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

Dia smiled. “You must have spoken to some of them. How did they take being invited?”

“Very excited,” Gregory replied. “They sent replies back, they said.”

“We received them, but a small note doesn’t convey emotions.”

“We’ll go get our baths now so we’re ready for dinner,” Jenn said.

“I’d ask you to wait,” Dia said. “Go ahead and study or meditate for the hour.”

“Very well,” Yukiko said. “We will see you in the bath?”

“Of course.”

“Resonance?” Gregory asked as they entered the clan hall.

“Yes. Meditation seems best,” Yukiko said. “I believe our bath is going to be full.”

“Yeah, I thought that, too,” Jenn agreed.

“Ah, you think Dia will bring the novices to bathe?”

“Yes. It makes sure that they understand part of how the clan operates, and it will help them feel like they’re a part of it already.”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought about that second part,” Jenn said, “but yeah, I see it now.”

“Being included in a clan activity that can be shrugged off as proper etiquette...” Gregory nodded. “I get it. Daciana will probably be beside herself,” he chuckled, imagining the excitable woman being asked to join them.

“She won’t be the only one,” Yukiko said. “All three of them will be. Daciana will just be the most vocal of them.”

“You’re right on that,” Jenn laughed.

~*~*~

Gregory sat in his aether cavern, doing a Magi Square with his aether flame, as he let the feeling of resonance strengthen around him. He knew it was almost time for them to stop and go bathe when something different happened. He felt a tingling sensation on the edge of his perception— he wasn’t sure how to describe it, maybe like a small tap of a finger on a desk?

Letting the flame go back to its natural state, he focused on the feeling. His mind gave him the impression of Yukiko to his left, where the sensation was coming from. A heartbeat later, he felt the same from his right where Jenn sat. With a smile, he knew that his resonance now stretched a little over a foot away from his body.

The soft knock on the door came just before Velma’s voice, “Apprentices, it is time for the bath.”

The cavern vanished, but the lingering sense of Yukiko and Jenn beside him stayed as he looked at the door. “We’ll be right down.”

“I can feel you...” Yukiko whispered happily, her eyes still closed.

“Me, too,” Jenn added. “A tingle on my senses.”

“Mine feels like a soft chord of music,” Yukiko said.

“A tap of a finger on a desk,” Gregory said. “I feel both of you.”

Both of his wives opened their eyes and gave him a smile.

“Maybe later, you can do that,” Yukiko smirked as she rose gracefully to her feet.

“Oh, I’d like that,” Jenn nodded, standing beside her, “but wouldn’t that be us feeling him?”

“Oh, but he’d feel us both feeling him,” Yukiko giggled.

“True.”

“And now, I’ll need a cold bath,” Gregory snorted.

“We’ll stop,” Jenn said.

“Yes… that would be awkward for him to explain,” Yukiko agreed.

“I believe you’ll both be in the bath longer than me, so I’ll see you at the table,” Gregory said, snagging both their arms and gently pulling them back to give them a quick kiss.

“That will likely be the case,” Yukiko said.

“I’m sure it will be,” Jenn said. “Let’s go. I want to see their faces when they come to bathe.”

Gregory watched them both go and smiled after them. I’m a very lucky man, even if I do feel like they enjoy teasing me at times.

When he entered the changing room, he found a handful of baskets already in use. He didn’t waste any time stripping down, but it did take him a moment longer, as he’d forgotten he was still wearing his bracer. He was almost done when Lightshield entered the room.

“How are you, Elder?” Gregory asked.

“I am fine. Thank you for asking. I was glad you did not come back via the postern. There was a crowd there for most of the day.”

“A crowd?”

“Yes, because of me. An elder having to do gate duty was enough to warrant a lot of attention. I did lose some reputation for the clan, but I am confident that by the end of the tournament, that loss will have been erased.”

“We will do our best, Elder.”

“I have no doubts,” Lightshield said. “If you will give me a moment to change, I could use an arm into the bathing room.”

“I will wait, sir.”

It took a little while, but soon enough, Gregory was helping Lightshield into the next room. Gin and the other staff, except for Ravol, were already in the tub.

“Where’s Ravol?” Gregory asked.

“Cooking,” Steva replied. “He was in here just before we were. I was handling prep while he bathed, and now, he’s getting it all cooked while we bathe.”

“Huh... I never thought about how that worked for the cooks,” Gregory said, helping Lightshield onto the stone bench for washing. “There you go, sir.”

“Thank you. It pains me to be this weak with the clan starting to grow again. My successor will have their work cut out for them, as our enemies will surely try to push us when I die.”

“I’m sure your successor will do you proud, sir.”

“Yes, you are right. I have full confidence in them, but it will not be pleasant in the least.”

“Did all the guests make it, Elder?” Gin asked.

“Yes, I greeted all of them. The dining room will be a lively place tonight.” A faint smile touched Lightshield’s lips. “A very lively place.”

“That’s good,” Gregory said.

“Oh, I agree,” Lightshield said.

“We need to get going and make sure everything else is in place,” Quilet said, pulling himself out of the water.

“Yeah,” Steva said.

“True enough...” Zenim sighed.

“See