Aether’s Guard (Aether’s Revival Book 2)

They greeted Rafiq when they made it to the archive. Gregory spoke up, preempting Rafiq’s question, “I finished the history of Krogga. I’d like to see the laws of the empire next.”

Rafiq leaned back slightly, his shock apparent. “The laws? Very well. That encompasses a number of books. Did you want to start with the current ones and work your way backward?”

“That would be for the best.”

“I’ll make sure something good is pulled for you.”

“I finished mine, as well,” Jenn said. “Can I move to the war history of Limaz?”

“Of course,” Rafiq smiled. “You’ve been burning through the war books.”

“I find them interesting and educational.”

“I’d like to study the subject of alchemy,” Yukiko said. “The history of how it started, the ingredients and what they can be used in, and anything else you think is worthwhile.”

“Your magic is shadow, though, not alchemy,” Rafiq said.

“Is that a problem?” Yukiko asked.

“Not at all. I just can’t think of the last time someone asked to learn about a subject that wasn’t tied to them. I’ll arrange for the books.”

“Thank you, Rafiq. You make learning here a wonderful experience,” Jenn said.

“It’s our wish to expand the horizons of all magi,” Rafiq replied.

“You have for us,” Yukiko said.

“He has, indeed,” Gregory agreed.

“Flattery, but I accept it. Your material will be brought out before you finish your Magi Squares.”

The three of them thanked him again before going to their table. They were just taking a seat when a quiet throat clearing got their attention.

“Excuse me, Pettit. A word, please,” Master Damon said from a few feet away.

“I have no secrets from my friends, Master. Please join us.”

Damon’s eyebrows climbed for a second before he did as requested, taking the last open spot at the table. “I wanted to see if you’d had any premonitions at all.”

“No, Master, I’m sorry. I’ve had no luck with seeing the future of late. I’ll document them for you when I do.”

Damon looked disappointed. “I see… A pity. Very well. You may leave the notes with the archive and I will retrieve them from here. They’ll want to copy them, anyway.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I wish you all a good day, then,” Damon said, rising gracefully to his feet and gliding away.

“Haven’t your small moments only been a few seconds into the future?” Jenn asked.

“Mostly,” Gregory said. “I had a vision of me and Yukiko together years from now, too.”

“Oh, so that’s why…” Jenn mumbled to herself.

“That was confirmed during the tea ceremony before our betrothal dinner,” Yukiko added. “I also had a vision of our lives together then.”

Jenn’s face went impassive. Her eyes unfocused as she was clearly recalling a memory. “They don’t always come true, though,” Jenn said softly.

“No, they don’t,” Yukiko said, “but I’ve read about the ceremonies. They’re the most probable future, and give a good indication of whether you’re on the right path or not.”

“I see…” Jenn said softly.

“Magi Squares,” Gregory said, gently nudging them. “We have to finish them before we study.”

“Yes, dear one,” Yukiko said.

“Right,” Jenn said, looking down at the blank page in front of her. “The grid, first.”

~*~*~

Taking a slightly longer route to economics class, the three friends didn’t encounter any problems. They were the first to arrive, so they took their seats and got ready for class.

“I asked Dia to let Hemet know we’d be coming by on our day off, and to inquire about another ring,” Yukiko said. “I forgot to mention it earlier.”

“I asked for her to let Stabled Hunger know we’d be there for lunch, too,” Gregory chuckled. “That completes the preparations.”

“Indeed,” Yukiko grinned back at him.

Jenn stayed quiet during the byplay. The wistful expression on her face was quickly replaced by a neutral one before they could see it. The sound of a cane on stone alerted them to Marcia arriving.

“Good morning, Magus,” the three said when she entered the room.

“Morning to you, as well,” Marcia replied as she went to the front of the room. “Bean, you’ve been improving rapidly. Have you been tutored?”

“My friends have been helping me, Magus,” Jenn replied. “While I’m not as versed in the subject as Yuki or Greg, I don’t feel as lost anymore.”

“Clan members should help each other, but that shouldn’t deter you against fighting them during the next tournament.”

“We will all fight to our utmost, Magus,” Jenn said.

“We know that next year, we’ll be fighting together, but this year is for us to shine separately,” Yukiko added.

“Very good. I dislike it when clans try to rig the novice tournament— it cheapens the accomplishment for the winners. I do wonder how far the second tournament will go, considering the death and brutality of the first.”

Other novices started to trickle in and Marcia stopped talking with them, turning to prepare her notes for the class. Just before the sixth bell began to chime, a single novice came running into class. The wet squelch of their shoes on the floor made everyone turn to look at them. Dripping water and shivering violently, the novice staggered over to an empty table and collapsed at it.

“Novice, what happened that you are freezing to death in my class?” Marcia asked without a trace of empathy as the sixth bell finished chiming.

“I was being stopped from making it to class,” the novice replied, his teeth chattering. “I had to jump into one of the streams to get here on time, since they blocked me on the bridge.”

“You’re not going to be able to absorb the knowledge of the class in that state and will be a distraction to the others,” Marcia said. “I require a two-thousand-word essay, by tomorrow, on the pros and cons of taxes.” Her eyes shifted to Gregory. “Pettit, take him to the infirmary. He’s likely starting the early stages of hypothermia.”

“Yes, Magus,” Gregory said, rising to his feet.

“Magus, I could do the job faster and easier,” Jenn said.

Marcia stared at Jenn for a few seconds. “Fine. Pettit, sit down. Bean, get moving.”

“I’ll be back as quickly as I can,” Jenn said, getting up and going over to the soaked novice. “Come on, I’ll carry you.”

“Now,” Marcia said a little loudly, “where we left off last was…”

~*~*~

“Any problems with the novice?” Gregory asked Jenn as they packed up their things when class ended.

“No. The healer on duty took him from me without asking questions.”

“I hope he recovers,” Yukiko said.

The other two agreed with her as they followed the other novices out the door.

“Pet-tit, how is that broken clan you joined?” a snide voice asked from a few feet away.

“Fureno… does licking another’s boots to get into a clan leave a bad taste in your mouth?” Gregory asked in return.

“I don’t lick his boots!” Fureno snarled. “I came here to challenge you to a duel of magic.”

“You don’t get to pick the type of duel,” Gregory said. “If you challenge me, I get to pick the weapons. Besides, I didn’t hear why you’re issuing a challenge.”

Fureno stepped forward. The other novices stopped, watching the scene unfold before them. “When I win, you will abdicate your position as champion.”

Gregory looked bemused. “You still never said why, but fine, I’ll humor you. What are you putting on the line?”

“I’ll put up a purse of vela equal to what you received in gifts from being the champion.”

“Money?” Gregory chuckled. “Don’t really need money right now. How about you don’t harass, pester, or challenge another novice this year, instead?”

Fureno’s brow furrowed. “Your title against me not hindering or challenging other novices?”

“The fight will be ten random sets of Magi Squares. The first one done with them wins. Tonight, at the archive, at nineteenth bell. One of the archivists can be the adjudicator.”

Fureno looked annoyed. “What? You’re saying it’s to be a fight of numbers? Are you too afraid to fight me in the arena?”

Gregory laughed. “Not at all. I just don’t see the need to get my clothes covered in your blood. Those are the terms for the challenge. Do you accept?”

Fureno looked at everyone watching, including Magus Marcia, who was standing in the doorway of the classroom. “Yes, I accept.”

“See you there,” Gregory said as he started walking away.

Yukiko and Jenn quickly joined him. Once they were away from the others, Yukiko snickered. “That was wonderful, dear one. No one knows you’ve been practicing on them.”

“We don’t know what path he’s on,” Jenn said cautiously. “It’s possible that Fureno could’ve been working on them, too.”

“That’s a possibility,” Gregory said. “This type of challenge won’t get me ‘accidentally’ injured, though.”

“Ah, that makes sense,” Jenn nodded.

“It’ll be fine. Greg is skilled with them. Even if Fureno has been working on them, Greg will win. The trick will be making it look closer than it is.”

“We should stop and warn Rafiq,” Gregory said. “It’s on the way home, at least.”

~*~*~

“Novices, I didn’t expect to see you again today,” Rafiq greeted them.

“We wouldn’t normally stop by on the way back to the clan house, but there’s been a challenge issued,” Gregory told him. “I suggested the archive adjudicate the challenge, which will be completing ten Magi Squares before the other person.”

“We don’t often get picked to adjudicate a challenge,” Rafiq replied. “I’ll let the chief archivist know. Did you need us to prepare the Magi Squares?”

“It would be for the best if you did. That way, no one can claim tampering,” Yukiko replied. “When Fureno loses, we’d like it to be without a doubt.”

“Very well. I’ll make sure that the chief knows and things are arranged. When is the challenge to be held?”

“Tonight, at nineteenth bell,” Gregory said.

“Hmm, very well. We’ll have everything prepared for the appointed time.”

“My thanks,” Gregory said, bowing formally to Rafiq. “We’ll return later.”

“Our thanks.” Yukiko and Jenn bowed before following Gregory out.

Running the last bit to get home, the three of them arrived to find Inda, Chen, and Dia all waiting for them. “Apologies,” Gregory said before anyone else could. “We’re late because I was issued a challenge.”

“Who issued it, and why?” Dia asked.

“Fureno, one of the Eternal Flame novices,” Gregory replied. “He wants me to renounce my champion title. When he loses, he’ll no longer pester, harass, or challenge another novice this year.”

“If you fight with the naginata, he doesn’t stand a chance,” Chen snorted.

“The challenge is Magi Squares, and whoever finishes ten of them first wins. The archive will be adjudicating.”

Inda chuckled. “He doesn’t know, does he?”

“Fureno has no idea that we do them every day,” Yukiko snickered.

Chen laughed. “You lured him into a slanted fight? Well done. I forgive the lateness, and I’ll have to be there to see this. What time is it?”

“Nineteenth bell,” Jenn said.

“We’ll also attend,” Dia said. “After all, I expect that the head of their clan inside the walls will be there, too. It’s been some time since I’ve seen Magus Elkit. I wonder how he’s fared since the elder knocked him senseless?”

“What’s this?” Chen asked.

“I’ll tell you later,” Dia smiled. “After the lesson?”

Chen nodded. “Yes, we’re already past time. Bean, get a move on.”

“Yes, Sensei,” Jenn said, rushing to the far side of the yard.

“You, too, Yukiko,” Inda said.

“Right away,” Yukiko said as she went to her place in the yard.

Gregory started to go toward where Jenn was when Dia tapped his shoulder. “Gregory, tell me the full story.”

“Yes, Dia.”

~*~*~

Heading back to the archive, Dia walked beside Gregory. “You will win, I trust?” Dia asked.

“I’ll win, but I’m torn between crushing him or winning by a single puzzle,” Gregory said.

“Thinking about using this challenge again?” Dia asked.

“If it’s possible,” Gregory nodded. “The less I have to physically overcome them, the less prepared they’ll be for the next tournament.”

“That’s a good stance. Win, but not at the cost of losing.”

“I will do as you say, Dia.”

The group walked the rest of the way in silence. When they entered the archive, Gregory’s pace slowed as he hadn’t expected such a large crowd. Magus Elkit was there with Fureno, Nick, Jason, Michelle, and Gina. Master Chen and Magus Erichson stood off to the side of that group, the novices from their clan with them. Another large cluster consisted of the majority of the other novices of the year, and Magus Han and her small group of novices were waiting just inside the door.

“There they are,” Sarinia said, coming forward from the rear of the novice cluster. “We can get this challenge underway. I dislike it when such a gathering is inside the halls and not studying.”

“As if you have any say,” Elkit snorted.

Sarinia’s eyes narrowed briefly before she bowed her head. “If the Eternal Flame clan is ready for the challenge, have your novice take a seat at the table behind you. Pettit, you join him across the table.”

“As you wish,” Gregory replied, bowing to her formally.

Fureno sneered at Gregory. “Bowing to slave animals? No wonder Aether’s Guard is all but forgotten.”

Gregory shook his head. Not replying as he headed for the table, he stopped when Nick shifted to get in his way. “Excuse me, you’re blocking my path,” Gregory said levelly.

“Get used to it,” Nick replied before stepping aside. “Once you lose, we’ll get your pet to lose and I’ll be back to my rightful place.”

Gregory’s jaw tightened when Nick called Yukiko a pet, but he didn’t respond, just moving on. When a foot lashed out to catch his ankle, Gregory staggered and went into a roll before coming up in a smooth motion.

“Novice,” Rafiq said from behind Jason, “violence is not tolerated inside these walls. Attack another person and you will be ejected, as the rules of the archive state.”

“You will not lay a hand on my clan, lizard,” Elkit sneered.

Sarinia was suddenly behind Elkit. “Magus, disrespect toward the staff is a violation of the archive. I give you this one warning to curtail yourself and your novices, or the Eternal Flame will be brought to the council.”

Elkit turned stiffly to Sarinia, staring down at her. “They would never hear your charge.”

Dia laughed. “Sarinia has been in charge of the archive for… well… for over twenty years. She was in charge of it when I was a novice, and when you were a novice. I daresay she would be heard by the council. Her mother held the post of Chief Archivist before she did, and her grandmother before that. It does pay to study some, Elkit.”

Elkit’s jaw tightened. “Let’s get this farce over with.”

“Simon,” Sarinia said, suddenly standing on the balcony overlooking the first floor. “My assistant Simon will be adjudicating this challenge. It’s to be ten pages of Magi Squares, and the first to complete them wins. If Novice Ebbs wins, Novice Pettit loses his title as champion of the first tournament, forfeiting it to the next in line. If Novice Pettit wins, Novice Ebbs is forbidden to harass, pester, or challenge any novice from this year’s class. Novices, do you agree to these terms?”

“I do,” Gregory said, keeping his face straight at Sarinia’s wording.

“I do,” Fureno said before anyone could speak up to stop him.

Elkit snapped his mouth shut, glaring at Fureno for his lack of understanding— Fureno had just agreed to never bother another member of the same novice class if he lost.

Simon stepped forward with two bundles of rolled paper in his hands. “I completed these just minutes ago. Both sets are identical, so the challenge is equal to both sides. No one, not even Chief Archivist Sarinia, has seen them. After the challenge is over, they may be inspected by the eldest member of each clan present to verify that they are identical. Are there any questions?”

“Why can’t we examine them first?” Elkit snapped the question out.

“To make sure no one can help the novices,” Simon said.

Elkit sneered. “As if my novice needs help to beat a fringer.”

Rafiq appeared, presenting two charcoal pencils to Fureno. “Pick your weapon.”

Fureno frowned at him and took one of the pencils. Rafiq handed the second one to Gregory, who had taken his seat in the meantime.

“Since there are no questions, I ask that the crowd steps back at least twenty paces from the table,” Simon said. “Rafiq, if you will place the divider between them?”

Rafiq came back with a paper barrier on a wooden frame and set it on the table. It blocked them from seeing the other person’s paper, but they could still see each other. “It’s done, Simon.”

“Good. Novices, are you ready to begin?” Simon asked.

“Yes,” Fureno said stiffly.

“I’m ready, Archivist,” Gregory said.

Simon stepped to the side of the table and placed a roll of paper in front of each of them. “Begin,” he said, stepping back.

Gregory unrolled the page and studied the Magi Squares he had. The first one was simple; he completed it within a minute. Glancing up, he met Fureno’s eyes as he slid the first Magi Square aside.

Brow furrowing, Gregory looked back down and got to work, focusing solely on the task before him. Minutes ticked by as he completed the second, third, and fourth Magi Squares, each only a touch more difficult than the previous one.

“Side by side,” he heard someone say from the crowd. “Good thing neither of them is mind path, or this would be lopsided and not close at all.”

Gregory blocked out the distraction, looking at the fifth Magi Squares and smiling for a moment. This one jumped in difficulty by a large margin. It took him nearly twice as long to finish it as the previous four combined.

Gregory was sweating when he looked at the tenth and final page. It was the most difficult Magi Squares he’d ever seen, and he wasn’t sure if there was enough information for it to be solved. Swallowing, he closed his eyes and felt himself sink into his trance of meditation.

The aether cavern surrounded him in that instant, the Magi Squares puzzle floating in the air in front of him. “Okay, there has to be an answer… let’s see if you can’t help me,” he said, looking at the fire burning away a few feet from him.

The flames flickered and climbed higher for a moment before the embers floated across the puzzle in the air. They settled in place in a couple of the squares, forming numbers. As each appeared, Gregory checked them before laughing.

“Thank you. That should give me what I need,” Gregory said as he began to fill the other squares with numbers in rapid succession.

Blinking as the cavern faded away, Gregory sat up straight, the puzzle in front of him completed. Simon was by his side, looking over the last page, and the crowd was silent.

Simon eventually stepped back. “Novice Pettit has solved all ten correctly.”

“Impossible!” Elkit barked, striding forward. “Fureno hasn’t even started to fill in his last page.”

“This one wasn’t possible to solve,” Fureno said, standing up from his seat. “Impossible to solve, in fact.”

“Are you saying one of my assistants was less than neutral?” Sarinia asked, appearing behind Fureno, the coldness in her tone making all the novices in the room step away from her.

“May I see both sets?” Master Chen said. “I can verify if they were both equal, if that works for both parties.”

“I will accept that,” Elkit sniffed.

“Agreed,” Dia said amiably.

Simon took the papers and handed them to Master Chen, who had Magus Han standing beside him and looking over his shoulder.

“I wish to verify them, as well,” Marcia said.

“Agreed. Two sets of eyes are better,” Chen said. “I’ll hold Fureno’s and you can hold Pettit’s.”

“That would work wonderfully,” Marcia said as the two Magi examined each page together. After a couple of minutes, Marcia laughed. “They are identical. Goodness, what a blow to the pride of the Eternal Flame.”

“Indeed. This was a fair challenge. The archive has never failed to be fair and equal in their tasks,” Chen said. “Your novice lost, Elkit. Accept it gracefully.”

Elkit’s face was red as he glared at Fureno. “Pathetic useless cur! Get out!”

Fureno was white, but he didn’t hesitate, bolting for the exit.

“We’re leaving,” Elkit hissed at the members of his clan. “Now.” He strode away, the others falling in behind him.

Han turned to Gregory. “Well done. How long did it take you to realize the answer to the last one?”

“It didn’t dawn on me until I was over halfway done with it,” Gregory admitted.

“It was well done,” Han replied. “Have a good evening. We’re leaving, clan. We’ll discuss why this is important after dinner. Now, come.”

The groups broke up and left in short order, leaving just Dia and the three novices alone in the archive with the archivists. Dia bowed to Sarinia. “Our thanks, Chief Archivist. I was worried you were going to attack Elkit and give him an excuse to say your staff was biased.”

Sarinia’s eyes sparkled with anger for a moment. “That would have been bad for the novices involved. I’ll make sure he pays for what he said at a later time— I’ll be speaking with the council next week. It might be time for them to remind the clans about civility.”

“From your lips to Aether’s ears,” Dia murmured. “We’ll not intrude on your time more than we already have. A good night, Chief Archivist Sarinia.”

“A good eve, Magus Dia.”

“Let’s go home and have dinner,” Dia smiled. “I’m sure the others will be eager to hear the news.”

“Dia, can I ask Archivist Simon a question before we go?” Gregory asked.

Simon stood a dozen feet away, his eyes going to Gregory when he heard his name. “How might I help you, Novice?”

“The last puzzle… why did you make it the exact same order as the first?”

Simon’s eyes gleamed. “Because people always try to deny repetition.”

“I was when I started it,” Gregory replied and nodded. “I’ll keep that lesson in mind. My thanks.” Gregory cupped his left hand over his right fist, bowing formally to him.

“A lesson taught is an honor for us,” Simon said, bowing back just as formally. “Good evening.”