AR5 CH1

Chapter One

The first leg of the trip out of the academy was only half of a day. They barely got moving before midday, and they stopped just before sunset. It wasn’t a boring trip for Gregory— he spent most of it explaining his magic to Mindie and Roshana.

Mindie’s fox ears would twitch occasionally as she listened intently to Gregory. She’d known what his magic was, but listening to him explain how it worked fascinated her. Roshana was equally as interested. She leaned forward at times, her rabbit ears swiveling to whoever was talking.

Yukiko and Ling stayed mostly quiet while Gregory talked, only jumping in for a comment or two when he was looking for the right words. Ling had heard about Gregory’s magic before, but she still enjoyed hearing him explain it again, her feline ears twitching every few minutes. Yukiko brushed at her pale hair. It was just starting to reach her shoulders again, and she had been debating on letting it grow back into what it had been or keeping it short. Even while she thought about her hair, her cyan eyes were focused on Mindie and Roshana, watching them with interest.

“So you can hold many paths open, but anything past four isn’t worth the effort?” Roshana asked.

“I find more than three is normally a waste,” Gregory clarified. “Three shows the most probable futures. It’s more efficient to look further down those paths than open more of them.”

“But each of those paths diverges into more paths, don’t they?” Mindie asked, coming to understand.

“Exactly. So when I follow one, it opens up three different paths.”

“Which then leads to more and more,” Mindie smiled. “How far do you normally look ahead?”

“A few seconds is sufficient for combat,” Gregory explained. “Outside of combat, I haven’t pushed far. I’m not sure what I could reach if I pushed now. Before, I could maybe get a half-hour ahead.”

“The elder sees much further, doesn’t he?” Roshana asked.

“We don’t know how far, but yes, at least a day or more without strain,” Yukiko said. “He knew which arenas we’d fight in before they were posted.”

“But he’s also known things from much further ahead,” Ling said. “That’s how he arranged for our coming years to be set.”

“True,” Gregory nodded. “He’s never given any hint on what he can do. Master Damon was upset that Lightshield won’t talk with him.”

“And you’re concealing information, too, even though you are giving them some,” Yukiko added.

“Because anything known can be known by anyone,” Mindie said.

“Exactly,” Gregory smiled.

“I’ve wanted to know more about healing,” Yukiko said.

“Yes,” Gregory nodded. “I’ve been very interested in how your magic works, Mindie.”

Mindie looked down, a small smile on her lips. “Oh... I don’t mind trying to explain it.”

“Maybe tonight, at the inn?” Ling suggested. “We’ve all shared how our magic works with each other before you two joined us. We’d be happy to do it again to hear about yours.”

“Even mine?” Roshana asked.

“Yes,” Yukiko smiled. “We only know what Empire’s Gambit tells us about water magi. We’re sure you can tell us so much more.”

“There’s also what you know about Limaz from your family,” Gregory added. “I’m eager to know more about the southern neighbors of the empire. We’ve all studied in the archive, but none of us knew about the bathing custom you told us about.”

“Bathing custom?” Mindie asked.

“We shared a bath together,” Ling said. “Roshana explained that, for people of Limaz, they have a custom where their words are as naked as they are. There is no lying in the bath.”

“Shared a bath…?” Mindie’s eyes went to Gregory, who had a faint blush visible.

“Yes. Greg and everyone who was in the room with us last night, except you,” Yukiko said. “Though we don’t know what bathing arrangements might be like for our trip.”

Mindie’s face heated. “Oh. Right. I’m… not opposed… if everyone is there.”

Yukiko smiled gently at Mindie. “It’ll be your choice, Mindie. None of us will ever pressure you. Everything you do or choose not to do is fine. Not everyone is as bold as Daciana.”

“Or Clover,” Ling snorted. “I can’t believe she deliberately exposed herself in the bath the way she did. She was so shy when we started with each other.”

Mindie’s face burned hotter. “Oh? I didn’t know you and Clover…”

“Yes,” Ling smiled. “Much like Dacaiana, Victoria, and Nessa are exploring things together.”

“It’s not required, but it’ll make things easier later,” Yukiko said. “After all, being a part of a large family does mean that there will be many people to love.”

“We ranged way off-topic,” Gregory coughed, his own cheeks hot. “We’ll have weeks more for talking during the trip. There are topics that we can speak about that interest each of us. I was thinking, though, that instead of spending our time at the inn chatting, we can use them to work on games.”

“Hmm... not a bad idea,” Yukiko said. “Dice and cards have both been neglected. We might also need to get the Peaceful Fist in, too.”

“Oh, good point,” Gregory conceded.

“We have to keep up with that,” Ling said, “especially for our newest practitioners.”

“Yes, please,” Roshana said. “It’s been helping. I can feel it.”

“It was very draining,” Mindie said.

“When starting out, it is,” Gregory said. “As you get more used to it, the draining feeling stops, and then you feel energized afterward, instead.”

“Maybe we should do that before bathing? For the first week, at least,” Yukiko said.

“That’s a good idea,” Gregory nodded.

Mindie looked down, remembering how much she’d sweated during the session that morning. “Please? I would like to bathe after.”

“We’ll ask Lightshield when we stop for the night,” Yukiko said, glancing out the window, “which will be soon, I think.”

“Should be,” Ling agreed. “Even using the speedy carriages, it’ll take us time to reach Buldoun.”

“I see a city ahead of us,” Mindie said, looking out the window.

“Likely where we will stop,” Yukiko commented. “That’s good.”

The carriages slowed as they entered the city. Each clan broke away from each other, going to different inns. Gregory noticed that at least one academy carriage went with each clan. He wondered about that, but figured they would find out soon enough.

“Lightshield said we wouldn’t have the best inns in the city, but the right inns for us,” Mindie murmured as she watched the city roll by. “What do you think he meant?”

“Inns where people of our heritages would be welcome,” Yukiko replied, “much like Father used to do when I was traveling with him.”

“Sounds right to me,” Gregory nodded. “Even in Wesrik, Yuki and I heard mutters about her heritage when we went out.”

“And those were still better comments than I was used to,” Yukiko sighed.

“It’s always bad,” Mindie murmured. “Even as magi, the comments don’t stop. They just get quieter.”

“It’s something I want to see change...” Gregory said softly.

“And we’ll help you, dear one,” Yukiko said, placing her hand on his.

“That would require changing the empire,” Roshana said.

“It will,” Gregory agreed, meeting her eyes, “but it’s for those I love.”

Roshana’s smile grew softer. “A noble goal, one that I will gladly give my all to. Aether’s oldest art showed humans and eurtik side-by-side. He will smile on us for doing as he wishes.”

“He will,” Yukiko smiled.

“You’ll need someone to help you stay strong,” Mindie murmured, licking her lips. “People will attack you, hurt you, try to pull you down.”

“We have a great healer to help, already,” Ling said. She leaned forward and touched Mindie’s knee. “Don’t we?”

Mindie’s head snapped up, and she stared into Ling’s light green eyes before her face flushed. “Yes?”

“We do,” Yukiko added. “You’ve already shown us how much you want to help, Mindie. You have always been there to pick us back up.”

The carriage slowed to a stop, which stopped Mindie from answering. Gregory was the first one out the door. He helped the others out of their carriage, while the rest of the clan exited the ones they were in.

When he finished helping Yukiko and their friends out, he finally had a chance to look around. The inn itself was not impressive, but it looked to be in good repair. They were in the stable behind the inn, which didn’t look large enough to stable the four carriages.

He grinned when he saw all who were standing near the academy carriage beside the inn. Egil Magi-killer was speaking to Rafiq, the crocodilian archivist, both of whom were clearly enjoying the conversation based on their smiles.

“If I might have your attention,” Lightshield said. His voice carried easily to everyone in the yard, even though he spoke softly. “We shall be staying here for the evening. The carriages are going to the inn that the overseer is using for the night. They will be back two hours after sunrise to pick us up for the next leg of our journey. Until we leave, your time is yours. And, to answer the question from my clan members, you may use the yard here for that. Dinner will be in three hours in the private dining room.”

Gregory bowed his head to the elder.

“Gregory, I need a moment of your time. The rest of you, go with Hemet. He’ll get rooms arranged for you first.”

As everyone funneled out of the yard and the carriages began to leave, Gregory went to Lightshield’s side. “Elder?”

“You saw Rafiq. He is here to record the Buldoun event. Alongside that and to continue after, he has a secondary task— Rafiq is tasked with recording your magic. He’ll be your companion when you leave to train your troops through your adept posting, and onto your magus posting.”

Gregory was a little surprised, but he also knew how eager Master Damon had been to get more information about his magic. “I see, Elder. I’ll do my best to help him with his task.”

“Gregory,” Lightshield said gently, “what you share or do not share is up to you. I know you will treat Rafiq well, regardless. Sarinia chose Rafiq as you’ve had a good relationship with him. He knows that you will hold things back. He will not press you.”

“He knows I’ll withhold information?”

“Of course. No magi wants all of their secrets known.”

“I understand, sir. Do you feel I can trust him?”

“Did you trust him before?”

“Yes.”

“Then you can continue to trust him now.”

Exhaling slowly, Gregory nodded. “I understand, sir.”

“Good. Now do me a favor and lead the Peaceful Fist, hmm? It takes me more concentration to use my aether and keep myself balanced during the katas.”

“As you wish, sir.”

“Elder, will you join us for the Peaceful Fist?” Yukiko asked, coming out the back door of the inn.

“Of course. Gregory will be leading for us,” Lightshield smiled. “There are also two baths in this inn. You can separate as you feel comfortable. Each door comes with a lock, so you will not be disturbed while bathing.”

“Thank you, Elder,” Yukiko smiled.

Gregory looked at the group who had come back out to practice the Peaceful Fist. He was surprised to see Rafiq among them, leaving Egil as the only person not present. “Rafiq?”

“Would it be alright for me to join you?” Rafiq asked.

“Of course,” Lightshield smiled. “You’ve been following the mind path, but a little stretching never hurt anyone.”

“Thank you. I know of the technique, having read the scrolls that teach it. I’ve just never tried it for myself,” Rafiq said as he joined the others.

“We welcome you,” Lightshield smiled, using wind magic to set his cane beside the back door. “Gregory, you may begin.”

“Yes, sir,” Gregory said, taking up the beginning stance.