On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

One Hundred And Thirty-Two

The next morning I was greeted by my father and Eri, who had returned from their hotel. My father was looking a little worse for wear, probably because we did pack away quite the large amount of booze in the izakaya, and once the issue with money was sorted and the drink had loosened his reserve, he and Uncle Mori had spent quite the time bending my ear over my future relationship with Eri.

Yeah, I did not need uncle Mori telling me that Eri had a prescription for… contraception… so we had nothing to worry about. I mean, I know he and auntie have always wanted us to get together, but even so, shouldn’t a father be less enthused about his daughter having relations… and as for my own father…

Mom had often bragged that father had only ever had one woman, her, and my father expected the same for me. He had advised me at length that now we had entered into an adult relationship he wouldn’t tolerate us not sticking it out. He said I had made my bed, and now had to lie in it. British idiom aside that he had no doubt picked up from mom, my gaze strayed to the brightly smiling Eri, who was looking adorable in a long pleated skirt in a pale grey, coupled with a white t-shirt and cardigan combination. Well, at least my bed is beautiful…

“Good morning.” I greeted them, satisfied that my Ether Healing had robbed me of any hangover, a small bit of satisfaction against my father. “I thought you’d be sightseeing, since you are here another day.”

“I intend to re-join my family and the Mori’s as soon as I drop off Eri here.” He stumbled over her name without an honorific a little, but he would have to get used to it. “It isn’t wise for a young girl to travel alone, even in a safe country like this.”

I nodded in agreement, remembering the trouble Ichika-san had with those thugs. Speaking of, I haven’t heard from her in a while. No doubt Shaeula has been texting her though, so no need to worry…

Eri’s gaze hardened a little, as if she could read my mind, and I put such extraneous concerns aside. Agreeing with my father I answered. “Yeah, good call. This area isn’t the worst part of Tokyo, not by a long shot, but there was still some trouble a few weeks ago. So, Aiko not with you?”

Eri let out a laugh. “No, not today. She wanted to come and hang out, but our mothers insisted she should spend some time with the family, since she already had a trip with you last weekend. So, just us today!” her cheeks were flushed, and I had to repress the urge to kiss her there and then. Yeah, not in front of father.

“Well, it makes sense. Did you want anything to eat or drink before you go, father? I can whip something up.”

He declined, still looking pale and washed out, and after a brief exchange he departed, leaving Eri to follow me inside. I led her to the kitchen area and made her a light breakfast. “So, what do you want to do today? I have some things to take care of, which makes spending time with you a bit difficult, but since you came all this way…”

As she ate the grilled fish and rice I had prepared for her, she praised my cooking, which felt pretty good, as it was a skill I had to pick up when I became self-sufficient. After a little more thought, she shook her head. “Well, I want to spend time with you, but if you really can’t then I can just stay here for the day. I know times are tough for you right now, I want to be your support, not a burden.” She finished up, thanked me for the meal and then looked around. “So, where’s Shaeula? Is she still not back yet?”

“I’m afraid not. I was just going to do some quick exercise to hone my body and skills, and then return to the Boundary to reinforce her. We don’t exactly have a wealth of trustworthy personnel to rely on.”

“That sounds interesting. I’ve been doing my own training, just like Shaeula showed me, but maybe watching yours would help me too?”

Well, I don’t have a problem with that. “Sure, why not. I do a little bit of chakra work while I train, so if you pay attention you might learn something.” One good thing about my new home was it was way less cramped, so I could practise with my training spear a lot more freely, as well as some of the martial arts that required more space.

For the next hour I ran through the forms I was training, my motions smooth blurs that exceeded human limits, all the while continuing to circulate aether around my chakra network. I was also using a little of the energy to amplify my muscle movements, a very crude first step to some sort of body strengthening art. Though pushing it too far might prove an issue, so…

Eri watched me, rapt and hungry, as I sweated and strained. When I was finally finished she gave me a round of gentle applause, then brought over a towel and wiped the sweat from my brow and upper torso. “That was so impressive!” she gushed. “You’re like one of those action movie stars, so fast and strong.” She then looked up at me, her gaze impish. “If you want to take a bath before you go, I can wash your back for you? I can wash… other places too…” her voice quietened towards the end, but her eyes were clear and determined.

Before I could respond, and I was very tempted, despite the fact it was too risky to fool around, soft footsteps could be heard from the other room. The door then sprung open, revealing Shaeula, still in her sleep yukata, her hair dishevelled. “Ahh, Eri. I thought you might be here-here.” She said. “Akio did say you were visiting this weekend.”

She’s back? What about the Territory? Still, she wouldn’t leave it unguarded recklessly…

“Oh do not-not worry.” She waved away my worries with one slender hand, as if reading my thoughts. Is that something all girls can do, as it seems to be happening to me a lot lately?

“We have repelled another major assault, this time one from two sides at once-once. Our enemy grows more cunning. But they shall not be able to marshal further forces for a while, so I felt the need to come see Eri and Aiko. Is she not here?”

“No, she’s with our family. They wanted to spend time with her.” Eri said, before rushing over to Shaeula. “I heard you were injured, are you all right? Akio should have done better keeping you safe, I’m going to scold him later. How is your leg now?” she bent down and lifted the hem of her yukata, inspecting for wounds, but after my efforts it was smooth pale flesh, healed and unbroken.

Shaeula pulled her leg aside, though gently, and reached down to pat her head as she knelt. “I am fine, I am very strong, as you know-know.” She puffed out her chest pridefully. “Besides, Akio tried his best. In battle there is always danger. Still, he did-did repay me by helping to heal my injury, for he would not wish to have my beautiful flesh marred by unsightly scars.” As she finished Shaeula suddenly realised what she had said, but surprisingly Eri didn’t react to the implications, only nodding.

“Well, even so, I want you to look after her more, Akio. I don’t want my friends to get hurt, it makes me sad.”

Friends, huh? They do seem to be getting on better since we made it back from Las Vegas. That’s good, I don’t want to see them fighting.

Shaeula smiled brightly at bring called a friend, before turning back to me. “So as I did-did say, the situation is in hand. The salt wards protect the shrine from their ghosts, and my Kamaitachi are conducting the defence. I felt the need for you to spoil me for a bit, master. It has been hard-hard, being away from mortal comforts so long. I demand food and drink!”

Damn, I can’t say no to that. It’s been necessary, but I’ve definitely left her to shoulder most of the burden in the Boundary. “Fine. You’ve missed breakfast, but I can whip you something up. There’s beer and spirits in the fridge.”

“I’ll help!” Eri said, and with that we started preparations…

********

Shaeula lay back on the comfortable sofa, satisfied, patting her stomach. “That is much-much better. Our Territory lacks any amenities. It is something you should look at, master.”

“Is it really that bad?” Eri asked, curious. “All I know is the desert in Las Vegas. I’d love to see your Territory, you did say you wanted to show me. Besides…” she clenched her fists, resolved. “You also said it was far easier to strengthen my chakra network in the Boundary. I’ve been training so hard, desperate to reach the stage where I can finally…” she shot me a look, flushed red even along her bare forearms.

“I see, I do.” Shaeula looked at her, eyes gleaming amber. “Of course that would motivate you, you seemed to enjoy the embrace of Akio before-before.” She grinned impishly. “You have indeed been training hard, I can see your efforts. Master, perhaps…”

No way, absolutely not. “In normal times, I’d be happy to show you my Territory.” I said as consolingly as I could. “But right now we are in a war with a powerful foe. I don’t want to put you in harm’s way, I couldn’t live with myself if you got hurt, and…”

Eri pushed a finger against my lips to silence me, her onyx eyes blazing with a different emotion to before. She seems… mad?

“But you can forgive yourself if Shaeula is injured? I’m disappointed in you Akio. And that hurts me…” she said sadly.

“Uhh, no, that isn’t what I mean, it’s just Shaeula has reason to fight, and is a…”

“You think I don’t have a reason to fight? I’ll be your wife, standing by your side, supporting you. Besides, if I don’t fix my body, then we can’t… ugh…”

“I think you should listen to her-her.” Shaeula supported her, chiming in when Eri was struggling to express herself fully, frustrated. “Her resolve is praiseworthy, and strong and deep as the mists of the Fae realm. She has trained hard, harder than I believed she would have the strength for-for.”

Eri seemed surprised Shaeula was supporting her, but it gave her the strength to find her words. “Shaeula said that they couldn’t attack again any time soon, and that there were salt wards around the shrine. That’s here, right? So isn’t it safe for me to enter? If Shaeula helps charge me up like before, I can do it.” she grasped my hands, and glimmering tears formed at the corner of her dark eyes as she stared deeply into my grey orbs. “I know you love me and want to protect me, and I love that about you too. I do. But I also want to do things for you, and for myself. If the situation was truly too unwise, I’d listen to you, do what you want. But Shaeula doesn’t think so, so please. I have things I want to do as well, can’t you support me? Won’t you treat me as an equal? If you won’t, who will?”

Ugh, a critical hit to my heart. Seeing her like that, she’s fragile, yet strong. Was she always like this and I never realised? Pulling our clasped hands to my lips I kissed her. “You win.” I conceded. “But…” I looked at them both sternly. “…one thing I won’t compromise on is safety. Eri, you don’t know how to return to the Material manually, so Shaeula, you’ll have to teach her that as soon as we arrive. And if either of us tells you to return, you do it, no matter what, right?” at my intensity, Eri nodded.

“Good. In that case…” I turned my gaze back to Shaeula, who grinned, waving casually.

“Leave it to me, Akio. Eri shall be as safe as a child in her mother’s arms-arms.”

********

“Wow, this… this is amazing.” Eri looked around Shirohebizumi shrine wide-eyed. Catching sight of one of the Kamaitachi that had come to greet us, she goggled, her expression one of wonder. “So, do you look like that Shaeula? In your real body, I mean?”

“Rude.” Shaeula sniffed, though she was not really offended. “This body is as real as any other. Besides, Akio likes it-it. though he finds my other form adorable as well-well.”

The Kamaitachi scratched its head in puzzlement. “Princess, who is this newcomer? She is a mortal, is she not-not? You seem… close?”

“Of course we are close, this is Eri, a woman of my master.” She puffed out her chest in pride, which puzzled me a little. “She is working hard-hard to join us in our fight, and I insist you treat her with utmost courtesy.”

The Kamaitachi looked at Shaeula, then at Eri, then back to Shaeula. A long sigh whistled between its teeth. “I see-see. Greetings then. Should you require any assistance, feel free-free to ask.” As it turned away I heard it mutter under its breath. “Poor princess, fallen behind again. How sad-sad.”

Eri, fresh from her shock at meeting weaselkin and Kamaitachi, was also surprised to see the white snakes slithering around. Still, she listened intently to Shaeula’s lecture on a way to expel aether quickly, which would boot her back to the Material near-instantly. Once that was done, Shaeula began to instruct her on how to draw in aether more effectively.

“Yeah, it really is easier here!” Eri proclaimed, pleased. She continued to work, eyes narrowed in concentration, before they opened wide, and another shocked exclamation left her. “Wow, that snake… it’s magnificent. Is that… is that really a kami?”

Shaeula told her that it was indeed the kami of this shrine, and as Eri looked on impressed they even struck up a conversation with it, something Eri never could have dreamed was possible a few scant weeks ago. I looked on fondly, the scene warming my heart, but a niggling feeling was prickling at me, a feeling that something we had done had nudged an event closer to fruition, some future danger creeping up on us, now more certain… Ugh, it feels unpleasant. I think I’ve felt this recently, but when? There’s been too much going on, I can’t remember…

We passed several joyous hours helping Eri to strengthen herself, Shaeula using her vision to correct any issues, and while this was happening we received occasional reports from our weaselkin scouts. The enemy ghost women were still prowling our Territory, and some orcs were digging in, preparing for a future push, but the powerful one that used metal spikes was nowhere to be seen, and the beetles were still held back.

Eri should easily be able to escape to the Material before the defences around the shrine are breached. Maybe I was being too cautious. Seeing how happy Eri and Shaeula looked, I felt a little guilty for my overprotective streak. It was something I had always felt, ever since we were young, and it had caused enough problems. Yeah, all Eri has to worry about is how jealous Aiko will be when she hears about this. No, wait, surely that’s my problem too, as she’ll blame me!

Chuckling to myself I tried to shake the bad feeling that was lingering at the back of my mind. Seeing my gaze on them Shaeula turned to me, patting Eri on the shoulder. “Master, she has made quite-quite the progress. She has talent, I believe. Why not show him?”

Eri nodded eagerly. Raising one hand she concentrated, her eyes squinting, face twisted into a cute expression of utmost effort. “Nearly… I can do this…” she encouraged herself, straining. “Just a… little more… there!” a faint ball of light leapt from her hand, hanging in the air like a twinkling star for a few seconds, before vanishing. She slumped down with the effort, but her smile was radiant.

“Well done indeed-indeed.” Shaeula praised. “You managed to utilise aether, even if it was but a feeble speck.”

“Phrasing.” I chided Shaeula gently, before going over and giving Eri a hug. “If you are going to praise her, do it properly. I thought you’d grown out of being tsundere.”

Shaeula recognised the term from anime and protested, while Eri giggled in my embrace. She reached up and kissed me, this time aggressively, the feeling of success making her bold. As she withdrew, saliva dripping from her lips, she looked at Shaeula, a complicated gleam in her eyes. “I know, it was weak. Compared to you or Akio… I’m still pathetic. But I won’t be beaten, I won’t stop, until I’m strong. But thank you. I can feel warmth within me, and it hurts less. If you continue to guide me, then…” she blushed. “… then Akio and I can be together. So thank you, Shaeula. I mean it, I do.”

Shaeula turned away, flushing and embarrassed herself. “Bah, think nothing of it-it. I promised you, did I not, during our talk? Together, the world will be far more fun-fun.”

Good sentiments, and very cute as always. Still, I’m really curious as to what they talked about, the atmosphere has changed. Before I could ask, a troll, armour ragged and torn, came pounding up to the shrine, frantic.

“What is that?” Eri choked out, stunned by the massive brute as it barrelled towards us. She burrowed into my grip, scared, but I merely murmured that it was one of ours and nothing to be scared of.

“Just what-what is the meaning of interrupting our tender moment, brute?” Shaeula growled, her dislike of the trolls making her harsher than usual. “Akio, Eri and I were sharing a moment.”

“No time for whining.” The troll grated, acidic saliva splattering the ground. “Huge army, many enemies come. From the south.”

“The south? Did that ghostly coward outmanoeuvre us-us?” Shaeula grimaced. “I was sure they had suffered too many losses in our last battles to be ready so soon-soon.” Her angry gaze at the troll softened a little. “You have done good work for once-once. Find Grulgor and bring him, we will need his strength.”

Eri was in my arms, looking scared. “It’ll be all right. But you’d better get ready to return. Luckily you don’t have much aether left, so…”

“Grul will come. Grul loves crushing weak weasels. We shall break them and eat them!” the troll agreed, gurgling happily.

Wait, what? Weasels? The hell?

Shaeula had picked up on it as well. “Weasels? Are your brains rocks, fool-fool? You need to kill the orcs, not us-us!”

The troll was puzzled, his small brain overtaxed. “But foes come, big army, many weasels. Soon be here. We must crush them.”

“We need to check it out.” I said quickly. “The troll might be confused, or…”

“Do you hear that?” Eri piped up, straining to hear. “I can hear… music?”

“I hear it too.” Shaeula agreed, nodding. “It seems rather… familiar. And it comes closer. We have no-no barrier to stop intruders…”

The sound of drums, flutes, harps, horns and other such instruments was growing ever louder, playing a melancholy tune that was ethereal, unearthly. It was accompanied by the sound of many feet striking the ground, a host vaster than the orc attacks we had suffered previously.

“Will you be able to fight them?” Eri asked, shaking with fear. I squeezed her reassuringly and put on my bravest grin. Beside us Shaeula also struck a noble pose, looking heroic and battle-ready. “Have no fear, we shall defend our Territory until the last.” She said proudly. “My master and I have invested too much to let anyone take it from us-us.”

“Well said. Although…” I looked at my fiancée, trying to be the epitome of calm. “… we won’t die for it. if the odds are impossible, we’ll run away and start again. It’ll hurt, but…”

“…but you’ll have me and Aiko to help you.” Eri finished, nodding. “Just promise me, no foolish heroics, okay? This isn’t like that time with the dog…”

“This moment is touching indeed, and I feel the love-love you have for each other, but they are here.” Shaeula smirked. “Now let us see our foe…”

A great force had penetrated our lands, heading for the centre. Several dozen musicians were playing instruments as they marched at the front, followed by scores of archers, spearmen, armoured warriors, what looked like mages, carrying staves and wearing robes, and other stranger forces. At the centre was a palanquin being carried on the shoulders of burly guards. Seated there was two figures, one black-furred and green eyed, a great bow slung over one shoulder, the other white-furred and blue eyed, carrying an ornate staff topped with glittering jewels.

What in the world? Before any of us could speak, the black-furred one gestured, and several musicians blew their horns, raising a deafening racket. He then called out, his voice loud across our Territory. “Little sister, little sister, where are you? Why will you not come to greet-greet your brother? I have come to see you, I was worried about you! Little sister, answer me! Don’t keep-keep your brother waiting!”

Shaeula froze. “Brother Shaeraggo?” she called out uncertainly, her face cramping.

Well, this was unexpected…