On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

“Shit, this is a bit awkward.” Tan let Shiro speak, as we sat down together on the massive bed in Shaeula’s room. “I… honestly, how does this even work, Tan? Won’t Aki be scooping out my eye? Doesn’t that mean I’ll be the one getting it, not you?”

“No. For this is a spiritually aspected process.” Tan leaned back, frowning. “To explain such is technically a violation, yet… you fall within a rather unexpected loophole. The letter of the law trumps the spirit. Even so, if discovered, we shall likely draw reprisals, but…” Tan’s elegant face, similar to Shiro’s but subtly different, was smiling gently. “…I find I simply no longer care. What can they do to bother us, should we triumph here? Or rather… perhaps I should say, what more could they do… for without the protection of an overarching Pantheon, we shall certainly be vulnerable. Obviously, the Six Paths and my father would shelter us. It would also not be a… terrible… choice to seek succour from the World Tree. They would certainly not refuse you.”

“Refuse us.” I countered, enjoying the trembling of Tan’s beautiful face, the way her hands balled into fists through nerves. Damn, she’s hellishly cute. Beautiful, definitely, but cute too. When we first met, under such dark circumstances, I never expected this outcome. And Tan can certainly come across as ruthless. But… underneath that, she’s remarkably soft-hearted. Goddesses are as complicated and multi-faceted as any of us… probably more so, even…

“My father would be troubled were I to follow you to another Pantheon. However…” She let out a sigh. “This is merely a worst case. I know you have bigger dreams, and greater goals. I cherish ambition, I thirst to see it. If I cannot have this world, finally become an Astral Empress, at least… at least…” Her voice faltered, before, likely at Shiro’s silent urgings, her ruby eyes, flickering with inner flames, peered into mine. “…my husband shall have it. And what is yours, shall also be mine. I learned that from the others.”

I nodded, taking her hand gently. Once more her skin was hot, almost scalding, yet it was the heat of soaking in a hot spring, not the unpleasant burn of a hot stove. “Yeah. I don’t want to be tied down. We need to chart our own course. Follow our own Path… but I was wondering… just why can’t you pick up a world from elsewhere? The numbers don’t add up from what I’ve seen.”

“This… I dare not speak of.” Tan frowned. “Not even with silences given meaning. Partially because I am not important enough to know, and… it is dangerous to know too much.”

I don’t know either. Though I have my suspicions. Sigrún and the few elder Valkyries who have become Astral Empresses and rule their worlds don’t speak of it, but I know there are indeed worlds that are within the Pantheon that have rulers, but those rulers are not Emperors or Empresses, merely… stewards. It’s the same with the scattered worlds of the Reaches. I do know that talking about the situation is… strongly discouraged… Rose’s explanation matched Tan’s.

“Knowledge is a weapon, and deadlier than most.” Tan shrugged. “Even within the Pantheons, some knowledge is guarded closely, and others… simply do not take root. It is just as your views on light. I believe there is no way such knowledge is not known to us, but… if I had to surmise a cause for my… ignorance…” She didn’t like criticising herself, but that she did it made me smile, as it meant she had opened up to me, like she had to Shiro. “…it is that the worlds that brought us such knowledge would surely have their cultures subsumed by the greater whole of the Six Paths. Material Laws are subordinate and often seen as weaker… though I now question this judgement. I do know that… before…” She paused, steeling herself. “…competition over worlds freshly rejoining the wider Astral was fierce. Uncounted numbers of worlds were shattered, and while Astral Emperors did arise…”

Such as Sigrún and the older sisters…

“…the majority were from the damnable Ninth Heaven, and countless powerful beings from the many Pantheons perished. It was… messy, untenable. Especially when… the change came.” Tan sighed. “But all of those who are Astral Emperors understand, even if none will openly speak of it. Simply put… when you take Earth, you will know.” Her smile was suddenly wicked, and it suited her beautifully, increasing her seductive charms tenfold, and I was captivated by her crimson hair and eyes, and rich chocolate skin, so unlike everyone else. “I hope then you will speak of it to me and not remain silent like so many others.”

To me as well! I’d love to see if my speculations are accurate.

I’m curious too. But it seems like you are about to need all your concentration, so… I’ll keep quiet for now. Akio, Rossweisse, good luck. Eri chimed in, before her thoughts to me halted.

“I can’t know before I do it, but…” I grinned. “If there’s no compelling reason why I can’t share, I’ll be more than happy to. After all, we’ll know everything about each other soon enough.”

Sadly, not soon enough for me. Nor Lin, though she would hide it under her mask of pride and nobility. Me… I’ve always been seen as rather forward-thinking among us sisters.

“So we will.” Tan’s skin took on a different shade, darkening. She looked away, even as we held hands, before she swallowed nervously, licking her lips which were a rich purple shade.

“It seems we were distracted. You asked… about my body. I am not as you, Akio. You have split yourself, but neither body nor mind are independent, they are both a whole. When one reaches a certain level of strength, we are neither Material nor Astral but can choose to exist where we please. I could even walk this world, though I would be greatly weakened, relying on my own internal strengths, rather than drawing on the rarefied ether around us. Of course, it would be deleterious to the Boundary should I do so. Even now, this world is strange and has too many beings who have the might to shatter the feeble shroud. It should take dozens of years, even centuries, to reach that point… regardless, we were talking about me. I could replicate what you have done, displace my consciousness between two created bodies. It seems a rather trying strain on your mind though.”

“It can be.” I agreed. “But no pain, no gain, right? Besides, I’m far too busy without it. Being able to be in the Material and Astral at the same time means I get double the tasks done. Besides, I need it if I’m to manage all the dates I promised to take you girls on!” I threw in a joke, and Tan’s eyes narrowed.

“I think you would need to split yourself far thinner to manage that. Ten bodies might not even suffice. You had best toughen your mind and spirit and practise.”

“Yeah, even with Split Thoughts and my mental stats, dividing my focus that widely would fry my brain.” I chuckled. “Besides, sadly it doesn’t work like that.”

“You believe so?” Tan shook her head. “Your Path is one of Connections. The Silver Cord, and your refinement of it, is simply that. A connection you are taking advantage of. Do not limit yourself. But again, we stray from the point…” She shook her head, long crimson locks swaying, and droplets of fire fell from her hair, landing on my skin, but instead of burning me, it was warm, comforting. “…we were speaking regarding me. I came with my power suppressed to deliver father’s Favour. And instead used that strength myself, to create a tie between the princess and I. Allowing me to hide within her, keeping my presence secret, and my strengths leashed. I am not as you were before, a second body, tied to your ordinary existence by a frail Silver Cord. I am singular. And thus… Divine Possession does not damage the Boundary unnecessarily, other than by my might. Were the princess to be bound to some other…” She paused. “Tsukiko. She served Tsukuyomi, yes? Imagine she could manifest such a Divine being… no, I suppose it would be a mere avatar, even a portion of Divine Tsukuyomi’s might would vaporise her… to call it down would be to sunder the Boundary. Whereas I am right here. So while my form is deeply linked to the princess… it is also my true spiritual being. So rest assured, it shall be my eye you are removing.”

She paused, frowning. “So treat me with the utmost care. I have no wish for my beauty to be marred. Nor do you wish for it.”

“True.” I nodded, squeezing her hand reassuringly. “Well then, I guess that talk has calmed you down, hasn’t it?” I winked, and she paused again for a moment, her eyes downcast.

“You tricked me. I believed you were seeking my knowledge to enlighten yourself…”

“I was. I always do. But you like explaining. Lin and Rose do as well. I wonder if it’s a thing everyone who brings Favours has in common. If so, the fact that nobody is allowed to share much knowledge is surely intolerable. Of course, that doesn’t matter now…” My Eyes shone, and I could feel Rose watching curiously, ready to give advice if needed. Tan stared deep into my eyes, unblinking, and as I reached out and gently touched her cheek she shivered, and actually leaked a soft moan, which clearly embarrassed her.

“I am not some blushing fool who knows nothing of men and women and what they do together… or even women and women. Arati never hides her conquests, and… while I do not spy on you when the princess… indulges… she cannot help but remember. I was prepared to give myself to the Buddha, on father’s orders, so I knew well the… process. Though the princess is chiding me now, saying it is not a process, but love.” She sighed, her breath hot and smelling of sandalwood, amber and fragrant herbs. “It is… a great leap for me. Be… gentle.”

“Always.” I promised, looking deeper into Tan, her spiritual self. Yes, it was inextricably linked to Shiro, and now I could see it more clearly, I was impressed. The work Tan and I had done together to connect the strands of Shiro’s frayed Chakra network to Tan had deepened, grown. Now, innumerable threads of spirit were entwined on a deeper level, and not just that. Tan’s soullight, which constantly radiated from her, had nourished and enriched Shiro, and her Truesoul was now leaking a faint haze of soullight, dwarfed by Tan’s as the moon to the sun, but still thus influencing Tan, and bonds between their Truesouls had sprouted from light, ephemeral, but beautiful and strong, barely visible even to my keen Eyes.

“Yeah, separating you two is going to be hard. But… at some point it’ll have to happen. You both have your own lives to lead. Although…” I could see the bond between them. It wasn’t Lovers’ Link, but it wasn’t entirely dissimilar, and even when split apart, they would surely always share the deeper Truesoul bond.

“…that’s for another time. Huh…” I couldn’t get a clear read on Tan’s Statistics without straining, pouring aether into my eyes. When I did see them, the numbers, while high were… oddly disappointing. When I explained this, Tan shook her head.

“Of course. I am limited in what I can marshal. You can merely see what I am able to contain here, without shattering the princess. And I could still teach you a lesson!”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure you could. Anyway, that’s not what I’m interested in, I was just satisfying my curiosity. Anyway… luckily, it seems that you are still distinct enough for this to work. So…” I memorised the layout of Tan’s Chakra network. It was… well, putting it bluntly, if mine was a beautiful two-dimensional painting, Tan’s was a sculpture, proud and lofty in three dimensions. Though many of the core areas were the same, such as the Chakras, others were unique. And at her solar plexus, that Chakra was surrounded by a blazing flame of adherence. I had seen Divine Sparks before, such as within Shirohebi, but this was orders of magnitude more brilliant, and not just one or two…

“It is quite… perturbing… having you peer so intimately into me. And you can be silent, princess. Your ribald jokes are not suitable for this occasion.”

Yeah, it’s fascinating. Rose agreed. There are Mystic Eyes that can discern many things, but to have the information so clearly presented, rather than having to rely on our own interpretations… I’m even more curious as to the culture of your world, as to why Great Yggdrasil chooses to deliver wisdom in this manner…

It’s quite embarrassing really. It’s basically from games and stories. We’ve become used to rationalising Statistics and Skills in such a way…

Games and stories? I do like to read, and we play Hnefatafl and various other games of strategy. Now you have my curiosity. Hurry then, and not just to avoid a hundred lashes of Waltraute’s whip. Best train your arm strength too, I don’t want you going easy on her, gambling is sacred to us of the World Tree!

Sure. Well, this… is a big step towards my goals. It won’t take a hundred years, I swear it.

Tan was destined to face the Golden-eyed Devourer, if Uranai, the Kudan, was to be believed, and considering how the mess with Mae turned out, I had no reason to doubt her. Even a clone of the wounded beast was a deadly foe, and like a cancer, which spread its evil to others, so giving Tan an edge, any edge, made absolute sense to me. And… honestly, it’s not like… I haven’t wondered. What it would be like to make love to a Goddess. To Tan. I don’t even feel guilty about it. How could I? Rose, Lin, Yukiko and Eleanor… I’m beyond such self-loathing now. Now all that matters is making them happy for as long as we live, into the endless future. Besides, Tan was decided long ago, when she was baited into the wager. Though… it seems she took the bait willingly, expecting this outcome, I think…

It was a bittersweet feeling, the pride I felt that a genuine Goddess had chosen me. But the pressure to be worthy was certainly serious!

“All right.” I finished my inspection of Tan’s eye that I was going to remove. I had also inspected myself before this, so knew how to take my Eye out cleanly. But it wouldn’t bind, wouldn’t adhere to Tan’s network and bear fruit, not… not without the catalyst.

“I’ll need to use one of the original Seeds. The new ones haven’t been properly dyed by me yet.” I used blades of aether, wrapped in soullight to strengthen it, and my wrist was split, blood flowing. Then a number of shining, metallic silver seeds could be seen within, attached to the Bracelet that was a trio of strands of metal, pregnant with powerful adherence and soullight, though my own soullight was starting to outshine theirs, and was seeping slowly into the Seeds.

You are making a sacrifice, giving up a Seed. Heroic Divine Tyr would be proud. Each one is precious. The ones you spared for Lin and me… we’ll put them to use, so that… when you reach this realm, we are here to see you and so are all our dear sisters. Oh, and Lin sends her regards and good wishes. You should see the way she is glowering at me. I always knew our littlest sister was a serious woman, but to think she had such a hidden, jealous side to her…

It’s no sacrifice. It’s a gift. Even if I had to surrender all the Seeds to the Norns, me and my allies would never stop trying to grow stronger. While regifting is considered rather rude here on Earth… I think these Seeds are the exception! Besides… they’re Seeds.

Rose seemed puzzled at that, but I had no leisure to talk with her. In the Material, Shaeula was resting my head on her lap, stroking my hair, as I had closed my eyes and was shutting down as much non-essential thought and reducing external stimuli as best I could. Split Thoughts took up the strain, and as the Seed popped free, I remembered Rose’s Runes. I wasn’t able to use Runes, after all, I’d only seen Rose use a few, but… I did remember the feeling of connection when the Seed and the Eye took to her, so… I can replicate it.

Adherence surged, flowing into the Seed, my soullight keeping the balance. The Seed floated in front of me, and with my free hand, the other still holding Tan’s, I reached up for my Eye, once more marvelling at how I’d changed. I never used to like sport, not like my sis, because it was hard, tiring and often painful. And now I’m going to rip out my own eye as a gift… if I’d have told myself this six months ago, I’d have considered myself insane, or at least having regressed back to middle school…

“All right. Careful now…” It was best to be quick. Severing the connections around my eye, capillaries kept mostly intact, several major meridians that linked to the third eye Chakra brought with them, I carefully eased out my eye, careful not to damage it. Silver and red splattered, but I caught it with wind so as not to soil Tan, and my Ether Healing kicked in, quickly stopping the bleeding.

The Allfather would approve. But… the next stage is difficult… I could attempt the Runes to aid you, if you need it.

Thanks. I appreciate that. But I’d like to try first…

The Seed shone brilliantly, rippling with soullight and adherence. Ether was being drawn to it from the surroundings and quickly broke down into aether. The Seed was alive, and thus surely had its own Chakra network, though even my Eyes couldn’t penetrate its secrets. However, my own Eye was laid bare to me, though it cut a fairly disgusting sight, with trailing nerves and spiritual meridians both dangling free.

“Tan, I’ll be gentle…” I promised, and she stared at me unblinking, as I reached for her face. Her hand tightened on mine, and moments later, she let out an indrawn hiss of breath, as her eyeball slid free, her more complicated tangle of meridians making the effort challenging, but my Skills were firm, and I carefully pared out what I needed. The two eyes floated side by side, and as fiery tears of crimson and silver wept from her open socket, I gently applied Ether Healing.

“You could have done that yourself…” I teased.

“I could. But I believe it is your responsibility to me, to soothe my aches. Be they of the body or…” Her voice dropped and I could tell she wished to look away, but she held firm. “…or the heart.”

“Yeah. Exactly. And you mine.” I winked, though it was more a blink as my Eye hadn’t recovered yet. “Now then… the hard part…” The Seed could be absorbed by a Bond to strengthen it. The Eye was Bonded to me and also to Yggdrasil, so…

I strained my Truesoul, soullight gathering, and the Seed melted, turning into a molten liquid. But before I could use it, I had to make one change to my eye. Tan’s eyeball disintegrated, and what remained was a smear of beautiful crimson colour. I injected it into my loose eyeball, dyeing the iris to Tan’s original shade, and also… I think that as her eye was a part of her spiritual being, it carries faint traces of her Divinity and soullight… this should make the Eye less likely to be rejected…

The Seed flowed, and the meridians blazed with light. Half of the liquid poured into the eye, the other into Tan’s empty socket, and her grip tightened on mine, hands searing, her silvery sweat evaporating as soon as it formed, rising as a faint mist. Working Chirurgery I carefully began to correct the problems I could see cropping up, and after several tense minutes, I was ready for the next stage.

“Are you holding up okay?” I asked Tan, and she simply nodded, so I gently eased the eyeball into her socket, careful to refrain from damaging anything. Small accidents were inevitable and using my Split Thoughts to their maximum, a dozen delicate probes of soullight, adherence and aether repaired and recalibrated the meridians and capillaries. As it settled in, I reconnected the link to her third eye Chakra, though the process was more complicated than I had imagined, being as her network had additional connections I hadn’t seen before, but from my past memories, her network laid bare to my vision, I replicated it.

All right, the final step… energy surged from me, and the silver residue of the Seed blazed, forming a narrow, seemingly intangible string within her network. Tan groaned, biting down hard on her cracked lips, her hand almost crushing mine. Moments later, she blinked, and her new eye focused. Did it work? No, I don’t think so…

“I can… see.” Tan muttered. “There are no problems there. But… I feel nothing. I cannot see what you do.” Even injecting a surge of aether into her eyeball, nothing noteworthy happened.

“I feared that might be the case. There’s one more step, and it’s a difficult one. Unfortunately, unlike Rose, I don’t have a shard of Skuld’s shears, so…”

Yes, I pulled on a strand of my Truesoul, grafting it to yours. Lin was the same. I… don’t think an ordinary connection can handle the majesty of the mighty World Tree itself. Rose was tense. Perhaps with Runic Craft I can do something, though… The Norns did tell me to refrain from interfering in the affairs of lower worlds if I could. That wasn’t exactly an order though…

It’s fine. If I can’t do it, I’ll gratefully accept your aid, but… I grinned at Tan, hoping to see her embarrassed. “I’m definitely making this work. If I miss out on tonight now after the anticipation has built up so much, I think I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”

Tan reacted as I hoped, freezing, her light brown skin darkening, faint tinges of red visible, matching her eyes. Moments later, she scowled, though her grip on my hand never faltered. “Yes, I would not wish to be the one who walks on by this time. Now… I believe you have the answer.”

I nodded. “Yeah, we need to link our Truesouls. But to do that, we have to create a little damage, which is far from easy. And a bit risky…”

“Indeed. Only my father and other similarly eminent beings dare to do such. However… it is not merely their province. Your Valkyrie managed, yes, and…” She glanced down meaningfully, and I followed her gaze. I see. There’s a number of faint cracks and scarring where she’s linked to Shiro. Maybe we can use that…

“I can feel my Truesoul, for my sensitivity is great. However, I cannot see it myself. You… will guide me. As for… wounding the Truesoul…” Her free hand was raised, and a shining bead of crimson flame appeared above her middle finger, radiating immense power. “…my thirst knows no limits. I believe I can…” She yelped as I grabbed that hand too, and she cried out, worried I’d be burned by her flames. “Fool, be careful, this is no mere Flame Of Thirst And Famine which you are used to, but its true essence!”

“I’ve got it! It all makes sense now. Okay, so I doubt that Verðandi imagined this but… to combine our flames was her advice to strengthen you. I had thought… and maybe even she thought… it was for other reasons, but…” Foehn blazed into life, a similarly small, compressed flame, and I smiled, moving my finger towards hers. “…why not give it a try?”

The flames keened, Tan’s flames making a wailing reminiscent of what a Banshee surely sounded like, while Foehn roared, the rumbling of a hot wind across mountains and desert, endlessly blowing. The two flames met, and suddenly they began to dance, forming a ring of flames, each trying to consume the other. I suddenly felt Foehn pulled out of me, the flames growing in intensity, and judging by Tan’s dripping sweat, she too was being drained.

Jörmungandr. Rose’s surprised cry echoed in my mind. It reminds me of that. It eats its own tail, but grows stronger for it…

Once two thirds of my stock of Foehn had been drained, Tan’s flames eventually got the upper hand, forming a brilliant violet flame, which was still somehow crimson. It shimmered and changed from moment to moment, and Tan’s eyes were wide with surprise. “It is… such a hungry flame. It desires to consume, to devour all. It matches my thirst… perfectly. Now…” Her eyes were bright and feverish, and her hands in mine were scalding. “…that my flame contains yours, guide me, scorch and devour my very Truesoul!”

Seriously, I nodded, and carefully, ever so carefully, I led Tan’s flames with a shimmering trail of soullight, into her body, her Chakra network, deeper, to her Truesoul itself. It was hard for me to observe it directly, but the leaking soullight was enough to show the imperfections. Gently, Tan brought the flames down, guided by me, and I was sweating too, overwhelmed by her trust in me.

“Of course I trust you.” Tan declared, and for a moment I paused, dumbfounded, and she snorted wryly. “The princess did tell me you would be thinking such foolish thoughts. How many times have I told you, I am Taṇhā, the Thirst, and my pride is high. Besides, you, who have lived a handful of years, think you can deceive me? I know who is trustworthy and who is not.”

“Really?” I laughed, her words breaking the tension, which might even have been her intent. “From what you’ve told me you were a hikikomori, a shut-in. It seems it’s only your two sisters who went out and met people.”

She was amazed at my comeback, for a moment forgetting the tense situation. “Arati and Rāga? You would have me emulate those little idiots? I think you would be rather disgusted with me were that the… oh, you are… provoking me!” She narrowed her eyes, irritated. “Enough! Delaying the burning does not make the flames any cooler.”

I nodded and guided her down. I was exerting my Eyes to their limits, and Tan suddenly shuddered, crying out. Tears fell, glimmering droplets of hot water that flashed into steam as they landed on her legs. “That is… indescribable. My father is brave indeed, if he does this to create Favours.” She then paused, before her smile became a teasing sneer. “But if I am not mistaken… your Truesoul shall burn too…”

“I think so.” I agreed. “Else it’ll be hard to integrate the strand of yours…”

The work was careful and cautious, and while I ached to go faster, so that Tan wouldn’t suffer, it took nearly an hour to tease the merest thread free from the cracks faintly afflicting her. Soullight allowed me to grasp it, and I pulled it to myself, along with Tan’s new vivid flames.

“I can… never go back to who I was before.” Tan whispered, and I nodded, understanding.

“The princess, you… even the other fools who love you. They are all one with me, and my solitude is fracturing. What father will think…”

“Yeah, no kidding. When I think of my daughters with Asha getting married one day… let’s just hope their future husbands aren’t as big a bastard as me!” I chuckled. “Now… no more delaying the burning!”

The flame pierced my Truesoul, and indeed, the pain was incalculable. Worse than before, the fierce flames grinding against me, where I had a similar sort of slight damage to Tan, strands of Rose’s and Lin’s Truesouls within mine. I began to shudder and tremble, and in the Material, Shaeula, who had been watching my Material body, poured in her aether to Heal me, as even though the Silver Connection significantly mitigated damage passing between my two bodies, that didn’t apply to the Truesoul, which was omnipresent in both at once.

“Your Truesoul… tastes wonderful…” Tan licked her lips. “…but it… is not for me. Break!” she intoned, and the flames compressed further, to a needle burning incandescently, like superheated metal droplets. Vivid violet flashed, and my Truesoul cracked, just a tiny, tiny bit, and the strand I had pulled was tugged inside, as the flames separated into two.

“Seal it…” Tan croaked, and the two globules of her flames scattered. One burned me, the other flew to Tan, and as the flames flickered and died, our Truesouls resonated, reacting with shared pain.

“Fuck me, that hurt… Rose was gentler…” I laughed, a hacking, almost desperate one.

Of course I was. Though I did have the shard to make such wounding easier. But… I think you should pay attention. Oh, and… Lin thanks you. It seems your gift to her has changed, before she has even had chance to test it on the field of battle.

“I…” Tan seemed equally dazed, before she blinked slowly. Moments later, her crimson right eye was suddenly dotted with amber flecks, and her languid, almost stunned hesitancy disappeared. “It… it works.” She called upon her new flames and stared at it intently. I was doing the same, only for my vision to be overwhelmed by a series of amber letters, obscuring my view…

Your Skill, Foehn, Inextinguishable Blaze Rank 7 has become Foehn, All-Consuming Conflagration Rank 9, incinerating the second wall and reaching the third pinnacle. By consuming and being consumed by the thirsty Flame of a genuine Divinity, Foehn has absorbed remnants of her Divine Torch. In addition, it has consumed much Soullight, including your own, and due to the nature of the Flames Of Unquenched Thirst And Endless Famine, Foehn’s ability to gain strength from what it consumes has greatly strengthened. As your Soullight grows in strength, so shall the Foehn’s Conflagration intensify. [Class: Legendary] [Type: Law]

Your Class, Bondweaver, has increased from Level Ten to Level Eleven. Soullight imbued into Bonds and Connections will show greater effect. Strengthening Bonds or Connections temporarily with Soullight delivers greater efficiency, less Soullight wasted. Injuries to the Truesoul involving such Bonds and Connections will recover faster, though any such recovery will still be at an incredibly measured rate.

That wasn’t all. what truly shocked me was…

Your Skill, Aetheric Chirurgery Rank 11 has become Soullight Chirurgery Rank 11. The fifth vista stretches out beyond you, yet your vision can nearly see what lies beyond it, realms where few beings tread. Since you are now past the point where your Skill is being utilised with mere Aether, Adherence, Qi or similar energies, and you are working on the nigh-inviolate Truesoul itself, including that of a genuine Divine being, your ability to handle and generate Soullight has significantly increased, and your ability to absorb and purify with Soullight grows much stronger. Foreign Adherence and Soullight, and even strands of Truesoul, will be consumed and refined slowly if hostile, and integrated and strengthened if beneficial, and any Bonds or Connections formed by such will be enhanced depending on how much Soullight you accumulate and invest in them.

As one who Twists Connections Strands, Who Weaves Bonds on the Loom of your Truesoul, and who wields a Blade that Severs all Misfortune… …a Bondweaver… you have the potential to use this knowledge to great effect. However, be warned. The Truesoul is not to be handled carelessly, for damage to it may not only never heal, but ??????? ?????? ???????? %$^£$^%^ $%^$%& &*%^*** %&&%$%* extreme caution and restraint! [Class: Mythic] [Type: Law]

Question marks and garbled nonsense text too? Been a while since I’ve seen that.

“This…” Tan actually pulled me close via our held hands, and as I was pressed against her, she was staring deep into my eyes in wonder. Uh… I’m intimately acquainted with Shiro’s chest, and it’s not small. But… I’m certain Tan’s are bigger when she’s in Divine Possession mode. Not a lot, but… I can notice…

“…this is the world you see? No wonder we could not… no, not we… the princess would rather have perished to the sundered Chains Of Sancus than fight you… I could not defeat you, limited as I was. For while strength is all… knowledge is the force multiplier that can turn strength into victory. I now see myself and my flaws more objectively than ever, and…”

She suddenly realised she had pulled me close and her breasts were pushing against me. With an inarticulate scream she released me, pushing me away as she tried to scuttle backwards, but I still held one of her hands, and as she calmed down, she tried to pretend she hadn’t just made a screech like a frightened cat.

 “I… forgot myself for a moment. Please pay it no mind.” Her eyes twitched, and I just knew Shiro was laughing at her. If we were in a bar and Shiro was a separate person, watching Tan she’d probably have fallen off her chair.

“It’s fine.” I moved my hand so our fingers interlaced, a rather more intimate version of handholding, and she didn’t resist, only glanced at where we were joined for a moment, before coughing. “So, the Eye transplant succeeded?”

“I believe so. I can read your… Status… as you call it. Fascinating. You have grown so fast since we first encountered each other, and… the growth drives our growth. But… Soullight Chirurgery?”

“Yes, an upgrade.” I laughed cheerfully. “Yggdrasil was very impressed I used my talents on you, it seemed to be a big factor. Though it does warn working on the Truesoul is risky and should be done sparingly and with great care.” The World Tree also seemed to make a great point of reiterating Bondweaver’s old Class name. I’m not sure if a Tree can have hurt feelings, maybe Asha would know…

“Indeed. I certainly concur. Recklessness is not to be encouraged. However…” She was starting to tremble, her gaze going to our clasped hands occasionally. “…no, that matters little.” She leaned back, unconsciously putting a little more distance between us. “With the evolution of my Thirsting Flames, and this Eye… I have achieved more than enough to justify my tarrying here. Even were I now to return in failure, I would be satisfied. Although…” Her lips quirked into a sly smile. “…my Eye is not truly my own. Their foolish Tree is not blessing me with knowledge, no, I am receiving it from you. The princess would call it ‘view-only access’ and if you perish, your ‘account will be revoked’ and my Eye shall revert to simply a beautiful, alluring orb, nothing more.”

Surprised at her gentle teasing, I listened to her next words. “So, I should either take you back to the Six Paths and my world… or else stay, and make sure you do nothing foolish and perish before your work here is done.”

“Stay. With me, Shiro, the others.” I urged, and she shook her head.

“Fool. You know I shall remain. I am… a woman of my word. Although…” I finally took pity on her and released her shaking hand, and she looked at it, half in a daze, as though she couldn’t believe what was happening. “…the day has come… sooner than I anticipated. So…” She took a deep breath. “…tonight. For now… we should rest. I am still feeling lingering traces of pain.”

I nodded. “Yeah, me too. But it was totally worth it.”

I’m proud of you. But I can’t help but feel a little disappointed in myself. To think you replicated my feat, which I wrought through the pinnacle of my Runic Craft… it leaves me feeling just a touch jealous.

Don’t be, Rose. Without you showing me the way… don’t get me wrong, I had ideas, and I’m confident Tan would have received her Eye eventually… but your guidance, the example you showed me, was the guiding light to light my way to this outcome…

You are a smooth talker. Have you ever considered a calling as a Skald?

Hey, that doesn’t sound so bad, when all this is over, singing and playing instruments for you and my other Brúðr. We’ll sit around a roaring fire, mugs of alcohol in hand, a feast fit for a king before us, and… just enjoy ourselves, free from the cares of the world!

That does sound relaxing. I can read to my heart’s content, in pleasant company. Perhaps Divine Taṇhā shall join us?

Yeah, I bet she would. She’s the bookish sort and doesn’t make friends easily. But she has a thirst for acceptance and comradeship.

How droll. My Verr is quite the amusing fellow. Now… do reassure Eri that you have passed this hurdle. I daresay she is quite worried. And don’t concern yourself with me. I’m more proud than jealous, honestly. And… it just means that Lin and I will have to work harder to not disappoint you when you finally come to claim your brúð-nótt. Oh, and… please do look after those I chose. And tell them… if they wish to be my brúð-konur, bridal maids, alongside my sisters, they had best work hard, and be at least half as talented as you, my Verr! Oh, Lin sends her regards and promises you a gift. She cannot say when, but… watch out for it.

I will. Thanks again, Rose, and thank Lin for me. Divided, we fall, a single strand is easily snapped, but a braided rope… that endures!

Rose’s reply was teasing, and I turned my attention back to Tan, while gratefully opening my eyes again on the Material, an eager Shaeula pushing me for answers as to how things went. “All right then. We’ll retrieve Tsurugi, she must have slept enough, then I need to get back to the Pilgrimage, you as well… though we still have that matter with Darkflame. Oh and I have to pick up and put the finishing touches to Shaeula’s birthday gift…”

As Tan nodded absent-mindedly, still gazing at her fingers where we had touched so intimately, I stretched, yawning. Seems like my work is never done, but… at least tonight, I won’t be doing too much training myself, merely supervising, and… I have the viewing party and Shaeula’s birthday festivities to look forward to. Hopefully it’ll be a good time to recharge my batteries, although…

Glancing at Tan, I held in a chuckle. …I get the feeling I won’t be getting much sleep tonight!