On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor Side Thirty-Four – Mori Eri

Side Thirty-Four – Mori Eri

The scene in front of was incredible. It was one thing when I was taken by Akio to this strange place when we were in Las Vegas, but then there was only the deserts and nasty giant scorpions. Here there was… well… how could I even explain it?

“Co forth, spirits of water who serve the King of all the Seelie, Monarch of the Fae!” the strange white-furred … person… Selensha, I think it was… was chanting rhythmically, voice pitched with strange cadences. Swirls of orange light were circling around Shaeula, who was standing proudly at the centre of the surrounding crowd. Next to her was a very intimidating opponent, who was well-ard and muscular. He’s like a badger. Quite often they could be seen in the mountains, though I had always stayed away from them, as they could be aggressive. Aiko had a picture book with talking animals in it, her mother had given it her as a child. And the badger in that looked a lot like this one, though… Far less terrifying. His armour is glittering gold under the light, and he has a lot of weapons…I swallowed nervously, my hands sweaty.

“Swear to the spirits, that you shall accept their benevolence, that you may battle in the dream of the mist under the moon…” Selensha continued, her husband, Shaeula’s brother, looking on pridefully.

Shaeula wasn’t lying when she said her family had multiple wives… Still, that wasn’t important, what did matter was that he was really scary. Not his appearance, as that was more strange, maybe even a little comical, but his… his intensity, his anger. When his glare had caught her, his green eyes piercing, she had cowered, hating herself a little for it. But Akio… he had t him head-on, not backing down an inch. Shaeula too.

As Shaeula and the badger Ulfuric both said their vows, the orange lights intensified, and a great billow of mist blew down from the skies above, blanketing the field montarily. I shivered again, from the cloying damp sensation as well as fear of this unknown situation and the aggression directed at us I was hardly used to. It was then I felt the warm touch of a hand in mine. I turned, to see Akio looking at , concern in his gaze.

“Don’t worry, I’m here with you. Whatever happens, you’ll be safe. Besides, Shaeula taught you how to expel your aether in a flash, right?” He said, his smile kind, and my heart skipped a beat, as it seed to be doing more often as I spent longer with him.

“I know.” I said slowly. “But… I don’t understand. Why does Shaeula, do you…” the thought of Akio having to grovel before that unpleasant brute that was Shaeula’s rude brother made mad, my stomach aching fiercely. But even worse was the thought of them getting hurt. I didn’t have many friends, but I couldn’t lie to myself. Shaeula was one, and a better friend than I deserved. If only she didn’t love Akio too… “… have to fight? Don’t you want to stop this?” All the talk of Territory and other strange matters went over my head, it was a world apart from what I knew. I did want to know, to be a part of every aspect of Akio’s life from now on, but if at every turn was danger… “I worry Shaeula is going to get hurt or worse. I an, look at him!”

His hand tightened on mine, and I followed his line of sight, to Shaeula, who was exchanging words with Selensha and Ulfuric, her expression relaxed. Though I know her better than that I think. Her posture was stiff, betraying her nerves. My own vision strayed back to Akio, and at the complicated mixture of anxiety, pride and other emotions, I couldn’t help but lean in close to share my own agre warmth in return.

“Oh, of course I don’t want Shaeula to fight. But this is sothing she believes in. I didn’t want you to co to the Boundary today either, did I? But didn’t you tell that while you loved , that didn’t an you had to do everything I say?” he forced a smile, but underneath it was pain. “You were right of course, if you care about soone, you have to let them do what is important to them. Though if this was truly dangerous, I would have stopped her. This Moonlight Mist Realm ans that they shouldn’t suffer permanent injuries, and Shaeraggo… well, no matter what I think of him, he does love his sister so wouldn’t do her harm. I’m sure of it…”

Indeed, the black-furred weaselkin was approaching Shaeula, and I was again struck at just how adorable she looked in her true form. If she stayed like that all the ti I wouldn’t be threatened by her. But as a girl she’s gorgeous, so pale and doll-like, with unique eyes…

“It is not too-too late, my little sister. Your insolence has no doubt been caused by this lowly thief of a mortal. When you are separated from him, you shall see the error of your ways.”

Shaeula rely scoffed at him, not deigning to answer. Shaeraggo was annoyed, continuing to browbeat her. “Once a Trial of Three has been agreed there can be no-no withdrawal, that is true. But you can still concede your challenges, and allow the victory. I shall rid you of your-your corruption and we can go back to how things were. Do you not miss us, your siblings? Why stay here away from the glories of the Court?”

Uhh, I think Shaeula’s brother is a bit dumb. I’ve heard the stories from Shaeula and even here. She can’t go back yet, that’s the point. I bet Aiko is glad Akio isn’t that way…

Shaeula seed to feel the sa, as she yawned ostentatiously, and I had to stifle a laugh behind my free hand.

“Oh please, brother.” Shaeula said when she was done taunting him. “Do not-not look so foolish in front of your new wife, it shall sour her opinion of you-you, and she seems too talented to upset.” At her praise Selensha puffed herself up taller, and Shaeula spared her a smile. “I shall never concede, not-not even if my body is broken and my soul is shattered.” She turned away, back to us. “Akio, have faith in . I know-know you had little wish for to endanger myself, but this is the path I, no we, have chosen. We can not-not shy away from trials, not-not if we are to honour our Oaths and Pledges. But rest assured, I shall take as a few risks as I can.”

Akio nodded, clearly choked with emotion, worry writ plain on his face, easy for to see, as I had been watching him all these years. As he replied with words of encouragent, as much for himself and as Shaeula, her gaze strayed to , and her placid amber orbs seed to peer into my very soul. She smiled, mischievously and also with trust, and I was forced to rember the words we had shared only a short while ago, hidden from Akio, and I felt my fears return, face paling, body shaking. At that Shaeula rely shook her head, signalling to be strong.

“Are you really sure about this?” I had asked. “I don’t want it to end this way, not… not and lose you. Akio, he couldn’t bear it either…” Shaeula rely patted on the shoulder, her touch kind. Her words had then rocked , shaking loose tears of guilt and fear. “You do care greatly for Akio, you truly deserve to stand by his side. But I am just as pleased you do not-not wish gone. I feel I now have a place in your heart as well-well.”

“Of course I’ll never wish you gone! It would wound Akio for ever. I’ll comfort him as best I can, I love him, but if you are gone… it’ll make him sad. To him… it isn’t just who is important!” After our talk on the plane I could say it. My jealously and insecurity wasn’t gone, far from it, like she said, it would take ti to heal slowly, but I could accept that Akio cared for others. His family, Aiko… Shaeula. And if she was to be stripped from us, then Akio would grieve. I would do my best to heal him, but compared to not suffering the pain at all, I know what I wanted for him… I had angrily dashed away my tears of weakness trying to gather my strength.

She had nodded her approval, which sohow made angry. “Fine then. I’ll forgive you if only you just win! I don’t want regrets!”

At that she had smiled so beautifully, so full of surprise and joy. And for a mont I felt it might be all right to walk along side her, on Akio’s right, her on the left. Then the mont was gone as she turned away and I rembered sothing her brother had said, sothing disquieting. I had grabbed her yukata and brought her close, my jealously surging up as if it was rebelling against my previous wishes.

“So, do tell , what is this about being defiled and corrupted? Have you been doing indecent things with Akio, betraying my trust and cheating on ? Well, tell ?” At the thought of what I had said I flushed shafully. I was so low, getting worked up at such a crucial ti, even when Shaeula had defended when Akio had tried to refuse my request to train here. But so things were important…

“Pay that no-no mind.” Shaeula had said, without a trace of guilt. “Yes, we shared our essences, which is considered sothing one would only do with those they truly trust and admire, but-but…” she had locked eyes with and I could see no falsehoods, only deadly seriousness. “Akio did that but-but to save my life. The flas were consuming my very being, and he poured himself within to stabilise -. He saved my life, and had no thoughts of intimacy. I swear on my very pride this is true.”

She was no liar. I knew that. She might enjoy teasing and playing tricks, but she would not have lied to my face. I believed I ant more to her than that. She ant more to !

“I trust you, I do, though the thought still doesn’t make happy, but I guess it might be like CPR? I’m a little upset, but Akio, Aiko and I, we would never want you to die, so I forgive you both. You owe though, all right?”

She had clasped in a warm hug then, and whispered sothing into my ear. “I shall spend my whole life making it up to you and Akio. So have faith in -, and look on with eyes unclouded and see that I am worthy to stand by your side… and if not…”

Even after her words I had struggled to believe, but seeing that Akio was torn as well, desperate to protect her from harm yet unwilling to trample her autonomy, and that he had learned to do that from … there was no more ti for tears. I would watch and engrave it into my heart, the bravery and pride of the woman who was my rival, but wanted to be my friend. She had said sothing else then too, words too painful for to even recall right now. No, they won’t co true. They can’t…

“Ulfuric, you can teach my foolish little sister a hard lesson.” Shaeraggo was finally tired of her taunts. “Do not kill her of course, or leave her scarred. She is too beautiful to be any further marred. Still, only when one is burned will they truly have appropriate fear-fear of the fla it seems.”

“As you wish, my prince.” Ulfuric turned to Shaeula, bowing to her gracefully, despite his bulk. “Well little princess. I rember you watching your sister and brothers spar with in the courtyard of your father’s castle. You had quite the attitude even then. It is both a relief and a sha to see you have changed little due to your hardships.”

“I’m so … so glad you weren’t hurt worse. It’s my fault, if I’d have let you get that skill…” I couldn’t even feel embarrassed about soaking her yukata, though a tiny, dazed corner of my mind did wonder just why I was crying and snotty, here in a different body in another world…

“Don’t bla yourself. I understand.” Shaeula soothed .

“That’s right.” Akio said, picking us both up in his arms and carrying us to the side, where Selensha was waiting to give healing, having already repaired Ulfuric with her water arts. “I’m sure Shaeula is just happy that you care so much about her. I know I’m happy. I care for you both, and think you should be friends forever.”

“We will be, right Eri?” and once more I rembered so of the words we had shared, this ti during the journey back from Las Vegas.

“He loves you, Eri, and I would see you too stand at his side for a long life-life. So sparing so ti for and Akio… surely you can do this?” she had said, and I understood she ant well, in her own strange, fey way. So still weeping tears of confusion, guilt and joy, I smiled, bringing a gasp from Akio.

“Of course. Friends forever! So… so don’t scare like that again, all right. and whatever you do… don’t lose and go away from us!”

“It is a promise then! I shall sweep our-our foes away, win these Trials, and grow ever stronger. Together!”

“I’d like that.” I whispered as my voice failed, and the warmth of the arms of Akio and Shaeula around felt so comforting, driving away all my fears…