Summoner 20, page 39
“You know what happens when you assume…” Ashla began, and Layla playfully smacked her in the arm. The pair of mages cracked up at that, and it soon became a back-and-forth war.
“I wish I had a plan,” I mused. “But I honestly don’t know how things are going to work from here on out. I don’t know how all of the Archons being under my control is going to affect the Shadowscape, or if it even does. Monsters broke through the rifts long before Sera or Phi awoke, so I’m not sure if there’s going to be a change, but I’m holding out hope that there will be.”
“That would be nice,” Ashla agreed with me. “Though, we’d be out of a job if the monsters stopped appearing.”
“The Guardians spent their entire lives keeping Mistral safe, and I plan to do the same, no matter what that means,” I said. “Our job descriptions might shift, but I intend to continue their mission of peace.”
“Me, too,” Nia decided, and the multi-elementalist gave me a determined expression. “We’ve come this far, and things can only get better from here on out.”
“Me, three,” Cyra declared.
“Does this make us the new Guardians?” Erin wondered with a curious tilt of her head. “After all, we are a group of mages and shapeshifters who’ve committed themselves to the safety of our lands.”
“We’ll be better than the Guardians,” I mused. “My Aunt Crystyn told me Carth managed to plant seeds of doubt amongst them, and it didn’t take much for their allegiance to splinter. But us? Our bond goes so much deeper than that.”
“Cheers to that,” Cyra laughed. “No, but seriously. I’m all in, Gryff. From here on out, I’m all about family and world peace.”
“I love the wholesome turn this has taken,” Layla giggled.
“Doesn’t it always?” Erin teased.
“I’ll tell you one thing is for certain…” I began in an ominous voice, and all of my women fell silent as I gave them a hardened, serious expression. “I’m ready for a chance to fucking relax.”
It took a second, but then my family cracked up at that sentiment, and after a moment or two, I couldn’t help but join them. As I peered around at everyone in the room, a swell of happiness built in my chest.
For the past couple of years, we’d all sacrificed so much, and finally, we’d landed a true victory. Mistral would no longer have the threat of awakened monster goddesses, not when they were so tightly bound in my consciousness, and while I was still somewhat worried about how I was going to handle so many voices in my head, I knew I’d done the right thing for Mistral.
I was confined to my bed in the hospital for a week before Meridan finally gave me a clean bill of health. I’d wanted to leave the day after I’d risen from my coma, but the adept healer mage was not having it.
“Mister Gryff, I love you dearly, but if you think for one second I’m just going to allow you to stroll off on another quest right away, you’re out of your mind.” Meridan had narrowed her soft green eyes at me after bringing me a small vial of potion and a glass of water.
“Trust me, Meridan, I have no plans to adventure,” I’d laughed at the auburn-haired nurse as I accepted her medicine. “In fact, I think I’m going to take an early retirement from adventuring, effective immediately.”
“While I do love the idea of you never ending up in this ward again, I know you, Gryff.” Meridan shook her head at me. “You’re not the kind of man who can sit still for long.”
“You’re right,” I allowed. “But I think it’s about time I learned how.”
Meridan had chuckled at that and then left me to my own devices. I wasn’t so sure I believed my own words, but I had to make an effort to finally slow down, at least for a little while.
The day I was set to leave, an unexpected visitor arrived in the hospital wing to see me.
“Headmaster Sleet,” I greeted the renowned storm mage with a huge smile. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Forgive me for not meeting with you sooner, Mister Gryff.” Sleet smiled back at me. “I’ve been away on business and only just returned to the Academy this morning. Had I known you’d awakened--”
“Don’t worry about it, sir,” I insisted, and I gestured to the chair beside my bed. “Please, come sit. Meridan won’t let me leave quite yet, so we have a few minutes to talk.”
Sleet nodded his head, and after he took a seat, he gave me a serious look “Mister Gryff, I wanted to speak with you on a matter of much importance.”
I felt my heart plummet into my stomach.
“Fuck,” I uttered before I had a chance to stop myself. “Am I in trouble?”
“No, you’re not in trouble, Gryff,” the headmaster chuckled, and his stormy-white eyes twinkled with amusement. “Honestly, it’s quite the opposite. Miss Hamner and Miss Kenefick brought me up to speed on your mission in Nattanger, and I just wanted to tell you how incredibly proud of you I am, Gryff. The level of devotion you’ve had to protecting Mistral is unparalleled, and I know I speak for the whole continent when I say how grateful we are to have you.”
“Thank you for your kindness, headmaster, but I was only doing my duty,” I said, but the headmaster cut me off before I could say another word.
“It wasn’t just duty, Mister Gryff,” Sleet insisted, and the older elementalist’s face shifted from amused to earnest. “When I first stumbled upon you in Ralor’s Stead all that time ago, I knew you were special. The way you battled the cyclops was like nothing I’d ever seen before, and for the first time in a long time… I felt hopeful.”
“Hopeful?” I repeated back. “Sir, I don’t understand.”
“There’s always been a missing piece when it came to the mages who guarded Mistral,” Sleet elaborated, and he sat back in his seat. “Something I could never quite put my finger on. The thing about magic, Mister Gryff, is that it’s always its most effective when it’s used with other magic. Elementalists, adepts, summoners, every type of mage’s power has its strengths and weaknesses, but when they’re combined in different ways… When I came upon you in Ralor’s Stead, I watched the way you used your monsters together, and it was as if everything had clicked into place. I realized if we ever wanted to win this war, we would all need to come together and use our combined magics and strengths to defeat our enemy.”
“You were right about that theory,” I agreed with him. “Half of our successful missions over the past couple of years were only possible because we had so many different types of magic present. The Monster Response Squad in particular got stronger because we all learned how to use our powers together rather than separate.”
“In the past, teams have always consisted of the different types of mages, but until you, there was never any summoner representation amongst the squads,” Sleet continued on. “You’ve proven to the world that summoners can be so much more than construction workers or disaster relief, and you’ve helped pass along your knowledge and techniques to the next level of young summoners. All of that is to say, thank you, Gryff, for all you have done for this Enclave.”
“Thank you, sir,” I replied, and I found myself at a loss for words. How does one follow up on such strong praise?
“This speech also leads me to the reason I came here in the first place.” The headmaster cleared his throat, and he sat up as straight as he could before he continued. “Weeks ago, you completed a comprehensive exam that you passed with flying colors. You surpassed my expectations and earned my complete respect with the acceptance of such a challenge.”
“I’m beginning to run out of ways to thank you for the compliments, headmaster,” I chuckled. “But in all seriousness, I just wanted to prove to you that I take my education seriously, and I want to be the best student I can be so I can one day be the best summoner there is.”
“Trust me when I say you’ve done what no one before you has ever been able to do,” Sleet assured me with an almost paternal smile “Not a single Guardian or summoner ever attempted to house an Archon in the same way they would a monster. You willingly volunteered your mind to act as an essence crystal, used your body as a vessel for not one, but all nine of the goddesses, and managed to survive the task at that. Your mastery in the field combined with your academic success has led me to this point. Gryff, I have nothing more to teach you.”
“What are you saying, sir?” I frowned as my brain ran in circles. “Am I… am I being kicked out?”
“The opposite,” Headmaster Sleet chuckled. “Gryff, you’ve officially graduated from the Academy of Varle. Congratulations, my boy. You’ve done it.”
“I’ve graduated?” I repeated back, and I couldn’t mask the excitement in my tone. “Oh, Maker, headmaster, this is… wow, thank you. Thank you so much, for everything!”
“You’re going to go on to do amazing things, Mister Gryff.” Headmaster Sleet smiled at me. “And I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you.”
“I owe it all to you,” I insisted. “Thank you, for taking a chance on a farm kid from the Wilds.”
Headmaster Sleet rose from his seat and offered me his hand. I gave it a firm shake, and then the storm mage pulled me in and wrapped me into an embrace.
“I would do it again in a heartbeat,” he replied.
Once our hug concluded, Sleet straightened out his coat and glanced at the clock.
“I have a few matters to attend to, but we’ll be in touch soon,” the headmaster said. “The Grand Mage and I have some things we’d like to discuss with you further, but I think you’ve earned a bit of a break. Take some time to celebrate your accomplishments with your family.”
“Will do.” I grinned.
The storm mage gave me a wink, and then he left the hospital wing.
Once Sleet left, Meridan gave me one last look-over and then decided to release me.
“Is one of your girls coming to collect you?” the healer mage asked me once I gathered up my things.
“I think I’m going to walk.” I shook my head. “The fresh air sounds pretty nice, and I have a lot to think about.”
“Take care of yourself, Gryff,” Meridan replied.
“I will,” I agreed, and after I gave the auburn-haired mage a smile, I departed the medical ward.
I spent the entire walk home with a grin on my face.
Holy shit. I’d actually done it. If someone had told me all that time ago when I was just a summoner-for-hire out in the Wilds that I would go on to become an Academy graduate, I would have called them a liar. But here I was, an official summoner with a seemingly bright future ahead of me. I had no idea what the next step was for me in a career sense, but I was excited to find out where my path would lead me.
Perhaps I would take Grand Mage Kenefick up on his offer to join his staff as an advisor, or maybe I’d end up becoming a full-time teacher at the Academy. I’d loved my limited run as a professor, and I could see myself doing that as a career one day. Whatever I chose to do, I wanted to help people in any capacity possible.
When I finally walked into the house, I was greeted by the serene faces of my women and children, and my heart thudded in my chest as I prepared to share my good news with them.
“Why do you look so happy?” Ashla grinned at me, but I knew from the sparkle in the ice mage’s eyes that she was fully aware of my news.
I decided to play along anyway.
“I just came from a meeting with the Headmaster,” I replied, and as I paused, I peered around the room to gauge my lovers’ reactions.
“And?” Layla prompted me after three whole seconds had passed.
“I’ve graduated from the Academy,” I revealed, and my women erupted into squeals of excitement.
“Gryffie!” Layla squeaked. “Oh, congratulations!”
“Congratulations, Gryff.” Nia gave me a dazzling smile. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you, Nia” I replied. “It honestly doesn’t even feel real. I didn’t believe the headmaster when he told me.
“You’ve come such a long way,” Arwyn mused, and the healer mage brushed a crimson tendril behind her ear. “Gryff, I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you, Arwyn,” I said in an earnest tone. “If it weren’t for your tutelage, I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I did. You were an amazing teacher, and I am so blessed to have you in my life.”
“Wait a second, do you realize what this means?” Cyra’s dark-chocolate eyes widened. “Gryff, Arwyn, there isn’t a student-teacher relationship between you anymore! Which means--”
“We can get married,” I finished her sentence, and my own eyes widened when the curly-haired summoner’s words set in. Arwyn had insisted that we wait to become husband and wife until I was a graduate, and now that I was no longer a student…
Arwyn seemed to have come to the same conclusion, and her porcelain cheeks flushed a deep rose. “That’s true, isn’t it?”
I approached the crimson-haired healer mage and took her hands in mine. My redheaded lover’s eyebrows creased together, and I knew she was aware of what I was about to ask her.
“Arwyn Hamner, from the moment I met you, I knew I was going to find a way to make you mine,” I began. “From the moment I entered your train car to Varle, I felt a connection between us. You’re one of the greatest loves of my life, and I don’t want to spend another moment without you as my life partner. So, now that our relationship has shifted from somewhat socially inappropriate to completely appropriate… will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes,” the healer mage whispered as tears erupted from her amber eyes. “Yes, Gryff, a million times yes. I want to be yours forever.”
I pulled Arwyn in close and planted a kiss on her lips. The gorgeous professor wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed me so tightly I could barely breathe, but I didn’t even care. Arwyn and I were meant to be together, and even though our relationship with one another wouldn’t change much, I was over the moon to be able to call her my wife.
My lovers exploded into a symphony of congratulations and applause, and Arwyn and I pulled away from our embrace with enormous grins on our faces.
“Looks like we’re going to have another wedding to plan.” Cyra grinned at Nia, and the ashen-haired elementalist let out a soft laugh.
“Never a dull moment around here, is there?” she chuckled, and then she flashed Arwyn a reassuring smile. “Arwyn, we’ll give you the most wonderful wedding ever.”
“I know you will,” Arwyn replied. “Thank you, Nia.”
“I am so happy to have you as my sister-wife, Arwyn,” Freya congratulated the healer. “I love you so much, and you’re going to be the most beautiful bride.”
“I love you, too, Freya,” Arwyn gushed.
“So, when are we going to have this adorable wedding?” Layla chirped. “Maybe the spring, summer…?”
“I don’t want to set a date quite yet, but if possible… I think I’d like to get married before our son or daughter is born,” the redhead decided. “Things are going to be a little hectic around here once they arrive, and I’d like to marry you as soon as we can.”
“Oh, no, not another rushed wedding,” Layla grumbled, and she threw her head back in exaggerated annoyance.
“I’m not saying it has to be today,” Arwyn laughed in a musical tone. “Preferably, I’d like to be wed before I start showing. I can’t imagine a baby bump pairing well with a wedding dress.”
“Whatever you want, we’ll make it happen,” I promised her, and I wrapped my arms around the redhead’s waist. “We have all of the time in the world now.”
That evening, my friends and family gathered to have a celebratory dinner. Between my graduation, the conquering of the final Archons, and mine and Arwyn’s engagement, there was much to be thankful for, so we thought a single party would do the trick.
My women and I worked like a well-oiled machine to prepare a feast worthy of royalty, and we managed to get a hold of all of our friends. We made sure they knew that attendance was mandatory, and all of them dutifully showed up right on time.
We gathered in our formal dining room, and we spent the entire evening eating, drinking, and celebrating our good fortunes.
I’d made it a point to seat Vahla and Mur together, and the pair had a glow about them that made my heart swell with joy. Freya continued to watch them with a cautious gaze, but I could tell she’d started to come around to the idea of the pair together. It was going to be a rocky journey, but I was happy for the shapeshifters. Above all, love was the most important thing, and I was glad the two had found each other.
We all engrossed ourselves in conversation, and as we swapped stories and reminisced on classes and missions past, I realized just how much my life had changed since I’d come to Varle. I’d gone from a lost, orphaned kid in the Wilds to a man who was surrounded by so much love and friendship he was full to bursting.
“I want to propose a toast,” Braden declared. The ox-like summoner rose from his seat and raised his champagne glass high in the air. “To our good friend, Gryff, who not only brought us all together, but also helped to save all of Mistral. Thank you, Gryff, for all you’ve ever done for us, and everything you’ve done for our people. Without you, we’d be under the evil Archons’ rule, or worse. So, cheers to Gryff!”
“To Gryff!” my friends and family all cheered.
As we threw back our glasses of champagne, I nearly exploded from happiness. I’d felt particularly sappy as of late, but I had so much to be thankful for. My friends, my family, my future career endeavors… it was almost too much to bear. But I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I was the luckiest man in all of the realm.
We partied into the night, but eventually we wound down, and our friends began to leave. My women disappeared to clean up and deal with the children, and even though I volunteered to help them, Nia insisted I go and get some rest, so I obeyed orders and slowly made my way up to my room.
Once there, I stripped out of my clothes, retreated to the comfort of my warm bed, and then stretched out and folded my arms behind my head. I still felt a little buzzed from the champagne, but it wasn’t a bad thing in the slightest. This was a happy drunk that fueled the already warm feeling in my head and body, and after everything I’d been through, it was nice to be relaxed.
