“Still keeping it shrouded in mystery, huh?”
“It won’t last too much longer, but I want to keep it for as long as I can,” Yukiko smiled.
~*~*~
Back at the dormitory, Gregory was surprised to see one of the staff waiting with a basket, which was promptly handed to Yukiko. He raised an eyebrow, but Yukiko shook her head and walked toward the postern gate after thanking them.
Yukiko flagged down a rickshaw as soon as they left the academy. When the driver came to a stop, she stepped forward and whispered to him before handing over some vela. Nodding, the driver motioned her and Gregory to the seats. Gregory shook his head, chuckling as he took his spot beside Yukiko.
The rickshaw took them through a maze of side streets until he reached a manor. “Your destination. Do you wish me to wait?”
“We’ll be here some time, so you are free to go,” Yukiko replied.
“Good day to you both,” the driver said, leaving them standing there in the early morning light.
“Okay, so…?” Gregory asked leadingly.
“We go say hello.” With a light laugh Yukiko went up to the front door. “It’s only polite.”
Following her, he examined the structure as much as he could, his brow furrowing slightly. Not as extravagant as the other manors I’ve seen here, but in good condition. Not many windows, and the walls look surprisingly thick. I don’t think this is a manor like the others, it just uses the appearance of a manor as a disguise. What do you have up your sleeve, Yuki?
It took a few minutes for the door to open. An older man with a patchwork of scars on his left cheek and a deeper one above his eyebrow stared at them for a long moment. The glare he had been wearing slowly faded, replaced with a smile. “Yu, I thought the letter was fake,” the man’s voice was respectful, and he dipped his head to her. “What can this old man do for you?”
“Gin, you are no longer a family retainer, so I come to you as a friend. My letter explained what I was hoping,” Yukiko bowed formally to him as an equal.
Gin’s icy blue eyes went to Gregory, making the young man feel like he was being sized up. “This is your… partner?”
“My manners,” Yukiko gasped, stepping sideways so the two men could see each other with her out of the way. “Gregory Pettit, this is Gin Watashi. Gin was my father’s chief guard for many years before I was born and a number of years afterward. Gin, Greg has been my only friend and has been training me in ways other magi would be jealous of. I owe him a debt that I will never be able to repay.”
Gin’s right eyebrow went up, making his left dip and deepening the scars on that side of his face. “That is…” Gin’s frown deepened more, “Training her in ways…?”
Gregory almost took a step back at the sheer bloodlust radiating off the old man in that moment. Gin seemed more dangerous than the bane wolf that had scarred him. Instead of flinching or looking away, the novice stiffened his back and lifted his chin, meeting the icy blue eyes with a steady gaze. “We are attempting to walk all three paths. It’s supposed to be impossible,” Gregory said simply.
“Gin, stop it,” Yukiko said, stepping between them. “Greg is my dear friend, that is all.”
Gin took his eyes off Gregory at her words, missing the flicker of disappointment in Gregory’s eyes. “If you say it is so, Yu, then it is so. It has been three years since I’ve done as you’re requesting. Can you afford my prices?”
“I will make sure you are paid after the tournament, if that is acceptable.”
Gin’s lips pursed before he sighed. “I could never tell you no, but… I will test you both first. If either of you is not up to my standard or close to it, I will not accept either of you.”
Yukiko hesitated and bowed, “Armsmaster Gin, we submit ourselves as students to your training.”
Gregory blinked upon hearing the title Yukiko used, bowing quickly to him. “Armsmaster, we submit ourselves to your training.”
“First, the test,” Gin sighed. “Follow me.”
Chapter Thirty-six
Following Gin into the manor, Gregory was surprised at the spartan interior, which was completely at odds with every other manor he had been in. The walls were dotted with weapon displays, and Gregory had a feeling that they were not for show.
“Master, the room is ready,” a feminine voice came from behind them, making Gregory and Yukiko tense up briefly.
Gregory looked back at the rabbit-eared woman who was now following them. She wore a kimono, but she had a short, slightly curved sword on her left hip. The hair on her head was cut short, much like Gin’s, the same dark brown as the fur on her ears.
“Thank you, Inda. Please prepare the tea for after the test.”
“As you wish, master,” the woman replied before the shadows swallowed her and she was gone.
“A shadow magi?” Yukiko asked.
“Yes and no,” Gin replied evenly. “Inda is able to use aether, but never went through the academy, as she was not born in the empire.” Stopping next to a set of paper sliding doors, he opened them, revealing a training room. The walls were lined with various wooden weapons, and the center of the room was barren of anything but mats.
“I’ll test you one at a time. Gregory, you are first. Drop your things and go to the center of the room.”
Yukiko took his things and set them beside her as she took a seat near the doors. Sitting cross-legged, she watched intently so she would know what was coming.
“You may stop the test at any time,” Gin told Gregory. “It will end when you tap the mat three times. We will spar until you call for a stop. We’ll keep it unarmed for now, because that is the basis for many of the weapons in this room.”
Gin stepped to the center of the mat, facing Gregory, and bowed from the waist at a slight angle. Gregory returned the bow, then settled into the defensive posture Yukiko had taught him. Gin eyed the stance for a moment and glanced at Yukiko. Turning back to Gregory, Gin took a different stance. “Begin when you are ready.”
Gregory did not want to be the first to attack, but Gin left him with no option. Shifting forward and remembering to keep his pace balanced, Gregory closed the distance between them slowly. Gin did not move— he waited patiently, watching him intently.
Getting to the distance he needed, Gregory launched his first kick. Gin barely moved, his own leg coming up to block his attack, before he stepped in, his hands blurring as he struck. Gregory grunted when Gin’s hands struck him four times, but managed to block the last couple. Blocking the attacks let Gin get closer; old hands gripped the young man’s kimono and with a pivot, Gregory was airborne briefly.
With a thump, Gregory hit the mat and rolled. Getting back to his feet, he found Gin almost on top of him. “Krog’s balls,” Gregory hissed when the old man attacked him again.
~*~*~
Gregory gasped as he pulled himself back to his feet. Sweat and blood dripped from his face when he turned to face Gin again. His ring that helped heal and keep him going had been depleted during the session.
“Greg—” Yukiko began, but was silenced by Gin.
“Silence, Yu, or leave. Every potential student must decide when they cannot fight anymore.” Gin said the words softly, but forcefully, his gaze never leaving the young man in front of him.
“Not done,” Gregory muttered, brushing at the blood leaking from his nose.
Gin bowed his head, “Then come. You have yet to land even a single strike.”
As he closed on Gin with slow steps again, Gregory blinked because he knew what was about to happen. Following the images that came to him, his right hand flashed out and Gin grabbed it, pulling Gregory in. Dropping his weight, Gregory tried to sweep like he had earlier, but Gin jumped the attack while holding his arm. Gregory had a feral smile as he pushed off the ground before Gin could land. Slamming his body into the old man, the pair tumbled to the ground. Gin grunted, not expecting Gregory to land an attack on him. Even surprised, Gin had the experience to deflect Gregory’s attacks as h
e released the young man’s arm and rolled out of the attempted clinch. As he rolled away, Gin felt a stinging strike to his cheek. Getting to his feet, Gin touched his cheek and felt the tenderness.
“A strike,” Gregory panted as he got back to his feet.
“Indeed,” Gin nodded. “Now, I will go faster. Are you ready?”
“No,” Gregory replied honestly, settling back into his defensive posture, “but I’m not stopping yet.”
“Very well. If you are rendered unconscious, we will stop.”
~*~*~
Yukiko glared at Gin when Gregory collapsed unconscious to the mat a few seconds later. “Gin, was that necessary?”
“Yes. He is stubborn, which is good and bad. He should have stopped after landing the strike, but he wouldn’t… because you were here.”
Yukiko hesitated, “Because of me?”
“He couldn’t risk looking weak before you, Yu. I knew you would have trouble with some things, being on the road with your father all the time.” Gin sighed, “Inda? Take the young man to rest.”
Inda dropped from above, landing beside Gregory. “As you wish, master.” Gathering Gregory into a princess carry, Inda stepped behind Gin and vanished with Gregory.
“Indara, please clean the mat so I may continue the testing.”
Another bunny-eared woman entered the room, cloth and pitcher in hand. She quickly and deftly removed the sweat and blood from the mat, then bowed to Gin and left.
“Now, Yu, it is your turn. I will not be as soft as I was when you first started to learn. You will be just another potential student. Are you ready to face this test?”
Yukiko placed her things neatly beside Gregory’s and rose to her feet. Her face was calm as she stepped toward the mat. “I am, Armsmaster. Before we begin, I have to ask: did Greg pass your test?”
Gin shook his head, “You will only know after the test is over.”
Settling into a different defensive stance, Yukiko nodded. “Then let us begin, sensei.”
“Very well, Yu,” Gin bowed to her. “Let’s see if my son taught you more after I left.”
~*~*~
Gregory clutched his head as he woke up. “Ugh, what happened?”
“You fought the master,” a soft voice said from beside him. “Drink this.”
Gregory slowly opened his eyes and saw the bunny-eared woman offering him a tea cup. Taking the cup, he sipped at the liquid that turned out to be a mild broth. After a couple of swallows, his headache subsided, becoming a dull ache instead of pounding, stabbing pain. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
A pained whimper from beside him had him look over to see Yukiko waking up on a mat a few feet from him.
“Excuse me,” the woman said as she shifted to Yukiko. “Drink this,” she advised her, presenting her a cup as well.
“It helps,” Gregory added when Yukiko took the cup.
“Now that you’re both awake,” Gin said, coming into the room, “we can talk. Thank you, Indara.”
Indara helped both of them into a sitting position before moving behind Gin. Yukiko’s headache faded as she sipped the drink. Gregory finished his cup, setting it beside him.
“I will accept both of you as students. Yu has a better grasp of how to fight, but that is a given considering her prior training. You, Gregory, have the spirit to fight, but lack the skill. While Yu and the academy have started your training, it isn’t enough. Every day away from the academy, you will come here at the eighth bell. We will stop two hours before sunset so you may refresh and make it back before the gates close. During the week, you will find an hour every day, at the very least, to drill what I teach you. You should consider doing two, Gregory.”
“Thank you, Armsmaster,” Yukiko said, bowing deeply from her seat.
“Thank you, Armsmaster,” Gregory echoed her.
“Once I’m sure you have a better grasp of the basics, I will teach you weapons. That’s still a couple of months off, but you will be learning them. Now, a question: how did you know what I was going to do when you managed to strike me, Gregory?”
Gregory paused. “Intuition. I just knew what your escape would be,” he answered slowly.
“Hmm,” Gin said, staring at him, “very well. I’ve known a few men who had an instinctive feel for combat. We’ll see if it is the same for you. Do either of you have any questions?”
“Do you think this will help us during the tournament?” Gregory asked.
“If you give me everything you have, yes. You will easily place in the top eight, maybe even the top two, if you apply yourselves.”
“Master,” Inda said, appearing behind Gin, “am I to train Yu in shadow magic, as well?”
Seeing Yukiko lean forward in clear anticipation, Gin chuckled. “We might be able to arrange that for the daughter of my old friend. Teach her only what she could learn from the academy for now. We don’t want her using some of your techniques before the tournament.”
“Yes, master.” Inda stared at Yukiko, “I will give you a scroll. You need to memorize it. Practice it when you are alone.” Yukiko started to speak, and Inda smirked, cutting her off. “You may practice when he is present, but only him.”
“As you command, sensei,” Yukiko bowed.
“Yu, Inda will be your trainer. She is my most adept pupil, even better than my son,” Gin said. “I will train Gregory. Every training day will end with you two sparring to compare how well you are learning.”
Gregory winced; he knew that their day off would be the hardest day of the week to endure, but he also knew that he would learn faster and better during that time. “I look forward to it, sensei.”
Gin chuckled, “All new students say so. We’ll see how you feel after a month.”
“Master, tea and food are ready,” Indara said, coming into the room.
Gregory blinked as he looked at the two bunny-eared women. They looked nearly identical, the color of their fur and hair being just a shade different.
“Thank you, Indara. Come, we shall have a rest, then we will start from the beginning to fix the flaws that are there before we advance. The first thing to do is get you changed into a gi so your kimono can be washed.”
Getting to their feet, Gregory and Yukiko followed Gin. Yukiko whispered as they went down the hall, “What do you think of my surprise?”
“I would never have guessed,” Gregory chuckled softly. “We might surprise everyone in a few weeks.”
“Good,” Yukiko smiled.
~*~*~
They were exhausted when they made it back to the academy, but they both had smiles on their lips. The adept on the gate looked at them with suspicion, but let them in.
“Food first, or dormitory?” Gregory asked as they walked past the guards.
“Food. We can study after dinner. We don’t have anything that has to be stored right away.”
“It was a fun day... painful and exhausting, but fun. Thank you, Yuki. I wonder though… Yu?”
Yukiko blushed lightly, “My parents, Gin, and his son called me that. The others called me ‘Little Miss.’”
“Greg,” Nick’s voice broke the tranquil air, “heading for dinner?”
“Yeah,” Gregory replied, looking over his shoulder. “You all heading that way?”
“We already ate, going to get some sparring in. Care to join?”
“Did sparring earlier,” Gregory replied. “Going to eat, and then study.”
“Sparred earlier?” Jason asked, “Didn’t you go into the city?”
“Yes,” Yukiko replied with a smile. “I hope you all had a good day.”
“It was a good day. The food was amazing. Maybe you can join us next time,” Michelle said.
“Maybe... let us know. We have some things already planned,” Yukiko said honestly. “If it doesn’t interfere with our plans, we’d be happy to join you.”
“We’ll see you later, then,” Nick said as they turned down a path leading toward the training hall.
Watching the other group walk away from them, Gregory gave Yukiko a puzzled glance. “We aren’t telling them? Why?”
“Because if we don’t join them, they will be adversaries instead of friends.”
“They can’t be both?” Gregory asked.
“Maybe, but I don’t think Nick is one to take rejection well.”
Gregory considered her statement and, thinking of Nick’s grandfather, could not refute her assertion. “You may be right. Guess we’ll find out in three months.”
“I hope I am wrong,” Yukiko added as they approached the mess hall. “I truly do.”
Aether's Blessing (Aether's Revival Book 1) Page 29