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

“Archers against conscripts are like a scythe to wheat,” Yukiko said. “The range against and the damage to conscripts who are at most lightly armored is impressive. On an open field, I knew I could cut her forces down to be an even match, and had set mine to defend the archers, giving them even more time to work.”

Clover nodded slowly. “So instead of trying to match her numbers, you hoped she didn’t have a counter to the archers.”

“Yes. If she had a light cavalry in reserve, hiding from my scouts, I would’ve gotten butchered.”

“I knew it was going to be a loss,” Jenn said. “I kept the attack going to prove the point that it isn’t numbers, but correctly applied force in the right places that can win the battle.”

“And you did it correctly,” Paul said, entering the room. “Today, we will have Clover playing against Chucky. Gregory, you will advise Clover, and Jenn will advise Chucky.”

“Excuse me, sir?” a rough voice asked from behind Paul. “I come from dormitory Keeper Clau. Apprentice Smitty is sick today. He’s being seen to, but will not be here for today’s lesson.”

“Jenn, you will advise Ling,” Paul said. “Thank the keeper for me,” he told the man at the door. “Let Chucky know that he missed his first game and that we will see him tomorrow.”

“Yes, Magus,” the man bowed before slipping away.

Paul shut the door to the room. “I want to see what you’ve learned today, Apprentices. I also want to see if the more advanced apprentices can teach those under them. Set the board; empire, land type is light forest. Clover gets earth magi, and Ling gets water magi.”

“Yes, sir,” everyone said, moving to get things ready.

Chapter Thirty-four

Another week came and went. They stuck to their routine and felt like they were making progress with their training.

“They should be here shortly,” Gregory said, looking toward the front of the archive.

“I wonder how Victoria did with Indara,” Yukiko said questioningly.

Daciana was a few paces ahead of the others as they came into view of the table. She had a large grin on her face and was bounding their way. “Thank you!” she said, bending down to hug Jenn from behind.

Jenn blinked, caught by surprise. She didn’t have time to object or even say anything before Daciana let her go, went around the foot of the table, and hugged Yukiko. Yukiko chuckled as she patted Daciana’s arms.

“Glad to hear you had a good day off,” Yukiko said.

Daciana went from Yukiko to Gregory. She hesitated for a moment before giving him a very brief hug. Her cheeks were tinged with color when she let go of him. “We did.”

“We did, indeed,” Nessa said as she got to the table with Victoria beside her. “Thank you from us, as well.”

Jenn shifted in place so she could see them. “You’re welcome.”

Victoria glanced from Daciana to Jenn. “Are hugs acceptable?”

Jenn shrugged. “I don’t mind, though I do prefer to know I’m getting a hug before it happens.”

Daciana’s cheeks heated more. “Sorry, Jenn.”

“It’s fine,” Jenn said as she gave Nessa, then Victoria, brief hugs, “but you should always make sure it’s okay before grabbing someone.”

“I understand,” Daciana nodded, going to sit beside Jenn. “I’ll do better.”

“Good.”

Nessa and Victoria went around the table to give Yukiko hugs, then approached Gregory. When they hesitated to hug him, he gave them an awkward smile.

“You don’t have to,” Gregory said. “It’s fine.”

Nessa swallowed, but she gave him a quick hug before she moved to sit beside Yukiko. “I just wasn’t sure you were okay with it,” Nessa said, her cheeks red.

“I’m fine,” Gregory told her.

Victoria hugged him— not as briefly as the other two did, but equal to how she’d hugged Jenn and Yukiko. “It was a difficult day, but it was good. Thank you, Greg, and you both, as well, Jenn, Yuki.” When she let him go, she went to sit at the other end of the table, wearing a smile on her lips as her cheeks lightly dusted with color.

Gregory was surprised by her more forceful hug after the two quick ones, but he wrote it off as her being more comfortable with him, since they were both from the fringe. “Tell us how it went.”

“We had an early lunch with our parents and told them about our chance to have personal training,” Nessa began. “They were sad that we’d miss seeing them so much during our days off, but they accepted that it would help us.”

“Dad was being difficult until Mom stopped him,” Daciana said stiffly. “Kept asking who and where. After I repeated for the third time that I couldn’t tell him, she slapped him down for me.” Seeing their expressions, she waved a hand. “It’s okay, he always does that. He’ll leave it alone now that Mom told him to.”

“Which is good,” Nessa said. “We were greeted by Elsa,” Nessa smiled softly. “She was very formal and gracious in accepting us.”

“The other children are precious, too,” Victoria added. “They were happy to have us there to practice with.”

“Indara led us through the Peaceful Fist. The children were doing it, too,” Nessa went on. “When the meditation came to an end, she made the children step back and had us show her what we could do.”

“I was a failure,” Victoria sighed, “but I didn’t give up until she told me to stop.”

“She was glad that Daciana and I didn’t slack in our training,” Nessa said. “And Victoria is wrong. Indara didn’t call her a failure. She was actually surprised that she knew how to fall correctly.”

“The only thing I could do,” Victoria sighed again.

“She had Daciana and I take turns sparring with Victoria. She stopped us and walked