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

are contested, but not as hard as the ambassador posts. Then again, no magi under full magus rank has been given those posts. They normally go to master tier or higher magi.”

“That is true,” Dia nodded. “The merchant clans normally have a stranglehold on those posts. There are other options for postings, but as yours is still well over a year away, it isn’t time to worry about it now.”

“Yes, Dia,” they said together, bowing their heads to her.

“Breakfast,” Zenim announced, cutting off any more conversation.

~*~*~

“Already here,” Daciana said as she hurried over to where Gregory and his wives sat. “We have news.”

“About your day off?” Jenn asked as she finished making the large Magi Squares.

“No,” Daciana grinned as she fished out her medallion. “Ness and I are rank four, and Vicky is rank three.”

“That is good news,” Yukiko smiled. “Jenn hit rank four today, as well.”

Daciana grinned. “We all grow in power.”

“I hope to catch them, in time,” Victoria said, joining them, as Daciana had raced ahead of her and Nessa.

“You can,” Jenn said. “I’m still catching up to them. I hope the next rank will match us up.”

Victoria bowed her head. “I will hope and pray to Aether that he may hear me and bless me to be equal to my friends.”

“Do you pray to him often?” Yukiko asked.

“I’ve prayed to him and the Traveler for years,” Victoria said, taking her seat. “I always wanted to see different places, and being a magi was the easiest way for a small-town girl like myself to leave.”

“Yeah, it would be,” Gregory nodded.

“I never really hoped I’d be a magi until… last year,” she trailed off, then finished lamely.

“How was your day off?” Yukiko asked. “Did you see your families?”

“Dad and Mom were at Stabled Hunger,” Daciana smiled.

“Mother fussed and made us a wonderful meal,” Nessa said.

“They were very kind,” Victoria said. “Both of your parents are, as well, Daciana.”

“Are you ready for more sparring?” Gregory asked.

“Yes,” Daciana said, then looked around once she’d realized she was being louder than she should have been. “Sorry...” she said, seeing one of the archivists giving her a light glare.

“I think so,” Nessa said.

“They pair off with me, switching back and forth every day, to help me learn and to keep the others from thrashing me too badly,” Victoria said. “They’re both nearly the top in the class, as it is. It’s upset a few people with narrow minds.”

“Speaking of learning,” Gregory said, “on your days off, you need to go to the Watashi residence. Indara, Inda’s sister, will be there. You are to be there no later than midday. It would be eighth bell, but we told her you’ll visit your family.”

“Really?” Daciana asked, leaning forward, her tail wagging fast.

Gregory looked away. Her kimono had opened slightly at the top, giving him an unobstructed view. “Yes.”

“We can go there at eight,” Nessa said. “My parents would understand.”

“Three things you need to know,” Yukiko said. “The residence has seven children helping maintain it, and they will be treated with respect. Another is that they will do the Peaceful Fist meditation with you and might also start on unarmed training. Lastly, this doesn’t get told to anyone, not even your family.”

“Oh...” Nessa said before she nodded. “I’ll just tell them we have a tutor for training. That will be okay, right?”

“Yes, but not who or where,” Yukiko said. “This is treading a thin line.”

“We understand,” Daciana said.

Victoria glanced at Gregory before looking back at Yukiko. “We’ll keep it secret.”

“Good. Now, we have Magi Squares to do and books to study,” Yukiko said.

~*~*~

Arriving early to the tactics classroom, the three settled in.

“They were very excited,” Jenn grinned. “Especially Daciana.”

“Yes. She got a little exuberant,” Yukiko snickered. “Before we went upstairs, I did inform her to tighten her obi.”

Gregory’s cheeks heated slightly, as Yukiko’s words brought back the image of Daciana leaning forward. “Yeah... that could’ve been bad if it had happened with someone else.”

“She did say she hoped you were okay,” Yukiko added.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Gregory said, pushing the thought from his mind.

“It’s okay to look, remember, dear one,” Yukiko said softly, touching his leg.

“I didn’t mean to, and it isn’t if she’s not okay with it,” he said.

“That is a valid point,” Jenn agreed with him.

“Fair enough,” Yukiko conceded. “I don’t think she minded because it was you, but she was worried that you would be disgusted or upset with her.”

Gregory’s brow furrowed. “Why would I be?”

“You are unique, dear one,” Yukiko said, patting his knee.

“Because she’s even more eurtik than Yuki is, and you know how people view them,” Jenn said. “Not how you view them, but how they’re seen in general.”

“Oh... Yeah, no.” He shook his head. “I’m neither upset nor disgusted with her. I’m a little embarrassed for her, actually. I mean, I’ve messed up dressing before, and I would’ve been mortified if something similar had happened to me.”

Jenn nodded in agreement.

“Oh good, they’re here already,” Clover said, coming into the room with Ling behind her. “Can I ask you about the last game?”

Yukiko gave the fast-speaking woman a grin. “Of course, Clover. What did you want to know?”

“Why did you opt for the archers, and not two or even three conscripts?” Clover asked, going over to the other side of the room to get her things ready for class.

“Do you recall the board at the time?”

Ling spoke up. “Jenn had her army pulled up and ready for the attack, but they were mostly conscripts. The terrain was grasslands, and she had you outnumbered almost two to one.”

“Yes. Besides the magi guard unit, she had all conscripts,” Yukiko nodded.

“Should have taken the light cavalry,” Jenn