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

Jenn slipped the ring off and looked at it. On the inside was the same emblem of Aether’s temple, modified just as Gregory knew it would be. “Greg was right.”

“Yes. The ring belonged to one of his wives,” Darkness said, a hint of melancholy in her voice. “I can still recall the sadness you felt when she passed, dear one.” With a small sniffle, Darkness cleared her throat. “But now, one of your wives has it again, and that is good. Hemet was far wrong about its capacity, but you should do your best to never have it charged over what a magus could store until you reach an equal power. It would make sages demand it if they knew what it could hold. Toja would wish to possess it if it became known.”

The three of them looked at the ring on Jenn’s hand with respect and a bit of trepidation.

“The same is true of the medallion, but magnified a great deal more. Toja knows that items like it exist, and he has a couple that he guards jealously. He would come himself to take it from you.”

The three of them felt fear begin to creep into their hearts.

“It is not that bad. As long as you do not use it in front of others, there will be nothing to warn him of it. No one in the clan would whisper a word of it, either. It is as safe as it could be here.”

“That makes me breathe a little easier,” Gregory exhaled as his fear faded.

“I do not wish to make you afraid, but you should know the dangers,” Darkness said. “Now that I have answered your questions, we can move onto the other part of this.”

“Yes, we can,” Yukiko said as she pressed into Gregory’s side. “Dear one, will you let us pleasure you?”

Gregory blinked slowly, then recalled when he and Yuki had done similar with Darkness watching in the corner before. Swallowing, he looked from Yuki, to the corner, then to Jenn. “This is what you were talking about?”

“It is as close as I will come to being with you for now,” Darkness said softly. “If you do not want it—”

Gregory held up a hand, and she cut off. “Darkness, we owe you, and I do care for you. It’s awkward, but I’m not against it. Why not join us?”

“Because none of you could bear me being that close. Not yet. In time, you will be able to, and I do long for that day, dear one. I dearly do...” The longing in her voice was palpable to them, but that was replaced by sorrow when she continued, “If I came close to you, I could injure your aether without meaning to. I had to hold myself tightly leashed when I touched your head the one time I did, and even then, it was hard to keep myself so tightly wrapped. I never should have done even that... but it was so hard being close to you and unable to touch you.”

“Oh...”

“And when you are emotional, it’s harder to control yourself?” Yukiko asked.

“Yes. Just the light touch on his head taxed my willpower,” Darkness whispered. “I almost hurt him a great deal. I cannot risk it again, no matter how much I wish it.”

“I see...” Gregory said softly. “A year ago, I would have been shocked at even the thought of being watched. But now…” he trailed off as he recalled the inn and Dia telling them it was almost time for dinner.

“Oh, yes... I recall that vividly,” Darkness purred.

Taking his tone and words as consent, both Yukiko and Jenn began to kiss his chest and neck. Surrendering to his wives, he thought of Darkness and hoped to one day they’d be able to share their love with her.

~*~*~

Gregory was slightly bemused at how their morning had gone, but also a little melancholy. I feel bad for her... She’s doing so much for me, for us, and we can’t even give her what she wants... We will in time, but how hard is that for her? Waiting six months with Yuki was near torturous, and Darkness is talking about years before we can even do anything, even something as simple as holding her. He set the thoughts aside when he saw Daciana heading their way.

“Good morning,” Daciana grinned. “How are you?”

“We’re fine,” Gregory replied. “Did something good happen?”

“We grew!” Daciana beamed, showing off her medallion with the fifth novice rank lit up.

“We did,” Nessa said, her medallion out and glowing on the fifth circle as well.

“Me, too, even if I am still behind them,” Victoria said, her medallion showing four circles lit.

“That makes all of us, then,” Jenn smirked as she pulled her medallion out.

“Oh. We’re an even year behind you,” Daciana said as she looked at the five yellow circles on Jenn’s medallion, then at her five clear ones.

“But they say next year, it’ll take us even longer to gain a rank,” Nessa said as she took her seat.

“We’ve been pretty even,” Gregory said softly. “It could be because we’re training the way we are, though.”

“Maybe it’ll be the same for us, then?” Daciana grinned.

“Could be,” Gregory chuckled. “How are you all doing?”

“Good,” Nessa smiled. “Indara worked us hard yesterday, but we’re improving. She said so.”

“I look forward to class today,” Victoria said. “There’s a novice who has made a few snide comments about my friends. I think I’m going to spar with him today.”

“Just tread softly,” Gregory said. “If it becomes known as a point that they can leverage, they’ll use it. I’ve had to temper my responses to those types of comments, myself.”

“Hmm... I will be mindful of it,” Victoria nodded. “Today, I will just ask him to spar