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

plans for things, but they are years in the future. I will hold the repayment until then.”

“Thank you for helping ease my worries,” Gregory said as he felt his face cool.

“I do want to help you, dear one, but please do not do this again. The tea house is fine, but not this meal... not until you are at least a magus.”

“Okay,” Gregory said. A memory touched him and he glanced at the corner with suspicion.

Rich laughter came from Darkness. “Yes. I stopped you from seeing this moment then. They were both trying so hard to build up the courage to ask you that I did not want it ruined by a glimpse of the future.”

“Oh, the glimpses that you denied him…?” Yukiko asked, knowing what Darkness meant.

“Yes. Honestly, it was better this way. It gave them both a chance to see the care and affection they had for each other without it being muddied by a vision.”

“It makes sense now,” Gregory sighed.

“Yes, and our time is over,” Darkness sighed. “You now know the truth. I wonder how you will act going forward?”

Jenn and Gregory shared a glance, both thinking about how things would change tomorrow. Yukiko smiled softly, watching them both until the room vanished.

Chapter Fifteen

 

Gregory groaned as he opened his eyes. His whole body ached, as if he’d been put through the worst physical exertion of his life, then had to do it again and again. Forcing his eyes open, he was seated at the table in his room, face pressed to the table. Both Yukiko and Jenn were still in their seats.

“Dia...” Gregory mumbled as he started to get up, his muscles protesting with every movement.

“Why didn’t you cut it? They are apprentices, Brown!” Dia’s irate voice was clear even through the door, and was coming closer. “If any of them are hurt, I will make sure you…!” The door opened abruptly and Dia trailed off after seeing the three of them. “Gregory, are you okay?”

“Not sure,” Gregory grunted as he leaned on the table. “I feel like Master Chen beat on me for a week straight.”

Dia’s lips thinned and she looked at Brown behind her before stepping into the room. “How are they?”

“Asleep still, I think.”

“Asleep?” Brown asked. “They should have just been meditative.”

“If they were a magus!” Dia snapped.

“Too much sleep root,” Gregory said, recalling what Darkness had told him.

Dia’s nostrils flared and she went over to Yukiko first. Checking her for a pulse, she moved to Jenn and did the same. Exhaling, she relaxed fractionally. “They are breathing fine, and their pulses are strong.”

“Then there is no problem,” Brown said from near the door.

“That remains to be seen,” Dia said tightly. “Is there a skilled healer in this town?”

“No,” Brown said. “The alchemist here is skilled, but they aren’t a magi.”

“They should be able to make what I want,” Dia said. She looked at Gregory. “Sit, please? I want to check you.”

Gregory grunted as he fell back into his seat. “Yes, Dia.”

Dia came over to him and began to gently feel his muscles, making Gregory hiss at times. When she touched his abdomen though, he sighed in relief, as her gentle prodding felt good. The relief on her face was pronounced when she removed her hands.

“You will be fine, thank Aether. Your aether tried to cycle through your body. A dedicated body path follower would not be as sore. It will pass, but you three will be staying here tomorrow. I will inform your instructors. No training of the body at all, understood?”

“Yes, Dia,” Gregory said, lowering his gaze. “I’m sorry. This is because I wanted to use a tea house.”

Dia touched his head gently, in an almost motherly way. “There is nothing wrong with wanting to make sure your path is true. Next time, wait for a tried and tested method.”

Gregory swallowed hard. The memory of his mother doing the same to him as a child surfaced in his mind. “Yes, Dia.”

“Brown, if they wake and are only sore, I will apologize for my words,” Dia said, heading toward the door and the cook. “If they are harmed beyond that, I will make sure the elder knows, and he will be most displeased.”

Brown blinked slowly, his face paling slightly. “I will go speak with the alchemist and bring back what you require, Dia.”

The two left the room, and Gregory looked toward the sleeping women. “Sorry, Yuki, Jenn. I should’ve just accepted it or waited until we returned to the academy. If either of you is hurt, it will be my fault...”

~*~*~

Gregory didn’t know how long he was sitting there with his worry eating at him, but when Yukiko groaned, he grabbed her hand. “Yuki?”

“Greg...? I feel like a wagon hit me, then rolled over me a few times,” Yukiko whimpered lightly.

“I know. Dia will be coming back with something to help. She was pissed at Brown... He didn’t cut the potency down for us. She was worried we’d been injured.”

“I feel injured,” Yukiko grunted as she sat upright and blinked slowly. “All of my muscles ache... How’s Jenn?”

“Sleeping, still,” Gregory said, looking toward the small, lightly snoring woman. “Dia said that things would be easier for us if we were focused just on the body path. It was our aether that was trying to cycle through us that made us feel like this.”

“But we do cycle our aether.”

“I think it was a matter of the volume and force. We were filled to bursting by the end of the meal. I feel a little drained now, though.”

Yukiko sat there for a few moments before nodding. “I feel similar.”

She looked at the door only a few seconds before it opened, revealing Dia. Dia smiled when she saw Yukiko awake, and went