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

bowing to her. By the time he’d straightened up, Nessa was already leaving the arena floor, and Walun sighed. “I didn’t get to ask her to introduce me to her friend.”

Mindie shook her head. “You can approach her yourself later. Go see the healers now.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Walun said, making his way to the other exit.

Nessa gave Daciana a hug when she found her friend already in the waiting room. “Your turn.”

“Yes. I’ll be facing Vicky tomorrow.”

“Don’t treat him lightly,” Nessa told her seriously. “He’s going to be a hard fight.”

“I’m ready for what he can do,” Daciana replied.

“Like I was for the fire?” Nessa asked.

Daciana hesitated. “I’ll be careful and attentive.”

“Okay. I’ll be waiting for you in the tunnel.”

“We’ll both be in the boxes for Vicky’s fight,” Daciana said. “They have her going last.”

“Yeah, and after that, we’ll head to dinner, since our friends already had their fights.”

“The only one even remotely challenging for them was the first one. I don’t know why Greg went alone into the last fight. I want to ask him.”

“And we will,” Nessa said. “Just focus on your fight for now.”

Daciana kicked one booted foot against the other. “I’m not sure these will help much, not like your gloves.”

“I’d give them to you, but the enchantment is exhausted.”

“Lyall, it’s time,” Mindie called down to them.

Nessa hugged her friend again. “Go on. I’ll be here.”

Daciana was wearing a grin as she walked up the stairs.

Mindie fell into step beside her, wondering if she should tell Daciana about Walun’s interest. Shaking her head minutely, she kept silent— she didn’t want to be the cause of a loss.

The magus leaving the arena floor paused in the hall as the two of them approached. “Novice Lyall, I’m Magus Anita Alon of the Saito clan. I’d like to speak with you later, if possible.”

Daciana bowed to the magus. “I’m sorry, honored Magus, but I have a clan I will be joining already.”

“A pity. Very well. Have a good match,” Alon said before she continued on her way.

“She shouldn’t have stopped you before your fight,” Mindie said softly.

“They all want me now that I’m here,” Daciana barked a laugh, “but my goal is already set. I won’t deviate from it.”

“You mean to join Aether’s Guard? I’ve seen you in the stands when they trained.”

“Yes. Greg is there… as are my other friends,” Daciana quickly added on the second part.

Mindie’s eyebrows went up and stayed there even when Daciana hastily added the addendum. “He already has two wives,” she said a little primly.

“Then a third will be fine,” Daciana grinned. She inhaled sharply, and her smile grew. “Or more, if they’re good enough.”

Mindie’s face started to heat, but Daciana left her standing there. “But… I’m…!” Mindie said to no one, clearly flustered.

Daciana heard the muttered comments and her grin got wider as she waved to the cheering crowd. She looked toward where Aether’s Guard sat and her smile sharpened. She had a goal, and this was just the first step.

The crowd grew louder and Daciana looked at the other tunnel where Franklin Buddiz was. Buddiz gave her a nod as he crossed the arena. He’d dismissed her because of her heritage before, but after her display of martial and aether prowess, he had to respect her.

When they came to a stop before Yunlo, he nodded. “You know the rules. Turn to the box and bow.”

Exhaling slowly, Daciana triggered her new boots. The brown leather had subtle feather images imprinted on them, but they couldn’t be seen unless you had your nose nearly pressed to them. She didn’t know what tricks Buddiz might have, but she doubted he was ready for hers.

“Fight!” Yunlo thundered.

The crowd yelled in anticipation, having been eager for this fight. Daciana dashed forward, her feet gliding over the ground. Buddiz grimaced and ran backward, his hands claws as he jerked them from his waist to his chest. Daciana had known he’d have to do something to stop her, so when he moved, she triggered the last few seconds of her aether barrier.

The crowd went crazy when they saw the sudden onslaught of dozens of hard-packed earth balls come flying from all around Daciana. The fervor grew when they saw the barrier spring up at the same moment. Buddiz had been backpedaling the entire time the barrage happened, and his lips twisted in anger when Daciana kept coming.

“Fine, you did this!” Buddiz snapped when he saw the barrier fall.

Daciana felt a spike of fear in her gut as Buddiz fell to his knees and threw both hands up. That fear was justified as twin spikes of earth shot up from the ground. A second of recognition was all anyone got before the impossible happened.

Daciana’s foot came down on one of those spikes when it came up, but instead of impaling her as it should have, she rose into the air with it. The second spike, that was a half-step behind her, missed her entirely. She leapt forward, airborne and with her fist pulled back, wearing a snarl of fury as she came down at Buddiz.

Face slack in surprise and fear, Buddiz never even got his hands up before she came down on him. Her fist hit him in the jaw and she plowed into the rest of him a second later, driving them both into the ground.

“Break!” Yunlo shouted. “Healers!”

Daciana whimpered slightly as she pushed herself off Buddiz. Her right hand ached like she’d hit a wall, and her ribs were tight. Staggering to her feet, she stepped back a little unsteadily. Klim and Mindie were already sprinting for them.

Yunlo was beside Buddiz a moment later and exhaled when he saw him still breathing, if with difficulty. He stepped aside as Klim reached the novice. The crowd