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

rules against parents giving their children gifts?” Gufta asked Daciana, staring at her intently.

Nessa answered, “No, the academy has no rules against it. There are rules about clans or those in clans giving gifts, but not families.”

Gufta looked uncertain, clearly trying to decide something. He was still waffling on what to do when Ramon shook his head and sighed.

“Nessa, these gifts came from family friends who think you can use them,” Ramon said abruptly. He put a bracelet on the table, along with a ring. “The bracelet will conjure a barrier for a total of ten seconds, but you should be able to break down the time you use it into sections.”

Nessa’s eyebrow rose at what he said as she stared at the thin metal band on the table.

“The ring will help you heal minor wounds; bruises, scrapes, and the like,” Ramon said as if reading off a card. “The ring recharges off ambient aether, and the bracelet needs aether pushed into it.”

“These must be worth—!”

“Your family clearly has friends that wish to see you grow strong and live for years,” Hao interrupted.

Nessa blinked. She looked at Yukiko, who was smiling at her with an innocent expression. “Friends… yes. Friends are important.”

Daciana looked at the two pieces of jewelry on the table in front of Nessa. Her lips turned down and her tail drooped. Victoria was also looking at the two items with sadness.

“Here!” Gufta said suddenly, shoving two identical pieces onto the table in front of Daciana. “Friends. Gave them.”

Daciana’s head snapped up to look at the three apprentices sitting across from them. Her tail began to wag again. “Friends! Yes.”

“Oh, Victoria, this package was given to me a moment ago. Your name is on it,” Yoo-jin said, placing a box before Victoria. “I saw the tag and knew it must have come from someone who wanted you to succeed.”

Victoria blinked at the tag that was square in the center of the box. “‘To Vicky, from a surrogate mother’,” she read out loud. Her eyes went from the box to Yoo-jin, then to Yukiko. Hands fumbling the simple bow, she finally got the box open and revealed the same two items the others had received.

“Your friends all have good taste,” Hao chuckled. “Protection and healing are always important.”

“We had items like those when we fought in our first tournament,” Gregory said. “The only reason I beat Jenn was because of the barrier.”

“Broke my own leg on it,” Jenn said with a mock glare at Gregory.

“And yet you still almost won,” Gregory replied. “Sometimes, it can come down to the slimmest of margins for a victory.”

“If... friends... gave us these items, we would be foolish to turn them down,” Victoria said.

“Foolish, indeed,” Nessa said, slipping the ring on first. “I’ve learned that trusting my friends is the best path forward.” She exhaled softly as the residual fire damage faded away. “And it can be comforting.”

Daciana was quick to put her jewelry on. “If Nessa says it’s a good idea, I know it is.”

Gufta and Betty still looked uncertain, but didn’t speak out against it.

“Now that we’re all here, we can have dinner,” Hao said, reaching over to tug on the green rope near his seat. “While it will be good, I’ll still miss the meal that could have been.”

Vana ducked her head, a smile on her lips. “I am very grateful.”

“We both are,” Ramon said, covering his wife’s hand with his. “We haven’t had a meal together away from our place in years.”

Gufta shifted in his seat and finally blurted out what was on his mind, “How can you give so freely? You barely know us, or our daughter.”

“Gufta, my daughter has asked me to treat your children as her friends. She’s had very few of them, having to deal with some of the bigotry you’ve faced. When she asks me to treat her friends well, I do what I’ve been unable to do for all of her life— I give to those who make her smile,” Hao explained in a soft tone. “I can understand your hesitance and concern. Clearly, we must have ulterior motives, things that you don’t even want to consider, right?” Gufta nodded, and Hao nodded back. “My only motive is making my daughter smile.”

“My father speaks the truth, Mister Lyall,” Yukiko said. “Daciana has been a good friend. Her exuberance has brought a smile to my face nearly every day since we’ve met her. The same is true of Nessa,” she added, looking at Vana and Ramon. “Greg and Jenn will attest that I do maybe go a little overboard when it comes to spoiling my friends.”

Gregory laughed. “Understatement, much?”

“Right?” Jenn snickered.

“A little,” Yukiko said as if not hearing them. “That is only because I have realized that a real friend is hard to find, and I want to treasure the few I have.” She looked at Victoria. “Even my newer friends.”

Victoria met her eyes and, after a second, she looked down. “Thank you, Yuki. I accept your friendship, your trust, and even the gifts from a surrogate mother.”

“When Daciana said she wanted me to meet her friends, I was a little hesitant,” Nessa chuckled. “I had no idea she meant you until I came to the archive that first time. I was so happy that you were willing to speak with and help me. It eased my growing fear of what might happen at the academy. Things might get harder after the tournament, but I hope that our goal will be met… if it is, then the hardships won’t seem as bad.” Meeting Yukiko’s eyes, she bowed her head. “Like Vicky, I accept your friendship, trust, and the gifts.”

“I’ve always accepted,” Daciana said. “I just wasn’t sure that it was okay. There are times I worry that I’m too much like