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

would have done the same. I had faith that I could stay away long enough for them to give you trouble. If they gave you enough trouble, she would go back to help you, allowing me to hinder her again.”

Gregory was about to say more when Bishop snorted. “We’ll talk after. Right now, we end the fight.” With that said, she charged him.

Gin was behind her and a few steps to the left while Inda went to the right, effectively hemming Gregory in.

The fight didn’t last much longer, as it had taken Gregory everything he had to keep Gin and Bishop at bay. With Inda added in, he couldn’t keep their blades away long enough. His left arm was nicked, then his right leg in quick succession. When he dropped to one knee, all three came in and hit him. Gregory managed to land a blow to Gin’s leading leg, but he knew it wasn’t enough to stop him from losing.

“Pettit, eliminated!” Indara announced. “Match over.”

“That was brutal,” Gregory said.

“Yes, but there were lessons there,” Gin said.

“You controlled the battlefield,” Yukiko said. “All we did was respond to what you did. We didn’t act on our own.”

“Yes. Any of you could have acted and forced us to change our tactics.”

“We were badly outclassed,” Jenn added. “While Yukiko or I might be able to hold Inda off, either of us doing so with you or Bishop is exponentially harder. Gregory can match either of you, but together, he’s stopped. There will be times that we’re far outclassed like this, so this was a good reminder of that.”

“You will hardly be without aether in combat unless something has gone dreadfully wrong,” Bishop pointed out. “What could you have done to prolong or even cost us a fighter?”

“Both of us should have gone for Inda,” Yukiko said. “Jenn and I working together might have been able to take her before Gregory lost to you both.”

“We could have fought dirty,” Jenn added. “Some sand to the eyes might have been enough to help turn things.”

“In war, there is no fighting dirty. There is only living,” Gin told them. “In a sparring match, it would be viewed badly. During a tournament, it would be allowed, but that might cause some anger in your foes.”

“Jenn and I could have switched,” Gregory said. “I could have taken Inda, which would have let me turn to help against Bishop. It might have cost Jenn to do it, but I’m sure I could have taken Inda out first. Even with Inda’s natural speed, I have reach on her.”

“All good answers,” Gin nodded. “Now, we will fight one more time before we stop for magic training.”

~*~*~

Sitting between Yukiko and Jenn, Gregory exhaled slowly. “Today was difficult...”

“Yes,” Yukiko agreed. “Between the children and training, it’s been taxing.”

“Bishop is harder than Chen,” Jenn said. “She’s intent on pushing me, for which I’m grateful.”

“What was it that Inda had you trying today, Yuki?” Gregory asked. “I only caught snippets of it.”

“She has me working on refining my shaped shadows,” Yukiko replied. “It’s a step toward the next magic she wants me to learn, but my shaping has been rough, which isn’t enough.”

“Bishop just drilled me on using my aether to take attacks,” Jenn said.

“Yeah, I watched most of that,” Gregory agreed. “Umm... before we go to bed, if you’re both willing to help me, I want to try something.”

“Of course, dear one,” Yukiko purred.

“Anything,” Jenn smirked.

“Not like that,” Gregory snorted. “I want to test something involving my gloves and boots.”

“Ah, disappointing,” Yukiko giggled.

“Agreed,” Jenn nodded.

“You both know we’ll be getting to that when we go to bed,” Gregory snorted. “I want to test my gloves and boots to verify that they’re doing what I think they are.”

“Oh, yes, that’s a good idea,” Yukiko said. “How did you want to do it?”

“I want Jenn to hit my forearm with her full strength,” Gregory said.

Jenn nodded slowly. “Aether-fueled?”

“First without; then with aether, but not flaming; then flaming,” Gregory said.

“Okay,” Jenn said, shifting to face him.

Gregory brought his arms up, crossing them over his chest. “Do it.”

The first blow didn’t hurt at all, and he nodded. Jenn inhaled before she lashed out again, her fist nearly blurred as it slammed into his arms. When he smiled and nodded, she wreathed her arm in flame and hit him a third time. When her fist connected, the aether at the point of impact winked out.

“That is amazing,” Jenn said, staring at his arms.

“Now, Yuki, bind my arms and legs, please,” Gregory said, turning to face her.

Yukiko nodded slowly and, a second later, the combined shadows of all three of them latched onto Gregory’s limbs from his elbow to his hands and his calves to his feet.

Gregory moved slightly, and the shadows fell away from him as if they weren’t holding him at all.

Yukiko shook her head. “That’s wrong, though. I’ve tripped you before, even with the boots on.”

“I didn’t think of this, then,” Gregory said. “Bind my legs again?”

When Yukiko did so, Gregory tried to move his leg. It didn’t budge for a second, but then it was free again.

“I have to think of resisting the aether. Every time I’ve used them before, I’d been focused on not being injured by the attacks. I think intent matters.”

“That would explain things,” Yukiko said. “They obviously only work where they cover. I can vividly recall your arm being badly injured by a force shield.”

“Yeah, the gloves stop short of my elbows. That cut my bicep.”

“We need to keep that as secret as we can,” Jenn said softly. “Even the council would want them if they knew about them.”

“Agreed,” Yukiko nodded.

Chapter Thirty

 

“Good morning, Apprentices,” Rafiq smiled. “How was your