On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

“Nya, so cruel… but I don’t hate it, nya!” Ginneka blinked tears, her ears flat against her skull, tail dangling down limply. As she took long, shuddering breaths, I trickled in a little ether, reducing the discomfort, and she shivered.

“I do so wish I could see what was going on.” Christina mourned, standing beside us. Then she brightened, her blue eyes a match for Ginneka’s. “But I suppose soon, if all goes well… and even in failure, there are gains.” She then narrowed her eyes, her smile wicked, holding out a hand to Ginneka. “You, I think I can get on with!”

As Ginneka, took her hand warily and was pulled up, she shot me a sidelong glance, before nodding. “Perhaps, nya.” She then shuddered, silver fur standing on end. “That was brutal, nya. Gouging out my insides, filling me with fire. But… I feel… better?” She took a deep breath, feeling out the changes. “I feel more… connected? Less of a strain, nya.”

“I would hope so. Favours are… at least all the ones I’ve seen, designed for humans, and generally, the human network is an ordinary seven Chakra system, and the pathways, capillaries, meridians and more are all geared towards that. There are certainly individual differences, but they all follow the same general pattern. And mostly, they are all inactive. When they aren’t, like Shiro, it causes significant problems. Tsukiko was lucky, she had whatever gift Tsukuyomi gave her, even before Favours, to sustain her, as well as seldom leaving Kyoto, which was a higher ether density area. Perhaps Shiro might have been less ill if she lived in Kyoto, though I doubt it would have made her healthy.”

“I see.” Christina nodded. “So that is why these Favours are unoptimised for… spiritual beings?” She was being careful with her language, which I appreciated. I was also pleased that now the experiments were starting she had mostly stopped her innuendos and appeals, now being all business. “It does surprise me. After all, wouldn’t someone such as Ginneka here be far more capable of claiming the Boundary than an untrained human, if given the Favours?”

I nodded. “Certainly, though it might make it difficult to conquer the Material side. More importantly though…I think it’s about the reclamation of spent Favours.” I inspected Ginneka, who preened under my amber and grey gaze, trying to look alluring. Rolling my eyes at that, I ignored her. “To make it work, I’ve had to… more deeply connect it. Similar to Azuki. As Ginneka is spiritual, the points of connection are deeper within her, the Material connections instead buried in her Astral body too. It’s why the Anchor part of it didn’t function. With Azuki it was easier, as she had a genuine Material body, even if it was wildly different to ours. Even that was fraught with issues though. But now…”

Points of connection are still connections and bonds. I naturally find it easier to assess the value and use of them. Plus, my Eyes and buffed Chirurgery surpass my past self…

“I think I could make a Territory, nya. But…” She shrugged. “No need. I’m here, and I don’t like the hard work, nya. Boring enough doing what I do now, though… the taking of things does feel good, even if I don’t get to keep them, nya!”

“You’re incorrigible…” Eri managed, before making retching sounds. Her voice was faint and weak, sounding distant, and now that Ginneka was fixed, I turned my attention to her. “…as your… younger sister in spirit, let me give you some advice. If you want… oh damn… my brain is on fire… I’ve never… held out so long before.” Messily, Eri threw up, a silver liquid soaking the ground outside the mansion, the massive Fae Moon overhead looking down on us.

Sympathetically, I conjured a little water, wiping Eri’s mouth and face, and she glanced at me gratefully, which was… hard for me to bear. Yeah, seeing Eri with dozens of eyes and ears on her face, like some sort of eldritch horror, really upsets me. But… it’s only temporary…

“Anyway…” Eri managed, her face, as much of it as we could determine under her horrific temporary body modifications, anyway, twisted into a wry smile. “…if you want Akio to be… uh… my head is spinning, and hearing my own voice through multiple ears… really makes me lose my balance… nicer to you… be more… modest, okay?”

Ginneka thought about it for a moment. “Thank you for the advice, nya. I’ll try, but… I am who I am. I’m the Thieving Cat! Of course using this power that reeks of thievery will please me!”

“It’s… just my advice… oh Gods, my brain isn’t designed for so much input…” She blinked shut her multitude of eyes for a moment. “Do as you want. Just don’t be… surprised… if you’re not… popular!”

“You look a fright, Eri.” Kana observed softly. “There’s one good thing, though.”

“Oh, and what’s… oh Gods…” Eri threw up again, and wobbled, so I reached out a hand to steady her, which she took gratefully at the second attempt, as her depth perception was totally thrown off. I cleaned her up again, and Kana didn’t make her finish her question.

“It’s that Akio really loves you, as with the way you look now, it’s hideous. Yet he’s still so tender.” Her smile was wicked, but I saw respect in her eyes.

“Of course.” I promised, patting Eri’s head, before doing the same for Kana, who blushed. Before Shaeula could pout, I gave her head a rub as well, making her grin. Shinkume-no-Hana seemed jealous, but she mouthed at me that ‘she understood’ while surprisingly, Christina Bakker didn’t try and angle for any romantic gestures, merely observing, her face impassive.

“Eri’s still Eri. And… even if she was stuck this way, I’d make it work. Just like when she was injured. But… I have to admit, I prefer the beautiful, original Eri, but… no pain, no gain, right?” I winked, and Eri managed a pained snort.

“Yes, though this is a different sort of… pain.” Her face paled and it looked as if she was going to be sick again, but she resisted. “I think I almost prefer the Ether Healing. But… I can feel it… on the edge of my consciousness…”

Beside us, Mary-Jane was watching on, concern in her gentle eyes. Initially she had tried to stop Eri from putting herself through this suffering, but Eri had explained the necessity of it, and in the end she had relented, although the schoolteacher still seemed rather uncomfortable with the process, perhaps seeing some of her students in Eri. Observing that, I tried to reassure her.

“Don’t worry. Pain and discomfort are temporary, the gains are forever. I hate putting Eri through this, but… if she wants to stand on the frontlines, any edge is important. Besides… this research could be the key to a safer way of learning any number of Skills.”

Christina agreed. She had put on some red-framed glasses, and with her composed expression actually looked like a competent researcher. “That’s right. I know better than anyone that true innovation and progress in these fields requires painful decisions. Fortunately…” She raised one eyebrow at me. “Akio here, he’ll ensure that nobody has to endure more than they should.” She shivered then, rubbing her hands together. “I’m feeling rather intimidated at what’s to come, but… I am Christina Bakker, and I’m a scientist, one of the best in the world! I won’t back down when there’s data to be gathered, and… this will potentially benefit the entire human race, like good science should. No… perhaps it’ll benefit more than just humanity. My apologies.” She nodded at Shaeula, who grinned.

“It does-does confuse me when you are acting so… sane?” Shaeula tilted her head cutely, as if puzzled. “But it is not-not a bad thing. But making amends is not-not something you can do in a single step.”

“I get that. It’s a lifetime endeavour. My actions ruined lives, took lives… even if some, perhaps even many of my test subjects weren’t good people, that’s still a fact. And I don’t deny facts. Besides… towards the end, that excuse doesn’t even work anymore, does it?” Christina took a deep breath. “But every journey has to begin with a single step, doesn’t it? This is mine.”

“I can appreciate that-that.” Shaeula agreed. “My journey was a long one as well and is far-far from finished. Though I was not-not as vile as you!” Shaeula insisted, to wry chuckles from Christina.

“Oh, poor little Miss Christina, vilified by all. But…” She glanced at me, and I nodded.

“Mary-Jane, you’re with this group rather than with Eleanor and the others, because I’m hoping to help you. However… your Favour was actually one of the most flexible I’ve heard of. You were a healer, a supporting buffer, and able to use some elemental abilities for both attack and defence, weren’t you?”

She agreed. “Yes, though individually, I certainly lacked the strength of Princess Eleanor, or Mr Reckless, I was a jack of all trades, and a master of none, as the saying goes. But… for a supporter, that is not necessarily a detriment.”

I agreed. “Exactly. But now you have Callie on the team, so some of your role is being filled, where honestly, you lost your tank and one of your DPS… uh, I mean those who attack…”

Mary-Jane chuckled softly. “I’m a schoolteacher, young man. I also have children. I’ve heard those terms before. You are right. With young Mr Patterson doing what he did, and also Miss McLaughlin… our team is unbalanced. Fortunately… and I am deeply grateful… Miss Mistry has regained her former strength and role. I… hardly expect you to manage such a miracle twice.”

“I fear you would be most-most mistaken.” Shaeula began, only to glower as Hana talked over her.

“Indeed, I fear miracles are rather Akio’s forte. I have seen them over and over again…” She cradled her fifth tail tenderly. “And I would very much appreciate seeing more.”

Kana giggled at that, before adding her own words. “Akio’s trying to tell you why you are here, it’s because this research helps fix some of your problems, I guess?”

“Yes. I’ve been desperately thinking about which Favour could be made suitable for you. I have some ideas, but none seem even close to correct.” I apologised. “But now I’m more determined than ever, not that I wasn’t before…” I glanced over at the distantly training Eleanor, who was now working on earth element, for a number of reasons. “…Eleanor’s going to be my wife too, and… this would be a good engagement gift, I think.”

Mary-Jane nodded slowly. “Princess Eleanor… I can’t say I don’t have my worries.” She looked at Shaeula, Eri, Tsukiko and Kana, all of whom had knowing expressions on their faces.

“Why?” Tsurugi asked. She had been staying close to me, watching with a mixture of childlike curiosity and boredom. But at Mary-Jane’s words she perked up. “Father is nice, father is good!”

Bethany, who had been watching Eri’s struggles with horrified fascination, and pale-faced worry she might be subjected to similar, suddenly spoke up, arms folded in a show of defiance. “Look, you wouldn’t know, would you? You’re… a sword, right? And a child…”

As Tsurugi pouted, and made to protest, Zachary tried to intercede with his sister. “I don’t think that’s wise.” He then bent down to look Tsurugi in the eyes. “My sister isn’t trying to start a fight. It’s just… you’ve not dated anyone, have you? Of course you haven’t.”

As Tsurugi scowled at him warily, he shrugged. “Nothing wrong with that. Sword or girl, nobody’s born with experience, right? Besides, you’re not so experienced yourself, are you, Beth?” As his sister glowered, he leaned in towards Tsurugi conspiratorially. “Beth’s high maintenance and bad-tempered, she’s pretty and smart, but she’d be a tough girlfriend. But what she means is… it’s only natural to worry. I mean, even here, there’s all these beautiful women…”

“I’m not so beautiful right now…” Eri grunted, her face bone white. “But yes, we get it.”

Zachary wisely ignored that comment and continued explaining patiently to Tsurugi. “…and generally, it’s accepted that love is between two people. So that they can give their all to each other.”

Tsukiko supported him. “Indeed, that is certainly true of the modern world, and… while it is not so long ago that the Imperial Family had the tradition of concubines, it was accepted that love was between the Emperor and his Empress, and the mistresses and concubines were merely for childbearing, and while there was likely affection, their status somewhat precluded pure love.” As Mary-Jane nodded her agreement, expression troubled, Tsukiko finished with a smile, and the power of her beauty robbed Zachary of his train of thought, expression vacant and face flushed, which drove his sister to punch him in the arm to snap him out of it, irritated.

“…of course, I much prefer the way things are now. There are no mistresses or concubines, merely wives, and who is first is not… necessarily… the most loved.”

Eri rolled her many eyes at that, the sight truly disturbing, like an eldritch horror, as some of the eyes moved in the wrong direction, making the scene even more sickening. Shaeula was doubled over, snickering nastily, and Kana let out a long sigh, before speaking for all of my women.

“It’s the only way it can work, though everyone here thinks they’re number one. Well, maybe I’m smart enough to know I’m not, but… I’m as proud as anyone else. With better reason than I used to have.” Kana eyed me warmly. “So even if I’m behind Eri and Shaeula now, I won’t stay behind forever. Let’s fight fair and square, okay?”

“Challenge accepted, Kana. I knew what sort of girl you were when we first met. I… oh…” Eri’s declaration was cut off as she went dizzy, doubling over. “…shouldn’t shout, it… messes with my… head!”

“I too-too shall face you head on, Kana. I believe what Eri was trying to say-say was that you have changed and have the heart-heart of a fine female now.” Eri managed a weak nod, tail wagging. “But yes… rivalry, friendly rivalry… is the key to our happiness. We have-have made missteps…” Shaeula flushed, embarrassed. “And Kana, Eri, I am-am sorry. Though Adamant is proving its worth now, I do-do believe. Yet…” She then addressed Tsurugi and Mary-Jane. “…Tsurugi, you are most-most wise.”

As Tsurugi puffed up at the praise, nodding, Shaeula continued. “Mary-Jane, you are right-right to fear. Few males can manage a group of strong-willed, beautiful women such-such as we. But… Akio is no-no mere male.”

I nodded. “Yes. I do struggle… and it’s getting worse.” I’m fortunate that Lin and Rose are far from here, but… I take it seriously. Bonds aren’t something to be carelessly discarded. I feel that in the very depths of my spirit, no, likely deeper, in my Truesoul… “But I believe every problem has a solution.” I glanced over to where Eleanor was getting instruction, and I remembered teaching her elemental water, which apparently had saved her life before we arrived.

“I see. That smile…” Mary-Jane nodded. “…you do like Eleanor, don’t you? She did think her behaviour had made you hate her. At least she worried so.”

“Father is kind! Father wouldn’t do that!” Tsurugi insisted, and Shaeula ruffled her blue and white hair playfully, making her squirm.

“Indeed. You… understand Akio well-well. Perhaps because of the way you were restored. Yes-yes…” Shaeula nodded. “Rudeness towards Akio, he can-can overlook, though I do wish he would be a touch-touch more… regal.” Her smile robbed that criticism of its sting. “But her behaviour towards Motoko and Natsumi was-was harsh. But… all-all is forgiven. She has genuinely apologised and does-does strive to make amends. We do not-not hold grudges for failures, only for the refusal to learn.” She winked, amber eyes gleaming. “Which is why-why I welcome her. For she has learned that Akio is most-most sublime, and despite what she sees-sees as drawbacks, none can make her happier, nor-nor keep her safer.”

Mary-Jane nodded. “Yes, Princess Eleanor is quite capable of making her own decisions. I don’t doubt that. But as her friend, I still worry. But…” She took a deep breath. “…I also have faith in you.” She promised me. “Though… I just feel… feel so empty. At first, I regretted being Chosen, only wished to return to my normal life, teach my students, spend time with my husband and children in a carefree manner. But now… I know my place is beside them all. So… if you can help me, I don’t need to be as I was before. I just need… a purpose.”

“You misunderstand.” I shook my head, both touched and embarrassed by her words. “I’m not saying you can’t be a supporter like before, just… it’ll take some doing. And… that’s why you’re here. But…” I glanced at Eri sympathetically as she struggled through the sensory barrage overloading her brain, trying to force it into submission. With the Spirit Pledged Class, it should be possible. After all, that’s a bond and connection… huh… that gives me an idea…

Eri suddenly shivered under my gaze. “What’s… wrong? You are staring at me… I know… I’m pretty!” she teased, despite her discomfort.

“Nothing. I was just thinking about new possibilities.” My Eyes shone brilliantly, and I made sure than I had expanded my perception so that even while not looking at Eri I could see her, as I needed the moment that Eri finally succeeded in the goal this torment was for. “Anyway…” I coughed, changing the subject. “Mrs Mary-Jane, we can replace your healing abilities with Ether Healing, which makes finding a replacement Favour less a chore, but for that, we’d also want to make one more tweak. A tweak… that we’re here for anyway.”

I glanced at Kana, who shrugged. “All right, I’m up for it. Though… it does make me feel a little bad for her.” She nodded at Christina. “…which I didn’t think would even be possible.”

The woman in question pushed up the rims of her glasses, grinning broadly, but she seemed almost embarrassed, which was an emotion I didn’t associate with her. “Well then… yes, yes. I’m prepared! But your kindness… makes me feel rather unhappy. It’s odd… is this… guilt? No, certainly not. I own all my actions. Anyway…” She smiled at me. “We should begin. After all, time is of a premium, and there’s a lot we want to try out.”

I nodded. “All right then. Yes, I want to get to Tsukiko today too, ideally. But… first. Ginneka, are you ready?”

“Nya, always!” She leapt up, grinning, fangs showing. “I am the Thieving Cat! Though… today I am Ishikawa Goemon! I give what is stolen, nya!”

“Huh, where did you hear about him?” I asked, and Ginneka puffed out her chest pridefully.

“I can watch your televisions just fine, nya! Nothing is nicer, while drinking sake and… oh, nya…” She paused, realising she had said too much. “I work hard, nya! I do… but I am a Bakeneko, I need my playtime, and since I don’t have a handsome guy to play with, nya…”

“All right, Bakaneko…” Kana chuckled. “Don’t dig yourself deeper into trouble. I certainly get it. I enjoy a lazy life. This is a welcome break from construction! Now… best get on with it.” I could see aether gathering in Kana’s eyes. “Yeah, my Eyes are a failure, here everything’s far too bright. It doesn’t have much precision.”

“For now.” I promised. “Anyway, Ginneka, do your thing!”

“Leave it to me, nya! Your Eyes, they are now mine, nya!” Kana groaned and blinked as Ginneka used Thieving Cat to deprive Kana of her Eyes Of The Shrine Maiden. I was watching intently, and for a moment, it was almost as if they were connected, a bond forming… As soon as I thought that, my stomach lurched, and I felt utterly sick. No, it’s not a bond, it’s… the antithesis. It’s… usurpation. It’s a connection, but not a bond, it’s thievery. But…

“Nya, the world is all sparkly!” Ginneka complained. “This is just… a terrible version of how we Yōkai see the world!” She rubbed at her eyes with a sigh.

Grasping on the edge of an idea, I asked her if she could do the next step, and Ginneka nodded proudly. “Of course! I am the Thieving Cat, not the Stupid Cat!” Kana snorted at that, amused.

“Giving back is possible, nya. Though…” She glanced at Eri with a wry expression. “…my good little sister was the first, nya. We were all tangled up, caught in the web of your delectable…” She licked her lips. “…Skill. So I found it easy enough, nya. And I learn too! I’m not stupid, nya!”

“In that case, can you pass the Skill to Christina?” I asked, and Ginneka nodded.

“In a sense, nya. It’s not… perfect.” She closed her blue eyes for a moment, and my Eyes tracked the surge of aether. There were still faint strands connected to Kana, perhaps because Ginneka hadn’t finalised her Thievery, or perhaps it was simply the nature of things, that the Skill always remained partially tied in with the spirit of the original owner? Perhaps that’s why my Skills came back when I killed Ginneka? I had thought it was because she tried to steal a Skill that wasn’t just mine, but Shaeula’s too… hmm…

“Oh my…” Christina shuddered, eyes opening wide behind her glasses. “Yes, this is rather… garish. And… I have a sickening headache all of a sudden. Worse than this so-called ether overstimulation.” Her hand idly fiddled with Ixitt’s device on her ample chest. She had been pushing her limits, but she turned the effect up, and let out a long, uncomfortable sigh. “It’s still a fascinating experience, but… I imagine it’s like the crude telescopes that Lippershey and Galileo invented. A miraculous step up, but… crude and only offering a distorted image.”

“Yes, and it’s not good enough. No offense.” I smiled at Kana, who giggled.

“Sure, none taken. My Eyes proved their worth when they found you and Shaeula. Besides… after today, they should be better, right?”

“I hope so. Ginneka, Shaeula, you ready?”

“Always! Though be most-most careful, cat. Do not-not damage my precious Mystic Eyes!” Shaeula warned Ginneka, who meowed in protest and flapped her ears, annoyed. The two of them still didn’t get on well, which was understandable.

“Stupid Kamaitachi! Of course I’ll be careful, nya! You should be praising me, stealing is easy, giving back… is hard work!”

I had considered letting her try with my Eyes, but not only did it seem incredibly likely to fail, my Foresight had buzzed unpleasantly, so we fell back on Shaeula’s Eyes. They clearly weren’t easily replicable, being based on Shaeula’s spiritual hardware, but… My Eyes came from hers as a base, coupled with the Seeds and the connection to the World Tree. So… if we just take it as a base and work what parts we can replicate into Kana’s Eyes using my Shapercrafting… and then, there’s the trump card…

“Here goes, Nya!” Ginneka cried, and Shaeula was the one groaning now, and her amber eyes, usually so vibrant, now seemed dull, a mere orange. Ginneka, however, was sighing, ears flat, tail drooping. “Yes. I knew I wanted to steal your precious Skills, nya. So potent. But… alas, not to be!”

“Actually, you’re half right and half wrong.” I shrugged. “If all goes well… anyway… transfer it to Christina.”

Ginneka purred in irritation, before cowering under everyone’s glares. Bethany was whispering to her brother, asking what was going on, while Hana was watching with great interest and amusement. “Fine, nya! I just wanted to enjoy the view some more. The world is very… clear, through these eyes!”

“Of course!” Shaeula preened. “My Eyes are keen, for they did-did see that Akio was the male fated for me!”

“I remember you telling it differently…” Eri gasped, still struggling to endure the sensory overload she was facing. She had increased the number of eyes and ears, her neck and even one arm an abomination. “Didn’t… ah… uh… you try and kill him when you first… met?”

“Such is a mere-mere trifle.” Shaeula chuckled a touch shamefacedly. Mary-Jane seemed a little curious at our easy banter, but was quietly watching alongside Tsukiko, so as not to make a scene. Tsurugi was a little bored, head bowed, but when I suggested she go see Yata and Magatama, she refused, wanting to stay with me.

“Nya, no flirting, makes me bitter.” Ginneka turned to Christina. “You sympathise, nya?”

“I certainly do.” Christina agreed, still blinking, struggling to process the input. While she now had a proper Eight Moons Chakra Network, her Silver Cord was still woefully underdeveloped, which left her starved of ether to safety convert to aether. “But… if we want to be accepted, we have to bear with it. So… go ahead… oh…” Christina suddenly went bone white, blue eyes rolling up in her head as they glimmered with amber sparks. She swayed, nearly falling, and I went to grab her, only for her to vomit explosively, mirroring Eri from earlier. I could have dodged or deflected it easily enough, but in a show of solidarity I let the silver and brown mass scatter over my arm and shoulder.

“Oh… how… unattractive of me…” Christina managed to crack a small joke despite her red-faced shame, which was such a human reaction it caught me off guard. Seeing my surprise, and not actually taking advantage of being in my arms, she managed a soft chuckle, though it was interrupted by more gagging and a little more vomit. “…but I can… see why… they adore you. Not many men would… endure this… without flinching.”

“Compared to a battlefield, a little splash of bodily fluids is nothing.” I assured her. “So… how is it?”

“Jumbled. Painful! Kaleidoscopic? It’s very… hard to… describe. The Eyes seem to be clashing wildly…”

I nodded, my own investigation seeing that. “Yes, so now… for the fun part. Sorry, but this is going to hurt a lot, and while I’ll try and keep is as pain-free as possible… it’s inevitable.”

After a long moment, she nodded, and I was surprised. Seeing that, she managed a weak shrug. “Expecting a joke about how that sounds like a woman’s first time? It did cross… my mind… ah, this is… quite the interesting feeling… but interesting isn’t… fun… but yes, I’m Christina… Bakker and this… is time for… science!”

“In that case… I’ll respect your will, even if I don’t entirely agree with your single-minded pursuit of it, against morality and common sense.”

“Common… sense… you say?” Christina chuckled, her mouth leaking a little blood now, red and silver. Her blue eyes were bloodshot, vessels bursting, and silver and crimson was joining the amber flecks. “This is… worse than… most of what… Project Star Mirror… was doing, we just… consent!”

Bethany spoke up, horrified. “She’s right, this is too cruel!” She glanced at Eri too. “I never thought I could feel sympathy for that psycho, but…”

Christina raised a weak hand. “Stop. I don’t… deserve sympathy. Just… doing my job…” She met my gaze then, though her eyes were unfocused. “If… I was… Chosen, then… I would have… done everything to myself. And… maybe… you’d like me more?”

“Undoubtedly. I respect insane dedication to a worthy ideal.” I agreed, examining the Favour I had taken from Sora, Keiko-chan’s disturbed and obsessive fan. “This… is bigger than just you. I’d do it on myself too, but… my own Eyes prevent me.”

“And… I’m prepared to do it.” Kana shuddered. “But I’m sort of happy Akio hesitates, because he loves me. Still, it might come to that if you fail, Christina-chan.”

“Oh… I feel like… I am almost… Japanese… now.” She coughed, steeling herself. “So… go for it, Akio. Do not hold back, even if I scream. I will… not beg. Not just because… that would make me… a hypocrite. But because… I have… researcher’s pride!”

Stheno’s Eye That Curses With Stillness – This Divine Favour is made of concentrated Adherence, refined Ether and Soullight infused Truesoul strands. It takes root within the bearer’s eyes, and what the bearer looks upon will be locked in place, powerful Aether restraining the opponent. Despite such power, it cannot hold those much stronger or with greater League than the bearer for more than a mere moment. It also increases the ability to manipulate and control Earth Elemental energies and increases affinity for such as an unexpected side-effect.

Just as Stheno’s gaze halts and petrifies, so too shall the bearer of this Favour be able to halt, bind and paralyse those their harsh gazes falls upon, bringing them to stillness. [Class: Imperious] [Type: Principle]

My own Eyes thrummed, far keener than ever they were before, and I could feel the distant presence of Rose watching, her faint curiosity and amusement transmitted to me. Christina was totally incompatible with Stheno’s Eye, and while teaching her earth element would raise it a little, my gut was it would be far from enough. But that wasn’t what I wanted the Favour for, nor why I retrieved it.

Favours are a boost, a way to start strengthening a world, but… they’re not the only way, nor necessarily the best way. Obviously I’d use them, and had no qualms giving Motoko and Natsumi suitable Favours, because they understood that to be truly strong, they’d have to work to grow beyond them, but for now… they needed it to fight the sorts of enemies we faced, and they weren’t content to just wait behind while the rest of us risked our lives.

“All right… the Eye here… I can’t understand everything, nor do I need to, I think…” I mused. “The Truesoul connections are too subtle, but for our purposes, I care about how the Eye is… plugged in… for want of a better word. But… sorry.” I apologised, and Christina smiled faintly, before she indeed did start screaming.

Her Eyes were opened on the spiritual level, as I tried to merge the best parts of Shaeula’s Eyes, at least the parts that weren’t Shaeula. Using the Favour as a template, I carefully made adjustments, spinning aether, adherence and even soullight with my Shaptercrafting, but obviously my efforts were lacking. After all, Shaeula’s Skills were all utterly abnormal, created by the conjunction of two differing spiritual lineages. And I was trying to mix in Kana’s Skill too, to form some sort of generic, downgraded but still usable Mystic Eyes Of Perception.

Christina’s screams were growing louder, and she had stopped puking over me, now her throat was just working silently, her body shuddering, dry heaves rocking her. This wasn’t like drilling a Chakra network, which hurt enough, but… the Eyes were linked not just to the spiritual, but also to the very core of a person, to their brain, their thoughts.

“This is… annoying!” Eri growled, straining with all her might, body malforming into a disgusting mass of flesh, covered in eyes, ears and even some mouths now, her voice echoing slightly out of sync with itself. “I can… do thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis!” Her elongated scream ripped out from a half-dozen mouths, and at that moment, my Eyes picked up the change, felt it in our bonds, soullight leaving me in trace amounts and being absorbed into Eri.

Scanning her status, I could see she had finally achieved it, Split Thoughts having appeared on her status sheet. But that wasn’t the end, she quickly adjusted her shape back to human rather than a blob, and the eyes and ears were distributed more regularly and less horrifically. Moments later, she gained a second Rank in Split Thoughts, as well as a decent boost in her Resilience and Determination.

“That… helps a lot.” Eri blinked, returning to normal. She had exhausted all her aether, and Shaeula hurried over to top her up using Chirurgery. “Controlling Shifting Cat like Ginneka does isn’t something I can do, its not a Skill that should ever have been part of me. So I need to do it with… brainpower.” She knelt down beside me, looking Christina in her semi-vacant eyes. “Didn’t you say you’re the smartest? A genius? If I can bear it, you can…”

“Is it always… this intense?” Zachary gulped, and Hana smirked, waving her tails.

“This… is trivial. Compared to resisting a Tribulation, rebuilding grandmother and myself… but yes. Miracles. I told you. But is it a miracle, if it is expected?”

“This… isn’t so good, nya!” Ginneka was crying out now. “The Skills… how can I release them if you break them, nya?”

“I think you misconstrue just what’s going on.” I soothed her. “Besides… I’m feeling very fortunate indeed.” The wind blew around me, and I remembered when Rose worked her Runes, and how she combined the Seed she had taken, and how Lin had too. “Christina, can you still hear me?”

“Yes…” Her faint whisper came back, as she bit down hard to stop her screaming. “…I scream, but I never… beg…”

“Good.” I agreed. “Then… listen. You do know, when we take the next step…” I used Ether Healing, turning off her nerves and pain receptors as best I could, but that was only marginally effective, as the pain was spiritual, and likely deeper. “…I can no longer let you go. Not… in that way, so don’t get your hopes up, but… I’ll have invested too much into you.”

“I… get it. Don’t worry.” Her quiet words were laboured, but her bloodshot eyes were filled with conviction. “You can kill me if I… ever try and defect. Adam sure wouldn’t protest… I’m… a liability to him now. Nobody… will care if I… die. Such is… life.”

“Surely your family will. That reminds me… I don’t know anything about them…” I mused, feeling strangely sad, before I shook that feeling off.

“Is now… the time?” she managed. “Father… he is a biologist. Quite… famous. Though not as brilliant as I am. Mother… she is a physicist, though she teaches… at… MIT… we don’t… see eye to eye. But… I get my brains from… them… don’t worry.” Her smile was teasing yet sad. “…they will judge with… logic. Like I did. They won’t seek… vengeance for me… if you take my life.”

“For a genius, she is quite-quite stupid, no?” Shaeula scoffed, her face screwed up in a pained expression, her eyes watering.

“Yes.” Eri agreed. “It can’t be helped though. Life isn’t ones and zeroes, black and white. But some things are.”

Yes. Some things are. “Death is a waste. Of your efforts, mine, and of those who paved your foolish road of progress. The road to Hell might be paved with good intentions, but… my Path is paved with the bravery and strength of those who walk it. You don’t get to die, and you don’t get to leave. Ever.”

“A… proposal?” she smirked, though she knew it wasn’t, but I played along.

“You wish. No. An order. It’s like adding another Ixitt, but… I need someone like you, I suppose. To take the insane risks I can’t let others handle.”

“Then… I promise. I shall… never leave. How could I? This is… despite the pain… paradise. I don’t like… this kind of bullying.” She steeled her will, and life returned to her multi-hued eyes. “Go on. Break me, and rebuild me…” It was then I felt another connection, and it was the same as Eri’s, just weaker. Spirit Pledged, huh? I don’t like it, but… huh, why is it Levelling up so fast? The fortunate winds, further boosted by the Anulus Fortunae, and the efforts of Zachary Wright, were a tempest only I could feel, and they wrapped Christina tightly.

“I see. This is… what it means to… truly put… someone else… above oneself? Fascinating. My understanding… was so shallow, even now. I must… ask Haru for… more lessons, it seems. Pain is… a fine teacher.” Christina was talking nonsense, so I steeled myself.

“You asked for it. I won’t hold back then.” I promised.

“Chance would be… a fine… thing. Do it… though…” I felt my bond that was Spirit Pledged hum, soullight scattering, and suddenly Christina was smirking, back to her usual self, even as her body shuddered and suffered damage. “…I see. This is how you partition your thoughts, is it? At least I can keep one strand clear-headed.”

“I hate that she’s certainly a genius.” Eri pouted, having had her achievement duplicated, but I merely shook my head.

“It doesn’t matter who had it hardest, results count. Now…” The Favour was in my control, and I slid it into Christina with further Shapercrafting. Her spirit rejected it, and I had to work Ether Healing to repair the escalating damage. In a way, the fact that Christina was a blank slate helped, there were fewer complications.

Using my buffed abilities, which exceeded even my usual competence, I disassembled part of the Favour, instead merging it with the copied parts of the jumbled Skills from Shaeula and Kana. The fortunate winds suddenly exploded, and for a moment I had a sheer burst of clarity, all the coincidental little pieces of information I had gathered, from my own Eyes, Shaeula, Kana, Lin, Rose, the various Favours I’d handled, the Classes, the bonds and connections… nothing was new, but it was like I had thrown a heap of puzzle pieces in the air, and for a moment, they had all assembled through chance into a near-complete jigsaw, the image clear…

The scent of distant leaves, the rustling of a cold, imperious wind, the sound of a colossal creaking trunk, the taste of ice, the feel of ether of a density far greater than I had experienced even when I had truly been a part of the upper Astral for that too-brief time with the Valkyries… all of that surged through me, and my Eyes sharpened, and knowledge was presented to me, only a little, and the remaining missing pieces fell into place, before the image shattered. But in that frozen moment, I had acted.

Christina convulsed, fragile network shredding apart, and Ginneka staggered, yowling in agony. The pain spread through her to Kana and Shaeula, though they were mercifully shielded from the worst, though Kana muttered it made the migraines she suffered as a child when her eyes activated feel like a gentle kiss. Despite the torment, Christina kept her mind partitioned, trying to analyse as much data as she could.

“Don’t… kill me… before I… can write… my findings. That’s… wasteful… Akio!” Despite being separated from the pain, her body wasn’t, so speech was now a worse effort than even before.

“Don’t worry…” My own Split Thoughts were weaving emergency Chirurgery and Ether Healing to stabilise her. In doing so, I made a number of changes to the Eight Moons Chakra Network, discovering that even in perfection, it was far from the best it could be. It’s perfectly adapted for its functions, yes, but… there are other functions it could have…

Daiyu, who had been meditating, trying to make her own breakthroughs, opened one obsidian eye. “It seems what is happening to her body does resemble the warnings of Cultivation Deviation. When one cannot control and is ill-suited to a power, it becomes hard to control, and will unbalance the Dantians and cause collapse.”

“Yeah. That’s exactly it. Forcing in a Favour that doesn’t fit, and she doesn’t have the strength for…  but I don’t want a Favour. I want a scaffold.”

“I see. How… insanely… wonderful.” Christina understood instantly. “And… of course… you can… regrow…”

“It’s not that easy, but…” Stheno’s Favour was disassembled, but the parts of Shaeula’s Mystic Eyes that weren’t intrinsic to her were combined with it, as I replicated those structures with my buffed Chirurgery. The base was Kana’s less unique, far more generic abilities, and they formed a whole. Simple, clean… and not requiring much additional hardware, to follow our earlier analogies. “…it’s time!” I connected it to Christina, and she passed out, probably a mercy. “Ginneka, return the Skills!”

“I can’t, nya!” she cried. “They aren’t… pure anymore…”

“Wrong! They are!” I disagreed. “I wasn’t actually breaking their Skills, just mirroring the nature of them. And connecting them through the modified Favour. It’s… no different than when I woke up Tsurugi and her sisters…” She seemed interested at that, and I smiled at her. “…though fortunately here I didn’t need to rebuild them from scratch, just… link and copy what I could through the Favour. You’re just struggling because it’s… hard, the usurpation, the anti-bond, is resisting. But… I know you can do it.”

Lovers’ Link, Spirit Pledged and Pledged One, Kin Bonding, they are all additive, but Thieving Cat is subtractive. It’s the exact antithesis of what I stand for, but it’s still a bond, and also… when broken it becomes the opposite, I know that. Prominence Dawn flared, and I fed my recovered light and spatial elements into it and poured that through the connection Ginneka shared with me, being Enthroned, and also faintly connected via Kin Bonding, despite everything.

Her tail stood up on end, and her silver fur seemed as if she had been struck by lightning, but as her connection strengthened, she was more able to genuinely connect, not just steal. Moments later, a great surge of aether left her, wringing her dry once again, and she collapsed.

“Nya, I want to sleep for a week, nya. I don’t even want to be interrupted for a tumble, nya…”

I Ignored her bitter griping, as now my attention was on Christina, and also Shaeula and Kana. Christina’s Chakra Network shuddered, as it was pulled apart by the departing Skills, but with my Chirurgery and Ether Healing, she quickly recovered. I didn’t even have time to examine my own status, but merely filed away the messages for later.

“Whoa…” Kana blinked, her balance lost. “This… this is how you see the world, Shaeula? It’s so much better than my trashy eyes!”

Shaeula, however, light returning to her own eyes, the beautiful amber colour back, glanced at me, a sly grin on her face and for a moment I felt a shock, my body halting, though the effect was modest and easily thrown off. Seeing that, Shaeula pouted. “A shame-shame. I had hoped to be able to bind you.” Her grin returned. “But… it is strange. My Eyes feel no-no different, yet… yet I can do this?” She locked eyes with Zachary, who froze rigid.

“Let me explain. But first…” I laid down Christina, before checking over Kana and Shaeula, as well as Ginneka, whose blue eyes now also held some faint amber flecks, nearly unnoticeable. Kana’s Eyes had underdone the greatest change.

Spiritual Eyes Of Earth

These Eyes a combination of Adherence-fuelled Eyes that allow mortals to perceive the spiritual on some level, as well as some elements of a potent pair of Mystic Eyes, and an addition of a strong Earth Elemental energy and Adherence. These Eyes, since they are based on a generic type of perceptive ability that can be seeded in most beings, do not conflict with most existing Chakra networks, and while their sight is far from comprehensive, or comparable to the Mystic Eyes that have flavoured them, they allow clear vision of most basic Ether and Aether structures.

They also have been flavoured with the aspect of the Divine Favour that was used as the basis for this construction. Earth Elemental affinity and control slightly improve, though as the bearer of these Eyes already has significant affinity, the effect is strengthened. In addition, the bearer can channel Aether and Earth Elemental energy to create a weak paralysing effect, though stronger foes will resist this. [Class: Noble] [Type: Rule]

“Yes, I fear you can not-not compete with me yet, Kana.” Shaeula chuckled. “My Eyes still see deeper. however…”

Kana nodded, excited. “I can see the basic details of a Chakra network inside Christina if I concentrate. Whoa, she’s really messed up inside. You’d better fix her, Akio!”

As I did just that, Kana pumped her fist. “Now I can learn Chirurgery properly, and take the burden off your shoulders, Akio, Shaeula. Though… Aiko-chan is going to be quite frustrated.”

“Maybe not.” I shook my head. Ginneka had also retained the new Mystic Eyes, which had pleased her, especially as it didn’t seem to strain her as much as holding Skills usually did. She was limited in what she could possess, which made sense, due to her vessel and League, most likely, otherwise she would have been a single digit Number in the Hyakki Yagyō, not Ninetieth.

“You see…” Christina started to stir, eyelids fluttering. “…There’s no point making a one-off solution. Improving Kana’s eyes… yours too I guess, Shaeula…” I grinned as Shaeula pouted at being left out, even though her Mystic Eyes had gained little except for the paralysing gaze, and a buff to earth affinity, which made me chuckle. I remember when she was so afraid of earth element, calling it inimical to her very existence.

“…was a worthy benefit, but I’m thinking bigger.” As Christina opened her eyes, she winced, feeling the fading ghosts of unbearable agony. She blinked, before smiling, and I could see aether gathering in her eyes.

“I see? This will certainly help my research. But… it’s not over, is it?”

“Nope.” I agreed. “You see… Christina volunteered to subject herself to the most dangerous, unethical experiments for progress, and honestly… this one’s not the sort of thing a good man, a hero, should be doing.” I felt rather guilty, but Christina reassured me with a bright, lopsided smile.

“True, but… if you turn it around, you’re punishing me on behalf of the victims of my crimes and helping me make amends. Besides…” She sat up, wincing. “If I believed in God right now I would be cursing him… Even with half my mind clear, I still experience the other half…” She shuddered again, mimicking Ginneka from earlier. “Now then.” She pulled off her glasses and delicately touched her eyes, probing softly. “There’s no point if… we can’t replicate it. So… the final test.”

I nodded slowly. “Honestly, it went better than I had hoped. I had planned to turn the Favour into a half-dozen sets of Eyes we could give out, but with the great Fortune I had, I managed to piece together everything I’ve observed in a better way. Though… not better for Christina, maybe.”

“Pain, for a worthy cause, isn’t wrong.” She managed to remain stoic, before managing a wan grin. “So, who is first? Surely not your dear sister? If something goes wrong, you’ll never forgive yourself, will you?”

“Yes, though… honestly, I’m confident it won’t. Kana, your eyes are fine, aren’t they?”

She nodded at my question. “Yes, better than ever. But from your conversation…”

“It seems that Aiko’s amusing suggestion has come-come to fruition.” Shaeula giggled wickedly, before actually having a little sympathy in her gaze as she observed Christina. “I imagine it is going to be rather unpleasant, but-but… do your best.”

“Always.” Christina agreed. “Now, the anticipation is making my stomach ache, and it’s the wrong sort of butterflies to be enjoyable. So… who is first? Though… from your conversation earlier, I can guess.” She glanced at Mary-Jane, who was pale and trembling at the horrors she had seen. “I’m right, yes?” She glanced at me, a smug expression on her face, and I nodded.

“Yes. It may sound… rather ghoulish, but… if you have these eyes, you can learn Chirurgery and Ether Healing to a level worth calling yourself a Healer again. It worked out better than even I imagined. Now it has the added bonus of a paralysing debuff, which will suit your support role as well.”

Mary-Jane shook her head, and Christina laughed, pulling her eyelids wide open with trembling fingers. “She won’t relent unless she has no choice. Do it…” She lowered her voice to a whisper only I could hear. “Before I further lose my dignity in other fashions.”

Oh. I didn’t realise. I wove some aether and water element discreetly, clearing up the mess down below, and Christina flashed me a relieved grin. “I’m not opposed to being shamed, but… only in front of you. Now… do it.” Her breathy whisper encouraged me, and with swift motions, I quickly scooped out her eyes. It was more than that, of course, I had to use Chirurgery to remove parts of her Chakra network as well, the modified, dispersed Favour too. But as she blinked at me, eyeless, I turned to the horrified Mary-Jane.

“You see? She’s made the sacrifice. Though I’ll restore her eyes in a moment.”

As Mary-Jane gagged, backing off, Tsurugi looked at the eyes in my hand with curiosity. “What did you do that for, father?” she asked, tilting her head.

“You know how sometimes on a sword you can change the Fuchi and Kashira if they get damaged, or if you want to give it a different look…?”

Tsurugi nodded but seemed sad. “I don’t want to be replaced, if you want me to look different, I can, father!”

I chuckled. I would have ruffled her hair, but I was holding a pair of eyes, my aether keeping them in perfect condition. “Don’t worry, it’s just an example. In this case, it’s putting in a more useful part. Though…” I glanced at Mary-Jane. “Don’t worry about the colour being different. I thought about that with my sister. She wouldn’t be Sapphire if they weren’t blue. Adjusting them shouldn’t be too hard. I wouldn’t want to confuse your husband and children.”

“I don’t think that’s the issue!” Mary-Jane barked. “This… is too far!”

“No, it’s not.” Eri shook her head. “It’s a matter of commitment. We’re committed to going as far as we have to for each other and our goals. It’s how far he’ll go for Eleanor too. And because you’re Eleanor’s friend, he’ll go that far on your behalf as well.”

“Power that is your own is a precious gift.” Daiyu pointed out. “Your Favour from the Gods was riven from you. These Eyes cannot be, if I surmise correctly?” She queried me with her onyx gaze and I agreed.

“Yes. The Favour is a part of the Eyes, but… not in the way you think. The integration with Christina isn’t standard, not at all. It’s like… say this Favour was a sword…” I grinned at Tsubaki’s excitement at the simile. “Instead of Christina wielding it as is, I disassembled it, and made it into something that is actually a part of her.”

“Don’t disassemble me, father!” Tsurugi chuckled, and I laughed and promised I wouldn’t.

“It’s a little reminiscent of what I want to do with your remnant Favour, Tsukiko.” At my words she nodded calmly, having great trust in me, before I addressed Mary-Jane once more. “Now Tsurugi is stressed, and I can’t hold her, as my hands are full… I don’t want to pressure you, but… it depends how much you want this?”

Mary-Jane froze, before glancing over at Eleanor once more, then at David, who was urging Motoko and Natsumi on as they battled, and lastly at Callie. Swallowing nervously, she gazed at me, before I could see resolve, and she nodded. “I may be a fool, I may regret this, but… I can’t let them fight alone. I won’t.”

“You won’t regret it.” I promised, chuckling. “Now… let’s get started.”

***

“Want to keep them as a souvenir?” I asked Mary-Jane, who gagged.

“No… just no!” She glanced down at the eyes I held and had used to tune the colour. Faint flecks of amber still remained within her new eyes, but it was barely visible unless she was pouring aether in. “Please, get rid of them! It’s ghastly!”

With a smile I let out flame element, burning her old eyes to ash. Beside me, Christina was blinking her own regenerated eyes, and Shaeula and Kana were observing her closely with their own, though Shaeula was having a fun time being mean, freezing her in place every so often, though Christina took it with good humour.

“It may be… but they work, don’t they?” I pressed, and after a pout that made her look far younger, she nodded.

“Yes. And I suppose… now the pain is fading, I don’t regret it.” She looked in a mirror a maid had brought over and breathed a sigh of relief that everything seemed normal. “So, what is next for me?”

“Ether Healing and Chirurgery training, I’m afraid. Which… isn’t fun. Shaeula, can you help her with that?”

“I shall.” Shaeula grinned. “Just-just consider it more credit I am building for my birthday.”

“Oh, you’ve got enough credit.” I teased. “And…” After observing Christina carefully, I made my decision. “…send my sis over, will you?”

“Oh, so you think I can endure it again?” Christina asked, and I chuckled, though honestly, I did feel guilty, despite everything. Tsurugi leapt into my arms, and I stroked her head, making her squint in satisfaction, as I explained.

“Yes. Honestly, you can. One more for now. Then… it’ll take more than just Healing to replace your eyes. Your Chakra network is… strange now. And… you gained an unexpected Class. Actually, two of them.”

Chimera is a Class granted to those who are spiritually altered in unnatural ways yet have adapted to these alterations, which ordinarily would be extremely damaging. The Chakra network and Silver Cord is strengthened, and Skills relating to healing, regeneration and spiritual adaptions are easier to Level, and show a boosted effect. The ability to manipulate energies such as Aether and Adherence increases. Resilience, Determination and Charm will increase significantly.

Why the hell does Charm increase? The rest makes sense… as for the other Class…

Donator is a Class those who sacrifice their very Flesh, Spirit and even Truesoul willingly to empower and rebuild others. The efficiency of Ether conversion increases, and the effect of healing and regenerative abilities are significantly enhanced. Soullight generation is slightly increased. Resilience, Fortitude and Determination increase significantly. The mutability of subtle bodies increases, and damage and irregularities such as Cultivation Deviation are slightly mitigated. As League increases, donated parts adapt to their hosts with greater ease.

That Class is… troubling. Although… I glanced over at Daiyu, who seemed a little puzzled, until I read out the details, and she fell into a contemplative silence.

“I see. Donator, huh?” Christina touched her newly regrown eyes, just as Shaeula hurried back with my sister in tow. “I do feel a little stronger, and now…” Her eyes glittered with faint amber sparks, as she turned down the device Ixitt had given her, before turning if off entirely. “Yes… uncomfortable. But… it’s just that.” She took a deep breath. “I can bear it now. Yes, I feel such a fool. All our playing in America, with our guinea pigs, willing and unwilling, our technology and laboratories, is just idiots bashing toys together, breaking them.” She blinked, her smile rueful. “I am enlightened. True science is sustainability. So… looks like I’m up again. How many more?”

“Last one for now, I think. The integrated Adherence and other energies from the Favour, which make up these Eyes, they’re almost spent. But… your Chakra network Skill has changed as well… it’s now an Adaptive Bonded Eight Moons Chakra Network, which claims to be self-repairing to an extent, and easily adaptable and chimeric. Honestly… it’s exactly what we needed.” I grinned, rubbing the Anulus Fortunae. “It seems luck was on our side.”

“Talent and effort too.” Christina shook her head. “And bravery of course!” She pushed out her ample chest as my sis pulled up, eager.

“Hey bro! What’s up?” my sis enthused, looking around. “Had a breakthrough, Shaeula says, though she wouldn’t say what.”

“I should be asking you about yours.” I countered, and my sis banged her head with one fist, sticking out her tongue in amusement.

“Hey, it’s tough, bro. We’re all working on it, I promise. I’m very keen on transforming my Golden Sister Army, but it isn’t a walk in the park. I’m close to earth element, which is the first step. The twins are really good at what they do, Haru-chan too!”

“Isn’t that fortunate then.” Kana chuckled, and as my sis looked at her quizzically, Kana draped an arm around my sister’s shoulder.

“Aren’t you in a good mood, Kana? Something good happen?” she asked, and Kana smiled broadly.

“You could say that. For me, and for you too. It’ll even help with your earth element.” Kana’s Eyes lit up as she funnelled aether in. “And your dreams.”

My sis blinked, before she was matching Kana’s grin. “I see. You got the eyes working then? How are they? Not as good as my bro’s yeah?”

“No.” Kana agreed. “Not quite as good as Shaeula’s either, but… more than good enough. And it’s not like we can’t continue to improve them, right?”

“Well…” My sis shrugged. “Makes sense. Besides, the price of my bro’s Eye is a little high for me, since poor Tan has to be his girlfriend. Mom would freak out, and dad would kill him if he tried that with me.”

As there were chuckles all around us, I rolled my eyes, exasperated. “Not funny, sis. But you’re right that while I can certainly transplant my Eye, it’s overkill, and a far more limited resource.”

“Yes!” Christina pounded her chest pridefully. “I’m the ultimate renewable resource. All it costs is a little pain, and some tender loving care!” Eyes wide, she smiled teasingly at me. “Go on, show your sister how brave I am!”

“At least your eyes are blue as well.” My sis snorted, ignoring her banter. “Mine are prettier though. Bluer.”

“Don’t worry about that. Just… get ready.” With swift, practiced motions, once more Christina’s Eyes, still with their spiritual, Astral components attached, were in my hands, and I approached my sister, who took a step back.

“I’m suddenly getting cold feet, but…” With a deep breath, she steadied herself. “Seeing her offer up her own eyes with that crazy smile is unnerving. And it totally crushes my ability to refuse. I suppose…” She hyped herself up. “…it’s no worse than when I burned myself to learn fire. All right bro, scoop me out and fill me up!”

“Phrasing!” Eri chuckled, and soon Aiko was regretting her flippancy…

***

“I was so very, very wrong.” My sis blinked her watery eyes, checking herself in the mirror. “I’d rather stick my face in the fire than endure that again.”

“Nope, you’d scar your pretty features.” I insisted, gently whacking her on the back of the head. I’d regrown Christina’s Eyes, but now her Adaptive Network needed time to heal and recover adherence as well. It was strange, Christina didn’t have the Skills yet, but her body was definitely processing it. “And it hurts way more because it’s spiritual pain. I can’t do much more than dampen it a little, and I don’t even like doing that in case it causes complications.”

“Yeah, yeah. Sadist.” my sis teased, taking a deep breath to steady herself. “I don’t know what you all see in him.” She joked with the others, calming down. “Hey, at least you got the blue exactly right. Just how well do you know my eyes?”

“Want a souvenir?” I repeated my joke from earlier, and my sis surprised me.

“Sure. Kind of an odd gift, but maybe I’ll make them into earrings or something. Set them in crystal. It’ll be one hell of a conversation piece!”

Shocked at her boldness, I Shapercrafted them to prevent them rotting, and also to carefully remove all the horrible extra bits and pieces such as nerve connections that looked awful. Passing the now smooth spheres to my sis, she tossed them in her hands idly, earning a giggle from Shaeula, and exasperation from Eri.

“So, let’s see. Oh yeah… it’s easier to see the flow now, and inside my eyes…” She looked at the orbs in her hand. “Wow, it’s like x-ray vision, though it only sees aether and so on. But you can see the remains of the Chakra network that connects to the eyes. With this…” Her smile was sly. “Chirurgery, right bro?”

“Yeah, my sis, the queen of aetheric sports science, is ready to be born. Though first…” My grin was wicked. “You can probably break the bottleneck with Ether Healing now.”

She shuddered. “Oh… yeah. I’ll… get right on that, but… Hinata’s waiting, and I can’t let big sis Haanōbō down, so… later!”

As she scurried off, I snorted, before turning to Shaeula, clapping Christina on the shoulder. “Since my sis is busy, you can give Christina the same training as Mary-Jane. I want at least Rank four Ether Healing, and also Chirurgery at Rank one or two. While I’m going to need our legendary Donator here…” Christina tittered nervously at that. “…for some more experiments, in adapting the Chakra network further, next…” I glanced at Tsukiko. “…I can manage on my own.”

“Do not-not worry!” Shaeula grinned wickedly. “I shall enlist the aid of Hyacinth’s spores, and in no-no time, we shall have results!”

“All of a sudden, I get the urge to see how Princess Eleanor is doing…” Mary-Jane sighed, and Christina nodded.

“Oh yes. It has been simply excruciating so far. Why, if I was less dedicated, I might have gone mad. It certainly gives me a fresh appreciation for my mistakes. But… you know it is necessary. The quicker we endure, the quicker we can progress!”

As Mary-Jane nodded at her wise, if cold, words, Shaeula quickly took them to a corner, and raced off towards Hyacinth, but not before refreshing the fortunate winds. As for me, I turned to Tsukiko. “All right then. I’m even more confident now. Let’s show Tsukuyomi he was wrong on this as well, and… you don’t have to do without the precious gift he bequeathed you, as payment for your services. Far too meagre a payment, if you ask me, but…”

At my banter, Tsukiko smiled beautifully, and I rubbed my hands together, ready to get started. All right then. Round two…