On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

“All right. If you could take everyone who wants to train at the mansion back to my Territory I’d appreciate it, Arisu-san.”

She nodded at me, her usual exasperated expression present as always. “Very well. If I must. I have to admit, I am pleased that this Pilgrimage is coming to an end. While it has certainly done wonders for my control of space and my Room, being used as a convenient taxi service is rather… vexing.”

“Oh, you love it, I know!” Shiro chimed in, smirking playfully. “Being relied on makes you feel rewarded.”

There was a pause as Arisu-san’s dark eyes glowered at Shiro, before she sighed, giving up. “With an attitude like that, you will not be popular, White. I suppose it is fortunate that you already have a fiancé. Despite your looks, most men would not put up with you for long, once the novelty of your attractiveness wore off.”

“You hear that, Aki?” Shiro clung to me, faking tears, though Tsurugi, who was holding my hand, grumbled at being pushed aside and shot her an irritated glance. “Arisu’s bullying me! I’m more than just my rocking tits, gorgeous face and overall sexy body, aren’t I?”

“Oh, you.” I kissed her forehead playfully, before apologising to Arisu-san. “Sorry, you know better than most how she gets. But yes, it’s true we do reply on you. Originally the Pilgrimage would have taken an extra five days due to the travelling, but thanks to you we’ve compressed the schedule. It has it’s… issues…” I grinned, embarrassed. Oh, it certainly does. We’ve barely had time to breathe, but… it’s paying off. The wealth, time and stress invested have pushed us all to new heights of power… “…but what we struggle through now, we won’t have to suffer later. Oh, can I check your own Class Levels?” I asked, and Shiro snickered.

“You should be honoured, Arisu. Aki just loves peeping on people’s Statistics, Skills and Classes, but for you, he asks.”

“As he should.” Arisu-san countered. “Unlike you, White, he does have a sense of decorum. Very well, go ahead.”

My Eyes glowed, and I nodded. “Level fifteen. A bit on the lower end, for this stage of the Pilgrimage, but it makes sense, in a way. Fortunately, Kyoto should be a big boost, and by the end I expect you’ll have maxed it out. If not, I’ll make funds available for you and any stragglers to do a top-up tour. With your Room it won’t take more than a day or two.”

“How generous of you. I will take it as my payment for services rendered.” With that she nodded elegantly, and stepped aside, readying her Room to transport those who wanted the extra time offered by training at the mansion.

“Yeah, she’s growing more and more tsundere. Never thought I’d see the day…” Shiro shook her head. “Anyway, you’ll need my buffs, right? You hear that, Magatama, we’ve got to work hard tonight!”

Magatama only gave a polite nod in return. It was then my sister, who had been waiting patiently, at least for her, spoke up. “Hey bro, not trying to hamper my efforts by keeping me here, are you?” She winked playfully, and I shook my head, exasperated.

“You know I’m not that petty. When you do well, sis, I’m proud, aren’t I? Didn’t I always cheer for you when you had any matches?”

“Those you could come to before you moved away, yeah…” she admitted. “Wow, it kind of makes it hard for me to joke about this if you’re being so earnest, bro.” She slapped her cheeks, as if hyping herself up. “All right, I’m listening, what are we here for?”

“That’s right.” Ren-kun agreed, as I’d asked him to stay, as well as his sisters, of course. “I don’t get why I am needed, your sister has already mastered my sunlight.” I was impressed, as while he was clearly a little irritated by that, he wasn’t showing the jealousy he had before. And I think I know why…

“And I…” Asami-san, Kana’s boisterous friend, grinned broadly, patting Ren-kun’s shoulder. “…am here to cheer on my Ren-kun and offer moral support.”

Seeing the young man flush and smile foolishly, I realised I was wearing my own smile, as Shiro snorted, and my sis rolled her eyes.

“You’re not an old man, Aki, so stop acting like one…” Shiro grumbled. Tsurugi nodded, surprising me, and I couldn’t help but sigh.

“My bad. Just seeing something heartwarming. I guess after getting a girlfriend…”

“Girlfriends…” my sis corrected unhelpfully.

“Yes, girlfriends…” I agreed. “…I suppose I’ve become more sensitive to such sugary scenes. Anyway…” I cast my gaze out over those who were staying here at the Inner Shrine at Ise. Christina was here, as I was going to transplant her Eyes, as were her recipients. Yukiko, Tsukiko and Kana too, as well as the Takakura sisters. Obviously, all those helping my sister with her efforts, such as Hinata and Haanōbō, and also the Regalia, as they didn’t want to be parted from me, and Shiro was here anyway. Lastly, Uncle Daimon and his fellow Onmyōji had remained behind, clearly eager to discuss matters.

As am I. I’d like to see what knowledge they can offer me…

 “…while it doesn’t seem related to metal element, sis, this flame is a type of sunlight, and also has an influence on gold. So I think it’s relevant.”

“Now it’s me who feels rather sorry for Ren-san…” Yukiko chuckled. “…if Aiko-chan learns my flames, where will my uniqueness go?”

“Don’t worry about that. Amaterasu’s Favour clearly biases you towards using such flames, but that’s not all, and it’s not your limit. As we’ll see.” I promised. “Anyway… here’s what I want everyone to do.” I quickly set everyone to their tasks, before walking over to Christina, who was waiting with bated breath, though her face was pale with anticipation and trepidation. On seeing my somewhat sympathetic look, she smiled wanly.

“It’s hard to get used to. Even though I know I’ll survive it unscathed, and it is only temporary pain… needless to say, little miss Christina isn’t as bold as I appear. But I’ll still do it.” She winked at Aliyah and Eri, who both frowned, while Luciana and Treyvon remained unconcerned.

“Fuck me, having my eyes scooped out sounds like a bad day. Shit…” Aliyah clapped her hands together. “Might as well get it over with. I know it’s safe, but…”

“Fascinating.” Uncle Daimon had come to watch alongside his two fellow Onmyōji. “Such delicate body manipulations surely require careful balancing of Yin and Yang, and the five elements. The spiritual body is intriguingly complex. From writings left by Abe no Seimei, our greatest ancestor, we have an understanding of such a balance. Now…” He produced some Talismans from his voluminous sleeves, one of which was black, the other white. “…Kekkai no Shōmei! Seeing Barrier!”

He brought the two Talismans together, and they seemed to work differently to ones used by Cultivators such as Daiyu, aether and elemental energies rather than Qi fuelling them.  Regardless of that, the principles were similar. A weight of aether settled around us, forming a transparent done, and within, light began to shine, in five colours. Green, red, yellow, white and black. It was easy enough to work out what he was tracking, just judging by my own body. My sacral chakra was a mix of green and black, the green spreading to my root, where it mixed with yellow. My lunar Chakra was a riot of green, black, red and yellow, and correspondingly, other parts of my network were lit up. Colours bloomed in the others too, and I admitted to being impressed, if a little confused.

“The colours don’t match the energies in the network…” I muttered, and Uncle Daimon chuckled, stroking his long white beard idly.

“Perhaps not. But then, can you be sure that the colour you perceive is the colour I perceive? Who can truly know how another sees the world?” At my wry stare, his chuckles returned. “Forgive me if I wax rather philosophical, my boy. Onmyōji arts comprise of many teachings, Buddhist, Shinto, Taoism and other esoteric secret arts incorporated over the long centuries. It is our nature to ask questions which have no answers. But I suppose this one does… it is merely the classification that the great Abe no Seimei laid down for us, based on his research into the five elements, as well as Yin and Yang.” He nodded to his colleague holding the metal spike, who then thrust it into the ground, his aether surging.

“Kugi no Byōdō! Spike Of Balance!” the man cried, and suddenly the barrier, or Kekkai, as Uncle Daimon had called it, was full of the five energies, the surrounding aether being converted to elemental colours. The rate of exchange was terrible, but… the ether density here at Ise matched Kyoto, so it was workable.

“Balance in all things.” Uncle Daimon laughed. Tsurugi, who was the only Regalia with me at the moment, who was wreathed in a brilliant, almost actinic, white light, marvelled as that light spread to us all. I see… that is quite fascinating.

“Sadly, Yang Master Masabumi…” The young man bowed as his name was spoken. “…while now able to work the Spike since Divine Siming blessed him, can only balance the five Eastern elements. We cannot affect wind, for example. Or he could balance Yin and Yang, but that requires a separate barrier, and greater efforts…”

The Yang Master, Masabumi-san, nodded. “I am afraid so. Divine Siming adjusts and balances and is always fair. I can use this relic the Onmyōdō Bureau had kept for centuries, to spread that to certain elements. Though…”

“Yes. It must be used carefully. We… were a little reckless, initially. There is indeed a fourth Onmyōji who received a Divine revelation, or there was, but sadly…” They all respectfully bowed, clasping their hands. “…disrupting the balance of all things unwisely led to his demise. However…” Uncle Daimon’s warm smile returned. “…I would not wish you to think us careless. I would not risk you, not since you have brought a smile back to the face of our Princess. No, we learned to contain the Art within a suitable Kekkai, and only in an area rich in aether. Else… the resources for the balancing come from those being balanced, and our frail bodies can hardly sustain that. Though…” he peered at me, golden eyes somehow knowing, and I suspected, even though my own amber Eyes didn’t report anything, that he saw deeper than I imagined. “…you asked about the five Eastern elements. They are a type of harmony. Wood feeds fire which produces earth, earth bears metal, and metal collects water, and water nourishes wood. Harmony of body and spirit. The Yang, but do not be mistaken. Yang without Yin is hollow, a foundation that will collapse when stressed. Metal cuts wood, wood breaks earth, earth absorbs water, water extinguishes fire, and fire melts metal… destruction as a cycle and loop.”

I see. Unlike the Western four elements, which have a cycle of feeding, and also paired opposition, the Eastern elements take a different approach…

“That’s fucking fascinating, I’m sure…” Aliyah grumbled. “But shouldn’t you get down to it, before I get cold feet? It ain’t fair to our madwoman here either.”

Christina blinked at that. “Oh, don’t worry about me, Aliyah. I’m fine. But a little touched…” She giggled happily.

“Don’t be. Ugh, my stomach.” Aliyah grumbled, clutching her chest, which drew my eyes, and she scowled at me, beads in her hair clinking. “Look, can we just get this done?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I’m on a tight schedule myself here tonight, though…” With the balanced elements, a swirl of all five Eastern ones filling the barrier, I noticed that Christina’s Spiritual Eyes Of Earth were drawing in not just earth element, but in order, earth, metal, water, wood and fire. It wasn’t cycling to her Chakras as I expected, but… I see. This is a nourishing cycle. I… didn’t know elements could be used this way. I guess learned sages such as the Onmyōdō have a lot of knowledge I still don’t…

“…Christina, I think you might be able to exceed your limits today…”

“Oh, how utterly… delightful.” Her smile was wicked yet trembled a little. “Very well, have at me. It’s just a little prick, some blood, and then it’s soon over…”

“Yeah, you’re fine if you can make those jokes.” I quickly removed her Eyes, and her own Ether Healing began to regenerate them swiftly, drawing in the five elements. I offered a helping hand with my own aether, and soon she was blinking tears from her restored blue orbs, faint trickles of red and silver evaporating from her cheeks.

“Fuck, watching that makes me feel sick…” Aliyah grumbled, before she stared at me, deliberately unblinking. “Get on with it, before I change my mind.”

“Fine. Want any cosmetic changes to your eye colour?” I teased, trying to break the tension, and she snorted, her arms pushing up her chest.

“I’m one hundred percent natural, and that’s how I’m staying. Her eyes are nearly the same shade as mine, ain’t they?”

“Yeah. The work of a moment…” I agreed, before working Chirurgery. Aliyah let out a gasp, though she remained firm, as befitted a tough combatant, and as I plugged in the Eyes Christina had donated, the five elements swirled. Despite not having metal element, it was captured in the cycle, therefore I could easily control it with the four I did know. I poured those into Aliyah’s Eyes, and I realised that doing so had in fact Ranked up the Skill they gave. Instead of the usual Rank one, it quickly rose to Rank three, nearly Rank four. I see. It’s not too hard to get the Eyes to that Rank with use, but I’ll still see if I can top up Kana’s and my sister’s Eyes later. Speaking of…

“Fuck. You’ve got some shit to look forward to, Trey, Luciana…” Aliyah snorted sourly, blinking. “…whoa, the world’s all sparkly. Oh, I can turn it off. Handy, else I’d get a fucking headache if I had to see this all the time…”

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” I teased her, as Aliyah somehow always bit back at our jokes. “Anyway, did you want to keep your old eyes as a souvenir?” I held out my hands, and she gagged, her dark skin somehow managing to go pale.

“I’m not your idiot sister. Just… get them out of my sight. I ain’t in the mood.” She shuddered, so I quickly flared a little flame, burning them to ash.

“Okay then. Christina, you ready?” I asked, and she agreed without hesitation.

“Oh yes. Feeling fine and ready to experiment!” she promised. “Watching the methods you use to implant the Eyes is quite edifying. More than worth the price of admission to this lecture.”

“I’m… glad you think so?”

“Why was that a question?” she asked me, before grinning at Treyvon. “Come on now. A big, strong man like you should be able to manage just fine, if we women can!”

As Treyvon let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair, I nodded, agreeing with the sentiments, although… I know an awful lot of women who can endure just as much, if not more, than any man. Aether and other energies are a great equaliser, no longer does a man have superiority just by virtue of muscle, bone and hormones…

***

“Wonderful. Magnifica. I can see so much more clearly now. The elementos, they obey me more crisply than ever!” Luciana, dressed in her sharp Adamant uniform, Officer insignia displayed proudly, began to dance, the wind answering her, though when she tried to call on earth, it clashed a bit with the cycle occurring within the barrier, though she adjusted quickly. As expected of a genius.

“Makes you a bit sick, doesn’t it, Trey?” Aliyah grumbled, watching. “She’s such a show-off.”

“She’s not showing off her tits, eyes on her face.” he chided her, and Christina giggled, seeming surprisingly fresh despite having had three sets of Eyes removed. It might have been partially due to her Donator Class gaining a Level, but… it was probably down to the nurturing cycle of elements the Onmyōji had created. And speaking of those…

“Just what does he do?” Eri nodded at the hitherto silent man, who held the incense burner.

“Oh? Yin Master Eishun has a rather more… delicate… role.” Uncle Daimon smiled. He was offering Tsurugi sweet treats, not that I knew where he’d got them from, yet the Tsukumogami was stubbornly wary of him, clinging to my side. “If Yang Master Masabumi balances, our Yin Master will shatter said balance. Though rest assured, he will only be needed if there is a problem.”

“I see. Though I’d be very interested in learning just what he can do, what you all can do, later. Yukiko would be delighted if you helped us, I’m sure. Anyway…” I turned to the waiting Eri. “…are you ready?”

Before she could answer, Aliyah shook her head, accompanied by the usual soft jingling. “Are you sure you want to do that to her? She’s just a kid. And she’s suffered enough…”

“I’m not a kid, Aliyah.” Eri didn’t use any polite speech as Aliyah was foreign and didn’t care anyway. Besides, they were acquainted in strange ways. “You said you two were on the battlefield younger than I am now. And I’ve tasted both defeat and victory. I know the price of failure better than most.” Eri’s black eyes brooked no dissent. “Anyway, we both know it’s only some pain. I’m not any less brave than Christina Bakker!”

“Why does everyone use me as an unflattering comparison?” our resident scientist chuckled, and Luciana rolled her eyes, even as she continued to manipulate elemental energies within the translucent barrier.

“Search el corazón, your heart, and you will know.”

“Fine then.” Aliyah shrugged. “It’s cold as ice, letting you suffer, but… oh fuck it. I’m no idiot, despite what you’re all thinking. There ain’t no training without tears and bruises. Just this… goes a little far.”

“It does.” I agreed. “But I’m proud Eri, proud everyone, will go that far. And speaking of…”

“Yes, a fresh pair, coming right up. Honestly, I think I’ve got the basics down…” Christina insisted, and I frowned, once more awed at her level of genius.

“They say the Gods never give two gifts, and in your case it’s true.” I sighed. “You’ve got such talent, but it’s not paired with humanity. Though… I suppose you’re trying. I can’t fault that.” She’d gained the Aetheric Chirurgery Skill. Only at Rank one, so still weak, but even so, she was well on the path to success. If only the doctors, nurses and surgeons we want to train up end up being a tenth as talented as her…

“Actually, that saying is provably false.” Christina disagreed. “After all, I do have two charm points. Brains…” She pointed to her head, even as I removed her eyes, and it was quite the ghoulish sight, as even though only a trickle of blood leaked out, her empty sockets, which were filling with elemental energies and flesh, were staring at me. “…and beauty! Oh, and a fantastic pair of…”

“Yeah, you spoiled it again.” I sighed, turning to Eri. “Anyway, this experiment is a bit… unpleasant, but…”

“Oh, compared to what I do in private to train Split Thoughts, it’s nothing.” Eri waved off my apologies. “I can hardly bear to let anyone, especially you, see me at my worst. So many eyes, ears, even noses… ugh…” She gagged, remembering. “…but it certainly strengthens my mind, I know it. This…” She reached out, and Christina, eyes freshly regenerated and still seeming perky, which was beyond our expectations, and surely thanks to the efforts of our Onmyōji friends, watched as Eri shifted her shape, her own pretty black eyes vanishing, leaving empty sockets. She reached out, and I placed the dripping Eyes in her palm.

“Oh… I see.” Christina marvelled. “That’s… I knew there was a reason I fell for you, Akio! You’re as experimental as I am! And Eri, you’re very dedicated. Proving theories with your own body on the line! We should hang out together. Or maybe we can…” she glanced my way, licking her lips.

“If you’re thinking of a threesome…” Eri grumbled. “…you can piss off.” It wasn’t often Eri swore, so the retort should have stung, but as always, Christina took it with almost masochist grace, her face red.

“Oh you bully. Now I just want it more. You can teach me how to please him, and… okay, okay. I’m shutting up!” She mimed zipping her lips. Whatever her faults, which were many, as Eri moved her hands to her empty sockets, Christina shifted to work mode, and her Eyes shone with aether as she watched closely.

“Here we go.” Eri’s flesh and bone melted like wax, her control still clumsier than Ginneka’s, obviously, but leagues above what it used to be. Her face was a bit misshapen as she pushed the Eyes in, and as flesh then absorbed the Eyes, she groaned. “Yes, this doesn’t exactly hurt, but it doesn’t feel nice. It’s almost as if something’s burrowing into my flesh, into my brain…”

“You can stop at any time, and I’m monitoring you for any problems.” Indeed, my Eyes and also my Qi Perception which I’d newly honed, were scanning her constantly. Moments later, my Eyes reported what I assumed was the first stirrings of success, as Eri gained a new Class, and quite a familiar one, that of Chimera. Moments later, she opened her Eyes, which, without my tuning, were her usual black, pretty orbs, but they shone with aether and earth element, and drank in the balanced energies.

“Oh, I can see. It worked…” Eri grimaced. “…though my body burns. Ouch!”

“Yeah, it’s not quite perfect.” I agreed. “Let me work a few fixes.” Quick Chirurgery polished up her network. She’d used her Shifting Cat to clearly resolve any concept of tissue rejection or incompatibility, but her Chakra network was still damaged by the haphazard absorption of the Eyes, making it a part of her properly.

“That’s better…” Eri almost purred, tail and ears flickering. “…oh, and I can switch back to my normal eyes when I want too. Useful. That means…”

“Oh, don’t steal my job!” Christina protested, understanding, but Eri only shook her head.

“I’m not and wouldn’t dream of it. What it does mean is that any breakthrough you make becomes mine too. I look forward to working with you!” Eri smirked, enjoying Christina’s pouty irritation, but it was impossible to keep her down for long, and moments later, she was grinning at me.

“I feel fine to continue. Certainly two or three more, might even make four or five more sets. I’m more aware of the state of my body than ever, I can only assume it’s the Skill I noticed myself gaining. Chirurgery, I presume?”

“Yeah. If you’re sure, then… I do have some others in mind…”

“Oh, strike while the iron is hot, or in this case, the Christina is hot!” she giggled, and with that I had Uncle Daimon and Yang Master Masabumi stop their workings, and went to fetch those I had in mind…

***

“Oh, no, no, definitely not!” Mizuki-san protested, but she wasn’t able to escape, as the Kekkai had been put up again, and elemental energies were swirling. Besides, her older sister was holding her arm, smiling apologetically.

“You should be most honoured…” “…and extremely grateful…” “That Akio-sama is thinking of you.” “That Akio-sama finds you worthy of such a gift.” Chiaki-chan and Chiasa-chan had been brought over, though my sis complained teasingly I was trying to cheat her out of her victory. I merely laughed, because during this I didn’t even have any time to tend to my batteries and work on crystal. I was thinking about it, sure, on the Material, while I waited for the private jet which was the first arrival to land. The skies had been rather turbulent, leading to a slight delay, but apparently it would be reaching Haneda shortly.

“Oh, I am, I… am. It’s just… no, Kia is far too young, it’d be cruel… maybe… maybe we should sit this one out. Older sister should be prioritised, I’d say!” Mizuki-san was emphatic, and Katsuki-san merely patted her head.

“It will be fine. Chiaki-chan and Chiasa-chan are right. If we want to truly restore Takakura house to prominence, this is the way. Unless you prefer the alternative? It would hardly be difficult…”

“The alternative?” Mizuki-san seized on that for a second, only to freeze, her expression changing. “I get it. I think… uh…”

“It might not come to it right now anyway. It all depends on Christina.” I soothed the younger girl. “But while we’ve succeeded in prepping Fenrir for their upcoming missions, and she insists she’s still good to go…”

“Yes, barely hurts at all!” Christina lied casually. “No worse than a bee-sting or ten…”

“That sounds bad enough.” Mizuki-san complained.

“Chiaki-chan, Chiasa-chan…” I addressed the two brave twins, who were, like Luciana, proudly wearing their Adamant attire, though it was a shrine maiden version, and their rank insignia designated them as specialists, rather than those in command of troops. “…you’re both extremely integral to our continued progress. It’s selfish of me to ask you to endure this pain, but… it is also a reward. With your Telepathy, I’m sure you can put these Eyes to greater use, and help those who are struggling to gain strength, as you have been.”

The twins exchanged a silent glance, surely communicating, before bowing to me, smiles on their pretty faces. “Of course we accept.” They spoke in unison, voices overlapping. I had keen enough senses to tell them apart, while they were identical twins, obviously growing up they had to accumulate a few differences. “In fact, had you not offered, we may have been impertinent enough to ask Commander Hinata to intercede on our behalf. We wish to do better, to serve you properly, as your first shrine maidens.”

They both paused then, before their faces reddened, unusual for the stoic, calm young girls. “Oh, but we… do not disparage Kana-sama, and certainly…” “…we would never presume to be above Tsukiko-sama, the noble Lady Diviner…” “…it is just… they are your wives, so…” “…it is not becoming for them to be in a subservient…” “…position in this matter. No…” “…leave that to us. We have plans and…” “…you will not be disappointed!”

That rapid barrage, the twins changing who spoke every few words, poleaxed Mizuki-san, who, at seeing girls only slightly older than her practically begging to take the Eyes, could only give in. “Looks like we need to pray, Kia. Else we’re going under the knife…”

“Even if we don’t, sister Mizuki, then sooner or later…” the youngest here shrugged. She was scared, yes, her hands trembling, but she was also slightly eager, I thought. “…it’ll be our turn. I want to master our birthright. It… didn’t hurt so bad before, did it? And we got treats afterwards.”

Katsuki-san nodded reassuringly. “Yes, noble Taṇhā and Kana-san helped us repair our decayed talents, at least a little. But to go all the way, and fully reclaim what we had… it will take sacrifice. And this is one I can bear.” She hugged her sisters. “I don’t want to see you both in pain, but… it’s like the dentist, isn’t it? Yes, it hurts, but it leads to a happier tomorrow, free from worry!”

“I hate the dentist…” Kiaria-chan muttered, and Christina snorted, two pairs of Eyes held in her hands, her sockets bubbling and warping.

“…perhaps… you should have… ah… said… a surgery. Makes more… sense. Take… them!” She pressed the Eyes towards me, and I picked them up from her palms, my expression sympathetic, despite my better judgement.

“It’s catching up with you, isn’t it? Your network is starting to disintegrate.” I observed.

“Oh… yes… got too… cocky, I think. But… it’s good to… ah… oh dear… yes, it’s certainly… an exquisite… pain for… little miss… uh… Christina… push… my limits. Experimentation… not quite… ah… to destruction, but… as close as is… ah… doable.”

Yin Master Eishun seemed worried for her too, but Uncle Daimon stayed his hand. “Peace. It seems under control. Besides, the weight of Karma lies heavy on this woman. Let it balance, as all things must do if they wish to be pure and perfect.”

Christina? Pure? Dream on…

I turned to the twins, and they stared at me boldly, holding each other’s hands, and moments later the Chirurgery began, and they didn’t cry out. In fact, I winced more at what I was doing. But soon, it was done, and the two of them gazed wonderingly at the world.

“It is so much…” “…clearer now we can see…” “…it for ourselves. Before…” “…it was seen through the eyes and the memories…” “…of others. This way, I am sure…” “…we can meet your expectations, and also…” “…our own! We have our pride.” “Yes, we have our pride, as your shrine maidens.” “We will be the first of many.” “As noble as Tsukiko-sama, the Lady Diviner!” “We so swear!” “Yes, we so swear!”

“Well first…” I patted their heads, ruffling their black hair. “…you two take a rest. I know that hurt a lot. You’re both very brave.”

“It is not like we have not been hurt before.” Chiaki-chan smiled cheekily, an unusual expression for her.

“Yes, in Kyoto we endured far worse, for no gain at all. Besides…” Chiasa-chan agreed with her sister, and once more they spoke together.

“If Kiaria-chan says there will be treats, we want to have some too!”

“Fine then!” I agreed playfully, even as a trembling, bloody Christina yanked out the second pair of Eyes while we talked, working her own casual Chirurgery, it being trivial to remove something as opposed to implanting or fixing organs. Her skin was ashen, hair falling out, and her words were barely intelligible sobs, but somehow she was still smiling, and she held up one trembling finger. “Ah… uh… one… one more…”

My Eyes glowed, and I saw massive, escalating degradation to her Adaptive Bonded Eight Moons Chakra network, but she was still restoring her Eyes. I reached out, pouring in aether, which stabilised her but barely repaired the damage, and her expression was one of agonised determination…

She shouldn’t die from one more, not with the five elements cycling. And if I’m being honest, it is giving me new insights and ideas. I still… even for Christina… really don’t like this level of injury and suffering though. Fool of a woman…

***

“My head, my face, my brain, it all hurts!” Mizuki-san was rolling about on the floor, tears on her cheeks, muttering to herself. Meanwhile, I was attending to Christina, who was limp and incapable of more than basic movements and stringing a few slurred words together. Yes, she wasn’t in any danger, and would recover over time, but…

“Idiot.” I chided her, even as I helped her sit up. Tsurugi watched her with wary eyes, Eri with a mixture of scorn and grudging respect, and the Onmyōji, even Uncle Daimon, had reached a point where they were giving us painfully dead smiles, as if they’d given up with the whole affair. “There was no need to go so far. Punishing yourself for the sake of it won’t impress me, you know. And now you’ll be out of commission for days. We’ll have to wheel you around the Pilgrimage tomorrow…”

“Not… hah… ah… punish. Learn… uh… limits. Recovery… ah…uh… test.” Saying that exhausted her, but despite the clear agony she was in, which I suspected now went beyond mere bee stings, and probably felt like being eaten alive by fire ants from the inside out, her regenerated eyes met mine, and her lips quirked into a trembling smile, and there was no hesitation in her.

“Fine. You really are insane. But at least you’re consistently so.” I gave up.

Meanwhile, Katsuki-san was trying to calm Mizuki-san. Her face too was covered in tears, and she was very pale, but she was showing the dignity of an elder sibling. “It’s over now. And look, Kia was very brave. You can be strong for her, can’t you?”

Indeed, Kiaria-chan was holding the twins’ hands, and while she was white as a sheet and shaking, the Chirurgery had been a success. Seeing her sisters looking, the young girl nodded, forcing a tremulous smile. “Big sis Mizuki, it’s all done. We… don’t have to do that again. Please stop complaining. Besides…” She glanced at me, and her smile suddenly seemed less pained, and her brown eyes glimmered with humour. “You’re drawing attention. I thought you didn’t like that?”

I coughed. Obviously, the Onmyōji were gentlemen, so studiously had been avoiding looking at Mizuki-san as she rolled around, swinging like a pendulum, or a pair of them. I too had done my best to avert my eyes, but I’d had to extend my vision to keep an eye on everyone, in case there were complications. Better safe than sorry…

“Oh, just great!” Mizuki-san cried, before sitting up. Indeed, while her hakama was decent, modest and covered her body, it had been pulled tight by her tantrums. She straightened it a little, before letting out a disconsolate sigh. “That was awful. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, not even Hotaru-chan, when she calls me that annoying…” She bit her lip. “Never mind. She’ll be jealous, but then, she is a bit of an idiot.”

“She is just… single-minded and driven.” Katsuki-san insisted, being polite. “But yes, she would be eager to be more involved, and have some… one-on-one time.” She shook her head, her black hair falling in waves around her shoulders, which were still shaking with the lingering traces of the Chirurgery’s torment. “So, we succeeded. And yes, it was worthwhile. With the efforts the Goddess Taṇhā put in, alongside Kana-san, and now these… I feel I can draw in what is around me… and it feels as if something is scratching at the surface of my mind, like nails on glass…”

Kiaria-chan nodded too. “I feel the same way. I also feel… a weight inside me.”

“I sense a weight too, a pressure. Like something wants to burst out from inside me.” Mizuki-san had finished making herself presentable, and after shooting me a sullen glower, tried to pretend she hadn’t been childishly flailing after her painful experience.

“That’s good. It’s a sign your abilities are blossoming.” I praised them, and Kiaria-chan smiled at me gently. It’s true. The young are adaptable. Or maybe she’s just bold. She seems shy at first, but I remember, she can be quite strong-willed and sharp-tongued sometimes… “…as for the next steps…”

“Yes, we understand, Akio-sama.” “Yes, leave it so us. Who better than we to assist them?” Chiaki-chan and Chiasa-chan chorused, before turning to the Takakura sisters. “We shall aid you in recovering your abilities.” “Hopefully it can be done now without further Chirurgery, but…” “…if it is required, we will share your pain.” “We will not rest until you three can hear each other’s thoughts and transmit them as clearly…” “…as we can now. And also…” “…modify them, since that is the goal, we have been told.”

As the two of them gathered up the trio, I turned to Uncle Daimon. “Can you drop your Kekkai again? That and the balancing was helpful, but… we’re done here. Next up, I’d like to see how Yukiko, Tsukiko and Kana are getting on. And that’s also my goal in training for this evening.” If I master it, I’ll likely be able to succeed with crystal element too. “But for now, I need to find some carers for Christina, I can’t just leave her here. Eri, can you handle that?” With a sigh I hefted the ravaged scientist up onto my shoulders, ignoring the drool and other worse, and for once, not lewd, liquids she was leaking. Eri nodded, agreeing to handle it before she went back to her own training.

Back on the Material, I watched as a rather nice private jet was coming in to land. Beside me, in the lounge where private VIP passengers were received by airport security and the Japanese border force and customs, a smartly dressed older man had arrived. He was apparently a Romanian translator, and one of only a handful in Japan.

“Thank you again for this.” The man bowed, a slight smile on his face. “There isn’t much demand for Romanian her in Japan. In fact, you might have been better served getting a Romanian to English translator. Those are common enough, and you are fluent, I hear, Oshiro-sama.”

“Maybe so, but you’ll do.” I assured him. “Anyway, as usual, this is a Ministry job, so discretion…”

“…is guaranteed. I assure you!” the man agreed. The plane had touched down, and slowly taxied to the private gate opposite us. As it halted, the boarding tunnel was rolled out, and soon the doors were open, though I still couldn’t see our first guests. I could hear footsteps though, and moments later, the glass doors to the terminal slid open, and two women stepped out, blinking under the sudden glare of the harsh airport lighting.

One was an elderly woman, with a wrinkled, weatherbeaten face, and threadbare white hair, though her pale blue eyes were still sharp and keen. The other… the first thing I noticed was her hair, which was a rose-gold colour, almost metallic in nature, and the second were her eyes, which seemed to catch the light in strange ways, making it impossible to tell their true hue. She was certainly beautiful too, if rather thin, her cheeks rather gaunt, though she tried to hide it with a cheap baseball cap, pulled down as if to draw attention away from her face.

All right then, looks like our first treasures from Romania are here. With a smile, I stepped forwards to greet them, and welcome them to Japan. “Hi there. I hope your flight was pleasant. I’m… oh, in Western order my name would be Akio Moonstone Oshiro. And you must be…” I glanced down at my phone and the report I’d received. “Ileana Roșuluminel and Valeska Roșuanu. Lovely names for lovely visitors.”

At my words, the younger woman, Ileana, flinched, but the older one merely stared at me warily, while the translator beside me did his work. Yes, they’re certainly nervous. From what Sir Arthur tells me, they were on the run from the Church. Poor women… oh well, whether they’re important or not, I don’t feel bad saving a couple of innocent people from danger. But…

“Yes…” Ileana spoke in hesitant, yet decent enough English, surprising me. “…we are. We were told you speak this… English well. Do you understand me?”

I nodded, pleased as it would make things easier, though the translator seemed disappointed. I don’t know why. Your services will still be needed…

“That’s great.” I replied in English. “Would you and your… grandmother…” At her nod, I continued. “…care for some refreshments, or just a place to sit down? I’m afraid we’re waiting on more arrivals.”

They conversed in Romanian, and the translator typed and sent their conversation to my phone, though it was harmless enough, just repeating what I’d asked. After the old woman nodded, Ileana managed a faint smile, though her lips were pressed together in a firm line, giving her a standoffish, wary appearance.

“Very well.” She spoke carefully, her words enunciated with small little flaps of her pale lips. Yes, unlike her grandmother, she looks like she’s never seen much sunlight, or carries a parasol everywhere, like Suzu, to hide from the glare…

“We were well cared for upon that… aeroplane… but it is wearisome, being up in the skies so long. A place to sit, relax and find our bearings would be appreciated.”

Even with her odd accent, I could tell she was well-educated and clever, judging by her words. Setting that aside though, I nodded. “Fine. There’s around forty minutes before the next flight lands, let me show you to the VIP lounge.” We’d booked it out of course, and with me here, the chances of there being any trouble I couldn’t handle were rather slim. Now, I’m curious to learn more about this pair of unlikely refugees…