Aether's Apprentices

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “They were higher ranked than I expected them to be when I was brought in to teach,” Samuel said. “I wonder how much they will grow tonight?”

  “They might attain two ranks,” William said, “though few ever do.”

  “True,” Hemet nodded, “but our young magi are special. I heard our longest-tenured apprentices all achieved two ranks each last year.”

  When everyone turned to him, Gregory nodded. “We did.”

  “Hmm,” William said, “the Peaceful Fist does combine two paths. I wonder if that helps with their growth during the solstice?”

  “But the novices didn’t study that path before joining the clan, did they?” Samuel asked.

  “I think they did,” Hemet smiled. “They flow smoothly while following the path. Ling and Clover are rougher, but are quickly smoothing out.”

  “Inda and Indara both say they feel the Peaceful Fist is helping them, as well,” Gin added. “The clan is going to explode with numbers in the near future.”

  “As those who seek power hope it will work for them,” Hemet nodded. “But the solstice weeds out those who are unfit to stay.”

  “The tea house?” Samuel asked. “Yes, I can see where, if they weren’t committed, it might shake them.”

  Silence fell as Gregory began to wash, the others in the room lost in their thoughts.

  When Gregory came over to the tub, William spoke up, “I wanted to ask before, but didn’t wish to pry too far, Gregory. How did you acquire those scars?”

  Looking down at his arm, Gregory exhaled as he thought back to his age day. “A bane wolf.” Sinking into the water, he continued, “It was just after I became an adult…”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Gregory was glad the bath had even more yuzu than last year, as other magi joined him this year. By the time his aether had settled down, there was only a single piece of yuzu that hadn’t gone black. Gregory was just finishing getting dressed when a cough came from the doorway.

  “Gregory?”

  “Yes, Dia?”

  “Ah, you are done?”

  Gregory moved to the doorway. “I am.”

  “Then you are ahead of the others. We shall join you in the dining room shortly.”

  “I’ll see you there, Dia.”

  Gregory found everyone but the female magi already seated when he entered the room. “Dia said they’ll be here soon.”

  “They might have beaten you here, but they needed more yuzu,” Velma said.

  Gregory took his seat, banishing the image of all the women in the bath, with Yukiko standing by the door, asking for more yuzu fruit.

  A few minutes later, the others arrived with Bishop in the lead. As they began to take their seats, the staff brought dinner to the table. It was the same meal as last year— soba noodles in dashi broth with scallions alongside fish cakes.

  “These fish cakes are mostly salmon with small pieces of koi for the novices and our newer apprentices,” Ravol said as he set the platter down.

  “This one has more koi, which is good for you three,” Velma said to Yukiko, “and for the more advanced who want a lighter repast.”

  “This one is for the magi instructors. They are just koi,” Zenim nodded as he set that platter before the elder magi.

  “And some salmon for you, Armsmaster,” Quilet added, “or for anyone who wants a bit more but without the aether.”

  “The white pitcher is juice, the brown is a lightly-infused aether wine, the red has a higher potency of aether, and the blue is just wine,” Steva said as he set out more pitchers.

  “Reminds me of home,” Victoria said softly, looking at the meal.

  “I said the same thing last year,” Gregory told her as he picked up the brown pitcher. “Wine?”

  “Please?” Victoria asked from her seat across from him.

  Gregory poured for himself and the others who asked before he took some food. The meal was as good as it had been last year— the fish cakes had more of an aether kick, but he didn’t feel strained by the time he finished.

  Everyone present complimented the staff on how they’d prepared the meal. Hemet even thanked them for not pushing the aether content of the fish cakes, as that allowed him to enjoy as many as he wanted to without worry.

  Dia stood as the staff began collecting dishes. “It is time for the last part of the solstice. The time of saying goodbyes and welcoming the new year. The fire and lanterns await us.” As she left, the others all stood and followed her.

  Gregory found himself hanging back so he could walk with Victoria. “Your town didn’t do lanterns, did they?”

  “No. I’m not sure what she meant,” Victoria said.

  “They’ll have paper lanterns. You get to write your regrets on them, and then they’re ignited and let go. They’re made so the lantern is carried aloft, taking your regrets or old burdens with them,” Gregory said.

  Victoria looked up as they stepped outside at the darkening sky. “That would have started fires where we were from.”

  “Yes, and it isn’t the only new experience for you tonight,” Gregory chuckled as he thought about the fireworks. “Don’t hold back. Write out your regrets and let them go. I found myself feeling better when I did.”

  Victoria gave him a smile. “I will. Thank you, Greg.”

  Dia got the bonfire lit as the magi took seats around it. Lanterns were passed around and people began to mark them. One by one, Dia lit them, letting them trail into the sky. As the last of the light of day faded, Victoria’s breath caught when she saw all the lanterns climbing into the still air.

  Gregory accepted the lantern from Steva and, after a few moments, wrote on two of the sides. He took it up to Dia and held it out to her. “Please, Dia.”

  Dia lit the lantern, releasing it so it would rise. “Does it feel better this year?”

  “I feel better this year,” Gregory told her. “My wives help me a great deal.”

  “Dia, please?” Victoria asked, coming over to them.

  Dia lit the lantern that had writing on all four sides. After a moment, it was drifting aloft. “Let them go. They are no longer burdens for you to carry.”

  Victoria exhaled deeply before she bowed to Dia. “My life is here with the clan. What is past is past. Now, I look to the future, Dia.”

  Dia’s eyebrow rose, but a smile graced her lips. “I’m sure your future will be bright.”

  The sudden crack and boom had Victoria jerk to look around. When Gregory laughed, Victoria frowned at him, but he shook his head and pointed upward. A moment later, another firework burst to life.

  “What is that?” Victoria breathed.

  “Fireworks,” Daciana said, coming over to her friend with her own lantern that had only a single side marked. “Used to celebrate the solstices.”

  “They make a loud noise, then burst with color,” Nessa said, holding her lantern with two marked sides.

  Dia lit them both, then sent them on their way. “Friends and new beginnings. This is the time of year when everything stands before you. Your life changed this last year, but now, you have us to help you. Sit, enjoy the fireworks, and just drink in this moment. This is the only celebration like this that you’ll have with all of your friends.”

  All three novices looked at Gregory, who was flanked by Jenn and Yukiko.

  “Dia, please?” Clover asked, coming over with her lantern. All four sides were marked with ink.

  “Of course,” Dia smiled, lighting the lantern as the next set of fireworks burst above them.

  “And mine, please?” Ling added. Hers was likewise soon floating away.

  “Should we sit and enjoy the lights?” Yukiko asked the others. “Maybe back there on the ground so we can all sit together?”

  The others quickly agreed and moved back away from the bonfire, sitting behind the older magi. It was a little farther away from the fire, which made it colder. Gregory sat with his wives pressed to his sides, sharing warmth with them.

  After a few
minutes of watching, Nessa shifted to sit beside Yukiko. “Do you mind, Yuki?”

  “It’s okay,” Yukiko said, opening her arm to the younger magi.

  “Jenn?” Daciana asked a little hesitantly as she scooted closer.

  Jenn gave Daciana a smirk, then nodded. “For now.”

  Victoria took the other side of Nessa. “Thanks, Ness.”

  A few more minutes passed before Clover scooted toward Daciana. “It’s okay?”

  Daciana let out a small bark of laughter, then opened her arm to Clover. Once Clover settled, Daciana leaned in and whispered to her. Clover’s face heated, but she didn’t move away.

  Ling had gone to Victoria’s side. “Do you mind, Vicky?”

  Victoria smiled. “For a fellow clan member, I will always help as I can.”

  Gregory’s forehead furrowed as he looked one way, then the other. He was surprised how they’d split up. Would have thought Nessa, Daciana, and Victoria would be beside each other, and that Clover and Ling would do the same. After a moment, another thought came to him. Passion versus intellect, maybe? I mean, those four are the more cerebral… he paused, then had a small mental laugh at his use of a word he’d never have used two years ago. I think that’s what it is, though... that, and maybe them trying to grow closer to the others? Yukiko and Jenn leaned in a little closer and that train was lost as another thought came to him— the one about what would come later when they retired for the night.

  The fireworks stopped, but the magi continued to sit and enjoy the moment. Whispered conversations were held, too low for Gregory to hear, but he didn’t try. He was happy just to have this time with his friends and family. Eventually, the bonfire burned down enough that Dia called the night over. The group slowly disentangled before heading inside.

  Goodbyes were said as they separated on the stairs. The novices all began a whispered conversation as they left the others behind. On the next floor, Ling and Clover wished them a good night. As they left, they also began to have a hushed conversation.

  Yukiko had kept her face impassive both times, but a small smile had grown on her lips as she trailed Gregory and Jenn. She watched Gregory’s back, thinking over what she’d heard from the other two groups as they’d parted. Making it to their room, she slid the bolt before following them into the bedroom and stripping her clothes off.

  “You get along with Victoria,” Jenn said.

  “We have a lot in common with both of us coming from the fringe,” Gregory replied. “I just know what it was like for me. She has her friends with her, but knowing someone has had the same experiences might help her, too.”

  “It does,” Yukiko said. “She was very happy that you took the time to explain the lanterns to her.”

  “He didn’t warn her about the fireworks,” Jenn snickered.

  Gregory laughed. “I wanted to see what I probably looked like.”

  “She reacted very similarly,” Yukiko told him. “The startlement and wonder.”

  “It was a good night,” Jenn said as she slipped her kimono off.

  “It was,” Yukiko agreed. “I’m glad they were comfortable enough to join us in watching the fireworks.”

  “Daciana was very comfortable,” Jenn snickered. “She snuggled right in against me.”

  Yukiko giggled. “Nessa was more reserved… to start with, at least. She was pressed against me almost as much as I was to Greg by the end. It was like that all the way down both sides, I think.”

  “I’m glad they get along as well as they do,” Jenn said. “I’d worried about what Lightshield said when he invited them over.”

  “About them fighting?” Yukiko asked. “Yes. Luckily, it looks like that isn’t going to be an issue.”

  “They looked far from fighting tonight,” Gregory said. “They separated from their normal groups, too.”

  Yukiko gave him a smile. “Well spotted, my heart. Yes, they’re making an effort to be friendly and supportive of each other.”

  “Daciana and Clover were discussing common interests,” Jenn said as she finished undressing. “I added a few of my own thoughts at times.”

  “Ling, Victoria, and Nessa were doing the same. Those three are more analytical than the other two. Ling was asking about life on the fringe, trying to understand it more,” Yukiko said, setting her folded clothing aside. “But now, it’s time for bed.”

  Gregory gave her a heated smile. “Bed?”

  Jenn was already slipping under the covers. “Come join me and find out, dear one.”

  “And after that, we’ll have another dream with our beloved Darkness,” Yukiko added. “Come, dearest. Join us and let us shower you in more love.”

  Gregory finished undressing and went to his wives, a smile on his lips and love in his heart.

  Chapter Twenty

  Gregory woke with a happy sigh, the memory of his time with his wives while Darkness watched still fresh in his mind. A soft snore from Jenn got him to smile down at her. Jenn’s head rested under his right pectoral, her breathing tickling him slightly. Yukiko shifted with a content sound, her leg tightening on his.

  “Good morning, my heart,” Gregory whispered.

  Blinking as she woke up, Yukiko gave him a small smile. “To you, as well, dearest. I see we grew two ranks again.” Her hand tapped the medallion on his chest.

  Gregory looked at his medallion, not having paid attention to it before now. Nine circles were illuminated sunflower yellow. “Yes, which will fuel the rumors about our growth. Next year, the clan might be flooded with novices hoping to join.”

  “They’ll weed them out during the tea ceremony,” Jenn murmured sleepily. “We won’t be here, either. Our novice friends will have to help guide them.”

  “Good morning,” Yukiko said when Jenn looked up.

  “Mmm, good morning, our guiding wife,” Jenn giggled.

  Yukiko snickered, then leaned over to give her a kiss. “I’m happy to bring you joy. You will be our stalwart warrior, but also our pliant lover.”

  “And he will be our heart, holding us and the others together,” Jenn added.

  “Yes. We will hold his heart and shower him with all the love he can stand,” Yukiko smiled.

  “I will never stop you from showing me love,” Gregory said. “And I will listen if you say someone should join us. I have a feeling that won’t be soon, though.”

  “Not soon, dearest,” Yukiko agreed. “I’m thinking past this year.”

  Gregory exhaled slowly. “Okay. That makes it easier to accept.”

  “Do you think our friends have grown as much as we have?” Jenn asked as she rolled out of bed.

  “I want to find out,” Yukiko said as she kissed Gregory’s chest. “Come on, dearest, either you move or I climb over you. We both know that you prefer we didn’t tease you in the morning.”

  Gregory reached up, catching her delicate chin between his thumb and finger, and tilted her head to meet his eyes. “Correct.” He kissed her softly, then slipped out of bed.

  Yukiko exhaled a wistful sigh before following him. “Since we weren’t told about playing today, I have to assume we aren’t in the first round of the tournament. I wonder how they’re going to manage the games? If one of the class is not playing at all, and only three players per class are playing to start, is just that one person going to be the coordinator for all three games?”

  “That’ll slow the game down drastically,” Jenn said. “Hmm... that might be one of the points, though. The tournament will start slowly, but I expect it will become harder the longer a class is playing.”

  “I was thinking,” Gregory said as they began to dress, “if, for example, one of you three loses, they might place one or both of you against the winner of the other team until one side or the other is gone.”

  “Multiple fronts of the same battle…? Hmm,” Yukiko looked distant. “We need to talk to the others. We have to decide which three of us will play. Also, I want to use scouts quickly at the start. I have a suspicion about wha
t we’ll be seeing.”

  “Expanded front?” Jenn asked.

  “We’ll talk with the others, but yes,” Yukiko nodded.

  Third bell chimed as they finished dressing.

  Clover and Ling were just about to the stairs when the trio met them at the landing. “We grew, we grew, we grew!” Clover chanted when she saw them. She broke into one of her silly dances with a wide grin on her face.