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

who are hard at work training to also join the clan. I do feel a little bad for Victoria,” Bishop said as if she’d meant nothing more.

“Why?” Gregory asked.

“Because the poor girl is distinctly interested in you, and here you are with two wives already. Ah, well, it’ll be good for her. She’ll learn early that life is painful, and anyone trying to tell you different has ulterior motives.”

“Oh? But I’ve barely spoken with her.”

“Hmm... maybe she has a soft spot for the injured ones?” Bishop shrugged. “Your wife, Jenn— how would you rate her fighting ability and her control over her magic?”

“She’s possibly the best fighter from our class,” Gregory said. “As for her magic, Master Chen would be able to speak to that better, but she was able to use her aether sparingly and in pieces when needed, not just flooding herself the entire time.”

Bishop smiled. “She’ll be a good student then. Good. Is there anything else, Pettit?”

“No, Bishop. I just wanted to ask about my mother.”

“I am sorry I can’t recall more of her,” Bishop said. “She would be proud of you. You did as she said and you wished. You’re a magi, even if your road is filled with hardships.”

“Hard paths make the best magi,” Gregory said as he rose to his feet. “A wise woman told me that, and I believe it. Now, to survive and become stronger.”

Bishop’s smile was real as she opened her book back up. “I’m glad you took the words to heart. Have a good evening.”

“Have a good evening, Bishop.”

Chapter Twenty-six

 

Gregory was still thinking about his talk with Bishop when he made it to the clan archive. Jenn and Yukiko were seated at a table, looking over a book, and Murium was sitting in the far corner of the room with a book on her lap.

Going over to his wives, Gregory spoke softly, “What did you find?”

“This is a book on the symbol of the temple,” Yukiko replied. “It’s been linked to a few ancient temples scattered around the known world. The myth says that Aether himself built them from the bedrock of the earth. They appear to be unchanged, even by earth magi of the elder tier.”

“The author of this book links the different images to the three paths,” Jenn said. “The brain, of course, denotes the mind while the flexing arm stands for the body path. The author is debating on whether or not the lotus flower represents the spirit path. The flower is unlike any other in the world, showing a strange amount of petals, but with the definition of the other two, the author hypothesizes that the flower should exist, as well.”

“But it is the spirit path, right?” Gregory asked.

“Yes,” Yukiko nodded. “Remember how it’s always the spirit path that people seem to be able to combine with another? Note that the flower is in the middle of the image, between the other two.”

Gregory considered the idea for a few moments. “You think it was placed deliberately there to show that it can combine with either of them?”

“I don’t know, but I feel like it is,” Yukiko replied.

“The author suggests that this image is why the empire believes in the three paths,” Jenn said.

“I can see where that theory would come from,” Gregory said slowly, “but if that’s known, why does the academy push us toward one path or another? Why not have all the novices try to walk spirit and another path?”

“Because those in power don’t like threats to themselves,” Yukiko answered him.

Gregory thought about what he’d seen so far since leaving Alturis and nodded. “Yeah... if people like Nick are the norm for the ‘powerful,’ I can see how that would be.”

“Very few magi have managed to combine paths, as it is,” Jenn added. “Why waste even a second of training on what is likely a futile gesture when you can push them to excel on a single path?”

“There is that, as well,” Yukiko agreed.

“Yet here we are, walking…” Jenn trailed off, glancing at Murium, who was still reading. “Doing what we are.”

“Yes, but we know why we can,” Yukiko said. “Yet another thing to talk to Darkness about.”

“Next time we grow, I hope to be able to ask her about that, and about Dia walking both paths,” Gregory said, before he added a little belatedly, “and about my gloves and boots, too.”

“Yes, that’s something else that’s important,” Yukiko nodded.

“They blunt a physical enhancement magi’s attacks,” Jenn said. “I’d been wondering how you’d done that until you told me about the gloves.”

“They stopped Nick’s fire from burning my hands, too,” Gregory added with another glance toward Murium, who was clearly absorbed in her book. “It might have to do with the ryuite in them. Is this all she had for us?”

“We only asked her for this to start with,” Yukiko said. “I want to draw the image from the medallion before I ask about it.”

“That makes sense,” Gregory admitted. “I’m going to ask if she has anything on ryuite.”

They both nodded and went back to their book as Gregory went over to Murium.

“Murium?”

The archivist looked up at him, blinking slowly. “Yes?”

“Are there any books on ryuite in the collection?”

Murium stared at him for a long moment before setting her book aside. “Yes, there is something. Give me a moment, please.”

Gregory stepped aside and waited. Murium moved slowly as she walked to the middle of the room and closed her eyes. She spun in a lazy circle, mumbling under her breath as she did. Without warning, her eyes snapped open and she moved to the bookshelf. She stood on her toes and reached up, bringing down a thick book. Nodding, a smile grew as she walked it over to Gregory.

“Ryuite is on page one-hundred