On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor - Five Hundred And Eighty-Four

The door to the top-floor suite opened, and Shaeula led Tan inside, before her eyes widened in delighted amusement, as she took in the decorations I had placed in the suite while we were watching the migration of the Seelie Court. Though I still missed the moment of translocation. Oh well, there’s always next year. Next year… thinking that way makes me happy. Sure, there’s trouble ahead, and obstacles to overcome, but there will be a next year, and a year after that, and on and on into the distant future…

“This is quite-quite the spectacle.” Shaeula chortled, glancing around the room, where I had laid out candles on either side, giving the room a warm, yet also sexy, feel. I had also put up a large banner Karen-chan had ordered for me, declaring “Happy Birthday, Shaeula”, and the bath was already warm, giving off the sweet yet not sickly scent of expensive aromatic oils.

“I do not-not hate it.” she declared. “Though Eri and Daiyu will be most-most jealous.”

“They had the birthdays they wanted. Eri just liked the idea of us being like we were when we were younger, just… just more, and Daiyu… she doesn’t have any particular craving for luxury. Don’t get me wrong, her Sect was wealthy, but… she’s always been dedicated to honing and improving herself, rather than indulging. So spending the day getting to be Dao Companions… that was what she desired. And you…” I opened my arms and Shaeula leapt into them, hugging me tightly. “…my little princess, you adore the trappings of royalty and like to be treated as such. And so… on your birthday, you get pampered!”

“You do indeed know-know me well.” Shaeula chuckled, before her impish expression changed to an earnest one. “However, the greatest gift-gift of all, is surely spending time with you!”

She was so cute at that moment I had to kiss her, and as our lips locked, her little tongue squirmed into my mouth passionately, teasing and tangling mine, so for a long minute wet sounds filled the room, and as we pulled apart, Shaeula greedily licked her lips, making sure to savour my flavour.

“I know we’ve both been busy.” I assured her, my own lips damp with her saliva. “And there’s a lot going on during the Pilgrimage, but… we’ve still got Christmas Eve, New Year, the trip to London… we’ll get to spend plenty of time together.”

As she hummed her agreement, Tan coughed loudly, her rich chocolate skin a little darker than usual, her crimson eyes downcast. “I feel that perhaps I should not be here, witnessing this. It is a… strange sensation. My chest aches.”

“Nonsense.” Shaeula chuckled. A little regretfully she disentangled herself from my embrace, and strode to Tan, grabbing her arm. “This is my-my night, yes… and I choose who I wish to spend it with. Akio is a must-must of course, but were I to pick Eri, or Hyacinth, or any of the others, it would-would feel unfair. But you… it is quite-quite the honour, bearing witness to your memorable first time, sharing that-that with you. And Shiro is simply… fortunate…”

“She says she is both… aroused and conflicted. How very like her…” Tan complained, eyes wandering. She then saw the large pile of expensive drinks and food I had laid out while waiting for them. “That is quite the feast. Are you a glutton, little Fae princess?” she asked Shaeula, more to cover her own shyness, I thought.

As Shaeula giggled, shaking her head, I explained. “Sure, Shaeula does like to drink, and enjoys sweet treats, but really, it’s more for you. You’re the type to stress eat and drink, aren’t you? Besides, I wanted to make this experience as… memorable… I guess… as I possibly can. After all, it’s something you can only experience once.” I remember my first time with Eri, with Shaeula, with everyone… I’ll never forget any of those experiences. Though the ones that come after are just as pleasant. But a first is always special…

“I see.” Tan let out a long sigh. “While I do not appreciate the assertion, I do concede… I thirst when I am troubled. But…” She walked over to the window, gazing out over the brilliant lights of central Tokyo. “…I am not sure I can call myself troubled now.” Shaeula and I watched her silently, and while the bath was cooling, I knew a little flame element would heat it right up, without even needing to use the taps.

“Time… is a curious concept.” Her words were quiet, contemplative, but I detected a hint of something more, fondness, perhaps, or even wistfulness. “How little of it has passed since I was roused from my seclusion by father and sent to bring his Favour to this backward world. Yet… compared to the endless days within my palace… it has been full of so much. Both the fascinating, and the frustrating. The Pantheons… time is an endless river there. Though recently, events have forced us to… respond appropriately, and the cascade of endless, lazy days has ended…”

I nodded slowly. “I… I saw, I think. During Verðandi’s Trial.”

“I have not been sent to battle yet. Matters would indeed be desperate were that to be the case.” Tan scoffed, unusually self-deprecating for her. “My sisters and I… we are strong, yes, but not… not warriors. Though I have gained much here…” A faint tongue of flame appeared on her hand for a moment, combining the aspects of her own fires and my Foehn. “…I am still not confident of proving myself upon such a battlefield, where even… even the Divine can fall. If I am being… candid… with you…” Shaeula and I could see the reflection of her crimson eyes in the glass of the window, and she could see ours. “…while my strength surely surpasses your Valkyries, in terms of a battle… I would perhaps be defeated. They have experience, and the… spirit for combat. Me… I am more a bully. I face the weak, but… cower from the strong. Just as I cowered from my humiliation as the Buddha… what?”

She let out a cry as I instantly appeared by her side, my arms around her. She trembled in my grip, before closing her eyes for a moment, letting out a long sigh, and letting her head rest against my shoulder, leaning back against me.

“Humiliation? I’d call it the best thing that ever happened to you.” I insisted. “To us. If the Buddha had any taste, well, wouldn’t the pair of you be married? I’d never have met you, nor would you have met Shiro, Shaeula, or anyone else. Maybe you’d be happy, I mean, it’s the Buddha, apart from his obviously shit taste in women, he’s surely a good guy… but you’ll be happier still with me, with us.”

“So the princess agrees.” Tan managed after a long, introspective silence. “As… as do I. Yes, I believed our wager was in my favour, but I am not a fool, like my stupid sisters. I… always account for failure, for defeat. And I judged it… acceptable. No, be silent, you…” Her eyes slowly opened, looking back at me, the window a makeshift mirror, the lights beyond making her reflection seem haloed in a brilliant neon rainbow. “…yes, towards the end, I deemed it… desirable, even. We creatures of unchanging years… you all who burn so brightly are so very, very… dazzling.”

“It makes sense.” I agreed. Shaeula was smiling warmly behind us, letting Tan unburden herself. She stepped over to the corner, where the drinks were, and quickly uncorked a bottle of vintage champagne with a flash of wind, before fetching three glasses.

“After all…” I continued. “…we humans have a lot to compress into our short lives, though…” I paused, slightly embarrassed. “…I guess I’m not human anymore. I just hope I don’t lose the human sense of drive and urgency over the long years. We can push each other to make every moment count, no matter how many we have before us.”

“No matter how many we have before us?” Tan repeated. “The princess, she likes that. She lived by it, for she feared she had so few moments left. I… wish to see those moments. Although…” She tilted her head back, crimson hair tickling my cheek as she gazed up into my eyes. “The Buddha is a good guy? I do hope you shall not be soft on him should you meet him!”

“Nope.” I surprised Tan by gently kissing her forehead. Her skin was hot against my lips, and it grew hotter still as she was embarrassed. “I’ll be sure to show you off, and point out what a failure he is, turning you down. But no matter how much he begs and pleads, he’ll never have you!”

“That would be delightful. I wish for him to regret missing his chance. But… I do not regret.” She pulled away from me, straightening her clothes, though they needed no adjustments. Seeing Shaeula holding the booze, she licked her lips, which again were purple, as if she was wearing makeup to look prettier. “Give me that. I need to… quench my thirst. Emotions are… terribly exhausting.”

“Not-not yet!” Shaeula insisted. “We shall-shall drink in the bathtub. It is most delightful, I did-did enjoy that in Las Vegas, and it is equally as enchanting in our outdoor baths-baths at home.” Saying that, her yukata fell to the floor, revealing a pair of cute white panties beneath. Hands full, she simply eased them off with a little wind element, her control exquisite. “Akio, Tan, what-what are you waiting for? This bath is more-more than big enough for us all.”

With a grin, I began to undress, but Tan was frozen, glancing between us both with a mortified expression on her face, before she turned away. “Disrobe… show my bare skin…”

“What-what is the problem? You will be doing far-far more than that soon enough!” Shaeula teased, not helping, as Tan’s back twitched, shoulders hunched nervously.

“It’ll be fine. I mean… you were practically naked that time you tried to Allure me when we first met…”

“That… that was mostly the princess’ body. And I hasten to add, I only tried because she was not resistant to Alluring you!” Tan’s words were defensive. “Else I could have solved many problems by Alluring that fool Daizen, or the weak coward Bunta. Though the Raven Knight was too single-minded for such to sway him.” She paused, her skin darkening further with a blush, giving her chocolate tones a rich glow. “The princess would not have desired that, though. So I never did. And now… the ability is sealed. I have no wish to control men by their lusts and passions. No man but…” her voice trailed off softly, before she crossed her arms defensively. “…regardless, that was not my true self, but the princess, and you had already stolen a peek with that Eye of yours! This… this is me! Not entirely, for I am still tied to her, and manifesting through Divine Possession, so traces of my features are hers, but… it is close enough to my bare being! It is… it is… simply embarrassing, and terrifying, and exhilarating… and… curse this, I hardly know what I am saying…”

“Your heart races, does it not-not? Your breath comes fast-fast, you feel dizzy…” Shaeula suggested. “That-that is simply desire and love. If you are not-not nervous for your first time, half the savour is gone-gone.” She strode over and finished stripping me, pulling down my underwear, revealing my manhood, which, likely due to Shaeula’s cute nakedness, and the thought of bathing with her and Tan, was standing to attention, pointing towards Tan. She let out an adorable yelp, stepping backwards, before her eyes lost their focus for a moment.

“I see. Yes, you would say that.” Tan sighed, having communicated with Shiro internally. “I suppose there is… no helping it. How… how do Arati and Rāga have the courage when I do not? It… is simply impossible. I am Taṇhā, and… perhaps my Thirst shall… shall be quenched.”

With that she seemed to have made up her mind. Since she was in Shiro’s body, she still wore her clothes, and slowly, she pulled off the woollen jumper she wore, tossing it to the ground with feigned casualness. Underneath, Shiro was wearing a bright red t-shirt, perhaps in deference to the Pilgrimage. “I… hope you find this… strip show, as she calls it… alluring!”

Shaeula snickered as I watched Tan start to dance, swaying her body in a way that sparked my memories of our first encounter, when she had nearly persuaded me I needed to die to save Shiro. Now that was a fond memory, though at the time the sense that she had seized control of my mind with her charms was frightening. Her movements were elegant, graceful, and otherworldly, and yes, sexy too. Her figure wasn’t dissimilar to Shiro’s, but I could see the differences, as I was intimately acquainted with Shiro’s body.

Slightly taller, and Shiro is by no means short, either. Breasts are the same, but her hips are fuller, and her waist slenderer. Her facial features are different too, and obviously her skin tone, hair and eye colours, but…

Such idle thoughts were driven from my mind as I watched her. In the Fae Realms, I was also preparing for the Chirurgery to implant Chollima’s Favour, but my expression must have been strange, as Motoko, with her keen perception, picked up on my mood.

“What is wrong?” she asked. “You seem… distracted. I would not wish for you to make a mistake during this delicate procedure.”

“Oh, nothing, it’s just…” I shook my head, and Natsumi giggled, understanding.

“Time runs faster here. So if I had to guess, I’d say it’s about time that Akio’s celebrating with Shaeula and… Tan. I’m right, yeah?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “Shaeula’s in high spirits. Tan was… understandably nervous, but… she’s made up her mind. And she’s covering her shyness with unexpected boldness. Although considering her ability to Allure, the gap is…”

“Moe, right? Your sister explained that to us. The gap between two different personality traits is cute, or sometimes sexy.” Natsumi glanced at Motoko. “Do we have gap moe?”

Motoko flushed. “I suspect… our graceful daily behaviour, and… our fervour in the bedroom…” She found it hard to express that embarrassing thought, and I nodded, agreeing.

“Exactly. Hinata’s the same. Well-bred young girls being so enthusiastic in the bedroom… it’s definitely on the sexier side of moe. As for Tan… right now, she’s started a strip show before we bathe together…”

“That would be something to see.” Natsumi mused. “But don’t forget, we’re here too…”

“How could I?” I promised. “Besides, you’ve done so well, I can’t disappoint you, but… I don’t want to be hasty. Honestly… you’re compatible with Chollima’s Favour, but… I have a feeling it’s not quite right for you. Not that you’ve failed, but that… maybe your insight has pushed you beyond what if offers? And I don’t want to miss any chance to improve you…”

Back in the Material, Tan had stripped off her t-shirt, and her slender yet busty physique was laid bare to me, her breasts only hidden by the white bra Shiro wore. It was an expensive one, simple yet sexy, with pink lace and a ribbon in the centre. Seeing my gaze go to her chest, Tan’s confidence bloomed, and she tossed aside the scarlet garment she held, dancing pridefully, her shaking chest held still by the bra.

“I am… oddly self-conscious.” Tan declared. “When I danced for the Buddha, to Allure him, I did not feel this way…”

“That is the difference between duty-duty and love.” Shaeula reassured her. “If I am not-not mistaken, when that foolish Buddha walked on by, you felt-felt annoyed, disparaged, yes, but also… relief…”

Tan nodded, even as she spun, her hands going to the front of her white jeans. The belt was unbuckled, and the button that fastened them popped, revealing a glimpse of the panties beneath. Pink. I see. It was definitely a matching set, these ones the same shade of pink as the ribbons and lace on the bra, and these panties displayed a white bow and detailing. It was the inverse, and… stood out more against the white jeans Shiro loved to wear. She’s put some thought into it, I see. Probably for Tan’s sake. Shiro’s not as selfish as she claims to be. At least not when it comes to her friends and those she cares for…

“Yes. I remember the frustration, the hurt… but also… the underlying relief.” Tan slowly swayed, her hips circling, as she slowly pulled her long, elegant legs free from the jeans, the pink panties now in full view, her rich, light chocolate skin smooth and hairless. “But… I would have been faithful… just as…” Now she was only in her underwear, and she turned away, hands going to the clasp on her bra. “…I shall be for you. I am not Rāga, the pleasure-seeking little fool. Now…” Her embarrassment was giving way to arousal, as perhaps having me watching was exciting her. Her beading sweat smelt exotic, like sandalwood, jasmine and saffron. “Now I shall finally… put my Allure to use!”

She spun, bra tossed aside, and her breasts were fully revealed, nipples hard and perky. Her scent intensified as she felt my hungry gaze, and she whirled and danced, combining pirouettes, twirls and stretches with a strange sort of elegant, sensual strut which seemed almost like a prayer rather than a dance. Her movements becoming ever more fluid, she reached down, and slowly, ever so slowly, peeled away her panties, sliding them down as she bent seductively, her smooth, hairless slit coming into view. As she moved, careful to give me an enticing show, she paused, tilting her head, before her smile turned wicked. Instead of removing her panties entirely, she left them around one ankle carelessly, continuing to dance.

“The princess insists this is the way it is done, and…” she paused her words but not her stimulating naked dance. I watched, my excitement clearly visible in my expression and bodily response, until after another couple of minutes, Tan finally spun to a stop, one leg kicking out, panties flying and landing on my proud dick. Now that took some doing…

Before either of us could speak, Shaeula laughed loudly. “That was quite-quite the show. I think you forgot I was here, did you not-not, Tan? How does it feel, performing for the one-one who is to be your male for eternity?”

“Hardly.” Tan insisted, though her shifty gaze belied her true thoughts. “I simply did not care you were watching. What does it matter? You are his too. As for how it feels… it feels… unusual. Different.”

“The best is yet-yet to be experienced!” Shaeula insisted. Under the candlelight, both their naked bodies were like works of art. “Now come…” She clinked the three glasses together. “…the bath-bath awaits. First we must cleanse our sweat, before…” Her amber eyes were glittering with humour and lust. “…we shall-shall work up yet another sweat.”

“In that case…” Tan strolled over to where the booze was stored, hiding nothing, her arousal plain by the hardness of her nipples, and the faint smell that wasn’t her aromatic sweat. “…I shall need more.” She grabbed two bottles of champagne, larger ones than Shaeula carried. Those are Jeroboam’s, right? Twice the size of the Magnum of champagne Shaeula picked before. Different brand too. Though they should all be tasty…

Hauling her prize, Tan strode over towards us, Shaeula leading the way to the bath, her flame element discharged with a yellow glow, the cooling water suddenly bubbling, heating up again. As Tan passed me, she glanced down, before meeting my eyes, a sly smile curving her purple-stained lips. “Are you planning on keeping that? If you plan to… use it… the princess says she will wear them all day, fighting back her shame, to sate your perversity.” She then slid shut one crimson eye in an amused wink.

As I watched her go into the bathroom, her bare ass swaying enticingly, I blushed, retrieving the still warm panties and carefully laying them to one side. You know, I’m not as perverted as you think, Shiro! I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re kinkier than I am! Still, I couldn’t help but smile, as I followed the girls in, ready to bathe together, the light from Tokyo shrouding us, as the bathroom had a massive, one-way glass window, so we could see out over the skyline as we indulged, without any danger of being peeked upon…

***

“All right…” Keeping my face impassive, despite the sight of Tan and Shaeula naked in the bath with me, the scented oils and carpet of rose petals in the water hiding nothing, instead accentuating their beauty, I analysed Chollima’s Favour, the Thousand Li Wings, my Eyes assessing it, and also Natsumi’s Chakra network.

Hmm, the important parts are… This Favour allows the bearer to move and react with incredible speed, as well as increasing affinity with Wind Elemental energies.

Just as the Divine Chollima, mighty winged horse that sparked its own Divinity, crosses a thousand li with a single beat of its wings, scattering the winds, so too shall the bearer of this Favour find themselves able to move faster than the wind, their strikes swift and true.

It’s wind aspect, and yes, Natsumi has had wind element for a while, but oddly enough, her affinity spiked when she understood spatial element a little more.

Natsumi hadn’t mastered spatial element either, but her crown Chakra did have traces of it leftover from the migration of the Seelie Court. Seeing my puzzled look, Natsumi patted my arm reassuringly.

“You can do it. I have faith in you. We have faith in you!”

“That is correct. It seems Natsumi will be the one to soar on the wind.” Motoko’s voice carried a trace of envy, before she slapped her cheeks with her hands, the sound echoing. Faint red marks were left behind, imprints of her hard strikes, though her Ether Healing quickly intervened, the swelling dying down. “Do not mind me, Natsumi, I shall be victorious soon enough as well. As your instructor in Tsumura Arts, and more… your friend, I am so very proud of you. Although…” Motoko’s expression was now one of thoughtful pondering. “Wind is far slower than spatial element, we have seen demonstrations of that just a short while ago. Arisugawa-san was rather surprised when you spirited her away…”

“She could have stopped me. But I was in a hurry. Her Room was perfect for what we needed. I’m just happy she trusts me enough to go along with my whims…” I corrected. “…though if I do anything to upset Arisu-san, not only will Shiro be incredibly angry, Arisu-san would probably try and kill me, and… I’m not sure she wouldn’t succeed.”

“High praise indeed.” Motoko observed, and Natsumi giggled in agreement.

“Yes, you’re rather wary of her, aren’t you?”

“I respect her prowess. Me, I’ve done well for myself, I admit, but Arisu-san is truly a genius. Her Favour is incredibly well-suited to her talents, and she makes it do things I doubt it was intended for. And that’s relevant here, isn’t it?”

Natsumi understood. “Yes, you’re right, Akio. I feel… like I could do better. Like I can be faster. Motoko… Tsumura Arts teaches us that we can use any weapon, but the truest weapons are our own mind, body and wills. I know the Favour is a crutch, and we’ve come far on our own merits… no, that’s not right.” She shook her head, brown eyes earnest as she grasped for her own understanding. “Plenty of people have helped us. But… without the drive, the will, the dedication…” She smiled cheekily at Motoko. “…it doesn’t matter how skilled you are as an instructor in Tsumura Arts… if I was a spoiled brat, unwilling to train as a bodyguard, you’d never have been able to drill even the basics into me.”

Motoko nodded, and Natsumi finished her thoughts. “We were lucky during the attack on Hanafubuki. We made our own luck, but nonetheless, we were fortunate. If we had died… then despite the few brave girls who stood against the invaders… it would have finished as a massacre. The nobility would have teetered on the edge of destruction, their daughters diminished to a handful of extremely young or already married elder ones. I’m rightly proud of my own progress…”

“As you should be…” Both Motoko and I murmured together, and then our eyes met, Motoko’s sparkling with joy that we were so in tune with each other, which brought a giggle from Natsumi.

“…well I am. Anyway, I see a Favour as just another ability, one we can master, but shouldn’t blindly rely on. And to save lives, to protect those who are dear to us, we need two things… to be swift, and to claim victory! Obviously, I’m faster, so I’ll go on ahead, but… Motoko, you won’t fail to claim your victory, will you?”

“Of course not.” Motoko agreed, shaking her head. “As it happens, your words, Natsumi, they inspire me, as does your dedication.” She turned to me, smiling sweetly. “Akio, when Natsumi is done, you will surely help me with my new idea, yes?”

“Of course.” How can I turn you down when you ask so adorably. “Shaeula wanted everyone to celebrate after the migration, so she’s prepared a feast back at the mansion, but those that want to do some training are welcome to, so long as they don’t disrupt the other guests.”

“It is a promise then.” She extended her pinkie finger to me hesitantly, blushing slightly, and I wondered who had told her about the tradition of ‘pinkie swearing’. Hooking them together, we shook our hands three times and then separated, after speaking sing-song words, promising that if we lied, we’d have to eat a thousand needles.

“All right. Then…” We were among the last guests still above the Spring, as the carriages were constantly coming and going from the mansion. “…we need to be clear on what we are achieving here.” I had modified Favours before, combining, in Hinata’s case, and splitting up, for me, Shaeula and Shiro. In a way, they were just items. Items that grafted into one’s Chakra networks and spirits, yes, but… items nonetheless. The components are hard to see, understand and manipulate, but I have a fair few advantages in that regard. I could feel Rose watching, and I actually felt a little guilty that she was spending so much of her time paying attention to me, but at the wave of amusement that rolled through me, signifying she enjoyed it, I set aside my misgivings.

I know you’ll be watching over me, so if I do something utterly stupid…

Of course. she assured me. Though we know only a little of the art of crafting Divine Favours, we were able to modify those we carried with the Seeds, and… it’s not too dissimilar to when I took the power of your strange boots and forged it into something you could truly own, not just wear…

Yeah. Favours are great, and some of them are utterly invaluable to us… but they can always be replicated. Power is simply that, power. It’s how we use it… Speaking of such matters, the Lost Droplet and its energies were still being slowly integrated within me, and I could feel pulses of strength. It was a very dense energy, stronger even than the Spirit Water of the Spring itself, though there was a clear connection between the elemental energies which was aiding me in my assimilation of it. Likely Shaeula was having the same struggle, not that anyone would know, seeing as how she was so languidly playing in the bathtub, glass of champagne in hand.

Splashing around, huh? My thoughts turned to the Spring below. I had modified it a little, turning it into a giant Dvergr craft, and now the Spring was filling faster, the spatial element that was absorbed into the Lost Droplet and the surrounding water bubbling up. My Eyes could detect the shimmering glow of orange, indigo and violet, and that gave me an idea.

“Natsumi, you’re feeling like the Wings are too slow?” I asked, as I channelled my own water element downwards, the Spring bubbling, the richest spatial-impregnated waters rising to the surface, where I began to separate the energies out, forming a glowing orb of purple, small at first, but growing larger, imitating the moon above.

“That’s right. Don’t get me wrong… I can feel I understand the Chollima… it’s a winged horse… strange that it’s a God…” she mused.

“Is it so strange?” Motoko disagreed. “While Hanafubuki’s classical education focusses almost entirely on Japanese mythology, especially now, with Kudou-sensei… no, I suppose I should call her Shiori-san as she asked, considering she is one of the Pilgrims here… being seconded to our school by Fujiwara-sama. Though Hanafubuki is currently closed due to the incident, and upcoming winter break…”

“You wouldn’t have been able to attend anyway, the Pilgrimage is more important.” I assured her, and she nodded, her smile soft and wistful.

 “I understand. But I still grieve. I am no less keen than Natsumi to prevent such disasters from occurring again. My point is… even in Japanese myth, there are Kami who are surely as great as any God, such as Ryūjin, a Dragon, and in China there are Dragons and Kirin, or Qilin, as Daiyu calls them, which are worshipped and venerated. Winged horses are prevalent in many myths, and was not Pegasus the son of Poseidon, and thus at worst a Demigod?”

“You’ve done your homework…” I chuckled, still growing the sphere of spatial element. It wasn’t as thick as even one of the beams that the moon had discharged, but it was still a rich source, though keeping it from scattering and dissipating was a challenge, as spatial element was particularly elusive, often seeking to vanish.

“Of course!” Natsumi puffed out her chest pridefully, as if she was being praised. “Motoko’s grades are always excellent, and… we study you and what matters to your endeavours as well. I think we both get high marks with that subject too.” Her face was pink, and she was embarrassed saying it, but again, the two of them were adorable, so I pulled them into my arms, mirroring the scene happening back in the Material world, where Shaeula and Tan were resting against me, our bare skins touching carelessly.

“Maybe I’ll test you one day then.” I chuckled. “As for homework… right… how about you put into practise what you’ve learned, and gain a power-up? It’s what I do.”

“I’m ready!” Natsumi insisted, and my Eyes peering into the very depths of her, she shivered in my arms as I began the Chirurgery, easing the Favour in gently. Being a wind-based Favour, it linked in around her heart Chakra, but I decided to also tie it to the crown, as well as the third eye. Why that? Light’s the fastest thing there is. Moving through space isn’t technically speed… though I suppose it doesn’t matter when the result is, you leap a thousand li in a moment…

“This is always… so uncomfortable, but… if I have to do it… being squeezed in your arms, and Motoko, holding my hand… it’s not so bad!” Natsumi insisted, tears in her eyes despite her pain tolerance, as I made adjustments to her Chakra network to accommodate what I was trying to do.

“No need to lie, I know it sucks. But… honestly, Ether Healing training to break the bottleneck and reach the higher Ranks is way worse if you want to take the extra credit course…” I continued with Natsumi’s joke from earlier. “…in Akio and get it done swiftly.”

“We do, of course.” Motoko agreed. “Though Hyacinth has warned us of the pain that awaits us. But with greater capacity to Heal, we can train and fight for longer, and harder. So we will accept it.”

Natsumi just nodded, and I personally agreed with them. “I really hated hurting Shaeula that way, it tore at my heart, and I’ll equally hate seeing you two suffer. But pain is temporary, and…”

“Skills are forever!” they chorused, ending one of my oft-repeated phrases.

“You really have studied me.” I chuckled. “It’s rather flattering. I’m glad things worked out the way they did for us. Now then…” I had gathered enough spatial element, I believed. Wrapping it with a large amount of aether, a separate Split Thought managing that to keep the image strong, preventing the energy from dissipating, I pulled the orb up the shaft and out onto the hilltop, where the medicine ball-sized mass of energy attracted gasps from Motoko and Natsumi.

“Is that…” Natsumi’s brown eyes reflected the violet glow hungrily.

“Yeah. I removed some of the leftovers from the Spring. Now then…” I moved the orb over to Natsumi, and using Chirurgery I started injecting it directly towards her crown Chakra. “I doubt you’ll be able to master spatial element straight away, but… I don’t think you need to…”

“Yes, from what I understand, space and the equations and laws that govern it are rather too advanced for students such as we and are the content of advanced university education.” Motoko suggested.

“No kidding. We can’t all be Arisu-san… but even what we don’t understand, we can still utilise, though true understanding and control is the goal… like Tsumura Arts, yeah? The endgame is to defeat your opponents, but the process, the learning, the skills, they’re all important.”

Natsumi nodded at my words, even as her body shuddered. Most of the spatial element wasn’t going towards her crown Chakra though, instead, I was impregnating it into the Favour. This is Shapercrafting, Adherence Crafting, and Soullight Crafting all at once… and I suppose elemental energies come under Ether Crafting… it’s nothing I haven’t done before, although… each time is slightly different…

I wasn’t trying to split or combine or even repair a damaged Favour. No, I was trying to integrate it in a way that allowed both Natsumi and the Favour to take advantage of spatial element. It wasn’t Rose’s area of expertise, but using her Runes she divined some helpful hints, and together, we managed to make the adjustments, until Natsumi had obtained the Favour she was now suited for, but as I patted her back and head reassuringly, while Motoko tenderly wiped off the sweat from her brow, I surveyed my handiwork.

Sorry, our handiwork, I should say. Thanks for your help.

All I did was suggest a better point of anchorage, based on my Runic divinations, seeking fortune. You did all the hard work. Besides, just witnessing it, I feel like if we ever found another Fruit…

I suggest you turn that one in as the law dictates. I don’t want you getting into trouble. Besides… it feels a little bad, you all once more giving parts of your Truesoul to others.

Jealous? How cute. I shall tell Lin and Run. They will react very differently.

Run? No, never mind that. Jealous? Sorry, but I am. It used to shame me and I felt like the world’s biggest hypocrite, but… call me selfish if you want, yet … I’ll be a big enough man to make you all happy and keep you all for myself!

If your strength is great enough, none can question you. Now then… fascinating. I am impressed…

I was too. The Favour had changed a little and was now something Natsumi could use to great effect.

Sadly it wasn’t enough to raise any of my Skill Ranks though. I suppose it’s only a variant on previous acts, and… honestly, wasn’t as difficult as I imagined…

Chollima’s Seventy League Wings: Crafted from concentrated Adherence, refined Ether and Soullight infused Truesoul strands, and carefully yet crudely modified by another’s hands and impregnated with thick, rich Spatial Element, this customised Favour allows the bearer to move and react with incredible speed, and with great effort traverse space, as well as increasing affinity with Wind and Spatial Elemental energies.

Divine Chollima, mighty winged horse that sparked its own Divinity, crosses a thousand li with a single beat of its wings, yet folding wings is slower than folding space. Perhaps this Favour is now more worthy of mighty Sleipnir, though the link to Chollima yet remains untampered with. [Class: Imperious] [Type: Law]

“We match!” Natsumi cried, once I told her the details of her new Favour. With an exhausted smile, she leaned in and kissed me, before she then suddenly vanished, appearing a few metres away, nearly colliding with a crystalline menhir. Giving us a rueful smile, she shrugged. “It seems… I need a lot more practise. But I can do this too…” Wind element flashed around her, and she soared a score of metres into the sky, lashing out with a bone-crushing kick wreathed in wind energy. She landed softly, before running over to us, eyes sparkling with exultation. “That’s a lot easier!”

“It would be.” I chuckled, affected by her enthusiasm, feeling a little sorry for Motoko, who was clearly overjoyed for Natsumi, but was also envious. “You don’t have the Skill to control spatial element yet. But you should be able to learn it through the Favour, I think.” I turned to Motoko then, offering my hands to them both. “Now then, shall we go back to the mansion? We’ll grab a quick bite to eat, have a short rest, then we’ll focus on you, Motoko.”

As they reached out, grasping my hands with theirs, I looked down at the oncoming carriage, the horses braying as they raced towards the Spring. Yeah, food. I’m going to need the energy… in more ways than one. Closing my eyes for a moment, I could feel not just the soft, warm hands of Motoko and Natsumi, but also the soothing hot water of the bath in our hotel, as well as Tan’s equally heated skin, and Shaeula’s gentle yet erotic embrace…