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

“Someone from home?” Gregory asked.

“No, not someone from Alturis,” Bishop replied, her face impassive, “though they did come from the fringe like you.”

“Breakfast is served,” Velma said, bringing over their food and setting it out.

“I heard about you nearly repeating as champion,” Bishop said. “I will be looking to test your skill with the naginata later.”

“As you wish, Magus,” Gregory bowed his head.

“The food is here. Save the talk for later,” Dia said mildly.

Silence fell at Dia’s request, allowing them to enjoy their breakfast.

~*~*~

“I’m sure they’re already here, or will be shortly,” Gregory said as they entered the archive.

“Apprentices, it’s good to see you again,” Rafiq smiled. “Has your time away been informative?”

“It was,” Yukiko replied. “Has the archive been quiet?”

“Very. The only ones we could count on seeing are your friends,” Rafiq replied. “The apprentices almost never come. In fact, only a few without clans have appeared at all. The new novices, besides your friends... maybe a handful a week? With classes about to start, we will see a few more novices who wish to get ahead of the teachers.”

“Are they here?” Jenn asked.

“No, but they will be shortly,” Rafiq grinned. “What would you like to study?”

“We saw a temple of Aether,” Gregory said. “It had an image carved into it. Is there anything on that iconography I can read about?”

Rafiq frowned, then nodded. “Yes, but that book doesn’t leave the second floor. That floor is for apprentices. The books and scrolls there have been deemed not suitable for the novices.”

Gregory sighed. “I see. I’ll pass on that today then, as I do wish to see my friends. Is there a scroll on ryuite?”

“We wondered when you would ask about that stone,” Rafiq said. “I will have a tome suitable for this floor brought to you, but there are others above.”

“That will do for now. Thank you.”

“Can I see anything on a magi having multiple wives?” Jenn asked. “Especially if there’s precedence for an adept with multiple magi wives.”

Rafiq looked at her for a long moment. “I’ll have to check, as I’m not sure if it has happened before. Would you care for something else in the meantime?”

“Anything on mythrum, please.”

“Very well,” Rafiq said.

“Hmm... I need something for this floor,” Yukiko said. “I’ll do what we have not done in some time— please bring me what you think would best help me.”

“A lot of responsibility with that request. I will do my best.”

“Thank you,” Yukiko smiled. “We’ll be at our table, waiting for our friends.”

“I will have the books brought shortly,” Rafiq replied.

“Thank you,” the three replied before heading into the archive.

They were pulling out paper and ink when Yukiko looked up and smiled. “Nessa, Daciana, and who might you be?”

“Victoria Wilson,” a feminine voice replied.

The name and voice sounded vaguely familiar, and when Gregory looked behind him, he saw her. Blonde hair in twin braids, eyes that looked purple but also blue at times, and a soft smile on full lips. A memory clicked into place— her bringing him hot water to wash his clothes when he was at the inn in Linom.

“How’s your father?” Gregory asked.

“He is well. The proctor was right. No reprisals came from him telling the truth.”

All four of the women looked between Victoria and Gregory, clearly curious.

“Victoria is the daughter of an inn owner in Linom,” Gregory explained. “I don’t recall the name of the inn, though, I’m sorry. I know you brought me water to wash my clothes with, but there’s something else I can’t quite remember, as well.”

“When Otus attacked you, I cared for you while your aether repaired the damage,” Victoria said softly, a secretive smile on her lips. “I sat up with you all night.”

“You gave me water,” Gregory said. The memory was a little hazy, but he recalled soft hands stroking his hair and a mug of water.

“Yes.”

“Thank you,” Gregory said. “Let me introduce you. Yukiko Warl… err… Pettit,” he paused and looked at Yukiko. “Not used to that yet.”

“Neither am I, dear one,” Yukiko smiled at him. “Pettit is correct now that we’re married.”

“And Jenn B… Pettit,” Gregory said, correcting himself again.

All the novices stared at them. Victoria was in complete shock that he was married, much less twice over. Daciana and Nessa both got over their minor shock quickly and went over to hug Jenn, congratulating her.

“When did it happen?” Daciana asked as she sat next to Jenn instead of at the other table. “Was it romantic?”

“If you want to tell us,” Nessa said, staring at Daciana.

Jenn gave them a smile. “I don’t mind. It’s not much of a story, honestly. Yuki and I told him about my wish to marry him, and after a bit of worry that it might hurt one of us, he agreed. The priest at the temple of Aether did the small ceremony and we registered the papers in Waterrock. It’s been less than two weeks.”

“How did you and Victoria meet?” Yukiko asked.

Nessa and Victoria took the empty seats at the table, putting Victoria at the far end of the table, and Nessa next to Yukiko. “She came in just a few days ago,” Nessa said. “We were returning to the dormitory when we heard her proctor saying that her last novice had nearly won both tournaments. So, later that night, we approached her to find out if she was talking about Greg, Jenn, or you.”

Daciana grinned. “I told you it was a good idea.”

“It was, obviously, Daciana’s idea to approach her,” Nessa said with an eye roll. “As I was saying, we approached her or, rather, tried to. She was being harassed by some of our least favorite novices because she’s a fringer.”

“They were very