On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

The temporary crisis was over, Ileana having acted extremely oddly, and her grandmother attempting to either wound me or take me hostage until I released them. Though now I see that Ileana is an… uh… Solar Dhampir is maybe the best way of putting it for now, her true race is quite a mouthful, her behaviour makes a lot of sense. It was certainly embarrassing for me, having my bodily fluids be so… desirable… but it was clearly worse for Ileana, as even now, while she had the calm demeanour I’d have expected from the noble girls, her abnormally pale face, which I now understood the reason for, of course, was still flushed an almost natural pink shade.

All the girls say they can notice the supposed beautifying effect of my fluids. I don’t think anyone’s Charm has actually gone up yet, but they are certain it’s working. I suppose if it was that easy, when they already all have high Charm to begin with, we’d end up becoming an army of ‘Helens of Troy’, where the world would bend to our whims just on charisma alone. Still, over our long lives, I wouldn’t be surprised if they reach levels far beyond mortal…

“What is on your mind? I do hope you are not… dwelling… on my recent actions? I was temporarily overcome by… by your blood. It will not happen again, I assure you.” Ileana promised, her shameful expression that flickered on her face briefly, breaking her demeanour, rather cute, making her seem younger and more innocent.

She’s got the gift all women seem to have of knowing when my thoughts are wandering, even if my face doesn’t show it. But unlike my women, she doesn’t seem able to pick up exactly what nonsense is going through my mind. Which makes sense and is a relief…

We were all seated, watching, me with anticipation, our guests and the interpreter, with some trepidation. The doors slid open to the VIP terminal, as our guests had to pass ordinary customs, though they were escorted and cleared by Ministry staff who had been waiting. Moments later four smartly dressed staffers entered, escorting a small group, or rather…

One woman is our third guest, the other party has travelled as a family…

“Oshiro-sama…” the lead Ministry staffer, a man my father’s age in a sharp suit, bowed. “…the VIP guests have arrived. We have instructions to take them to a Ministry-approved hotel with suitable security, but to let you assess them first.” He glanced over at Ileana and Valeska. “…did these two… pass muster?”

We were speaking Japanese, so neither of them understood, but now I could freely use my Eyes on them, since I had already and there was no longer any point in Ileana hiding her nature, my senses, even with the wild overstressing of my Vessel which was making me struggle to keep my calm expression, picked up on the aether she was extracting from me. It wasn’t exactly like the twins’ telepathic bond, or Haru’s Telepathy, but even so, with my experience, I could block it. There was little point though, as the staffer was also leaking the little aether he contained in comparison. Besides, it’s just her mind instinctively using the aether to take a snapshot of the language. It’s actually quite fascinating a process, and something I’d never thought of before. Aether can easily be made into other energies, or even temporarily into physical constructs, but to think it can affect and copy information in that manner… I should have guessed that. Honestly, I don’t know whether I’m lucky or unlucky, but this has a direct bearing on what I’m attempting in the Boundary right now and gives me some ideas. My chances of success have increased…

“Yes. Obviously we can’t leave them unattended, and they’ll have to be interviewed and vetted further, but I’ll handle that myself, with a colleague or two.” Tsukiko would be a must, of course, as my suspicion that Ileana was perhaps one of the missing Princesses of the Six Paths was high.

Oh, I’m certain of it. Eri’s voice rang in my mind. That reaction…

Oh, you noticed that.

Come on, Akio. I’m always with you now. Besides, after mastering wind element, now I’m just controlling and improving what I can do with Shifting Cat. It’s not as mentally taxing as what you are all doing. So I’ve ample time to listen in. Anyway, I should come along with Tsukiko when you interview them again.

I don’t mind, but why?

Because I’m probably as much of a believer as Tsukiko in Definite fate now. Maybe more so. Oh, I’ll stop bothering you now, I can see you’re at your limit. But I definitely want in on the Kyoto date…

Sure, sounds great.

“We will trust your judgement. Morita-sama and Suzuki-sama say to defer to you on these matters. Anyway… first, let me introduce you. This is…” He consulted his tablet computer for the details. “Valerian Fieraru, age forty-fix. His wife Odeta, age forty-two, eldest son, Victor, age twenty-two. Youngest son, Leonard, age seventeen, and their daughter Andreea, age twenty.”

At his words I glanced over at the group. Valerian was a powerfully built man, a head taller than me, and his rather ordinary black shirt couldn’t hide the bulging muscles of his arms. He sported a neatly trimmed black beard, to match his shaggy hair, and his tanned skin and brown eyes gave him a burnished, almost copper-like sheen. His wife was still an attractive woman, her skin was pale and clear, with a few wrinkles around her eyes showing her age, and her black hair was pulled into a long ponytail. The boys were both big men, my height and rather buff, though not comparable to their father. Andreea was tall too, a few inches shorter than me, and she wore her hair in a similar ponytail to her mother, while having her father’s brown eyes and slightly tanned complexion.

“I see. And we believe he’s a Chosen seeking asylum?” I asked, and the staffer agreed.

“Yes. He gave the name as Hodúr, and from our research…” The man couldn’t help but smile, despite his professional demeanour, and I fully understood. To think they get paid to research such strange facts. “…though more modern sources refer to him as Hadúr. A blacksmithing and warrior God, from Hungarian mythology. He refused to detail any of his abilities, however. But the reason for seeking asylum is one of note.”

He transmitted the data to my phone, and I nodded, as my eyes scanned it. “I see. Twelve-headed Balaur, huh? A Romanian Chosen organisation. Quite the name. Are you sure they weren’t an evil group?”

“He has no active criminal record, though I admit it’s sometimes hard to tell with you Chosen. Oh, no offense, sir.”

“None taken. Anyway, we’ll find out the truth in due course, and I won’t prejudge based on names.” If I did, Tan would certainly be offended, as she, her sisters and her father, were traditionally considered evil Gods. “The Ministry Chosen should be enough to prevent accidents, but I’ll certainly speak to him first. And the other…”

“Another Chosen, supposedly, though she has shown quite the lack of… well, anything notable. We have been using the detection algorithms developed by the Ministry, based on the findings of Bakker-san, and even when she is not being watched overtly, her movements and actions display none of the expected tics or abnormalities that Chosen with enhanced physicality do. It could be she is a fraud…”

“If so, we’ll see soon enough.” I promised, checking the data. “Bianca Albua. Age twenty-seven. Claims to be a Chosen of… Mokosh, Slavic again. I suppose that region of Europe does have quite the complicated mix of cultures and mythology. Not much known about her, but suspected water and fertility ties. All right…”

I glanced over at the woman, standing a bit apart from Valerian’s family. She was the same height as my sister, and was pretty enough, though not much stood out about her, other than her chest, which was straining at her modest white blouse. She also wore white tracksuit bottoms, a rather… unexpected… choice for travelling, but I supposed it was at least comfortable. I expect I’m being too harsh. When one’s fleeing a country, looking fashionable isn’t the top priority. Still, all white, huh? Shiro has some fashion competition. Her trainers were white too, though they had some red detailing, breaking up her monochromatic style.

“…the fourth one didn’t show up?”

“No. and there’s been no contact from her since. Either a scammer, she changed her mind, or…” The man winced, and I understood.

“Yeah, didn’t make it. The Church, or another Chosen. Organisations are out there, if Twelve-headed Balaur is an indication.” It’s not much different to what Tan and Shiro were doing. Japan’s a bit weird in that Hokkaido was dominated by one Chosen, Shiro’s group folded into mine in Tokyo, then the Church purged those Chosen who remained aloof, and Kyoto was split up between the factions of the faith. Yeah, we’re certainly an outlier. Smaller countries, who unlike Britain, don’t have strong national power, will inevitably turn out like that. Just look at South Africa…

“Anyway, good job. Take a break, and I’ll do my initial probing. Then we’ll escort them to their lodgings.”

“Understood, Akio-sama. I could use a drink, but I’m on duty still…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll detox you guys before we leave, so enjoy the VIP experience.”

As the man agreed cheerfully, Ileana spoke to me in English. “I… almost understood some of that. You claimed I was not… Chosen… so the Church would not seek me out, I remember. These…. or at least the man and woman, are?”

“So they insist. But honestly it’s quite easy to pretend to be unless pushed to a corner and forced to demonstrate the proof. Pick a God or Goddess and claim it. However, there are ways to tell.”

The staffer returned to the others, and they were conversing with our refugees. I watched for a moment, before smiling at Ileana and Valeska. “But that’s not your worry. Obviously, we’ll need to know more details about your actual relationship with the Church, and to make sure you don’t pose a threat, but… we can take it slow. I’m busy for the next few days, so you might as well relax.”

Ileana gnawed at her lip, cute fangs drawing my eye. Seeing me looking, she closed her mouth hurriedly, before taking a deep breath. “By… ways… you mean your vision, yes? Which determined I was not purely human?”

“It’s the best way, but there are others. The flow of aether, when your Skills in handling such increase, you naturally become sensitive to it in others. Inhuman movements, which show up even when one tries to hide it when the Statistics get high enough… there are any number of methods. And right now…” It was clear to me, even without my Eyes, that Valerian was a Chosen, and not a weak one, either. Whereas Bianca… yes. No appreciable aether. But… the level she exudes is too perfectly baseline. Which is enough to make me wonder…

“Perhaps… may I assist you in translating their words?” Ileana surprised me by asking, and she fixed her ever-shifting multichromatic eyes on me. “It is as my grandmother, and also, I suppose, my blood child…” she admitted to what I already had divined through my Eyes and sense for Bonds and Connections. “…declared. Charity is appreciated, but… we would rather accrue respect and favour in our own ways. I do not wish to be looked down upon, as a pitiful runaway. Not forever. So… consider this a start. And also… an apology, for my earlier… indiscretion.”

“That’s… fine, I suppose? My translator’s looking rather frazzled right now. Just, this is important, so…”

“I understand.” She nodded emphatically. “I will not mistranslate. This English grows sharper in my mind as we speak. In fact… it should not be this easy, as I feel I can also grasp your native tongue, this Japanese…”

“Of course. When I worked out what you do instinctively, I just supercharged it on my end. The flow of imprinted aether has been upped a hundredfold. Though Eri’s complaining I’m not resting, even here. Screw it, I’ll definitely get some rest in over the new year!”

“I do not quite grasp what you mean, but… a hundredfold? That… I do understand. If I learn at a hundred times the pace…”

“Yep, you’ll get it in no time.” I agreed. “Okay, you can act as my translator and secretary. Bear in mind though their information is confidential.”

“I am not loose-lipped.”

“Good. Well then…” I stepped forward, and decided to begin with the family group. “Hi there. You must be Valerian and Odeta Fieraru and your family. I’m Akio Oshiro, you’ve probably heard of me. This is my… secretary, Iliana. She speaks fluent Romanian, so…”

I was conversing in English, and it looked as though they understood a little, but Ileana explained what I’d said, and they nodded, Valerian booming out a hearty laugh, and he reached for my hand, giving it a bone-crushing shake, though to me it was merely a gentle touch, yet his hand was hot, as if radiating heat.

“Why yes, everyone has heard of you. It is why we are here.” he boomed, his voice as bombastic as his muscular, mountainous appearance. “Yes, I am Valerian. It is… good… to be here. Times are troubled…” And with that, unprompted, he launched into a surprising tale, which Ileana translated for me…

While that was going on in the Material, in the Boundary at Ise, I continued to expand my understanding of Adherence, and due to the escalating strength of Shiro’s buffs, which was then further amplified by Magatama’s power, the jade bead around my neck sparkling brilliantly, the second wall before me crumbled temporarily, as did my body, insides beginning to rupture. Still, even with my temporarily much reduced talents with aether, Ether Healing was enough to force it into being a slow, manageable decline.

“I see why you need a Divine Flame now…” I managed a pained gasp, feeling as if more and more water was being pumped into a balloon, beyond what it could safely hold. “…adherence is far more potent than aether, and… it lingers. But it’s also corrosive when handled in ways it isn’t exactly aspected for… the Flame purifies, alters it…”

“Of course.” Tan agreed, concern on her face as she watched me weave the separate tides of adherence that had built up here over the centuries. “I am not a Goddess of the level of those Norns, I would not claim to be. Yet.” At her shocking declaration, my attention was on her fully for a moment, and she laughed, tossing Shiro’s head, her fiery hair swaying prettily. “Why the surprise? If you are going to aid Shaeula in becoming the ruler of her Court, surely you will walk beside me as I become not merely the sheltered, shut-in daughter of Great Māra, but one that stands his equal, no… surpasses my father!”

“Yeah, I’ll add it to the list, just after you show the Buddha what he missed out on.” I managed a harsh laugh as blood bubbled from my throat. I coughed, spitting, and Tan surprised me again by retrieving a handkerchief from somewhere, wiping my mouth, before a cool, soothing flame vapourised my spilled gore.

“But yeah, even when I lose the effect of the buffs, what I’ve gleaned here will remain with me. The Flame is a transformer, an amplifier, and protection… but power is power. It’s clearly a mixture of aether at its base, surely soullight too. A hybrid energy, taking the effects of both and streamlining and amplifying the wanted traits. Anyone can learn to use it, even if it’s difficult, dangerous. But to use it safely at any strength takes the proper… talents.” I glanced over to Tsukiko and Yukiko. They were practising their Adherence Manipulation, though Yukiko had the harder task, seeing as she was also trying to learn and merge light-based sunlight element as well.

Seeing me looking, she managed a smile, and I nodded reassuringly. “Don’t worry, you’ve got this. Besides, if anyone has the right to use the adherence here, it’s you. So be greedy. You can always make it up to Amaterasu later.” I managed a wry chuckle at that thought, knowing that the potential of meeting Japan’s patron Goddess and supposed ancestor of Yukoko’s was eminently possible, if only Earth (and we) survived to reach that distant future. So to that end… we push through… no retreat, no surrender. I want everyone’s strength to rise! I’ll not be the only one to reach that future! I won’t allow it…

Biting down on a scream, I snatched at the various bonds I possessed with Yukiko, Hinata, my sis and Ren-kun. Lovers’ Link was the most suitable for that, as I knew how it could transmit adherence at higher Ranks. My sis had Brother’s Bond fully activated, and honestly, I didn’t think she had left any of it off much, despite being able to, and that was functionally similar, though oddly more advanced. Ren-kun… well, sorry, but you’re going to have to live with it. You’re a good kid, and I see Chiaki-chan and Chiasa-chan as my little sisters, so it’s not hard to treasure you too, as a kid brother.

Ren-kun’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t help but scowl at me as Lovers’ Link connected. Brother’s Bond doesn’t work, it seems that only Aiko can use that, at least for now, but… yeah, one day I’ll be able to make a Connection that isn’t so shittily named… sorry, Yggdrasil, I know at the time it was purely for lovers. But Loving Link might have been more sensible. After all, there’s a huge difference between loving, which comes in a variety, and being a lover… oh well, power has no sin. If the Skill or Class I needed to protect everyone was called something awful, I’d still embrace it…

Using the Connections as a sort of channel, it narrowed the flow of adherence, and it became more responsive. “Fuck. Shit.” More blood gouted from my mouth, and Haanōbō was gazing at me, and judging by the position of her wings she was worried. Tan, however, was by my side, and once more tenderly wiped up and vapourised my spilled blood. Seeing that, the Tengu strode over, before immediately castigating me.

“Is this truly necessary? If you perish before the ritual, the Four Directions shall remain unfilled. And that is unacceptable.”

“Do not fear. His Vessel may be agonisingly strained, his League beyond what most mortal beings possess, yet…” Tan licked her purple-stained lips in satisfaction. “…durability is his most admirable trait. He can endure to reach for his dreams, even if that means plunging his hand into the sun, or even his whole self. It also… helps in the bedchamber.” Tan let out a wicked giggle, and I could just imagine Shiro laughing dirtily along with her. “As to whether it is necessary… power is power, and here it is ripe for the taking. It would concern me, having such wellsprings available for others to steal. Far better to burn it ourselves, for a grand cause.”

Haanōbō sighed, and suddenly ice was forming on my skin, not an attack, but a soothing, cooling balm. “Great Tarōbō, my… our… father, has prepared much. To imbue a new Direction, let alone two, is no easy task. Do not stumble at the final hurdle. I… was going to give you this when you became one of us, but…” She sighed, reaching into her black robes, producing a crimson mask. The long nose was elegant and masculine, and the facial features resembled mine quite a bit. Around the eye-holes were inlaid precious metals and rubies, and I was surprised as she put it over my face. “Yes, your… my… sister…” Again that correction, exasperation in her voice. “…I have one for her as well, to be given after her… ascension. But… if you wear it now, then you need not hide your pained expression.”

“Thank you, Haanōbō. I’m touched.” was all I could manage, and she shook her head, her violet hair catching the light and seeming to glow brilliantly.

“There is no need for that. It frustrates me, yet… it is as they say. You unmasked me, forced me to the muddy earth, shaming me. But you also restored my honour, and uncovered the wickedness lurking in my fool of a brother’s heart, his poisoned ambition. Without your aid, the Flame that burns eternal upon Mount Atago would remain tainted. So accept my apology, Akio.”

“There’s nothing to apologise for. I know I get over-excited sometimes. I hate it when brothers bully their sisters.”

“Indeed.” Tan’s gaze softened as she glanced over at Aiko. “You do have a weakness for that. Rejoice, Haanōbō, it seems you too have such a… lofty… position. Can there be a more desirable one?”

“You are mocking me.” the Tengu complained. “Regardless of that…” she changed the subject. “…I have given you the mask, so there can be no failures now.”

“Yeah, I’d never dishonour the gift.” I promised, glad I could let my agony show now, safely hidden, though on the Material, as I listened to Valerian’s story, I had to keep my face impassive, despite wishing to scream out a pained howl. On the plus side, I’m getting more points of Determination, and significant boosts to Resilience again… even some Fortitude, which is unusual. I must really be mincing myself… but anything that breaks can be repaired…

“Then… I shall witness your success.” Haanōbō, who no longer needed to assist my sister, stood beside me, Tan on my other side, and I continued to weave the torrent of adherence with my newly advanced insights. Inside me, crystal element was boiling, but… it’s missing something. But… if I try to push it further…

“Fuck it. In for a penny, in for a pound, as my mom would say. Prominence… Dawn!”

Yukiko laughed, her face flushed due to her mental and physical exertions, and behind her was blazing the Sun of Amaterasu, as she tried to weave light element into it and herself. Seeing the blazing ring of fire behind me, fringed with darkness, she cried out that we matched.

“Yeah. Anyway… this is going to leave us a bit short of earth element for a while, but… it’s a price we can pay.” Pulling from my distant Elemental Silos, I poured earth element into the Dawn, creating crystal element in a quantity that I needed. It wasn’t as strong as Daiyu’s jade, but… one thing at a time…

“All right then. Who… will succeed first?” I grated, as I continued to pour out the adherence. Moments later, I had my answer, as my sis completed her absorption, the Blessed Tear spewing out a hail of the burning flame, which my sis wreathed in her own sunlight and fire. My Eye reported that she had indeed gained Brilliant Scarlet Sunlight. The two mutated elements began to stream together, and then my sis fell to her knees, coughing blood. I moved instantly, reaching her side, but she batted my outstretched hand away.

“Don’t be a big bro moonstone. I’m happy you care, but… I’m fine. And doing a lot less shit than you are at the moment. Nice mask, big bro Tengu. Quite the look…”

“Don’t worry, you’ll get one too, my dear little sis sapphire. Though it’ll be a shame to hide your pretty face.”

“Wow, doing that on purpose to tease me, are you? Well it won’t work, not right now. After all… our wager wasn’t for sunlight, was it? But… watch carefully, bro. Watch very carefully. Though I know you always are…” She smirked as the energies clashed, but her lunar Chakra spun wildly, pulling them in like a vortex, and the two elements merged, forming a swirl of a new creation.

Light And Flame Of Golden Scarlet Sunlight.

“Got it.” my sis gasped, and mimicking what Tan had done for me, I wiped up my sis’s blood and carefully purified her with water, rather than flame. “Yeah, that’s nice and cool. Though… screw it. In for a penny, in for a pound… hey, why are you laughing like an idiot, bro?”

“It is because he said that exact phrase a mere minute ago.” Tan chuckled, before Haanōbō bathed us both in soothing ice. “Now… one final push, and you can… beat him to victory.” Tan’s crimson gaze was knowing, and I was glad of my mask hiding my pained, ironic smile.

“Yeah, best be quick, sis…”

“Guys shouldn’t be quick, but for girls that’s a good thing, isn’t it?” she mocked, and I froze for a moment. “God, you’re too easy to tease, bro. Still, I hear it’s true. Eri says so. Anyway, Hinata and you have helped me so much, Haanōbō, so… I can’t fail. And I’ve seen and felt the fusion now, so… time to double up!”

“She is most definitely your sister. I had wondered, considering the tension between you…” Aiko and I both coughed at Tan’s words, but Haanōbō only inclined her head in agreement. “…but the resemblance is clear. Both of you defy my expectations again and again. Now then… offer me some of that.” Tan chuckled, and my sis, even as she wrestled with the metal elements, expelled a burst of the combined light and flame.

“Marvellous. My Flames Of Endless Thirst And Unquenched Famine, drink deep!” Tan’s surging flames consumed the energies my sis threw out, and she sighed in satisfaction, licking her lips. “That is not yet enough, but from just a mere taste… yes, I shall make it mine as well.”

“Wow, you don’t have to be so erotic about it. I’m scared you’ll just start eating me right here. It’d break bro’s heart…” A pause, even as fiery sweat streamed down her, and her lunar Chakra, third eye, root and solar plexus Chakras too, were all shuddering and shaking, causing her immense pain. “…because he wouldn’t want me to steal you. No other reason.” She winked, and I gently, ever so gently, due to her pained state, flickered her forehead.

“I’m glad to see your mood has finally improved. We were worried about you before Christmas, you know?”

“Way to embarrass me, but… yeah. I’m all in now, on the future I can create with my own hands. If I don’t want to be left behind, I just have to walk as fast as you all do, so… fight on, fight on, fight on. Fight. On!” She roared out the battle cry of a sports club, and my Eye detected a massive churning mess of clashing energies, but… her new flame and light tamed them. My sis collapsed into my arms, her skin so hot as if it was molten metal, and Haanōbō and I both began to cool her, water and ice evaporating as soon as we applied it.

“I’m metal! My heart is hard, hidden and too cold! Yet my blood boils with iron! My Favour is golden. And I’ll never break again, no matter what comes! Bro… I need… more! So much more. I’ll rewrite everything I hate about myself, my weak heart. If I’m the cold, hidden, covetous gold, then I’ll melt it all, and become hot, open, treasured gold! No, we can go beyond… this borrowed power wasn’t mine… so… let it melt, burn, be forged anew in this sunlight, through my… through our efforts, bro! Akio. After all… we share a bond that’ll never break, don’t you think?”

I nodded, and her Brother’s Bond had certainly strengthened, going up several Ranks all at once. I knew what she wanted, and with Eri at the back of my mind cheering her too, I swallowed. “This is… crazy. But… it’s what you suggested, Tan. And Mae as well. Daiyu would approve… fine then. For you sis, I’ll become a Divine Flame. But on my own terms. Tan, can you balance me? Haanōbō, keep us cool. It’s about to get… fucking hot in here…”

You too, Rose. If your Runes can help us at all, now would be a great time, if you’re free.

It’s going to be awkward to explain, I’m… uh… meeting an older sister right now, but… I read your intent. It is laudable. So… allow me to borrow someone else’s myth. As fire met ice and gave birth to Ymir, so too can the flames of one’s spirit meet with the ice of one’s Truesoul to give rise to… Berkana! In the Beginning, there is Rebirth of what was! Laguz! Rebirth is Renewal, and like Ymir, water and flame unite. Ansuz! Wisdom is forged, via Communication, via the Insight of Truth! Algiz! Awaken the true Shield, true Defence. Ehwaz! In Partnership, in Bonds. Our Connections! BLAZE! Divinity is kindled in this moment!

I felt the weight of the power of the Runes settle into me, around me. I drew in as much of the adherence surrounding me, filling the shrine, as I could, a torrent of it, far more than I could hold, my Vessel blazing, fiery tears leaking down my cheeks behind the Tengu mask, but Haanōbō’s icy water was cool. “I… can temporarily exceed my limits here, so… why not… temporarily spark?” I had seen several Divine Flames, and my insight into what adherence was had never been higher. So if it wasn’t possible to purify the adherence within me… then… how about without…

Sorry everyone. I promise I’ll rest… well, not tomorrow, but soon!

My soullight poured out, forming a glowing orb, and adherence surged in. It was muddy, impure, but full of flaming energies, and also of support for Japan, and the Imperial Family. I can make this work for Aiko. I can…

A brilliant ignition, like a star sparking into existence within a cloud of gas and dust, a nebula of adherence. The energies were drawn in, and all of a sudden, even though it wasn’t part of me, the pressure on my Vessel dipped. Knowing such a working was reckless, buoyed by support from Rose, from all my bonds, from Shiro’s buffs, from Magatama, who was pouring out her strength as I wore her around my neck, I held conviction this was possible.

“I’m ready, Akio!” Aiko cried, and the fire poured into her, the fire of pure, aspected adherence, passed through the filter of my soullight. The adherence of Connection, of Growth, of slicing away Misfortune… she shuddered, though her blue eyes, so trusting, gazed into mine. My own eyes were blazing a fierce amber, almost swallowing their usual grey, and inside Aiko I watched as the adherence was soaked into her, and not just her, but the Favour within her. Metal elements, the new combined sunlight… the adherence swept into it, like a blazing ocean, and it drank in the Favour. I wove a change of Bonds, of Connections, not allowing all of the Favour to vanish, but… it’s like when I extracted the Skills from damaged Favours. All Aiko needs is… the core, the core she has a purpose for, and…

Time seemed to slow to a crawl, but the weight of adherence here was heavy, and like aether, no, superior to aether, it could compensate for what I was lacking, so long as it was in tune with the flavour. Soon, the tide died down, and my sis sagged, clearly spent. Her erratic, pained breathing and sweaty, red-faced panting diminished, and she reached out a shaking hand, touching the cool enamel of my Tengu mask, before she smiled like a blooming flower. “I win, bro. No takebacks. But… you really make it hard, don’t you? If you can do that to me, rewrite me, reforge me… there’s no way you shouldn’t have beaten me to the new element.”

“Yeah, but… Eri will bully you enough, I’m sure. Besides…” I knew she couldn’t see my grin, but she could sense it. “…I already have your book of wish tickets, don’t I? So it’s not like I need the request. But hey, I helped out so much, if you’re upset I didn’t give it my all, you can call me the winner?”’

“Wow, no way!” my sis shook her head, before she nodded at Tan and Haanōbō, standing up on shaky legs, though she let me support her weight still. “Thanks. It’s just like you say, me, my bro, Eri, we’re all as stubborn as each other. But… I’m done being a coward. Now…” She squeezed out a grin. “…I’m probably going to pass out. I feel utterly wretched. No more training for me if I’m going to do my duty tomorrow. But you’re not done yet, bro. I’m still not on your level, am I? Still…”

As my sis closed her eyes, I smiled, and her next words and actions surprised me. “…I know you want to see my handiwork, so…” Squeezing out the last of her strength, she called out a single Golden Sister. No, not a Golden Sister.

Hihi’irokane Sister Of Sunlight [Construct Of Gold And Sunlight]

Before us stood a taller, more imposing version of Yukiko, perfectly sculpted down to every detail, yet shockingly regal. It was several feet taller than I was, and behind its back was a shieldlike halo of crimson metal, almost transparent, and light shone within. It carried a long katana, perhaps aping the form I used Tsurugi in, and I found myself impressed by the sheer sense of majesty it radiated, in comparison to a Golden Sister.

“…I’ll leave you a gift, while you work, bro. I can’t be… the only one you help.” With that my sis fell into a deep slumber, leaving me shaking my head. Typical sis. Saying or doing something outrageous, then managing to avoid having to face it by fleeing…

“It is never boring here.” Tan chuckled, addressing Haanōbō, who nodded slowly in agreement. “There are always new things to see, which shocks even I, a denizen of the Pantheons. Perhaps I was too sheltered, and entertainment like this happens frequently? No, I know that to be mere falsehood.” She took a deep breath, eyeing the sleeping Aiko. ”I shall drink deep of her new flames when she has had a chance to recover. I do so hope she does not falter tomorrow.”

“She won’t.” I promised on her behalf. “My sis will become the Autumn West, have no fear. Now…” I passed my slumbering sister to Tan, who took her with a slight smile. “…she’s right. I have to do this now…” I was burning adherence in great quantities just to keep my hastily bodged fake Divine Spark functioning properly, fuelling my soullight. The reserves at Ise were immense, but hardly inexhaustible. “…as we might not get such a chance again.”

Within me, I felt crystal element settle into my third eye, lunar and root Chakras. Using another surge of adherence, I magnified and amplified what little of Daiyu’s jade I possessed, and it too merged in with the crystal, though it seemed a little different to what I had expected to happen. Letting out a pained breath, I was relieved that two of the tides of adherence I was managing were no longer necessary, though even with the adherence I was feeding it and Rose’s support, my external facsimile of a Divine Flame was taxing to maintain in the extreme. Glancing around for who was closest to a breakthrough, I turned to Yukiko, who was a little stunned by the magnificent version of her my sis had summoned. Our eyes met, and I raised my hand, a maelstrom of the adherence of Ise Grand Shrine building.

All right, you’re next, Yukiko. Amaterasu, thank you for the meal, but… we’ll use this power to protect Japan, and strengthen your Priestess and descendant, so… don’t feel too bad about the loss, okay?