Magi's Path (Aether's Revival Book 3) Daniel Schinhofen (books to read in a lifetime .txt) 📖

Mindie inhaled sharply. “What? I was just checking my medallion.”

Klim didn’t call her out for her obvious lie. Instead, she stepped up next to Mindie. “He’s going to be someone the empire knows in time. I can feel it. His skill with the naginata alone would catch attention, but with foresight on top of it and with the full backing of his clan, he will become very well-known.”

Mindie frowned, her shoulders hunching slightly and her fox ears lying flat. “Yes, he will.”

“And he doesn’t care if someone has eurtik blood,” Klim added, watching Mindie from the corner of her eye. “One of his wives has snow owl eurtik blood, and the other is part dwarf. Some of his friends include a part lioness eurtik and a part squirrel eurtik. Most of the higher magi and some of the clans will detest him just for that. He’ll need strong people who have his best intentions at the forefront to help him.”

“Yes, he will...” Mindie whispered, clearly not seeing herself as strong.

“And maybe a healer, as well?” Klim added.

Mindie’s ears rose and she glanced at Klim, then away, her ears going back down. “I’m sure a healer will be beside him, one who can be useful to him.”

“A healer who cares about his health and isn’t tied to a clan already,” Klim said, nodding. “Can’t be many of them out there, now can there?” Without waiting for a reply, she walked out of the hall after Gregory.

Mindie blinked slowly. “But... I’m not good enough...” she whispered, watching the other healer walk away. Her ears twitched in agitation. But if they don’t have a healer in their clan at all… The thought trailed off as she saw a tall, broad-chested older man step onto the arena floor.

As he walked out of the tunnel, Gregory wondered what the last surprise for the day was going to be. A moment later, he had his answer when Egil walked out of the far tunnel with his helmet in one hand and a naginata in the other.

“Our last bit of fighting today is two bouts. The first is Armsmaster Egil Magi-killer against Apprentice Pettit, with no aether being used. After that, it will be Pettit against myself, Armsmaster Watashi, and Armsmaster Magi-killer, with only Pettit allowed to use aether,” Chen announced.

Everyone in the crowd stirred at what Chen stated. Mindie felt her heart go into her throat at what was very clearly a one-sided fight. She expected Gregory’s wives to say something, but when she looked at them, they were clearly discussing the upcoming fights and not objecting.

“Armsmaster, it is an honor,” Gregory said, bowing to Egil.

“I want everything you have. Hold nothing back or we might have a worse outcome than the last time we fought,” Egil said, stone-faced. “Understood?”

Feeling the bloodlust coming off Egil, Gregory stiffened, and he bowed formally. “I will do my best to win, sir.”

“Good,” Egil said, donning his helmet. “I want to be tested as I haven’t been in years.”

Gin stepped in between them. “Fighters, bow to the audience.”

Gregory bowed as required, and was set by the time Gin called for the fight to begin. He was glad he was ready, as Egil was on him almost immediately. High block, low block, jump the sweep, counter high, block low... Gregory kept a running tally in his head as he fought, looking for an opening to take the lead.

The fight stretched as they clashed time and again, neither gaining an advantage long enough to win. Egil was wearing a smile the entire time— his blood sang in his ears and he felt alive. Gregory’s lips were upturned, as well, as he had to give everything he could to just match the older man.

The mud on the arena floor had been slowly freezing since it had stopped sleeting. A small patch of ice caused Gregory to misstep, much as Klim had in the mud. Egil’s naginata caught him in the calf, thigh, then ribs as Gregory slipped.

“Pettit, out!” Chen called.

Mindie was there before Klim could get there, putting her hands on Gregory, who was wheezing. “Bruised calf and thigh, one broken rib.”

Klim nodded. “I’ll take care of the bruises.”

Egil pushed his helmet up. “I did not like that ending the way it did.”

“I didn’t know ice had formed already...” Gregory hissed as his rib knitted together.

“Well, you will know better for the next fight,” Egil said, pulling his helmet down and backing away.

“For this fight, Magus Klim will adjudicate,” Master Chen said. “Magus?”

Klim stood up and walked over to stand in the middle of the arena. “Again, a reminder that footing can mean death. I doubt Pettit will misstep again with his foresight up.”

“Why are you doing this?” Mindie asked softly as Gregory sat up.

Gregory blinked, pushing his mask up to meet her eyes and feeling his throat go dry. Mindie’s eyes were dual-colored. The center of her irises was colored a blue so pale, it was almost white. About halfway out, they became a deep red and the divide was nearly star-shaped.

Clearing his throat, he finally answered her, “Because this will push me to be better. The hardest paths make the best magi, and I need to be strong.” He gave her a smile. “And thankfully, you’ve been kind enough to help me keep going. Thanks.”

Mindie blinked slowly, her ears twitching. She looked away abruptly. “I’ll do what I can.”

“I appreciate it, Mindie. They do, too,” Gregory said, motioning over to where Yukiko and Jenn were sitting. “All three of us do. We respect your position and the fact you have to be neutral, but if we can do anything and not break the rules, please let us know? We’d like to repay your kindness.”

“Okay...” Mindie whispered. She