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

“Because a clan can help influence that,” Yukiko nodded. “Why not join a clan, then, and ask them to get you a spot you’d like?”

“Because…” Mindie trailed off and shook her head.

“Because none of them understand or care to change the things that should be changed,” Yukiko finished for her.

Mindie blinked, then smiled softly. “Of course you’d understand... Yes.”

“Have you considered speaking with our elder?” Gregory asked, seeing where Yukiko was going.

Mindie just stared at them for a long moment. “I… considered it briefly.” Her head whipped around, and she exhaled. “They’re calling for you.”

The three picked up their helmets and weapons. Walking up the stairs and down the hall, Gregory was in the back with Mindie trailing him by a step.

“Think about it,” Gregory said. “You’ve been a good person to us, and we can always use more friends who share the same views. It just requires the belief that Aether will eventually return. Anyone can leave the clan at any time, so unlike the others, you’d never be stuck and unable to leave.”

Mindie stopped a few feet short of the exit. “I’ll consider it. Good luck.”

Gregory gave her a smile before slipping his helmet on. “Thank you. I hope you don’t need to heal us.”

Mindie smiled. “Me, too.”

Chapter Seventy-five

Gregory walked across the arena floor with one hand raised to acknowledge the crowd, which was cheering, clapping, stomping their feet, and even chanting the clan name. No one could see the smile on his face underneath his sparring mask.

Yunlo stood in the middle of the arena, waiting for both teams. He nodded when they stopped a few feet away from him. All of them looked to the other tunnel and, as if they’d been waiting for that moment, Hayworth led his two clan members out of the tunnel.

The cheers were just as loud for them, and Hayworth took the time to wave and smile to the crowd, as he had his helmet under his arm. The two with him waved, as well.

“One more fight for you to reach the finals,” Yunlo told them. “If you lose, you still have another fight to claim third place. You know the rules. Turn to the boxes and bow.”

Hayworth and his clanmates slipped their helmets on before turning to bow. Gregory exhaled— he’d half-hoped Hayworth would concede the match.

After they’d bowed, the three of them huddled and backed away a few paces. Gregory looked at the crossbows the two magi behind Hayworth had and he grimaced. Yunlo’s arm rose, and Gregory triggered foresight and aether sight.

Gregory’s hands slid along the naginata shaft and he tapped his index finger in a small rhythm. He trusted Jenn to see his signal.

“Fight!” Yunlo called.

The moment the word left Yunlo’s mouth, Jenn’s legs blazed and she shot away around the wall. Yukiko ran behind Gregory and ducked into his shadow. Hayworth shook his head and made a motion— the two men behind him fired their crossbows, then reloaded them.

“Jenn, down!” Gregory shouted, hoping his voice reached her over the crowd.

The spatial rift appeared in front of Gregory, taking the padded bolts that had been aimed at him. Another rift appeared before Jenn, and the two bolts came zipping out of it toward her. Jenn had heard Gregory’s warning and dropped to her knees, bending over backward. One bolt passed just above her, and she slapped away the second. Jenn grimaced, as she knew that the arrow would have gone through her hand because she hadn’t infused her body in that location. She pulled her arm to her chest and forced herself to keep it there.

Yukiko used Gregory’s shadow to vanish, popping up behind the two archers. Her blade caught one of them in the neck, but before she could get the second, Hayworth’s blade hit her in the back, as he’d opened another rift at just the right moment. Yukiko and the other apprentice raised their hands and started to walk away.

“Focus on him!” Hayworth told his remaining clanmate before turning to Jenn, who was nearly on top of them.

The other apprentice was still reloading and focused on Gregory, who had started to run forward.

Jenn met Hayworth, and he used his shield to blunt her assault. He grimaced, snapping his sword out only to be deflected each time. Knowing Gregory was closing in, Hayworth gambled by shoving into Jenn, hoping to knock her off balance long enough to get a clean blow. He grunted when he bounced off the slight woman, staggering back a step.

Jenn kicked Hayworth’s shield and he landed hard on his back. Not giving him any time, she went to capitalize on it, taking her awareness off the archer. The other member of Swift Wind finished reloading his crossbow— he knew it would be pointless to try shooting Gregory, so he spun and fired at Jenn. She looked up in time to bat the bolt aside, but it still skipped off her right arm.

Grimacing, Jenn dropped her wakizashi before kicking down at Hayworth. He was just able to get his shield back up to cover the stomp. Half-braced against the ground, he felt his shield crack under her heel. He jabbed out with his sword and it vanished, tapping the back of Jenn’s head. Growling, she backed up and raised her hand.

Hayworth was getting back up to his feet when his clanmate let out a pained yell. He jerked up to find Gregory closing on him. “And we meet again...” Hayworth said.

Gregory didn’t reply— he just kept coming, his naginata set and ready. Hayworth thrust three times in quick succession, each one popping up at different angles. Gregory slid past each attack, barely slowing as he closed the distance between them. Hayworth shook his head and gave up on using his aether, knowing he’d need it