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

records tomorrow, but it won’t do us any favors, as only the Shining Light is going to have been a challenge.”

“I’m sure favors were called in,” Hayworth shrugged. “It’s the nature of the empire. One day it might change, but the clans would need to spearhead that change.”

“True,” Gregory said. Mindie called for the Swift Wind clan, and Gregory gave Hayworth a nod. “Good luck.”

“Not that we’ll need it for this,” Hayworth sighed, “but thank you. Also…” he paused before exhaling slowly. “I’ve come to accept that it doesn’t matter where a magi comes from if they strive for advancement. I have rarely had call to apologize and reexamine my position, but you’ve made me do that. I’m sorry for my early stance about you, fringer.” He said the last word in a friendly tone instead of the mocking one it had once been.

“I’m sorry for thinking you were an elitist prig,” Gregory replied similarly.

Hayworth just stared at him before laughing. “Well, you weren’t wrong. See you after we win.”

Yukiko and Jenn stood beside Gregory as Hayworth led his clan up the stairs and down the tunnel. Yukiko made a thoughtful sound. “That was unexpected.”

“I didn’t know he knew how to apologize,” Jenn said. “I feel a little bad now for thinking he was as bad as Nick.”

“He was never that bad, even if I wanted to punch him the first day that we met,” Gregory said. “Hayworth, for all his faults, never pretended to be a friend when he clearly wasn’t.”

“He’s grown,” Yukiko said. “Hayworth’s time here has taught him things he didn’t expect to learn. I was against your fight with Jenga last year, but I think that helped him change. Your dignity and grace in accepting Jenga’s defeat stuck with him.”

“Perhaps,” Gregory said. “Let’s sneak up and watch them from the tunnel. We might end up facing them tomorrow or on the last day, and more information is always good.”

“Yes,” Jenn and Yukiko agreed.

Hayworth and his clan rolled over the single apprentice of the Swift Foot clan. While the magi they faced was physical enhancement, in the end, it didn’t matter. Hayworth had his allies engage the apprentice and, once combat was joined, he slammed his blade down. The rift in space brought the point of the sword directly down on the top of the magi’s head.

Yunlo called the bout over and Hayworth checked on his clan, some of whom had received injuries during the brief fight. When it was over, Gregory and his wives retreated back into the waiting area while Mindie rushed out to heal.

Hayworth led his clan members back into the room. “It seems we finished our fight even faster than you did, fringer.”

“I’d say so.”

“Excuse me,” Dia called from the stairway to the rest of the arena, “I need to converse with my juniors for a moment.”

“Of course, Magus,” Hayworth said. “Come on, we’ll go take our seats. Our last fight is after the novices.”

“Against who?” Gregory asked as they headed for the door.

“The Shining Light,” Hayworth said. “This will give them two losses and possibly keep them from tomorrow’s fights.”

“I’d prefer not to face them again,” Gregory said. “Best of luck.”

“We’ll win,” Hayworth said. “See you tomorrow.”

“Hopefully not,” Gregory chuckled.

When Hayworth had left, Dia stepped into the room. “I have word from Elder Lightshield— Saito has a single apprentice, a water magi, who has barely reached into the apprentice ranks. He wanted me to tell you,” she cleared her throat, “‘do as you think best.’”

Gregory bowed his head. “Understood, Dia.”

“I will return to the stands and see you there shortly,” Dia smiled at the three of them before leaving.

“He wants us to send just one of us?” Yukiko asked.

“That’s what it sounded like to me,” Jenn nodded.

“I’ll go,” Gregory said. “Head on up. I’ll be there shortly.”

“Why you?” Yukiko asked.

“If it’s going to be just one of us, it should be me,” Jenn said.

“You’ll hurt him, even if you hold back,” Gregory said to Jenn. He turned to Yukiko. “And you’re best at hit and run. I’m going to give him the chance to surrender. Then, if needed, I’ll dismantle him as quickly as I can.”

Yukiko considered it, then nodded. “Foresight, at least,” she told him, not asking him.

“Aether sight if you can, too,” Jenn added. “Just in case.”

“If he says ‘no,’ I’ll use everything and end it as painlessly as I can.”

They leaned in and kissed his cheeks.

“We’ll see you soon, dear one,” Yukiko murmured.

“Don’t keep us waiting,” Jenn added.

“I won’t. Lightshield wouldn’t have sent us the message if he didn’t want just one of us to go. Strong, but honorable, is how I’d like the clan to be seen, like it used to be in Lionel Lighthand’s time.”

His wives kissed him again, then left.

“Aether’s G— where are the other two?” Mindie asked from the hallway to the arena floor.

“In the stands,” Gregory said. “I’m ready.”

Mindie shook her head. “Why?”

“There’s no reason to bury him.”

Blinking as Gregory walked past her, Mindie fell into step a few paces behind him. She was still trying to wrap her head around the idea of them all not fighting when she stopped at the end of the tunnel.

Yunlo frowned at Gregory when he walked out by himself. “Alone?”

“Alone, Grandmaster.”

Yunlo snorted and turned his attention to the other tunnel. Average in every way, the other apprentice looked surprised when he saw only Gregory. His pace slowed a little, as he was clearly trying to understand.

“The Saito clan is young and honorable,” Gregory said when the apprentice got close enough to hear him over the background noise of the crowd. “I am here to offer you the chance to back away to save yourself and your clan the burden