Aether's Revival

The empire's annual rite of passage identifies those touched by Aether, sending the chosen to an academy where brutal tournaments and scheming clans make survival anything but guaranteed. Gregory always dreamed of becoming a mage despite ridicule from his village and his father's opposition. His age day will decide everything.

Gregory's aether sparked to life on his Age Day and his old life is behind him. At the Magi Academy, alone and out of place, an unexpected friendship with fellow novice Yukiko changes everything. The two push each other relentlessly, choosing a training path considered impossible — and make enemies as fast as they make progress.

Engaged to Yukiko and allied with Jenn Bean, Gregory helped breathe new life into the nearly dead clan Aether's Guard. Their second tournament brought both triumph and a wedding, as Gregory and Yukiko begin their academy years as a married couple — with rivals in the Eternal Flame clan determined to make things difficult.

Gregory's second year begins with his circle expanded: married to both Yukiko and Jenn, he finds new friendships among novices and clanless apprentices alike. Aether's Guard trains as a unit, aiming for the championship — while the Eternal Flame maintains a dangerous, if unusually quiet, pressure on all of them.

With their first tournament victory behind them and new clanmates joining Aether's Guard, Gregory and his growing family face the end of their academy years. The apprentices bid farewell to younger friends and set out for the international tournament in Buldoun — not knowing what awaits them there.

The Buldoun tournament brings joy and grief in equal measure. Gregory ends up protecting a noble target from assassins, his mentor Elder Lightshield sacrifices himself in a final battle, and the group disperses — some to Wesrik, some to a new initiate year under Armsmaster Egil Magi-killer. Gregory must learn to walk the line between friend and commander.

The Pettit family scatters to their separate adept postings. Gregory draws the most dangerous assignment in the empire — a remote northern patrol where corrupt magi, slavers, and bane beasts all present mortal threats. Turning a blind eye would be safer, but Gregory has never been built that way.

Gregory's northern posting is over, marked by assassins, corrupt magi, aether-using bane beasts, and the deaths of men under his command. He emerged unbowed, forcing the powerful to answer for their corruption — and now marches for Krogga, where his wives and closest friends await, along with long-promised ceremonies and a new ambassadorial post.

Gregory arrives in Krogheim, navigating the warrior culture of Krogga through honor duels and local customs. After marrying Ling, Clover, and Roshana in a ceremony that follows Kroggian tradition, he enters the new year festival — and meets Ragnar Ivarson, the youngest high champion in the country, who turns out to be something far more significant than a tournament rival.

Gregory competes in the solstice tournament for Krog and learns that Ragnar has brought his sister Verka — both reborn gods. A short war between Krogga and the empire reshapes the political landscape, and Ragnar's victory clause binds Gregory to marry Verka. Joy and hardship arrive together in ways none of them anticipated.

After the Bloodrock war, calm seems within reach. It isn't. Spies from imperial clans have to be rooted out and killed; an imperial investigator arrives; and Verka joins the family just before Buldoun launches an unprovoked and devastating attack on Krogheim. Gregory's foresight may be the only thing that saves the city.

The Krogga posting is over. Five years of wars, assassinations, and political crises have given way to quieter days as the city rebuilds. Claudia Firetongue returns to their orbit as the new Buldoun ambassador; Elsa Bommet's mysterious past comes further into focus. As the family prepares to return to the empire, the growing power of Aether's Guard is beginning to attract dangerous attention from powerful clans.