On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

With my Mystic Eyes Of The World Tree, I could see more clearly than ever before. The Tree itself was a Path as well as an Anchor, and while it was not a singular path, I knew of at least one other Tree of Knowledge in myths, as my mom and her parents were believers in the Church of England, though mom in particular was hardly fervent, especially not after moving to Japan. The apple that caused Adam and Eve to be booted from Eden was the Fruit of Knowledge… I’m sure there was one in Buddhism as well, right? Tan would know, but I won’t ask. Buddhism and the Buddha is a bit of a touchy subject, although…

I widened my perception with ether, Tan coming into view. I couldn’t help but smile, and as I did so, Mae scowled at me, perhaps imagining I was about to start tormenting her. I don’t do it because I enjoy it. I’m simply not good enough otherwise. No, Tan… I’ll make sure she forgets about the Buddha who walked on by. When I accepted the wager, I was somewhat hesitant, yet such hesitation quickly became a need to win, and not just for the future of Earth… and when I made that decision, I had to be prepared to go all-in. and I will. Eri’s right. Hesitation and regrets only cause everyone pain. Of course… now I need to be worthy, prove I’m the right choice, not just for everyone, for Tan, but… for Earth too. And I can! These are the first steps!

The Apple revealed its information to me anew, and I pondered it, coupled with the sorry sight that Mae was right now.

This Fruit is an agglomeration of highly compressed Ether, Adherence and trace amounts of refined Soullight. Spiritual Materials, such as Territorial Silver, Crystal, and Gold, have also been compressed into this form, which has given birth to a trace of unique Adherence, by absorbing the nearby overspill from the ashes of Tamamo-no-Mae as she burned her imperfectly repaired Astral body to draw upon her true power, if only for mere moments.

Mae’s network was a ruin indeed. And now, I could see more clearly why. Kitsune had a Chakra network that was in essence similar to other Yōkai. Seven main Chakras, orbited by the Night Orbs, yet that wasn’t all. The tails, they had their own expanded network. I further widened my inspection, now peering at Shinkume-no-Hana, as it was easy to see the comparison, as her two shorn tails, which couldn’t simply be regrown, were a messy tangle of severed capillaries, and the atrophied remains were causing further damage to her main network. The two remaining tails were connected at her lower back, and they tapped into a point where the root and sacral Chakras conjoined.

It’s where Daiyu’s Lower Dantian is. Like I thought, there are no coincidences. It’s as if there’s some universal building blocks, Paths perhaps, which are present, just… combined in different ways. If so… there must be a solution. Her connected tails were orbited also by a Night Orb, giving her more than the average Yōkai, but two lay silent and were cracked and shattered, leaking out a poisonous, reeking mess of aether and elemental energies, which was further damaging her network. Mae had nine of these broken Night Orbs now, and her body was being poisoned by chaotic energies of many flavours.

As everyone watched on, I tamed the boiling blood within me from Shiro’s blessings, raising my strength to the maximum. As I did so, my Eyes, strengthened by Shiro’s generic buff, seemed almost to sharpen, and I could feel a sense of distant amusement. I see. Rose is looking through my Eyes right now. I wonder… what you can see?

All I could get was faint, sluggish emotion from her, curiosity and a slight sense of pride, she wasn’t able to share much more than that, but I remembered I could understand a little of her thoughts when I saw through her Eye, so perhaps the reverse was true? I phrased my question, and sadly there was no answer, but a curious faint feeling of approval. Suddenly I blinked, tears sparkling, perhaps my overstressed eyes suffering, but I felt my head shift a little, and I was staring beyond the severed remains of her tails, deeper, to where another tail lurked, this a ghostly, ethereal one, that I couldn’t see well, but… I can… feel it? Is this her name, her ghostly zeroth tail Shinkume-no-Hana talked of?

I scanned her as well, and yes, she too had this tail, though in her case it was far less magnificent. Concentrating on it, I prodded, and Shinkume-no-Hana suddenly flushed, groaning, her mouth opening wide, a little saliva dribbling from her suddenly slack lips. As that happened, I felt one of my bonds vibrate.

“So… so… indelicate!” she sighed lustily. “That is my core, my… my very self… you so roughly handled. Be gentle with my precious name. If you wish to compel me, simply ask and I shall…”

“Enough, Hana.” Mae grumbled. I had only been motionless for a short time, though due to my racing Split Thoughts and significant Intellect, it had seemed a lot longer for me. “This is not the time for your teasing.”

“Jealous, grandmother? Do not be. After all…” The red-faced Shinkume-no-Hana… no, might as well call her Hana. It’s a mouthful thinking or saying her whole name at once. After all, auntie is auntie, or mother-in-law… whereas this Hana is just a freeloading nuisance…

“…I fear his touch on you comes soon…” she finished with a relaxed smirk.

She was right, as I started inspecting Mae’s impressive tail too, as well as Hana’s, and soon both were panting and groaning.

“Akio, what are you doing?” Eri asked, narrowing her eyes. “Is this time for play?”

“Oh, do not-not be jealous, Eri.” Shaeula smirked, her own Mystic Eyes shining. “I can not-not see what he can, my Eyes have fallen behind, I fear, but I can see he is probing their secrets.”

“Yeah, but your jealousy is cute, despite your big words from earlier Eri.” Shiro scoffed. “Though you might not be the most jealous one soon, as…” Her mouth clamped shut so fast she bit her tongue, and she moaned, and I could see her eyes rolling, likely having an internal conversation with Tan. I saw all this, my perception expended, but I had no time to reply, as my investigation was yielding results, though at a cost in embarrassment to the two Kitsune.

It’s lucky we’re all girls here… well, apart from me, of course. Hana had collapsed, her kimono entirely untied, her chest spilling fee, and her two tails were standing on end, fur sprouting like razors, as she sobbed and moaned disturbingly, Daiyu and Kana discretely stepping away from her. Mae was in a similar state, though despite her terrible condition and my thorough inspection of her hidden tail, her pride was keeping her upright, but her skin was flushed and crimson. Her chest too had heaved so much it had bounced free, and I was disturbed to see her nipples were hard, and I could smell the arousal of the two foxes.

Yes, this is… a lot like when we share our lunar Chakras. Huh… Rose’s interest was piqued at that, and I could feel her intensity sharpening, willing me wordlessly to investigate that. I could imagine her, high above, in the shadows of the World Tree, surrounded by her sisters, casting Runes to investigate and finding it very hard to explain to them just what was going on. I felt her chagrin at my thoughts, imagining her flushed cheeks, and then I grasped what I was seeking.

Yes, this tail is different from the others. It’s connected at two points… the second, a much more potent, yet also invisible strand… links to behind the heart, where the lunar Chakra would be, or… the Middle Dantian.

“There’s always balance.” I muttered, understanding dawning on me. “Kitsune seem rather more powerful than a lot of other Yōkai…”

“Of course we are.” Mae managed to speak flatly, though the effort was making her dull green eyes waver. “We stand at the peak…”

“That is not entirely true, grandmother.” Hana flopped over, twitching. “Tengu, Oni, Kirin… many of these rival us… the world is fair.”

Daiyu agreed. “While Cultivation is the art of seizing strength from the Heavens and the Earth, there is one law that cannot be avoided. That there is always a price to pay for Heaven’s boons, and the Earth does not favour one above another. With strength comes weakness, and in weakness, hidden strength can be found. Of course, one’s own aptitude, talents and hard work can change fate, but… these constants are universal.”

I nodded, and their words helped me understand. Kitsune are powerful. Their strength grows with their tails, but… that also comes with a downside. Their vulnerability to being controlled by their true names. It… didn’t make much sense, until I see… the invisible tail was deeply entwined with their other tails, as well as with their true self, it was of the spirit, yet also went deeper.

I could see, if I poured aether into my Eyes up until their maximum limit, that the invisible zeroth tail was actually leaking a little soullight. I couldn’t see it, my Skills still weren’t sufficient, but if there was soullight, I imagined that this tail must have at least intersected, perhaps even contained a strand, of their Truesoul. And if one had a grasp on their Truesoul, above even the spirit… no wonder they can’t disobey without the strength to dislodge that grip, but the greater the number of tails, the harder it is to grasp the strand within their might…

“It’s no wonder I couldn’t fix you before without artificial means.” Maids and other weaselkin were rushing in, carrying piles of Kobold bluesteel, Dwarven metals and more, stacks of Etherites also piled up. Seeing that, Mae flinched, remembering last time, but I shook my head.

“Don’t worry, I have more experience now. And a deeper understanding. So, let’s begin…” I crushed the Apple in my grip, and adherence boiled, immediately surging towards Mae, the remains of the apple liquefying to a shimmering silver river, sparkling with a myriad of rainbow colours. It expanded, the volume far greater than what the Apple held, and I guided it into Mae. She shivered, her flush dying down, sweat drying, as the soothing mass of material poured into her.

“I need to go beyond shaping mere flesh and spirit, because… we’re more than that.” Rose, you showed me that, by cutting a part of yourself, and by explaining that was how you made the Bracelets. It’s… honestly a little scary that the Truesoul doesn’t seem as immortal and indestructible as most religions teach. I hope I never find out what happens if someone’s Truesoul is damaged beyond repair or destroyed, but… for now, I can use the knowledge you bequeathed me…

“…especially Kitsune.” Mae collapsed as I carefully sliced at her invisible tail. Aether did nothing to it, but adherence had a greater effect. Even so, it wasn’t enough, so I shaped what little soullight I had, and Mae let out a piteous whimper, eyes rolling up in her head, as I sliced enough of a gap for me to be able to grasp the thread of her Truesoul. Now… follow the connections…

She had nine others, faint, almost unnoticeable strands, and these were flowing in the opposite direction. While the tails had been burned away, destroyed, the Truesoul threads remained, though they were rather frayed and close to collapse. I then poured my own soullight into them, as well as the adherence of Mae from the apple. It was delicate, painstaking work, and even with my Split Thoughts, the world faded away.

I can’t fully restore them. Perhaps only someone as skilled as Rose could. But I’ve experience of when she fixed my Eye. I believe… that my Eyes must also have a Truesoul connection. Otherwise, it should have worked transplanting an eye. The Seeds themselves possess a Truesoul. Hence why I can link to Yggdrasil through them…

Of course, just because I wasn’t skilled enough didn’t mean I was going to give up. Mae… she’d fought to the end for Asha. And whether or not that was sufficient to make amends for her cruelties in the past, I didn’t care. To me, saving Asha and our children was what mattered. I didn’t care if that made me selfish. But… those I loved always came first. I could spend my life Healing the sick and injured, saving hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives each day. Call it half a million a year, five million a decade… perhaps I’m evil for not doing that. But… the world is only worth saving because those I love are living here and making them happy comes first! I may be a Chosen of Tyr, but I’m not going to sacrifice our own happiness, even if its selfish. I’m just doing the best I can!

Of course, longer term, I would hope to have hospitals staffed with Ether Healers and Chirurgeons, and many would be saved, but just like the man who had hated me for not saving his daughter, until I had, despite knowing it was unfair and selfish, those that missed out wouldn’t forgive. But I’m not God… though what I’m trying to do here, certainly isn’t the work of a mortal!

Bluesteel and other metals were combined with the prismatic silver from the Apple, and I Shapercrafted it. Creating a repaired Astral version of her nine tails wasn’t that difficult, but even as they sprang into existence, flesh and fur sprouting into nine glorious golden tails, everyone watching on in amazement, they started to break apart internally. Of course they would.

Next were the shattered Night Orbs. I had studied Shaeula a bit, and Night Orbs, rather than enhancing elemental potency, like the lunar Chakra, they were stores and refineries of adherence. Fae were elemental spiritual beings, whereas Yōkai were of belief, adherence. There was overlap of course, but at their roots, they were beings of a different Path.

It’s no wonder Shaeula developed such bizarre abilities, being born half Fae, half Yōkai. The gap between worthless and wondrous indeed. It just took her strengthening herself enough to support such Skills.

The Apple certainly helped, and I injected the glowing liquid into the dead, shattered Orbs. It was fiddly work, and faint steam rose from Mae’s cooking flesh. She let out a series of dull, pained moans, and it most certainly looked like I was torturing her, as the Saint of Swallowed Sorrows had. No pain, no gain, remember…

As adherence sparked to life within them, I worked Chirurgery, repairing her Chakra network. I hadn’t seen her pure state properly, but I could make guesses, and in areas where my Skills didn’t suffice, that was where I Shapercrafted her, cold metal, gems and crystals being integrated within her. One by one the Orbs sparked, and I moved them to the tails, integrating them in orbit around the threads of her Truesoul. I then felt Rose’s excitement, and that made me focus.

There. Huh? Faint flickers of adherence were being exchanged, the Night Orbs discharging it, and it was consumed by a burst of soullight, equally modest. I saw this happen several times, but as each one flared, Mae’s ragged, painful breathing slowed. Her body was still a wreck, the damage her unravelling of my prior Shapercraft by using excessive power had caused still severe, and even her own network hadn’t been able to contain it.

Your Class, Shaper Of Flesh And Spirit, Has Become Shaper Of Essences Both Base And Imperishable…

You have gained a Skill, ???????? Crafting… My Eye surged, and I felt perhaps that Rose’s vision was synchronised with mine, and the question marks vanished, the Skill resolving.

You have gained a Skill, Truesoul Crafting Rank 1. This Skill is not what you would traditionally understand as Crafting. The Truesoul is also not a matter for beings of insufficient League and wisdom to comprehend, and lesser beings are unaware of the existence beyond the Spirit. The Truesoul is the immutable, enduring core of a being. It should not be damaged, yet… you have seen fragments of it carved away by a shard of Divine Adherence given form and felt the touch of strands from both Seed and Valkyrie alike.

As a Pioneer, with your own Path to tread, and Eyes with the ability to perceive the Truesoul at its most surface level, you are able to create the most minuscule changes to a Truesoul, though this should be handled with extreme caution, for the Karma of carelessly damaging the enduring is heavy, and you know of no depths beyond to bear such a mistake.

In addition, more letters flared amber.

Your Skill, Soullight Manipulation, has advanced from Rank 1 to Rank 2. You now release slightly more Soullight from your Truesoul, and your own Soullight is more compatible with those you share bonds of Flesh, Spirit and Soul with. You may use your own Soullight to slowly restore minor nicks and tears in a Truesoul, though as the Truesoul is indestru^&*^%&* *^%&^$&$$%* 98%^*** ^*(&%^& …

The explanation turned to utter garbage, perhaps because I knew the Truesoul wasn’t impervious to damage, after all, I had witnessed Rose make such an incision in her own. In fact… I could feel her fragment she had implanted within me starting to melt faster now my Skill had Ranked up, and as that happened, I could feel my bonds with Rose, Lovers’ Link included, starting to strengthen.

…though as the Truesoul is close to indestructible, only damaged by nigh-impossible events, or acts of self-harm, either wilful or accidental, the need to repair such should not arise often.

The amber letters rearranged themselves in an instant, and I grinned. Soaking Mae’s tails with my Soullight, the frayed strands within began to shine, and the Night Orbs stabilised, passing adherence back and forth at a rapid rate, even as I charged them with a great deal of aether.

Your Skill, Aether Manipulation has increased from Rank 7 to Rank 8, reaching the second wall. Your ability to manipulate and control Aether has significantly increased, and Aether within the body of another can be manipulated with less resistance, especially if they are willing. The quality of Aether you manipulate is fortified slightly.

Your Skill, Ether Crafting, has advanced from Rank 8 to Rank 9, breaching the second wall. When using materials that contain Ether or Elemental energies as crafting components, the effect is strengthened, and the rejection for crafting biological beings and materials has diminished significantly. Objects you craft have a resonance for Ether, and can slowly draw in surrounding Ether and regenerate, and this ability is multiplied significantly for living crafts. However, there is a clear limit to this, and significant damage will not be restored.

Your Skill, Shapercraft, has advanced from Rank 7 to Rank 8, reaching the second wall. Your ability to integrate the physical within the spiritual is now far less prone to rejection and is more stable. Flows of aether and adherence through Shapercrafted materials presents less resistance. The assimilation of such materials, becoming truly spiritual, is accelerated significantly.

Your Class, Master Of Many Crafts…

Your Class, Pioneer From A Lower World…

Nice. I didn’t have much time to pay attention to the numerous messages, so engrossed was I in my work. Rose’s presence was both a taxing one, her sharing my Eye, and also a welcome, reassuring one. Her wonder and enjoyment at my efforts inspired me, as did the shuddering breaths Mae was leaking as she wagged her nine tails fitfully, tears leaking from her pain-filled, yet now vividly brilliant emerald eyes.

“All right.” I spoke, my words seeming glacially slow, compared to my racing thoughts as I wove threads of aether, adherence and soullight all at once, Calculative Predictions supporting me. Around us, many piles of precious materials had vanished, consumed by the material the Apple had provided, which had made up for a number of my shortcomings, as it had known Mae, being dyed with her, and had adapted the materials to suit. “Final stretch, so… bear with me!”

Mae blinked, blood running from her lip, silver and crimson, as she gnawed on it. The floor under her was soaked with her sweat, tears and blood, as well as… best not say. For everyone’s sakes, and Mae’s dignity. I’ll cleanse it with some aether. As her network was repaired, the tails connected, there was one issue still, which I only realised now. Her League. It seems… low. Too low.

League was the calibre of our existence and can be considered the true measure of the Spirit and Truesoul itself. The question marks had vanished from that part of League’s information, once I understood the Truesoul existed. And the Saint was using Mae to Cultivate, draining her of everything. So… It was natural her Astral body was mostly a ruin, but beyond that… yes. While her zeroth tail and the others were connected, there was a third connection. I turned my head, glancing at Daiyu, who tilted hers quizzically.

“Can I assist you?” she asked, and I nodded.

“Yes, you said there was a third Dantian, right?”

“In principle, yes. The Upper Dantian, the Muddy Pellet. It is located here.” She tapped her forehead, between the third eye and crown Chakras. “They say it converts spirit into emptiness. Though even the oldest records of our Sect say that few, if any, practitioners from Kunlun ever activated it. The most talented would have two Dantians open for their Foundation and Accumulation.”

“Thank you. That’s helpful.” I grinned. “So, the Golden Stove creates and mediates energies such as Qi. Then the Crimson Palace energises the spirit, and lastly… the spirit becomes emptiness in the Muddy Pellet. No, it’s not empty… it’s sending energy elsewhere, to the Truesoul. Flesh, Spirit, Truesoul. All three, like three Dantians… interlinked. And…”

Now was the hardest part. I could see that the connection between her Truesoul and her existence had been weakened significantly. The Truesoul itself was likely unharmed, I doubted that bastard had the power to damage it, if even the Valkyries needed outside aid from a Divine tool. But… in separating them, the Saint had been able to feast on Mae’s force of existence, dimming it, starving it.

So, just how the hell do I kickstart it again? Wait. Connection. Of course. It’s my Path, isn’t it? The connection between Mae and me, the connection between her immutable self and the form she wears today…

Drawing on every bond I possessed, remembering the effects of the Chaotic Wind Tribulation, and how it eroded, I started to do the opposite. “Mae… can you focus on what matters to you? Caihong’er, Liena, any other happy memories. Revenge, if you need to. Just… hold it all deep in your mind, no, feel it in your spirit! Be yourself, know yourself, and…”

As Mae blinked at me, surprised, I could feel the shift inside her through the zeroth tail I held. She was complicated, incredibly so, and I laughed at my initial fumblings to make a Chakra network within me. Even Shaeula’s efforts, brilliant as they were, had only scratched the surface, and even now…

All right, stop laughing at me, Rose! I get it. You know more than I do. Else you’d never have conceived of a mad idea to unwind strands of your eternal self and forge Bracelets from them. But I bet you know even you… only know a deeper layer. Layers upon layers…

“I can’t recreate the link, not perfectly, because I never knew it existed before. Damn…” So much more study is indeed, and… some risky experiments. Luckily… I have a willing guinea pig. It surprised me I felt bad at the thought of subjecting Christina Bakker to the potentially dangerous ideas I had planned, but I would still do it. She wanted it herself, and if it could unlock our understanding it was a price she’d be glad to pay. If I think of it as human drug trials, just with… hilariously risky drugs, with commensurably huge upsides if it works…

“But then, I’m walking this Path ahead of the others. It’s a bond…” I offered Mae Lovers’ Link as a foundation. I certainly had enough affection for her now to make it happen, after her injuries saving Asha. “…and also a connection. So…” Instead of connecting our spirits, what I wanted was to connect her frayed existence. It would take rather a lot of luck, but… I’m the Blade That Severs Misfortune, right?

The fading remains of the Apple, I used to strengthen the intangible bond. After all, the Apple was both a physical thing, and also something immaterial. Mae spasmed, but as her long nails dug furrows into the polished floor, which made me wince, I persisted. My knowledge is always growing. My Path isn’t to grow alone, but to grow together. After all, I’m a Loom that Weaves Bonds, and bonds have to be woven from something. Be it affection, trust, love, joy, friendship… as long as I have Strands to Twist, I can make a Connection!

It was as if I understood for a moment. And then that enlightenment was lost. But amber letters blazed across my vision. Shaeula collapsed, convulsing, and Eri and Tsukiko dashed over to her, but she managed to wave a hand, indicating she was all right, and gasped out that she just felt a great change in herself and Kin Bonding.

Your Skill. Kin Bonding And Restoration, has advanced from Rank 8 to Rank 9 and shattered the second wall. Your ability to forge Bonds has further increased, and your understanding of the Truesoul has deepened. Bonds that were once sundered can be restored, and your strands of Connection generate their own trickle of adherence. The strength of all abilities that influence Bonds, Connections and emotion has dramatically increased.

Your Class, Pioneer From A Lower World…

Your Class, Master Of Many Crafts…

Your Class, Shaper Of Essences Both…

Your Class, Namebinder…

Your Class, Taker Of…

Your Class, Bondweaver…

It was an onslaught of strength, and not just that, I felt myself kindle, power surging. It was almost as if I felt unstoppable, invincible. All around me everyone trembled, my full League unleashed, and for a moment I rejoiced, only for my rising strength to stop, rebounding, making me stagger, coughing blood over the floor and the fallen Mae.

Your League has reached Forty. Your existence burns like a Torch in the Darkness, but your existence has reached its peak, unless you find a way to break the shackles that restrict your Flesh, Spirit and Truesoul.

Seeing me struggle, Hinata, Motoko, Natsumi and the others who weren’t helping Shaeula rushed over to me, despite their bodies trembling in the fury of my League. With force of will, gritting my teeth, I restrained myself, feeling rather like a tin can that had been pumped too full of air and was ready to explode.

“I’m good…” I wiped my bloodstained mouth, silver and crimson, with faint flecks of prismatic colour, soiling my fingers. Hastily using aether to cleanse them, I shrugged. “Sorry about that Shaeula. A bit of a backlash there. Are you all right?”

“Fine…” she gasped. “I was just-just caught unawares by the sudden change. You can-can check me next, but…” Her words were cut off as another massive spike of League filled the room, aether swirling like a vortex. I turned, to see that Mae was struggling to her feet, tails pointed to the skies, elemental energies crackling. I then felt a sharp pain, the bond of me holding her name, her zeroth tail, writhing and twisting in my grasp. Her green eyes met my grey ones, and she grinned, though there was little humour in it.

“Well then. Hold me tight if you can!”

It was like a thin line of monofilament wire was held between us, and as we stood there, eyes locked, everyone else watching the scene with some confusion, it vibrated, Mae tugging on her own sense of self, of her will. I responded, unwilling to relinquish the bond. It isn’t about control. I… don’t like that aspect of it. But… we’re connected, comrades at the least, friends perhaps, and who knows where the bonds will lead.

“So eager to dominate me, are you?” She licked her lips, eyes narrowing like a predator. “You are strong, but I… am stronger!” Her League spiked again, and it surpassed even mine. Though honestly… it’s not that much higher, I think. She definitely feels within a comfortable distance…

“Yes, you’re strong.” I agreed. “And your bond cuts…” My mind was aching, and damage was accruing within my Astral body, the strain starting to fray it, meridians popping and capillaries splintering, but Ether Healing was able to keep up. “…but for this bond… I’ll grasp tightly.” My mind closed in on it like a steel trap, soullight, adherence and aether flaring. It was painful yes, like I was wrapped in a cloak of sharp knives, but I was unyielding. Instead of pulling, trying to dominate it, I wrapped the bond within myself, feeling it, knowing it.

“…and I’ve no interest in slaves.” With a grunt, blood oozing from my skin and turning to a silver and rainbow mist, I changed the Connection with me, mirroring Mae’s as best I could. She paused, surprised, and then began pulling back.

“If you can hold me tight, go for it!” I laughed, despite my dreadful condition. I had seen another set of orange letters, letting me know that I had gained some more Class Levels, which showed my efforts had not been in vain. “Life’s more fun when we hold each other’s hands, not collars and chains!”

Her eyes went wide at that, and she made one more effort to pull on her bond, before sagging to her knees, tails and ears drooping. With a fang-filled smile, she scowled. “What… did you do? You hold my name, yet…”

“…you hold mine too. It cancels out.” I grinned, enjoying her confusion. “I’m not letting you go. I can’t. I’m he who is going to build a road of Bonds, so you’re stuck with me, I guess.”

At that, she relaxed, rolling onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. Her great League settled as she leashed it, the pungent scent of ozone and the sparkling motes of light in the air diminishing. “I see. It seems to be true, yes. If I cannot shake you now, when I am back to my best…” She paused, golden fox ears flickering languidly. “…mostly my best.” she allowed. “Eighty percent, perhaps. I still feel… rusty, like my body is ill-fitting, like a kimono I have not worn for a long time…”

“Speaking of…” Eri pulled up Mae’s nearly shed garment, covering her chest. “…you should stop flashing him. Oh… congratulations, I guess?”

“Yes, congratulations, grandmother!” Hana giggled. “You have regained your true self, yet… failed to regain your freedom! I did warn you. Once grasped, your tail would remain his forever…”

Hana then quailed at Mae’s flat glare, before stiffening her spine, standing tall, even as she balanced precariously on one leg and her two tails. “Now grandmother, be nice. Akio likes kind women. If you bully me, he will think less of you!” She sniggered, enjoying having the upper hand. “Besides, it is not often I get to say ‘I told you so’ is it? Have you ever heard such before?”

Mae snorted. “Many a time. I was powerful, imperious, regal… but not infallible. I made many mistakes, Hana, not least the ones you know.” She realised she had made a mess on the floor and frowned, but I quickly swept it away with aether and wind while everyone was distracted, and she gave me a faint, grateful smile.

“This… is not a mistake. Though… you likely made one, Akio.” Mae’s eyes narrowed, and they were beautiful again, sparkling with life, vigour and a rainbow of shimmering elemental energies of many flavours, some I had never seen. “You could have held me, without making such a foolish change. To dominate and command me, Tamamo-no-Mae… why, your victory would be near certain.”

“It’s not a mistake. I’d rather one friend than a thousand servants.” I shrugged. “Besides, how could I enslave you, after you saved Asha? No, this way is better. Our bond exists, and it’ll be strengthened as we grow together.”

Mae snorted then, giving up. “You are a fool, but… I have no hatred for dreaming fools who have the strength to forge their dreams out of nothing. Only those who dream beyond their reach do I despise. Now…” She stood, stretching, tails wagging. “I feel we need more wine. Much, much more wine!”

“I certainly agree!” Hana snorted, though the way she was looking at me with hopeful desperation was rather painful.

“Don’t worry. I’m rather… exhausted… but I’ll still have time for you once I’ve recovered a bit.” At my words, Hana perked up, but then Tan, Shiro’s hair flaming a brilliant crimson, her eyes scarlet, spoke, her tone rather aggrieved.

“I enjoy wine greatly as well, I confess, but… Akio. You are ignoring me? And just what has happened here? Your League, your existence…” Words failed her, and I grinned ruefully.

Oh yeah. Tan did concede the wager to me a little while ago. She’s… probably feeling neglected. Washing the blood off my body and clothes with aether, wind and water element, I shrugged. “Well, I can explain while I’m resting. So, it’s like this…”

***

“Your Path has progressed already?” Tan narrowed Shiro’s eyes. She had consumed pitcher after pitcher of strong blue and purple wins and eaten through whole plates of candied nuts and honeyed fruits. I had worried Shiro might get fat, but Tan claimed it was spiritually her food, so there were no problems.

“Yeah, I haven’t taken stock of all the gains yet, but at the heart of the matter, Mae’s problems weren’t just the damage to her body, but the dissolution of the connections between her natures, her Astral body, her Spirit, and her Truesoul. I also found out more about how the tails of Kitsune work, including the invisible one that is their name. So I made some adjustments, and Mae doesn’t have to obey me anymore.”

“Yet I cannot leave you still.” Mae snorted, having relaxed. She was idly experimenting with elemental energies, testing out her restored body, working out the kinks and discomfort, and glowing balls of flame, wind, water, light and more were dancing above her tails. “It seems you are quite jealous, Akio.”

“I’m afraid so. But why would you want to leave? We’ll bring Su Caihong and Su Liena back, Hana is here, and we’ll find your other relatives. It’ll be great!” I insisted, and she snorted, looking away for a moment.

“That is… not the issue!” Tan slammed the table with one hand, frustrated. “Your Path was decided mere days ago, and already you have taken steps along it? For a Path well-trodden, it might be barely possible, as each step becomes an order of magnitude harder than the previous one, so conversely, the earlier steps are… more lenient. But for a Path yet untaken… are you sleeping with all the Goddesses of Fortune in the Pantheons?”

“No, I’m afraid the only Goddess I’m planning to sleep with is you…” As soon as I said that joke I slightly regretted it, but there was just a shocked silence, before Tan’s face was as crimson as her eyes and hair. She looked away silently, and Hinata burst out laughing.

“Oh my, Akio! To be so direct! But it’s inevitable, and Taṇhā did agree you won, but…”

“I think that the time and the place must be carefully arranged.” Tsukiko spoke up, thinking. “To… become one with a Goddess is a deed of monumental importance. Why, it will rewrite scriptures of your entire faith!” Tsukiko seemed rather awed, but that didn’t last, as her face was pink now as well. “Besides, I suspect she will want a… suitably romantic setting…”

“Come on.” Kana was shaking her head. “Just because they’re dating doesn’t mean they have to jump right to the sex. Maybe experience a little fun first, get the whole boyfriend-girlfriend vibe going. She’s a woman before she’s a Goddess, right?”

“Like you?” Hinata asked, and Kana nodded.

“Exactly! I mean, I get it. It’s a done deal. It’s the same for me, I’ll give it up to Akio when the mood feels just right. But that doesn’t mean we need to rush it.”

“Speaking of that… the Valkyries.” Motoko mused. “I am curious as to their intentions.”

“I’m curious about their martial skills.” Natsumi countered. “I don’t know all that much about Norse mythology, though we’ve been studying…” Motoko nodded at that, and she continued. “…they are supposedly some of the greatest warriors of their faith. I wonder what weapons they use?”

“All kinds.” I replied. “I’ve seen a maul, a spear, and a sword… I’m sure they use others too. Why? Want me to put in a good word for you?” Rose had stopped watching, probably as the fun was over, but I could still feel her faintly, so very, very far away.

“Please do!” Motoko agreed with Natsumi. “I wish to make a good impression on them, as their senior as your wife. Though their prowess in combat is surely far greater than ours. We can teach each other!”

“Yes, that’s a great idea!” Natsumi agreed. “It sounds to me like they have had no time for learning about romance. We are hardly experts, but… if we study up, we can hold our own. Kana, Eri, Hinata, please teach us!”

“Me?” Eri asked, puzzled.

“Of course! You know Akio better than we do. Kana, you’re my role model when it comes to these topics, and Hinata… you’re noble like us, but your perspective is fresh!”

As they all started chatting, Asha sat down beside me, a bemused expression on her face. “We Dryads… we are bound to our Trees. We love, yes, once in our lives. But… we often spend our time alone. Few want to stay with us in our lonely groves. Now though… I find myself freer, and enjoying the bustle and noise, and the company.”

“It’s a bond.” I agreed. “Between you and your second self, but… bonds can be grown. Just like trees.” I grinned at my pun. “So… you can safely see the world, spend time with us. I’ll make it so.”

Daiyu was the next to speak. “This Valkyrie, Rossweisse. You say she aided you?”

“Subtly, but yeah.” I nodded. “All she could do was see what I saw, and give off vague emotions, but that was enough to direct my vision, and then I saw more details regarding Mae’s severed tails, and how they were once connected.”

“I see. I agree with Motoko and Natsumi. Though they are not Cultivators, they have great knowledge, and knowledge is power, and can give a tiger wings. And a tiger with wings shall not lose to any Dragon.”

“Anyway, after that, I fixed Mae, as you saw, and we had a little tug-of-war over our shared bond. We’ll call it a tie, won’t we?” I winked, and Mae merely sipped at her wine, deliberately not answering.

“And so what happened to Shaeula…?” Kana asked, and I frowned.

“Yeah, when my Kin Bonding broke the second wall, it rebounded to Shaeula, and her own Skill has Ranked up too. I suppose it makes sense, considering that it came to me through my bonds with Shaeula, and we’re linked by it.”

“It was quite-quite painful. Weighty perhaps.” Shaeula expressed her displeasure, before she brightened. “But I can certainly endure some-some torture for strength. In that we are quite-quite alike.”

I had to shrug. “Yeah. And there’ll be more. But today’s been a good day already.”

“I’ll say.” Kana agreed. “You’re making everyone else look bad.”

“There are dangers to that too.” Mae spoke up. “Now I have nearly recovered, were I to face such as that foolish trash who accosted us…” She nodded at Asha, who smiled back warmly. “Oh… thank you!” Mae took a fresh goblet of wine and a plate of fruits from Hyacinth, who had taken over from most of the maids. “…as I was saying… I could crush him as though he were but this fruit…” She squeezed the orange fruit, and it burst, juice spraying like blood. As she licked at her fingers and palm, she shrugged. “…though to use my full strength is… problematic. You must beware as well.” Her emerald gaze transfixed me. “Your presence is potent indeed.”

“A match-match for my father now.” Shaeula agreed. “Perhaps he might-might be stronger still, but there is not-not much between you, I surmise. In the Seelie Court, there are now few your equal in terms of raw strength, though in wisdom and-and knowledge, you may be lacking. Princess Estalian for one, she knows much.”

“Yeah, I won’t let it go to my head. I’m still confident I couldn’t beat the main body of that damn toad.” I grimaced. “And no matter how strong I am, carelessness can kill. If Arisu-san were to use her Room against me and I was caught off guard, well, getting crushed to the size of that fruit in an isolated space, it wouldn’t matter how strong I was.”

I expected Shiro to retort at that, but she and Tan were silent, so I continued. “You’re saying I need to leash my strength on the Material and in the Boundary, Mae?”

“Yes, you understand me well.” She nodded, wiping her sticky hands on a cloth Hyacinth handed her. “The force of your presence can not be supported in the more fragile places. And once a pot is smashed…” For a second I thought she was going to throw her goblet down, but she merely swirled it, the brightly-coloured liquid within splashing. “…even if it is repaired, it shall never be as strong again.”

“All right, I understand.” I nodded. “I’ll be careful, though if it’s the Boundary or the safety of others, the Boundary will have to break.”

“This is all… most… fascinating.” Hana spoke up. “But… time is ticking, is it not? In the mortal realms, we have much to do, so…” Her gaze was pleading, and I shrugged, giving in.

“All right. I’m tired, but… I’ll give it a shot.” As I stood, finishing my own drink, I marshalled the reserves I had recovered, only for Tan to speak for the first time in a while.

“Why… why are you ignoring me?” Her tone was accusatory. “You cannot bring revelation after revelation, and speak so carelessly of things you have no business knowing, and leave me both with anticipation and… bah…” Tan made an indelicate noise, face still a rich red. One eye winked at me though, and I could tell that Shiro was soothing, or probably teasing Tan, knowing her.

“I’m sorry.” I apologised. “I thought you were thinking about what I’d said. I didn’t mean to neglect you!”

“Good. Do not!” she complained, and the pile of empty jugs around her was impressive. She had drunk enough strong wine to inebriate an entire group of salarymen at a Christmas party. “It would be unwise, for I am Taṇhā, the Thirst, and when I thirst for something, I always obtain it!” She pouted, sweeping aside her burning hair. “I was thinking, as it happens, Akio, but that does not mean you can forget I am here!”

Okay, she’s not tsundere now, she’s… I don’t know what she is, but it’s actually rather cute. “I didn’t forget. I was just telling the story.”

“See that you do not. I can see I shall need to be far, far more proactive now.” Tan narrowed her eyes, and in the black one, I could see Shiro’s sympathies. “This is not merely an opportunity to become Astral Emperor. No, it… offers opportunities for beyond that.” She leaned forward. “Do not grow arrogant. The weasel is correct. You have taken some steps quickly, but… if Paths were easy to walk, they would have little value. However…” she narrowed her eyes. “…depending on just how far you have advanced, it might be possible for others to follow, to strengthen the Path. Yet… haste makes waste. While some… urgency… is advisable, I would insist you be cautious. For when one is walking along the heights, the fall is long, and onto jagged rocks…”

“Yes, it is not who walks fastest, but who walks furthest.” Daiyu agreed. “Though walking fast has advantages. One is less likely to be mired in the swamp of mediocrity if one passes through quickly.”

“That is true.” Tan agreed. “For now… fix that pleading fox of two tails. Her entreaties are aggravating me. Then… we shall talk further.”

***

“I can…hardly believe it.” Hana held her tail in her arms, her face wet with tears. Her fifth tail. “You… how?” The fact she was standing upright, on both legs, had completely slipped her mind. When I had modified the bond I held using her name, she had made no effort to fight back, unlike Mae, and that meant that despite my efforts, nothing had changed. I wonder… if it’s because she knows Eri and Shaeula resent her greatly for her actions? Is it some sort of insurance?

“It’s… a little hard to explain, but… you had a budding tail, but the thread of Truesoul hadn’t formed, and your adherence was muddled. I just… worked a bit of Bond magic, and some Chirurgery, moved around the adherence, let out a little soullight…” Which has left me bitterly exhausted. Using soullight is infinitely more taxing than aether, and the ache it leaves is impossible to ignore. I guess it is the radiance of my soul… yeah. I’m going to let it refill before doing anything else with it. I’d hate to see the consequences of overuse.

“…and boom, out pops your tail. It’s not perfect though. There’s something missing, but I’m sure you can ask Mae to teach you.”

“Lessons from grandmother, the greatest of the Kitsune. How shocked and envious, and disbelieving… my many kin throughout the ages would be.” She wiped at her tears, wagging her tails happily. “I… am whole again. More than whole. Uranai was right. I have gained my fifth tail by freeing you, grandmother. And now my imminent death has been averted!”

“That death. Prophecy is a blade wrapped in silk. It cuts when least expected, and sometimes you barely even feel the sting until your head parts company with your neck.” Tan snorted.

“Yes. You should not be complacent.” Tsukiko agreed. “Though it does make me smile, a prophecy coming to fruition. I had thought Akio was here to shatter them all.”

“Only the terrible ones.” I shrugged. “I’m more than happy to help along the ones that lead to the good ending.”

“Regardless, I hardly think it was as trivial as ‘boom’” Tan sniffed. “You did not even have the Apple to aid you this time.”

“Yeah, but really, the Apple wasn’t necessary. Don’t get me wrong, it helped a lot. It provided me a good chunk of what I needed to repair Mae, but… once I had the method, Hana was trivial in comparison…”

“It still seems odd, you calling her Hana.” Eri sighed. She was beside me, while Natsumi was at my other flank, feeding me grapes, while Eri was fanning me, as I was fatigued and drained. It’s like I’m some sort of Sultan, being pampered by my harem. Oh, I guess it really is that. But… the Sultan gets to be lazy, while I work myself half to death. Life isn’t like the stories…

“You can call her Nebisuki if it bothers you, I guess. But… while there’s a risk to using her true name, as someone stronger than me could wrest control away, in theory… it isn’t happening. I’ve changed the bond, and I’m confident it’s not going to break. Ever.”

“Oh, how you excite me…” Hana smiled, wagging her tails at me. “…you know just what to say. Does he not, grandmother?” She glanced sideways at Mae, who merely shrugged. “Not honest. But… it seems we now have time to spare. I am not a patient woman, but… I do enjoy the chase. So…” Her grin turned sly. “Would you care to pick up where we left off earlier before we were so rudely interrupted? You can continue to brush and stroke my tails, and I…” Her expression looked more like a wolf than a fox now. “…will carefully and firmly stroke yours!”

“Back-back down, slutty fox!” Shaeula bopped her on the head, making her pout. “Akio has no-no time for your antics.”

“I am not a slut!” Hana mock-cried, seeking sympathy. “He holds my name. I even refused to contest him for it, submitting willingly. There is no returning from that! Not that I could have…”

“Yes, not-not that you could…” Shaeula agreed, narrowing her eyes, and Hana shrugged.

“Do not bully me, daughter of Urakaze. Honestly, you resemble her far too much. You said you did not care about the past, only loyalty… well then, desist with your chastisement! My loyalty is bone deep. What, do you wish me to lick his feet? I shall, and maybe some other…”

She banged Hana on the head again, and while Hana might certainly have been able to dodge it, she allowed the blow to land, merely crying more fake tears. As I watched them bicker, I grimaced. “Damn, it’s nearly time we headed back, this took longer than planned. It always does.”

“If I may…” Shiro spoke up then. “I have an idea, but… it didn’t come from me, okay Aki?”

I nodded, and she smiled, Tan fading into the background for the first time in a while. “If you can persuade Arisu to use her Room to transport us, it’s not impossible for us to keep up the buffs on Asha’s Tree and snatch a few extra hours each night here in the mansion. She won’t like it though, using her Room that way tires her out.”

“That is a good idea.” I agreed. “I’ll ask her. Maybe not every day, but…” I glanced around at the girls, feeling the Favours within me. With my heightened perception of everyone’s faint, almost entirely indiscernible soullight, I had a better indication of which Favours they might be suited for, and one… one was leaping out at me. I thought it likely. Though it’s a little troublesome. Regardless… we still had other possible Favours to examine, but… not right now. Tomorrow night… no, it’ll be tonight now, won’t it?

“All right.” Eri exclaimed. “Shaeula, can you help me and the others transfer our aether to Akio with Chirurgery? He’s going to need it.” She smiled at me warmly, but with a teasing, knowing look. “Serves you right. We’re going to have a lovely, relaxed few weeks touring Japan, while your work… it starts now!”

“Hey, while you’re doing that…” Hinata exploded, unable to hold it in any longer, as she brandished a sword with a blade made of a transparent, golden crystal. “…I can’t wait any longer! Please, I need to know the abilities of Claíomh Solais!”

Leaking a wry chuckle, I nodded. Yeah, maybe it is funny. I’ve barely got my feet back on the ground in Japan and I’ve got more to do than ever. It seems like every time I scratch a task of my list… I glanced at Mae and Hana. …another two take its place, like that Hydra that kept regrowing double the heads… but… I was humming with barely suppressed League, and even though I was exhausted, it was more than enough for me to see the fruits of my labours. Besides… spending time surrounded by those I love… what’s a bit of work compared to that?

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