Aether's Apprentices

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Ling swallowed as she stared at the chest. Gregory’s absolute certainty in her ability to manage it made her nervous, but also flooded her with the drive to prove him right. Taking a deep breath, she reached out to the enchantment that Hemet had put on the chest. She was certain it was Hemet’s, as it felt identical to what he’d trained her on.

  The others looked from Ling by the chest to Gregory, but didn’t move away. Minutes ticked by as they watched, waiting for anything that indicated success or failure. The chest suddenly flared with heat and Ling’s eyes widened, but when the heat and light vanished, she exhaled noisily. The others exhaled with her, except Gregory, who had been watching her with resonance.

  Ling opened the chest. Inside were five small pouches, each branded with a different icon and dyed a different color, but all of them also had the clan emblem. Ling pulled out the first pouch, which held a black circle on dark blue leather below the clan emblem.

  Victoria reached out, “I think that’s for me.”

  The others each took one that seemed to go with their magic. There was a pouch of gray leather with a stone icon for Daciana, making her smile as she put it on. Nessa’s was white with a thundercloud marking it for her. Clover’s was green with a stoppered flask representing her magic. The last was for Ling, which was plain brown, but the marking was a multicolored, runic circle.

  “Pretty sure those are storage items,” Yukiko said. “Dia will tell us later, for certain.”

  “They are,” Ling said. “I saw Hemet making the one Daciana has the other day when I was working on another task.”

  “This way,” Gregory said as he started to walk again, a smile on his lips as the others all followed him.

  ~*~*~

  Dia found them sitting on the porch, meditating, as the twelfth bell struck. “Done early again this year?”

  “We believe so,” Yukiko said, “but you can verify for us. We found the chest with the pouches.” She motioned toward the novices, who all had them on their belts. “We also found five identical rings, which matched the ones we’re wearing.” She tapped her healing ring. “Three sets of earrings, which we believe are for aether storage because they’re mythrum. We wanted to ask if extra aether is useful for alchemists and enchanters?”

  “Extra aether is useful for anyone, but more useful for those using combat magic,” Dia replied, having seen the new earrings already gracing the novices’ ears.

  “Five bands of shielding,” Yukiko went on. “They match ours, so we’re pretty sure that’s what they are. And two necklaces identical to ours, which let someone vanish from sight for ten seconds.”

  Dia’s gaze went to Ling and Clover wearing the necklaces. “That is indeed everything.”

  “But that means there wasn’t anything for them,” Clover said.

  “We don’t need more items from the clan,” Gregory said. “We are as well-equipped as most initiates or adepts, I would think.”

  “Better than most,” Dia smiled. “And now, all of you are, as well.”

  “Yukiko suggested we give you our older items so you can use them for the next class of novices,” Nessa said. “We’d like to.”

  Dia smiled. “The clan will accept anything you wish to give us that will help the next class, but now it is time for the midday repast. Come.”

  They trooped behind her, most of them feeling hungry even though they’d eaten their fill during breakfast.

  The dining hall was filled with every clan member. The entirety of the staff were grinning at them.

  “I see that my students know that working together is better than working against each other,” Gin said.

  “It took all of them to get them all,” Hemet smiled. “Did you like the traps, Ling?”

  “They strained me, but yes,” Ling replied.

  “The poison on the third chest was unpleasant,” Clover said. “If the ingredients for the anti-toxin hadn’t been with the second chest, we might have had real problems.”

  “You’re lucky to have found that chest before the third,” Rhea smiled. “You mixed everything perfectly.”

  “I honestly didn’t expect you to find the pouches,” William said. “And if you did, I had expected Daciana to be the one to lead you to it. How did you know, Gregory?”

  “I used my resonance to feel for anything that called out to me,” Gregory replied.

  That had some of the older magi giving him appraising looks.

  “The food is ready,” Velma said as she brought the first cart to the table. “Hot pot.”

  “Let us enjoy this meal as a clan,” Bishop said. “The younger magi have somewhere to be after it concludes.”

  “Are we going to—?”

  Bishop silenced him with a raised finger. “They do not know. Let us surprise them.”

  “As you say, Bishop,” Gregory said, bowing his head to her.

  Both Yukiko and Jenn shared a smile, though, as they knew what was coming and what that meant for them.

  Chapter Eighteen

  It took three carriages for them to all get to the tea house. Gregory had been surprised that it wasn’t just the younger magi going, but also the magi instructors, Inda, and Indara. He also wasn’t sure about how they were all going to partake in the ceremony. The room he remembered might have fit six, but it wasn’t big enough for all of them.

  Dia had admonished them to be quiet from the time they left the academy until they arrived back at the clan hall. The instructors bowed silently to her, as had Gregory and his wives. The novices, along with Ling and Clover, had verbally said they would, then bowed silently, clearly embarrassed they’d fallen at the first step.

  When they entered the garden, another surprise awaited Gregory— there were three women and a man waiting for them. All four wore the same kimono, and they quickly split them into smaller groups before leading their own subsect around the long winding path. Gregory, his wives, Ling, and Clover were the largest of the groups; the novices were with Dia as the second; Bishop, Hemet, Samuel, and William composed the third group; and Leah, Rhea, Inda, and Indara were the last, following the male guide.

  Gregory stopped thinking about the others. Instead, he tried to let the peacefulness of the garden help him sink into a waking meditation. It was easier than he thought it would be, as the garden scents and silence helped him find the tranquility he knew would help.

  The building at the center of the garden had them removing their shoes before stepping inside. The room was much larger than Gregory remembered, and there were four distinctive settings for a tea ceremony. As he followed the guide to the far side of the room, he dimly noted the sliding walls that divided the larger building into the smaller section he’d seen before.

  Taking his seat, he was calm, yet also eager. He knew that he’d be able to speak with Darkness during the ceremony, and hoped his wives would be there with him. A part of his mind wondered what the three novices, Clover, and Ling would see, but it was a distant thought to him at that moment.

  When the hostess handed out the pre-tea snacks, Gregory took his with a slow deliberateness. After a few moments, a spot of air began to grow dark, and his smile was internal as his body completely relaxed.

  “Happy solstice, my heart,” Darkness purred. “I was surprised when you invoked my name earlier today. It made me happy to have you call me your wife. Oh, how I long for the day when I can touch you safely.”

  Gregory accepted the tea from the hostess a minute later, drinking deeply. The world shifted and the opulent bedroom solidified around him, where he was perched on the edge of the bed.

  “Hello, my heart,” Gregory said.

  A pleased sound came from the midnight-shrouded corner. “Oh, I love to hear that from you. Give me a moment and they will join you.”

  Yukiko was next, seated beside Gregory. He kissed her cheek as she blinked in awareness of where she was.

  “Dear one, how have you been?” Yukiko asked not Gregory, but the corner.

  “I have been as we
ll as I can be, Yuki,” Darkness replied. “Jenn will be with us shortly.”

  It felt like only a second later when Jenn appeared on Gregory’s other side. Gregory gave her the same kiss on the cheek that he’d given Yukiko.

  “Hello, Darkness,” Jenn smiled. “How have you been?”

  “As well as I can be,” Darkness replied. “Now that we are all here, we can talk freely for a little bit. I was very proud of you all earlier today. To openly admit your desires is hard for most. That is where many magi stumble with their resonance— to deny that part of yourself would stymie your resonance, making it much harder for your soul to embrace the world.”

  “I was terrified,” Jenn said. “My brain kept trying to tell me that they would be disgusted with me.”

  “I felt the same,” Yukiko said. “I thought who would want me when I want to control them, to use them for our heart?”

  “Yes. You two are so well-matched in that way,” Darkness sighed happily. “You two are the core of his life and love. Never doubt that.”

  “I’m still uncertain about my desires,” Gregory said softly. “I have you three. It feels greedy to even consider more.”

  “Which is why you will always be a good man,” Darkness replied gently. “Your worry for us will always keep you going slowly. There is nothing wrong with that. It is better than what most others would do.”

  “And we support your desires, dear one,” Yukiko said, covering his hand with hers, “as your lovers will be our lovers, too. I’ve come to see that love grows; it isn’t finite. The more love we give you, the more you have to give to us.”

  Jenn nodded, putting her hand over his other hand. “And we’re not going to just drag them into bed with us.”

  “That would be bad for everyone,” Darkness agreed with Jenn. “Yuki, the ones you consider, I already approve of. If they walk all three paths, they have my blessing. That way, none of you will need to risk a clumsy attempt to contact me outside of advancement or a tea ceremony.”

  Gregory flushed at her comment. “I understand, Darkness.”

  “I will continue with my current plan unless you tell me otherwise,” Yukiko said.

  “It is a good plan,” Darkness said.

  “Will we see you again tonight?” Jenn asked her.

  “Oh, yes please,” Darkness whispered.

  “We do still need to repay you,” Yukiko said with a touch of desire. “Greg, you wouldn’t mind if we share this space tonight so Darkness can be here with us, do you?”

  Knowing what she was asking, Gregory swallowed. “I look forward to it.”

  “As do I,” Darkness purred, “but our time is almost over now.”

  “What are they seeing?” Gregory asked suddenly, his curiosity about his friends’ futures coming forward.

  “What might be if they stay with the clan,” Darkness giggled. “Or are you asking if they are seeing themselves with you specifically?”

  Gregory’s face flushed hot and he looked down. Before he could reply, the world trembled and his wives vanished. Head snapping up for a brief fragment of a second, he thought he saw the outline of a woman inside the darkness. The bedroom vanished in the next moment, and he was bowing to the hostess.

  The trip out had Gregory as the last one in line. As he walked, he saw the thoughtful, hopeful expressions on his friends’ faces. Each time he caught sight of one of them, he smiled. Even if they never join our family, I hope they find the happiness they deserve.

  ~*~*~

  Back at the academy, Gregory nearly laughed. Clover and Daciana looked to be vibrating in place. Must be hard for them to restrain all the questions they have, he thought.

  Just as they were passing through the arch made by the hedge around the clan hall, Gregory spoke when he saw Clover open her mouth, “Wait.” The word was soft, but held a weight he didn’t know he could project.

  Dia glanced back and, seeing both Daciana and Clover closing their mouths, looked at Gregory and bowed her head. She led the younger magi into the garden, motioning them to sit before she stood in the middle of the benches.

  “Now, one at a time,” Dia said, “ask your questions.”

  “Is it the future?” Both Daciana and Clover asked in near sync.

  Dia gave them both a look before she laughed lightly. “I know it must have been hard for you both to wait. The answer is that the future is too fluid for what you saw to be certain. However, it is a possible future. Some say it’s even the most likely future.”

  “Can we make certain it is the future?” Nessa asked after a moment of silence.

  “Do what you think best, but do not push to do more, nor less. The future you saw will come to pass unless something shifts. You yourself can make it not happen by being too forceful,” Dia replied.

  Victoria bowed her head. “My vision saw me in the clan kimono years from now. I know the clan was almost back to its previous glory, but that was eclipsed in my vision, as I’d found my own dream being realized. I won’t push, Dia, but that future is what I will work toward.”

  “That is the best way,” Dia smiled at her.

  “I…” Ling paused, “hesitated in my vision. In doing so, I lost the chance I wished for. I can change that, right?”

  Dia’s smile grew. “Yes. Your vision shows you a pivotal point in your life. That’s what most see. It’s very likely that point will come up in the future, and now, you know how to change it.”

  Ling bowed her head. “I will make it real. Thank you, Aether, for giving me this warning.”

  When no one else spoke, Dia nodded. “Very well. Now that your questions have been answered, we can move onto the next part of the solstice. This is the part that most young magi look forward to.” Clapping her hands, she looked toward the entrance of the atrium as the staff came out with trays, setting them on stands beside Dia.

  Those who hadn’t been with the clan before the solstice last year looked curious, while Gregory and his wives smiled, knowing what was coming.

  Dia thanked the staff as they set the trays out for her, then bowed and departed. “On the winter solstice, the clans give gifts. Each clan hands out their gifts differently, from those who have brought the most profit in for the Han clan, to who can win the tournament they hold for the Iron Hand. For us, we give gifts equally.”

  The novices stirred, their eyes locked on the covered trays.

  “We prefer helping our young magi grow their aether,” Dia said as she removed the lids. The heavy scent of herbs filled the immediate area. “Now, for this to have the greatest effect, you need to grow your aether while partaking. Since you all work on the Peaceful Fist, I suggest that.”

  All of them rose, spreading out so they had room, and took the first stance. In unison, they began to move through the first kata.

  ~*~*~

  Gregory ached when they finished— he was breathing hard and covered in sweat. His whole body felt stretched and overinflated, close to bursting. His wives and friends looked like they were in similar conditions. Victoria, Nessa, and Daciana were trembling where they stood, looking faint.

  “Yukiko, Jenn, help me guide the novices to the bath, please,” Dia said. “We’ll go slowly. You all did very well. Tomorrow, you will see what you just accomplished. Gregory, lead the way, please.”

  Bowing formally, he started walking. His legs felt a little unsteady, but he knew the others were in worse shape. When he finally reached the bathing rooms, he gave them all a smile as they passed him on the way to the women’s bath. They each gave him smiles in return, some a little shakier than the others.

  As they entered the far room, he stepped into the men’s dressing room and saw that a majority of the baskets were already full of clothing. Gregory stripped off his sweat-soaked kimono and put it into a basket. Seeing the set of clean apprentice’s robes already waiting for him, he smiled and was about to place his gloves, boots, and jewelry into the basket, but then stopped. With a thoughtful expression, he had his storage ring absorb his loose
items. It left him wearing his storage ring, but he was fine with wearing it into the bath.

  “How did it go, Greg?” Zenim asked as he opened the door to the inner bathing room, coming out.

  “I think it was more potent this year,” Gregory replied.

  “Which means you will be higher ranked tomorrow,” Quilet said softly. “We need to go help with dinner. Enjoy the bath.”

  “Thank you,” Gregory replied as the staff came out to dress. Stepping past them, he gave the others in the room a bow of his head. “Magi, Gin.”

  “Gregory,” Gin smiled, “did any of them faint?”

  “No, though the novices looked like they were about to.”