On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

“I’m so frustrated. Why didn’t I get to go to the party? It’s incomprehensible, and I hate it, hate it, hate it!” Christina Bakker, the fabled mad scientist, dressed in an oddly fashionable red sweater dress and green tights, waved her arms and legs frantically, kicking like a child. She’s red-faced like one too, though that’s the alcohol, no doubt…

“Oh, you think?” Aliyah James, the burly yet aggressively sexy black woman from America, quite a famous mercenary once, but now one of Akio’s staunch allies, despite her argumentative bluster, which Yu-mi was quite able to see through, sneered. She was well on the way to being drunk too, a problem which caused her handsome brother, Treyvon James, the head of Fenrir, Akio’s new private army… in a different way to Adamant, his… other… private army… to frown pensively.

He was wearing casual jeans and a sleeveless t-shirt, despite the winter chill, showing off his muscles, and his sister was wearing similar clothes, blue jeans and a camo-patterned t-shirt, though in deference to Christmas, she’d put on a pair of sparkling star earrings, and her hair beads were rather more Christmas-themed than usual, red, green and gold, with a handful of others, the spatial storage item she had been given, camouflaged within.

Yu-mi couldn’t help but reach down and touch her own spatial storage item, doubling as her rank insignia which showed she was an Officer of Adamant, a privilege she’d earned through her own efforts. With a faint smile, she watched the ensuing argument, the adorable yet wary Kim Eui, and the more relaxed Hyeong Suk-ja, beside her. Both were wearing casual clothes, jumpers and skirts, with warm leggings underneath. Behind them, the bossy yet amusing Kang Bora, nicknamed Violet, was having a drinking contest with the women Yu-mi had brought to secure her position in Adamant and influence over South Korea. In a flimsy black tank top and black jeans studded with metal, she cut a punk figure, heightened by her vivid purple tattoos. Violet-unni sure is entertaining. Though I mustn’t forget she’s got the ability to kill most of us here in an instant if she so chooses. Not that she would…

“I think it’s perfectly obvious as to why, ain’t that right?”

Beside Aliyah, the two strays Akio had picked up from America, Bethany Wright, a pretty young college student who dressed in slightly gothic fashion, with dark lamé skirt and shirt in black and red, fishnets and knee-high boots, and her younger brother Zachary, who was again in casual jeans and jumper, nodded firmly, their expressions both wary and rather disgusted by Christina’s behaviour.

“That’s right.” Bethany grimaced. “Dad used to tell us stories about you, how we needed to keep our abilities a secret, and not draw your attention, else you’d drill into our brains, cut up our bodies, do all sorts of terrible things to us…” Beside her, Zachary continued to nod, while Aliyah merely snorted, taking a big swig of whiskey, the ice in her glass clinking, a satisfied expression on her face.

“That’s true…” Christina conceded. “I’m not going to lie about it. But I wouldn’t have done that to you two… by the time I discovered your existence, we were largely past that stage, and we weren’t learning much anyway…”

“As if that makes it better…” Bethany’s expression worsened. “You’re a monster, you know?”

“That hurts my feelings, which in itself is rather novel.” Christina slumped down. “Still, I don’t really see what that has to do with why I didn’t get an invite… I wanted to spend time with Akio.”

“Fuck me, for a certified world-renowned genius scientist, you can be a fucking idiot!” Aliyah spat. “Firstly, he just ain’t into you.” Aliyah looked Christina up and down, letting out a bitter snort. “Yeah, you’re hot, no damn question of that, but shit, you see how many hot women and cute girls he’s got hanging around him? I rag on the bastard every chance I get…”

“Because you’re jealous, sis.” Treyvon muttered, and she shot him a foul look, before shrugging.

“Fucking right I am. Makes it worse he treats them so disgustingly well, so I just end up feeling bitter and horrible… life ain’t easy, is it? But that’s not the point… it takes more than just a fine pair of tits and a pretty face to entice him now. But the more important thing is… that place is full of his damn family. You think he wants you there? Even setting aside you ain’t right in the head, and you’re a damn dangerous bitch, all that panting and red-faced perving? Fuck me, if Trey and I still had parents, I wouldn’t bring you home as my girlfriend. At best you’d be a fuckbuddy…”

“Please, Christina, there are the chicas here. Less foul language.” Luciana Santino, Yu-mi’s fellow Adamant comrade and Officer, shook her head. “Though expecting that from you is a sad imposibilidad, especially now you have been drinking.”

Yu-mi resisted the urge to gnaw at her lip, worried and envious. Luciana was a certified genius, who was powerful, a killer, even before she received training, and she had already mastered three elements, and was probably the favourite to obtain the two others she would need to be the one to establish new Ring Gates. Not only that, but she’s gorgeous and exotic. Short for a Westerner, but not compared to most Asian women, she had a voluptuous figure where it counted, large chest and hips despite being slender elsewhere, and her dark skin and sultry eyes contributed to her charms. We’re not rivals, we’re allies, sisters in battle, but… sometimes it’s hard to think that way. Though judging by her confidence, she does. I suppose that’s the benefit of a military background. Me, I’m having to retrain my way of thinking from scratch.

“It’s fine. They’ve both seen some shit, so a few curses ain’t going to matter, if they even understand.” Aliyah was speaking English, of course. As a student of Choe-Museon, Eui spoke decent English, but it was true Suk-ja’s language talents, while coming along as she was being tutored as part of her remuneration for her mission here in Japan, were still rather average.

“I’m… not opposed to being his fuckbuddy, as you put it…” Christina immediately picked up on the wrong thing, her eyes narrowing, lips curving into her usual sloppy, indecent smile. “Besides, from what I can tell, he’s got rather a… standard mindset. It’s quite cute, really. If he sampled the goods, he’d pay for it. I’m not the only one that thinks that. The little minx has her plans… but I don’t think they’ll work.”

Little minx? Never mind. Yu-mi took a sip of her drink, feeling the warmth spread through her, then spoke, though she was tempted to ignore this annoying argument. It just makes me feel all itchy inside, anyway. “You’re right about that. I…” Her cheeks reddened, and not from the alcohol, as she remembered. “…look, it doesn’t seem like it, but he’s not that greedy. I mean, when I was in Gangnam with him, I was drunk, and I didn’t care, so… all I was wearing was a negligee and panties, you know. Even so, he only looked at Eri. As a woman, I felt a bit annoyed, but also relieved… my point is, Christina, you’re not going to win him over with such obvious antics.”

“True. But I’m a scientist, I try, refine, try again, refine again… until I get results!” she pouted, clearly irked. “But yes, even when I was naked in his bed, he didn’t even grab a handful.” She pressed her cleavage together. “Confusing. Everyone always seemed so impressed by my body before…”

“Yeah, but you’re crazy, girl. A certified landmine.” Aliyah insisted. “And you ain’t helping that. Fuck me, you just have a childish crush on the guy. Why the fuck don’t you just go pull some willing man in a club? You might find you ain’t so hung up on him after that.”

“No.” Christina shook her head. “I get what you mean, I do.” She drained her drink, and one of the members of Fenrir brought her over another, smiling wickedly, enjoying the chaos. Taking that, she took a swig, burping softly. “I didn’t know much about human emotion, I still don’t, but… I know this. It’s a genuine feeling. As a scientist, he wows me, I’m so eager to delve into his secrets. As a woman… he makes me wet and wistful…”

“Cállate, mujer! Be silent, you lewd woman!” Luciana was angry. “The girls, they do not need to hear your… your perversión!”

“What’s perverted about it? El deseo es humano, la lujuria es natural.” Christina retorted in perfect Spanish, even her accent not dissimilar to Luciana’s. “I’m a woman, he’s a man. Now I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with loving someone, desiring someone, regardless of gender.” She shrugged. “But you can see my point? You know…” she mused, as if suddenly having an idea. “It might just be that he doesn’t want to upset the others? I don’t think they all like me…”

“No fucking shit they hate you.” Aliyah snapped. “But that’s not it. You’re a monster, ain’t you? Hands soaked in blood, innocent blood. And I know you ain’t the sort of woman he likes. Kind girls, damsels in distress… not the bitches who put others through hell.”

“I’m not a bitch.” Christina seemed more offended by that than being called a monster. “I’m still a virgin.”

“I ain’t talking the Japanese meaning, for someone so smart, you can be a fucking idiot at times, hung up on the wrong things…” Aliyah was losing patience, but Christina’s next words stopped her dead.

“He must hate you then. After all, you were going to deliver him and Shaeula right into my bitchy hands, weren’t you?” Her loud, frustrated words had turned quiet, contemplative. “And not just that, how much blood is on your hands? Not all of it guilty blood.”

“We don’t kill kids, or innocent women…” Aliyah was suddenly on the defensive.

“And I’m sure mistakes were never made.” Christina pressed on. “And that means you’ve no trouble killing women you deem as guilty. I get it, it’s a job. But what was Shaeula guilty of? Being a Faerie in our human world? That’s very reminiscent of some of America’s troubled past. I bet you know all about that, it’s not gone away, has it?”

“And that’s quite enough of that.” Trey clapped his hands, interrupting, much to everyone else’s, Yu-mi’s included, relief. Even Violet and her friends had stopped their chatter and were listening to the argument. “You’re right, Christina. We tried to minimise the shit we did, kept to a code… as did you. There’s no point arguing over who’s a bigger shit. It won’t change the fact my sister’s right.”

“Maybe so.” Christina shrugged. “Emotions are certainly inconvenient, but… without them my work was flawed. I was flawed. I… can’t undo what I did. The arrow of time marches only in one direction, and entropy increases. But I don’t believe punishing me will achieve anything meaningful. Better to harness me to help those I still can, to make the sacrifices meaningful.”

“I liked you better when you weren’t fucking reading the room…” Aliyah grumbled, slamming back her drink. “Oy, Travis, bring me a fucking bottle. No, make that three bottles. On me for everyone here. If I’m not hungover on Pilgrimage tomorrow, I ain’t going to be happy.” She then glowered at Christina. “Look, I get it. I ain’t gonna say I’ve never made a mistake. We’ve seen some shit, and during the heat of an operation… sometimes the trigger gets pulled and you wish you could take back the bullet. But that ain’t possible.” She looked over at her brother. “And shit, we know the missions we took ain’t all clean. Politics, yeah? Like that dumbfuck Alex Trakand and his goons, dead kidnapping a little genius. Or rather, dead failing.”

“Grul says you are all fools.” With a laugh like rocks grinding together, their other companion, Grulgor, the powerful Troll, rumbled. In his mortalform, as the Fae called it, he was tall, muscular and handsome, though he was bald, and his yellow eyes gave him a slightly feral appearance. “Arguing over such trivial matters. Grulgor thinks he used to be that stupid.” He poured his massive tankard of alcohol down his throat, a mug that contained a truly impressive amount of mixed spirits. He let out a belch, before sharing some wisdom, and Yu-mi found herself nodding along.

“It is only natural to adore the strong, Grul says. The weak seek protection from the powerful, it has been such since the dawn of time, and Grulgor thinks it shall never change. Akio is strong, even Grul admits it. Between Akio and Duke Formor… that would be a fight for the ages, Grul reckons!” His dull laughter sounded again.

“That is true.” Luciana agreed quietly, glancing at Treyvon, Aliyah and some of their other comrades. “We saw it in the campamentos, those villas miserias we called home. Though your… ghettos are in a different country, you saw and lived the same mierda, no? There, the strong do as they please, and the weak… all they can do is find someone to cling to, or else, become fuerte, strong themselves and leave.” She narrowed her sultry brown eyes. “After all, is that not why you despreciar, hate men, Aliyah? Why you seek the company of women?”

“It’s because women are cute, no lie.” Aliyah insisted, but as the bottles of booze she had requested arrived, she opened them quickly and started pouring for everyone. “But fuck me, yeah, the shit we saw… it’s enough to make you hate men, no kidding. Fortunately, like you, Luciana, Trey and I, we were born strong. So the bastards never got the better of us. Soon as we could dip, we got the fuck out. And the Black Wolf was born… and died, taking on Akio.”

“Strength, yes?” Grulgor grunted, flexing his arm, showing off his muscles, his shirt rippling. “The strong dominate. Even the Seelie Court was like that. Little Goblins, Kobolds, all trash, little troublemakers, Grul could stomp them as he pleased.” He thumped his chest for emphasis.

“But what about now?” Yu-mi asked, surprised by the sudden turn. “The Kobolds and Dwarves make miracles, and the Goblins… won’t they go back to the way they used to be?”

“Grul agrees. Strength comes in many forms.” He grinned, showing his teeth. “Grul enjoys helping build. Before, Grulgor only destroyed, now… now I build.” He pounded his chest again. “But… if Grul, if Akio, if nobody is strong, then what is built can be destroyed.” He turned to Christina. “You, Grul does not care that you are wicked. And…” His yellow eyes narrowed. “…women can do much evil, just as men can. The Queen of Air and Darkness… bah. Grul may be no fool now, but he hates thinking too hard. But since Grul is in a happy mood…” As soon as he downed his mug, Aliyah wisely emptied a bottle in. “…let Grul say this. All you think of is yourself, foolish one.”

“That’s not true!” Christina insisted, shaking her head. “I want to make amends, make the world better.”

“If so… Grul thinks you are not as smart…” He tapped his bald head with one finger. “…as you claim. There is forgiveness. Grul has stomped many weaklings, crushed many, not all who deserve it. That old fox… now she is strong. Grulgor would not like to see her fight Duke Formor, that would be… troubling. If you want to be loved, Grul says, then love and accept your faults. To receive love, first give it.” He let out a cavernous sigh. “Grul feels strange. I do not like dwelling on such matters. But if you are truly serious… Grul will give you a little hint. After all…” Grulgor puffed out his chest proudly, which made those around him chuckle, as it was an oddly cute gesture. “Grulgor was with Akio from the start, only Shaeula was before me. We both fought and lost. No shame in that. After all, death…” His stare bored into Aliyah. “…is not the end for the truly strong.”

“Yeah, fuck me, I get it.” Aliyah agreed, nodding. “Just as Fenrir rose from our corpses. Shit, listen up guys…” she shouted at the bustling pub. Not all of Fenrir were there, many had gone out in small groups, but enough were that the place was soon silent, most conversation a muted, curious buzz. “…make the most of this break, because come the New Year, we’re getting down to business. We may have been knocked down, but we ain’t out yet! The count stopped at eight, and now we bare our fangs back at the world…”

As she launched into a rousing, drunken speech about how they were going to be the greatest pseudo-military organisation on Earth, Yu-mi shook her head, chuckling softly. She met Luciana’s gaze, who tapped her own Adamant emblem, and so Yu-mi made the salute, earning a wry smile in return. Well then…

Seeing Christina so pensive, thinking, a forlorn expression on her face, Yu-mi felt sorry for her. I’m a soft touch, really I am. Honestly though, I sympathise, just a little. Walking over, she sat down beside her. “Want some advice?” she asked quietly, and Christina looked up.

“Are you sure? Isn’t this something I have to work through myself?”

“Absolutely!” Yu-mi agreed. “I’ll be brief. I hated the thought of my arranged marriage, but… when Akio let me escape so easily… I actually felt bad. Crazy, isn’t it? Your problem is, even now you are starting to understand emotions, you’re still at heart far too logical. We aren’t like that. I mean, look at me?” She shook her head, embarrassed. “I could get what I want right this minute. One text, one call. But I don’t want to get it that way. I want to earn it. You… you’re the same, aren’t you? It’s not about sex…”

“Naught to be ashamed of, wanting to tirar, to hook up.” Luciana joined them. “I am a grown woman, and I saw plenty in my time in the slums. Perhaps that soured me on it, but… I am a woman, I have necesidades. I am not ashamed of that. I judge no one who sells themselves. I have.” She admitted, tapping her Adamant badge, and Yu-mi understood, feeling the same way, she supposed. “We can sell our labour, our bodies, and yes, our love… I make no claims of being enamorado, but… I see a chance to make something of myself. To be strong, as the big brute says.”

Grulgor raised his mug at that, and she continued. “It is excitante, thrilling, yes? Especially for you, who have naught but your cold laboratories, and the emotional range of a niña. Fair enough.”

“Wait, hang on…” Bethany broke in, forgetting for a moment how terrified she was of the scientist. “The way you’re saying that is that you’d…”

“What? To say it like Aliyah, fuck him?” Luciana shrugged. “I have met worse men, and it is as you say, Christina. He is not a voluble, fickle man. I am not seeking it, but… we are all adults, and while I despise cheating, what is cheating here?”

“That’s… I don’t get it.” Bethany shook her head. “I mean, yeah, he’s cool and all, my brother totally worships him, but then, he’s young and stupid. But if I… if I came back to America after having sex with him, dad would flip…”

“You reckon?” Zachary muttered. “I wouldn’t be so sure. Annoyed, yeah, but… relieved?”

“No way… would he?” Bethany chewed her lip.

“Chris is a realist.” Christina, despite her own worries, spoke up. “Your father did everything to protect you both. He screwed up…” She chortled at the suddenly vicious look in Bethany’s eyes. “…I’m not criticising. Who didn’t make mistakes? But hiding you away, even after your disastrous first ventures into the Boundary, didn’t help you grow. He’s too conservative. But he’s also a father. And there’s nobody safer in this world than those Akio’s taken a shine to. Besides, you’re his type, little Bethany. Cute as a button and a little bit feisty.”

“Me?” Bethany blushed, clutching her arms around her body. “No way. He’s not looking at me like that, is he Zack?”

“I don’t know. Sorry.” he shrugged. “But despite your temper, you’re pretty, sis, and smart too. And you’re even a Chosen, so is it weird he’d be interested?”

“Yes! Very! I’ll have to stay away from him on Pilgrimage now…”

At her retort, Yu-mi giggled. “Relax, if he hasn’t made a move on me, or Christina, or poor little Yae-chan…” She used the Japanese honorific, as it felt right. “…he isn’t suddenly going to ask you out. But do you see it now, Christina?”

“Yes.” She bowed her head, defeated. “Though I’m still very interested in sex. With Akio!” she insisted.

“Of course you are.” Aliyah snorted, having finished her rousing speech. “You’re a pervert, ain’t ya? But…”

“I want to be loved.” Christina insisted softly. “But I don’t know if I can deserve that, be that person. Oh, how I’m so jealous of Tamamo-no-Mae…” She started throwing a tantrum again, which reassured Yu-mi a little. It seems she’s not changed too much…

“Fine then!” Christina threw up her arms, exasperated. “I’m a wise woman, let it not be said I don’t take advice. I’ll… try… and tone down my desires. And I’m going to devote myself to being indispensable. You fancy a new pair of Eyes, Yu-mi?” Christina leaned forward seriously. “Right now I can’t do much but Donate them, but soon I’ll learn the Skills to do it all myself, and hasten my recovery.” She leaned forward, eyes sparkling with pride. “I may be a shitty person, but I am a genius.”

“Modest too…” Kim Eui whispered, shaking her head. “Eyes though… I want power too. I’ve seen where having none leads…”

“Of course you do!” Christina grinned. “You’re a survivor, a brave young woman. I’ll be sure to put in the effort to get you a set too! It’s only pain…” her face cramped a little. “…a lot of pain, but… live by the sword, die by it, right? Nobody’s listening to me whine with any sympathy… though I’d do it in a heartbeat if I thought Akio would comfort me…”

“You’re backtracking…” Yu-mi giggled, and Christina shrugged.

“I’m still honest. Anyway, let’s get hammered, Yu-mi. And…” She held out a hand, puzzling Yu-mi, until she explained. “Oh come on. You said it yourself, you want him too, don’t you? But you want to earn it. So, we’ll try together, yeah?”

“Sure.” They shook, and Christina rolled her eyes, annoyed.

“It’s far easier for you though…”

“You really think so?” Yu-mi shook her head. If that was the case, I wouldn’t have to work so hard, and with harder work ahead of me. Still… my cousin is saved, dad’s happy, and life isn’t boring anymore. Don’t get me wrong, clubbing in Gangnam, buying the latest fashion, it was all fun, but… compared to this…

“I’m just an ordinary girl. You’re a genius, who donates her body to the cause. Me… I have to stand out in other ways.”

“That’s what were here for, darling!” the charming figure of Soo-ah-unni, one of her friends from Korea and new subordinates, lifted her glass in salute. “To Yu-mi, our new boss, no, our commanding Officer!”

The other three echoed that, and Yu-mi, face once more pink, exchanged a glance with Christina, who winked knowingly.

“At least you’re well-loved, me… not so much.” She let out a cackle. “Oh well, may the best woman win… I would say, but it’s not about winning or losing, is it? That’s the beauty of legalised polygamy… everyone’s a winner!”

As Yu-mi was unsure of how to respond, Aliyah let out a bellowing peal of laughter. “Yeah, except for Akio, right? Didn’t you see him at the ceremony? He looked like a used rag. Ain’t that all he deserves though? So many dates in one day. I guess I admire his balls… oh fuck off Trey…” She glowered at her smirking brother. “If he was gay, you’d already have tried to seduce him, he’s your fucking type… you know what I mean. He’s… not so bad, and our boss so… anyway, the day’s far from over, let’s get wasted!”

“If so, please, Violet, help me stop her from stripping!” Treyvon begged, and as the chaos intensified, Yu-mi and Christina exchanged knowing glances. Everyone’s a winner, you say? Sadly, life isn’t that easy. But… Taking a swig of whiskey, she smiled. …whether I win or not, I’ll live a life worth living, and see things I never dreamed of before my dad came to me, tears in his eyes, like a dead man, pleading for my sacrifice to save Yu-jun…

***

“So, like this, you comprender?” Luciana was juggling daggers of shining crystal conjured up by Suk-ja, and with unerring accuracy, nailed them into the target that had been set up across the bar. The few patrons that weren’t part of their large group were watching on with shock, realising they were in the presence of Chosen, though in truth, most of them weren’t.

“You’ve always been a good hand with a dagger, ain’t you?” Aliyah enthused. Violet was beside her, grinning like a fox. Her tank top was a little torn, exposing her cleavage a little boldly, but she didn’t seem to care. Beside her, Aliyah, who had been finally dissuaded from stripping off and fighting when she got drunk, was swigging water, with a sour look on her face. It’s at times like this some Ether Healing would be handy. Eyes…

Seeing her gaze, Christina gave her a thumbs up, before sliding it under her eye socket. It’s all very well she promises, but it’s not her who will be doing most of the work. Although…

“This is sharp…” Christina giggled, continually self-harming with another of Suk-ja’s knives, the shallow wounds closing up as she worked her aether. “From what I’ve heard, young Suk-ja…” She switched to clumsy, childish Korean, which she’d seemingly learned over the past few days of Pilgrimage. “You… only diamonds before, yes? No… no… forks?”

“Knives.” Yu-mi corrected, and Christina shrugged.

“That’s right.” Suk-ja agreed. “But my training is to fully understand what makes up the Winged Knives, and so create the crystal element. Now I can change its form easily…”

Translated for Christina, the scientist then nodded. “Good work. The basis of expanding our knowledge is a thorough understanding of the rules. Experimentation is … ouch… my hand slipped.” The blade slid down and blood gushed from her wrist. She stuck out her tongue ruefully. “I should have been paying attention.”

“She’s crazy.” Ji-hye, who was, now she was out of uniform, dressed rather creatively, if Yu-mi was being charitable, and like a Christmas Tree decorated by a drunk, if she was being truthful, squealed. As the unexpected member of Yu-mi’s Adamant recruits, with two Chosen brothers who looked down on her, she was as eager as any to excel, to prove them wrong. “Whoa, so much blood.”

“It wouldn’t show on your jumper…” Soo-ah-unni teased. Of course she looked stunning in a modest yet still somehow sexy red and white dress, even if it only showed off her arms and lower legs. “Why not go mop it up?”

“No need!” Christina was sweating, concentrating hard. “It’s only a minor inconvenience. Did you know the human body can safely lose around half a litre to three quarters a litre of blood before…there are any ill-effects? And…” She smiled bitterly. “…Chosen can lose far more and still function, though we never managed to get a consistent reading. I know why now, it depends on Fortitude, and also the complication of Skills such as Ether Healing, or even… unconscious use of aether to keep the body functioning.”

“A grim subject.” Da-eun, another of Yu-mi’s friends muttered. She was still wearing some of her uniform, the shirt and the skirt, though she’d paired it with some pretty coloured scarves, in blue and silver, and a pair of silver high-heels, and blue tights. “Those were people…”

“Of course we tried to operate with as much measure of safety as we… could.” Christina was pale now, but her wound was starting to close up at a speed visible to the naked eye. “It’s definitely a lot easier when you can see the flows…” Her eyes were glowing with a faint amber light. “Look, I get it.”

“Oh, I can’t watch this.” Bethany cried, pulling out a handkerchief and tying it around Christina’s wounded arm. “At least bandage it. Do you enjoy getting hurt?”

“No.” Christina seemed a little puzzled. “Thank you, Bethany. Chris would be pleased you’re an upright young girl.”

“Oh shut up, you maniac. I just… you were going to say you were sorry, weren’t you? Not that it makes anything better. I feel sick thinking that Zack or I could have been tortured like that…”

“I imagine it does. But I really did take as much care as possible.” Christina insisted.

“Dead test subjects don’t amount to much, yeah? Shit.” Violet-unni swore, imagining it.

“That’s… unfortunately my primary motivator. But again, I endeavoured to make it as bearable as possible. I’m not a sadist. Still, the human mind is an odd thing. Even I feel a certain… unpleasant anticipation… towards further Donating. Not that I can have any scruples now. There. All fixed.” She undid the makeshift bandage, revealing smooth, bloody skin. “A shame I don’t have Akio’s Eyes, but… as it stands now the Seeds are the most precious resource on Earth. Mustn’t be greedy, must we? But I wouldn’t be surprised if I Rank up soon.”

“Another genius.” Min Nari-unni, the last of Yu-mi’s Korean friends, chuckled. As someone who deflected attention from others, especially men, she wore a rather plain yet still fashionable set of jeans and jumper, with the Adamant badge prominent on her lapels, almost as if a shield. “I’m feeling like I want to live up to the challenge.”

“You would have represented South Korea at the Olympics, darling.” Soo-ah-unni drawled. “Of course you’ve got a competitive spirit. And a flexible, sexy body…”

“Flexible is good.” Luciana agreed, Suk-ja tossing her more knives. She took up a fighting stance. “I do not have the reach, or the strength of men, so I have to be swift, graceful and…” She moved, her arms bending like snakes. “…flexible.” She then tossed the dagger to Nari-unni, who caught it. “If you are interesada, you might be fun to teach. An Olympic athlete… oh, if you do not mind, Yu-mi. I would not poach…”

“It’s fine. Though… I wouldn’t mind learning a little myself, and if you can provide pointers for the others.”

As Luciana nodded, Nari-unni explained she had never qualified officially, though she was hotly tipped to succeed.

“Words. Your skill is what matters.” Luciana promised.

“Grul says give me that…” He reached out a big hand, and Luciana flipped him a dagger. With a grin he pondered the crystalline structure, sharp as glass, as hard as diamond. “Huh…” He grunted a laugh. “Grul thinks genius is nice, but… the little weasel princess Shaeula was a fool, Grulgor knows. Petty, vindictive, stupid…” He chuckled, and Yu-mi wondered if that was due to the amusement of calling someone else unintelligent. “…far from talented. But look at her now. Grul too… I am not clever, but… Grulgor still can grow!” With a vicious smirk, he let out a surge of red sparks, his hand covered in grey, solid stone, like a second skin.

Suk-ja was watching on, confused, but Christina was leaning forward, eyes sparkling, and indeed glowing once more. Yu-mi found herself frozen too, as the crystal dagger shattered, absorbed into Grulgor’s flesh. For a moment his skin glimmered with a crystalline sheen, before his hand imploded. Blood scattered, but Grulgor merely gazed at it for a moment and then his shattered limb regrew.

“Grul nearly had it.” he mourned. “Grulgor is not a genius, but I desire strength. To be strong is to be in control of your own life.”

“That’s right…” Eui agreed quietly, and Treyvon slapped Grulgor on the back.

“You get it, big guy. Another drink?”

“Hang on a minute…” Christina picked up the wreckage of Grulgor’s ruined hand, examining it. “…I have just had a remarkable idea…”

“More experiments?” Bethany muttered scornfully. “Haven’t you learned anything?”

“Oh, Bethany, how cold you are.” Christina winked, back in high spirits. “I’m all about fully informed consent. Besides, Grulgor said it himself. Strength is his goal. Now then… you did nearly have it!” she enthused, her drink and bloodstained arm forgotten. “Can I see your other abilities?” As Grulgor demonstrated his ability to merge with stone and water, Christina nodded, expression eager.

“Yes, yes. I see. You almost became merged with the crystal. Your problem is… an imbalance. Crystal is light and earth, isn’t it? So if you merged with light element first, I believe crystal would be possible for you. Besides… becoming light… you’d either become unstoppable or… you’d get stuck in time, since anything moving at the speed of light would have relative time stop…”

“That’s a big drawback!” Bethany cried, and Christina shrugged.

“I don’t think that would actually happen. It wouldn’t make logical sense. But I’m all about the safety of my subjects. Perhaps some sort of array made from aether, to jolt him out of it if things go wrong…”

“Grul is interested…” the Troll rumbled, nodding.

“We… have our work cut out for us, don’t we, Yu-mi darling.” Soo-ah-unni laughed, and Yu-mi agreed.

“We certainly do. It’s… exciting though. One minute you’re drinking in a bar, the next minute you’re watching the world change.”

“It gives me hope I can achieve my goals.” Ji-hye insisted, watching on with interest. “Anyone can learn, if they work hard enough, can’t they?”

“Your brothers could too, and they are starting from a better place.” Yu-mi tried to temper her expectations. “But just like Eui here…” She smiled at their youngest countrywoman. “…if you have the drive, you’ll succeed. We’re working with the best. And even now they’re focussed on progress.”

With the scene becoming chaotic, Aliyah produced a deck of cards from her jeans, flashing a grin that Yu-mi thought wasn’t much different from Christina’s usual ones. “This is getting a bit boring. How about we spice this fucking party up? Oh, fuck off Trey and take the guys with you. We ladies are going to play some poker…”

“Oh, gambling?” Soo-ah-unni smiled, eager. “That sounds fun.”

“Oh, mother of God, no.” Luciana interrupted, snatching the cards with wind element. “Have you forgotten last time? That mess, while on la misión? I am not going through that again. Shaeula, she will punish you. These women, they are Adamant, comprender?” She glanced at Yu-mi and the others, her expression forlorn. “Shaeula, she is friendly, yes. But… when annoyed, she is one vindictive mujer. You should know this well, Aliyah. Last time it was a naked hug, this time? I do not want to think about it!”

“Oh, that reminds me…” Yu-mi suddenly chuckled, remembering. “Shiro mentioned a game of strip poker they played in London. It sounded like it got rather chaotic… but… I’ll be frank, Aliyah. We’re… not into women, so you’d be the only one benefitting. So we’ll give it a miss. But a fun game of ordinary poker sounds like it’ll liven things up.”

“Fine. Fine.” Aliyah complained. “Well, looks like you two can have a good time.” She smirked at Zachary and Bethany. “Might as well show off your luck, yeah?”

Cards were dealt out, as everyone got ready to play. The wager was decided to be favours, not lewd ones, obviously, as Aliyah couldn’t be trusted, and what merit was there in exchanging such with their fellow women? And Zachary, I suppose, but he wouldn’t be stupid enough to make any mistaken demands. Besides, he’s starstruck by Akio, which I understand…

Instead, it would be favours within the Boundary and with Akio and the others. Yu-mi knew it was being a bit pretentious, declaring that Akio and his women would pay their tabs, but Yu-mi and Luciana had both agreed it had merit in terms of closer bonding for Adamant members. I hope he’s getting enough rest today. Eri and the others worry about him overdoing it… and here we are adding to his workload. She found herself smiling. I’ll make it up to him. As an Adamant Officer, my duties are more than leading Adamant, I have to look after his welfare too!

“Lost again…” Soo-ah-unni declared after a while. “My luck is awful. Are you cursing me, Beth?”

Soo-ah-unni, who was an extremely sociable woman, was already on nickname basis with the American. Again, as a graduate of Choe-Museon, and the daughter of an important man, of course she spoke excellent English.

“I pick on the stronger players.” Bethany insisted, satisfied. “It’s not as helpful as my little brother’s ability though. He almost always gets the cards he needs.”

“Nah.” Aliyah, who was caught trying to cheat several times, shook her head. “That’s thinking small.” She pointed over to where Grulgor, Suk-ja and Christina, aided by significant quantities of alcohol (though Suk-ja, like a good girl, was drinking mocktails) were experimenting still. It was a mess of blood, flesh and crystal, but… at least they all seem to be having fun.

“I remember the fat fuck in Vegas. He had a similar gift to you, Beth.” Aliyah was also overly friendly, though Bethany seemed wary of her after her boasting and tall stories. “He could spread bad luck over an area. Useless against Akio and Shaeula though. I got third place there you know. More than a cool million bucks. We had a nice holiday…” She flipped her cards. “Two pair. Jacks and tens. Fucking ruined by a red notice mission. Against our old friend Akio. He’s ruthless.” She rubbed her stomach, as if remembering something painful. “But anyway, my point is… work on your Skill, and maybe you’ll be able to do more than that corpulent fuckwit ever could. Damn, I reckon he ended up in Christina’s clutches. Goes to show, not every one of her victims was some poor innocent. It ain’t making it better, but… yeah.” She shrugged.

“A straight.” Luciana offered her hand, changing the grim subject. In the end, after everyone revealed their cards, it was Eui who won. Her luck was oddly high, and though Zachary won most hands, occasionally someone else would overcome his Fortune.

“So, la cuestión.” Luciana spoke as the cards were dealt again. “If I may ask…” She addressed Yu-mi and her fellow South Koreans. “I wonder just what brings you to the battlefield. And make no mistake, this is a place of combatir, life and death on the line. You are well-bred, rich women. Not slum ratas like us.”

Yu-mi exchanged glances with her friends, and then Soo-ah-unni spoke for them all, her expression rueful. “We’re women from Gangnam’s party scene, you know? Daughters of Chaebols, or career politicians. We party, we have fun, it’s an easy, amusing life… but it’s also a regimented one, you see. We can party, drink, flirt, have a few boyfriends, though it shouldn’t go too far beyond that. But in the end, our futures are set. We’ll settle down, marry, raise the next generation. It’s a gilded cage. As cages go, it’s nice…” Nods of agreement followed her words. “…but that was then.” She gazed at Eui with warmth and sympathy. “Many of us went to Choe-Museon ourselves, or had brothers or sisters, cousins, who did, you know? Dreadful school, though our parents are keen on the legacy and discipline of it. Most of us couldn’t wait to graduate to get back to civilised society.”

There was quiet laughter of agreement, and Yu-mi was glad she never ended up going there, unlike her poor cousin Yu-jun.

“Anyway, if this chaos could happen there, it can happen anywhere. If it happened during my school days… well, I fear I’d not have survived. I’ve not got the guts little Eui has.” At the praise from Soo-ah-unni, the gorgeous, personable older woman, Eui’s lip wobbled and her eyes moistened, but she tried her best to show no weakness, to pretend to be unmoved, and Yu-mi had to resist the urge to hug her. Nari-unni failed that challenge, and pulled Eui into her embrace, patting her back and head, even as the younger girl protested she was fine.

“I get it.” Bethany agreed. “I got hurt badly, and I have been gifted with these powers, and so’s my idiot brother.”

“Sis, it’s talk like that which puts off guys. I’ve learned a few things here in Japan. You’re all tsun, sis.”

“Shut it, you! You are an idiot, but… you’re my brother and you care, so I’ll give you a pass. Our dad’s an important man, and he kept us safe, kept us out of her…” She nodded at Christina. “…clutches, but I’ve seen the figures. I shouldn’t have, it’s classified state secrets, but… from the NSA Paranormal Branch research, in the countries they could analyse, the death rate for us already is forty percent. forty! four in every ten!” She shuddered. “And that includes those who pretended none of this ever happened.”

“A Gu Vessel. Kodoku.” Treyvon, who had been quiet for a while, rubbed at his chin pensively. “That’s the current theory, and it’s basically proven. After all, we have access to sources America doesn’t. Shit…” he grumbled, sounding like his sister. “…the incentive, especially for those in the know, is to hunt down others. Plus the Boundary is dangerous. If anything, I’m impressed it is only forty percent. Especially with meddling cheaters.”

“The Church.” Yu-mi agreed. “Their targeted attacks here in Japan were ruthless. They failed against us, but…Tokyo was almost swept clean, wasn’t it? If we didn’t pre-emptively give ground…”

“Exactly.” Treyvon agreed. “From a military standpoint, you don’t want to concede Territory to the enemy, but each Chosen is near priceless, for now at least. And the rebuilding cost for us is negligible, and honestly, we want Anchors for elsewhere anyway. They committed a lot of force against Japan, but… surely a number of other targeted countries suffered equal losses.”

“Shit, pisses me off.” Aliyah grumbled. “Those who fight should be those trained for it. I still don’t approve of young kids in battle…” She glowered at Eui, before shaking her head. “…but I ain’t a dipshit. This world, it doesn’t care whether you’re ready or not, man or woman, young or old. Fuck me, that’s grim, but… I suppose it’s better to be ready. One thing gets me though, your little noble girls.” She addressed Luciana and Yu-mi. “Fuck me if I don’t get how such sheltered little flowers, with virtually no battle experience, stood up against trained killers and fought until they were fucking dying! Shit, I’ve seen big strong men piss themselves going into their first, or even their fifth fucking firefight! I ain’t disparaging them, fuck me, if anything, I love them for their guts, but… it’s odd, ain’t it Trey?”

As he nodded, Luciana and Yu-mi exchanged a wry glance, before Yu-mi held up three fingers. “I think I get it, actually. I’m in the same situation. We are.” She smiled at her friends. “But we aren’t as rigorously sheltered as the daughters of Japanese nobility. To them…” She curled one of her standing fingers. “…they simply didn’t understand it could be any other way. They’re… too pure, really. They were trained to do it, so they did it. Besides, they’d never really understood hardship or danger, they were kept in a greenhouse. Adamant is their first exposure to the harsh world out there. And it’s done with friends and classmates they’ve known for most of their lives.”

“Then there is… you must feel la sensación when trouble is coming. Invisible, intangible. I feel… connected… supported. I am no cobarde, fearful of a fight, but… it is reassuring.”

“Ain’t that just Lovers’ Link?” Aliyah sneered. “I fucking hate that name.”

“You’re not the only one.” Yu-mi chuckled, thinking of Akio’s sister. “I think I get it.” She curled her second finger. “It’s not Lovers’ Link though, it’s something else. Incomplete, distant, but… definitely there.” I know. I have Lovers’ Link myself, at least the sort Akio can give to anyone he likes as a person and accepts as a close friend… it’s a bit irksome, but… yes, this is relatively new, but… it’s growing.

“And lastly…” Yu-mi curled her third and final raised finger. “…we shouldn’t underestimate women.” She winked, drawing laughs from the women around the bar. “Most of the truly powerful people we know are women, after all. And so they don’t lack positive role models, do they? I know I look up to Shaeula, Shiro, Hyacinth, Daiyu… even Hinata, the youngest, who had no interest in combat, proved she’ll fight for what she believes in. Being inspired matters. I… I too want to be like them.” She tapped her Adamant badge proudly, though her face felt hot. “I was shallow, but… I like to think I’ve got a good heart. I too want to stop there being more victims like at Choe-Museon and Hanafubuki.”

“Well said!” Violet-unni raised her glass. “I didn’t really want to say much, I’ve always been a troublemaker…” Her expression was wry. “My little bro was always telling me to cool it, to be more ladylike… well shit, if it’s true that little ladies like them can brawl, doesn’t that mean I am a lady?”

“Who gives a shit?” Aliyah grinned. “You’re a woman after my heart anyway. I know you Eastern cultures are all stuck-up about bold women…”

“But that’ll change.” Ji-hye spoke up. “My brothers, I’m going to show them.” She clenched a fist. “If I can. But to do that…”

“It’s easy.” Zachary smiled softly. “Think about it. What are your brothers probably doing now?”

Ji-hye frowned. “It’s Christmas, so probably what we are? Drinking? Though knowing them they’ll be showing off, using their wealth and new-found Hunter celebrity to impress drunk women.” Her tone was bitter.

“So what are we doing? As a group?” he countered, and she glanced at Christina and her experiments.

“I see. And it’s like this nearly every day, isn’t it?” Ji-hye marvelled.

“Be a good boy and give her some of your winnings.” Bethany grabbed her brother’s pile of papers. “I’m suddenly feeling moved. We sisters should stick together!” She passed them over to Ji-hye, who was laughing, while Yu-mi and her other friends looked on.

“Yeah, even during the dates, I know Akio and some of the others were honing their skills. And their Skills.” Yu-mi agreed. “Look, you sought me out, Ji-hye. You put on the badge. Next year, you’ll be receiving an Officer insignia at the ceremony. All four of you will.” Yu-mi chuckled, picturing it. “Your brothers may be Hunters, but we have our own. Better than theirs.” Violet gave a hearty thumbs-up to that. “Next year they’ll be the ones begging for scraps. Be sure to beat them up!”

“Yeah, fuck me if a lot ain’t changed, even since Vegas.” Aliyah agreed. “In another year, no, even six months, the world will change again. But shit, all this talk is boring! I’ll trade three.” She tossed her cards to the dealer. Yu-mi, seeing that, smiled to herself.

This is quite the eclectic group. Me and my rich, party girl friends from Korea, our junior and a survivor of Choe-Museon, several Hunters, American mercenaries and Chosen, a mad scientist, a damn Troll, who somehow gives sage advice… whereas Korea is trying to turtle up, remain insular, here… we’re actually directing their future. Go back on our deal, would you? Put us in danger because you couldn’t keep your mouths shut as agreed? Suddenly angry, Yu-mi didn’t realise she was giving off a dangerous smile. Well then, as one of the Officers of Adamant, and a proud Korean, I’m not going to let that stand. Hinata and I, we’ll work together to make sure Korea pays its debts, and then falls into our hands even tighter than Japan will…

“Here, take a drink…” Da-eun giggled, her slightly boyish features accentuated by her braided hair, as she pushed a glass into Yu-mi’s hands. “Some of the other patrons are starting to sweat. You’ve changed, girl. You always were so relaxed, but now… definitely got that military bearing down. And you look so great in uniform!”

“I do, don’t I?” Yu-mi laughed, taking a drink, before looking at her cards and frowning. “Damn it, are you targeting me now, Bethany, or am I just that unlucky? Give me two.” She tossed a pair of her cards away.

“I couldn’t possibly comment.” Bethany snickered, and Yu-mi faked a grimace.

“Fine. Fine. Now, the hour is still early, so Aliyah’s right. If we’re not rocking hangovers tomorrow, begging for Ether Healing, we didn’t celebrate hard enough. A toast. To Adamant. To Fenrir. Twin pillars upon which we’ll build a new world!”

As the others toasted with her, Yu-mi’s smile was now more natural. Yeah, to a new world. I don’t know what next year will bring, but… I know it’s likely to be even crazier than this year, but… so long as we’re not alone, so long as we watch each other’s backs, we’ll come through it stronger, wiser and happier…