On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Two Hundred And Fifty-Eight

Once back in my Territory I was greeted by the sight of the skies of the Boundary shimmering with silver light, the usual purples, greens and inky blacks starting to look washed out and pale, occasional flickers of silver lightning, glittering with rainbow lights at the edges, held within. It’s quite beautiful, but troubling. I wonder if another etheric tide is coming?

As I was thinking this, Asha the dryad strolled over to greet me, her long green hair flowing. She had regained her vitality now, and was practically shimmering with ruby earth energies. “Welcome back, Akio. You’ve been gone a while. Is everything well?” she handed me a juicy-looking fruit from the growing orchard which I bit into, tasting a refreshing, citrus tang.

“Well, there was… trouble… certainly. But for now it’s resolved. That reminds me, I need to speak to Selensha. I hope she’s here.”

“I think so.” the dryad answered. “There are lots of Fae coming and going, and many of them like to dwell in the shade of my Tree, or up amidst the treetop.” She smiled, pleased. At first she had been surprised and a little put off by the idea to turn her Tree into a spot for relaxation and fun, but having seen the care that the kobolds had taken in setting up the stairs and café, she had warmed to it in the end. “Look, here they come now.” She said, pointing, and I smiled as I saw Shaeula and Hyacinth heading my way, and since I hadn’t seen them since the whole mess with Shiro, I felt my heart ease, the small loneliness I felt at their absence dissipating like fog.

“Akio, I heard.” Shaeula said, reaching out to hug me, nuzzling close. Behind her, Hyacinth frowned, looking as if she wished to do the same, but since we were in company, her need to be a perfect servant outweighed her desire to be affectionate with me. “It must have been quite the trial. I am only sorry I could not-not be there with you in your time of need.” She did look a bit down about it, so I reassured her by squeezing her tight and rubbing her head.

“It’s not your fault. I know dealing with the Seelie Court is important. I’d hate to lose all that we’ve gained now.” I sighed. “Still, the worst case was avoided. Shiro’s still alive. That is what matters.”

“To think that wretch, the Raven Knight, was responsible for more-more of our woes.” Shaeula ground her teeth in annoyance, perhaps remembering the abuse he had heaped on her, and the ambush that nearly claimed my life. “If we had only defeated him back then, none-none of this would have happened.”

The thought had crossed my mind, but… “There’s no use dwelling on the past. We were more naïve and foolish then, we often charged in without a proper plan, and we were much weaker. However, since he spurned my sensible offer of negotiation, when next I see him…” I clenched my fist, my grip on Shaeula tight. “… well, I’m not the weakling I was then. As he’ll find out.”

“The Raven… he-he is trouble.” Shaeraggo said, frowning. He, Selensha and several other important weaselkin had accompanied Shaeula to see me, and I could see the two maids, Velna and Klena, looking on as the two of us hugged. If I’m not mistaken I’m seeing a lot less disapproval in their eyes. I suppose the tough events they’ve been through have changed their outlook. I’m glad Shaeula got Klena back, otherwise it would have wounded her badly. At my nod of greeting, Klena looked down, abashed and embarrassed.

“Yes, he’s known to skulk about the borders of the Fae lands, neither of the Seelie, nor the Unseelie.” Selensha added helpfully. “Though I’ve head tales of his skirmishes with father-in-law.”

“Yes.” Shaeraggo agreed. “He has caused many-many annoyances. Still, hearing how he has targeted my precious sister, perhaps it is time to deal with him once and for all.”

“Something we agree on then.” I said, and at that, Shaeraggo frowned, perhaps unwilling to agree with me so easily.

“Well, enough, how-how long are you going to paw at my little sister?”

Shaeula snorted at that, rolling her eyes, but I released her, reaching out to pat Hyacinth on the head, surprising her. “Well, it’s only natural I would want to hug my fiancée after a long absence, right?” I teased him. “Still, thanks for helping out, brother-in-law. I can tell the Territory is flourishing.”

As I spread my senses I could see the area we controlled had expanded by nearly half, a significant increase. In addition, I could see that the Kobold Warrens had increased to Special Rank 6, and now allowed the addition of Elite Leader-class kobolds such as Kobold High Foreman and Kobold High Artisan, as well as surprisingly, Leader-class Kobold Artillerists. I wonder if that has anything to do with Ixitt’s experiments?

In addition the Kobold Mine at the Shrine had reached Special Rank 5, and now produced significantly more bluesteel and other precious metals and gems.

“Well, I would not wish my dear sister to face any hardships.” He said, and I let him have that little victory.

“Even so, I appreciate it. You do too, don’t you Shaeula?”

“Indeed.” She agreed. “As my time has been quite-quite full with meetings with the rulers of the Seelie Court, I have not-not had the time to dedicate myself to this Territory. So it was reassuring to have your support, brother.” At her praise he seemed pleased, and she continued. “You too, sister-in-law, though I fear I have had little-little time to learn the water element as I had desired. However…”

“Yes.” I said, bowing to her, asking for a favour. “I am hoping soon to bring a friend of mine who is gravely injured, even beyond my skills to heal her, and I would ask for your assistance, as you are a master of water healing.”

“Of course.” She tightened her grip on the ornate staff she held. “I want us to get along, I would be happy to help.”

“I shall need-need to see this so-called white princess first, before you allow her access to this Territory.” Shaeula warned. “I know you believe in her, and so I would-would wish to as well, but Azuki informed me she is host to a dangerous entity. We must tread carefully.”

“I know. But… you’ll like her, I promise.” I sighed, full of difficult emotions. “Still, I understand. Her allies are equally as wary of meeting us. But if we can work together, our strengths will be magnified.”

“Perhaps we should discuss this elsewhere.” One weaselkin captain said, and looking at him, I could see he was one of the black-furred weasels who had been with Shaeula from the start. “There is-is a new office that the barking dogs…” at my frown he corrected his words. “… the kobolds have-have built. That elf is there.”

Elf? Moira I’m guessing, as I’m sure the other two were helping out around the Spring. “Fine. We have a lot to do, anyway.” As we crested the hill, past the Earth Altar, I noticed that the area had been transformed. New buildings had gone up, including impressive-looking wooden and stone towers, which offered excellent firing lines over the surrounding areas. Amidst those was a pretty-looking circular building, with large glass windows, appearing a bit like what I’d have imagined an old-fashioned Viking roundhouse to look like. Although there wouldn’t have been glass windows, of course.

“They’ve done good work.” I marvelled, and beside me, Shaeula agreed.

“Yes, the kobolds are growing ever more-more skilled, and they receive aid from Ixitt’s growing band of Mortal Engineers. Though Ixitt is away, searching for Etherites, it seems.” She sniffed. “Apparently, someone used up all-all our green and blue ones. I hope she was worth all this-this.”

“She is.” I promised. Entering the office roundhouse, I could see a number of workers dealing with the minutiae of our Territory. At a large centre-table, which was also new, round and easily big enough to seat fifty, Moira was indeed there, looking as austere as ever, talking with Tillyae, Danaera and the other leaders of our forces, as well as several Kamaitachi, and a very impressive-looking kobold indeed, a head taller than most, which might have been a High Foreman. A large map was spread across the centre of the table, covered in annotations, and at a glance I could tell it was pretty similar to the current Territory we possessed.

“Oh, you have returned.” Moira noticed us. “About time. There are decisions that need to be made, and the princess insisted on your input.”

Cold and business-like as ever, I see. Still, I can appreciate that. “Sorry. Pressing matters kept me away, that’s why we need capable administrators such as yourself.”

At my flattery, she sniffed, unimpressed. “Fine. Well, let me summarise. The areas you control here in this Boundary has expanded noticeably, which has brought us into conflict with several enemy forces, though with the Prince and his forces here, they were soundly defeated.”

At that, Shaeraggo swelled up, looking boastful, and his sister snickered nastily, amused at his conceit.

“In addition to that, we have found several neutral enclaves who might be interested in coming under your control.” She pointed to our borders. “Cat spirits here.” She pointed to a mark on the map. “I believe they call themselves Yokai, in this land?” At my nod, she continued. “Here in these mountains, there is a grove of spirit trees. Not as developed or as powerful as the Rhyming Trees of the Fae Realms, but… a site of interest, nonetheless. I suggest we make it ours.”

I agreed, and she illustrated the last place, along the bay, a bit away from the site of our water elemental resources. “And here, there is a series of off-shore reefs where various spirits dwell. They have expressed an interest in coming under your protection, saying that the seas are dangerous now.”

“The seas are dangerous? That sounds like intelligence we need. Fine. Bring them all under our umbrella, so long as they agree to support us, we can protect them and help them prosper. I trust that’s fine?” I looked around and everyone nodded.

“We also have petitions for new mines. The kobolds have found two sites they say are suitable, and also…” Moira pointed out several spots in the mountains, not too far from the grove. “… several of the dwarves who have visited here have noticed plentiful deposits here. They wish to set up several mines, and also a dwarven smelter and foundry.” She shuddered. “How those dwarves can handle iron, I do not know. The thought makes me quite uncomfortable. Still, it might bring you profit, should you so allow.”

Hmm. As I thought about that, the familiar orange letters burned in my vision, appraising me of what that would entail.

Dwarven Mine Rank ??? Special- Dwarven Mines can be constructed for the cost of 4000 Ether. They can be constructed anywhere without limit, but what is found there will depend on where it is constructed. Dwarven mines can be worked by anyone, but will produce significantly higher yields from dwarven miners. All mines produce some ether, as well as Etherite ores, metals and gems. Dwarven mines focus on iron, silver, gold and magical metals, so their rate of finding these resources are noticeably higher.

Dwarven Smelter and Foundry Rank ??? Special- This facility can be constructed for the cost of 40,000 Ether. This facility converts ores into high purity metals, and can also create alloys of iron and steel, as well as extract small amounts of precious mythical metals. At higher ranks non-metallic elements can be safely extracted from ores by dwarven craftsmanship.

Okay, that sounds like the sort of thing we need if we are going to mass-produce guns and bullets like Ixitt wants. I do have an Armoury, but at its current Rank, it’s disappointing. “Fine. That sounds like the sort of thing we want. Industry is important too, and more mines means more profits, right? Though I dare say this will mean we’ll need to set up another point of defence to protect the grove and mines.”

Moira nodded, making notes on the map. “With that agreed, next is an issue of manpower. As your Territory expands, and in addition you have to protect the Spring of Clear Reflections, your numbers are clearly not sufficient to hold ground.” Moira frowned, thinking. “You have borrowed forces from Prince Shaeraggo and Princess Shaeranna, as well as some Way-Wardens, and Primal Forest has numerous treekin working the dead forests… but that is not a long-term solution. You need greater forces. The number of outcast Fae who has flocked here is helpful, but they cannot be expected to fight, except in the most desperate of defensive battles.”

“I too worry about our numbers.” Shaeula agreed. “It would not-not be wise to rely solely on our Territory barrier or defences. After all, we have destroyed several that did. Perhaps we should seek-seek to increase the Rank and number of our Barracks?”

“Yeah, I’ve been thinking that for a while. I have more immediate needs, but after that, we’ll try and get all the Barracks to Rank 3 at the least. That should bolster the strength of our forces noticeably. We might even consider some Spawning Spires too. The troops are worse, but we can use them expendably, keeping casualties down. It’ll also be cheaper.”

“So long as none of them are weaselkin.” Shaeula shuddered, remembering. “Seeing those soulless husks, it does not-not sit well with me.”

“In that case, it’s time to spend my ether.” I brought up the build queues. Right, let’s take a look. Huh, that’s odd. Guess it must be the tide after all?

The queues were now standing at thirteen days for the Build Queue Anchor Spire Rank 2, two hundred and twenty-three days for the Ether Spire Rank 4, and the last build queue was empty, the upgrade to the Sniper Emplacement at the graveyard now completed. Still, those queues should be three or four days more advanced, by my estimation… checking my ether supply yielded a similar result, the amount we had accumulated (even taking into account the fact I spent hundreds of thousands healing Shiro as best I could) seeming a bit lower than I would have expected, considering the sterling work everyone had done expanding our Territory and dealing with hostile foes. When I raised this, Shaeula agreed.

“Indeed, this tide-tide seems to be a calm. Time will grow closer to that of the mortal world, and the density of ether will drop. A shame, we will not-not be able to advance our Territory as quickly while the calm endures, though as a consequence, it is quite-quite likely dangerous beasts will be dormant, the surrounding Boundary safer.”

“That’ll only apply to Boundary-dwellers, not other Candidates.” I mused. “Still, they’ll suffer the same penalties we do, and even with reductions, we still have solid income. Oh well, we’ll work with what we have.”

We now had enough earth elemental essence stored to upgrade the White Snake Earth Altar, but the cost of a rush-build at nearly three quarters of a million ether would mostly wipe me out, so I decided to hold off on that for now, and do it after Conclave. I’d like to get our defences solid first. There was one Sniper Emplacement (the one by the water elemental resources) to upgrade to Rank 2, so I did that at a cost of just over forty-thousand ether. At two-hundred thousand ether I also upgraded all five Rapid-Fire Emplacements to Rank 2. That left ten ordinary Emplacements. Biting the bullet, I decided to spend the ether, pushing them all to Rank 2 as well. The total on emplacements was around five hundred and ten thousand, leaving me just over two hundred and fifty thousand ether left.

Damn, those sums are crazy really, considering how I had to scrimp and save before we beat Duke Myrcolaxriath. Still, with the calm coming, I’ll likely be saving the pennies for a while. I explained my reasoning on the defences. They wouldn’t be able to hold of an enemy strong enough and determined enough to breach the Territory barrier, but they would make an excellent staging point for our resistance, being noticeably more powerful now.

“Yes, that is wise.” Moira agreed. “With the kobolds and other artisans building defensive structures around these key locations as well, the extra firepower would be useful in suppressing invading foes, allowing our troops to hold for a sustained period while bleeding the enemy…”

She sounded surprisingly bloodthirsty, but then she did tell me her speciality was military logistics. Shaeraggo offered his own input, mostly about where to deploy ranged troops such as archers and mages for maximum effect, and soon we had made numerous annotations to the maps, planning walls, fortified infantry traps and hidden firing platforms we wished the kobolds to build.

“What will you do with the remaining ether, Akio?” Shaeula asked, and I pointed to a spot outside our normal area of operations.

“I did promise to set up the testing facility. So…” A Rank 1 Material to Boundary Connection and a Rank 1 Boundary to Material Connection set me back thirty-two thousand for the rush build, and pushing them both to Rank 2 cost a further hundred and ninety-two thousand. It was costly, but in terms of my promises, I couldn’t afford to wait. “Well, now we are running on dregs, but the kobolds and dwarves can use the empty queue and what we have left to establish their mines. I’ll set up Defensive Emplacements around the testing site when we return from Kyoto.”

“I see. In that case, we shall have to work far-far harder on other matters. The Fae Stone barrier around the Spring of Clear Reflections and the Warning Bell network is being re-established, but I would most-most like to extend it to this Territory as well. After all, I consider it all one great Territory.” Shaeula said, pointing to a second map, which covered the Spring in its new location, as well as the newly rebuilt mansion by the Ring Gate that Shaeraggo had provided us.

“You know, I still don’t get how the Spring will now remain with the Seelie Court and move with it.” I said, scratching my head.

“The lands of the Fae are mutable, though Territories remain fixed.” Shaeraggo answered in a condescending tone, eager to show his superior knowledge. It irritated me, making me want to annoy him, so I pulled Shaeula close again, before reaching out for Hyacinth too, who tried to protest that it was not seemly, but I ignored her, taking her in my arms as well. As he bristled, Selensha giggling softly beside him, I asked him for a further explanation.

Grinding his teeth in annoyance, he did so. “The Spring was located in quite-quite a different part of the Seelie Court before, but when it was taken by the foul Unseelie and corrupted, it broke-broke away. Therefore when the Seelie Court moved, it remained, occasionally bordering us as the Court travels from moon to moon. But now…” he lectured. “… it is re-joined, and once more is part of the whole, so will remain and move with us.”

I see. I get it, I think. It’s a bit like a block puzzle. “Well, it might be a bit presumptuous to consider a part of the Seelie Court as ours, but Shaeula, Hyacinth and I, we did manage to reclaim it, and Shaeula is in charge of it, so… yeah, obviously if it came under heavy attack, we’d send reinforcements, so it’d be nice to have some Fae technology protecting us.”

“Well, such would be unprecedented, but…” Moira consulted more documents. “…to protect a Territory of this size it is possible, though obviously the Spring is our priority for now.”

“As long as it happens, we can wait, right? That reminds me, how did your meetings go with the others?”

“Our support base is solid.” Shaeula puffed out her chest proudly. “Five stand with us confidently, and the remaining two are not-not opposed. That stupid fire-fox Duke Vulpatrius must be biting at his tail in frustration about how it has all-all played out.” As she talked happily about her political machinations, I found myself admiring her, how animated and happy she was. She may not rule the Seelie, not yet, but in terms of my Oaths to her… I like to think we’re definitely getting there…

********

“Sooo, soon we are going to this Kyotooo, right?” Hyacinth was fastening up her maid outfit, still flushed and sweaty from our lovemaking. Shaeula was still naked, the bed covers tossed back, leaving her to tantalise my eye. As she saw me looking, she spread her legs with a giggle.

“That’s right.” I had to smile at their antics. We had returned to the Material in the early hours of the Friday morning, which gave us a little time for sleep and… other activities, before we were due to head into central Tokyo and catch the bullet train to Kyoto. Lodgings had been arranged for us in a very exclusive and upmarket ryokan, and my sis and Eri were extremely excited about the prospect of that, and apparently mom and Auntie Hana too. I guess girls love hot springs and outdoor baths… “There is one thing though. Shaeula…” I said, serious, and she closed her legs, getting up to kneel on the bed carefully, awaiting my next words.

“… the Night Parade is likely active in Kyoto. We are bound to come across them, I’d imagine. What would you like to happen?”

“A good question.” Shaeula mused. “And one I have thought much-much about these past few days. Obviously I dream of seeing my mother again. I hope-hope for that. But even if I do not-not… I have business with the Night Parade. After all, those foolish cats…” her smile was wicked, and I felt a brief sting through Kin Bonding and Restoration. “… they were sent to slay me. Sadly for them, they failed.”

“Yeah, and you are part of the Night Parade now, at least that’s what my ability says.”

“Mistress should just dooo what she wants.” Hyacinth declared. “Akio too. I will support you, as a good brownie shooould. And a good mistress.” She giggled happily. Shaeula responded by patting her on the shoulder, smiling fondly at the maid she had once distrusted.

“Yes, you are right. I shall seek-seek redress, compensation. And I shall demand my due as the daughter of my mother. But before that… Akio, what is your plan for this Conclave? I dare say you are not-not satisfied with merely getting some crumbs of support now. Nor-nor should you be.”

“Akio is strong. The weak should nooot bother him, merely follow.” Hyacinth giggled.

“Well, it’s not all about strength.” I said. “But while you’ve been gone I’ve been laying the groundwork for… hey, what’s that look for?”

“Hmmm.” Shaeula pursed her lips. “From what I have been told, you neglected your duties to panic-panic over this white princess.”

“Well, I did some of that.” I admitted. “But even so, I’ve gained support from Takakura-san, who represents the nobility. It’s a shame we were told Hinata and the others can’t go, but…” as I outlined my plans, Shaeula nodded along happily, while Hyacinth occasionally interjected.

Yes. Like Shaeula and the Spring, I’ll only be satisfied coming out of this with a position of power and influence. I’m curious though, there are about two thousand four hundred true shrines in Japan, according to Chiyo-san. So there’s going to be an awful lot of people at Conclave. How many Candidates though? That’s the question…