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

so that you will be refreshed for your own matches. The last night of the tournament will be the celebration feast. Your family is invited,” he said, looking at Yukiko.

“I’ll inform them, Elder.”

“I know you spent the day after the tournament with your family before, but I ask that you are here to welcome our new members this time. We will be having a celebration event to welcome them. Sadly, that is after the tournament, so neither your family nor theirs will be allowed inside the walls.”

“We understand, sir,” Gregory said.

“Those are the requirements of the clan for the tournament,” Lightshield said, pushing himself to his feet slowly, using his cane to support him. “Ah, I have also made sure that an auction house box is set aside for the clan during the tournament. Your family is free to use it.”

“I’ll tell my father. Thank you, Elder.”

Lightshield looked at the three of them with a smile on his lips. “I am very proud of you all, and I know you will show the academy how strong you all are again. Have a good evening.”

“Good evening, Elder,” all three replied, bowing their heads to his back.

Chapter Fifty-one

 

Six days of training flew by for them. They studied with the novices in the mornings— Daciana was growing more and more excited with each passing day. Nessa seemed calm, but it was obvious she felt nervous as the week had gone on. Victoria focused on studying, throwing herself into something she could do instead of thinking about what was to come.

Their group training reinforced their communication, and they won more than half of their fights against their instructors. Gin pushed them hard during those fights, making sure they would be ready for the tournament.

Magic training had sharpened Yukiko’s ability to form perfect hands from shadows, reinforcing her ability to grab people and allowing her to hinder them in more ways than just a formless morass. Jenn’s control over using her aether in bursts had grown. Bishop said that Jenn could likely outlast any two other physical enhancement apprentices in the academy if she fought them back-to-back. Gregory hadn’t seen any vast improvement over his ability to use foresight, but his aether sight had developed to the point he could at least get an idea of what type of magic was being used.

Their training with unarmed and weapons combat had all of them honed to an edge that Gin approved of. He told them he was confident they were the best weapon-trained apprentices inside the academy walls. Gregory had gone three days without losing a single fight to Gin when he used the naginata, but still lost over half the time with any other weapon. Yukiko and Jenn were starting to hold their own against Inda and Indara, but were beaten by Bishop every time, though she did say they were making her work for it.

Outside of those periods, they practiced the Peaceful Fist with Dia, Bishop, Inda, Indara, and Elder Lightshield. They spent an hour every day working on combat dissection for the mind path— Gregory could hold three segments in his mind all at once. Another hour was spent on simple meditation where they touched their resonance, getting a better feel for it. Their last training every day was spent discussing Empire’s Gambit and different strategies they could use depending on their nation and their opponents.

~*~*~

Gregory smiled as he looked at the inky corner of the room. “Dear one, it’s good to not see you again.”

“That is terrible,” Darkness giggled. “I might have been hurt if I was not able to read your mind.”

“But you can and you laughed, which is what I’d hoped for.”

“You grow closer to being an initiate, as do our wives. I am very happy.”

“I had a question for you, regarding Clover and Ling.”

“I am aware, dear one. Yes, they will be joining the clan at this point. There is no road, besides you flatly telling the elder not to, that will keep them from the clan. The same is true for the novices.”

“Do they all truly believe in Aether returning?”

“That depends on how one views their belief,” Darkness said with a hint of laughter. “I will be nice, though. They will fully support the clan from the day they join until they can no longer draw breath. Those five would sooner cut off their own hand than turn on Aether’s Guard once they are invited and begin to train beside you. The only reason they would turn against the clan is if you push them away.”

Gregory exhaled. He could feel the small pieces of doubt he had fading. “I know I spoke strongly for them with Lightshield, but I felt a pang of worry.”

“There is another who is strongly thinking of joining the clan, but that is not set yet,” Darkness said. “Until they firm their resolve, I do not wish to say more.”

Gregory nodded slowly. “That’s probably for the best. I know it isn’t Farin, since he went to the Iron Hand.”

“He will harbor goodwill for you and your wives for years. A few others of that clan see the goodness you do and feel strongly in your favor.”

“Klim and Erichson?”

“That is some of them,” Darkness said. “Leave it for now, dear one. I do want to warn you against complacency— Shun and his clan will try to remove you entirely. Do not hesitate if you face them. Do not hold back, please.”

Moved by the emotion in her voice, Gregory shifted so he sat facing the corner. “I won’t hold back. I hear your worry, and that means our wives are in danger. For that alone, I would do all I can, but I will do even more since you’ve told me.”

Darkness was quiet for a second before she exhaled loudly. “Thank you, dear one.