A New Light (The Astral Wanderer Book 1) by D'Artagnan Rey (mystery books to read TXT) 📕

Jazai responded where he still leaned back casually. “I’m not sure what it is yet, but the grand mistress took Devol up on his offer to help and somehow, we were roped into it.”

“So who will watch over us?” she questioned and studied the newcomer again.

Devol shrugged. “I don’t know anything about the mission yet. But you think we’ll go with someone?”

“That’s how it is usually done,” the apprentice explained. “I have been on a couple of missions, as has she, but we mostly shadow a real Templar or deal with the smaller objectives. For us, it’s another way to train.”

“Really?” The young Magi sounded dejected. “I hoped they would let us take care of it ourselves.”

“Even if they did,” Asla began, brought her knees up to her chest, and looked at the grass, “it would mean the mission isn’t all that important.”

“But it’s a mission for the Templars,” Devol pointed out. “Doesn’t that make it important by default?”

Jazai snickered and shrugged in an offhand way. “Technically, I guess so, but she did call it an ‘errand’ so it shouldn’t be all that big a deal.”

“You should take after your friend more, Jazai,” Nauru said from behind them as she, Wulfsun, Zier, Vaust, and the wolf wildkin man who had been training Asla before walked closer. “If you do not wish to participate in the mission, I’m sure your instructor would be more than happy to find chores for you to do to pass the time until they return.”

The apprentice pushed hastily to his feet and waved his hands frantically. “No, no! Nothing like that, madame! I’m merely saying that I don’t think this will be anything like a hunting mission or something that would require supervision.”

She nodded. “I see. You are right in a way. This is a retrieval mission, but that does not make it something to take lightly.” She looked at Devol as she ushered the wolf wildkin forward. “First, a quick introduction. Devol, this is Freki Remus, Asla’s mentor in the order.”

The boy hurried closer and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Remus!” he said enthusiastically.

Freki nodded with a small smile. “Pleasure, little pup. It is good to see another young Magi interested in the order.”

“It has been fun so far,” he replied and looked at Jazai and Asla, then at Zier and Freki. “So you both have mentors, huh?”

“Most recruits have high-ranking Templars to show them the ropes for a while,” Wulfsun explained. “Not for too long as most come to us with at least decent experience. But Asla’s and Jazai’s circumstances are unique.”

“I’m sure we can find you one, should you request it,” Nauru offered. “But for now, I would like the three of you to take a few days to get well-acquainted. The others and I will go over the specifics of the mission, and we will fill you in soon. But it is important to begin building a rapport with one another as you will rely on each other’s skills and mutual trust for success.”

“So we will be going alone?” Asla asked and almost spooked Devol when she stepped beside him, having reached his side without a sound.

The grand mistress glanced at Vaust and Wulfsun before she turned to the youngsters and nodded. “Yes, we believe it will benefit the mission and allow you to have your first taste of responsibility within the order.”

“I guess you got thrown into the deep end early, Devol,” Jazai remarked as he elbowed him in the shoulder.

“It’s all right. I’m ready,” he assured him and gave him a thumbs-up. “I only hope it isn’t too easy.”

“I suppose that all depends on you,” Nauru responded cryptically and turned away. “For now, use the time to train together. I’ll send Wulfsun this evening to show you to your quarters, Devol.”

“Right. Thanks, Miss Nauru!” he called as she and the other Templars began to disappear into the woodland beyond the edges of the arena.

The three watched them for a moment. Asla stretched her arms before she spun and stepped a few paces away from them. “All right. Should we begin?”

“Going directly into a sparring match?” Jazai asked and rolled his eyes. “Devol just finished a bout against Wulfsun. I don’t think he can show you what he’s got right now.”

“Then you and I will train,” she replied, held her hands up, and revealed sharp nails. “That is what the grand mistress desires, correct?”

“She wanted us to get to know each other,” the apprentice retorted and folded his arms. “There are other ways to do that besides fighting.”

“It is the most direct method,” Asla replied, although Devol suspected from her tone that she said this out of defensiveness rather than philosophy.

“Are you bitter that I won our last fight?” Jazai asked with a smirk.

The wildkin bristled at the comment and her eyes narrowed. “And I won the four before that,” she countered, her gaze challenging. “Besides, that was only due to your use of tricks.”

The apprentice threw his hands dismissively. “Yeah, I’m a Magi as technically, we all are. My skills are better suited to cantrips and information gathering. Not brawn.”

“Are you good with cantrips, Jazai?” Devol asked and pointed his thumb at himself. “I can only do a couple. I trained mostly in swordplay and Vis.”

“I gathered that much.” The other boy nodded. “Yeah, I never got into a martial art of any kind. I focused on increasing my Mana control and learning cantrips. I can perform about fifty of them.”

“Fifty?” He yelped in astonishment. “My mom can do about that many and she has studied almost all of her life.”

“Well, that’s still impressive if she isn’t an adventurer of any kind,” Jazai responded as he held a hand out and extended his fingers. “My old man travels often, and he works in the services of not only the order but also the academy at home. His majestic isn’t great for direct confrontation, so he either had to learn a Mana or martial art. He learned all