“Most of the time,” Murium said. “I’m training myself to hear it. It gets lost under the normal hour chime, so I only hear it three times per hour.”
“Maybe we should head out there to wait,” Jenn said, looking up. “We can meditate.”
“Expanding our resonance,” Yukiko nodded. “It’s only by fractions, but over time, it will add up.”
“We did get a little over an hour of studying in,” Gregory said, closing his book. “We’ll see you outside, Murium.”
“I’ll be there.”
They left the room quietly, as Murium was already back to her reading.
Stepping onto the porch, they saw Dia sitting beside the door, pipe in hand. “Apprentices, eager to see your friends?” Dia asked with a smile.
“Mostly, but also wanting to make sure we aren’t late,” Yukiko replied.
“Ah, that’s good. Do you think I’ll have to reprimand Murium again?”
“I don’t think so, Dia,” Gregory said. “She has a timekeeper to warn her.”
“Yes, I’ve seen it. I also know she only pays attention to it half the time.”
Jenn shook her head. “She thinks she does better than that.”
“I’m sure she does, but I believe she’ll be fine today.”
“Dia, I was curious,” Gregory asked, “what is next year going to be like?”
Dia exhaled another smoke ring. “Different in nearly every way. You will be sent to one of the training areas. Your men will be there already or will join you when you get there. For that year, you will be drilled on how to be a commander to your men. The training areas are always near a town, so you will learn how to rotate your troops out. You will also have a chance to occasionally refresh yourself.”
“Will we be sent to the same area?” Yukiko asked.
Dia’s lips curled up. “I’m sure the elder has made arrangements.”
All three of them looked hopeful at her words.
“Were you going to meditate until your friends arrived?” Dia asked as she took another puff on her pipe.
“Yes. We were going to work on our resonance,” Jenn said.
“A good thing to work on. You’ll be surprised how useful it can be once you nurture it. I’ll make sure you are aware before it is time, so feel free to train.”
Thanking her, the three of them took seats and began steadying their breathing, slipping into a meditative state.
~*~*~
“Apprentices, you should stop for now,” Dia said.
Gregory smiled when he opened his eyes. Yukiko and Jenn were smiling as well when he looked at them. “Progress?”
“Yes,” Yukiko replied.
“Small, but yes,” Jenn agreed.
“Same with me.”
“They will be here shortly,” Lightshield said.
“Yes, sir,” Gregory said as he rose to his feet.
“This marks the day the clan starts its regrowth,” Lightshield said softly. “Hope came with you three, but now, it blooms as more join.” The smile on his aged face was full of joy. “I am happy that I am here to welcome this core group.”
Gregory was about to speak when he saw Daciana come around the hedge. Nessa and Victoria were only a step behind her. All three of the novices were wearing wide smiles and waved to them. A couple of seconds later, Ling and Clover followed them into the yard, just as happy to be there.
Sixth bell began to chime as the five new clan members crossed the yard to stand in front of the porch. Lightshield stood just in front, with Dia and Bishop flanking him a step back. Gregory, Jenn, and Yukiko were on Bishop’s left, but up on the porch, and Gin, Inda, and Indara were on Dia’s right side also up on the porch. The clan staff were standing behind the others, in front of the door.
As the sixth bell faded, Lightshield spoke, “Welcome to Aether’s Guard. We are happy to have all of you joining us. At one time, this clan was one of the three great clans of the empire, but we faded as people lost belief in Aether’s return. But now, with you, we will rise again. All we ask is that you hold to the ideal of the clan— believe that Aether will return. Be ready to be his shield to guard him when he announces himself to the world.”
“I believe, Elder,” Daciana said, bowing formally.
“We believe, Elder,” Nessa and Victoria said in near unison, bowing to him.
“Oh, oh, I believe!” Clover said excitedly, her bow fast but formal.
Ling smiled as she bowed deeply. “I believe and shall be ready, Elder.”
“These pins will mark your clothing with the clan emblem so it is known that you are part of Aether’s Guard,” Lightshield said. Bishop moved forward, handing out the badges. “Just pin them to your kimonos and it will mark them.”
They wasted no time pinning the badges to their kimonos.
“Now, before we progress further, I shall inform you of what today will entail, as it will be your schedule for the rest of the year,” Lightshield said, looking at the novices. “From now until the eighth bell, you have time to settle into your rooms, as this is the time that you would be in economics class.”
“Yes, sir,” the three novices said.
“At eighth bell, all of you,” he paused, looking at Ling and Clover so they knew they were included, “will meet your magic instructors and have your first day of one-on-one magic training. These teachers were handpicked for you.”
All five of them looked shocked.
“When your magic instruction is over, you will have two hours to study or meditate as you wish. A snack will be served after that, taken in the dining room. Following the snack, you will begin physical training with Armsmaster Gin Watashi. He has the final say on this part of your training and, depending on your weapon affinity, there
