Aether’s Apprentices (Aether’s Revival Book 4)

Yukiko appeared in the shadows of the room when Jenn was sleeping soundly. Gregory had tensed, but relaxed when he saw the white-blond hair of the person in the shadows. Yukiko apologized, then quickly stripped and slipped into bed with them. The three cuddled, with Jenn being the only one to sleep.

When third bell rang, Gregory and Yukiko were already out of bed and dressed. Jenn came awake and, with a bright smile, stretched before dressing quickly.

“I feel good enough to go another full day, if needed,” Jenn assured them. “I hope it doesn’t stretch into a third. If it does, they’ll outlast me.”

“Gregory told me your plan. Do you think Egil can be removed?” Yukiko asked.

“We have to if I want to force combat with Paul,” Jenn said. “I’ll explain my full tactics to Klein today, including my plan for single combat. If Gregory had been allowed to be on the field with us, I’d push for combat now, but they took that option away from us.”

“They did,” Gregory said. “You’ll win. I have faith in our heart.”

Jenn swallowed the lump that appeared in her throat as Yukiko tied her obi for her. “Well, I can’t lose now.”

“No stress,” Yukiko whispered, planting a peck on Jenn’s nose. “Just do what you plan and we’ll back you.”

“Has Harrison been pleasant?” Gregory asked to help shift the topic.

“Surprisingly, yes. He made me defend the hot-air balloon idea, but other than that, he’s been fine. Ever since the tournament, he’s been different.”

“I think Bishop has been talking with him,” Yukiko said.

“She’s been a little distracted since the tournament, too,” Jenn smiled. “Maybe they’re making up on their friendship?”

“That would be good,” Gregory said. “It would help solidify the clans with each other. Harrison and Bishop, Hayworth and us…” He trailed off.

“And perhaps Kyle Walun and Daciana,” Yukiko finished. “But that will depend on if he’ll take the rejection well.”

“That’s what I failed to say,” Gregory nodded. “Only time will tell.”

“Let’s go see our friends, have breakfast, then make it to the hall,” Jenn said.

~*~*~

When they arrived at the tactics hall, they met up with the Shining Light and Iron Hand groups. Everyone but Roshana was there, and Gregory worried that she might have overslept. They trudged upstairs, taking their place in the waiting room, while Klein and Jenn continued upward.

“Jenn has the extra food, right?” Clover whispered as they settled in to wait.

“Yes. I made double sure of it,” Yukiko replied.

“Roshana? It’s a common name in Limaz,” Ling said. “My family comes from near the border of Limaz. Besides her eurtik blood, she has a lot in common with the people there.”

“She has edges of the accent,” Clover said.

“I talked with her on the way back to the dormitory,” Yukiko said, her eyes on the others in the room. “She might end up joining the clan after the tournament.”

“I would have thought she might worship Mortum more,” Ling said.

“Me, too, or perhaps the Traveler,” Clover added.

“She has faith in Aether,” Yukiko told them. “Her grandmother and mother held a firm belief in Aether returning and that he’d reappear in the empire. It’s why they came here, even though their heritage would cause them greater problems.”

Ling and Clover lapsed into silence as they thought.

“She seemed truthful when I spoke with her,” Gregory added, “and she also appears to be a genuinely nice person. Dia will have to find out how deeply she really believes, though.”

The other three nodded, then settled in to meditate while they waited for the game to begin.

~*~*~

Time had no real meaning for them as they sat in the room, waiting for news. Gregory had a better understanding of how boring it was to be on the sideline.

“Sir?” Dave addressed Ben. “We’re not going to get called back in. If we give that option up, can we go down to watch the game on the main board?”

Ben looked thoughtful for a moment before he stood up. “I will inquire. Wait here.”

Gregory pushed his meditation away, curious as to what the answer would be. He noticed the Shining Light members and his friends doing the same.

Ben returned and nodded at Elder Cho. She walked past their room, obviously coming down from comparing turns with Roshana. “The Elder says you may, but you will not be allowed back in no matter what happens. So, if either of them requests aid, another will have to be chosen.”

Dave stood up, as did the other Iron Hand members except Farin. “We understand. We aren’t the ones they will choose, so we’ll head down. I can’t sit here without knowing what’s happening anymore.”

Dunn stood up when the other Shining Light members did. “Armit will choose the ones best suited for the fight, which means either of you.” He looked at Farin and Yukiko. “We will go downstairs. I find myself very curious how they are playing, as well.”

Clover shifted and looked at Yukiko. “Yuki?”

“Magus Dunn is right,” Yukiko replied. “If you want to watch your tactic in play, go ahead. I will sit here in case she calls for aid.”

Ling stood up with Clover. “We’ll watch and hope. Greg?”

“I’ll sit here. They might need another coordinator, and I’ll take that role if it’s needed.” He looked at Fred. “Go ahead.”

Fred hesitated before bowing to Gregory. “Thank you.”

When the exodus finished, it was just Farin, Yukiko, Gregory, and Ben left in the room. Farin stretched and shifted to take advantage of extra room, while Yukiko stayed snuggled against Gregory’s side. Ben looked amused at the couple, but didn’t say anything.

“Do you really think they’ll call either of us?” Farin asked.

“It’s possible, especially if they clash for a turn and it doesn’t end right away,” Yukiko replied. “Either might need earth or water, which is why you staying makes sense. I’m only going to be called in to try assassination, but I might be called.”

“But if all three magi are in the same base…” Farin trailed off.

“The boost the Kroggian force will get is substantial,” Yukiko finished for him after a few seconds pause. “Yes, which is why if they do call, they both won’t be in the same base.”

“Dave proved why that’s a bad idea,” Farin said.

“Normally, but if a specific instructor is removed from play, Jenn has another option she could use,” Gregory said.

Ben jerked upright, as he had taken a relaxed seat in another corner of the room. “She wouldn’t.”

“Jenn would if she felt it gave the best odds of winning,” Yukiko said.

Farin paused, then inhaled sharply. “Oh. That tactic.”

“Yes,” Gregory smiled. “As was discussed before this round even began, but it means Egil needs to be off the field.”

“I can see where they might call for you,” Farin said to Yukiko.

“Yes, but if they can remove him first, they might need to slow the remaining Kroggians or entrench themselves further,” Yukiko said. “It’s why we sit here and wait. If they call for Gregory, then we’ll know they’re splitting and one of us is going to be called.”

Farin settled back, clearly excited and worried for what might come.

~*~*~

The sun had come up when Roshana appeared in the doorway. Farin jerked to his feet, staring at her, which is what pulled Gregory and Yukiko from their meditation.

“Yukiko, Klein is asking for you,” Roshana said.

Farin exhaled and slumped back to his seat. “Good luck,” he exhaled. He was happy that he wasn’t going to be the one in, though also sad for the same reason.

Roshana turned to him and Gregory. “Elder Cho said it was okay to tell you both to head to the main room. There’s no way they can build up the funds before the game ends to ask for another magi. The other instructors will be aiding for coordination from here on out.”

Farin rose to his feet again, this time looking grim. “Yukiko, good luck.”

“We’ll do our very best,” Yukiko replied. “Cheer for us, even if we can’t hear you.”

“We will,” Gregory said, giving her hand one last squeeze.

Ben stood as they left. Stepping out of the room after them, he found Elder Cho coming downstairs. “Elder, do they require me?”

“No, this is almost over. Tell the others on this floor to head down.”

“As you decree, Elder,” Ben replied, bowing as she passed him.

Gregory saw Clover and Ling at the table they’d used previously and went to sit with them. “How is it going?”

They were surprised to see him, but Ling responded, “It’s going to be close. What are you and Farin doing down here?”

“We were told to come down by the elder,” Farin said, taking his seat at the table. “Yukiko was called into the game and the instructors are taking over the coordinating, besides Roshana. I think they want to make sure Gregory isn’t involved now.”

“Yeah,” Gregory exhaled. “It’ll be cleaner this way.”

Elder Cho walked down and spoke with Grandmaster Pan, showing him notes for a few minutes before she went back upstairs. Pan turned to the board and rearranged the pieces, then turned to the room.

“The Kroggian forces are closing on the defender’s camp. Another magi arrives at the start of the next turn, which will put them in play on the same turn that the Kroggians get close enough to start the attack. That will prove disastrous or useful, depending on who they chose.” Pan paused as he saw Farin and Gregory. “They chose Yukiko Pettit, a shadow magi. Opinions?”

“They’ll lose,” Nick said brusquely. “Another magi just before an attack is foolish. It gives the Kroggians a bigger boost to their units.”

“But a shadow magi,” Hayworth countered, “as all should know, are skilled with information gathering… and assassination. It’s possible they will sacrifice her before the attack begins to strike at the two commanders. She might be able to remove one before they kill her.”

“A magi on a Kroggian commander is not good odds for most magi,” one of the Han clan said.

“But for a shadow magi, it improves,” a Yamato Shipping apprentice countered.

“That is true,” Pan said, cutting off further conversation. “If she can get the surprise on one of them, she will have good odds for the game. If both are together when she attacks, she will not survive and possibly fail in her task. We will find out on the next turn.”

~*~*~

When Elder Cho came back down next, the room went quiet, as everyone wanted to hear what happened. The conversation between Pan and Cho was near silent— even the closest apprentices were straining, but unable to hear anything. When Cho backed up, she gave the room a long look and turned for the stairs.

Pan went to the board and began rearranging the pieces. When he finished, one of the Kroggian commanders was missing, as was the shadow magi. A commotion started in the room until Pan cleared his throat. The sound echoed in the room, amplified by his wind magic.

“As you’ve all seen, the shadow magi did as we thought she would— she managed to remove one of the commanders. Furthermore, she didn’t die. She left, critically injured, instead. She is no longer on the field. That delayed the attack on the magi, giving them one more turn to prepare defenses.”

“How did she manage to use her magic to get there, attack, and get away?” Jason asked. “The shadow magi do not have that much aether to work with.”

Pan turned to Jason. “She used a potion left by the alchemist before they left the board. That leaves a very limited supply of alchemical help left now.”

“Short boost, but in the right place at the right time, it can do what she did,” Ben added from where he was standing with the other instructors. “I’ve seen it in action.”

“Sir, what do you rate their odds of winning this?” Hayworth asked Ben.

Ben looked at Pan, who nodded. Ben moved closer to the board, looking over the units, then frowned. He shifted to the other side of the board and looked at a lone unit sitting by itself. He started to laugh before he shook his head. “Good. How many of you questioned this?” He motioned at the unit sitting in the heavy woods, just out of sight of the Kroggian force, but where they could watch the battle.

“A single unit is worthless right now,” Fureno snorted.

“And that makes me worry for your men,” Ben said icily. “Anyone?”

“We were told it was a light cavalry unit at half force,” Hayworth said.

“Did none of you question how an empire unit at half force could sit here so calmly?”

That question got frowns, questioning looks, and outright contempt.

When no one answered, Ben sighed. “There is a magi with this unit, a magi who isn’t showing themselves.”

“What?!” The question came from multiple people.

“He is correct,” Pan said. “I was told a magi who had removed their insignia was with the unit. None of you questioned it.”

Clover raised her hand, and Pan nodded to her. “It’s Jenn, sir. She is sitting there waiting for one of a few things to happen.”

“Do you know the conditions?” Pan asked.

“We strategized tactics for Krogga after the instructor’s battle,” Clover said. She was speaking slowly, clearly aware of everyone watching her. “She will advance if the Buldoun mercs cut down the Kroggians enough that she feels she can get a surprise rush on them. If they don’t do enough and the defenders fail, she will put her magi uniform back on and advance slowly with a flag raised.”

Pan blinked at her. “Single combat?”

“Yes, and she will ask to fight the commander under Kroggian law.”

“Physical enhancement against a Kroggian commander?” Pan looked thoughtful. “That is a very close fight.”

“She’ll ask to fight it in the arena, sir,” Clover said.

Pan stared at her before he laughed. “That is why the shadow magi assassinated Magi-killer.”

That got the room talking, and that intensified when Yukiko and Egil came downstairs. Yukiko took her seat beside Gregory with a smile, and Egil went to stand beside Pan.

“You’ve all been told. It was a daring move, one that caught myself and Magus Erichson off-guard. Not only did she manage to take out my commander, she was able to flee, critically wounded, but alive. The morale of Krogga fell from that attack. The next turn will see a lot of action.”