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

“And we will be there to see your fights,” Yukiko smiled.

With goodbyes said, the trio separated from the others. Yukiko waited for them to be out of earshot before she asked, “Okay, dear one, what did you have in mind? I know you’ve been thinking something over for a couple of days now.”

“You don’t really use your shadow leap ring anymore, do you?” Gregory asked.

“If the fights drain us, I might need it, but no, I haven’t used it since the last tournament.”

“Hmm... I was wondering if I can take it and try to use it.”

Yukiko just stared at him for a bit.

“Why hesitate?” Jenn asked when Yukiko didn’t answer right away.

“Hemet sold us the ring. He said that only a shadow magi could use it.”

“Have you tested that?” Jenn asked.

“No, but we might as well try,” Yukiko said, pulling her ring off and holding it out to Jenn. “Go ahead.”

Jenn put the ring on and it shrunk down to fit her hand. “Use it like all the others?”

“Yes.”

The interior of the carriage was shadowed with only the lights outside the windows to provide illumination. Jenn looked at the seat across from them and willed herself to move to it. A few seconds ticked by, and she shook her head.

“We have the answer,” Yukiko said, taking the ring back when offered and passing it to Gregory. “You think you can make it work?”

“I don’t know, but I want to try,” Gregory said. “Darkness told me that eventually, I’ll be able to manipulate aether... I wonder if I can at least fool your ring into letting me use it.”

“If you could, it would be something no one would suspect,” Jenn said. “And with your skill with the naginata… potentially devastating.”

“That was my thought, if it works. It might not,” Gregory replied as he stripped off his glove and slipped the ring on.

Both women watched him as he sat there, waiting to see if it worked or not.

Gregory frowned— he felt something, but it slipped away from him. He pushed his mind and aether after it, but the feeling was gone.

“Greg?” Yukiko asked.

Sighing, he pulled the ring off and handed it back to her. “I thought I felt something for a moment, but then it was gone and I couldn’t find it again.” He tugged his glove back on. “Maybe when we reach the initiate tier, it’ll work. There might be something else to it... Why does it only work for shadow magi and not all magi? I don’t recall the enchanting book we’d read talking about those limitations.”

“Maybe those books are for more advanced magi?” Jenn suggested. “We could ask Murium. There might be a book in the clan archive. If not, we can ask Rafiq.”

Gregory sighed. “That was what I’d been thinking about. I had high hopes for it. I thought I could practice with it so we could use it during the tournament.”

“It was a good thought, and we’ll have to try again when we advance,” Yukiko said, sliding the ring back on her finger.

“Yeah,” Gregory agreed, sighing again.

“We have more time tonight than we’ve had in a while, and we’ve been missing most of our training,” Jenn said. “Peaceful Fist when we get to the clan hall, and then resonance training before bed?”

“That’s a good plan,” Yukiko agreed. “We might even retire a little early tonight, too.”

“Yes. To bed early,” Jenn grinned back at Yukiko.

“And maybe even sleep at a regular hour,” Gregory chuckled.

“Perhaps...” Yukiko murmured, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

Chapter Sixty-five

 

“Good morning, Elder,” Gregory said, “Dia, Bishop, and Quilet.”

“Good morning to you three,” Lightshield smiled. “You will be in the main arena for all three of your fights today. The first, tenth, and twelfth fights will be yours.”

“We’d been planning on being there to see the schedule,” Yukiko chuckled.

“You can still go after you study and get your other training in,” Lightshield replied. “We have hindered your training enough over the last three days. Your seats, as well as seats for your parents, will be kept beside Bishop in the stands.”

“Thank you, Elder,” they said together.

“You will also be interested to know that on the last day of the tournament, both Bishop and Dia will be putting on demonstrations of their magics. I am sure something of note will happen today, too.”

Gregory shook his head. “Elder, how far can you see?”

“Two miles, if it is a clear day,” Lightshield replied with a hint of a smile. Seeing the blank expressions, he laughed lightly. “Without strain, I can check a few days into the future, but that is only the most likely path. To check the other probabilities, it takes more out of me. The further into the future I peer, the more aether it takes, and the more it strains my mind. If I had followed the mind path, it might not be as bad, but I followed my grandfather’s path, instead.”

“I can only see a few minutes into the future,” Gregory said. “Is it wholly dependent on aether?”

“Not wholly,” Lightshield replied, “though all magic is easier when you have more aether.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I have breakfast ready, if that’s okay?” Quilet announced.

“Please serve us, Quilet,” Lightshield told the otter eurtik. “And yes, I will get bets placed for you and the others. I am sure a few in the academy box will wish to see them fail.”

“You won’t be in the stands with us, Elder?” Jenn asked as Quilet stood motionless in the kitchen, clearly surprised at Lightshield’s offer.

“I have been requested in the main box for today. I will not be the only head of a clan there today, either.”

“Shun,” Gregory said on reflex.

“Grandmaster Shun is one of those who will be present, along with the