ve made my time here better. I have a gift for everyone, but a few special gifts, too. First, the gifts for everyone.”

  Fureno, Jason, and a couple others leaned forward a bit more. Gregory, sitting off to the side, wondered what the big deal was. Yukiko watched the room with a knowing expression.

  “First, we have something from Yomba’s Alchemy; aether growing powder,” Nick said as he pulled vials out of one of the bags. “These are guaranteed to stimulate your aether as you sleep, so take it before bed tonight.” He uncorked one of the vials, and the scent of unknown herbs filled the air briefly before he recapped it. Nick handed them out one by one, smiling broadly.

  Gregory thanked him and tucked the vial into his pouch. Yukiko was a little slower accepting it, but did as well.

  “Next, I have certificates for a massage at Felina’s Spa,” Nick grinned. “I’m sure we can all use them next day off.”

  “Damned right,” Jason laughed. “Man, it’s been months since I was there last.”

  Michelle’s smile was a little wooden, “Felina’s? Nick, really?”

  Nick blinked, then started laughing, “Oh, don’t worry, she has male masseuses, too. They’ll work those kinks out of you.”

  Michelle’s cheeks heated, “I will decline.”

  “I’ll take hers,” Fureno offered.

  Nick shook his head at Fureno, but addressed Michelle. “Michelle, come on, don’t be like that. We’re all adults. There’s nothing wrong with a little enjoyment here and there. Besides, you can enjoy just the basic massage. It’s up to you.”

  Yukiko drew in a sharp breath as realization dawned on her, but it was inaudible to everyone but Gregory. Glancing to the side, she saw Gregory looking at her with a questioning gaze. She shook her head, and put a smile back on her face.

  “Fine, but unlike you, I’ll just be having the basic massage,” Michelle sniffed.

  “Of course,” Nick grinned as he handed her a small scroll. “Just do what you enjoy.”

  Gregory took the small scroll and tucked it into his bag, wondering if he was understanding the context completely. I can ask Yuki when we go study.

  “That’s it for everyone,” Nick said as he set aside every bag but one. “However, I have two special gifts. Michelle, Father wanted you to know he’s appreciative of you keeping me focused.” Pulling a box from the bag, he slid it to Michelle.

  Michelle frowned as she looked at the small rectangular box. Opening it, she blinked, her cheeks heating again. “I can’t—”

  “It’s fine,” Nick said, cutting her off. “It’s not from me. It’s from my father as a thank you, so it doesn’t violate any rules about accepting gifts from another besides your betrothed.”

  Michelle touched the object inside the box. “I’ll ask Mother. If she agrees, I’ll accept it.”

  “Fine,” Nick’s smile grew wider. “I’ll look forward to seeing it on your neck soon.”

  Michelle bushed deeper, tucking the box away.

  “The other one is a more formal gift,” Nick said, turning to face Yukiko. “On behalf of the Endless Flame clan, we extend this gift to you, Yukiko Warlin. We’d like you to join our ranks.” Nick pushed another similar box to her.

  Yukiko shook her head, “I can’t accept.”

  Nick frowned, clearly peeved at her instant rejection, “Why not?”

  “I have not yet made a decision as to which clan I will join. As such, it would be wrong of me to accept this gift, since I might not join your clan.”

  Nick chuckled, “Oh, I see. Then accept this as a token indicating our desire for you to join us.”

  Yukiko looked at the box for a long moment, then took it, slipping it into her bag without opening it. “I accept it as a token.”

  Nick looked a little upset at her reaction. Gregory was unsure about what had just transpired, besides Yukiko being asked to join a clan already.

  “Now that gifts are done,” Nick said, trying to regain his footing, “let the celebration of friendship begin.”

  Fureno put a couple of bottles on the table.

  Yukiko rose to her feet, “I’m sorry, but it has
been a long day and morning comes early. I must depart.”

  Gregory got to his feet beside her, “Thank you for the gifts and for inviting us, but she is right.”

  Nick’s smile thinned, “I see. Very well. We’ll see you in conditioning. Goodnight to you both.”

  “Goodnight,” Yukiko said, bowing slightly at the waist.