“The pce has ged.” I said, looking around at the mansion. It had now been fully refurbished after the battle with Ginneka and Kinneka led to its destru, and it was a mixture of modern and Fae styles. The surrounding forest had also beeed, but what was most differehe sheer number of Fae around, especially many nimble Sylphs, Sprites and other simir elemental-type Fae. Several of the little winged Fae flitted over, chattering curiously, but Shaeu waved them away imperiously.

  “We are rather busy now. We - py ter.” As the Fae scattered, Shaeu looked at me, grinning. “However, I am most-most proud that the Spring and also the demesne brother Shaeraggo procured for me has bee so popur. We should go-go to the observation point.” The mansion had a siall tower in one er, several stories higher than the rest, so it could see over the forest. As the doors opened, a number of maids greeted us, including Velna, Klena and several ratkin who were some of Ixitt’s many daughters. Seeing that, Shaeu waved, and Shiro nodded politely, smiling wryly, as she fided to me. “It sure is o be treated like royalty, but despite me being a princess…” She made her old joke, and Shaeu snorted happily. “…I’m ly fortable with it. Ta as her due though.”

  Cool drinks were pressed into our hands, and as we reached the top of the tower, we looked out towards the Spring, seeing fields of beautiful flowers, being zily harvested by Mirror Bees, forests of trees den with heavy fruit, and acres of shimmering golden crops. In the distahe mirrored menhirs of the Spring shone brilliantly uhe light of the massive moon overhead. “It’s good to see the barreilent forest is almost gone.” I mused, and Shaeu agreed.

  “Primal Forest is sparing no-no effort to wipe away the traces of his hated Myids.” Shaeu agreed. “But we - profit greatly. With the fruits of our harvests we make many-many valuable products.”

  “I’m still more surprised how malleable the nds here are.” Shiro observed, eg some of my previous thoughts. “I mean, the Spring wasn’t on this side of the Seelie Court inally, right? Makes you think. And wonder just what Tan’s Territory ba her own nds is like.”

  We made cheerful talk for a few more minutes. Oerial I was still in the car heading to the Ministry, and the further increased differen rates of time flow was hurting my head, so I cut them short. “Sorry, but we o get started.”

  “Indeed, Shiro says you have something that - strengthen me.” Shaeu’s amber gaze leased. “But not-not a full Favour, yes?”

  I nodded, and briefly expined how I had separated some of Jarovid’s Favour to give Shiro a part that suited her. “Morana’s Water is simir. I have a det patibility with it, but… there’s also some of it which I think is much more useful for you.”

  “I see. It surprises me that you have advanced so-so quickly. Now you influehe crafts of the very-very Gods themselves.” Shaeu roud of me, puffing out her chest happily, as if it was her own achievement. “You are indeed-indeed a prodigy!”

  Shiro’s eyes fshed crimson. “Such a term is not used lightly in the higher Astral and the Territories of the Pantheons. A Prodigy is one who reaches a certain measure of talent far more swiftly than others. It is somewhat fitting here. However…” Tan cautioned us. “Not every Prodigy goes on to greater things. Many find they have merely reached their limits soohan others. It is not about who go quickest, but who goes furthest.”

  “I thank you for the advice.” I said gravely, and Shiro’s face moved to a solemn expression as Tan aowledged that, before Shiro ughed.

  “Don’t take her words too much to heart, Aki. Tan’s just being tsundere again. She thinks you have what it takes, or she wouldn’t have made her offer to take us away with her. In any case… to us you’re not a prodigy, but a hard worker.”

  I nodded. “Yeah. Well, it’s not a big deal, I mean, even Eri’s gaihe ow.” There was sile my words, before Shaeu raised one eyebrow.

  “I see. I ot-not deny being rather frustrated. And also curious.”

  “Yeah.” Shiro agreed. “Shit, the thing Eri’s best at is being a little pervert who just wants to keep you to herself and…” At my expression, she trailed off. “No, it isn’t…” As Shaeu started cag, I nodded.

  “Yeah, seems Eri’s even reised by my Eye.” I sent a thought to Eri. Shiro and Shaeu seem a bit surprised by yrowth. By the way, how’s Yu-mi doing?

  She’s fine. Rather amazed by everything, but she’s not a bad girl, so she’ll fit in. I’ve taken her up the Tree. Oh… you o speak to Asha ter, okay?

  As I sent an affirmative thought back to Eri, I sidered the other advantage of Lovers’ Link now. Eri’s aether ool I could draw from should we both sent, and while pared to me it uddle, it was a substantial puddle in times of great need, and sustain in battle was always my greatest weakness. I fight hard and well, but as my stores of aether and elemental energies run down, my effectiveness drops. It’s a shame elemental energies don’t seem transferrable, at least not yet. Sending bae affirmative thoughts, I turned back to Shiro and Shaeu. “Don’t worry, it’s something you should all strive for, as the Css bes are really good. And if Eri and I do it, you all too.” I paused, struck by a thought. “Oh… well I’m actually not sure if you , Shaeu, as prodigies are usually ranked by age…”

  “How rude.” Shaeu shough she took no actual offense. “In terms of the Fae, I am you-yet. Do not-not disparage me. I wish to stand equal to all who are-are beside you. I will not-not be left behind.” She raised one eyebrow quizzically. “Shiro, how-how about a wager?”

  “Gambling with you is a terrible pn, with your crazy luck.” Shiro ughed. “But as there’s not volved in this… sure. oo gain the Css wins. Who do you think it’ll be, Aki?” Her smile was a little teasing now, as she put me on the spot. Actually…

  “While I hardly think we guarantee anyone else will get the Css, I do have a good guess as to who it might be. Though…”

  “Not one of us, huh Shaeu?” Shiro smirked. “I guess Aki is uimating us, and he definitely doesn’t want our buffs here.”

  Knowing she was just joking, even so, I pyed along. “Oh, no, I implore you for your support.” I begged, squeezing out some fake tears. “I’d be helpless without you, Shiro, Shaeu.”

  “Gd that you know it.” Shiro snorted. “Anyway, do you want the new buff as well?” she said, as Anesidora’s blessings flooded into me, strengthening my ability to manipute the hidden property of the Favour. A cool wind blew around me, as Shaeu also buffed my Fortune.

  “Not yet. I need all my tratiht now, so I’ll only use it wheiming is right.” I replied. “Anyway, let’s get started.” I used my Eye and all my senses, probing Morana’s Drowning Lake Of Self-Sacrifice. It tained a strong adherence, water-aspected, and it was also tangled up with other cepts, some of which I could uand, trol, sacrifid devotion, as well as some I couldn’t quite dis. The Favour, despite being somewhat damaged, quivered eagerly, as if willing te with me, but I resisted, seeing what I wanted. I was silent in the car oerial, Trey knowing not to bother me, and I minimised my sehere, allowio focus as muy thoughts as possible oask ahead. The trol… I don’t need or want that. It’s not the sort of power for me. But…

  F bdes of aether and adherence, I slowly isoted those parts of the Favour, though the division was hardly clear-cut, like roots digging into soil. Worse, while I could make out the areas of absence, and even slightly feel the hidden aspect to the Favours, I was still w almost entirely blind.

  Seeing my troubled expression, Shiro’s eyes turned brilliant crimson, as did her hair, and fmes flickered. Her skin darkened and facial features ged, and soon a brown-skinned version of Shiro was standing before me, her already incalcuble good looks now more alluring than ever, her every move sensual. “I have little idea on your ability to manipute subtle bodies and clumps of aether and adherean said, her tone, while still with its usual hard edge, was somehow teasing, almost erotic. “I am not able to make a Favour myself, so my insight is limited. Despite that, I see what you still ot, though I would never cim to uand it. However…” She waved a hand, and adherence surged. Suddenly my eyes widened, as the hidden voids, the areas where something clearly was, became visible, shining with a lingering glow. “…I am merely creating a work of art to please me. I am bored, and miss my pace, my servants, my father. Not my sisters, however. They are both terribly vexing and exhausting.”

  Oh yeah, there’s stuff Tan isn’t allowed to talk about. She’s skirted it before by making sure what she doesn’t say is clearly the aself, and… this is sort of the same. “Art, huh? I’m curious.” I said casually, excitement rag, as I examihe lightshow. “Do you have the same types we have here? Paintings? Sculptures? Music? Those sorts of things?”

  “Of course.” Tan ughed, and gleaming gold bangles on her arms and wrists jingled musically. Beside me, Shaeu was waiting keenly, her eyes glowing, and she too was listening. “Likely on a scale you hardly fathom, though smaller, more intimate pieces are certainly popur. We live near-eternal, so there is little urgency, only a o stave off boredom. Though matters have ged somewhat retly. Our troubles, which you are not qualified to hear of. Not until your world has an Astral Emperor.”

  “Yes, the Fae are the same. We be zy, i and quite-quite likely to put off for tomorrow what - be dooday. Though I have ged. I do find the mortal ways far-far more eaining.” Shaeu agreed. “While zing about with Akio and the others has many-many charms, fun things with them are also rather-rather pleasant.”

  “Yes, this is a fasating world.” Tan agreed. “The diy of a world that has little to no belief in the spiritual, despite it having loed, yet being able to use knowledge that deruth to improve truth… well, it is hardly any wonder I want it. I shall not let it slip my grasp.”

  “rasp.” Shaeu corrected. “You have not-not won yer yet, and even should you do so, we have-have an agreement.”

  Tan’s smile was gentle, yet subtly mog. “Of course I am hardly so senile as to have fotten. But we were talking of art. Creations using not merely pigments, materials and craft, but also aether, even adherend more, be stunningly beautiful, evoking feelings nothing else . I have several such pieces, though my father obviously has many more. Power is of course the truest indication of strength, but possession of treasures, and objects of vanity is but another measure, and ohe Pantheons favour.”

  Shaeu agreed, ung into a talk oreasury her father possessed, and I shut them out, trying to feel my way through the mysterious third aspect. It could be interfered with, though aether alone seemed insuffit. While the insides were still opaque to me, with Tan’s help I could see the eg points to the adherend aether, and also… I may be wrong, but Tan’s doing it again. What isn’t revealed is as important as what she does illuminate. Behia out a pleasant chuckle, perhaps seeing that I uood.

  “If only I had your Eye, I would be able to create a Favour of my own, I believe.” Tan decred. “In fact, I would sider it worth the loss of this world to another Pantheon. It is a shame you will not succeed in replig it. For your Eye is not merely aension of your ability and subtle bodies.”

  “Yes, I know that.” I agreed. “My experiments have shown it. But that doesn’t mean that I learned nothing useful.” The light Tan had called was a ging film of adherence, and some areas were much dimmer than others. Ta uand how Favours are made, and she doesn’t have an Eye like I do, she made clear to point that out. I uand. All she do is see which areas have a lot of the mysterious energy, and which have less. Just like we tell where a fme is hottest by the colour. Behian was releasing her Divine Possession, and Shiro’s skin, hair and eyes were returning to normal.

  “Tan thinks you might he buff soon.” Shiro pointed out, and I nodded.

  “Yes, but not yet. I don’t feel lucky.” Gently probing the areas around the e I wao sever, I started isoting the adherend aether of the trolling aspect of the Favour. However, that alone wouldn’t work, I got the feeling. After all, it’s the fluids that are the medium, which means it probably won’t work without some of the water element part, right? Making sure to carefully peel a k of that away as well, my tration was intense. Fshes of insight guided me away from making some cuts, and soon I had isoted everything I thought I needed. However, I still hadn’t dug into the tral, mysterious energy. I focussed all my efforts, and in the end, narrowed it down to three choices of how much material to remove. It was then the winds started swirling around me, and I had a sudden feeling the third option would be the luckiest, but there was still something wrong, I was likely to make a mistake.

  “Now.” I said to Shiro, and she raised a hand, and my body shuddered, my blood starting to slowly start bubbling, a heat, quite uhe heat of aether, this one wildly unpleasant, building within me, and my probes of adherence were suddenly sharper, more delicate. “Here goes…” With a desperate ssh, I tore out the piece of the Favour I wao give to Shaeu. Immediately the remaining Favour started to crumble, and desperately I poured in adherend aether to stabilise it, relying on a bination of Fortune and my temporarily enhanced Skill. For a moment the colpse halted, and I absorbed it, amber letters fring ay overtaxed Eye, which was starting to hurt painfully.

  “Here, quickly!” I said to Shaeu, and the mass of energies I passed her was sucked into her body, quickly absorbed by her sacral chakra and lunar chakra. Shaeu’s eyes widened, and then she grinned.

  “I feel it, yes. Most-most fasating!”

  “So I…” Slumping down, I felt the boiling blood within me recede, the fury cooled. My own sacral chakra ulsing, and the High Moonlight Spirit Water was surging, abs the invisible energies, adherend more.

  “Let me help you two.” Shiro said, p us drinks, which we took gratefully. As we rested, drinking deeply, Shiro looked at us both. “So, success? Tan thought it an incredibly long shot, but then, you’ve always been rather lucky, Aki. After all, you’ve got a cute sister, geous childhood friend, perfeiversity friend and also a faerie tale princess here.” She wi Shaeu. “Born under a lucky star indeed.”

  “I ’t argue.” I agreed, fully aware that I was certainly more fortuhan most. “Though yeah, after the first success, I put my odds of a result here at maybe ten to ohat seemed abht, and Shiro shook her head.

  “Tan wants your Eye even more now. If an amateur who ’t even use… uh… well, whatever it is… get the odds that high, Tan says if she had it, she’d quickly bee one of the leaders of her whole Pantheon. Whoa, so you’re saying Aki’s Eye is that impressive?” Shiro trailed off, having a silent chat with her inside her mind, while Shaeu, sweating a little, downed her drink.

  “Very well. My ability to use water element has surely strengthened, but…” She waved one hand. “The befuddling winds have indeed ged. Akio, take-take a look.” She swept out the winds, and they now blew like a mist, green and e energies shining. As they touched me, I felt an instinctive urge to do as Shaeu said, almost an urge to worship her, as if she was a Goddess. Fortunately my Resilience is high, and Shaeu’s ing herself.

  “Stop that.” Shiro shuddered. “I like you, Shaeu, but I’m not ready to throw Aki aside for you. Though… damn, I’m straight, one hundred pert. I admire beautiful and cute girls, I’m no barbarian, but… is it me or have you got prettier?” She blihen looked at me as well, blushing. “Uh… I hate mushy pliments, but you look way hotter too now Aki. Nothing’s ged, but… hey, are y Charm? Stop that!” She was breathing heavily, and then took one long, deep breath, squeezing her bck eyes shut for a moment, before opening them again. “Thanks Tan. So… yeah, Shaeu, I’m not going to NTR Aki with you. I know some guys get off on their girl and another woman together, but that’s not my thing.” She suddenly blushed red as a tomato, and her voice lowered. “Unless of course you’re really into that, Aki, then maybe… just on a while…” Without our excellent hearing, we wouldn’t have heard the embarrassed, mouselike mutter. I pulled the surprised Shiro into a hug, rubbing her back, and she looked at me, wide-eyed.

  “I’m into you, Shiro. Oh, you too of course, Shaeu.” She that, satisfied, and I tinued. “So I’d never ask you to do anything you’re not fortable with. And you know I’m a jealous, possessive guy, right? Anyway, you’re not thinking straight. It’s because we’ve both taken some of the aspeorana’s Favour. It’s a very insidious o either had to be destroyed or handled like this. It shouldn’t be allowed.”

  “Indeed. I apologise.” Shaeu grinned. “Though I will-will remember how cute you were when flustered and embarrassed, Shiro.”

  “No, please fet it!” She squirmed in my embrace for a while, before she rexed. “It’s all right. I’m fine now, Aki. And curious. What did you gain?”

  “I shall let you-you expin, as always.” Shaeu said, and so I started with her first.

  “You’re right. Shaeu’s Charm has jumped up a few points, but that’s not why you were so affected.”

  Winds And Waters Of Devotion And Worship is a blessing that directly causes the blessed beings to hold great feelings of affe, love and respect for the wielder, and those of weaker wills or already holding positive feelings will even find an urge to worship the wielder. ands issued will not be refused uhey are directly against the core beliefs or safety of the affected being, and Water and Wind Elements be expethen this effect, overp others and f them to ply, yet they will feel it is of their own volition they do so, and they will feel great pleasure and happio serve. The affect of Charm and Majesty of the wielder of this blessing is signifitly increased at all times, dependant on the amount of Water Element held. [Css: Imperious] [Type: Principle]

  “Yeah, that’s broken.” Shiro observed. “You could easily take over the world with that.”

  “I have no-no need.” Shaeu grinned happily, pleased at her newfound strength. “We shall do that together and need no-no crutch such as this. But once again, I thank you, Akio. You have not-not ever refused to aid me, not-not sihe day we first met. I think it was I who was born under lucky-lucky stars. In fact, I certainly was.” I remembered the story she told me of the day of her birth, while she winked. “As always, I do so-so love yift.”

  “Yep, we certainly got treated well.” Shiro agreed, now eyeing me. “As for you, Aki, what’s your be?”

  “Several points of Charm, Sacral Chakra to Rank five, and a new Skill.” It’s certainly less than what I would have gained if I had absorbed the full Favour, but I’d rather share this o.

  Soothing Waters Of Self-Sacrifice allows you to use your bodily fluids to soothe curses, poisons, misfortune and other ills a being is experieng, though your own Fortune will temporarily be suppressed in response, and if you have a resoh the target of your ability, you will also take on the damage they are suffering. Your bodily fluids tain the power to heal, and your own natural recovery rate and regeive ability is enhanced by the amount of Water Element you possess. The effects of your Charm and Majesty are signifitly increased at all times, and long-term exposure to your bodily fluids will very slightly increase the Majesty and Charm of the being so exposed. Damage caused to you by your own bodily fluids, most notably blood, will be dramatically decreased, and you soothe the damage doo others by their own fluids by application of your own. You imbue Aether, Adherend ???????? into your bodily fluids. [Css: Imperious] [Type: Principle]

  “That’s a… very specific… set of abilities.” Shiro said, rather stunned and a little unfortable. Shaeu was ughing loudly, and I felt a touch embarrassed myself, as Shiro tinued.

  “So, sounds like you make healing potions out of your…”

  “Don’t say it!” I warned, flushing. “Tears! Tears are safe!”

  “Sure. I was just going to say ‘out of your tears’.” Shiro lied. “It’s a very strange Skill, but it pliments my Berserk Blessing, and your Resonance. Which is what you wanted, right?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, anything that help your buffs stack up gives us huge potential when w with Asha’s Tree. In fact, we should go see her and run some final tests…”

  “Nope, not happening!” Shiro cut me off firmly, surprising me a little. Shaeu followed up with another denial.

  “Indeed. You shall-shall test it on us. It must be certain there are no-no dangers.”

  All right. I guess since Asha is in a pair with her Tree, there could be unforeseen problems, and if we damage the Tree that would wreck our pns. “Fine, we’ll run a few quick tests before seeing the others. I still o say hi to Asha, Daiyu and the others anyway.”

  “So, Shaeu…” Shiro said, frowning. “The effects of this ability have to be kept a total secret. Otherwise…”

  Shaeu agreed again. “Indeed. Otherwise Akio will be quite-quite surrounded by those looking to profit from him.”

  “Yeah, some women would do anything to boost their Charm.” Shiro nodded.

  “Oh e on. Nobody’s going to start sug out my blood for a very slight increase… are they?” I finished uainly, as matg eyes of amber and bck stared at me, annoyed.

  “Don’t uimate women. Besides, I don’t evean to tell me that when you add adhereo the mix, certain fluids are going to work better.” Shiro pined. She opened her mouth, before pausing, then ging what she was going to say, cheeks and neck a little red. “For example, when you were a kid, did your parents tell you when you fell down and hurt yourself ‘just put a little spit on it and it’ll be good as new?’. I mean, mine never did, but I’ve heard others mention it. So I think spit would heal better than tears. Blood too, obviously.”

  “That makes sense.” I had to agree, being rather experienced in these subjeow. “Don’t worry, the only part of it I need is the ability to reduce the damage from Boiling Blood and your buff.” Now I overclock Boiling Blood to push it even further beyond Body Enha. “Right, well I o find a home soon for Jumong’s and Aergia’s favours, as well as whatever the o from the bastard who attacked my sis and the others is. Though I’m a bit short of adhereo transfer one, even with the top-up I got from the pseudo-breakdown of Morana’s favour.” I looked at Shiro, and her eyes bzed red.

  “Very well, I will supply you. But do not think I am fetting the great debt you are building up towards me.”

  “I won’t.” I promised Tan. “Don’t worry, I’m already sure of how I’ll repay your efforts.”

  “See that you do.” she replied, before relinquishing trol once more.

  “All right then. We’ll do some quick tests, then go see the others…”

  As I was saying that in the Boundary, oerial I had arrived at the Ministry aered quickly. I was soon shown to a meeting room, which was guarded by Lieutenant Nakano. He nodded a greeting, and as I entered, I saw Major Sasaki and another military Chosen I wasn’t overly familiar with, as well as Motoko’s father, who looked furious. Seeing me e in, he also greeted me perfunctorily, and my gaze was drawn to our visitors. I reised the massive, nigh seven-foot-tall man with dark skin and dreadlocks from London, the Chosen amed Titan, and when he saw me, his eyes narrowed, before he gave me a polite greeting. “Hey man. Long time no see, ya.” I nodded back, then turning my gaze to the woman, Christina Bakker, still in her ratty b coat, a turtleneck jumper underh it, her legs crossed in faded jeans.

  “If it isn’t the man of the hour, Akio Moonstone Oshiro. o meet you again.” She grinned widely, seeming amused by my shock. What the hell happeo her? Didn’t she heed my warnings? Her admittedly pretty face was covered in brutal burns along one cheek and around her eye, while her and neck were also mottled with scars. As she held out a hand to me, I noticed her little finger was missing, and her hands also bore more burns and scars. On seeing my surprise, she merely smiled more broadly. “Oh, are you worried about me? Isn’t that so very kind of you? Well, no point wasting valuable time, is there? We are both busy, busy people!” She waved her hand, clearly intending for me to shake it, in the way Westerners usually did. “I’m here to fulfil the promise we made you!”

  ShipTeaser