On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Four Hundred And Twenty-Three

“I never thought we would be walking through Kyoto so casually.” Arangbō remarked. “Did you, Haanōbō?”

The white-winged Tengu shook her masked face in response. “No, it was not something I ever saw myself doing.” She agreed, casting a glance around. Beside her, Haru spoke up proudly.

“This is my Territory. And mount Atago is part of this now. So it’s ours. How can I lord it over Akio-kun’s precious sister?”

Haanōbō sighed, not dignifying that joke with an answer, but her yellow-gold eyes were sparkling as she surveyed the area, and the vast swarm of Fae that were coming and going, moving artificial Buildings here and there. That reminds me, we picked up a few Etherites. The mountain had surprisingly few as most of the ether was absorbed by the Territory rather than building up, but a few isn’t none, and any will help Ixitt out. Speaking of Ixitt… I couldn’t help but be excited. The long-delayed plans were about to hit full force.

“That’s not all the surprises.” I pointed to the Ring Gate that was shimmering with energy. “This Territory also links to mine and also the realms of the Fae, so you can come and go as you want. Though it’d be great if now we have an alliance you can help me out in future expansions.”

“I will consider it.” Haanōbō crossed her arms under her chest, head tilted. Her brother laughed, clapping me on the back yet again.

“We have to defend the mountain and the Sacred Flame, but… that responsibility is shared now.” He boomed. “So long as our charge remains protected, the Spring East fears no battle. I enjoy working up an appetite, and fighting is thirsty work, is it not, hearty eater?”

Motoko nodded, but flushed. “I have a name. I am more than just my appetite.”

As we approached the Ring Gate to the sound of laughter, their eyes alight with curiosity, Haanōbō finally said what was on her mind, her tone pensive. “Brother… why did Great Tarōbō, our father, concede like that? It was not the agreement…”

“I think it’s pride.” I pointed out. “Tarōbō has a great deal of it. When he was defeated, he wanted to maintain his dignity. The rest was as he stated, I imagine. I know that family, kin, is important to me, and I believe it’s important to him too. So even though I’m not human… he felt he could trust me, as I showed respect for you. And I think…”

“The corruption of the flame and the loss of our brothers weighs heavy.” Arangbō shook his head. “Times are changing. Battles, chaos… it is no longer safe to stand alone. Better we choose than have it chosen for us.”

“Better we choose…” The words seemed to resonate with Haanōbō, who nodded. “I see, brother. That makes sense. And father chose.”

“As did we all.” Arangbō agreed. “Now, let us proceed. I wish to satisfy my curiosity…”

As we stepped through the Ring Gate, I could see Kinneka dragging his feet, tail drooping, before I was swallowed up by the light, and emerged on the other side. Haanōbō was looking up at the massive spectacle of Asha’s Tree, and as her eyes went wide, Arangbō chuckled.

“That certainly is quite the sight.” He said. “It would be good to perch on the heights.”

“Yes, we have a café up there.” Motoko said happily. At the unfamiliar word, the Tengu seemed confused, so she explained further. “It is a place where food and drink are served, and one can enjoy the views out over the Boundary here. When we are finished training, we quite enjoy it, do we not, Natsumi?”

As she joined in, praising it, we were greeted by a large gathering of those in my Territory. The first thing I noticed is a number of them were wearing a strange, military-style outfit, in black and silver. I have to admit though, I like it. It’s cute. On seeing the group, Kinneka let out a yelp, and he was suddenly leapt on by the silver blur that was Ginneka, her tail lashing restlessly.

“Brother, it’s you, nya! I thought I could feel you. Though…” she paused, ears flat against her skull, taking a few cautious sniffs. “…you seem different, nya?”

Before that conversation could go any further, Hyacinth appeared, and vines grabbed her by the legs and tail, hauling her off with a squeal. “Bad kitty, running oooff. I did nooot give you permission for that.” She then turned her radiant smile on me. “Welcome back, Akio. Mistresses.” She then greeted the others, before eyeing the Tengu, looking amused. “Whooo is this, Akio? A new mistress?”

“I am not.” Haanōbō declared, irked. Kana then laughed, adding her own teasing to the mix.

“No, she’s something even more precious. She’s Akio’s new sister!”

There was surprise at that, and everyone looked shocked, so I waved my hand. “All right. It’s been a long day. The girls are tired, so those of us who want to talk about it can do so up on the terrace, and we’ll explain everything…”

********

“So that’s it.” Eri sighed, her cat ears twitching. Kinneka had been eyeing her strangely this entire time, and she was starting to get tired of it, her black tail lashing constantly. “When you were gone when I woke up this morning, I knew something was up. I wasn’t worried though…” she promised. “…you said it might happen. I was just a little sad to wake up without you.” She looked at Haanōbō, a little exasperated. “Do forgive him, he’s genuinely upset when girls are bullied. But if he has called you his sister, that makes you mine too.” She paused, her smile suddenly amused. “Even if nobody else would, I’d welcome you to give Aiko a taste of her own medicine. I think collecting sisters would teach her just how I’ve felt all this time.”

As some of the others, particularly Shiro and Shaeula, laughed at that, Kinneka finally spoke up. “So why have we returned? We didn’t end…” He refused to say die. “…on good terms. And how?”

“I am not as big a fool as you, nya.” Ginneka said proudly, puffing out her chest, her tail twitching, as did her fluffy ears. “I admit it was good fortune, that we got snared within the skill I stole, nya, but…” She looked at Eri, a slight smile on her face. “When this little girl ended up in trouble, I extended a helping hand, nya. And now she will call me sister.” She purred happily, only for Eri to roll her eyes.

“I’m grateful, and I keep my promises. But as big sisters go, you are a disappointing one.” She turned to Kinneka. “She did help me out of a grave situation, so Akio naturally repaid her, and she asked for your return. A sister helping her brother… it’s something of course Akio will respect. But…”

“It does not-not wash away your sins. I still rather-rather despise you.” Shaeula grimaced. “Though if you work hard, that can change. I am magnanimous, and I have made accord with far-far worse.”

“You didn’t lie.” Kinneka said to me, stunned. “I can feel it. Seventy-First. In such a brief moment, things have changed. It is like I have been … gone… for decades, not mere weeks.”

“Time moves fast.” Shiro agreed, and with a smile she turned to the other surprising visitor, who was sitting down, unconcerned, drinking some fine Fae wine. “It’s good to see you again, Tsukiko.”

The Diviner, Tsukiko-san, who was trying to ignore the attention, missing her veil a little, her cheeks slightly pink, nodded gracefully. “And it is good to see you, Hungry Ghost. I trust your thirst is quenched adequately now?”

Shiro shot me a sidelong look, lips quirking into a smile. “I don’t know about that. I’m quite the thirsty girl. But if you mean is that which lies within me content… I’d have to say so. Things are moving along nicely. Now more than ever.”

“Tsukiko-san has a decision to make.” I pointed out, and she nodded. “But first I’d like to get Yukiko-san’s input, so when I return to the Material I’ll call her over. But before that, it’s time to consider our plans.” I grinned, checking the build queues and the shining mass of ether that surrounded the Anchor and the Silos. “We got more out of our trip to Kyoto than we bargained for.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” Kana whispered to Daiyu, who nodded, her expression inquisitive as she watched me.

“Thanks to our new Tengu allies conceding mount Atago to us, which was a Territory of some note, we gained a lot. Firstly, Haru gained a number of Silos, quite outclassing my own. But since we are all one big collective due to the Ring Gate Hub, that means that with the help of Ixitt’s crafts, we can use those Silos to store ether, meaning that our need to build them here has diminished, and can wait until after both Territories are Rank four.” It’s a hundred and seventy million for the full rush build, even with Haru’s new Silos we can’t hold it all, though with a few tweaks we can push it close. But if we can reduce the period of vulnerability enough, it should work…

“Haru, huh?” Shiro noticed. “Seems like you’ve grown closer over the trip. I almost wish I’d have gone.”

“You’re close enough already.” Eri snorted, but she too was watching Haru carefully. Their eyes met, and after a silent exchange, Eri nodded. “It doesn’t matter. As long as everyone came back safely and achieved what Akio wanted, I suppose it’s fine.”

“I grew closer too!” Bell said cheerily, eyeing Soliteare, who was wearing one of the new military-style outfits. “Seems like I missed a few things though.”

“I will tell you later.” The other elf promised. “Though I am tempted not to. I wanted to go to Kyoto…”

“All right, all right.” I chided, the banter distracting us, though seeing Tsukiko-san sitting there, unconcerned, it was as if one weight had been lifted off my shoulders, which I needed recently, as hard decisions had been piling up, and there were more to make. “The first thing to do is to spend the ether we accumulated from Tarōbō’s generous donation. There’s one thing we need urgently, and that’s the Throne Of Heroes at Rank three.” I considered the description.

Throne Of Heroes Rank 3 – This Building empowers the Chosen Heroes of the Territory Ruler, granting them multiple benefits. They can exert greater control over the Territory, allowing access to the Territory build queues and other features, and restrictions can be placed on their actions and abilities should the owner of the Throne wish it. They will gain a somewhat larger boost to all of their statistics, which is greater within the Territory proper, and have a maximum level of thirty. They are also more likely to develop new special abilities. They can also manifest a Material body, or an Astral body, if they do not possess the ability to do this. A Rank 3 Throne can support six Chosen Heroes. Cost 2,500,000.

The stat boosts will increase to thirty, doubled in our own Territory. Not that useful when talking about someone like Shaeula, whose stats are ten times that or more, but every little helps. The level cap increase is also very helpful for those who can’t benefit from Lovers’ Link, although again with the first Throne, that’s not too relevant. What is… With three more slots, the first two choices were obvious.

“At two and a half thousand astral days to upgrade, there’s no way we can wait. But for just a little shy of seven and a half million, we can take the one in our build queue and finish it. And we have way more than that on hand.” Not just Asha’s Tree, but the bounty we made from mount Atago. With a smile I spent the ether, and the Throne glowed brilliantly, and soon was further imposing and bigger, covered in shining silver and crystal. “As for the rest of the ether, around nine million… while I’m tempted to push other projects… with the Silos in play now, we should make haste for Rank four.” While the sooner we get Ether Spires upgraded the quicker they’ll pay for themselves and start generating profit, having Rank four defences and the ability to claim more Territory, build Satellite Anchors and so much more… I smiled ruefully. My infrastructure was going to get worse, lagging far behind the Territory Rank, but it was something I was prepared to live with.

“But before that…” Shaeula said, amber eyes gleaming happily. “…there are those who should-should be Enthroned, no?” She looked at Asha, who was watching quietly, as graceful and elegant as ever. She stood, walked over to Shaeula and started whispering something in her ear, careful to prevent me hearing, so I only caught a few words. I’m not going to eavesdrop. I could, but… I trust them. If it’s important they’ll tell me in due course.

“… sure… fine. Have to… at some point. Might… be you-you.” Shaeula was saying, and Asha nodded, her smile calm and gentle. Turning to me, she came over.

“My dearest Akio, I am prepared. The others have told me much of the mortal world, that is it not so clean, that nature is rather suppressed, but… it is the world you see, and I would see it too. Besides…” Her smile changed, now a radiant, happy one. “… you promised me you would make all lands bloom, the Fae, this Boundary, and the Mortal world too.”

“And so I will. In fact…” I looked at Ginneka, who proudly stretched, showing off. Too bad I’m not interested. I already have the only catgirl I’ll need… Somehow Eri seemed to have read my thoughts as she was blushing. “…The plan starts in earnest today. So… are you ready?”

She took a deep breath, and her Tree also shook its branches around us, leaves and blossoms swaying. Blossoms? Those are new, right? “Every day is a day I never thought I would ever enjoy again. I have no regrets. I am ready.” she promised me, and as I connected her to the Throne, she shivered, feeling the new, strange sensation.

“I… feel a power rising.” she muttered, and a surge of brown nature energy surged, a thick scent of wood and wild growth in the air. My Eye flared, and I could see that she had gained a new Unique Element. It’s been a while. Shaeula got the Befuddling Winds from taking up the Throne, and now Asha’s benefitted…

Two Worlds Flowering Wood Rank 1. This unique Wood Element is full of the power of Nature, as well as the connection between that which is Material and that which is Spiritual, anchored by a presence that exists in both realms. This Wood creates seeds that can sprout freely, roots reaching between worlds, drawing sustenance from both. As it draws from Principles of both Material and Astral, these flowering plants can have innumerable strange properties, the majority merely trivial, yet in rare cases, the results can be astounding. [Class: Noble] [Type: Principle]

I wonder… I looked at Asha’s Tree, and just as Asha had gained a skill, so too had the Tree.

Two Worlds Sapling Rank 1. This Rhyming Tree, as the Dryad that is one and the same with it, can pass between two worlds. A seed has sprouted, filled with verdant Wood Element, and life will grow. The roots connect, both Material and Astral, and the Tree will take on the aspect of both in time. [Class: Noble] [Type: Principle]

With a surge of concentration, ignoring my fatigue, I gestured to Kana to return to the Material, as I created my Material body as well. Soon, I was looking at a Tree growing out of the hillside, perhaps half my height, young and frail, yet the density of ether around it was growing, and I could taste Wood, Water and Earth element, though it quickly dispersed, the world around it so bereft of such things that it was like pouring water onto a desert of dry sand.

“That’s incredible. We have a Fae tree on our property…” Kana’s jaw had dropped open, and seeing me looking she closed her mouth, shooting me a reproachful look. “Hey, I’m allowed to be surprised. But what does this mean?”

“It means even when I move home and the Anchor, your shrine will still be important. I promise not to forget you.” I teased, and she pouted, so I ruffled her hair gently. “Not that you thought you wouldn’t be. After all, Asha’s Tree is there. In both senses, it seems.”

While this was going on, I explained back in the Boundary, and Asha seemed stunned, squeezing shut her yellow eyes, communing with her other self, her Tree. Moments later she opened them again, and her smile was radiant. “It is true. A sapling, yet not in the normal sense. It is a Tree, but not a new Tree, a Tree that is still me, still us. Your world… it is indeed strange. I sense it faintly, but…”

Shiro put a hand on her shoulder. “Seeing is believing. Don’t spoil the surprise. You might as well wait until you see it with your own eyes. After all, you can go any time you want now. But don’t worry, I’ll take you to all the good places.”

Seeing her grin, Eri shook her head. “Don’t listen to her, Asha. She’ll just lead you astray. I’ll be sure to show you around. But anyway, what does this all mean? Other than you’ve grown stronger.”

“I do not know.” Asha admitted. “I have never heard of a Tree that straddles the Boundary and the mortal world. Perhaps father would know, or…”

“That’s something that’s been bugging me.” Shiro said suddenly. “You say Orion is the father of all Dryads, right?”

Asha nodded. “Yes, we are his daughters.”

“Then when you have kids with Aki, will they be his, or Orion’s?”

I hadn’t considered it. Wait, kids? It’s too soon for that… I did wait for the answer though, and after a while, Asha shrugged. “They will still be daughters of Orion, yet… they will be your daughters too, Akio. For unlike many Dryads, they would be birthed by the two of us.”

“Shit, that’s going to be awkward. That’s not how it works with us.” Shiro laughed, and Shaeula frowned.

“I understand, as Orion is precious to the Treekin and Plantkin. Even that old-old miser Primal Forest has respect for him. But… being a daughter of Orion is not-not so literal. Many are indeed born from the lands of the Fae, no-no father or mother, and thus are so claimed, but there are those born between two Fae, such-such as those the Dryads have kissed. All are of Orion, yet… there is quite-quite a difference.”

Asha nodded. “Fear not, my beloved. I shall never allow our daughters to revere Orion more than they will you, their true father.” She touched her belly tenderly, and for a moment I had a troubling premonition, before shaking it off. That’s for the future, for now…

“What matters is that you can cross between worlds now, just like the others, Asha. And with the Throne bonuses, you’re stronger. Next is…” I could see Ixitt practically salivating out of the corner of my eye, and a number of other Mortal Engineers were acting the same way, so I couldn’t put it off any longer. Turning to Ginneka, who was with her brother, I watched as she stood to attention, tail and ears erect, and her blue eyes were shining.

“I get to have the wonderful ability, nya? I want it, it smells so good!” she purred happily, and Kinneka was looking at her as if he didn’t know her. Seeing that, she scowled, whipping him with her tail. “None of that, Kinneka! You’ve changed too, I can smell it, taste it, nya. You’ve lost your edge, though you’ve gained something else, nya! As for me… most of my abilities are gone.” She looked downcast, and I felt a brief twinge of sympathy, before I crushed it ruthlessly. “Void Motion, I liked that one, nya.” She looked at me accusingly, before sighing. “My abilities to shapeshift are tangled with Eri there, and while I can still steal, nya…”

“It is your own-own fault.” Shaeula laughed meanly, and Ginneka hissed, her fur standing on end, only to calm down as the ground under her started sprouting vines, and she quickly apologised, not wishing Hyacinth to bully her.

“Yes, I know, nya. I was bad, I see that now. In the Hyakki Yagyō, might makes right. And we weren’t mighty, nya. But… I want it. It resonates with me! I deserve it!”

“I don’t know about deserve…” Eri said with a sigh. “…but I’m still grateful. A life for a life is fair, but if you want more…” Her dark eyes were hard. “Then you know what you have to pay.”

“Nya, I know. It feels bad, a proud Bakeneko serving under someone, but… at least he’s hot, nya.” She said coquettishly, twisting her body, looking very much like a cat at this moment. “Are you sure you don’t want a tumble, handsome? I’m rich with experience, nya…”

“He doesn’t need the town bus.” Shiro said, a touch spitefully. “Why would he, when he can ride high-end sportscars like us.”

“Nya, so rude. What does it matter? It is all pleasure.” She scoffed, insulted, before she was finally serious. “No, I understand. We could return to the Parade as losers, face scorn, nya. Humiliation. Or I could find a place. Better a rich servant than a beggar master, nya.” Her mind made up, she lashed her tail, irritated. “Besides, it smells so sweet, nya. I must have it. And when I do… brother and I, we will be forgiven?”

“We shall see.” Shaeula said, her tone cold. “I hold great-great anger towards you, but… serve Akio well, and I shall find it in my heart to be merciful, I do-do promise you that.”

“Nya, so hard to win over.” She fluttered her eyelashes at me. “Is that the sort of woman you like? You’re missing out, nya… no, no, stop…” she cried as vines wrapped around her legs, squeezing painfully. “I’ll be serious, nya.” She stopped her playful, catlike banter. “I am ready. I accept…. Nya?” She felt the sudden sense of connection as my Throne linked to her, and she didn’t fight it, embracing it, and soon it was done. Though unlike the others, I’m going to tweak her permissions a lot. I never thought to do it with Grulgor, that was an oversight, but we had the Oaths then at least. Here… I’m not going to make a mistake.

“Sister… are you well?” Kinneka asked, and she shuddered, before nodding.

“Nya, no issues. Though it feels strange, as though I am compelled to do certain things, or not do them.” She looked at me then, licking her lips. “So, master…” she called me, teasing. “…I want it inside me. Give it to me, nya, shove it in, make me gasp and pant and… Argh, stop, stop!” she cried as Hyacinth began to twist her. “Can’t I have some fun, I’m one of your own now, nya!”

Ignoring the fracas, I let my Eye shine, the Divine Favour of Laverna, which had been draining my adherence like a parasite for so long, quivering eagerly. I see. Now she has a Material form as well, it’ll be easier to make the Favour fit. These little pieces of Adherence and something else that I couldn’t yet comprehend seemed tailored for humans, or at least Material creatures, which perhaps was why we hadn’t seen any spiritual beings with them yet. If Nurarihyon had one, for example, it might make him strong enough to fight the golden-eyed toad, maybe… I gestured to Shiro and she came over, smiling happily.

“Aki, what do you need?”

“Buffs please. The general one, and on my Chirurgery.”

“Always a buff-bot. Way to make a girl feel special, Aki.” She chuckled. “But it’s not so bad. I need to show off my good points when I get the opportunity. Being number one is hard, but it’s a cross your perfect Shirohime will bear for you.” Energy flowed into me, and with the sensation of reaching the third pinnacle, Rank 10, temporarily, I began to work on Ginneka. She immediately started flailing, crying out, yowling louder than when Hyacinth was tormenting her, and I motioned for her to be quiet. This isn’t as easy as it was for Kana or my sis. So please, don’t break my concentration… I dismissed my Material body once more, leaving Kana and her parents excitedly observing Asha’s new Tree there, and delved deeply, exploring the mysteries of Ginneka’s body, Split Thoughts burning, Body Enhancement sharpening my mind as well.

The normal points of attachment are mostly there, but some of the branches and minor chakras are out of alignment. The Favour… I let it enter Ginneka, and it coalesced into a shimmering hand-like shape, occupying Ginneka’s left hand, but sending tendrils to her crown, heart and root chakras. The problem is… Ginneka’s still a bit of a mess. Her ability that Eri had inherited, Shifting Cat, was within Ginneka too, but it was damaged, aether leaking from it irregularly in pulses, like a punctured, beating heart. I quickly patched it up, and Ginneka shivered, shrinking until she was the size of a child, her fur standing up on end. She let out an erotic moan, before looking alarmed at Hyacinth, but even our angry maid was not going to mess with her when I was doing such delicate work.

“That feels better, nya. Like an old scar has stopped itching.” She said, blinking at me. “Though you are treating me roughly. I don’t mind on the bed, nya, but…”

“There’s no time for jokes…” I grimaced, as I made further adjustments, noticing that the Divine Favour was changing a little, almost as if merging with her subtle bodies, the Favour beginning to melt away. Huh… wait, could… that be the reason that they are giving the Favours to humans? Really? If so… as my Eye shone and I continued to work on her Astral and Material bodies, I shook my head. Gods… are so damn selfish…