On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor - Six Hundred And One

I spent some time going around the various groups which were training, offering insights into their efforts, and even learning a few things myself, though I certainly wasn’t going to push myself any further tonight, as I was still fatigued after the battle with Ulfuric, and also trying to mentally sort through the Tsumura Style I had finally manifested.

It was enjoyable to have the banter with the girls, and it put a lot of pressure on me, as they were all eagerly awaiting their dates tomorrow, and even those that weren’t in a relationship with me, such as Yu-mi, managed to get in some teasing. Her new recruits to Adamant, some I recognised from the time we went to the nightclub in Gangnam, really didn’t have the foundation to be here at the advanced training at the mansion yet, but Yu-mi was highly favoured by Hinata, and was also surprisingly close friends with Eri after our shared trip to South Korea. Because of that she still had access to Ixitt’s devices that allowed those with lower tolerance to ether density, due to weaker Silver Cords and lower Ranked Chakra networks, to be present, and they were getting a crash course from some of the others.

I know Yu-mi is part of Adamant, an Officer, so she’ll get the generic gifts, but I did prepare her a unique gift too. It feels wrong not to, considering how she helped Eri and me to finally work through our issues. And she’s been nothing but helpful to us, despite our rough first meeting…

Adamant was certainly in an interesting position. Standard Chirurgery gave them the foundations, and learning elements was becoming… well, if I called it trivial, at least for the first element, then no doubt Shaeula and the other Fae would be depressed and angry. The reality was though, with various Mystic Eyes available to us, Haru and the twins, and free access to a number of elemental resources, we were certainly managing to enhance people on an unheard of, industrial scale. I suspected it was similar to the way that those warriors of the upper Astral would learn.

Einherjar, Rose called them. From my internet searches, that means the slain heroes carried by the Valkyries to Valhalla. But the way Rose uses it is different and seems to mean their general armies. Surely they have training methodology to strengthen themselves as we do.

In addition, there were Cultivation Techniques, though Daiyu was also gathering her own disciples. Now as well, while of course we were putting them through their paces in terms of combat, learning weapons and martial arts, we had the option of a rigorous and formalised grounding in Tsumura Style. It seems a shame not to really push Motoko to new heights, considering the details of her Class. Natsumi might be jealous, but she’s the sort that won’t take defeat lying down, she’ll want to walk alongside her friend, rather than lag behind…

The Black Wolf Company were undergoing similar training, though they also had a focus on learning about the Boundary, infiltration, stealth and self-sufficiency, as their roles would be different to Adamant’s, but no less important. Aliyah and Treyvon were still imposing tight discipline on their fellow mercenaries, though calling them that as they had been hired on an effectively permanent basis seemed a little odd. Perhaps it’s a point of pride, though Trey always calls them ‘contractors’ rather than mercenaries.

Once I had finished my rounds, even with the faster flow of time in the lower Astral, I was running short of leeway before Christmas Eve. That in mind, I hurried over to where Shaeula was working with the Tengoku-seki, the multi-faceted, eerie jewel that seemed to simultaneously have too many and not enough dimensions, which radiated the chill of the ice element that went into its crafting. Indeed. Shaeula was shivering a little as she poured in wind and lightning, under the watchful gaze of Mae, who was also there, alongside her granddaughter, Hana.

Seeing me coming, Shaeula brightened, but she didn’t stop the flow of her elemental energies, a tide of brilliant lightning, accompanied by a rushing jade wind, pouring into the gem, swallowed up by the warped spatial boundary, vanishing like pouring a jug of water into a pond, only fading ripples… or in this case a few violet sparks of spent spatial energy… the evidence anything had been added.

“Akio, you have-have arrived.” Her smile was broad as she observed me, her amber eyes glittering. “Oh, I must-must say your fight with Master Ulfuric was most-most impressive earlier. My heart was beating so-so fast, I thought it might explode. But I had no-no doubt you would triumph! Though…” Now her smile was wry. “It does-does make me think… if Master Ulfuric was serious, then there was not-not a chance I would have defeated him in our Trial of Three.”

“He said the same, but… he couldn’t bring himself to use his full might against you, considering he knew you when you were a child.” I shrugged, taking a seat beside them, Mae giving me a glance before moving her voluminous tails to make room for me. “Also, Shaeraggo didn’t help, by giving him foolish orders. But you did win, at least the solo battle, and that was due to your own strength and determination.”

Shaeula’s face flushed a little pink. “You do not-not need to flatter me. Looking back, I triumphed more by good-good fortune than my own talents. Though now would be quite-quite different. Regardless of that… you did-did make my heart flutter, your bravery, boldness.”

“Yes, it was rather impactful, was it not, grandmother?” Shinkume-no-Hana suggested slyly, earning a look filled with annoyed reproach from Mae’s gleaming emerald eyes. Latest content publıshed on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁

“It was not terrible.” Mae tossed her head, golden-blonde hair flowing majestically. “That Fae has found an interesting way to combine both earth and flame. It reminds me a little of Ōtakemaru, that raging fool. Fire, water, earth, lightning… all the fury of nature bends to his tantrums.”

“Not terrible?” Hana snorted, holding in her laughter, despite Mae’s cold gaze, and Shaeula also snickered.

“I did not-not expect you were this tsundere, Tamamo-no-Mae.” Shaeula managed when her laughter was under control. “While Akio finds it quite-quite cute, I know it is rather tiring a habit, trust me. Far-far better to be honest with your feelings. And to that-that end…” Shaeula used one small hand to wipe beads of glittering silvery sweat from her brow. Her flow of elemental energies spluttered out, and with my Eyes, I could see her Chakras were nearly empty of wind and lightning. “…would you take over for me, I am most-most fatigued.”

She handed the Tengoku-seki to Mae, who took it as if holding something rather unpleasant. As Shaeula leaned against me, the smell of her sweat tickling my nose, Mae’s tails rose up, and the brilliant rainbow glow of elemental energies formed around her in a shimmering halo. Lightning flashed, vivid streaks of light drawn into the jewel in her hand, the air filled with the actinic tang of ozone, and wind blew, rustling everyone’s hair and clothes.

I watched with great curiosity the energies within the Tengoku-Seki, the trapped Heavenly Purifying Lightning and Chaotic Winds wildly surging, battling to be free, but the ever folded layers of space that looped in on itself, like the Klein Bottle it was made from, prevented escape, and even as the space cracked and distorted, it reknitted, purple energy flowing, as if it was a living thing. Which in a sense it is. The will-o’-the-wisp husk that went into it still lives too, if you can call that living. The Unseelie are cruel, but… not just them. The Rota Iudicii, the breaking wheel Mae had recovered from the fanatic of the Church she had slain while defending Asha and her Tree, shared some similarities with this craft. We had brainstormed some ideas for using it, but were cautious, due to its nature.

Mae’s elements were pouring in, passing through the honeycombed layers of warped space that made up the framework of the jewel, as entry was permitted through ever-shifting spatial channels. The Tiānyìèguǐnǚ Bell tied to my wrist chimed softly, almost as if reacting to the trapped winds, and the gentle noise seemed to aggravate Mae, as she pulled back her lips, teeth and fanged canines showing, her eyes hard.

Understandable, I suppose… I idly remembered the events when we rescued Mae as I watched the interplay of elemental energies. Wind and lightning were rather complimentary, as lightning was a composite element of wind and flame, so the two of them could certainly coexist, though the lightning occasionally tried to absorb the wind, but as that would lead to an imbalance, or perhaps because the Chaotic Winds were so powerful, it didn’t happen.

Lightning from Mae streamed into the Heavenly Purifying Lightning, and it was swallowed up, slightly heightening the intensity of the brilliant, terrifying trapped Tribulation. Likewise with the winds, the Chaotic Wind seeming more lustrous, slightly denser.

“I did not expect to see grandmother working.” Hana chuckled, watching with an odd, indecipherable expression on her face, her eyes distant. “One thing we Kitsune have in common is that we are tranquil, unhurried…”

“Some-some would even say lazy, or freeloaders…” Shaeula scoffed, and Hana let out a bitter chuckle.

“Still holding a grudge, little daughter of Urakaze? Your mother would certainly agree. Her winds are as biting as her tongue and blow as fiercely as her temper. Lazy, you say? Languid, perhaps… though you wrong me. I am not fond of working for others, but I did strive to avoid my fate, by whatever means I could. Ah, that land of near-frozen time… quite the strange place.”

Oh, she mentioned that before, since she had so few years to live, supposedly, she sought out places where the rate of time dilation was far higher than normal. I wonder… “That place where time slows to a crawl, as you put it before… do you still know where it is? I can’t see it being helpful in itself, unlike when time flows faster, but… perhaps there are secrets there.”

“Oh, a date, is it?” Hana chuckled, only to shake her head as Shaeula scowled at her. “A joke, a joke. Why, it seems my humour is quite disliked today. I know several places, though… they tend to vanish like bubbles on water, popping, then gone… but there is one that should remain. When times… hah…” she made a wry exclamation, pleased with her humour. “…are less hectic, I can take you there.”

“Great. I’m not a great physicist like Arisu-san, but I know time and apace are deeply intertwined. It would certainly be helpful getting a fresh perspective, and there might even be some sort of unique or mutated element there…”

“That would be most-most welcome.” Shaeula agreed. “Spatial element is a rare treasure. Arisu is sustaining all-all of the demand herself. It is not-not sustainable over the longer term.”

I was about to answer when I heard a faint grinding noise, only to see Mae gnashing her fangs together, a sullen expression on her face. Even so, a number of her tails were still radiating elemental energy, pouring it into the jewel in her hands, which were now turning while with the cold.

“Oh, sorry.” I apologised, channelling a trickle of flame element to warm her. I directed a thread to Shaeula, who nodded gratefully too, and that left Hana pouting.

“Forgetting me? My heart aches, I am so unloved!”

“I don’t see you pouring out your elements.” I countered, and Hana shrugged, her ample bosom, though it still paled before Mae’s magnificence, bouncing, barely retrained by her kimono. All three of them dress in classical fashion. It’s quite the treat for the eyes…

“You wound me. Lightning is not my speciality, but I have contributed all my wind, until I was quite sucked dry! I could weave together wind and flame for you, but such a low purity would be detrimental here…”

Shaeula nodded reluctantly. “It is true. She has-has indeed assisted us. Her personality may be most-most rotten, but her strength is not-not to be denied. Especially now she has her fifth-fifth tail.”

“Such backhanded praise… but praise nonetheless…” Hana chuckled, only for Mae to keep grinding her teeth, her magnificent fox ears flat against her skull.

“Oh, I most definitely didn’t mean to ignore you.” I promised. “Damn, you’re truly worthy of being a legendary Yōkai, and one of the Three Most Evil Yōkai… oh… sorry.” I apologised. “That’s a dreadful title. I don’t see you that way, not… not after you protected Asha at nearly the cost of your dissolution.”

“He is quite the fool, is he not, granddaughter, Kamaitachi?”

“I did-did say to call me Shaeula.”

“Very well then. But for me it is… difficult. To us, names hold power, so I do not use them carelessly, for those I do not deem… equal to me… which is perilously few, and less so nowadays.” Mae shrugged, a feast for my eyes. “But my words are not false.”

“He is indeed-indeed, but he is our fool.” Shaeula snickered. “And he is not-not mistaken. We Fae are not-not so concerned by such labels. But I too do not-not see you as wicked. But then, as Eri might say, I did not-not experience your deeds.” She glared at Hana, who turned away, whistling innocently, a mortal habit she must have copied from someone else, maybe Shiro.  “But I judge on what-what I see and experience, not-not what I hear or imagine. I have done enough harm-harm following that path.”

“It seems you are the fool as well, Shaeula.” Mae leaned back, rubbing her hands together while still holding the gem, savouring the gentle warmth my flame element was providing. For a moment I wondered why she didn’t use her own flame element, her Chakra network, even reconstructed by my efforts, and made partially artificial, had a very potent supply of flame burning around her solar plexus, and one of her tails.

“But I prefer an honest fool, to a scheming genius. Now… I am reaching my limit…” Indeed, several of her tails were drooping, and her network was stuttering. “…the potency of the trapped Tribulation has not increased much. I am curious…” She stared at the Bell I wore, leaking a growl. “…if you seek to tame this, you are not the sort of fool I can tolerate. This… is a force beyond the mere energies you are accustomed to.”

“I know.” I agreed. “Even cut off, it’s still a Tribulation, the will and fury of the Heavens. And I’m learning that the greater the power, the more… whole… things seem to be. It isn’t like Spirit Water, Sunlight, or Gold, where we can easily accumulate it over time and help others to learn…”

“That is folly enough.” Mae turned to her granddaughter. “To share what makes one unique… I can hardly fathom it.”

“That is because you are supreme, grandmother. And supremely selfish.” At Mae’s dangerous gaze, Hana chortled, unconcerned. “Oh, do not give me that glare, grandmother. Your claws and fangs have dulled. You will not take my life here, no matter how I annoy you. I never would have imagined it, after our bloody prior meeting. But I understand you. I too find it hard to believe, yet I do understand. It is their strength, grandmother. They do not seek to stand above all alone, but together. A weak reed snaps, and even a strong tree breaks in the storm, but… together a bundle can confound even a mighty Oni’s strength, and a forest of trees endures the gales, sheltering each other.”

“Exactly.” Shaeula agreed, though she didn’t seem happy, and soon clarified why. “Though it does-does pain me the point was made by you! I am as pleased and proud-proud of Motoko’s and-and Natsumi’s progress as I am-am my own. And I do not-not fear Master Ulfuric’s growth, yet feel happiness for him. That fire shall serve-serve him well when we retake his ancestral demesne!” Shaeula was full of fighting spirit. “The strength of one is the strength of us all-all! Just as we are all one under the Moon, so too-too are we of one purpose.”

Ah. Like a Hydra. One body, many independent heads, different, but all working together for the same goal, aims.

“Yes. I… struggle with it.” Mae admitted, before handing me the Tengoku-seki. It was as cold as always yet felt as if it was giving me slight electric shocks, my hair standing up. I noticed the same had happened to Mae, her tails rather disarrayed, fur clumped in tufts, her long, beautiful hair no longer neatly arranged. “Absolute power, absolute authority, absolute will…”

“Absolute submission…” Hana countered, only to be cuffed by Mae almost playfully, yet the blow rocked Hana back.

“Cheeky whelp. Perhaps you are right that my claws have dulled and my fangs are blunted, but I can still disciple an insolent child…”

Hana giggled, despite the faint swelling on her cheek. “I do not mind. It is a novelty, genuine correction from a parental figure. We Kitsune are terrible, terrible parents, siblings and children. Though… that shall change, or we shall perish.”

“All things end.” Mae agreed. “Even the absolutes such as I. Now… my point was lost in the confusion. Your greed… up until now it has been praiseworthy, but… even those such as I have limits. Caihong’er challenged the Lightning and barely survived, and the Chaotic Winds are beyond even her. Yes, you endured once, and perhaps can again, but enduring is not taming.”

“That’s true. And the point is… this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s going to be a long time before Daiyu or anyone else faces a Tribulation, and even then… our intervention in the one that you were caught up in was a miracle. We can’t rely on another chance. So…” I glanced at Shaeula. “…I don’t want it to go wrong. The question is… are you confident without an immediate power boost?”

I gathered Taranis’ and Shango’s Favours, enfolding them in soullight and my dwindling adherence. “I can give you strength to your lightning and winds, push you to greater heights, I’m certain. Or…”

Shaeula’s glowing amber eyes peered into mine, and her smile was the only answer I needed, though she spoke words of comfort too. “Yes, I crave strength, for only with it can-can we protect ourselves and those we cherish. But I am not-not such a fool as to take the scraps now, rather than feast-feast later. If I can not-not do enough, Eri or Shiro shall stand up. If they can not-not, Hinata, Motoko, Natsumi…. If matters are truly-truly dire, then we have Tan, and even you, Tamamo-no-Mae. Or perhaps Hyacinth…” Shaeula shuddered at that, and I agreed. Hyacinth was our last resort, and she hadn’t even used her gift from the Tower yet, the Cauldron Of Dundrennan Abbey. Though I know she’s been experimenting with it in secret.

“If we need-need knowledge, then Tan, Rossweisse, you again…” she nodded at Mae. “And do not-not think I am dismissing those I have not-not mentioned. I trust any-any and all of them to be strong in heart and spirit. So we should not-not hesitate to take the harder road to greater glory.”

It was tough for me to hold in a chuckle. Shaeula’s impish expression was warring with her need to look wise and profound, but her words certainly were. “After all, did you not-not take that route, under Ortlinde’s urgings, and make it this far? And Daiyu, she would-would definitely say that haste is a detriment, that we should build our foundation more-more sturdy than the mountains, even if our climb-climb is slower. And in gambling terms… I do-do much prefer to bet it all, go all-all in!”

“That is our way.” Mae spoke up, surprising us. “We Yōkai do not think of the future, and live in the now but… we never resist the urge to gamble, to seek the tastiest treats, the most fun experiences, and even if they disappoint, the fear of missing out cuts deeper… I suppose you are one of us too, Shaeula.”

“I am indeed. Proud to be-be my mother’s daughter. But not-not just that. I am also Fae, flighty, irresponsible, but prone to emotional decision-making. And I am, in a way-way, mortal too. For I have learned to love-love the feelings and thoughts of those close to me, And mortals, despite having a far-far briefer future than us… plan-plan for it like no others!”

“As for me…” Hana interjected. “…and do not say you care little for my opinion. I am still wise and powerful. I was the one who invested. I persuaded the Hyakki Yagyō to trade with you, and I gave the Bezoar to buy-in. Investments do not yield gains immediately, as you told that greedy Fae Princess. My whole life I have been patient, waiting for this moment. And it has come. I shall humbly lend my strength if there are troubles, so… go for the greatest treasures, not mere baubles!”

As everyone agreed, I laughed, clutching the jewel tighter. Yeah, cold and staticky. Not the nicest thing to touch, but… it too is a miracle. But eventually our luck will run out, so… I’d rather go for maximum gains, even if it inconveniences us in the now… “Looks like we are decided then. Some people might call us crazy, passing up three chances to strengthen ourselves, but… I think we can turn these three into something truly special.”

I worked Chirurgery on myself, as well as my various crafting Skills. Blades of soullight and adherence sliced deep, and my Chakra network shuddered, but Ether Healing handled it easily. There was a flash of soullight, nearly blinding, though it was Mae who noticed alongside me, blinking her eyes as tears formed.

“That’s never fun, is it?” I grimaced. Thor’s Thundering Might was still wrapped up in the Seeds I had recovered from Egil Andersen. They weren’t well-dyed, probably because he perished far too soon, but even for me fully separating them wasn’t yet possible. But then, it wasn’t desirable, either. With the two shining silver Seeds free, I began my work.

“Separate and enhance… lightning and wind… tease them out, tweak the Truesoul strands a little. Gently… just emphasise the aspects we want…” I muttered to myself as I worked, but it really wasn’t anything more difficult than I’d done with Bjarki and Ògún’s Favour. In fact, despite managing three Favours, the process was actually smoother. It helped that Taranis’ and Shango’s Favours were already very close to what I wanted. Thor’s was far too Might-related, but lightning was present, so just as I’d done with Ògún’s, I took advantage of the Connected Truesoul, offering a prayer that Thor would forgive me if he noticed… I’m World Tree Pantheon too, technically… so consider this a helping hand for Tyr. Hah, a helping hand…

“What-what are you doing?” Shaeula’s Mystic Eyes were powerful, but not on the level of my Eyes, so she couldn’t discern everything, but she could see enough. “Are you planning to use the Seeds…?”

“Yeah. The Seeds enhance, strengthen and also adapt. We need to tame the Tribulation elements. But I think they alone won’t be enough. So… I’m going to use the remnants of these Favours as both bridge, fertiliser and seal!” Weaving the strands together, the adherence as well, I passed them into the Tengoku-seki. The energies entered easily, though the strands of Truesoul were harder, the spatial walls pushing back, but I persevered, dripping sweat, knowing Arisu-san would have effortlessly completed the four-dimensional puzzle. God bless my ability to perceive space and my ludicrously high Intellect.

As soon as the woven strands of Truesoul entered, the lightning and wind within exploded angrily, seeking them out. The Tengoku-seki shuddered, space cracking, but it regenerated itself, though then more cracks formed swiftly.

“See?” Mae observed smugly. “Your insolence towards the Heavens would make a Cultivator blush.”

“I like making Daiyu blush. And I bet you can hardly wait to see Su Caihong smile again.” I countered, which shut her up. “I expected this, though it’s far more violent than I anticipated. That’s why… the Seeds.” The resistance to their entry, even though they were bound to the three separate threads of Truesoul now, which were already inside, was intense. I had to use a little of my own spatial element, the trickle I’d recovered, to pick at the edge of one spatial wall. For a moment the wind and lightning within boiled, surging for the exit, but the Seeds slid inside just in time, the spatial walls regenerating. My hand was blue with frozen moisture, which was slowly turning pink as my blood bloomed from innumerable cuts from scattered spatial debris, but such things didn’t bother me now.

“All right, it’s time to see whether we take the pot, or we lost our chips.” I used Shaeula’s metaphor from before. “But I’m confident…”

Lightning surged and wind boiled. The Bell at my wrist chimed once more, and for a moment I felt a strange sensation of being watched. Then it vanished, and the Seeds were pulled to the centre of the sealed space, the Truesoul strands wrapping around them, adherence and energies being absorbed. The lightning surged into one, and wind bathed the other, and the shaking and cracking halted, the Tengoku-seki restoring itself slowly.

“I think… it worked.” I grinned, my Eyes penetrating the sealed space, though the effort gave me quite the headache. Lightning and wind were still turbulent within, but the Seeds were acting as nexuses, soaking in the energies and nurturing them with the soullight and elemental energies given out by the stripped-down Favours. “It’s one hell of a priceless item now, honestly, not that it wasn’t before…”

Tengoku-seki [Item Class: Mythic] [Item Type: Law]

This miraculous item is forged from the principles of multi-dimensional space and Cultivation Techniques, forming a small, sealed pocket of space which is invisible to the outside world. Based on the now-defunct Sessho-seki, the Cultivation Techniques employed here are the works of a child as compared to an adult, but with other crafts and great understanding of the scientific nature of alternate non-Euclidean space, a facsimile was created on a smaller scale for a different purpose.

Trapped within, Heavenly Purifying Lightning and Chaotic Winds are sealed by potent Ice and Spatial Elements and integrated within the being of a spiritless Fae creature. In addition, two precious Seeds torn from the Fruit of the unmatched, singular World Tree, Yggdrasil, Anchor Upon Which Nine Realms And Uncounted Worlds Turn, have been offered to the Tribulations within, as well as the stripped, sacred strands of Divine Truesouls of the Mighty Thunderer, as well as two other Divinities. This has drawn the Elements within into a state of pseudo-dormancy, and the Seeds can gradually absorb their essence, the Soullight the Truesouls giving off repairing the gradual destruction of the Seeds from the forces involved, nurturing and growing these Elements and preventing their dissipation, though the outside addition of strong, high purity Wind and Lightning Elemental energies is advised often.

The shell, formed from a mysterious Klein Bottle, will collect and refine suitable Adherence and allow it to be collected, and feed this to the Seeds, the Truesoul strands, the Tribulation Elements within, and the fragile Spatial shell that holds everything together.

The Heavens do not approve of such disrespect, and the fury of a Tribulation is not to be mocked, though power bends to supreme power, and will to greater will. The Tengoku-seki is fragile, and if overloaded, the Elements within will break free, as like the fury of Muspelheim’s flames, this improbable construct is ever on the edge of detonation, seeking explosive, annihilating release, and should that happen, that which is hidden shall be revealed, drawing ire from those who should not be provoked without the wisdom to handle such, and the strength or wit to avoid retribution…

Okay, certainly the messages from my Eyes are getting more amusing, but… I think the World Tree is a little biased in how it relays information… The point was, I had succeeded in my gamble, though it seemed like the Tengoku-seki was not to be used recklessly… I’m also a bit disappointed that despite it going to a Mythic Class, I didn’t gain any Skill Ranks, though… I suppose it does make sense. I haven’t done anything new, really, other than removing Thor’s Favour from its entanglement. At least that experience will stand me in good stead for Tyr’s, if I need to…

As I stood there in momentary silence., Shaeula spoke up. “Is-is it done?”

“Yeah.” I chuckled. “Though we need to be extra carful with it now. But the end result should be spectacular. Worst case, I’m confident that one person can use the elements within, but hopefully this should acclimatise the energies, making them more suited for our use. But we’ll need to keep feeding them cautiously and regularly.”

“I shall do no more this night.” Mae insisted, lounging back on her throne-like chair, tails wagging tiredly. “I am spent.”

“I too-too.” Shaeula agreed. “I would not-not be less than at my best for tomorrow. Christmas Eve… I have heard much-much about it. Though…” She narrowed her eyes, and at my curious look, she shrugged. “…do not-not mind me. I am just deciding on some matters. Though…” She turned her gaze on Mae and Hana, though her lips curled into a sour expression as she peered at the latter. “…it is a shame you will not-not be a part of it, I suppose. Yet… there are a few hours remaining.” She turned back to me. “Akio, why not-not spend a little time with Tamamo-no-Mae? Deepen your bonds. As a way-way to thank her.”

I was a bit surprised by that, then realised I was talking to Shaeula, so I shouldn’t have been. I glanced at Mae, wanting her reaction, but all she did was raise one golden eyebrow tiredly. I suppose I can. I’m exhausted myself, after battling Ulfuric, and doing this risky crafting… besides, Mae is certainly interesting, and easy on the eyes… “Fine, I suppose we can both unwind.”

“Both? You wound me!” Hana whined. “Do not ignore me, it hurts my tender feelings!” She seized my arm, smiling mockingly at Shaeula, who rolled her eyes. Mae, ever the imperious woman, simply stood, her tails and hair still a mess, as though she had been electrocuted.

“Very well then. I shall indulge your whims.” she declared proudly, and I asked Shaeula to send us a maid with some booze and snacks, and with that I took the two of them into the mansion, to a room set aside for me.

***

“You are quite bold if you think you shall be bedding me…” was the first thing Mae said as she entered the richly decorated bedroom, seeing the large bed. It was small compared to Shaeula’s room in the rebuilt mansion, but she had insisted I had my own place to ‘take-take females I was interested in and have fun with…’

“Oh, do not be like that, grandmother. I know you must miss the comforts of the flesh and spirit.” Hana leapt on the bed without shame, her kimono coming partially undone, revealing her thighs and bottom, her tails fully exposed. Rolling around, she was now on her back, and her chest was bouncing, forcing me to look away as she giggled.

“I… need to find myself again.” Mae admitted, though her tone was cold. “Now stop that, fool of a granddaughter. You were not invited.”

“Oh? How cold. Everyone hates me.” Hana pouted, sitting up. She fixed her kimono very slowly, trying to draw my eyes, but when that failed, she merely snorted. “Fine then. Perhaps I should keep my gift to myself, but… you will adore it, grandmother.”

Gift? Mae echoed my thought a moment later. “Gift? What gift? Where would you get something I would desire?”

“I am still one of the greatest Numbers of the Hyakki Yagyō.” Hana declared, though she was still smiling. Reaching into her kimono, between her ample breasts, she pulled out a wrapped bundle the size of two fists, but flat. The cloth was unravelled, the patterned silk revealing…

“Is that a comb?” I asked, looking at the lacquered, hefty brush. It was a work of art, certainly, inlaid with what looked like nacre, mother-of-pearl, glimmering prettily under the mansion’s lights.

“Your keen intellect never fails to impress me.” Hana teased, smirking with wicked amusement as she flourished it. “Yes, though not just any comb. It is a grooming comb I had your crafters make for me. It is rather pretty, is it not? The shoreline yields many treasures.”

“And they listened to you?” I asked, surprised, and Hana scoffed.

“Just because you do not care for me, hardly means I am without friends. But I understand…” She threw up her hands in dismay. “Grandmother’s hands may be covered in more blood, her history littered with deeds as black as night, which would make your heart clench and your stomach spit bile… but it is poor Shinkume-no-Hana that draws all the ire.”

“You know why.” I replied. “I know it’s hypocrisy, but… I still can’t forget you were an enemy when we first met…”

“As were many here. Even Urakaze’s sweet daughter, yes?” Hana countered, waving the comb for emphasis. “And those thieving cats. They make me chuckle. Ginneka is trying to behave, while her brother does what he is told, and keeps his head down and tail limp, like a beaten cur, never mind a Neko.” She let out a chuckle. “No, you hold a grudge because I tricked you, and put Eri at risk, yes?”

“Exactly. And she got maimed, my sister and our parents, and hers… they were all traumatised… and it could have been so much worse…”

“But to me then, you were interlopers… and I did help prevent it devolving into open war. If the Parade exerted all its might, you would have perished there.” she countered.

“Yeah. But so would ninety percent of the Parade by the time Hyacinth was done, so maybe you might want to consider that.” My own counter was equally pointed.

“True.” Hana conceded. “That woman is a marvellous monster. And the worst of it is, she would have no hesitation, because she loves you, and for her, to love is to serve. How… enviable.” Hana sighed. “But things have changed. You hold my tail, and cannot relinquish it…”

“That’s not true. Sure, my Skills make it hard for me to break bonds, but I’m sure I could with some effort. Besides…” I rolled my eyes, irritated by the conversation, while Mae merely watched on, impassive. “…you know not all bonds are sexual. Even Lovers’ Link, despite the awful name.” Huh, maybe Yggdrasil would change the name, if it wasn’t already an existing Skill? “My sis, my family, my friends… they are all tied to me, and I’m not trying to romance them!”

“Oh?” Hana snorted. “It seems I am found out. But to survive, I need you or grandmother to hold my tail, so… do not separate from me yet. Or better yet, never do!” She rolled over coquettishly. “I can hardly believe you are being so dismissive. I am a beautiful Kitsune, and while I can hardly claim I am untouched, I am not as worldly as you imagine, insultingly. Besides…” Her smile was smug. “Does it not intrigue you, the thought of taking grandmother and granddaughter to bed, side by side, comparing?”

“Hana…” Mae growled, using her name, which was a rare occurrence for her.

“Oh, grandmother, do not be shy.” Hana merely giggled. “Why, we are very much alike, though your breasts are truly blessed. And Akio does not care about age, it seems. That Goddess… she is surely as old as you, dear grandmother. But what man does not dream of such? Or perhaps sisters are more to your taste? I am sure you would have no trouble fulfilling that fantasy. Many would offer themselves…”

“Be silent!” Mae warned, and Hana shook her head.

“Oh no, I shall say my piece, since Akio here is being honest as well. I understand you have little love nor trust for me. And… perhaps… there is one… small… impediment. Shaeula does not care for me. Urakaze’s daughter perhaps has not forgiven me for my dalliances when I visited the lands of the Fae so long ago. She is very human nowadays. Perhaps she regrets we are not sisters? Oh, I am just teasing…”

As Mae’s and my glares hardened, she waved a hand, flushed. “…my point is… I tried to live without regrets, but regrets were all I had. I tried to distract myself, and so… that is the past. But…” Her eyes held no lies, and I bit down on a sigh. “…I shall prank and tease, and cause mischief and trouble, but… I shall not betray. If Eri was to be in the same position that your Dryad found herself in, and I was in place of my dear grandmother… I would stand, and fight, even if I could not win. That I swear.”

There was a long silence, before I had to ask. “Why? Why go so far? Just for survival…”

Mae sighed behind me, and Hana shook her head. “He can be such a dullard at times, grandmother. Do you think I have no pride?” she insisted. “I am living life, having fun. And I like strong, interesting men. You fascinate me. Even today… it was beyond my grasp, but… that jewel you held, it smelled like Nurarihyon’s domain, his false shrine. And you treat the Gods as your playthings. Eating both virtue and strength.” She winked. “It is tiresome to be so maligned.”

“But… I don’t like you…” I tried to say, and she laughed.

“It seems so. How is it you have so many beauties, yet have such a poor eye? I feel the pain of that mad woman who enjoys slicing herself to pieces. I suppose I should be grateful you do not dislike me as much as her. We should commiserate with each other.”

“You won’t be happy…” I began, only for Mae to rest a hand on my shoulder, her grip tight, uncomfortably so. I turned, and found myself gazing into her eyes, her face set in an expression of annoyance.

“Who are you to tell her that?” she growled. “Your arrogance is unwarranted. Yes, you hold her zeroth tail, her name, but… we Kitsune are still full of tricks.”

“Indeed. We are very good at stealing and hiding things.” Hana acknowledged. “I could hide my heart from you easily enough. My body would be at your disposal, but… we Yōkai care more for the dignity of our will. It warms me to have you speak up for me, grandmother. If you loosen your sash now, we could take to the bed and…” She winced, as Mae pointed, and a bolt of water struck her in the forehead, just hard enough to bruise.

“Do not make me regret my defence.” Mae grumbled. “You mortals always were hasty. You can no longer afford such. Consider what you just achieved, immediate gain forgone for future greatness.”

“Grandmother is quite right.” Mae agreed. “You worry I am wasting my time, my passion, my happiness? What nonsense. I am having fun, a burden lifted from my shoulders. I am finding my time here most enjoyable. Should we survive, with grandmother’s help… why, into the endless future, I shall surely become the second Kitsune to manifest all nine tails. Though by then, grandmother will surely have seen if there is a tail beyond, that none have ever been worthy of.” She snorted, clearly amused at the thought. “So if I wait a day, a year, a century, what does it matter, so long as I am living? Or if perhaps I see a shiny new toy to distract my interest while you disdain me… you would let me go, I know. That could happen. I am not a woman to weep and wail, to pine and preen. But… here is where I feel most comfort now. And you have my interest.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t see you that way right now.” I appreciated her honesty, and she shrugged.

“Fine. It is your loss. Grandmother, I leave him to you.” She tossed over the comb to me. “I shall claim recompense for this at a later time. You may disdain me, but you honour debts and promises. We Kitsune do not, but trust me when I say this… to be a leader is to be loved and lusted over. Many will adore you, more than you could possibly imagine. You need to learn to accept it. I am grateful that you reject me for my own sake, I know that. You are soft, even to those you disdain. I rather like that.”

She licked her lips alluringly. “But I am here because I wish to be, and should my happiness fade, be it soon or in the distant future ahead, I shall look to my own joys, as all must. For now…” She blew me a kiss cheekily. “…while brushing dear grandmother, imagine us side by side, naked, your strong, manly hands and even mightier…” She darted out of the way as Mae barraged her with water bullets, and as she fled, her laughter could be heard behind the closing door.

“Children.” Mae sniffed. “I never understood mine, nor their offspring. Hana is quite the troubling child…” Mae gestured, and a brief flash of heat from her flame element dried the soaked door and walls. “…but in this, she is not wrong. Let her be. Bed her, if you will. If not, so be it. We Yōkai are seldom in a hurry with life. To be hurried is to experience great boredom, which is death of the spirit to us. For before, there was little new under the sun for us. Now…” She grimaced, remembering her recent days. “…it seems it will be difficult to exhaust what this world has to offer. Doubly so, since it seems that trouble will continue to seek us out.”

“Yeah.” I weighed the comb in my hand, unsure. “You might not be the best one to ask, but… am I unreasonable, still holding her actions against her?”

“Does it even matter?” Mae lay face down on the bed, tails behind her, peering at me. That angle was dangerous, as her kimono gaped, and I caught sight of her nipples, perfect cherries topping the smooth white mountains. “She is not wrong. I crushed many with my whims, and numberless young girls such as your Eri surely suffered dismemberment, death and worse. I toppled kingdoms, after all, and when a country collapses, in the chaos all evils are perpetrated on the weak. The difference is, you do not know these people, nor their families, nor their descendants. It is ancient history to you. And that is natural. Indeed, even if I wished, other than some few such as my granddaughter… there is no way I could even attempt to make amends. When I was playing as Daji, I stirred chaos and rebellion that led to such slaughter… yet… that was… even I lose track, I have… not been anchored to time these past centuries…” Her eyes shimmered with pained emotions, and I sat on the bed beside her, and took up the comb, grasping one of her dishevelled golden tails.

“Oh…” I couldn’t help but ponder what I held, hands squeezing. “There’s actually not much tail here, but a lot of fur…”

“That…” Mae let out an adorable gasp that didn’t suit her. “Touch it with care! Our tails… they are sensitive.”

“Oh.” I nodded, placing it on my lap. “Anyway, as Daji, that was more than three thousand years ago now… so yes, there’s no way you could ever do anything to make reparations.” I gently inserted the comb into her fur, and pulled it down, smoothing out the golden strands. The tail in my grasp shivered, and Mae’s breathing was a little faster, though her emerald eyes still held fire within.

“Yes. If I had harmed those from your country, in the near past, then I could find distant descendants, or even related tribes…”

I’m not sure we have tribes, but I get her point.

“Push the comb more firmly…” Mae managed, her voice slightly faint, and I remembered she had said I could have the honour of grooming her and that Hana had intimated it was an act of closeness. But just like all my bonds aren’t about sex, closeness isn’t either, although… I was still brushing her first tail, and even now, Mae’s face was starting to flush, her chest heaving, and even for me, a man surrounded by women ranging from utterly cute to inhumanly perfect to actually Divine, Mae was incredible.

Don’t get me wrong, I love all breasts, from Shaeula and Motoko’s modest ones, to Eri and Hinata’s, through to Shiro and Hyacinth’s big ones. But Mae… Mae is simply apocalyptically destructive, and her Yōkai features too… her golden hair… I swallowed my saliva and finished brushing her first tail, softly squeezing the flesh beneath, feeling the springy bounciness of her body, rather than the rich, warm softness of the fur. “All tidy. Now for the second…”

“Ah…” Mae muttered, a damp noise that shocked me.

“Uh… if this is a bit… uncomfortable, we can stop.” I suggested, though honestly, I didn’t want to. It was hypocrisy, just like we were saying, but I felt I knew Mae very well, due to our shared Tribulation, and I could sympathise, and her terrible past was too far removed from me to register.

“There is no need.” she insisted. “And while I can groom myself, it is… annoying, to get to the base of my tail. In fact…” She grabbed my free hand. “Do it properly!”

“That area is a bit…” Her tails stuck out under her kimono, so the base wasn’t visible.

“Hana is right. You can be deliberately obtuse. I insisted you would groom my tails. I am merely allowing you the honour of doing just that. While we talk. Of matters that bother you. After all, I am bound to you in ways beyond my granddaughter. Yet it is a far gentler yoke than that bitter monk. I may struggle to associate myself with all my past, but I still remember. I have the wisdom of ages and am a woman of… hah. It seems I learn some things from Hana.” She let out an exasperated snort. “Better instead for me to say, I have listened to many burdened spirits. Oftentimes in malice, but not always. So talk, and I shall listen. There is much you cannot tell those you wish to adore you, is there not? Honestly, Hana, or even that Christina woman, could be a good outlet for you. I am sure they would be happy with scraps from your table.”

Giving up after some rapid mental calculations, I slowly reached for Mae’s beautiful, old-fashioned kimono, lifting the short hem. Her thighs, already visible, became fully exposed, and then her bare, perfect ass came into view, voluptuous without being heavy. And that wasn’t all…

“Uh… you’re not wearing underwear…” I muttered, and she rolled a little to better face me, craning her neck, though that just further exposed her most private areas.

“Of course not. You should not, beneath a kimono. Are you a barbarian? Or…” She suddenly laughed. “Are you jealous, at the thought of others spying my secret places? I no longer feel particularly like seducing the eyes of others.” She let out a long breath, as I eased up the cloth further, since there was naught else shameful to see at this point, and the base of her tails came into view, the small of her back connected to the nine of them.

“Oh, that’s a bit different to what I expected.” I ignored her question, and she snorted, only to gasp as I circled the narrow tail I had brushed at the base with my fingers, squeezing softly. “Your tails start slender, and then the fur fluffs out and grows. But the tail itself stays lean the whole way…”

“Ignoring me, are you?” Her tone was languid, as I started grooming her second tail from the base, as she wished, trying not to glance at her ass and failing regularly, much to her wry amusement. “My granddaughter is currying favour, with this brush. Rest assured though, if you are not free, I shall groom myself. With wind, it is quite possible, if not… ah… the experience another’s kind hands hold. Now, as for Hana…”

“There’s no way. I’m very clear on this.” I insisted. “I’m not going to sleep around just for pleasure. I have to draw the line somewhere. It has to be because I love them or at least have enough affection I know it’ll turn to love. Honestly, I’m pretty easy.” I chuckled, hands working. “Hinata, Motoko and Natsumi, I got a bit swept up with, too cowardly, fearful of ruining their hopes for the future if I said no, but even then… I could see they were earnest, honest and cute girls. Kana… was harder, as I was selfish, enjoying the easy rapport we had, and… I knew she could get any man she wanted. But I can’t cross that line and just sate my desires. Okay, third tail now…”

Mae listened, her breathing damp, her kimono unravelling, and her shoulders shrugged, and now she was practically naked, cloth only around her chest, hiding little.

“So yeah, there are still things I find it hard to talk to them about. I want to always be the cool, awesome, protective guy they long for. That doesn’t mean I can just start playing around. Besides… I may not like Hana or Christina much, but… I guess I still respect them both, in an odd way. Both are true to themselves, and it seems… both of them are trying to change.”

“You are such a… yes, there, there!” Mae groaned, as her third tail seemed more stubbornly disarrayed. “The fur has clumped. Tease… tease it out. Some water perhaps…” Her tone of voice had changed, and I was starting to sweat, using all my Resilience to hold down the instinctive reaction a part of my anatomy was having to this stimulating scene, lest she be either offended, or amused beyond measure.

“You know, your voice sounds rather sweet right now.” I teased to distract her, and she rolled her body further to look me in the eyes, surprisingly flexible. Of course, that set her destructive chest fully free, mere inches from my arms.

“I am… simply fatigued and enjoying your deserved service.” she managed. I conjured a little water element, and massaged her squishy tail, the fur around it softening, and becoming a sparkling golden expanse. Seeing that, I felt sorry for her first two tails, and went back to them, using the comb and water to stroke through, further softening her rich fur, making it shine brighter than the lustre of the comb.

“You are… thorough…” Mae smiled knowingly. “Regardless of my cheeky granddaughter’s quips…do not overthink things. She is no fool. She has survived long and even managed to appease me when I was not so… placid… as now. And none who reached the strongest Numbers of that creature Nurarihyon’s host are weak-minded. If you no longer please her, she will seek elsewhere. Conversely, while you do… I fear you must put up with her advances. Such is life. Is there no woman you would pursue, even if you were rejected, even if it was against the will of others, even the false Gods themselves? A great passion?”

“Honestly?” On the fourth tail now, I brushed my hand along her supple, soft skin, and she pursed her lips, but didn’t speak. “In the past, I was what we call an herbivore, here. Though I’d also accept being called a coward or a moron. Anyone else in my position would have been dating Eri as soon as she was old enough for it not to be weird. And I was also blessed with being friends with Shiro. Damn, she was so beautiful it was intimidating, but… she always seemed to have a soft spot for me, even if she didn’t know it herself. I was the one she gave a nickname to. Maybe it’s because of when we first met…”

I regaled Mae with the tale of the time Shiro joined our club, and while she didn’t understand much, me grooming her fourth and fifth tails kept her pliant and limp. “…so yeah.” I finished. “If I’d have pushed, I might have succeeded. But I was too scared of failure, and worse… not being good enough.”

“What about now then?” Mae asked, and I grasped the base of her sixth tail and gave a few gentle tugs on it with my circled fingers, as if doing something else, enjoying her mouth opening wide, her delicate yet rich lips damp. “Do not… try to distract me.” she insisted. “It shall not work.”

“All right.” I began drawing the comb through her fluffy fur, the rich elemental water working loose the tufts and giving it a soft sheen. “I believe I can make those I love happy, but… if someone doesn’t love me, I don’t think I can keep browbeating them until they give in. I hate men who abuse and exploit women. I’ll never be that sort.”

At my vehemence, Mae shrugged, her chest bouncing. “I see it provokes… strong feelings… in you.”

“It does. But… maybe a different question was… if someone I loved needed me, and they had some affection for me too… could I go as far as I needed to, even if it was immoral, wrong… evil? I know I could.” My tone was bitter, but somehow the grooming of Mae was relaxing me as well, keeping me occupied, letting me think. “I threatened Tan’s Pantheon with great violence, and… I’d have done it, if Shiro died. I’d have… damn it, not being a hypocrite is hard.”

“No, hypocrisy is an unavoidable… uh… part of being alive.” Mae insisted. “It is why I did as I pleased, lived by my whims. If I chose to kill, chose to spare, chose to treasure… it was purely my own choice, beholden to… oh… there, yes, the tip…” I worked the comb on the stubborn tuft of her tail, softly massaging the tension out of the meat within as I worked. “…none. That is true power. I do not… ah… claim you must be as I was. But you must… oh… recognise your self-imposed… walls.”

“Walls, you say? Yeah, I get it. One day, people are going to see me the same way they see you. In fact, likely those from the Church surely already do. But so long as my conscience is as clear as it can be…”

“Then… you are truly fit to stand amongst the strong.” Mae finished, as I took up her eighth tail, and began once more to groom it.

“Thanks. I… think your words have helped me.”

“I see? But my foolish granddaughter was intimating… curses, how is it you… are so much better… than when… um… ah… you started?” Mae’s gasps were closer to moans now, as I applied the prefect amount of pressure on the comb, my fingers seeking out tense spots below the fur, stroking away her tension. Her skin was becoming a deeper, cherry red, all over her body, and as if to hide her embarrassment, she shot out some words at me. “She is my blood, despite… oh… ah… everything. Bedding her… uh… ah… would have refreshed your… fatigued spirit. Or…” She fluttered her golden eyelashes at me, green eyes full of wry laugher. “….do you… ah… truly dream of tasting us… um…ah… together? Truly a… hah… lustful demon…”

Not willing to let her teasing pass without a fight, I stepped up my assault on her tails, grooming them fiercely. Mae was soon panting, chest heaving, legs twitching, her tails buffeting me weakly, like furry clubs swung by children. By the time I had groomed her final, ninth tail to perfection, I had to avoid noticing an embarrassing smell, or spotting the faint moisture that soaked her thighs that may not have been sweat.

I know she said it was intimate, but… I didn’t think it was this intimate? Perhaps I shouldn’t have… but she seemed pleased, and I owe her… uh, hypocrisy again, but… in front of Mae, I don’t think I need worry about it. To her, I would just be following my whims, and thinking about it is unnecessary…

“I’m done.” I patted her tails gently. “All beautiful again.”

“What do you mean… done?” she gasped, breathing as though she had run a marathon. “My hair…” She brushed a hand through her frazzled golden-blonde mane.

“Fine.” I chuckled. “I’m actually probably okay at that. I used to brush and tie up Eri’s hair when I was young, my sister’s too.” The comb was rather large for ordinary use, but as Mae had a flowing cascade as long as Tsukiko’s, a big implement was actually an advantage. “You have beautiful hair. But since you’ve helped me out by listening, you must have worries too. Su Caihong and Liena, for instance?”

Mae’s ears twitched, standing upright, but her words wee calm. “Worry, you say? I… had given them up for lost when I was betrayed, though I had betrayed him first in turn. But women dislike petty men. Be warned.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I chuckled, still combing, using my fingers and some water element to work out the knottiest tangles.

“I… did my best. I can do no more. If they were gone, are gone… it is simply what was meant to be.”

“But is that enough?” I asked, surprised, and Mae struck me with her fluffy tails, clearly frustrated.

“If it happened, what else is there to do? I am strong, yes, as are you, but we do not command the world, rule life and death! Do you think they would blame me, that I failed? I tried. I proved that they, to me… were people I wished to protect. Are you not the same?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Though I’m not as strong as you then, Mae. If it was me… I’d blame myself.” My fingers caressed her scalp, and I couldn’t resist rubbing her vulpine ears. They were soft, almost squishy, and she bared her teeth at me in annoyance, but that didn’t stop me. Might as well give them a clean while I’m at it…

After her little yelp of surprise, she growled. “Do not touch without a warning. My ears are… sensitive too. And it is not a matter of strength… I am merely callous, perhaps, or too used to losses. When I see you, who does not tolerate such, I see a fool. But… perhaps I am even envious. It is too easy to become inured to defeat, even for the mighty. For there are trials no measure of strength can turn aside.”

I finished with her ears and moved on to her bangs. She had to turn, and her breasts pushed into me, but I remained professional, though the effort was increasing. It’s a miracle I’m not getting Resilience or Determination here… “Yes, I suppose you’re right. But that’s all the more reason we should prepare for any eventuality.”

“It is that foolish strength which saved me.” Mae muttered, turning away at last, as I finished combing her hair, before tying it into a ponytail to match her nine tails.

“There. Now you do have ten tails!” I chuckled, and Mae joined me.

“Fool.” She grabbed her fallen kimono and rolled away, facing me. “It seems I have again consoled you, rather than you easing my worries. But…” She stood, slowly dressing herself again, her tails waving. “…you are certainly kind. Your fingers told me that. I can see why those who you judge wicked, such as my granddaughter, yearn for you. Your hands say you will cherish without judgement.”

“I don’t know about that. I judge plenty…” I insisted, and Mae shrugged, and the sight was oddly exciting, even though just moments ago I had seen her bare breasts. Mae then went to the door and opened it up. Outside, a weaselkin maid was waiting nervously, holding a targe jug of wine and a tray of snacks. Mae took them, and with a brief nod dismissed the waiting servant. Bringing back the tray, she put it down, before pouring us both a large measure of the fragrant, fruity Fae alcohol.

“You miss my point. But… your light is dazzling at times. As when you faced a Tribulation for my sake. Now, I understand, you listened to the prophesying cow’s words, and so it was for Asha, your Dryad… but I was there. I was one with you under the storm and the winds… I understood you also wished to save me for my own sake. But… to the wicked, the cynical, too much light blinds and burns. So…” She suddenly leaned down and sank her teeth into my shoulder, shocking me. She leaned back, licking her lips, before washing my blood down with a gulp of wine. “…the darkness you hold within as well is welcome. For it offers the promise of understanding.”

We drank in silence for a while, until Mae tilted her head. “Did I dismay you? A man of your… experience… should be more used to such things. Now, as thanks for your care…” She held one of her tails, admiring the smooth sheen of her fur. “…I shall listen to your cares for the time you have left. For soon you must show your mettle.”

She grinned, teeth showing, giving her a predatory air. “Have no fear, I shall fill your little jewel once more when I recover. Though… my fatigue has vanished, under your probing, relentless fingers.” She let out a wicked chuckle. “Oh, and… I hope you understood our conversation earlier… ah, I see you did not, or at least, missed the subtleties.” Mae leaned back, staring at the ceiling. “I should have expected no less. But… I must thank my foolish, insolent granddaughter for the gift of that comb. You should as well.”

I nodded. Damn, Christmas Eve. Those who have to rush and get gifts on the last possible day are the worst, but… who would have thought I’d need to buy something for Shinkume-no-Hana, of all people? Huh… actually… that might work. One problem to aid with another… I took a draught of the wine and contemplated the day ahead, while Mae lounged casually, making idle chatter, which was surprisingly entertaining, if a little archaic, not that I’d admit to thinking of her age…