Mages of Buldoun (Aether's Revival Book 5) Read online

  Aether’s Revival

  Book 5:

  Mages of Buldoun

  Daniel Schinhofen

  Copyright © 2022 Daniel J. Schinhofen

  No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form by an electronic or mechanical means – except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews – without the written permission from the publisher.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarities to real persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Copyright © 2022 Daniel J. Schinhofen

  All rights reserved.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-one

  Chapter Forty-two

  Chapter Forty-three

  Chapter Forty-four

  Chapter Forty-five

  Chapter Forty-six

  Chapter Forty-seven

  Chapter Forty-eight

  Chapter Forty-nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-one

  Chapter Fifty-two

  Chapter Fifty-three

  Chapter Fifty-four

  Chapter Fifty-five

  Chapter Fifty-six

  Chapter Fifty-seven

  Chapter Fifty-eight

  Chapter Fifty-nine

  Chapter Sixty

  Chapter Sixty-one

  Chapter Sixty-two

  Chapter Sixty-three

  Chapter Sixty-four

  Chapter Sixty-five

  Chapter Sixty-six

  Chapter Sixty-seven

  Chapter Sixty-eight

  Chapter Sixty-nine

  Chapter Seventy

  Chapter Seventy-one

  Chapter One

  The first leg of the trip out of the academy was only half of a day. They barely got moving before midday, and they stopped just before sunset. It wasn’t a boring trip for Gregory— he spent most of it explaining his magic to Mindie and Roshana.

  Mindie’s fox ears would twitch occasionally as she listened intently to Gregory. She’d known what his magic was but listening to him explain how it worked fascinated her. Roshana was equally as interested. She leaned forward at times, her rabbit ears swiveling to whoever was talking.

  Yukiko and Ling stayed mostly quiet while Gregory talked, only jumping in for a comment or two when he was looking for the right words. Ling had heard about Gregory’s magic before, but she still enjoyed hearing him explain it again, her feline ears twitching every few minutes. Yukiko brushed at her pale hair. It was just starting to reach her shoulders again, and she had been debating on letting it grow back into what it had been or keeping it short. Even while she thought about her hair, her cyan eyes were focused on Mindie and Roshana, watching them with interest.

  “So, you can hold many paths open, but anything past four isn’t worth the effort?” Roshana asked.

  “I find more than three is normally a waste,” Gregory clarified. “Three shows the most probable futures. It’s more efficient to look further down those paths than open more of them.”

  “But each of those paths diverge into more, don’t they?” Mindie asked, coming to understand.

  “Exactly. So, when I follow one, it opens up three different paths.”

  “Which then leads to more and more,” Mindie smiled. “How far do you normally look ahead?”

  “A few seconds is sufficient for combat,” Gregory explained. “Outside of combat, I haven’t pushed far. I’m not sure what I could reach if I pushed now. Before, I could maybe get a half-hour ahead.”

  “The elder sees much further, doesn’t he?” Roshana asked.

  “We don’t know how far, but yes, at least a day or more without strain,” Yukiko said. “He knew which arenas we’d fight in before they were posted.”

  “But he’s also known things from much further ahead,” Ling said. “That’s how he arranged for our coming years to be set.”

  “True,” Gregory nodded. “He’s never given any hint on what he can do. Master Damon was upset that Lightshield won’t talk with him.”

  “And you’re concealing information, too, even though you are giving them some,” Yukiko added.

  “Because anything known can be known by anyone,” Mindie said.

  “Exactly,” Gregory smiled.

  “I’ve wanted to know more about healing,” Yukiko said.

  “Yes,” Gregory nodded. “I’ve been very interested in how your magic works, Mindie.”

  Mindie looked down, a small smile on her lips. “Oh... I don’t mind trying to explain it.”

  “Maybe tonight, at the inn?” Ling suggested. “We’ve all shared how our magic works with each other before you two joined us. We’d be happy to do it again to hear about yours.”

  “Even mine?” Roshana asked.

  “Yes,” Yukiko smiled. “We only know what Empire’s Gambit tells us about water magi. We’re sure you can tell us so much more.”

  “There’s also what you know about Limaz from your family,” Gregory added. “I’m eager to know more about the southern neighbors of the empire. We’ve all studied in the archive, but none of us knew about the bathing custom you told us about.”

  “Bathing custom?” Mindie asked.

  “We shared a bath together,” Ling said. “Roshana explained that, for people of Limaz, they have a custom where their words are as naked as they are. There is no lying in the bath.”

  “Shared…?” Mindie’s eyes went to Gregory, who had a faint blush visible.

  “Yes. Greg and everyone who was in the room with us last night, except you,” Yukiko said. “Though we don’t know what bathing arrangements might be like for our trip.”

  Mindie’s face heated. “Oh. Right. I’m… not opposed… if everyone is there.”

  Yukiko smiled gently at Mindie. “It’ll be your choice, Mindie. None of us will ever pressure you. Everything you do or choose not to do is fine. Not everyone is as bold as Daciana.”

  “Or Clover,” Ling snorted. “I can’t believe she deliberately exposed herself in the bath the way she did. She was so shy when we started with each other.”

  Mindie’s face burned hotter. “Oh? I didn’t know you and Clover…”

  “Yes,” Ling smiled. “Much like Daciana, Victoria, and Nessa are exploring things together.”

  “It’s not required, but it’ll make things easier late
r,” Yukiko said. “After all, being a part of a large family does mean that there will be many people to love.”

  “We ranged way off-topic,” Gregory coughed, his own cheeks hot. “We’ll have weeks more for talking during the trip. There are topics that we can speak about that interest each of us. I was thinking, though, that instead of spending our time at the inn chatting, we can use them to work on games.”

  “Hmm... not a bad idea,” Yukiko said. “Dice and cards have both been neglected. We might also need to get the Peaceful Fist in, too.”

  “Good point,” Gregory conceded.

  “We have to keep up with that,” Ling said, “especially for our newest practitioners.”

  “Yes, please,” Roshana said. “It’s been helping. I can feel it.”

  “It was very draining,” Mindie said.

  “When starting out, it is,” Gregory said. “As you get more used to it, the draining feeling stops. Instead, you feel energized afterward.”

  “Maybe we should do that before bathing? For the first week, at least,” Yukiko said.

  “That’s a good idea,” Gregory nodded.

  Mindie looked down, remembering how much she’d sweated during the session that morning. “Please? I’d like to bathe after.”

  “We’ll ask Lightshield when we stop for the night,” Yukiko said, glancing out the window, “which will be soon, I think.”

  “Should be,” Ling agreed. “Even using the speedy carriages, it’ll take us time to reach Buldoun.”

  “I see a city ahead of us,” Mindie said, looking out the window.

  “Likely where we will stop,” Yukiko commented. “That’s good.”

  The carriages slowed as they entered the city. Each clan broke away from the others, going to different inns. Gregory noticed that at least one academy carriage went with each clan. He wondered about that, but figured they would find out soon enough.

  “Lightshield said we wouldn’t have the best inns in the city, but the right inns for us,” Mindie murmured as she watched the city roll by. “What do you think he meant?”

  “Inns where people of our heritages would be welcome,” Yukiko replied, “much like Father used to do when I was traveling with him.”

  “Sounds right to me,” Gregory nodded. “Even in Wesrik, Yuki and I heard mutters about her heritage when we went out.”

  “And those were still better comments than I was used to,” Yukiko sighed.

  “It’s always bad,” Mindie murmured. “Even as magi, the comments don’t stop. They just get quieter.”

  “It’s something I want to see change...” Gregory said softly.

  “And we’ll help you, dear one,” Yukiko said, placing her hand on his.

  “That would require changing the empire,” Roshana said.

  “It will,” Gregory agreed, meeting her eyes, “but it’s for those I love.”

  Roshana’s smile grew softer. “A noble goal, one that I will gladly give my all to. Aether’s oldest art showed humans and eurtik side-by-side. He will smile on us for doing what he wanted.”

  “He will,” Yukiko smiled.

  “You’ll need someone to help you stay strong,” Mindie murmured, licking her lips. “People will attack you, hurt you, try to pull you down.”

  “We have a great healer to help,” Ling said. She leaned forward and touched Mindie’s knee. “Don’t we?”

  Mindie’s head snapped up, and she stared into Ling’s light green eyes before her face flushed. “Yes?”

  “We do,” Yukiko added. “You’ve already shown us how much you want to help, Mindie. You have always been there to pick us back up.”

  The carriage slowed to a stop, which stopped Mindie from answering. Gregory was the first one out the door. He helped the others out of their carriage, while the rest of the clan exited the ones they were in.

  When he finished helping Yukiko and their friends out, he finally had a chance to look around. The inn itself was not impressive, but it looked to be in good repair. They were in the stable behind the building, which didn’t look large enough to house the four carriages.

  He grinned when he saw all who were standing near the academy carriage beside the inn. Egil Magi-killer was speaking to Rafiq, the crocodilian archivist, both of whom were clearly enjoying the conversation based on their smiles.

  “If I might have your attention,” Lightshield said. His voice carried easily to everyone in the yard, even though he spoke softly. “We shall be staying here for the evening. The carriages are going to the inn that the overseer is using for the night. They will be back two hours after sunrise to pick us up for the next leg of our journey. Until we leave, your time is yours. And, to answer the question from my clan members, you may use the yard here for that. Dinner will be in three hours in the private dining room.”

  Gregory bowed his head to the elder.

  “Gregory, I need a moment of your time. The rest of you, go with Hemet. He’ll get rooms arranged for you first.”

  As everyone funneled out of the yard and the carriages began to leave, Gregory went to Lightshield’s side. “Elder?”

  “You saw Rafiq. He is here to record the Buldoun event. Alongside that and to continue after, Rafiq has been tasked with recording your magic. He will be your companion when you leave to train your troops through your adept posting, and onto your magus posting.”

  Gregory was a little surprised, but he also knew how eager Master Damon had been to get more information about his magic. “I see, Elder. I’ll do my best to help him with his task.”

  “Gregory,” Lightshield said gently, “what you share or do not share is up to you. I know you will treat Rafiq well, regardless. Sarinia chose Rafiq as you have had a good relationship with him. He knows that you will hold things back. He will not press you.”

  “He knows I’ll withhold information?”

  “Of course. No magi wants all of their secrets known.”

  “I understand, sir. Do you feel I can trust him?”

  “Did you trust him before?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then you can continue to trust him now.”

  Exhaling slowly, Gregory nodded. “I understand, sir.”

  “Good. Now do me a favor and lead the Peaceful Fist, hmm? It takes me more concentration to use my aether and keep myself balanced during the katas.”

  “As you wish, sir.”

  “Elder, will you join us for the Peaceful Fist?” Yukiko asked, coming out the back door of the inn.

  “Of course. Gregory will be leading for us,” Lightshield smiled. “There are also two baths in this inn. You can separate as you feel comfortable. Each door comes with a lock, so you will not be disturbed while bathing.”

  “Thank you, Elder,” Yukiko smiled.

  Gregory looked at the group who had come back out to practice the Peaceful Fist. He was surprised to see Rafiq among them, leaving Egil as the only person not present. “Rafiq?”

  “Would it be alright for me to join you?” Rafiq asked.

  “Of course,” Lightshield smiled. “You have been following the mind path, but a little stretching never hurt anyone.”

  “Thank you. I know of the technique, having read the scrolls that teach it. I’ve just never tried it for myself,” Rafiq said as he joined the others.

  “We welcome you,” Lightshield smiled, using wind magic to set his cane beside the back door. “Gregory, you may begin.”

  “Yes, sir,” Gregory said, taking up the beginning stance.

  Chapter Two

  As they finished the Peaceful Fist, Egil came out of the inn. “Pettit, I would like to spar.”

  Gregory glanced at Lightshield. The elder held out his hand, and the cane beside the door shot through the air to him. With a tired exhale, Lightshield gave Gregory a smile. “The choice is yours. I am heading to the baths. It takes me longer to use them now.”

  “I’ll come with you, old friend,” Hemet said, walking with Lightshield.

  “Armsmaster,” Yukiko aske
d, “would you be willing to spar with all of us?”

  Egil chuckled as he looked over the assembled crowd. “A single match each, if he agrees.”

  “I agree,” Gregory said. “We’ll spar last.”

  “Umm...” Mindie gave a nervous look around. “Do we have sparring weapons?”

  “Yes,” Rafiq said before extending a hand. “I have a selection of them on me. I know I have staves, wakizashis, and naginatas, at least.”

  “I always keep a training katana with my things,” Egil said, holding the wooden sword loosely in his left hand.

  “Those weapons cover most of us,” Yukiko said. “Mindie, what weapon did you prefer?”

  “I don’t prefer any of them,” Mindie said softly, “but my limited time training showed me that the staff is best suited to me.”