Magi's Path (Aether's Revival Book 3) by Daniel Schinhofen (best black authors .TXT) 📗

or at least, very close to it. She obviously has real affection for Yuki, too. Aether, why couldn’t there be a tea house here? Snorting, he shook his head and sat. Aether, indeed.

“Dear one?” Yukiko asked, kneeling behind him.

“I offered a prayer to Aether in my head,” Gregory said. “That’s what made me snort.”

Yukiko giggled. “Yes, it is a bit odd, though it makes sense. You did offer prayers for years. You felt the anger, too?” she asked. “It sparked inside of me as sharply as when someone speaks ill of you.”

Gregory lowered his head. “It was the same for me.”

Warm hands touched his shoulders, and firm high points pressed into his back. Warmth touched his ear as Yukiko whispered, “I’m not mad, dear one, just as I hope you aren’t mad at me for feeling that way.”

“No,” Gregory said, “I’m not mad... Maybe I’m being an idiot? It’s cheating to try and get Darkness to help me see the future. Very few people would be able to do that, and most still make decisions like this.”

“You worry so much for my sake and hers. Neither of us will gainsay you the caution. Honestly, we both find it endearing. We’ll wait for you to be comfortable... we want you to feel comfortable with where this will go.” With that said, she eased away from him and picked up the bar of soap.

“Thank you, Yuki. Jenn, too, even though she isn’t here to hear it.”

“You’re welcome, dear one. Now relax, and I will wash you.”

Gregory breathed deeply and slowly as Yukiko washed his back.

Chapter Fourteen

 

Jenn came back to the room as they were putting their boots on. “He thinks he has it,” she blurted out.

Gregory stood up. “Really?”

“He’s not sure, but he thinks it’ll work,” Jenn said, nearly vibrating with hopefulness.

“Let’s go,” Yukiko said.

“He’s serving us in our rooms. I asked to be served in yours. I hope that’s okay,” Jenn said.

“Yes,” Yukiko said, taking her hand and pulling Jenn along behind her.

Gregory chuckled to himself as he followed them. It’s hard to say which of them is the most excited and hopeful, though I’m not far behind, if I’m being honest with myself. I would’ve accepted the idea before now, if not for my fear of hurting them.

Dia stood in the hall when they came up the stairs. “Apprentices, Brown will be in to serve you in a moment. If you have any troubles, come for me. Do not hesitate or think it might pass. If anything feels wrong, come for me. Understood?”

“Yes, Dia,” they replied.

“I hope this is what you were seeking, or at least close enough to it,” Dia said, giving the three of them a knowing look. “If there is no trouble, I will see you in the morning.” Smiling at them, she entered her room.

Gregory opened the door to their room and led Yukiko and Jenn inside, but left the door open. He went to move the bow off the table so they would have space for their food.

“Is that the bow you made?” Jenn asked.

“Yeah,” Gregory said, passing it over to her. “It has a good draw to it. If you used your aether, though, it’d probably break.”

Jenn nodded as she took it and examined it for a few moments. “It’s a very nice bow, not that you’ll get much use out of it over the next year.”

“True, but it’ll be a good one for later. Oh, Yuki, can you make a cover for it?”

“I’ll ask Lavent, but I’m sure he’ll be fine with me doing so.”

“Thank you, dearest,” Gregory said.

Jenn handed the bow back to Gregory and he set it aside. Yukiko and Jenn had just taken seats at the table when a knock on the door announced Brown.

“Apprentices, I have your meal for you,” Brown said. “If this doesn’t work, I’ll try again, but I believe it will.”

Gregory turned to move to the table and he felt his eyebrows rise. Brown looked exhausted. “Thank you, sir,” he said as he sat down.

“I’m sure this combination of herbs is the answer,” Brown said. “Eat slowly, and if you feel yourself start to enter the right state of mind, stop eating and try to meditate. I know that can be hard if you aren’t on the spirit path, but it will help.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

Brown put his hand over the table and three plates appeared, followed by crystal glasses and a bottle. He quickly poured the wine and had them served. Nodding, he stepped back. “Enjoy, and do make sure to let me know if it worked.”

They agreed they would, and Brown left them to their meal, shutting the door behind him as he went. Gregory’s nerves began to kick up, and he grabbed the wine, taking a sip.

“Rosem wine,” Gregory said. “Been a while since I’ve had some... Makes me wonder how infused this is if he felt that this would be needed.”

Jenn didn’t respond— she was focused on the noodles and thinly sliced meat in her chopsticks. With a look at the other two, she ate it. Her eyes widened and her nostrils flared as she chewed. Gregory and Yukiko watched her with worry, both waiting for her to tell them how it was.

Once she could safely swallow, she did, then picked up her wine to take a sip. “It’s hot,” she wheezed, “and it ignited my aether, making it flare higher than anything I’ve ever had before.”

“We should let it sit, then,” Yukiko said.

“Not hot like that... spicy is what I meant,” Jenn said, picking up some of the sprouts on the plate and taking a bite. “Oh, that helped,” she said after a moment. “The sprouts take off some of the heat.”

Both Yukiko and Gregory exchanged a look before