On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

“Quite the shithole, isn’t it?” Shiro observed, a frown on her beautiful face, as she looked out over the putrid, brackish swamp beyond the pristine white monoliths that made up the Seelie Court’s border. “We’re just lucky that it blocks the smell too. Still…” Her expression changed to one of anticipation. “…on the bright side, it shouldn’t matter if we wreck it firing off big attacks.”

“I don’t think we’ll be doing that sort of training.” I countered. “You’re right though. It is dismal. Hyacinth isn’t sure if she recognises it. It would be better if she doesn’t, really. I don’t want the Unseelie on our borders.”

“Yeah.” Shiro agreed. “It’s a strange thing, this migration. Imagine it back in the Material. One day your home has a view out over a pleasant park, the next, a slum full of dangerous yakuza and other criminals is there. Must be rough.”

“It’s a mystery to me. Nobody I’ve spoken to really knows why the Court moves with the seasons. I expect the Queen surely does, but it’s not like I’m getting an audience any time soon.”

“Why not?” Shiro chuckled. “In fact, it’s rather shitty that you and Shaeula haven’t been invited to get an award, or some medal. Britain’s honouring us for our deeds, and you’ve done just as much here…” She seized my arm possessively, but in a very Shiro fashion, made sure to press it against her chest, clad in its sexy tube top. “…in fact, all we’ve seen of the Court is this border backwater. I mean, come on, Aki! Aren’t you curious? I know I am, and not just me. A lot of the others are wondering about it…”

“I can’t argue with that.” I felt at peace, Shiro and I were truly on the same wavelength, we’d been friends for years, and we had similar tastes and thought processes. I really am a fool. Everything worked out for the best, and even if I could regress, like in Korean novels, I wouldn’t. I have a few bitter regrets, such as the trainees and Mine-san, but… I couldn’t risk everything I have now for them. But… Shiro… I should have made her happier years ago…

“I want to see the Court too.” I agreed. “And I’m even more curious about the King’s condition. Doesn’t it seem strange to you? That he’s been incurable all these centuries? Selensha’s talented, and she can’t help. Not even now, when her Skills have surely improved in collaboration with my teachings, and her time with Bintara. Worse, the Princes and Princesses of the Seelie know my prowess. You’d think they’d ask…”

“Damn right it’s suspicious.” Shiro agreed. “But then, that’s politics, isn’t it? And it seems the Fae aren’t any better than us humans in that regard. But our time will come, won’t it? Your Quest.”

“Yeah. I think that could be the chance to get some answers. Call it Foresight, or perhaps even a hint from Tsukuyomi… it’s not as straightforward as just finding a treasure of lost King Arthur. Damn, still can’t believe he actually existed.”

“I would say you need to bring back Excalibur, as that’s surely the greatest of swords, but… Tsurugi would cry. And we have our Japanese pride!” Shiro snickered nastily. “Speaking of, where is she? Pouting somewhere, I imagine?”

“No. She actually understood when Magatama and Yukiko spoke to her about today. She’s childish, but she’s a good girl.”

“Only you can call Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi a good girl. Shit, Aki, I never imagined you were this big of a man back when we hung out. It goes to show… always the quiet ones. Though really… there was something I liked about you even that time we first met. Of course, I was wallowing in too much bitterness and desperation to pay attention. But that’s done.” She leaned in, resting her head on my shoulder, my arm still happy as she pressed it tighter against her chest. “No doubt you’ll spoil her tomorrow. Damn, it’s going to be one hell of a Christmas dinner. And not everyone’ll be there.”

“And I have to meet Adamant, and give gifts to Haru, Karen-chan, our friends… damn, somehow I’m busier on our Pilgrimage rest days!”

“The price of being popular.” Shiro sniggered, clearly enjoying my travails. “You know, I’m the sort of woman who would have been perfectly happy having a Christmas Eve date at home, playing video games or reading manga together. And I know you’d have loved it too. Just spending time with Shirohime would be something any guy would kill for…”

“Not often you call yourself that now.” I chuckled, and she rolled her obsidian eyes ruefully.

“Yeah, the need for it is gone. Hell, nobody ever called me that much anyway, it was more a running joke by the end. But it made me happy. Now… I’m still a princess but I like it when you call me Shiro, with love. Shit, I’m so easy. I can’t believe how quickly I fell. I guess me and Tan are exactly alike. Makes sense, I suppose. Anyway…” She stretched, and parted from me, smirking at my sense of loss. “…don’t worry, Aki. You can savour me later. But you know the agreement. And you’re a terrible liar, everyone would find out. Besides, got to keep your promises, yeah?” She winked cheekily. “Our date… well, if we can’t sit around and play games, the next best thing is to do it for real. Besides, I’ve got addicted to my numbers going up, and I know you feel the same.”

“Yeah, I guess we are who we are. Though of course…” You’re cheeky Shiro, but you’re weak on defence… “…each Rank, each Level, is another tool I have to protect you and the others.”

Shiro didn’t disappoint me, she froze, face going crimson, before shaking her head. “Critical hit, Aki. Shit, you’ve become a monster. It’s true though. I get it. I want to help everyone. I don’t want to lose anyone. So…” She clapped her hands. “It’s time to get this training date started. But don’t worry, if I’m practising my Allure too, it’ll be a feast for your eyes. Poor me is the one who’ll miss out.”

“Don’t worry…” I promised. “I’ll be sure to make the date fun for you. Just being with you is fun for me!”

“And a follow-up attack, also a crit.” Shiro chortled. “Don’t drop my health bar to zero just yet.” She coughed, changing the subject clumsily, which was hellishly cute. “Okay, so… training. First, it’d be helpful to work out just how we’re doing it, right?”

I nodded. “From my experience, Skills do improve from repeated use, especially at lower Ranks, but the biggest, most noticeable leaps come from doing something new, especially around the breakpoints at Rank five, eight and so on… getting past those is a pain.”

“Yeah. It seems to vary by Skill as well.” Shiro agreed. “Some seem easier to raise by repetition, whereas others quickly stall out. And worse, some Skills… just how am I supposed to do something new with passive abilities like buffs?”

That is a concern, certainly, but… we have the advantage of knowing that Skills can be made to do things they seemingly weren’t intended for. This isn’t actually a game, there’s no actual system, my Eyes just categorise and assign numerical values.

Before I could speak Tan took charge again, talking through Shiro. “Of course knowledge and experience matter. In the Six Paths, we do not consider things so… numerically… as you do, though I can certainly see…” I held in a chuckle at Tan’s obvious pun. “…the advantages now. It is quite the interesting benefit. One that surely will propagate throughout the World Tree Pantheon. So do not feel any guilt at allowing me access. Not that I envisage you would. What you have been given, you have returned, and to those Valkyries as well.”

I knew it. Her tone was a bit stiff at the end there, and Shiro’s black eye was gleaming with knowing amusement. It does seem that Tan is a little bit jealous that Rose and Lin received an Eye and Foehn like she did. Shiro’s right, Tan’s actually very cute and clingy. I never would have thought that when we first crossed paths, she was colder, aloof…

Perhaps sensing what I was thinking, she cleared Shiro’s throat, before continuing her explanation. “There are always ways to measure success. Cultivation is one such Path. It is easy to comprehend. One is at Accumulation, one has reached Nascent Spirit, and so forth… and while ordinarily they would be broken down into Early, Middle, Late and Peak… or other such bands, depending on one’s Sect or School… that is not the end of things. After all, it is impossible to say one has ever truly perfected a Skill. There are always peaks beyond the peaks, skies beyond the skies…”

“Yeah. Lovers’ Link didn’t really seem like it could go past Rank ten, judging by the benefits it offered, but it could…”

“Indeed. And for example, not all who are at… let me see… Painting Rank two, to give an example… would be exactly the same in terms of talent. One might be skilled at depicting gradients of light, whereas another might have a deeper understanding of colour… yet both would have approximately the same level of talent.” Tan suggested. “It is quite possible to map these numerical Ranks to such milestones, for example, one might reach Middle Stage of a Cultivation at Rank three or four. I do not know for certain, but if I was within my Pantheon, with this Eye you have bequeathed me…” Her voice had changed to a more prideful tone, and Shiro’s lips quirked into a smile I knew matched the one on my face. “…I would surely be able to discover the answer.”

“Wouldn’t your father be rather confused if you left your palace and went out looking for Cultivators?” Shiro teased, and Tan was silent for a moment before responding, tone rather flat.

“I believe my father will have more to concern himself with than that. But my course is set, and I am not a woman who dwells on what might be, only what will be. As an Astral Emperor, Akio will stand worthy of my love, and father will accept that. I am sure he will…”

You don’t sound too sure there, but I get it. It’s different for us guys, but I’m sure if Aiko ever finds love, father will be troubled in a different way to my circumstances.

“…we are drifting from the topic at hand.” Tan’s embarrassment spiked. “Just as one can be skilled in different styles of painting, or different instruments, such as the Erhu or the Zither… Skills can express themselves with variances.”

“So you play then?” I asked, since she seemed knowledgeable, and Tan nodded Shiro’s head slowly.

“Just as with painting, sculptures, pottery… I dabbled with various forms of music. I am not my sisters, I am cultured, refined, elegant!” Her words were shy and defensive at the same time. “Though I fear my talents with music are far from satisfactory. Perhaps I grow bored too easily…” She snorted then. “That is not a problem in the here and now. There are always matters to keep me occupied and attract my undivided attention.”

“I’d be glad to hear you play.” I smiled invitingly, and Shiro grimaced.

“Flirt on your own date, Tan, Aki. This is my time, and I’m regretting I’m just a useless otaku who doesn’t have any cute talents…”

“Jealousy does not become you, princess. But I do find it amusing. Yet you are correct. I did have a serious point to make…”

“I think I get it.” I considered my Ether Healing Skill, which was the one that seemed to have had the largest number of odd descriptions as it Ranked up…

Your affinity for the Water Element and the understanding of manifested Elements has also increased.

Your affinity for the Darkness, Earth and Dust Elements and the understanding of the composite nature of Elements has also increased.

You can achieve greater feats with higher quality Ether, and your Aether when used to heal will slightly strengthen all attributes of the target.

You can achieve even greater feats with higher quality Ether, and your Aether when used to heal will noticeably strengthen all resistances of the target, and your Aether has a limited capacity to interact with Adherence.

You can now utilise Adherence with greater ease when performing acts of healing, and your Aether can be used to fortify Adherence when used in such a manner.

You can now sense the presence of the Soullight within Material and Spiritual bodies and touch it, though your comprehension of the Truesoul is insufficient for safe manipulation.

Your ability to accelerate and augment the healing of damage in others with Aether and Adherence is increased significantly, and your Aether and Adherence can leave a lingering regenerative effect which persists a short while if you so wish.

Your affinity for Light, Darkness, Yin and Yang Elements increases significantly, and you are able to control rampaging energies of these types within you and calm them in others.

These were most of the oddities I had encountered. It was clear that my path along Ether Healing was slightly different to Shaeula’s, who forced hers to grow by the cruel method of using Hyacinth’s modified Myconid spores. Yet the core of Ether Healing remained the same. Starting with restoring damage and moving through increased resistances and eventually providing effective prevention of physical, and a slowdown in spiritual, aging, and the ability to even slightly affect the Truesoul. The end outcome was standard, yet the path to get there had some additional twists and turns.

After explaining these to Tan and Shiro, Tan agreed. “You touch on the heart of matters. Cultivation is such a standard, yet one may refine Qi by any number of myriad methods, each different to the next, though at their heart, all serve to turn aether into Qi. It seems that if a Skill advances in too unique a direction, Yggdrasil shall rename it, but otherwise it remains the same. And indeed, Cultivators strive to learn the superior versions of each Skill, and even your Ether Healing, your example, in the Pantheons, those with knowledge will train themselves and their heirs in methods proven to give the greatest results.”

“So, putting all that together, I get it.” Shiro remarked. “Skill progression is both rigid and flexible. So long as we are trying new things, we can not only Rank the Skills up but gain extra benefits too. Anyway… shall we begin?” She winked at me. “I’m sure Aki’s just desperate to see my wonderful performance.”

“I won’t lie and say I’m not eager.” I teased, and despite everything we’d shared, Shiro still blushed a little. “But don’t worry, I hope to put on a show for you too. First up…” I focussed on the Split Thought I was containing the mental pain of Boiling Blood Resonance Link with. I was still feeling it, after all, my Split Thoughts were all me, just running in parallel, but it was significantly easier to deal with when compartmentalised.

Boiling Blood Resonance Link allows connection with others who are increasing their abilities and attributes via destructive Aether, Elemental energies and Adherence. Your Boiling Blood will be strengthened, as will that of the being you resonate with, and you can absorb and mitigate the backlash from the resonating being, reducing the damage they take significantly, while increasing the damage you take in return.

Since then I had Ranked it up a couple of times, but all it did was increase the effect. What I needed to do was something different. But then… It’s a Link, isn’t it? And Links are Connections.

“All right. I’m going to start buffing and dancing.” Shiro clapped her hands together. “Tan, start slow, my body can’t handle it if you go too hard, but trickle in some of your aether, keep me topped up.”

“Do not fear, princess. It is not me who shall go hard on you.” Tan declared, and Shiro gasped in shock at her innuendo.

“Shit, Tan, you’ve changed. I can’t say I hate it though… yeah, a woman in love is like a whole new person. Anyway… what’s the plan, Aki?”

“It’s going to be a bit of a struggle for you. It’s these loopholes again.”

Berserk Blessing Of Blood uses Adherence-laced blood of the bearer as a medium to enhance the Skills of the blessed being. It forcibly stimulates the inherent Ether, Aether and Adherence of the target, allowing Skills to work with greater efficiency and effect, however this is not without cost, as the forcible stimulus causes the energies within to run wild, boiling the blood within, inflicting escalating pain and damage, and reducing the effect of any healing the target receives, though as the damage escalates, so too does the granted strength.

I checked Shiro’s Skill description again. “It implies it’s for other beings, but… it never explicitly states it, does it? Just like Asha’s Tree is a valid target for your other Blessings. Even if it’s not intended, you should be able to force it. My only worry is that it is using your blood, and… last I checked, you were full of your own blood, so I worry it’ll rampage out of control.”

Shiro shrugged. “If it does, I should be able to stop it. Worst case, Tan can use Divine Possession and but me time by taking my body. Besides…” She winked at me. “Don’t you have a Skill that helps?”

I grimaced. “Yeah. Though it’s still a bit embarrassing, it’s a Skill too good not to use in conjunction with yours.”

Soothing Waters Of Self-Sacrifice allows you to use your bodily fluids to soothe curses, poisons, misfortune and other ills a being is experiencing, though your own Fortune will temporarily be suppressed in response, and if you have a resonance with the target of your ability, you will also take on the damage they are suffering.

In addition, another part of it was you can soothe the damage done to others by their own fluids by application of your own.

Shiro regularly donated vials of her blood for Asha to use her Skill, and I donated too, though the fluids I was using for them were all wholesome. As if reading my thoughts, Shiro grinned. “Looks like I’m going to have to squeeze out some soothing liquids with my dance, Aki. If it’s for training, it doesn’t count! Anyway…” She opened up her wrist with a trace of flame element, and crimson and silver blood spurted, staining her while skin. “I’m ready.” My Eyes saw a surge of adherence and aether roaring through Shiro’s body, and she groaned.

“Yeah, we were right. My blood’s reacting throughout my body. It’s not exactly safe… but…” She ground her teeth together, onyx eyes showing no intent to surrender. “I’ve lived my whole life in pain, with a frail body. I wasn’t beaten then, and I won’t be now.” With a grimace she walked over to me, cutting my wrist and letting my blood dapple her other bare arm. Immediately, the Soothing Waters went to work. I let my Resonance Link begin to pull in her suffering too, and she eyed me, worried. “Not too much for you, is it Aki?”

“Nope.” I reassured her, though the addition of an additional wave of pain within me was magnifying the previous suffering. “Going to dance?”

“Not yet.” Shiro chuckled. “This is Christmas Eve training. Just ordinary won’t suffice. Besides, I want this date to be memorable. I’m already covered in red…” She waved her blood-soaked arms. “…how about some white to round it off?” She winked, before breaking out into open laughter. “Shit, your expression, Aki! I’m joking, joking! Tan, do your thing. Just a little, okay?”

“It is not so simple, princess. Yes, when your eyes and hair change, even your skin tone, it seems I am manifested, but it is not a true possession, unlike what you require for this. Still, I shall make it work. Now… dance! Remove the stain from your Skill, send the Buddha on his way, and discover our true strength! He shall not know it, but when we next meet, I shall be sure to appraise him of what he walked on by.”

“Careful, or Aki will get jealous, thinking you’re obsessed with another man…” Shiro warned teasingly, as she began to dance, the temperature around us rising, a heat shimmer filling the air, alongside the scent of rich, exotic incense.

“Nonsense. Akio will be delighted at my revenge, for it shows his superiority to the Buddha in both taste and wisdom.” Tan disagreed. “Now… Allure Akio, until he can stand it no more!”

Shiro was moving like a belly dancer, her festive outfit surprisingly suited to the dance. I noticed with surprise that while Shiro had a soft, womanly belly, she had developed muscle under the skin, likely due to her new lifestyle. Seeing my gaze, Shiro jiggled her chest, and adherence and aether were growing around her in a second surge, and gauzy red and white vells materialised around her, like long scarves, teasingly hiding her from view, yet revealing tantalising glimpses of her flesh.

Alluring The Buddha draws the hidden desires out of a target, allowing you to inflame and manipulate them. It has a stronger effect on men. You can see the desires of a target, though high Resilience will prevent this. Your Charm Statistic is also noticeably more effective.

Information on Shiro’s Skill crossed my vision, but all I could do was chuckle ruefully. “You don’t need to inflame and manipulate me, Shiro. I’m already head-over-heels for you. And I’m not exactly hiding my desires, not anymore. So I’ll be blunt. Seal this Skill away. It’s just for my eyes now!”

“I will. But that means it’s a waste. I want it to change, like Tan’s has. No, it can be even better. I have an idea. It’s probably impossible, but… impossible hasn’t stopped us before, has it? Now… eyes on me, Aki! It really takes my mind off the pain…” Shiro half groaned, half gasped, her blood raging within her, though I could see her Charm, her Allure, growing with it.

“My eyes are always on you.” I promised.

“Flatterer.” Shiro scoffed, though her dance was speeding up, and her short skirt flipped up, revealing her thighs. My gaze was drawn to them, and the cloth of her panties hidden below, and Shiro’s eyes sparkled as she danced harder. My brain was in a fog, it was growing harder to think, but I couldn’t give in and let Shiro win, as that wouldn’t help her grow her Skill. No, I had my own battle too…

Eri, are you ready?

Of course. Aiko’s been bragging about Brother’s Bond. I think it’s the positioning of the apostrophe. She’s such a child sometimes…

Oh? And you’re so mature?

I am now. Don’t bring up my dark past, it’s mean!

That past was only weeks ago.

Women change fast. Don’t forget that. A week ago is already a lifetime ago. Anyway… she’s definitely in a better mood, though she still doesn’t know what she wants out of life. Just what she doesn’t want. I suppose that’s a start. Still, just because Lovers’ Link refers to lovers in multiples, and Brother’s Bond refers to one brother, she’s getting rather smug. Don’t worry though, I’ll be sure to calm her down. It’s been… quite the rollercoaster day for her.

For us too. Still, we should be grateful that she opened up to us. My sis always bottles things up and pretends she’s fine. Too used to trying to be the ideal sister for me, and a friend and protector to you. But we’re all changing… anyway, this should work, I think, based on Brother’s Bond, but… it’s not going to be fun.

Do you think I’m frightened of a little pain? Okay, maybe not so little, I can sense your torment, but… it’s for us all, for our future. I don’t mind hurting now for a future where you, me, Aiko and everyone else can be truly safe and happy. Besides, if it gets too bad you can stop it, right?

I think so. Now then…

There were layers to bonds such as Lovers’ Link. It had many strange irregularities I’d never had the insight or the perception to notice, and oddly enough, was very reminiscent of the zeroth tail of Mae. It was a spiritual bond, yes, but it also touched deeper, down to the very Truesoul. Since that was the case, and since Eri’s Link could already share aether, adherence and soullight, though it still wasn’t able to share elemental energies or Qi, I had my suspicions that it could share this resonance too, if properly tweaked.

Do it. I trust you. Besides, if we can make it work…

I missed her final thoughts, so engrossed was I in making adjustments. As I did so, I felt Shiro’s buffs from Anesidora settle on me, only to be dismissed, and then be reapplied, targeting a different Skill. Looks like Shiro’s pushing herself too…

My Eyes shone, and my aether was being drained more rapidly than usual as I peered deep into the very fabric of Lovers’ Link. Just as Brother’s Bond now was, there were different strands to it. The spiritual ones were the most prominent, but the true key, the core, was the Truesoul connection. Comparing it to Boiling Blood Resonance Link, I began to work, inserting an additional strand into Lovers’ Link. It wasn’t trivial, but I gave it half of my attention, while some was on the work here, and one Split Thought was enjoying a relaxing time with Hyacinth.

“Playing hard to get, huh Aki?” Shiro’s veiled dance continued. Sweat was streaming from her, as well as droplets of scalding blood oozing out of her pores, adding to the crimson splatters on her arms. “But I’ll Allure you, but not because I’m dancing… because I want you to look at me and love me!”

Shiro’s skirt fell to the floor, revealing pure white panties, and her long thighs, dappled with red, drew my gaze. My breath was coming fast, and the smell was intoxicating. All right then.

“Shiro, I…” Beginning to dance, I stunned her. I wasn’t as elegant, or as graceful, and certainly not as sexy as Shiro, but stats could cover for a multitude of flaws, and I was able to put on a performance. One hand pushed back my slick, sweat-soaked hair lazily, while the other unbuttoned my shirt, until I pulled it open, exposing my muscular chest. Seeing that, Shiro’s teasing grin grew broader, and she trailed out one hand as she danced, languidly tracing her fingers down my chest. I grabbed her arm, and started spinning with her, changing the dance into a duet.

“Shit, Aki, I’m supposed to be the one making you fall for me, but…” Shiro’s eyes were sparkling. “Keep this up and I’ll even forget about the pain!”

We spun and danced, and our moves were now a little reminiscent of a tango. Sweeping up Shiro, I twirled her around, and her veils covered our faces, leaving only our eyes visible, fuelled with passion. With the white monoliths as our backdrop we whirled and pirouetted, and soon I was shirtless, and Shiro was barely clothed at all, her tube top having scrunched up and twisted so that it was resting above her chest, the red gauze barely hiding her breasts.

“You know…” Shiro breathed, nibbling on my ear, her hands caressing me, even as we continued. “…I always wanted to go dance in a nightclub, just like normal girls my age. But I’d have dropped dead within a minute. Now… I’d worry I’d attract buzzing flies. I am Alluring, aren’t I? But if you were to go with me…”

Her breath was hot and fragrant in my ear. “…then nobody would bother me. How about it?”

“I know just the place.” I chuckled, snatching her lips, surprising her. We kissed greedily, bodies held close as we danced. When our kiss was finished, our saliva sizzled and boiled, the heat of our boiling bodily fluids hot as a kettle left on a stove.

“Kiss me again! It soothes the heat!” Shiro moaned, and I did so, over and over again, until she was finally calming down.

“There’s a nightclub in South Korea. Yu-mi took Eri and me there. It’s rather fancy, but… we can be just like ordinary celebrities and socialites, and party our cares away.”

“Yu-mi, huh? Yeah, I like her. She’s a smart woman. But right now… don’t want to think about her.” Shiro breathed. “I think I’m going to burst into flame. Every bit of my blood is bubbling. But… dying here in your arms seems a sweet way to go…”

“Don’t be foolish.” I knew how much she was suffering. Despite Berserk Blessing Of Blood being an escalating buff, and Asha having been suffering with it for a much greater length of time, dozens of times more, Shiro was sharing more pain with me. “My arms would be so lonely if that happened.”

“Flatterer.” Shiro managed, her lips hot as she bit down on mine, a trickle of my blood leaking into her mouth, which seemed to soothe her, as she sucked on it. “Shit, Aki. I hope there’s no such thing as vampires, as they’ll be after your blood. It’s so sweet and satisfying. I don’t mind gothic vampire babes, but no monstrous and scheming old men, okay?”

“Blood, huh?” I channelled aether, and more of my blood splattered against her legs and arms, soothing Shiro’s fires. “You can take as much as you need. Vampires have mesmerism, right? So maybe you’re one, as you’ve clutched my heart in your talons!”

“Talons? Jerk.” she retorted playfully, taking my hand with hers. “My beautiful hands aren’t claws. I’ve got long fingers, perfect for piano. Not that I know how to play. Maybe I’ll learn though, as Tan seems to think a quiet evening, playing you music would be… okay, okay, I’ll be quiet. But… It’s motivating you, isn’t it? The flow’s more stable now.”

“You know, that sounds a very pleasant evening indeed.” I pulled Shiro close, but even then, she danced, her legs twisting around mine as she moved, our bodies touching, breaths, sweat, blood and tears mingling, hearts and spirits resonating as one. “As for me… I’m also not very musical. But… I can cook, perks of living alone, so I’d like to whip you up a meal. Homemade, tasting of love.”

“Be still my heart. Aki, you’ve bottomed out my life bar…” One of her eyes was a brilliant crimson, yet sparkling flecks of glittering amber circled within. “…so take responsibility and let me go for a double K.O. Tan, you ready?”

“Always, Princess. Your Skill, it has Ranked up, but… it has not reached its true form. Which is not as mine is. Because you… you always wished to be someone who was loved, not just for your beauty, but because you were needed, a help, a joy… so… seize your wish!”

“Sorry Aki, this is going to hurt you like fucking hell!” Shiro swore passionately, before sinking her teeth into my shoulder, ironically near where Mae had bit me before. Ordinarily, her teeth wouldn’t have been able to overcome my Fortitude, but I subconsciously never resisted my women, so my skin remained soft and supple. Blood bloomed, and she sucked at me, as though she was the vampire. Moments later, my Eyes saw a surge of energies around the crimson eye, and then…

Fuck! The pain that surged into me, joining the agony I was resonating with from Shiro, Asha and her Tree, somehow overtopped even Shiro’s great suffering. My Split Thoughts wavered, but I was doing delicate, painstaking work, so I couldn’t afford mistakes.

Akio, what’s wrong? Eri was alarmed by the thoughts of torment I was leaking, but I reassured her all was well.

Seems like Tan’s managed to partially possess Shiro, just her right eyeball, anyway, and so she’s a target for Shiro’s Berserk Blessing… I guess the boiling blood of a Goddess really is something special…

Don’t push yourself! This is supposed to be a rest day. Doing too much is counterproductive, you know that! But if you must… hurry up and make it so I can help!

Eri’s urgency made me smile, and Shiro looked into my eyes with a pained smile of her own, still dancing, fingers touching me slyly, thighs and breasts brushing against me as she danced, intoxicated by her Skill, and drained by the constant, burning agony of her blood.

“Laughing in the face of peril, are you…?” Shiro spoke with a breathy, sultry whisper, silver steam coming from her scorching mouth. “I love that about you, Aki. Though I never had you pegged for a masochist.”

“What about you?” I chuckled. Our dance had morphed more into some sort of ballroom dance now, me holding Shiro in my arms as we spun and pirouetted, leaving a bloody, smoking trail on the grass around the Fae Stones. “After all, aren’t you the girl who gets off on me seducing other women? What’s that if not a masochist?”

“I told you it’s not like that!” Shiro sniggered ruefully. “It’s a power trip for me. Who knew I had a thing for a dominant, powerful man? And more to the point, who’d have thought that such a man would be you?”

“In that case, we’d better succeed quickly then, since neither of us are masochists.” I chuckled, concern in my eyes. “Your body… it’s not in good shape. In fact…” I was alarmed, as the boiling sea of adherence and aether-laden blood, even some soullight drawn into it, was starting to cause damage to Shiro’s network, and even Anesidora’s Favour within.

“Before you say anything foolish, I can see your efforts…” Tan spoke up for Shiro. “Trying such delicate and quite frankly rather ludicrous manipulation of a Truesoul bond… is no more than I expect from you. I believe that we can only see the intricacies of such a Connection due to a combination of your Path, this Eye, and the deep yearning Eri has for you, deep enough to connect at a truly permanent level.” Tan let out a laugh and fell silent, only for Shiro to begin giggling then.

“What’s so amusing?”

“Tan may not be much of a Cultivator, too lazy and unwilling to put in the relentless effort to excel, but she’s certainly got the romanticism of it down. You’ve not read that many Cultivation novels, have you?”

I shook my head as we spun and wheeled, arms outstretched and hands clasped, sweat and bloody steam rising. Fortunately, in the Material I was able to keep my injuries internal, and while Hyacinth had doubtless noticed, because she was, as she put it, a mistress tonight, she merely gave me a worried frown, before trusting me absolutely to handle it, perhaps remembering our efforts to learn Ether Healing with her aid.

“No, just a couple of the bigger ones.”

“I’ve had more time to read, and less money to spend than even you…” Shiro chuckled self-deprecatingly. “So I’ve read plenty of free web novels. And Cultivators always talk about being reincarnated and still loving each other in the next life. Tan said that if such things were true, with your bound Truesouls, our bound Truesouls, it might come to pass.”

“I see. I’m both relieved and terrified at the prospect, but… we still can’t stop walking this Path.”

“Shit, It’s not like we’re going to die anyway, Aki…”

I won’t die until you do, Akio. So that’s never…

I burst out laughing as the two of them were in perfect sync, and it was made worse by Shiro exploding with louder mirth, as she explained tearfully, though I did wince as Shiro’s tears came out scalding, burning faint red lines into her cheeks, that Tan had thought the same thing too.

And even if I did go before you, I’d be more than happy to find you again in my next life if there is one. So tie me tighter!

“Eri’s urging you on, I bet.” Shiro observed shrewdly. “Don’t tell her this, but… despite the upset I caused her by being selfish, she’s kind of my idol. Pure, straightforward, and utterly in love with you. It’s enough to make Yasu spit, but it’s his own fault for not finding a female friend in his childhood, show him no sympathy!” Shiro then kissed me again. “Yeah, that firms up my resolve. I’m no weaker than Eri. I don’t love you any less. After all, to me… you’re not just my lover, but my soulmate, the one I never thought I’d have with the frailty of my existence weighing me down. So…”

Her Berserk Blessing flared up, and Shiro then snipped off Asha’s and her Tree’s, as it was starting to get a bit dangerous. “Bit of a shame resetting the buffs, it’ll cost us some ether, but… safety first. After all… Asha can’t be risked right now, can she? But for you…” Shiro squeezed shut her eye for a moment, Tan the one staring at me, showing no discomfort at her own seething blood.

“…Tan’s right. I do want to be needed. To be loved. To be treasured. Despite my… how did you put it… oh yes…” Her smile was dangerous, but I knew she was simply teasing me. “…unfortunate personality… I’m actually quite a girly girl. Sure, I like manga, games, anime… but I also like to be pampered, be a princess. You think asking to be called Shirohime was just a joke of mine? It was, I suppose, but it also revealed my deeper feelings. I’m a bit of a mess, really… and you can shut up, Tan, stop laughing inside my mind. Sorry about that…”

“It’s fine.” I murmured, and she looked me in the eyes gratefully.

“Basically, I’m both yin and yang, you know? Not in the Cultivator way, just… I’m a pain, I know it. The mess with Adamant, the trouble I always cause, my demanding, needy nature… but you take it all in stride. You’re too nice, Aki. And nice guys should always finish last. But…” We danced, and Shiro, now clad in naught but a thin, half-transparent veil of red and white, her Alluring The Buddha coming to its conclusion, the weight of her Charm not oppressive, demanding, but gentle, warm, soothing, whispered her answer to me. “…you’ll never be last in my heart, Aki. Only first. Because… you’d go so far as to discard yourself for me. Tan told me what you threatened her with. I’d hate to ever see that, so would Eri and the others, but… if you would stop being nice just to see me smile, then… I don’t need this worthless dance!”

“Wait, hold on…” It was as if Shiro was burning inside, and I could see her Favours melting away. Desperately, I worked on connecting up Eri’s modified additional strand of Lovers’ Link, but the work was too delicate, too meticulous, to rush, especially with my body and mind afire. Seeing the panic in my eyes, Shiro leaned her forehead against mine, standing on tiptoes to do it.

“Don’t worry. You forget. I’m reflected in your eyes, and Tan’s eye is your eye. I can see it… and I can’t lose it. But… the thing about gifts is… I don’t want Anesidora’s. I want to give my own! And besides, we shouldn’t be relying on borrowed power.”

“It is… not trivial. But… I understand and can now see it.” Tan spoke up. “Father will be shocked indeed. Now then… how brave are you, Akio?” Tan asked, and behind the question lay a great weight of expectations.

“As brave as I need to be.” I countered, and Tan’s soft, endearing laughter came back.

“As I expected. I have an eye for both men, and for the… friends… I have made. That Valkyrie is awfully cocky, her and her Runes, but…” Shiro’s right hand changed, skin darkening to a rich brown, her fingernails painted crimson, the size and shape of her fingers shifting a little.

“Double partial Divine Descent. It seems that my… dabbling… has paid off after all. I may be a dilettante, so that irritating Tree says, but I have my own knowledge. And I have seen much, as have you.” Her crimson eye crinkled with amusement. “And what you have seen, my Eye now sees too.” Flame glimmered, hungry and vivid, her Thirsting Flames, now possessing some of the endless fury of Foehn, blooming to life on her palm. “I am Taṇhā, and I am thirsty for our future, and the satisfaction it shall bring.” Flames roared, bathing me and swallowing up Shiro as well. The blood and sweat staining our bodies wisped into vapour, and the heat was almost a soothing pain in counterbalance to our simmering fluids. I then felt it working its way into me along the Connection I was working on with Eri, and with a cracking sensation, I felt a wave of pain down to my very Truesoul, the agony momentarily unendurable.  

“I apologise. I understand the process somewhat now, but this is my first time, and my knowledge is yet imperfect, some… guesswork… is involved. Yours too, perhaps.” Tan said, and I barely heard it, as I had momentarily blanked out, freezing. “It is indeed excruciating. That show-off of a Valkyrie. I know they say they are Divine, but… I am a true Goddess, not a quasi-Divine daughter of their Pantheon. I shall not be undone. Consider this… my Christmas gift to you both. Hah. To think I would celebrate a festival of the One True Throne. The very thought appals and yet amuses me. I shall see it rather differently from this day forth. Now then…” I watched as her flames melted down Anesidora’s Favour, but then two strands of fresh Truesoul were wrapped around the remaining core, Anesidora’s strand, forming a strange double helix around it. “…it is thus, I believe. Hmm… I actually feel stronger for the injury… I see. More soullight leaks from a scarred Truesoul. Fascinating. Now, to allow my Torch to blaze, to imbue it with the essence of Divine power…”

“I feel…” Shiro was puzzled, but Tan must have been reassuring her mentally, as she didn’t seem scared. “…rather odd. But… I also feel… I understand. My Allure… it’s… shaped by who I am. And who I am right now is… Shiratori Himeko. Shiro. Shirohime. Oshiro Himeko. I’m all that and more, but they are all facets of my true self. Oshiro Shiro. Damn, what a terrible name.” She chuckled, hot tears streaming. “It’s lame, but… I wouldn’t be anyone else. And thus…”

She parted from me, even as Tan worked, merging the melted remnants of Anesidora’s Favour with the strands of our Truesouls. She’s making a new Favour? From us? Is that even possible? A flame rich with potent adherence was blazing, and yet it didn’t burn the strands of Truesoul, merely felt… warm. Even separated from me, I could feel the fragment Tan had sheared away, and I also felt a deeper sense of closeness with Tan and Shiro, like we had yet another connection.

Shiro parted from me, and her veil vanished, and she was standing there, naked, her body shuddering from the strain of her own Berserk Blessing. “Akio. I’m going to dance for you. Because these clothes were just like the armour I used to wear around my fragile heart. I don’t need them in front of you. Nor in front of Tan.”

“I don’t think I’d like it if you became a nudist.” I warned teasingly. “I’m a very jealous man!”

“Yeah.” Shiro burst into full-throated laughter, until she doubled over, wheezing. “No kidding. And I’m a woman with pride. But here… nobody’s watching.” Obviously we’d instructed everyone to keep away, and though we were out by the border of Shaeula’s lands, the orchards behind us certainly prevented casual spying, even from atop the Spring, due to the angle. “So… I’ll bare everything to you. This dance… is my Allure.”

I felt I could almost hear music, as Shiro began to move. This time it wasn’t like Tan’s, but proud, bold and yet with aching vulnerability beneath. She came close to me, touching me, teasing me. She turned, shaking her ass, before spinning, giving me a view of her bouncing breasts. Only the hand and eye Tan was manifesting in remained aloof, and over the next few minutes Shiro teased me to boiling point, before my Eye noticed a change.

“There. It is done.” Tan declared with satisfaction and exhaustion in equal measure. “I… perhaps overdid it. For it is my first time, and my knowledge is still insufficient compared to such as my father. But… it is yours, princess. No, Oshiro Shiro.” Shiro smiled ruefully as Tan teased her. “I found your dance crude, but… so very apt for you. And it seems our dear husband-to-be is indeed allured.”

“No kidding.” I breathed, words spiking across my vision.

Your Class, Bondweaver, has increased from Level Eleven to Level Twelve…

Your Class, Taker Of Paths Yet Unknown, has increased from Level Ten to Level Eleven…

What’s going on? Eri was concerned, but with a thought, I assured her everything was fine, and I finished my own work on her. Moments later, I felt our connection deepen, and Eri gasped. Lovers’ Link. I’m sure it’s ranked up again…

I pushed a little elemental energy through the link, and it passed through freely. It seems so. Everything feels all right?

Yes. But… it’s not going to be enough, is it?

No, but… I have the template. And Lovers’ Link all stems from Kin Bonding And Restoration, so…

I had work yet to do, but it wasn’t just me. Shiro glanced down at my bodily reaction to her earnest yet seductive dance, and her lips curved into a smile. “Shit, Tan, if he didn’t get hard, I’d have to conclude he was gay. But…” Adherence surged from her, and she blinked, surprised. “…where’s all the power coming from? I’m not pulling from Anesidora now, am I?”

Tan was silent for a moment, before admitting without any hint of shame, she still was. “I am not so foolish as to toss aside all our benefits. She made the choice to risk her Divine Favour. It would certainly be laughable to let her escape paying for that. Let your thirst still drink from her overspilling wellspring. But…” Tan’s Eye seemed exhausted, the amber glow fading. “…eventually it shall be superseded. And you shall draw upon your own legend, your own adherence, to fuel your dream. Just as your Allure has become your own.”

“Yeah. Damn, I think we might just be geniuses, Tan! I was expecting this to take days, or even weeks!” Shiro was exhausted, and then cut off her Berserk Blessings, before I could test it with Eri. Slumping into my arms, she used me as a hugging pillow. “Shit, I’m a wreck. But… most memorable date you’ve had so far today, I bet, Aki?”

Uh… honestly, it’s hard to call. Between you and my sister…

“Weeks. You say it so casually. Yet… I confess. We are geniuses. No matter if that Tree wishes to label me a mere tinkerer with no focus, no goals. I have taken a step, a small one, but a proud one nonetheless, into true greatness. And you… have made my strength that became a part of you after our reckless conjoining, truly your own. That Valkyrie has met her match in us.”

“As Ai might say, wow, competitive much?” Shiro chuckled. “But I get it. It’s hard not to feel threatened by them. But we’re here, and they’re far away. By the time we finally get to meet them, Aki will be so deeply in love with us… well, he’ll still love and treasure them, that’s just how he is, but… we’ll have the weight of our time together on our side!”

“Yes. So work hard, princess.” Tan agreed. “Now then… the fruits of our labours…”

I nodded, focussing my Eyes, and what I saw was shocking, for a number of reasons.

Well then, what the hell do I look at first here? As Shiro was being appraised of her own numbers mentally by Tan, I couldn’t help but shake my head, before beginning the second stage of my modifications to Lovers’ Link, via Kin Bonding And Restoration. She did it. No more Alluring The Buddha. But that’s hardly all that’s changed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a refresh of Skills happening in one go…