On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Two Hundred And Ninety-Three

As I lay there, the girls in my arms, I couldn’t help but smile. It was cute seeing the others record those video messages. I wonder whose idea that was? Shiro was usually very arrogant and standoffish, so seeing her cute side like that was fascinating. Motoko and Natsumi, their embarrassed faces, that was cute too, as was Hinata’s impish teasing. Yeah, I’m definitely a lucky guy. No question. Once more I can reaffirm why I fight. We suffered losses, losses we can’t replace. But if I let that stop me moving forward, and those precious to me suffer… no way.

“So, are you feeling better?” Eri asked, and I shook my head.

“I told you, I’m already fine. I still have regrets, but we need to move beyond that, keep going.”

“We do indeed.” Shaeula approved from my other side, where Hyacinth watched silently, her purple eyes trusting. “There are other matters to discuss, are there not-not?” She continued. “I need more details about the blessing you received. I feel a sense of peace from it. You said it was from the God-God of the moon, correct?”

“I’m curious too. First Aiko…” Eri said, pouting a little. “… I’m a little sad she gets such a gift but not me, but I get it. Compatibility and all, plus she needs it more, but even so… well, never mind. Now you, too. I didn’t even know they could be transferred like that.”

“Well, apparently in the visions of her death, she also saw Tsukuyomi, who said she needed to pass the Divine Favour on before she dies. Whether I’m the person she was meant to pass it onto, she wasn’t sure, but… I guess I won her over?”

“I see.” Eri answered. “Won her over, huh? What did you do?”

“Nothing! Look, I know you feel sorry for her as well. All I’m going to do is make sure she doesn’t meet the fate that’s ordained for her. Though it isn’t just her. These Princesses, we need to make sure they don’t die too. Well, I‘m already protecting two, right? What’s four more?”

“I am the only-only princess you need.” Shaeula snorted, tossing her head, hair tickling my bare chest. “Though I suppose I can be tolerant. After all, am I not-not your first princess? Shiro, she shall have to settle for second place.”

“Jealous?” I returned her snort with an amused one of my own. “There’s no need to be. Yes, we’ll be working pretty closely with Yukiko-san going forwards, and somehow we’ll have to persuade Princess Eleanor from the UK, and find the other two, but it’s just that. Work. After all, Shiro is going to save Yukiko-san, if you believe the prophecies of Tsukiko-san, so it’s quite possible that one of the others is going to be involved in facing the black giant than threatens you, Shaeula. It’s complicated, but…”

“Yukiko-san and Tsukiko-san, huh? Sounds pretty intimate to me, calling such important people by their names when you’ve only just met them.” Eri pointed out.

“It’s not like that. It’s just… well, Tsukiko-san, the Diviner, she finally had a breakthrough, getting to share some of the burden she was carrying. In that moment, it seemed wrong to call each other formally. Besides, like I said, we’ll be working together. That means all of you too!” I looked at my fiancées, who were showing me different emotions. Eri’s was complicated and a little jealous, Hyacinth’s was endlessly accepting, and Shaeula’s was proud and haughty. They’re all different, yet in some ways all the same too.

“Fine. I get it.” Eri conceded. “It’s not like I want them to suffer or die, and if we need them to protect Shaeula and Shiro, then we need them. Though all this begs the question…” her expression changed, now one of curiosity. “You told us a bit earlier, while we were… uh, enjoying ourselves?” It amused me that she could still blush like that when talking about sex, considering we had made love plenty of times now. “Just what new powers did the Divine Favour of Tsukuyomi give you? And you could take it in, despite being a Candidate for Tyr?”

Shaeula agreed, saying she also was curious, so I explained, as best I could. “Well, there doesn’t seem to be any problems accepting it. Though Taṇhā did say I wasn’t using the Divine Favour of Tyr, so I don’t think we can say for certain without more experimentation that you can have more than one Divine Favour without special circumstances, like Shiro has. Well, I got a nice boost to all my stats overall, especially Aether, and my Charm went up noticeably.”

“In the legends, Tsukuyomi was a bit of a mystery, but it’s generally accepted he was a handsome God.” Eri sighed. “What else?”

“League went up a little, and my Foresight grew explosively.” I said. “Then my light and darkness elements changed. And I got a new skill. The Future Reflected By The Moon.”

“A pleasing skill.” Shaeula approved. “So, do tell. What does this new-new skill do?”

“Well, it’s more a passive ability, but this is the description I could read with my Eye. Here.”

The Future Reflected By The Moon Rank 3 [Class: Legendary] [Type: Fate] -This skill draws upon strands of Fortune and Fate, sifting the myriad futures, searching for strands of intersecting possibilities where disaster may be averted by a single action, or great providence brought by a precise intervention. Mortal beings are unable to encompass the full scope of the tapestry of events that make up the uncertain future, so these moments of confluence, these nexus where events overlap, are seen as metaphorical dreams and visions, open to interpretation, but containing enough wisdom to serve as a guiding path, the illumination of the moon showing the way.

“There was more, but I couldn’t understand it, question marks as usual.” I sighed.

“So, does this mean that the Diviner can’t see the future anymore? I think, even if she’s relieved, losing that would be hard.” Eri observed. “After all, she’s been seeing visions a long time. Decades, right? For an old lady like her to suddenly find the core of her identity gone…”

“I think that is mean, mistress Eri!” Hyacinth chuckled. “I dooo not think she is that ooold, is she?”

“No, she doesn’t really look much older than twenty.” I said, agreeing with Hyacinth. “I think she’s past thirty, yes, but I don’t think she’s forty. I haven’t asked, I’m not that much of an idiot.”

“Yes, a woman’s age is a delicate matter. I’m happy to see your density is slowly decreasing. Well, I guess you would learn to handle girls, considering.” Eri laughed softly. “Sorry Hyacinth. I just get a bad feeling that she’s going to be a rival. We have enough!”

“Well, putting that aside…” Sure, I asked her to marry me, but only for Kin Restoration. Fortunately that doesn’t seem necessary. Nor was… the nuclear option, thankfully. Giving me her precious Divine Favour, letting me look upon her, when nobody had for decades… sharing her inner feelings and worries… it was enough. So I didn’t need her answer, or her chastity, luckily. I could feel the faint bond between us, and I expected that Shaeula probably could as well. Indeed, as I looked at her, she winked, amber eyes gleaming. “… she won’t lose her innate abilities, as she had them long before Tsukuyomi was able to pass down her blessing. In fact, I think that because of the way it was passed to me, she still holds a fragment of it as well.” It wasn’t my place to share the intimate details of someone else without their permission, but I couldn’t help but use my Eye on her, when we became Kin. She still had no level cap, and while the skill was gone and she no longer had the blessing, her aether was abnormal.

She’s a lot like Shiro. Both born with the need for aether as their bodies had strongly developed and integrated chakra networks from birth. The difference was, Tsukiko-san’s body had a way of generating enough aether to prevent her from suffering atrophy like Shiro did. Perhaps it was because she was from a shrine bloodline going back millennia? I don’t know… It would be a fascinating area for study, and could possibly help with further improving our chakra networks, but it wasn’t something I could ask either Shiro or Tsukiko-san for, not now, when Shiro was still gravely injured, and when Tsukiko-san was desperately trying to avoid her death.

“I see-see. Well, that is surely for the best.” Shaeula shifted on my arm, looking at me with curiosity. “Now, tell us about your elemental changes. Eri was indeed-indeed correct, the elements are delightful now.”

I suppose I have a bit of time. Looking at the clock beside the bed, it was coming up to midnight, so I could spare a little longer. “Well, like I said, whether it’s an effect of the spirit water and the moonlight within or not, the elements changed. I got a few levels in Wielder of a Mutated Element as well, which speeds up my rate of accumulation of water, light and darkness elements now. Anyway, the light element became Mangetsu and the darkness element became Shingetsu. It seems Mangetsu, the light of the full moon, focuses on blessings and buffs, while Shingetsu, the darkness of the new moon, works best with hindering enemies and curses, though both seemingly contain a piece of the other, a bit like yang and yin. It makes me wonder…” All Tsukiko-san’s talk of twilight, it does make me consider if they could be combined somehow…

“I do have to wonder…” Shaeula was looking at me greedily, after my explanation. “… could we not-not use the mirror as Ren and Aiko did, to allow others to learn these mutated elements? I feel I should not-not, as a Princess of the Seelie court, no, as a Fae, be forced to use a basic light element, when one so filled with the power of the moon exists here-here before me.”

“I think I’d like to learn too.” Eri agreed. “After all, darkness seems to be a specialty of mine. And I have experience with curses.” She giggled bitterly.

“Hyacinth is curious toooooo.” She conceded. “Anything to be mooore useful, I would welcome!”

“Well, we did retrieve the mirror. We can look into it, though healing you comes first, all right Eri?”

She blushed at my concern. “Fine. I get it. So, are you going to have any prophetic dreams tonight?” She asked, changing the subject.

“I doubt it. Sorry, but I have another meeting to attend to. I only ducked out for a couple of hours to recharge and reassure you I was doing fine. Then I want to make one final quick trip to the Boundary, I have to scout a site for our future Territory here, and I wanted to make a quick trip to the outskirts of Kyoto for something… well, don’t mind it. You three can get some rest. Eri, tomorrow you are coming back with me. The military has a helicopter for us. We’ll move you into our home, Shiro too. At least while you recover. Handling your school is going to be a hassle, but your attendance and grades are decent enough, so we should be able to persuade them to let you finish and take exams remotely.”

“I’m looking forward to living with you.” Eri said softly. “I wish it was under better circumstances, and I can’t say I’m enjoying the thought of Shiro being there too, but then, you live with Shaeula and Hyacinth, so I guess one more doesn’t matter. I hope Aiko is going to be all right in Nishimorioka on her own. She’s been giddy with excitement all day, I hope she won’t do anything reckless.”

“She’s fine.” I promised. “If it was before, then yeah, I expect she’d be running amok in the Boundary right now, trying to level up. But she’s seen what happens when we get careless. No, she’ll still rely on support from Chairoakitara shrine, and she has the Golden Warriors to fight with her now.”

“So is she going to claim Territory there?” Shaeula asked. “It would not-not be easy to get further Ring Gates. I already shudder at what Primal Forest is like-like to demand from us.”

“A good question. There are some benefits, such as allowing Aiko to grow her Territory, and also secure a source of fire element, which we don’t have in Tokyo yet. But there are downsides too. I think we’ll wait and see on that. If she moves to Tokyo in the spring, well, we’d need a Gate for certain if she was still Anchored in Nishimorioka.”

We talked a bit more, and I could see Eri was tired, Shaeula too, despite her stats, as she had been doing a significant amount of challenging Healing and Chirurgery today. “Well, I’m going to go. Sleep well.”

“Wait just a moooment, Akio.” Hyacinth stood, her maid outfit suddenly clothing her bare body. “I am nooot too tired, I shall accompany you.”

“Fine.” I agreed. “Well…”

“Before I say goodnight...” Eri said, shifting slowly to allow me to get up. “Have you spoken to our parents yet? I think… they understand now.”

“No, I haven’t. I’ve been too busy.” I admitted.

“Well, tomorrow. Before they return home. Please, don’t leave it like it was. I don’t want that weighing on your conscience.”

“Fine.” I kissed Eri and Shaeula goodnight, and with that, I exited the hospital, passing the soldiers securing the entrance and a few curious onlookers and reporters, before re-entering the Imperial Palace. Reporters huh? Yeah, everything is a mess now. But that’s why we have to all do our best…

*********

“Rough day, huh?” Lieutenant Nakano asked. Beside him, Major Sasaki chastised him.

“Seriously, this isn’t the time for flippancy.” He apologised. “Don’t mind the Lieutenant. We’ve seen the reports. The situation was a true mess. In the end, I think you acquitted yourself well enough.”

“Thanks.” I managed. “But… well, next time, I’ll do better. I’m not foolish enough to say there won’t be one.”

“True. No battle goes as planned, and perfect circumstances don’t exist. Considering your tactical disadvantage having to rescue what effectively were civilians from a numerically superior and significantly powerful force in hostile territory, managing to come back with survivors without losing any rescuers was a good result. Though I’m sorry about Mori-san.”

“Yeah, calling his fiancée taking serious injuries a good result is tactless, Major. To think you criticised me!” He was trying to lighten the mood, and I appreciated it. Still, I’d been through this enough already today.

“She’ll live, and we can fix her in time. So I suppose it was a good result, if far from a perfect or even satisfactory one. So, what’s the situation in Kyoto? I saw a few reporters loitering around the hospital.”

“Not good. Tsumura-sama has been running damage control. We have the key areas locked down, but it’s impossible to stop information leaking in this day and age. Everyone has a smartphone and social media, after all. There was already a little interest in the Conclave, although outsiders only really knew that Kyoto was filled with more shrine maidens and priests than normal…” The Major filled me in.

“Yeah, lots of cute girls sure do attract attention. I’m envious.” Lieutenant Nakano said, before his face fell. “Oh, sorry. Considering what happened, that was an unkind thing to say.”

“Maybe, but… well, that doesn’t matter now. So, you’re saying that a lot of information got out. I was sent some footage of Ren-san that was taken by a streamer. His words didn’t give too much away regarding the Boundary, only that it wasn’t any sort of accident. I’m guessing that was originally the plan?”

“You know it. We’re not saying anything, but again, footage of ambulances and even some of the bodies is online. All day tension has been building, it isn’t like Japan has many events of this scale. It’s why that serial killer got so much attention recently.” The Lieutenant agreed.

“Well, the current idea is to claim it was an extremist cult. At least on the surface. You’re probably too young to remember the Subway attack back in the nineties. Well, fortunately everyone is pulling together. Your influence goes further than you think.”

My influence? I asked as Hyacinth and I followed them to a room where Takakura-san, Saionji-san and Kudou-san were waiting, along with Yukiko-san, and surprisingly enough Chiyo-san.

“No Bankei-san?” I asked, and she shrugged.

“No, he has other business, so I am sitting in. Well, your face looks better.” She examined me, her eyes narrowed and tense. “I see you’ve reached a conclusion.”

“I have. No more looking back. But we don’t have time for this. So, what did we decide?”

“Hasty, aren’t you?” Saionji-san said, and I could see that Akai was sleeping, curled up next to him on a chair. “Well, I understand. This matter is troubling. Yasaka-san has been busy too.” He grinned. “I know my old rival Yasuhide here has his people running around too, old man Bankei as well.”

“Everyone is busy.” Takakura-san said. “As for your influence… well, for once, the main and opposition parties of the Diet, as well as the heads of the nobility, and the Imperial family, as well as the shrines and temples…” he nodded at Yukiko-san, who gave me a wan smile. Well, she’s had quite a shocking day too, thanks to me and Tsukiko-san. “… have all agreed. Fujiwara and Ichijou houses have quite the investment in mainstream media such as Television and Newspapers, and other noble families follow their lead. We can’t do much about the internet, but we can muddy the waters enough to offer a plausible explanation. As long as we do that, we can keep matters secret for now. However, when coupled with stories worldwide which are coming more frequently and with greater scale, it is only a matter of time. we certainly do not have years anymore. Months would be best, but at worst case we could have weeks, or even just days.”

Days? I hope not. We aren’t ready. “Yeah, there’s likely to be civil unrest, possibly even rioting, depending on just what gets revealed. Internationally, there’ll be chaos.”

“Yes, we share your fears, as does the Prime Minister and the nobility.” Takakura-san agreed.

“The Emperor as well.” Yukiko-san muttered. “It’s important to maintain stability and continuity.”

“Well, while we are maintaining silence, we’ve been subtly leaking that a doomsday cult is responsible. None of the people involved are real individuals, but with some creative fabrication of data, we have faked a number of dissidents and their leader. We’ve even started using the internet and social media as a cover, fighting fire with fire.” The Major explained.

“That won’t stand up to in-depth scrutiny, though.” Takakura-san took his cue from the Major’s explanation. “The deeper cover is that this was an act of international aggression. Terrorism, as it were. Those that break the first cover story, after already breaching our wall of silence, will surely think that is the true reason. They’ll feel proud they put one over on us and discovered the conspiracy, and most won’t look further. All we need is to buy as much time as we can, while we finalise the Ministry and the supporting necessities.”

“Is that wise? Won’t the country involved deny it, and take issue with us? Should we be raising international tensions right now?” I asked.

“Well, we are merely pre-empting trouble.” Takakura-san sighed. “Thanks to the information from the Lady Diviner, and what you have gathered yourself, consensus is that Chinese aggression is imminent, though considering that Kyoto seems to be a target, it must be related to the Chosen of the Gods. So having the final layer of our misdirection be an act of terrorism is a worthwhile risk.”

“Really? I can’t say I like it, accusing another country unfairly. But I assume that wiser heads have thought of this?” I mused.

“Yes, stoking the potential for war, now of all times, is folly.” The Major agreed. “The cover-up will make it seem like Chinese extremists, dissatisfied with past tensions, rather than a state-sponsored operation. China will deny it, of course, but many won’t believe their denials. All we need is obfuscation and confusion to buy us more time.”

Well, this is a real mess. Damn you, Yamato-san. Not only did you get so many people killed, but you’ve also nearly revealed the existence of what we wanted to keep hidden… As the conversation continued, I stifled a yawn. It was looking like a long night…