On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Four Hundred And Sixty-One / Side One Hundred And Sixty-Two, Ortlinde, Valkyrie of Tyr

“Ortlinde, little sister, sister!” A cheerful voice interrupted Ortlinde from her reverie. Instinctively, she ran a hand through her long, flaming red hair, before looking at the speaker, Siegrune, whose eyes were sparkling with impish mischief.

“Sister, you looked lost in thought. But don’t worry, times might be hard, but there’s always still alcohol and good food. If the tables run dry in the Halls of Valhalla, then we truly have reached the end.” With her orange eyes and brilliant aqua hair, Siegrune was as energetic as she looked. No, that does not matter now. Not at all.

“If Brunnhilde or Gerhilde were here, they would chastise you for your attitude.” Ortlinde managed, only for Siegrune to look at her with a trace of pity.

“Of course they would, but if we can’t joke about in times like these, when can we?”

“That’s right.” Another voice agreed, and she turned to see Rossweisse, her petite frame yet ample chest balanced with her light pink hair and white eyes making her seem almost childlike, yet, with book in hand, she was studying strategy, more diligent than any of the other sisters, even if she was less serious than Brunnhilde. “It’s not all bad. Things are always darkest before the dawn, and we won again, didn’t we?”

“Yes, but…” Ortlinde always found it hard to put her feelings into words. After all, the nine of them were the youngest of the Valkyries, and so felt they had a lot to prove, especially now, since times were changing so much. Change is a frightening thing, even for us youngest. We know little that is different, but seeing the sorrow on the faces of the elders, sensing their uncertainty that they try to keep hidden from us… “…it isn’t that.”

“Oh, I know what it is, Rose.” Siegrune used a familiar nickname for the other Valkyrie. “She’s worried about the new delivery. I mean…”

“No, it is not that I worry…” Ortlinde interjected. “It is just… we should be able to do more. Merely delivering a chance of salvation sits poorly with me.”

“Aye, I get you.” Siegrune nodded. “But what can we do? The Allfather and our parents have their reasons. Besides, if we do more, then it’ll just lead to the other Pantheons going all out as well, right Rose?”

The petite Valkyrie agreed. “Yes, while I agree it is unfairly stacked against us, in favour of the Ninth Heaven, at least this way we aren’t spending our strength fighting each other when we have a common problem.” Closing her book, she steepled her fingers under her chin and observed Ortlinde, which made her want to look away, but she met her sister’s gaze defiantly. “Perhaps you regret persuading us to take the Fruit of the World Tree, rather than handing it over to the Allfather? If so, you persuaded me, and I still agree with your impassioned pleas and worthy logic, so set that regret aside. The Fruit would have been useful to the Allfather, but it would be a known quantity. I agreed there was a need for boldness, if we were to prove ourselves of use to our older sisters and our parents. Even eldest Gerhilde and wisest, most straightlaced Brunnhilde were persuaded. The fact that it may not bear fruit…” she coughed, flushing a little, embarrassed by her inadvertent pun. “…does not invalidate the merits of the gamble. For you are surely right, sister. If things continue as they are, matters will surely continue to decline. Repeating the same acts again and again, expecting better results, is simply abrogation of logic.”

“I do not see why we have to quarrel, when worlds fall. Surely, with a common enemy…” Ortlinde tried to protest, only for Siegrune to slap her shoulder sympathetically.

“Come on, we may be young, but we’ve been around a long time, littlest sister. Arguments are always settled by power. It’s always been that way, before we were even born, and always will be, when we are long gone. Nobody wants to compromise if they don’t have to. You’re too soft-hearted. It’s why we agreed with you, in part. Who doesn’t want their youngest sister to be happy?”

Ortlinde sighed, but wasn’t entirely miserable. “I know. I know. But it seems so … backwards. Perhaps the Allfather, our parents, they see things we do not, I would hardly dare to assume I see as far as the giants who have nurtured the World Tree for a near eternity. But…”

“It sounds to me like you do assume, Ortlinde.” Rossweisse covered her gentle smile with one hand, as prim as ever. “But then, I understand. I like to study strategy as well, to improve myself. But alas, with the One True Throne uncooperative, and many Pantheons even now refusing to come together, all we can do is what we do. And… at least you know yours still live, no? From the Seeds?” Rossweisse puffed out her chest proudly. “Mine too. And only Schwertliete and Helmwige can claim a survivor. Six from eighteen, but it is fitting two are yours.”

“Maybe so, but… those twelve were killed by us.” Ortlinde said, only for Rossweisse to disagree.

“No, those were killed by mischance. Just as we gave the Divine Favours to a fresh world recently, and many, if not all will perish. At least for the survivors, we know. But…” she exchanged a glance with the teasing Siegrune, who finished for her.

“…even if they all die, it was meant to be. We gave them a chance. Seeds grow best in virgin soil, and most plants wither and die due to poor weather, lack of sun, pests or vandalism. Not every sapling can become a World Tree. That’s why many seeds are sown. Do not weep for the seeds that perish, sister, but rejoice at the bravery of those that took a chance without taking the easy way… huh?”

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“She has stopped listening.” Rossweisse said, halting Siegrune’s flow. “That isn’t like our serious, diligent youngest sister, but… see? Her eye is glowing.”

“Oh, you think it’s her second one, having reached a level to unlock some of the power that lies within the Seeds? If so, she’s fortunate indeed. Only her first and one of yours has…”

Ortlinde could hear their voices, but they faded away and she found her consciousness being drawn along the threads that connected her to the bearer of the Seeds she had persuaded her sisters to withhold. It was destiny one of the rare Fruits of the great Tree fell into our hands. I knew then I had to take a chance, but…

Her eyes went wide with surprise. “You? Again? No… not quite. You come to me strangely.” She looked at the man in front of her, who seemed surprised and highly pressured by something, his eyes unfocussed. But on hearing her words, he snapped back to focus, though the effort beaded sweat on his brow.

“Exposition-san? No… Ortlinde. Sorry. The name has stuck with me.” The man said, though he sounded a little unsure, and she had a realisation. “Of course. You would remember little, separating your spiritual body is a strain enough for a weak mortal. The Silver Cord would be stressed severely, which is why…” Her golden eyes went wide as she looked at where the Cord would be, and she felt a surge of despair.

“It broke? No, it was always a risk, which is why the Favours we passed to you were tied up in the Seeds, but… you reached me before, and…” Her heart cracked, and her worries that her sisters had identified within her surged anew, making her regret her choices. You were a brave one. Starting from nothing, you gained a measure of strength. But strength alone is not enough, you need Fortune and Fate on your side as well…

“Hey, calm down.” The man, Akio, said, seeing her distressed expression and the direction of her gaze, though he closed his legs coyly. “If you’re worried I can’t survive up here, then…” he stifled a groan. “Ugh, it’s rough, but not due to that. Right now I don’t have a Cord, as I’m purely using a spiritual body. But I’m not dead. Far from it.”

“I… see.” Ortlinde’s spiritual body wasn’t truly descending, nor was his ascending, but merely using the connection that acted on higher principles Ortlinde wasn’t truly qualified to understand. Nor do we fully understand the Favours we pass on, so perhaps what we did was imperfect, though between the nine of us, and what we asked… I believe we did acceptably well. Even so, they had theorised that it would put great pressure on the Silver Cord of those they chose, so there were risks, as she had just expressed.

Eyeing Akio closely, she was surprised to see he was indeed different. “Wait, yes, you seem more than mortal now. No, that is hardly important.” She glanced at the golden thread connecting their wrists. “I see. I should congratulate you. But you seem to be suffering. Reaching for power beyond your means is…” she was about to say reckless, reminding him of his original caution, which she found a little comical, but not unwise, only for him to surprise her.

“…necessary. I can’t protect anything without power.” He grinned, and while it was reminiscent of some of the smiles she remembered during her brief moments with him, it was more confident, and deeply knowing. “I guess I won’t remember this again. I forgot you before, sorry. Only recalling scattered fragments. Oh God, that damn Tree…”

“I see. You are resonating with the Seeds. As I had believed you would.” Ortlinde felt satisfaction, her heart feeling lighter, as at least one of her two charges was doing well. And the other yet lives, so there is hope. “Though I feel I must apologise. To reach this place you must have discovered it. That I held you back. Though not without good reason, bitter though it might be.”

“Yeah. The slower, better way. I get it though.” Akio laughed, though his face was pained. “It’s like Cultivation, in a way. You build the most strength by starting from the foundation, and shortcuts always cost you in the end.”

“But even so, to face those who had full access to their Favour… I did not tell you everything. Yes, I hoped that you would rise to the challenge, that your caution would not hold you back too much, so that one with power already would hew you down as a mere sapling, but… I still feel I did you wrong.”

“Even though it wasn’t. Sure, I could have used more knowledge, but… telling me I’d face bastards like Kondou Kazuo before I had power on par with his might have broken me. And compared to other Chosen I’ve talked to, you were positively eager to share and prepare me. So don’t feel bad. No…” he amended with a wry smile. “Still feel bad a bit. So answer me a question.”

“I am still limited in what I can say, else I would have said more. Surely you understand?” she shot back.

“I get that, but the chances of me remembering anything anyway are slim. And I doubt anyone would know. We’re connected, right? And I have been told and even seen that higher beings have ways of finding out secrets, but would they think of this?”

“It depends on the question.” Ortlinde said hesitantly, wishing to make some amends, and soothe her guilt, as the Candidates her sisters selected died one by one, and on the new world, the chances of their choices were minimal. I don’t do it to be cruel. By the Allfather, by Tyr, I do it to strengthen us all, to stand against evil and chaos. To show there is another way. To save those who could be our allies.

“Okay then. I have a Favour of Tyr, but I can’t access it, right? So when can I access it, and just what are the seeds for?”

“That is more than one question.” Ortlinde said accusingly, and he laughed cheekily.

“It’s kind of the same question. You like explaining though, my dear Exposition-san, so do this for me.”

“I am Ortlinde. You know it now. And I believe you deserve to call me by my name.” she answered. “Then…” Seizing his wrist she shook off her doubts. “…I once more apologise. I made the choice, persuaded my sisters, and now they have to console me. Prove to me I was right, free me of my doubts. Please.” The shining connection they shared burned, and she felt his strength and growth. Surprised, Ortlinde’s eyes widened.

“So, how was it?” he said slyly, and Ortlinde looked at him flatly, golden eyes expressing complex emotions.

“You could certainly join the Einherjar.” It’s true. There are countless many stronger than him amongst the vast worlds of our dominion, of course, but for a world still swimming in the protection of the shallow waters of the Boundary, impressive indeed. “As for the Favour of noble Tyr… when the need is greatest, just as Tyr sacrificed, so shall you, and free the power within. However…” she raised her eyebrows, somewhat amused. “You have been unfaithful to Tyr. You hold a Divine Favour from another God, from a foreign Pantheon.”

“Hey, don’t say that. You only asked that for your help I consider aiding you, and I am still grateful. But someone braved a great sacrifice to make sure I got that Favour, so I’ll not disparage or dismiss that.” he said firmly, and Ortlinde was taken aback a little. It must have been very difficult for him. He has changed and grown harder. But that is a good thing. And…

“I see. My apologies. I see you appreciate sacrifice, which is likely why the Favour of Tyr found you. But freeing the Favour of Tyr is in itself a cost you must pay. For just as you grow… so too does the Favour nurtured by the Seeds." She was gratified as his eyes opened wide, understanding, and she was struck by the beautiful amber shine in his eye, which reminded her of the great World Tree itself.

“You’re saying it’s not just me that is growing, but the Favour can be strengthened too? Just what is a Divine Favour? How did you do that?” He was intense, eyes curious.

“It is not the Favour, but the Seeds. And intent.”

“Can’t you be clearer? I think I get it, and I have someone I can ask, but…” he said, and Ortlinde, her spirits higher, responded cooly, though inside she was a little elated.

“Perhaps you would call it the adherence of the thing.” She said cryptically. He will not understand, but… I still believe I can do this much at least, for the one who exceeded my expectations. I had higher hopes for the other, though… higher than despair is not much of an accolade. But then… we have grown used to accepting defeat. I hate that, and hate seeing my sisters accept it. “Ordinarily it cannot be changed, but the Fruit of the World Tree and its Seeds are special. I can say no more, but…” she smiled then, unusual for her. “…you are correct, you will not remember anyway. In fact… you look most unwell.”

“Yeah, I think Shiro is going to change my buff and kick me back down.” He said some confusing words. “So this is farewell for now, but…”

“You will see me again soon, it seems.” Ortlinde touched the golden connection gently. “Very soon, if you continue to advance. So, a few parting words. When you see the other Tyr has Chosen, then please, be…” He vanished, the connection snapping, yet still existing, only in a fragile, barely there form as it endured normally, except in these moments of stress. “…kind to…” her words trailed off.

“Littlest sister, sister!” Her shoulder was being shaken, and she blinked her golden eyes. “You’re awake!” Siegrune smirked. “So, impress us with how skilled your choices are. How was she?”

‘”It wasn’t her.” Ortlinde said, shaking her head.

“Then him again?” Rossweisse leaned forwards, interested. “Has he reached the second peak of power? So soon? It has barely been any time at all as the lowest worlds reckon things. Perhaps you found a prodigy. If so… there could be no recipient better for the great gamble we undertook.”

“There was no success in it without your well-read wisdom, sister Rossweisse.” Ortlinde said, and her sister flushed, embarrassed but happy at the praise. Seeing this, Siegrune teased her.

“Rose is blushing, how unexpected. But little Ortlinde, don’t keep us in suspense. It might cheer the others as well. We need to believe what we did was right!”

“I see.” Ortlinde’s smile returned, and the sisters were pleased to see it, unaccustomed to their youngest second-guessing herself. “No, not yet. Though soon. He is flirting with other Pantheons though, and has even given up his humanity.”

“What, you mean he has fallen to the state of a beast?” Siegrune shrieked. “Rose, how can you be so calm?”

“Because I am a woman of intellect and rationality.” Rossweisse rapped her sister on the forehead with her knuckles. “Our sister would not be smiling were that the case.”

“Indeed, you know me well.” Ortlinde continued smiling. “Yes, he has grown to the point I feel he has a chance, and my guilt over him is now assuaged. I mourn our other failures but for now… I look forward to seeing how far he can go. May Tyr, the Allfather, and the noble World Tree watch over his progress, and may his sacrifices be minor ones…” It is a shame he will forget the words we shared, but just as he remembered me, I hope my will and respect reaches him, and my hopes that he can be the sapling that rises into a mighty tree, from the fertile soil of his beleaguered world…

********

I suddenly snapped back into consciousness, my head aching. Everything was a blur, fragmentary memories of meeting someone cold, beautiful yet somehow sad lingering. As well as the pain of too much knowledge. Like having far too many calculations to process, and the GPU overheats and shuts down. Ortlinde, it must have been, but…

“Are you all right, Aki?” I found I was resting my head on Shiro’s legs, which was an enviable position to find myself in. “You promised me you could handle it. Isn’t it supposed to be bad for you to lie?”

“I could handle it. But my skill Ranked up, and then your buff pushed me over the bottleneck. I couldn’t handle that, but…” I grinned as I saw the carvings in the ground I had made in the fractions of time I was retaining my consciousness. It was then a memory hit me, a Split Thought collapsing, but disgorging the memory of the meeting with Ortlinde’s consciousness. Damn, that was clever of me. I wasn’t able to handle the weight, but an isolated, separated thought, one able to hold a mere few seconds of conversation… that endured until now.

“I changed your buff. Tan said you’d want Chirurgery, I hope you don’t mind.” Shiro continued, and I enjoyed the moment, though the feeling of her thighs under my head was spoiled by her Brigandine. Guessing my thoughts, Shiro snorted. “We can do lap pillows galore on our date you promised me. For now… everything okay?”

“Better than okay. Tan, a question.”

Shiro’s eyes flared red. “What? If you need Divine Possession once again, this should be the last time. The princess will not admit it, but she is enduring great suffering for you now.”

“I’m not.” Shiro took over. “It’s no worse than how I used to be, when I was sick.”

“Then that’s not good.” I leaned up and kissed her on the forehead. “Though to be honest, I may need that one last Possession and your adherence again Tan.” I apologised sincerely, but Shiro merely sniffed, saying nothing, waiting. “But for now…” My Eye was indeed still Rank 5, and the general buff from Shiro also lingered, so I was able to piece some of the information together as I looked at the Favours I held. Yes, like that. “Tan, you don’t know too much of Favours, I get that. But I’m guessing that it’s the adherence that shapes the ability, right? And the ether is a general framework, kind of like making an item. So the power source, the thing that replenishes the energy that isn’t taken from the wielder…”

“You are likely correct.” Tan agreed. “Adherence is powerful, but awfully fragile and easy to tangle up, much like the cauldron that you retrieved that powerful adherence of growth from, or this mess here, mimicking the battle for a world. It is why sometimes someone of great strength of mind, cunning and intellect can achieve feats with a Favour that even the creator likely never intended. Though they must of course retain a core of the adherence, lest the Favour crumble. But such power requires an… engine, or perhaps a battery. I can be of no further help.”

“That’s plenty.” I laughed. “So… the thing is, in the end, past the bottleneck, I caught a glimpse of it. It’s not enough to understand it, of course not, but… it’s enough to make a leap of faith.” I looked at Akoman’s dirty Favour. “And enough to let me know this is useless to us. It’s not designed to produce, only to accumulate, and it’s not a power any of us should wield. I’ve had enough of Chaos. But for practice…”

With my Chirurgery functionally at Rank 10 under the buffs of Shiro, I was confident I had a slim chance of handling Jarovid’s Favour properly, but some practice wouldn’t hurt. With great concentration, and the words of Ortlinde, Tan and the things my Eye had seen fresh in my mind, I began to work with single-minded purpose, carefully attempting to remove the adherence that was Jarovid’s and Morana’s from the greater whole. It fought me, as it was already degraded and mixed, but the key was that I knew Favours could be influenced by outside sources, Ortlinde had told me that. It was soon running out of control, but I called for Shiro to switch my buff to Adherence Manipulation, and with a groan she did so. My grasp on it improved significantly, and my Chirurgery was enough to finish the separation, though the damage was too great, and the Favour shattered.

“Shit, nearly. I don’t want this crap.” With the surge of dark adherence, to match that which I had obtained from Conquering the Territory of the twins, I had a decent amount again, but I realised using it to support the Favours I was carrying or me wasn’t wise, nor was letting it strengthen me as other broken Favours did. I know a trap and a bad deal when I see one. Working hard, I used my strengthened skill to isolate it, and smiled at Tan.

“Your flames consume. Can you eat this safely?”

She nodded Shiro’s head. “I can. Do you not need it?”

“Not this. The other parts… maybe. But I’ll be needing that third Possession at the end. Sorry Shiro, but I can’t do this alone, and only have one shot. I need you to change my buffs a number of times too as I prepare.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be strong enough… I’m at my limit, Aki.” She said apologetically, but I stroked her hair reassuringly.

“For this adherence, I’m sure Tan can support you.” I bargained, and Tan laughed.

“Now you are simply taking advantage of me. But… my curiosity is rather piqued. Very well. What do you need?”

“First, my Eye again. And I know that I’m not able to control the mystery third element of a Favour, or do much with it, but I also know that I don’t need to do much. Not for this.” I’m not trying to recreate a Favour. I’m trying to take what it does, and integrate it with me and Shiro, replicating what it does, but fuelling it from our own aether, adherence and strength. Essentially, isn’t that just what something like Foehn is? A flame that had its own adherence, even if I never really noticed it until now.

“You better not let me down, Aki.” she warned, groaning as Tan flooded her Chakra network with aether. My Eye broke the bottleneck again, and at my gesture, Shiro switched the buff to Adherence Manipulation. I put the things I had seen into a Split Thought, probed with Chirurgery, and Shiro switched the buff once more, giving me further insight. This continued for what seemed an eternity, but was probably only ten changes. Even so, Shiro was dripping with sweat, and so was I, and even with Tan’s reserves fuelling her, Shiro was white as her name.

“This is… hell. You bastard, Aki. One date isn’t enough!” she cried out, wrung dry. “At least tell me it’s working.”

“I’d say so…”

Your Skill, Adherence Manipulation has increased from Rank 4 to Rank 5. Your ability to separate mixed Adherence has significantly increased, and your overall efficiency with untangling and purifying Adherence has grown substantially. Adherence which aligns with you will be affected more strongly, depending on your League.

With that second Rank up in such a short time, the brutal crash course in manipulating the adherence within the Favour just enough to find out what I wanted to know without damaging Jarovid’s Favour further driving my skills to the maximum, I needed one additional push. “Shiro, Adherence Manipulation again. Then it should just be Chirurgery, and we’re good for the try!”

“I hate you right now.” she groaned, but I felt her affection as she blessed me, and as the bottleneck was breached, using the mental map I had constructed with my Eye and the earlier probing, I now had enough insight to determine more about the adherence itself. I have so many examples. There’s the Favour I hold, Tsukuyomi’s, Shiro holds Anesidora’s, I’m carrying several in a loose state, and the way they need adherence to keep existent without being embedded in a host is telling, and vital. It gives me a clue to what the third mystery element deals with, if nothing else. Lastly, when Tan uses Divine Possession, the last piece…

“The adherence here… it’s the strengthening aspect physically. Whereas there’s a second thread that seems the same, but isn’t. The Favour’s been broken, already pulled at by Akoman, so…” The images I had scorched into the ground as I fainted before showed the difference, and it was a weakness I could exploit. Not to fix, but to break. Yet not to allow it to scatter, only giving me raw power. I want what it has…

I made my preparations, and Tan descended a final time. She could barely project a fraction of her strength into the weakened and tormented Shiro, but I didn’t need her for that, other than providing her unique adherence to smooth my path. Miracle stacked on miracle, huh? What else would you call Shiro, Tan and even Ortlinde, all giving me the hints I need? Our connections, our bonds, they help us. Tan was surrounded by an incandescent nimbus of flames, and with the bottleneck breached, I could clearly feel not just the surface-level interpretation, of fire, thirst, hunger and conquest, but also of integration, of absorption.

“The way you devour Favours with your Flames Of Thirst And Famine… it’s not dissimilar to what I want here. So… your adherence, combined with my Chirurgery…” I was burned by Tan’s flames, for the adherence was not meant for me, but her will supported me, and it guided me, relieving a great deal of the burden. “…it can do this. Release Shiro, Tan, final buff, do or die time!”

The flames around Tan died down, Shiro’s hair flashing to silver, and as she stumbled to her knees, she poured out her last strength. My Chirurgery returned to Rank 10, the strongest skill I possessed. “Here we go! Break apart, but with the knife, not the hammer!” All my Split Thoughts, all my focus, all my drive, was frozen in one moment. Ether shattered, breaking by my rough handling, but ether I could supplement. Then adherence split, some lost, my skills still far too crude for handling the work of a God, though a stray thought crossed my mind. Even if a God made this, that doesn’t mean someone like me can’t touch it. A master Katana-smith might create a true work of art, but an average craftsman can disassemble it. It’s always easier to break than to build. But even the parts have some use, even if the whole is imperfect, losing the godliness…

“Is… Tan, is it working?” Shiro was asking, but I paid her no mind, nor the doubtful reply from Tan. I could feel it slipping, and so I threw in the fragments of Jarovid’s Favour to try and stabilise it, but it still wasn’t enough. I’ve largely split the adherence and purified it as much as I can, but… without the core, it was just adherence, which would give me some experience, and perhaps Rank up a skill or two, but that wasn’t what I wanted. If that was enough, why go to all this effort? But I have one last trump card.

I had also understood Morana’s adherence, and I had the separated remnants which Akoman had taken. It was a stabilising factor, so perhaps if I blended it in, just a little…

Your skill, Aetheric Chirurgeon has increased from Rank 10 to Rank 11 and has shattered the fourth horizon, reaching the fifth vista beyond that of ordinary comprehension. Your understanding of Ether, Adherence and ???????? has significantly increased, and you can integrate these more easily into Material and Spiritual bodies, and slightly mitigate issues of compatibility, though this should be used with caution. [Class: Legendary] [Type: Law]

Wait, it can do that? I’m not really Rank ten, it’s Shiro’s buffs, but… Suddenly the task which was near impossible was merely fiendishly difficult, but the first half was possible. I had to ignore amber letters as they flared, for I needed every drop of concentration I could spare…

You have gained a Skill, Adherence Crafting…

You have gained a Skill, Crude ???????? Crafting…

You have gained a Skill, Crude ???????? Manipulation…

You have gained a Class. You are now a Master Of Many Crafts.

You have gained a Class. You are now a Shaper Of Flesh And Spirit.

You have gained a Class. You are now a Prodigy Of The Lower Worlds.

Shit… so many. Yes, that’s frigging awesome, but get out of my head! Sweat was pouring from me as I trembled. Things being easier merely meant within the realm of the possible, and as I pulled apart the mysterious third substance I could barely perceive now as an indeterminate shadow, the adherence of Jarovid I wanted, stabilised by Morana’s adherence, poured into me. It was running rampant, but for some reason, I had an instinctive, if faint idea of where I needed it to go. Performing Chirurgery on myself was agonising and my blood boiled, spurting from me in a crimson and silver tide, before bubbling through the pores of my skin. Shiro was crying out, but I had no time for the pain to bother me.

The other half is escaping. Sorry Shiro, but…

Your skill, Body Enhancement Rank 5 has evolved to Boiling Blood Rank 1…

“This is going to hurt like hell. And it might not even work…” I rasped, as the adherence fully anchored within me.

You have gained a skill, Boiling Blood Resonance Link Rank 1…

“I see.” Shiro was frightened by my hideous appearance, and she swallowed, but her eyes were trusting. “Just do what needs doing.” She gritted her teeth, and one eye flared red.

“You are… quite the madman. I see now why I was beaten by you, but that was simply because I was not serious. Now I am. Deadly serious. But… a helping hand. I may not have your talents, which make me wonder if you have instead been blessed by Bhaiṣajyaguru, not Tyr.” She smirked, twisting Shiro’s scared face into a smile. “He may not have been the Buddha that scorned me, but I would certainly enjoy seeing you take his arrogance down a notch or ten.”

Tan’s adherence surged around us both, a hot, feverish wave, yet it was somehow comforting. The escaping adherence and mysterious substance was drawn towards Tan, yet she did not consume it, instead allowing me to guide it into Shiro’s body. Even so, her screams were weighing on my conscience, but her hand grasped mine, squeezing, and her dark eye was still looking steadfastly into mine, willing me to continue, laughing scornfully against the pain, her suffering a mark of pride.

As I worked, my Eye could see that Shiro had developed a new skill, her own blood seething, and it drew adherence from Anesidora’s blessing, as well as Tan’s own adherence, becoming something new and oddly powerful. But before I could check any of the details, the blood dripping from my Eye was becoming overwhelmingly painful, so bitterly exhausted, I collapsed, Shiro beside me. As my consciousness sunk into darkness, I felt arms tight around me, and heard some quiet words, and a soft ruffling of my hair.

“Idiot. When you said… that hurt… you were lying. That was beyond mere pain. But… it hurt you worse than me, I know. So rest now, Shiro is here. You did good, Aki. A lot of good things here. So for now… just sleep, and let the world take care of itself for a while…”

That sounds great. It’s been… a tough day. But… a good one in a lot of ways. A good… one…