Magi's Path (Aether's Revival Book 3) by Daniel Schinhofen (motivational books to read txt) 📕

They themselves will be the worst of it, but you must still be ready for anything in every other fight. They will not be the only ones intent on stopping you, only the worst of them.”

“Understood.”

“Sadly, it is time for me to go. I will see you again soon,” Darkness said.

“The solstice,” Gregory smiled, already figuring out her meaning.

Delighted laughter came from the void. “Indeed, dear one, when forced growth is natural. I will be happy to speak with you then, as well. Until then, go. There is family to see and friends who need your support.”

“I’ll go,” Gregory said, “but there’s something I must do. Something I will try every time I see you and am not distracted by our wives.”

“Yes,” Darkness purred happily as he launched himself into the shadows to get to her.

~*~*~

Gregory smiled at his wives as they all got dressed. “Seventh rank... I believe that we’ll make quite the impression on our peers when they find out.”

“Indeed, we will,” Jenn grinned.

“Sadly, we can’t keep it a secret until the tournament,” Yukiko sighed. “We’ll have to show our medallions when we leave and come back.”

“Right.” Jenn gave a similar sigh. “Too bad. It would have been nice to shock them.”

“If wishes were horses,” Gregory said.

“We’d all own a stable,” Jenn finished for him.

“Breakfast, study, Peaceful Fist with the children and our friends, then off to see my parents?” Yukiko asked.

“That sounds right to me,” Gregory said.

They made it down to breakfast and saw Dia and Bishop talking while Quilet cooked. “Morning Dia, Bishop, Quilet,” Gregory greeted them.

“Good morning to you three,” Dia smiled. “Oh, Gregory, we got word last night that the items you wanted are ready for you to pick up.”

He smiled. “Thank you, Dia.”

Jenn and Yukiko gave Gregory piercing looks before sharing a glance. “He set something up and kept it from us, Yuki. I’m mildly impressed.”

“As am I. Well done, dear one.”

Gregory chuckled. “Thanks.”

“What are your plans for today?” Bishop asked.

“Studying, seeing the children at Gin’s, then it was supposed to be spending some time with my parents,” Yukiko said. “I think there will be another stop before returning here.”

“A brief one, yes,” Gregory agreed.

“You won’t be training with your friends?” Bishop asked.

“Not today. I want to spend as much of today as I can with my parents,” Yukiko said.

“We’ll let Indara know when she wakes,” Dia said. “She was uncertain if you would or not.”

“We’ll be doing the Peaceful Fist with the children and them, but not sparring,” Jenn clarified.

“Hmm... we will let her know she can spend a little more time here, then,” Dia said.

“Breakfast is ready,” Quilet said, coming over with food. “It’ll be nice to start cooking for even more people after the tournament. The five of us have felt a little superfluous at times.”

Dia gave Quilet a grin. “A half year for all of them, then back to three again, but don’t worry. There will be more after them. In time, we’ll have to hire even more to help us care for all the new members.”

“We’ll be happy to care for as many as the clan wishes us to,” Quilet said.

“I hope you don’t regret those words later,” Dia chuckled. “I believe that before a decade passes, this hall will be full again.”

“That would be good,” Gregory said. “It’ll mean people are ready to believe again.”

“It will start in the next year or two,” Dia said, “when it’s shown that our novices and apprentices are some of the most advanced the academy has ever produced.”

Yukiko coughed lightly and pulled her medallion out. “Because of things like this?”

Bishop’s eyebrows went up. “Seventh rank? Before the tournament? I’m not sure that’s been done before.”

“Hmm... I’d ask Lightshield, but he isn’t here,” Dia said.

“The elder left?” Jenn asked.

“He had to take care of a debt, he said,” Dia replied. “Now, let’s eat before the food grows cold.”

~*~*~

“We got letters!” Daciana said excitedly, keeping her voice down as she reached the table. “Letters from Elder Lightshield.”

Gregory grinned at her. “What did they say?”

“He’s invited us to come speak with him tonight after sunset about joining the clan.”

“We all got one,” Nessa smiled as she reached the table. “We’ve sent back word that we will be there.”

“Uhm...” Victoria looked uncertain. “Will you all be there, too?”

“We should be back around that time,” Yukiko said. “Though it will depend on when dinner ends tonight with my parents.”

“Can you ask my father if he or my mother will be here for the tournament?” Nessa asked her.

“And mine?” Daciana added quickly.

“Daciana, I don’t think wild horses would keep your father from being there to cheer you on,” Jenn said.

Daciana grinned. “Probably, but I’d like to know for certain.”

“If I see your father, I’ll ask him, Daciana. Nessa, I’d be happy to ask yours. I do wonder… I’ve only seen him and your mother, so who would run the place if they went to the tournament?”

“My aunt could fill in for my mother,” Nessa said. “I don’t know about Father, though.”

Gregory could see the sadness in Victoria’s eyes. “My father didn’t make it until the second tournament, and only because Yuki went well beyond what I could ever ask for to arrange it. Your friends, including us, will be there to support you.”

Victoria’s head snapped up and she met his green eyes before looking away, her cheeks lightly dusted pink. “You’ll be there?”

“We all will,” Yukiko said. “We’ve planned on it since the year began.”

“Friends support each other,” Jenn nodded.

“We have to win all our fights,” Daciana said. “Greg went undefeated, and Yukiko and Jenn only lost a single fight each. Jenn might even have won everything if she