Gregory coughed again and rubbed at his arm. “She said the same thing. I know of your agreement and what she has in place. I’m not going to tell either of you not to love each other and well, frankly, I hope that it works out for all of us.”
“Thank you,” Jenn said, stepping forward and hugging him briefly.
Gregory returned the hug on reflex, but when she went to step away, he deliberately held her a moment longer before letting go. “And you wanted this before we even told you about me?”
Jenn stepped back and nodded. “I was barely able to sleep last night. I kept thinking about what you said and wondering how you’d ever accept me when you’re… him… reborn. I was so worried, and then you called me out here to talk… my heart was a knot.”
“I never thought of it that way,” Gregory said. “You still came out to talk.”
“I had to know.”
“And now?”
Jenn’s smile gleamed in the predawn gloom. “I feel like I could take on the emperor and win.”
“Is that so, Apprentice?” Dia’s voice came from the doorway to the clan hall as she stepped outside.
Both Jenn and Gregory jerked. They stared at her as she took a seat and lit her pipe. “Dia? I didn’t—!”
“Easy. I intruded on your private conversation. If anyone is at fault here, it is me. I’m surprised that you’re missing one. Is she okay?”
“She’s fine, Dia,” Gregory said, his heart slowing from the scare. “We just needed a moment to discuss a few things, and Yuki was getting breakfast ordered for us. We were just about to go inside again.”
“Very well. Your things are packed and ready to go?”
“Yes, Dia,” they replied.
“I will see you later, then. Enjoy your meal and training.”
Gregory and Jenn hurried inside, wanting to tell Yukiko that they had come to a tentative agreement.
Chapter Four
“You’re early, Apprentices,” Rafiq said, just settling into his place at the front of the archive. “Aren’t you leaving the academy today?”
“We are, and we are,” Gregory replied with a grin. “We woke up early and don’t leave until the time classes would normally start. It means we can get some studying in before we go.”
Rafiq shook his head. “I doubt I will see novices as studious as you w—”
“I told you they’d be here,” Daciana said.
Rafiq glanced over to Daciana and Nessa and snorted. “Outside of you and your friends for years,” he corrected himself.
“Maybe our clan will continue this tradition?” Yukiko smiled. “We’ll be at our usual table, Rafiq. We’ll miss being here for the next month.”
“And these walls will be darker for that loss,” Rafiq replied. “I will have the materials brought to your tables. May your minds expand and your aether grow.”
After thanking him, the five magi walked to their normal tables.
“Nessa didn’t think you’d be here,” Daciana told them, “but I knew better. Since you’re in yellow, does that mean we get plain white now?”
“We’re only here because Dia wants to leave when classes would normally begin,” Gregory told her. “It could have easily gone differently. As for your clothing, you’ll have to ask Keeper Clau about that.”
“I knew you’d be here if you had a choice. Ness, we need to ask about our new clothes to get rid of these bands.”
“We can when we go back to the dormitory later,” Nessa said before turning to Yukiko. “Your wedding was beautiful.”
“Thank you, Nessa,” Yukiko smiled. “Thank you both for coming.”
“We were glad they let us out to attend,” Daciana said.
“Keeper Clau telling us that we could go was surprising,” Nessa added. “I had no idea there was any way for us to leave the walls yet, even for a short time. A wedding between magi is apparently one of the few exceptions. If our parents hadn’t been attending, they might not have let us.”
“We were glad that there was an exception,” Yukiko said. “Oh, and you left your ring behind at the hall. It was returned to me yesterday.”
Daciana started to say something when Gregory bumped her with his hip. “Oops, sorry about that.”
“No, it’s fine,” Daciana said, clearly flustered.
“We had no idea you had a mind-increasing ring,” Yukiko went on, grateful for Gregory’s help. “You must be trading it with Daciana every day, right?”
Nessa nodded slowly. “Uh... yes, yes, we have been. Silly of me to have taken it off at all. It must’ve been the small bit of wine I was allowed.”
“We don’—” Daciana started to say.
Gregory bumped her with his hip again. “Sorry, I have two left feet today, apparently.”
Daciana’s nostrils flared and her brow furrowed. “Okay...”
“I think today is Daciana’s turn,” Nessa said, sliding over to her friend. “Wear this.”
“But—!”
“Wear. It,” Nessa said with a bit more force, staring at her.
“But—!”
“Friends help each other,” Nessa said with more determination. “Today, you wear it.”
Daciana stared at her before realization finally dawned and she slipped the ring on. “Sorry.” Her eyes went from Nessa to Yukiko and back. “I know I’m not as smart as you, but I’m trying.”
Nessa gave her a soft smile. “I know. You’re learning fast, and you do things I can’t. We cover for each other and help each other grow.”
Daciana lowered her head. “Thanks, Ness.”
“Magi Squares first,” Gregory said as they reached the tables. “And Daciana, good friends are hard to find. Be glad you have Nessa beside you.”
“Things are easier when you have friends,” Jenn added with a smile at Yukiko and Gregory.
“I’m very glad,” Daciana said, taking her seat, “and grateful to all of my friends.” She looked at Jenn, Yukiko, and finally, Gregory, once she’d finished talking.
“Six months might seem like forever,
