On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

One

“Damn, another day of drudgery awaits me.” I sighed, a long breath escaping from my mouth as I stared at the email on my monitor, scanning the contents.

“Another coding job. How dull. Still, the pay is adequate… damn, how I wish for a job that pays well, or even better, great!” Shaking my head I ran my hand through my short-cropped black hair, grimacing as sweat drops scattered all around me. It was baking hot, but running the air conditioner was a luxury I couldn’t afford right now. The window in my small apartment was open, but the day was cloudless with barely a breeze, so that was hardly helping.

“Oh well, the sooner I finish this, the quicker I can relax.” I muttered to myself, getting to work quickly. Taking out a notepad I quickly sketched out a few ideas, and after a few minutes I was satisfied I understood how to go about meeting the client's needs.

For several hours the only sounds that could be heard in the small room were the clicking sounds of keys being pressed and the faint hum of the computer as I worked. By the time I was finished it was early afternoon, the sun beating down, turning the air hot and oppressive.

“Damn, that was harder than I thought it would be.” Sending the finished work back to the client, I stretched my arms above my head, trying to work my tired muscles. Standing, I glanced around the room, catching sight of myself in the mirror that was hanging in the bathroom through the half-open door.

I was tall for a Japanese man, getting on for five foot nine inches in height, though that probably had something to do with my mixed blood, no doubt, not that it was easy to tell at a glance that I was half British. The clearest giveaway was the eyes, which were an unusual steel-grey colour, and shaped a little differently from the normal. Still, I thought I wasn’t too bad looking, even if not everyone agreed.

As if mirroring my thoughts an email pinged up on my screen, from Oshiro Sapphire Aiko, my sister. Glancing to the side of my workspace I looked briefly at the framed photograph that sat there, a few years old, of me in the middle, looking younger and shorter, while on one of my sides was my sister, with her striking and rare blue eyes and hair so black it was almost glowing blue, while on the other was a smaller girl, looking more classically Japanese, with her hair tied up into adorable pigtails. Cracking a wry smile I sat down again, clicking open the email. No doubt it would just be more complaints, but she was certainly adorable… in her own way. There was another photo next to it, of some old university friends too, but I didn’t spare it a glance.

Shaking my head, I realised I was getting distracted by stupid stuff again. I continued to read, trying to rein in my irritation. Are you going to be coming home for summer break this year, I haven’t seen you in forever? Eri-chan is missing you as always, not that I can understand why. At that my eyes flickered over to the photograph again. The smaller girl was Eri-chan, childhood friend of me and my sister. We went everywhere together when we were young, my role to look out for them both, Eri-chan especially, as she was alarmingly timid and did not take to people easily. Still, she was cute even back then.

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Anyway, this year is my last year here, so I’ve really got to start studying. It’s just so hard, the weather here is perfect, summer's already in full swing. I've been thinking I might want to try for a Tokyo university like you did, bro, but I’m not really sure… I’ve never been away from home longer than a few days before, and we don’t really have the money so… Well, in any case, want to try being a useful big bro moonstone and give me some advice? If I did come to Tokyo I could stay with you, right? It’d be a bit of a commute, but I’d save loads of money on lodgings…

That would be all I needed. I pinched my nose, feeling a headache coming on. It wasn’t like I wouldn’t be able to squeeze her in here if I had to, although charitably the apartment could be called cosy (and if I was being honest, cramped would be a better word), and as a plus it didn’t allow pets, so no dogs, but living together with my sister would definitely have more minuses than plusses. Yes, she is pretty damn cute, and her eyes and hair really stand out, the blessing of being a half, I guess, but I’m definitely not a siscon, so that’s hardly an actual benefit. Besides, I worked from home most of the time, and having the space filled up with her crap… I mean her possessions would make it harder for me.

One more glance around the small room and I could see my bookshelves, piled up with reference materials in both book and DVD format. The less enlightened, such as my dear sister, would probably call them stupid cartoons, but they were for work. I didn’t just do programming, I also did graphic design and also art projects, such as signage, but one of my favourite jobs was when I did some 3D modelling and coding for an Indy game. It paid like shit (in fact, it hadn’t really paid at all yet, but the project lead insisted I’d make a ton when the service finally goes live) but it was somewhat fun. I still have a poster of the main hero and heroines around here somewhere. Premature, since we aren’t ready to release yet, and I do wish she hadn’t based the main heroine on her own image. A princess indeed… That reminded me, it had been a few days since I had heard from her, so it was about time she sent me some more work. I had to prioritise the paying work first, but I just couldn’t say no to her for some reason. Damn, getting distracted again. I must be working too hard…

In any case, this small one-room-plus-bath apartment right on the outskirts of the Tokyo suburban area was hardly going to be the ideal place for my sister to stay, let alone store all the clothes, makeup and other things a young girl needed for day-to-day college life. I’d been living here for a couple of years now, and now I had enough work coming in that I could afford it without looking to mom and father for handouts, not that I was living luxuriously. I suppose if my sis was here then we’d have a bit more money for…

“No, this is a dangerous line of thought.” I shook my head to clear it, and finished off reading the email.

In any case, I hope you are working hard, big bro. I’d hate to think you were slacking off without your awesome sister watching over you. Are you sure you won’t get any free time to visit over the summer? It’s been ages since we saw you for New Year. Unless you are too busy… with a girlfriend? Haha, I’m just joking, there’s no way you would have a girlfriend, is there big bro moonstone? Please reply promptly, since it’s rude to keep your adorable little sister waiting, okay?

“Oh man, my sister can be seriously annoying sometimes.” I complained out loud as I hammered out a quick reply, saying that her wonderful brother would be more than happy to advise her, but that it also looked like he wouldn’t have any free time to make it back this summer. By the time that was done a couple more emails with offers of work had appeared, including as expected one from the ‘princess’, so I steeled myself to ignore the early summer heat and get back to work…

********

I barely stifled a yawn as I leaned back in my chair. It was now late evening, the only light from without the glow of the streetlamps outside my window. Unfortunately the temperature hadn’t changed much, the still night air remaining oppressively warm.

This time a yawn did burst free, so I decided that I would call it a night. One of the tasks I had been sent was largely finished, and the other was coming along nicely and could be finished with another day or two of work. That would put an extra few yen in my pocket and take the pressure off for the rest of the month.

Getting up, I took a bottle of iced tea from the small fridge sitting in one corner of my room, popped the top and took a swig. “That’s good.” I sighed in pleasure. Nothing was better than a reward after a hard day of work. Taking another long draught I had a thought that perhaps I was too easy to please…

“Oh well, no point dwelling on things.” It was important to make the most of the peace and quiet, as if my sister had her way, which I had to admit she usually did, as she was the apple of our parents’ eyes, she would be here by next summer, so this may very well be my last year of peace, unless I somehow hit it big with work. Although, finances are very tight back home… perhaps I’m being premature, it probably won't happen. Anyway, not that such excitement was likely to just fall into my life. I was just a normal half-Japanese guy with a freelance part-time job, getting by in life without making waves.

Do You Believe You can Change The World?

I blinked, rubbing at my eyes. I must have worked harder than I had thought, as I could have sworn I heard a strange hollow voice speaking behind me. Of course, when I turned around there was no-one there.

“I must be hearing things…”

The Time Is Now. Your World Is About To Change. With Chaos And Danger Comes Opportunity. Will You Grasp It Or Let It Go Forever?

Once more a voice came from behind me. Now I couldn’t tell whether the beads of sweat sliding down my face were from the heat or this sudden fear that was prickling at me.

“Who’s there?” I asked, turning around slowly.

Opportunity.

The half-drunk bottle of tea fell from my hand, spilling across the floor. In front of me was a glowing figure, light shining a cold silver, washing everything in pale shadow, shrouding all detail except a vague shape. I staggered backwards, my feet soaked by the spilled tea and let out a hoarse gasp of alarm. As I was preparing to run, mind reeling, the ‘figure’ spoke once more.

This World Stands At A Crossroads. Soon Great Change Will Befall It, And If Not Protected Only Ruin Awaits. Will You Refuse Fate’s Hand And Allow Your World’s Fate To Rest On Other Shoulders, Or Will You Reach Out And Take The Offered Hand And Protect That Which You Hold Dear?

I was frozen mid-flight, gazing at the glowing figure, which was strange in itself being a light so bright it should have hurt my eyes, yet it had seemingly no effect, almost as if it was an illusion. As it stretched out a glowing arm towards me I was unable to move, mind racing.

This World Is Now Open To A Higher Realm. But Fear Not, The Gods Are Not Cruel. We Have Been Sent By The Heavens To Open The Way For Those Who Have The Power Within To Defend This World. You Are One Such.

I still wasn’t sure I hadn’t fallen asleep at my desk and was dreaming this whole thing, but to be honest with myself I’d read enough Light Novels about other worlds and mysterious beings to at least give a little thought to the possibility this was all true. And if it was… could I forgive myself for passing up the chance to be someone who mattered, someone able to make a difference, strong enough to defend those I held dear? No, to be a hero?

“So… just what is this crossroads? How can I protect Earth?” I asked nervously, heart racing.

It Is A Battle For The Astral Realm Above Through Which All Worlds Are Connected. You Must Gather Ether, Which All Covet, Until You Stand Above All Others With Enough Power To Repel Those That Would Take Your Planet For Their Own, Until You Stand Alone As An Astral Emperor…