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

“So there’s more of the armor?” Jenn asked slowly. “Yuki and I can both use it, as well...”

“If we can find them,” Yukiko said. “Maybe once we’re done with the academy, we can find more.”

“Maybe.”

“What about the medallion?” Jenn asked. “What do you plan on doing with it?”

“Hold onto it for now. It can be used for more than just an aether-refilling item, but I can’t remember what it does, and Darkness warned me against whatever it might be. I think I’ll eventually remember, or she’ll tell me in time.”

“Should we keep checking the archive today? Or should we move onto different subjects?” Jenn asked.

“Well, we have answers on the emblem. Seeing if we can find more places it’s at would be good,” Gregory said. “I’m going to keep looking into ryuite. I want to know why it reacts to me like it does. I’m sure there’s a myth there, at least.”

“That’s a good point,” Yukiko said. “We need to get going, unless we want to be late seeing our friends. They’re going to be excited today.”

“Oh, right, it’s been two weeks. They should be starting sparring today,” Jenn grinned.

“Daciana will be beside herself,” Gregory chuckled, thinking about Daciana’s tail wagging in excitement.

~*~*~

They greeted Rafiq when they arrived at the archive.

“Morning to you, Apprentices. Did you want a new topic of study?”

“Are there any myths or legends about how ryuite came to be?” Gregory asked.

Rafiq blinked at him before he said slowly, “I will have to check.”

“I’ll keep with my current book, if not.”

“Very well.”

“I’d like to see anything about what buildings have the same mark as the temple in Waterrock,” Yukiko said. “Where they are, and the history of each, please.”

“I’ll stick with my current book,” Jenn was quick to add.

“Very well. I will see what I can do. The books should be at the table above when you are ready.”

“Thank you,” they said together.

“Your friends are already here. They are very excited for today,” Rafiq said with a slight grin.

“Their first day of sparring should be today,” Gregory said. “Probably glad for something other than laps and stretching.”

“As long as they keep it down, it’s fine.”

“We’ll do our best to keep them quiet,” Yukiko said.

“Thank you.”

A minute later, they approached the novices, who were working on making Magi Squares of their own. Nessa looked up and smiled, being the first to see them.

“We came earlier than we intended,” Nessa said.

Daciana’s head snapped up and she turned to look at them. “We get to fight today!”

“Softer,” Yukiko told her gently. “The archive is a quiet place. We know how exciting it is to do more than run and stretch.”

Daciana nodded vigorously to Yukiko’s statement, and she did lower her voice, though it was still full of excitement, “Yes! Finally!”

Victoria looked uncertain, and Gregory patted her shoulder as he went to his seat. “I know how you feel. I was in that same place, or maybe even a little worse off than you are. If you drill and strive, you’ll do well. They were taught by a very good instructor.”

“Do you think she’d be willing to give us some more training?” Nessa asked.

“We will ask,” Yukiko said as she took her seat. “How is your studying going?”

“Slowly,” Daciana sighed. “I’m pushing through.”

Nessa gave Daciana a smile. “We know. You’ve been doing well.”

“I can give the ring back,” Victoria said.

“No,” Daciana said, shaking her head, “not until you catch up to us.”

“Equal partners?” Gregory smiled, glancing at Yukiko before looking back toward the novices.

“Yes,” Daciana said. “We’re following in the footsteps of our seniors.”

“You don’t have to be so exact in that. If you do, then one of you will end up just barely making it into the final eight,” Jenn said with a smirk.

“Good point,” Daciana said somberly. “We’ll do better, but still as equals.”

Jenn blinked, then snickered. “Well done.”

Daciana gave her a wolfish smile. “Thank you.”

“Let’s focus,” Yukiko giggled. “Studying is important.”

“Yes,” the three novices said together.

Chapter Thirty-two

When they arrived at their tactics class, they each took their seats and got their things ready to take notes. Others began to arrive in small groups. Even the clanless apprentices came together, using their numbers to avoid problems with the other apprentices.

“Pettit, Bean, Warlin, how are you today?”

All three of them were surprised to be greeted by Hayworth, but Gregory was the one to reply, “As good as could be expected. And you?”

“Well, I just had a question— have you three done something to antagonize Magus Harrison?”

“Us? No. One of our seniors did,” Gregory replied. “He’s had problems with Magus Bishop in the past.”

“And he’s being harder on you because of it,” Hayworth nodded. “I see.”

A lot of voices came from the doorway, and Hayworth’s lips thinned when he saw the Eternal Flame entering the room. “Sorry for bothering you,” he told them. “I hope you have a good day.”

“Thanks. You, too,” Gregory replied.

Behind the Eternal Flame, Egil and the magus instructors entered and shut the doors behind them.

“That was different,” Jenn murmured. “He didn’t even get a little snarky.”

“Yes,” Yukiko murmured, thinking about the question posed by Hayworth.

Once Egil reached the middle of the room, he addressed everyone, “Apprentices, I can see that the book learning is not having enough of an impact. I’ve been given leave by the council to teach as I see fit, which means we will be changing how this class is going to be conducted.”

All of the assistants looked shocked, and certain clan groups looked uncertain. Elkit cleared his throat, “Armsmaster Egil, surely you aren’t going to completely overturn tradition.”

“Completely? No. Drastically? Yes. This class is mandated for every