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

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “It also helps guide them?” Gregory asked.

  “Of course. It would be worthless, otherwise,” Yoo-jin smiled.

  Gregory fell silent as he again tried to imagine the amount of vela Yukiko’s family had for them to speak so casually of enchanted jewelry that cost more than his village.

  ~*~*~

  At Hemet’s Curiosities, Gregory wondered what the old man would say and what Yoo-jin would do. Hemet came into the shop proper when the bell at the front rang, his pace slow and dignified, allowing him time to look over the group.

  “It is good you see you again, miss. What can I do for you today?” Hemet said, directing his question to Yukiko.

  “I would like to see the best items you have for them,” Yoo-jin said, stepping forward. “I am Yoo-jin Warlin, wife to Hao Warlin, head of Warlin Mercantile.”

  Hemet bowed his head to her, “A pleasure. I’m glad this is a pleasant visit and not one where you try to get the bond back.”

  Yoo-jin laughed, “That would be amusing for you, I’m sure. The bank would balk at even the thought, since I’m sure my daughter sealed it properly.”

  “She did,” Hemet smiled. “What kind of enchantments are they needing?”

  Yoo-jin looked back at Yukiko, “You would know better than I.”

  “Anything that might negate the Eternal Flame,” Yukiko said bluntly. “Besides that, it will depend on how much my parents are willing to spend. I know that there is a limit to how much we can use, as our aether would be pressed under the weight of your more advanced items.”

  “Yes. Not many novices consider that,” Hemet nodded. “Very well, please give me a few moments. Would you care for some tea while I retrieve items of merit?”

  “Yes,” Yoo-jin said as she looked around the shop, “and three chairs.”

  Hemet bowed his head deeply, “As the customer wishes.”

  ~*~*~

  The three had finished their tea when the door opened and Hao entered the shop. “Looks busy,” Hao chuckled.

  As if summoned by Hao, Hemet returned with a display case. “Ah, this must be master Warlin,” Hemet said, bowing his head after seeing Hao with his hand on Yoo-jin’s shoulder.

  “Indeed,” Hao replied. “What do you have to show us?”

  “I have a few things,” Hemet replied. “I have two rings of silver with ruby chips, which will reduce the heat of any flame within three feet of the wearer. They were made by enchanter Flem years ago when the Han Merchant Exchange almost went to war with the Eternal Flame.”

  “I’m fairly certain those rings were never sold,” Hao said thoughtfully.

  “The finished products haven’t been,” Hemet chuckled. “These are two of his early attempts. They won’t stop the flame, but will reduce its effect. A novice is unlikely to have a flame of sufficient power to overcome these. The drawback is, of course, the need for the enchantment to replenish. These do so by drawing aether from bane cores that are touched to them.”

  “I see why he let them go; they are flawed twice over,” Hao nodded.

  “Yet priceless for a pair of novices who will face the chosen of the Eternal Flame in the coming days,” Hemet replied easily.

  “What else?” Hao asked.

  “I have a pair of bracelets that will give the wearers a few seconds of shielding. They must have aether poured into them to recharge them. Not easy for a novice to do, and would take a month to replenish them entirely. With practice, they can be used a single second at a time or even less, I’m told.”

  “No time for them to get used to them during the tournament, then,” Hao shrugged.

  “What of these earrings? They will hold aether, allowing the magi to have some aether to spare beyond what they have cultivated their flames to handle.” He pointed to two white metallic studs that were capped with sapphire chips.

  “Mythrum,” Hao said, looking at them, “expensive.”

  “But the only known metal that allows for aether to be stored,” Hemet replied easily. “These can easily hold a lower apprentice’s capacity.”

  “Extra expensive,” Hao laughed.

  Hemet cracked a smile and nodded, “I was asked for the best I have for them. This is the jewelry. If you give me a moment, I will have the last item brought out.”

  “By all means,” Hao said.

  Hemet was only gone a few seconds, returning with a pair of white leather gloves. “Glacial bear leather, infused with the powdered bane core from that same bear. These gloves will cause those touched by them to feel the arctic chill.”

  “An edge in hand to hand, to be sure,” Hao mused.

  “These are the best I can muster right now for novices.”

  “Yu, what do you think?” Hao asked.

  “Depending on their prices, they could all be useful. The first two rings are potentially the most useful right now, as we are sure to run into at least one person favored by the Eternal Flame who will have their necklace.”

  “The rings are rare, very rare in fact, outside of the Han clan,” Hemet replied.

  “Them, the bracelets, and earrings. How much?” Hao asked.

  “One hundred thousand vela,” Hemet replied.

  Hao chuckled, “Interesting. I’m assuming you’re figuring each ring at ten, each bracelet at fifteen, and the earrings at fifty. Yes?” Hemet did his best to appear unflustered, but Hao chuckled. “Yes, I thought so. I’ll give you seventy.”

  “Seventy?” Hemet asked evenly. “I might do ninety, but much less than that is nearly impossible.”

  “My daughter said I would like you,” Hao smiled. “Seventy-five, because you have done right by her before.”

  “Eighty-five?”

  “Eighty,” Hao replied, pulling out a scroll and inkwell. “I’ll sign the bond right now.”

  Hemet shook his head, “Who am I to tell a man no when his daughter is with him?”

  “You wouldn’t be a richer man,” Hao replied as he began to fill out the bond. “Yu, come collect the items.”

  “Yes, Father,” Yukiko said, getting to her feet.

  Gregory swallowed hard, still trying to deal with how much money Hao was throwing down on their behalf tonight, and they had only stopped twice so far.

  “Your ring and bracelet, Greg,” Yukiko said, holding them out to him.

  “Huh?” Gregory replied, blinking at her.

  A soft smile came to her as she looked down at him. “Shocked?”

  “Yes. I’m starting to realize just how much farther out of my reach you should have been.”

  “I’m glad I wasn’t and that you accepted me.”

  Gregory matched her smile and took the offered items, slipping them on before standing up. “Accepted you? More like happy to be caught by you.”

  “Children, let’s step outside,” Yoo-jin said, ushering them away.

  ~*~*~

  The next stop was Lagrand Clothiers, which did not take long, though again, Gregory had difficulty with the amount of vela being thrown around. Yukiko and he were both getting a wardrobe of clothing, including three more novice uniforms so they could be in perfectly clean uniforms no matter what might happen. The clothing would not be ready for a week, so Hao arranged to have it delivered to the academy for them.

  The sun was setting when the carriage came to a halt outside their last stop. Hao stepped out and turned to face them with a broad smile. Yoo-jin shook her head at him as she stepped out. Yukiko paused halfway out before sighing, “Father, really?”

  Gregory was hesitant to step out but did, his eyes climbing up the front of the building. “You aren’t serious?”

  “But I am,” Hao replied, completely serious. “They might not have anything, but while the tournament is going on is when they hold the best auctions. I will be coming back every night to check. If you’d like to head to dinner instead, that is up to you.”

  “I would feel better if we stayed and made sure he behaved himself,” Yoo-jin said.

  “Yes, he does get a bit excite
d during auctions,” Yukiko agreed.

  Shaking his head, Gregory followed them up the stairs as Hao tried to protest their claims, but not strenuously enough to truly deny it. Entering together, they were immediately met by a young woman who wore a bright smile.

  “Greetings, the auction is already underway. Did you wish to attend?”

  “Is there a box open?” Hao asked, his tone aloof.

  “We still have two open, sir, but they cost thirty thousand vela to use. That cost is deducted from your first purchase.”

  “You accept bonds, yes?”

  “If they are properly backed,” she replied, nodding.

  “Show us to the box. If it is acceptable, I will take it for my family.”

  “Follow me, sir.”

  They were led up to the second floor and down a thickly-carpeted hall before she brought them to a door. Opening it, she stepped aside, “The paddle to bid is on the foremost chair.”

  Entering the room, Hao and Yoo-jin examined the box that looked down on the auction floor. Gregory took a deep breath, doing his best to accept what was happening tonight, as he looked at the thick velvet padded chairs and silver lanterns attached to the walls. Yukiko stayed beside him, not holding his hand, but as close as she could be. Lin stepped inside the door and to the side, staying against the wall.

  “Yes, this will work,” Hao said, returning to the woman. “Do you wish to have a bond now, or can we handle it after so I can just add in any purchases?”

  “We will take three thousand vela as a deposit with the bond at the end,” she replied.

  “We’d like some refreshments, as well,” Yoo-jin said with a sniff, pulling a small folding fan from her obi.

  “Yes, madam. Did you have a preference?”

  “Something light, a wine perhaps…? No, that won’t do, magi and alcohol don’t mix well. A berry tea.”

  “Right away,” the woman bowed as she took the money from Hao.

  Lin shut the door behind her as she left, and the others took their seats. Yoo-jin picked up the bidding paddle before Hao could take it. Hao frowned, but sighed when Yoo-jin met his eyes.

  “Yes, I know. I still regret some of those purchases.”

  “Luckily for you, we were able to sell most of what you bought and so we didn’t lose that much money,” Yoo-jin replied with a fond smile. “I’m not going to give you the chance to make that near mistake again.”

  “What do we do?” Gregory whispered to Yukiko.

  “If you see something you think is worthy, just let Mother know,” Yukiko replied as she placed her hand on his. “She will do her best to get it,” she added, looking at her father, “within reason, that is.”

  “Even my own daughter,” Hao sighed theatrically.

  “Sir, there is a reason we haven’t gone near an auction house in the last five years,” Lin added.

  “Our next item up for bid is a relic from the Eurtik Empire,” a deep voice announced from the stage. “It was held in a private collection until two months ago. A pair of handwraps, enchanted to turn the hands into shadow panther paws, with the four inch claws they are known for. We will start the bidding at fifty thousand vela.”

  Chapter Forty-nine

  Gregory was still boggling over the sheer amount of vela that traded hands at the auction house when he woke the next morning. Yoo-jin had bid on an item or two, but never chased after them like the others seemed to.

  Walking toward the archive, Yukiko finally asked a question that had weighed on her mind, “Greg, does it bother you?”

  Gregory glanced at her as he was pulled from his thoughts. “It’s going to take me a bit to get used to, and I kind of hope I don’t get used to it. One of those items went for a million vela last night.”

  Yukiko looked down, “You didn’t ask for anything.”

  “Everything cost more than my village by the time a winning bid was reached,” Gregory replied. “I’m trying Yuki, but… I had thought Hemet’s was bad enough.”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t go with them tonight. We can go to the tavern and wait there.”

  “No. It’s best if we go. Maybe we can make sure they don’t buy anything we don’t need.”

  “Mother knows better, but we’ll go if that’s what you want.”

  “Maybe by the end of the week, I’ll be used to it,” Gregory chuckled.

  Yukiko gave him a knowing smile, “You won’t be, but I find that charming. Too many others would be champing at the bit to spend as much as they could.”

  Gregory shook his head at the idea as they entered the archive. “Good morning, Rafiq.”

  “Morning to you both. It is still a surprise to see novices here so early during the tournament. I’ll have the scrolls brought shortly.”

  “No need,” Yukiko told him. “We’re going to be doing Magi Squares for an hour only. We need to get our training in, such as we can. Between the tournament and family, we have even less time than normal.”

  “Ah, yes, that would be the case. Congratulations to you for your victories yesterday, and good luck today.”

  “Thank you,” they said together as they bowed to him.

  That jogged Gregory’s memory, “We fought in the main arena yesterday, and one of the archivists was in the box. Is she the chief archivist?”

  “Chief Archivist Sarinia,” Rafiq replied.

  “I hope she enjoyed her time yesterday.”

  “She normally dislikes the tournaments. They take her away from her duties here.”

  “Ah, I can understand that,” Yukiko nodded. “Father used to get that way if he was away from the caravan for too long.”

  “Let me not delay you,” Rafiq said, hoping to stop the conversation. “Training is important.”

  “We’ll see you in an hour,” Gregory said as they headed for their table.

  Rafiq exhaled softly as he watched them go. His eyes flickered to the balcony that looked down onto the entryway where a patch of shadow winked at him and vanished. Shaking his head, Rafiq stopped one of the other archivists and made sure they knew to leave the two novices alone for the week unless they asked for help.

  ~*~*~

  When they were packing up their things, Gregory was a little frustrated at how he was struggling with the Magi Squares. Yukiko was able to solve the ones he made easily. He absent-mindedly said goodbye to Rafiq as they left, trying to figure out how he could make his squares more difficult without them being impossible.

  “Greg,” Yukiko commented as they walked toward the training hall, “the last one was good.”

  “Huh?”

  “The last puzzle you gave me to do. It was challenging.”

  “Oh. You seemed to breeze through them all pretty easily. I was worried I wasn’t challenging you.”

  “Honestly, I was worried that I made yours too hard,” Yukiko said. “I’ve been around them for years so I’ve had chances to work on them before. Father will be getting us his old ones, and Dia has agreed to have her staff prepare blank ones for us both.”

  “Is that what you stopped to ask her last night?”

  “One of the things.”

  “What were the others?”

  “Making sure she was aware that we would be receiving packages, valuable packages.”

  “Oh, that makes sense.”

  “Still earlier than anyone else,” Gregory said a few minutes later when they reached the training hall.

  “Good. Hopefully, we can train without interruption.”

  “That would be nice,” Gregory agreed.

  They went to one of the smaller rooms and put their bags to one side. Going to the middle of the room, they exchanged smiles and took the first position of their meditation stretches.

  ~*~*~

  Gregory sighed, the chiming of the bell bringing him out of his aether cavern, where he had been doing the physical exercises to train both paths at once. Yukiko smiled when he looked at her.

  “That was good,” Yukiko commented. “Did your fire have gre
en flashes appearing in it?”

  “Yeah, I chalked it up to the powder and leaves from the alchemist.”